Wanderlust

The last few days.  I've been working on a screen print as a Christmas gift to inspire wanderlust.  Well, I should say we, because screen printing is really a two person thing and Joe did a  lot of the work.  This was the first time either of us have ever screen printed but I'm quite happy with the finished product.  I'm not giving up on block printing though.  I like how instant it is, that you don't have to wait in between any of the steps, that you just keep going.  Screen printing, however, has a lot of waiting, a lot of water and a lot of mess.  For all of that though, you get a very precise and detailed finished product.
Here are some photos of the process, but not nearly all of it.  The next time we work on a print I'll try to photograph it from start to finish.  This print used two screens but we only have one so we had to wash it out after the first layer to make the second.  We actually messed up both screens once (trying to get the exposure time right) so all in all we had to expose four screens.

The graphic is about 10x12 but is on larger paper because I like a lot of white border.  I figured that this way I can cut it down to fit and have more frame options.  This is one of six, so, if you really want one let me know.  Also, I know what I want for my next block print but I'm having a hard time drawing it.  I'll bake for you if you help me draw.  Please?

Lotus Root

Saturday December 10th.  Printing with lotus root onto tea towels.  This was super easy.  I went to the Japanese market and picked up a lotus root and then used red screen printing ink to stamp the root onto white tea towels.  Once they were dry I bundled them in threes with baking twine.

Then we gave Sidecar a bath.  I love her pink nose.

Byodo-In Temple

Friday December 2nd - Sunday December 4th.  On Friday we headed over to Byodo-In Temple.  The whole thing was built without nails.

On Sunday we spent a few hours making Christmas cards.  When you receive your cards with cute pictures of kids and pets that were printed at a warehouse store somewhere and quickly signed, remember that those, though adorable, took mere minutes to make.  Our cards however, took hours and hours.  Here is a sneak peek.  

Peach, raspberry with watermelon and cherry, blueberry and peach with li hing