I stumbled on this demo on youtube…

awesome right?

I had most of it figured out, found various recipes for “print paste” using alginate and urea, but wanted to support the inventor (Kerr).

I found most of what I need easily enough, still need to find the water softener, but hoping the hardware store has it.

I ordered her DVD, and got it in the mail today!

will update here later…

I went to G & S Dye on Dundas (Toronto) this week with some extra cash that I found planning to invest in a few projects I’ve been holding off for a while. I’ve never been to G&S Dyes before, though had known about it for years. Not very often can I afford to drop $100 on fancy art supplies. I heard they carried a chemical required for the Devore process to burnout fibers and was looking forward to experimenting with it.

Now it could be just that he’s got cops across the street all day, or the constant battery of ignorant OCAD students, but this guy was far from friendly or helpful. I asked for what I wanted specifically, and although he did have it, he assumed I couldn’t possibly know how to use it and warned that they sell it only to such privileged people and don’t “promote, sell or support” it.

Maybe it’s cool, possibly charitable of him, to share his high-society secret stash of unbranded mystery ingredient, but the attitude was just a little insulting. Every question I asked was met with a “well if you don’t know you shouldn’t buy it” cuffed remark, almost enough to snap me out of my it’s-a-fabulous-sunny bike-ride-downtown to-meet-sister-for-dim-sum with-money-in-my-pocket good-day… but not quite.

I also picked up some discharge paste (fancy bleach-like stuff that doesn’t kill the fabric) and two bottles of not-speedball fancy ink (figured it was probably more than $15/bottle, but a lot better quality, and since it was on my list, decided it was worth it).

I put everything down on the counter, and he asks me if I know how to use the screen printing inks… and oh yeh they’re $25 and $30/bottle.

The price didn’t bother me too much, but *wow* is he grinning at me when he says that? The look on his face is as if he thinks he’s stumped me on an 8-letter word…

douchebag

I assured him I’ve access to the internet too, and I can find what I need to know. Thanks very much, and took my receipt for $86.

Last night I checked the store website (funny how the reviews insist there are very helpful employees) and seeing a list of instructions for their products with an invitation to contact for any instructions not listed, I emailed him a link with instructions for a similar product asking if it was the same process. I just wanted to confirm before I wasted any of it, because maaaaybe it is super special stuff that is higher concentration or different than what the rest of the world is using…

His response was the same bullshit from the store: “…as I mentioned, *blah blah blah* …we only have the chemical for those who request and already know how to use.” At least he confirmed the instructions I found would work. But seriously, do they not teach customer service at OCAD? Or have you decided I wasn’t a customer worth being nice to? IF you were *the only store in the world* that sells this shit I would play along with your superiority complex, but you’re not.

Sell it professionally, like a reputable business would, or don’t sell it at all.

And don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth… or the face it’s on.

My recommendation to any indie crafters wanting to experiment with more uncommon textile design chemicals and techniques, possibly as intolerant of such arrogant artsy elitist types as I am, buy your art and craft supplies online. It’s the same price per mL for the Devore stuff, but a lot cheaper for screen printing supplies and inks.

FIBER ETCH from Dharma Trading

In November I interviewed with Peach Berserk, legendary Toronto screen printed punk-rock frock shop on Queen West, for a sewing position (“Head Sewer” sounds like a horror movie right?)… anyhow, after two awkward interviews I didn’t get the job, but they put me “on the list of super star sewers” for future projects.

It’s now February and I saw another post on Craigslist from Kingi asking for a Creative Accessories Designer. I wrote to her with some photos of my new bustiers saying “Hey! Remember me?” and she invited me down to discuss.

So… I go down Saturday afternoon, with somewhat lower expectations, she shows me some pillows and a bag in the showroom, tells me what she likes and doesn’t like about them, and tells me to pick out some scraps from two overflowing bins in the back room for a “sample” pillow. I grab a few pieces, trying to get some in colours I liked, with decent prints, and of decent size… show them to her, and OOOPs! I’d picked up some satin, polyester, and a couple bits of raw silk. My bad. Mixing fabrics is apparently not ok… and the pieces are too big! Okie dokie… so I go back and quickly pick out as many small or odd shaped pieces of raw silk I can find without much attention to the prints. With a mitt full of edges, misprints, and dirty scraps I tell Kingi I’ll be back Wednesday with some pillows.

Back at home I’m questioning my mission, purpose, etc… is this a cruel joke or a job? I sketch some ideas, do a bit of research on sewing with raw silk, find some funky quilting and patchwork inspiration and remembering Lada’s  alteration insanity (she was a designer in September @ heartbeat960 who liked to sew out front on the sidewalk) decided to try a patchwork collage. Took me a while to get into cutting up the fabric… not sure why exactly. Maybe worried I’d waste the bigger piece. But when I realized I didn’t actually have to quilt it, and I could use iron-on interfacing as a sticky foundation, I knew I was going to nail it!

She warned me about using “patches” of incomplete prints, messy prints, or no print. And when I asked about unfinished edges, it was alright as long as it was done nice. She also told me never to throw anything out, and she wanted “more” funky than the other pillows she had already. So, I took some of this, some of that… and baby this is how you turn shit into gold.

Upcycled… Raw Silk… Patchwork…  Collage… Berserker Pillows!!

Only finished one pillow so far… pictured below is the initial layout, the front, and the back… Next one I’m going to make a little more pretty with flowers and such. This first one I tried with my second choice fabric combos.

In January I decided to jump on the bandwagon and cash in on people’s insecurities… did you stick to your new year’s resolution to get skeletal? on the no-sugar diet with Ellen? if you did, or didn’t… here’s something to highlight your mid section (over or under other wares). Warning! May get you a TV appearance on “What Not to Wear”.

no scraps design… no kidding!

I stumbled on this amazing publication of brilliance while searching for “zero waste design” … fabric inspired by animals, clothing created without scraps, and a pretty wicked online zine format.

Wolf Sheep Workbook by foya collective

Read also…

precariousdesign.wordpress.com

In Montreal I found a broken adjustable dress form in a pile of trash and used foam, duct tape, and an old bra to try and make it my size. It didn’t really work out… the boobs were too high (rather the shoulders too low pffft) and 4 rolls of black duct tape is not exactly easy to pin through. Other than a very curvy hanger, it wasn’t much use for draping… so it ended up in the trash again when I moved.

Anyhow… I found this new idea for making a custom sized flat pattern. Basically you wrap yourself in saran wrap and then cut it off. Check it out…

fashion incubator – saran wrap pattern making method #1

While looking for different scrap patchwork and quilting techniques I found this great scarf tutorial that uses scraps and water soluble sticky stabilizer… click the photo for a link to the tutorial.

Apparently nothing new to many textile designers and quilters… but I can’t wait to get my hands on this stuff and experiment!

can be bought here

Materials donated by the Toronto Cat Rescue…

$35 each

sale proceeds will be donated back to the Toronto Cat Rescue