Tuesday 29 May 2012

can I go out to play?

Yes I can, and I did!!  Thanks to my lovely Mum, who looked after my kids yesterday so that I could go to Paper Village, our local (very - it's just over the road from my house!) craft shop, which runs fantastic courses and workshops.  

I've already done a Lino Printing workshop last year, run by local printmaker and blogger Mel Wickham, and this time I fancied an even more immediate form of printmaking - rubber stamp cutting.  This workshop was run by London based Rubber Stamp artist Stephen Fowler, and it was great fun having a chance to get messy and play with sharp craft knives and ink. 

Here are a few photos of the results (and the mess!)...







So much fun!  If you're in Bristol I can totally recommend Paper Village, it's a great shop and it's courses and workshops are run by proper working artists and craftspeople with loads of knowledge and experience, but with a very relaxed and playful atmosphere that really encourages creativity.  I will definitely be cutting more stamps and doing more printing at home, apparently you can get pads of ink that can be stamped directly onto fabric - oh joy!

Hope you've been enjoying the lovely sunshine, thank you to everyone who has sent me a birthday message, and to all you lovely people who read my blog - you're great!

Rachel x

20 comments:

  1. What lovely prints, I love the rain clouds over the square pattern : )

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    1. Thanks Polly - we were given one big sheet of paper, so I was just playing around with repeats using the stamps I'd cut - I brought them all home, I'll be having fun with the cloud and raindrops! x

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  2. Sounds like a fab day! Love the results, Jo xx

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    1. Hi Jo, thanks - it was great fun - I love learning new crafts, and the idea of being able to make my own stamps is so exciting! x

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  3. What a lovely way to spend the day - what wonderful prints too! Did I miss a post about your birthday? Belated wishes & love xxx

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    1. Hi Karen, no don't worry, it's actually today! I tend not to make much fuss about it but I think in my last post there was mention of presents, in the context of Marimekko loveliness - I have been very lucky this year! Glad you like my playful printing - it was really fun to do. xx

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  4. Happy birthday Rachel, hope you had a super day. Love your stamps, the clouds and little rain drops are lovely. xx

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    1. Thanks Caroline, I've had a really great day thanks, feeling very blessed - the sun shone, a friend made a cake, I drank some Pimms - all good fun. Think I'll be using my stamps on labels and tags for my etsy shop when I get it started, though hard to do a rainbow without colouring it in by hand - which might get time consuming! xx

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  5. Oh what fun we can have in BS3!! Maybe Papervillage should do season tickets...and we have some of those fabric stamp pads, very addictive, you need at least a double bed sheet because it is impossible to stop...just let a small child get going with one...

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    1. Dontcha just love it here!? Those ink pads sound amazing, I will be unstoppable - as will the kids - better get buying sheets! x

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  6. How lovely - I do like a simple idea that becomes sooooo effective. I have only ever made things like this using the children's old rubbers but these look very smart - the rain is particularly sweet. Have a sunny day!

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    1. Hello lovely Jenny! I'm sure your efforts were just as good as mine, the guy teaching us said WH Smith's rubbers are the best! Have had a lovely sunny day thanks, hope you have too! x

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  7. Lucky you would love to go to that I just brought some speedy carve to try out, excited to have a go but just need to find some time!

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    1. Ooh that sounds like fun! To be honest a big reason for paying to go on a workshop is that it means I will make the time, and not have to clear the space at home - I'm very good at buying exciting-sounding craft supplies and then not finding the time to play! Hope you have fun with it when you get the chance. x

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  8. That looks like a really fun thing to learn. I love your stamps! x

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    1. Hi Col! It is great fun, and actually really easy as long as you've got a good sharp craft knife. I'm sure there are online tutorials if you can't find anyone teaching it near you. Glad you like my stamps, I bought a knife, an ink pad and a couple of rubbers so I can carry on playing at home, yay!

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  9. Oh I love rubber stamps. i have a growing collection which both Z and I love to use regularly. You designs are beautiful. Hooray to you and your mum! xx

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    1. I'm so glad everyone likes them! They are so easy to make, I'll definitely be doing more - though knowing me I'll be spending a small fortune on ink pads, there are so many gorgeous colours to choose from! Yes Hooray for my Mum, it was so odd hearing all the kids walking home from school while I sat there having creative fun, it felt like I was playing hooky! xx

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    1. It really was Tanya - I love learning new crafts! x

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