African Art

Africa, the worlds second largest continent with as many as 61 territories represents a great diversity in its art and culture. Some of the poorest people live here but I feel some of the most talented too, be it sports, music, art (though lesser own).

This is inspired from an african painting I found while browsing. I did it on pre-washed cotton fabric using synthetic dyes.

African art is very colurful with lots of yellows, oranges, reds and browns. It is also very vibrant and attractive. Human figures and animals have been the primary subject for most african art. Check out Martin Bulinya's Tinga Tinga (Tanzanian art) at http://www.insideafricanart.com/default.htm

I love Africa and wildlife and is definitely on my "places I must see before I die" list.

love,

Gita

Hand Painted Bedsheet

I had some baby pink coloured soft cotton fabric in my closet for around five years till I finally figured out what to do with it. I decided to make a bedsheet with matching pillow covers. This is the close up of the hand painted bedsheet with matching pillow covers.

I bought this design from a store and they did the tracing on to the fabric too. He even taught me how to transfer the design to the fabric. ( Carbon copying the design often leaves black/blue marks here and there on the fabric and it looks ugly. Also I was using transparent dyes, so the carbon paper marks would show through the design). Another advantage was, since this was a repetitive design, just imagine carbon copying the entire design..it would have taken ages. Through this method you copy the design just once.

To transfer design to fabric:

Things needed were cotton wool, kerosene, solid boot polish ( or even blue powder, the powder used to whiten white clothes). I used boot polish.

- First the design is traced on to butter paper.

- Place the butter paper on a piece of foam or cushion and using a needle/pin poke holes throught the design, even this lines and curves.

- Place the slotted butter paper design over the fabric where you want the design.

-Dip cotton wool in kerosene and squeeze well. Touch this lighlty over boot polish.

- Rub this over the slotted butter paper.

- Now when you remove the butter paper you can see the design on the fabric as grey dots.

- Keep the the same butter paper wherever you want and repeat the procedure, for transferring the design again.

Different color combinations were tried and I finally stuck to this. After painting, I let it dry for 24 hours and then ironed on the reverse to let it set.

I have yet to get the edgings done for the sheet and the pillow cases and I hope it won't end up as another 5 year plan...;) !

Baby Steps to....a Baby dress !!!

Hello...

I thought creating and setting up the blog would be the tough part, but writing the first blog seemed even tougher. Its more than two weeks since we discussed about this blog and since then it seemed like I have hit a wall. So I happily put the ball in my sisters court asking her to write the first one....she being the elder of us!!! :) But she soon put it back in mine saying that she's just taken her brain out from the freezer and waiting for it to thaw...(smarter than I thought) ;)...!!!

So here you go, as we take baby steps into building this, here's a simple hand painted baby dress for all craft lovers. This was done by me for my niece.

Things I used :

- a cute little yellow dress

- fabric paints (I used dyes)

- a cute design

After transferring the design onto the dress. Have fun with the paints and let it dry for 24 hours and then iron on the reverse to seal the paint.

You can also try using puff/foam fabric paints which puff up when ironed. Looks cute on kids clothing.

So sis I've set the ball rolling, now over to you...!!!