Isilme spent a day with her mate (girl) doing gelli printing. She notes, on that and also on the previous post on spring:
“I laughed about the photo composition because usually my main thought is, “Is it in focus? Did I get it all in?” So it is all subconscious (unconscious?) or something like that. I did notice the stripy shadow on the wall in the photo of the wild garlic and thought it was fun. And it might cause people to wonder what on earth that could be. Actually it is a lot of bamboo canes, leaning against the apple tree.
And the gelli printing…! Well, it was wonderful to be honest. It has been ages since I spent such a lovely long time with a friend. Also, it’s been a long time since I spent all day ‘playing’!!”
JH: So here it is … gelli printing day:
“Meanwhile, up in the craft room… Or, rather, up in a friend’s craft room…
I got together with my friend for what was meant to be a morning of crafting. Her craft room is also in the attic. The plan was to do some gelli printing and just generally have a good natter. She’s a very accomplished crafter – she spins her own wool, dyes it, and weaves it. Some of the clothes she makes are so lovely. She has a huge weaving loom (the type that takes a day or two to set up before you even start to weave).
So we planned to do gelli printing until lunchtime, have a sandwich, and I’d go home and do boring chores.
So, we kept doing gelli printing until past 1pm – we decided we’d just clean up our gelli plates which involves brayering paint over them and printing on to paper in the hope that it will print off all the remaining bits and pieces of paint left from previous printings (you get that sometimes, and it looks really good).
So I have no idea what time it was when we finally went downstairs to eat. We ate lunch, while talking away and finally her husband appeared and said he was going to walk the dog. He said goodbye to me as I might not be there when he got back (was that a hint I should go….?) So I asked what time it was. 4pm!!!! Yikes!
(Beloved) was astounded that I’d been crafting all day and laughed his head off that I was only now coming home. But I had good fun and discovered some new techniques and got to know my friend a bit better too. All good.
Craft club (itself) this morning was fine – I’m currently knitting a cardigan in the hope that I’ll use up two giant balls of wool and thus create a bit more space in the craft room. Although, I suppose I shall need more space in the wardrobe when I’ve finished it!
Have a look at the photos of some of the prints I made… Some are done using random plants from the garden and squishing them into the paint on the gelli plate. Others are done using stencils. The trick is to limit myself to three colours – that actually works better than grabbing random paints on the spur of the moment. I’ve only photographed the best prints. There are a lot more that look a bit ghastly, but I can probably salvage them by printing over them.
Some prints are done on tissue paper. I thought that was a bit odd when I first heard of doing it. However, my friend showed me how you can stick the tissue paper on to something (card, wood, tiles, etc) and the tissue paper doesn’t show up! It looks as if you’ve painted it straight onto the item. That’s a game changer because I don’t have to try to get a perfect gelli print on anything, especially if it’s an awkward shape. I can try it out on the tissue paper and if it works, I stick it on!
Another reason to hoard small boxes, tins, picture frames, etc, etc.”
* I didn’t post this. I thought I had ! Here goes, finally!*
Isilme! I absolutely love your gelli prints. How fascinating for me to hear about you learning the process at the hands of a friend helping to further your knowledge of printing…and seeing how to also use tissue! No doubt you were a fast learner. I know because I see the results.
Additionally, I think it is good you are able to reuse the ones that didn’t turn out as you were learning. My parents grew up in the Great Depression (must watch out as the word, ‘great’, just might cause us a serious riff…a see you at sunrise type thing) in the 1930’s and have instilled in me the old adage,’Waste not want not.’ That would explain my main hobby, that of developing new and clever ways to store stuff. The other hobby is dreaming of ways to cleverly use and or make interesting things out of the stuff!
We are having a lot of renovations done in the ole abode here. As Andy has implied, it is a big undertaking. Keeping one’s sanity wavers from day to day. Whether to stay during the craziness we have found ourselves half in and half out…seems to be a royal trend these days! It is definitely a royal mess here!
I cannot help but admire your work today as well as other pieces of art you and James have displayed for us. I wish I could be a client of yours. I have an idea(s)of where I could display an Isilme original!
Your spring post was quite uplifting. We are experiencing the glorious spring season a few weeks ahead of you. The first signs over your way that you shared are so precious. It gives hope as the freshness of life fights its way into this world.
I do want to add that I did notice the bamboo shadows! I didn’t know they were from bamboo, but I was aware that you were aware of those shadows 🤭. Shadows are interesting. They can range from playful to scary!
Again, I do appreciate all you shared. The best to you. We must keep planting, having babies, bringing beauty into the world. You are bringing beauty into our world.
P.S. I just know your friend had as much fun as you did! 😉
Toodles, how kind of you to say such nice things about my gelli printing. It’s in the very early stages as I’m still learning how to get the effect I want. Even so, the ones that didn’t turn out as I expected are still very pleasing. Once I get the hang of the colours that go well together to get the look that is in my imagination, I shall go crazy creating prints to stick on to some of my craft drawers. They are just plain wood at the moment.
Haha – I like your hobby of ‘finding new and clever ways to store stuff’. I could do with that. You haven’t seen my craft room. It desperately needs new ways to store stuff (other than on the floor). This is why I’m always clearing it out.
I’m definitely caught up in the ‘waste not want not’ too – which is why I have little bits of card and paper (good for cards), tiny lengths of ribbon (also good for cards, or weaving), used ‘colour catcher’ sheets from the laundry because they’re such interesting colours and I must be able to do something with them…..etc, etc!
I shall have to find my mum’s little sign that says something like, “This isn’t a mess, it’s just lots of ideas lying around”!!
☺️🤭🤭! “This isn’t a mess, it’s just lots of ideas lying around”!!
My new mantra and excuse.
Keep up the good work, my friend!