Craft Napa - Surprise Printing

Four years ago, Sue went to Craft Napa with 2 friends for 3 days of fiber art classes.  What a fun time!  Things haven't worked out to return to this California retreat, but this year because of the pandemic, it moved online like so many other events.  Being virtual, anyone could participate from the comfort of home.  So Sue signed up for one class.  There were others she was interested in, but as sometimes happens, several were on the same day so choices had to be made.  The class she took was called Surprise Printing taught by Margarita Korioth.  The technique involved using Caran d'Ache water soluble wax pastel crayons with transparent extender and silk screens to created printed blocks.  The "surprise" is seeing what your blocks look like after washing off the excess crayon. 

These were some of our supplies.  The teacher's kit included the 2 silk screens (made with heat transfer vinyl) and selected colors of Caran d'Ache water soluble wax pastels. (Sue purchased this larger set.) We also needed some squares and rectangles of white Kona cotton and transparent extender - ProChem is a recommended brand. 

To create blocks, we first colored the cotton squares with the wax pastel crayons.  Then we used the silk screen to overprint with the transparent extender.  These were then set aside to dry.  We also made a repeat pattern with the other screen on a rectangular piece of cotton.  The third component created was a wide strip that could be cut into narrower strips for sashing and/or binding.  This piece was done by separating it into segments with painter's tape and coloring in between.  The transparent extender was brushed over top.  All were allowed to dry before heat setting and then soaking in water (about 10 minutes) to remove the excess crayon.  The extra color doesn't come out completely, but enough to fade into the background and allow the printed design to stand out.

The pieces above were the first ones completed.  After some additional instruction, there was time to make some more!

These additional blocks and repeat section are drying before heat setting and rinsing.

Above are the finished second group of pieces. Now what to do with them?  Margarita used hers to make both a quilt and a pillow. Check out this link to see more of her work.  The blocks can be assembled randomly in rows, with or without sashing, bordered if desired.  Use your imagination!  This was a fun process and we're excited to see how it can be adapted for use with Thermofax screens. Experiments to come!

Wrapping Up Craft Napa

Here are a few more photos to round out the Craft Napa experience.

A sign at Pokey's art barn.  Conveniently, the Embassy Suites has complimentary wine and hors d'oevers.

The Fountain Court at the Embassy Suites, on Welcome night.  This was the gathering place; all the classrooms surrounded this room.  Most days, the floor was covered with tarps holding drying fabric.

Examples of Jane LaFazio's work (teacher of 8 Objects 8 Ways).  Love her work.

A sample quilt of Judy Coates Perez's work.  Love her work too!

Additional quilts in the exhibit honoring Yvonne Porcella.  These were on display Friday evening - wish they had been there longer.

A black swan in the hotel courtyard pond.  There were several black, as well as white swans, and a family of ducks.

A celebratory cake honoring the first publication by Crafting a Life -

Playful Fabric Printing by Carol Soderlund and Melanie Testa.

Above is a group photo of Saturday's classes, minus some early departures.  Sue's prayer flags are at the far right, rear.  Photo credit to Indigo Perez, daughter of Judy, who documented the event.  Well worth the trip, in spite of flight issues, to learn from these talented teachers!

Craft Napa Day 3

Finally getting a chance to post about Sue's third class at Craft Napa - two days of travel that should have taken one, and delayed baggage interfered - but that's a story for another day.

Saturday's class was called Blessings in the Wind - Prayer Flags with Judy Coates Perez.  Judy, also known as the Creative Alchemist, is known for her whole cloth painted quilts and intricately layered imagery.  This class was a last minute change for Sue - she was originally registered for another class but decided to switch because she'd always admired Judy's work, had previously taken classes with the other teacher, and thought she should take the opportunity to learn from someone new.  She was very glad she did. Below are some of Judy's prayer flags.

Sue was most interested in learning Judy's techniques, less so in creating the flags, but as the day progressed the goal of completing the prayer flags became more significant. 

The morning was spent painting our fabrics  (we had 12 pieces about 8 x 10") with Golden Fluid Acrylic Inks. Various techniques were used to create different effects, including scrunching, sponging, Shibori folds, and painting on wet or dry fabrics.  Sue had done most of these techniques before but not recently and with different paints so it was a good refresher of those techniques.  Below are some of Judy's fabric samples and a demo of sponging.

Below are Sue's painted fabric pieces that she chose to add additional imagery to for the flags.

In the afternoon we added additional layers with stamps, thermofax screens and Judy's abaca papers.

We were so busy trying to get them done that taking more process pictures was forgotten.  After adding more layers, the pieces were trimmed down to 6 x 9" and encased in a folded length of twill tape. Below are Sue's finished flags.  The additional images and trimming really transformed some of the less than stellar backgrounds.

She regrets not getting pictures of the other finished flags as well.  It was a busy but fun and inspirational day of creativity.

Craft Napa

Sue is treating herself to a fiber art splurge this year by going to Craft Napa in - you guessed it - Napa, California!  This will be her first time to visit California, and the first time flying in a quite a few years, so she is excited!

If you're not familiar with Craft Napa, check out the link.  Pokey Bolton, former editor of Quilting Arts magazine and former creative director for International Quilt Festival, moved to CA to start an art retreat center.  This is the 2nd year for Crafting a Life/Craft Napa, which features 3 full days of classes with some top-notch fiber art and quilting teachers.

Sue is taking classes with: Carrie Bloomston, Play with Art History - Collage Composition

Jane LaFazio, 8 Objects 8 Ways

and Judy Coates Perez, Blessings in the Wind - Prayer Flags

She is looking forward to terrific classes and seeing Napa, CA!  Stay tuned for more.