Question & Answers about My Silk Screen Designs.

Why are my Silk Screened Designs so special?

Question & Answer Style:

a.  I designed them, I draw the design in my sketchbook, sometimes over and over again until each mark is right, as an example my Sunbeam mixer you see on my blog header and in my shop on tea-towels, is the product of several hours of research and drawing. I am huge fan of tracing individual details and layering them onto my designs.

b.  The process is done almost entirely by hand, at this time for small designs I don’t use photo emulsion  that means I draw the design onto the screen hand paint it and then fill the screen with a masking fluid that remains once the painted image is washed off.

Why is it important for me to do it by hand?

a.  I love the hand of the maker. Even though at first glance they are similar each time a print is made it is own entity with different weight, and different strokes. Thus making it one of kind. In my late 20’s, early 30’s  I went back to school and got my BFA from Emily Carr University of Art & Design. If was that education that truly taught me about craftsmanship and quality.

What is it about craftsmanship?

a.   Craftsmanship for me is about getting it right. I have always known I wanted to create my own fabrics, but also knew I wanted to start with the basics. ie. learn how to do it right. I had played around with it independently and had exposure to it at various times in art school but I recently went back to school to take an intensive 6 week Textile Design class. It goes with one of my mantras that I say to myself when I am making anything from Aprons to Ceramics: “If you can’t do it right, then don’t do it at all”.

Why Mid Modern Design & why Food?

a.  The First time I saw a Frank Lloyd Right building I was in awe- yes truly awe inspired, and even though I didn’t know too much about architectural styles a seed was planted. Much of my life, I have been on the go, not able to save and store furniture.   So early in our marriage my husband and I developed a passion for food, we collected kitchen appliances  not furniture. Now whenever we move over half of our boxes are labelled Kitchen the other half are Recipe, Art & Science books. We turned our style into Eating Good Food and fine dining.

What will I do next?

a.  My ultimate goal for my apron shop is to design my own fabrics, apply them to patterns and construct garments such as Aprons, Cocktail dresses and other fun fab things (explains why I am playing around with diaper shirts). I love the idea of entertaining, making good food and sharing my designs. I also want to be the modern Hostess.

So there you go, the long answer to Why are my Silk Screened Designs so special. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask!