First Screenprinting Adventure!
As you recall, about 3 months ago I received a screenprinting kit from my fabulous husband for my birthday/christmas. I was super excited but alas also pretty busy, thus hadn’t gotten a chance to use it. My new friend Jen and I have been cooking up some ideas, our last project was a lamp which turned out pretty awesome. Her husband Eddie has recently become a Boston Celtics Fan, which, if you live in Tempe, it is rather hard to find a celtics t-shirt, especially a month ago, which was when we began looking.
As I had never used the screenprinter before and was eager to try it out, and she needed a shirt for Eddie, what better excuse! Thus we embarked on our adventure, I can honestly say I’ve never worked so much on a project for someone else’s husband. (You are a special one Eddie!)
First we collaborated and came up with a design
Next we watched instructional videos for about an hour and a half (got overwhelmed then inspired),
-then we printed it out on a standard transparency using my inkjet printer
Note: if you want more visuals, go here.
-The next step was to go in a light-safe room (no uv light) and cover the screen with an emulsion liquid on both sides, let dry for at least a few hours, (we waited a few days)
-Next tape the printed transparency onto the screen and shine a bight light on it for 13 min. (exactly)
-transport screen to a “washing station” which for us was the backyard at night with a hose
-Wash screen out with hose or a pressure washer if you have it. The principal being that the dark black ink that was printed on the transparency blocked the light from those sections, so the emulsion behind it is still soft, while the rest is hardened by light. Thus when you wash it with water, the emulsion only comes off those sections covered by transparency…get it?
Now our screen looked like this
Next, tape up the edges so ink can’t leak through
We fastened the screenprinting board to the table
Which took some intensive leveling
Once that was “straightened out” ;) we put some mild glue on the board to hold on palce and put the shirt on the board
Next was the all exciting inking process
Notice we tested first on a “crap shirt” (official term) good thing too, because it took a few tries
With white ink, it is thicker so you need a little gap between the screen and board, We over compensated the first time so the ink got a little blotchy, but after some problem solving, we moved on to the real deal!
Jen did the honors
And voila!!
Stuuuuu-pendous! After blowdrying it until the ink was dry to touch, we put a sheet of parchmet paper over the design and ironed it on the hottest heat to “set” the ink so that it wouldn’t wash off in the laundry
Really pleased with it, now the question remained, would Eddie like it?
Jen is off to deliver…
And yes! He liked it :) not that we had any doubts I mean come on!
If this doesn’t make him a good Celtics fan I don’t know what would! Stay tuned for future projects, Jen promised we’ll do one for me this time ;) and more screenprinting to come I’m sure…
Locks that I love
Sometimes, projects are quite simple, uncomplicated and just work. Not often! but still, every once in awhile…for example my newest diy “art” addition
I’ve always liked old locks, and working at the antique store I gradually began to build up a collection. A few here, a few there, I used to have them displayed in my craft cabinet (see below)
But I needed more, and thanks to good ol’ Joan (who found some for me at the Antique Store) Mission accomplished. For awhile I put them in bowls on the table in front of the fireplace but it didn’t seem right…Then late Friday evening…Stroke of Genius! I had gotten this shadowbox frame from Ikea in the as-is section for only 5 bucks because it has a tiny knick in the side (that’s when you know you’re cheap, shopping in the as-is section of Ikea, because the normal section is so expensive n’ all.) It had been sitting behind my armchair for a few months waiting for a use, and bam
Don’t they fit so nicely? Before I unwrapped the frame, I got the locks out and tried some different arrangements to see how it would work. I found a composition I liked right away, so I took a picture with my iphone so I would remember the order
I tried nailing into the backing, but the board was too soft and thin so I opted for my go to solution…hot glue of course. I consoled myself by thinking that if I did change my mind, the glue would “probably” peel of my precious locks. Right? ya…
So as I’m looking at my phone and gluing them on, Nick sits down and watches, after it’s done and he compliments my handiwork,
he says, “so where did you see this?”
Me-blank stare- “I don’t know… people have hung old lock collections before?”
N-”but what were you copying from?”
Me -”umm nothing in particular, I was looking at my phone to get the composition right from the photo I took earlier ”
N-”oh, when I saw you looking at your phone, I just assumed you were looking at someone else’s picture and copying it”
thanks for the vote of confidence hubby! Not that no one has ever hung locks before, but come on! I can think creatively enough to not have to copy someone’s work exactly! Now remembering the order of something 15 min. earlier that’s another story (although it did change slightly, you just have to let the locks move you ;) but all in all, super easy, I had the locks, had the frame and had a hot glue gun, now I just need my husband to have some more faith in me and I’d be unstoppable!
Happy Monday! (p.s. sorry for the inconsistency, back on track one of these days…)
My Job at SW!TCH
For the Past few months (since Jan 3rd) I’ve been working at a new job, a real job even. Since graduation in 2009, I’ve had, internships, freelance jobs and part time work. Now I’m legit. full time, 8:30-5:30, salaried M-F. Woah. I feel so adult :) I didn’t want to jinx it by posting to early but now that things are rolling and we’ve passed the 2 month mark. here goes. Welcome to my work life:
This is the studio, shot from the conference table looking into the main work space (notice just a small sampling of bikes, he has 45 altogether)
This is the kitchen area, my boss Jim on left and coworker Kris in middle and Liz on right
Jim paints on pallets and this is one of his works of art hanging above the entertainment area
Jim’s crazy office ( as we do many publications, naturally magazines everywhere!)
lots and lots of magazines, Inspiration!
As a former BMX rider, he has a collection of skateboards and the very first Burton board
Liz and Kris working hard
Conference table during a mag redesign for Momentum
Now moving on to next door, where there are more bikes, a bike repair area and…
a half pipe.
Carla, Mia (from momentum), Kris, Chaidi (our traveling designer) and me, hanging out in the kitchen, after hours of course ;)
Chaidi and Liz on one of our many bike rides to lunch
I ponder the bike lifestyle in Japan, as I examine one of our new test bikes, a folding bike
And that’s it, as one of my friends called it, the Google workplace of Arizona… maybe a smaller scale, being we are a 6-man team, but nonetheless! I love my new job and can’t wait to be a part of SW!TCH’s future!
