Printing Photos onto Fabric Workshop on Inisheer

An invitation to the Aran Islands is not one to refuse! So, when Mary McCarthy of "Mna le Cheile" asked me to come to Inisheer to demonstrate printing photos onto fabric, I didn't have to think twice.

But being November, with storms and rough seas forecast during the week, I was afraid that Winter was going to put a stop to my excitement.

However, although Saturday was rainy....it was calm enough at sea and the ferry was running.


The workshop went very quickly as we wanted to try a good few techniques including:

• Miracle Fabric Sheets from CJenkins }
• EQ Printables from the Electric Quilt Company } both recommended for inkjet printers
• Tshirt transfer paper from Tesco ironed onto fabric
• Image Maker solution painted onto a photocopy and transferred to fabric
• Acrylic Medium painted onto a photocopy and transferred to fabric
• Printing directly onto our own fabric cut to A4 and ironed onto Freezer Paper to stabilise it before printing with laser/inkjet.

This photo shows the paper being removed from the Imagemaker print.

This photo shows the result of a tshirt transfer print.

Jenny and Cormac seem pleased with the result of the Imagemaker transfer.

Images of Inisheer hanging up to dry!

Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages. Results can vary depending on the printer, the brand of product used, the fabric used, etc. Colour and light-fastness will depend on the number of washes, the detergent used, etc.

But this workshop was a 'hands-on' introduction to the possibilities of incorporating printed photographs, drawings, documents, etc. into your own work to personalise it further.

Those attending the workshop came from different backgrounds in weaving, felting, patchwork, photography, costume design, etc. So hopefully everyone went away having learned something new to apply to their own work in the future.

As for me......

• I learned a lot, as usual when I teach a workshop.
• I received a warm welcome on a rainy night with delicious homemade soup and brown-bread.
• I slept cosily under Mary and Pat's thatched roof in their lovely home.
• I woke to a beautiful November morning on Inisheer looking out at the Atlantic.
• I reminded myself of how magical Inisheer is at any time of year.

A big thanks to Mary for inviting me and to everyone at the class for such a lovely welcome. Go raibh mile maith agaibh!

Inisheer magic!

Inisheer was wonderful. I loved flying there on a 10-seater Islander, staying at Brid Poil's B&B, Mad Uncle Harry's cajun band playing at Aras Eanna and of course the creative textiles workshop we did on Sunday. Here are a few photos from the weekend. If you get the chance to visit this quilt festival in 2010....grab it!

Creative embroidery classes on Inis Oirr

I am delighted to be invited to teach a 1-day workshop on 'creative textiles' on Inis Oirr in September '09. My class will include: an introduction to creative journalling, stitching into soluble fabric, creating fabric from scraps and slashing through layers to create a chenille texture. The day is aimed at introducing a number of experimental techniqes to those who may have tried traditional patchwork and quilting and are now interested in exploring some contemporary techniques.