About the Book
Fabric, glass, wood, metal, humans . . . print on almost anything! Try your hand at DIY printing with 15 colorful projects, from a galvanized planter and curtains to a coffee table. Make over nearly any surface with block printing, silk screen, and disperse dye transfer with this complete visual guide. Start with 12 charming patterns, and branch out to sketch your own designs. Getting your hands messy is all part of the fun!
About the Author :
Betsy Olmsted's printed textiles have been featured in stores nationwide and licensed by companies such as Guildery, Clothworks and Oopsy Daisy. She's eager to share her printing expertise with her fans. She lives in Lancaster, PA, with her family. betsyolmsted.com.
Review :
Hand-Printing Studio by Betsy Olmsted is due out in the beginning of May, but I've been able to look through a preview pdf, and does it ever look good! I believe that if you are interested in learning to hand print your designs onto fabric, paper, and other materials, this book will give you a fantastic beginner's overview to the process. Betsy covers how to create designs that will print well, the surfaces, colorants, and tools that you will need, and all the details of doing block prints, screen prints, and transfer prints. Included are 15 projects along with 12 original designs that you are welcome to use if you don't want to draw your own. One unique topic Betsy covers that I don't see in a lot of other printing books is abstract designs. You'll find some lovely ideas for these in the chapter on transfer prints.--Cyndi Lavin "mixed-media-artist.com"
Here textile designer Olmsted introduces three techniques of hand printing--block printing, screen printing, and transfer printing. The first chapters cover basics of design, including techniques for customizing and choosing and blending colors, followed by an overview of tools and supplies used in hand printing, including surfaces, inks, and dyes. The next three sections, one for each type of printing, feature a summary of the technique and a series of projects for practicing it on an array of surfaces--mostly fabric but also wood, metal, glass, paper, carpet, and even skin (the "reptile bird children" tutorial involves stamping a curved pattern onto a child's skin -employing -temporary tattoo ink). Clear instructions and detailed photographs help guide crafters through the process; the projects range from sweet and whimsical (a "tomato thief" squirrel block printed on a pillow) to abstract and sophisticated (watercolor designs transfer printed on carpet squares and ribbon).VERDICT Crafters interested in exploring diverse techniques of hand printing will appreciate Olmsted's all-in-one approach; those with a specific interest in one method may prefer a more focused guide.-- "Library Journal"
Make your mark and print on "almost anything," as the cover says, with this useful primer. Learn how to do various types of printmaking techniques and decorate fabric, metal, glass, wood and even skin!This is a well laid out book that is easy to use and get good results from. Three basic techniques are covered, namely block, screen and transfer printing, and each chapter includes several projects (fifteen in all). To begin, there is an overview about designing, including repeats and different types of image, various options to actual drawing and color mixing. There is another chapter that deals with what to print on, including a helpful table so you don't buy the wrong product. The three main sections firstly teach you what you need to buy and how to use it, and then offers several projects covering different aspects of it. The author has a fun, chatty style of teaching, and instructions include enough staged photographs as well as tips for getting it right. Designs are fun and modern, and items to print on are very varied. These include a metal garden planter decorated with a repeat design of snails, a tomato-stealing squirrel cushion, seedpod kaftan, triangle printed coffee table, a bandana with a bison and the author's young children printed to look like animals. Full-sized patterns are included at the back, and there is even a page suggesting ways of selling your wares. In short, this is the type of book that makes learning a new skill accessible and enjoyable by telling you what you need to know to do it well, but not swamping the beginner with a superfluity of information. One for the keeper shelf.-- "myshelf.com"
Making your own fabric designs is something that most artists want to achieve. There is something quite satisfying about creating every element of an art piece rather than using commercial prints. This book will guide you from the start to give you the help you are looking for. At first glance the information may seem a bit obvious, as the opening pages cover shapes and colour, but these sections also provide a lot of visual examples so you can start seeing interesting possibilities. The book then moves on to look at pattern repeats, types of materials suitable for printing, and inks and dyes. Block printing, screen-printing and transfer printing each have their own sections, together with specific projects on which to practice your newly-developed skills. Even if the projects themselves aren't to your liking, there is enough good solid content in the book to make it a handy reference book if you want to start hand printing yourself. Everything about the book is light, bright and easy--it is set out to give you confidence that you can do it. This is definitely not for the advanced printer, but if you want to experiment and try the processes for yourself, it's a great resource.-- "Down Under Textiles"
This guide by Betsy Olmsted explores the secrets of block, screen, and transfer printing with a collection of 15 hand-printed projects for fabrics, furniture, walls, and more.-- "Do It Yourself"
Whatever you want to print on, this book shows you how. Find 15 hand-printing projects for your home plus 12 ready-to-use patterns. This is a fresh, beginner's guide to printing at home. This book is split into the following chapters: Creating Designs, Surfaces and Materials, Block Printing, Screen Printing, Transfer Printing, Selling, Patterns and Resources. It is structured with tips and techniques throughout to get you started. There is even printing on skin. The book is well illustrated throughout and easy to follow.-- "yarnsandfabrics.co.uk"
