Neglected Ink

Poor neglected Inky shop! Well my last post was way way back in February and I have had a busy few months. The Felt Menagerie has been super super busy with lots of wedding orders and some new galleries and shops to supply and I haven't had any time to make new inky things or do anything except maintain my shops. 

In fact there was a point in the last few months where John and I discussed just closing down Ink altogether and selling off my supplies and remaining stock. I was just worn out from being a feltmaker my drawing and printing were falling by the way side. Not helped by the lack of energy and the fact that I had only been able to make it to 2 ceramics classes last term. Frankly the whole thing was getting me down until this last couple of weeks where there was a lull in the felty orders and I had a little more time to play... maybe it's just the seasons changing but I have started feeling a bit more energised and inspired.

I have been making these lino plates of nests for ceramics class and printing them on to procelain, I have to wait to fire the ceramics before I take any pictures but I am very very happy with my prints and there should be some paper versions appearing in the shop soon. Also I am drawing again, for some reason I am obsessed with bears... so at the top of this post is my favourite grumpy bear drawing which I will be making into a gocco print soon. 

 It feels very good to be inspired and working again, sometimes us creative types get stuck in a bit of a rut and it takes a while to work thru it. I'm looking forward to a creative summer *:D

xx
mel

Print Class Part 2

My print class has finished for the year and I feel a bit sad that it's over... luckily it's starting again in the new year and we will be learning new things... yay!
Being a bit rubbish and totally snowed under with work I only made it to about half the classes this term but I did finally manage to get a handle on repeat lino cuts... not contented to "do something simple to try it out first" as the teacher advised I decided that I really wanted to do a circular pattern. One lino cut which when turned thru 90 degrees would form a circle.
This involved rather more swearing in the registering process than my class mates were comfortable with, the teacher was impressed with my ambition, which I took to mean that I was running before I had learned to walk but then I have never really been one for half measures!
I decided to try a wren on a nest and I am really quite pleased with the result, the print quality isn't amazing but we have been promised a go with the presses next year which should improve that... and I shall be trying it out myself at home with some oil based ink as soon as the festive season is out of the way.
I also made one in blue and brown which is going to be my mum's Christmas gift... it's a shame I couldn't go to all the classes as I now have so many ideas that I think my brain may explode! They will have to wait for the new year tho a the festive shopping rush is in full swing and my inky fingers are being kept very busy wrapping orders!
x
Mel