Friday, March 9, 2012

Thinking of Summer?

It may seem too soon to be thinking of the long warm days of summer but the local garden centers don't think so. The nursery closest to my home included this information in their most recent email newsletter:
Roses:

It's that time again! Bare root roses have just arrived and are ready for sale. 

They included pictures of some of the roses they have for sale. I would love more varieties in my garden so may have to check them out this week. I'll also be asking them how to keep the deer away from my roses. It was a running battle last year!



Thinking about roses reminded me of my visit to the International Rose Test Garden in Portland last summer (on my 'roundabout' way to the Association of Pacific West Quilters show in Tacoma). I took many pictures of the roses and have wanted to print some of them on fabric. I have printed lots of photographs on fabric; in fact I teach workshops about the technique.

I normally print on 8 1/2" x 11" prepared fabric but have wanted to try Electric Quilt's fabric roll to have a larger piece of fabric to work with. This option allows you to print  'banner' style - that is 8 1/2" by as long as 120"!  










Here is one of my rose pictures, cropped and printed 8 1/2" x 16" on the EQ fabric. I layered the printed photograph with backing and batting and free-motion stitched with a variety of threads.



  
Here are a couple of close-up photos so you can see the stitching. The last picture shows some of the threads I used and you can get a better idea of the scale of the piece with the spools included in the photo.








I will be auditioning other photographs I've taken to see if they would be good candidates for this technique. How about you? What photos do you want to print? Perhaps you have a wide landscape or how about a team or family photograph? Let me know your ideas!

Be sure to come back to my blog next week (or subscribe in case you will forget). I'll have some tips for printing on fabric and a special offer!

8 comments:

Dolores said...

I have not yet printed on fabric but would like to so I am looking forward to your post next week.

Robin in Short Pump said...

What printer model will let you print on a roll?

Daphne Greig said...

Hi Robin,
Couldn't find a way to email you directly.

I cut the piece of fabric I wanted to use FROM the roll. I do not have a 'roll feeder' on my printer (and I'm not sure what type of printer would have one). Since I KNOW the size of print I want to make I can just cut the fabric that size.

Does that help? PS - email me directly if you want to.

Suzanne said...

I hang deoderant soap in 'onion' mesh bags, or rub soap along fence, keeps deer away from garden. love your flowers! I print my photos on fabric, fussy cut sometimes, fuse scenes. Love it

Daphne Greig said...

I'll definitely try the 'soap' trick!

Robin in Short Pump said...

So how do you deal with the curl?

And since you cut yours at a non-standard paper size, did your printer balk? I'm pretty sure mine wouldn't know what to do with 8.5x16 unless that is a European size that I'm not familiar with.

Daphne Greig said...

Dealing with the 'curl'. I gently rolled my piece the opposite way and it flattened out. If it doesn't do that it is recommended that you lay it flat with weight on it overnight - I would suggest under your cutting mat with some heavy books on top.

You need to check the printer properties of your printer to see what options you have. This differs from printer to printer so I can't advise exactly what you will see. Try different options and see what is available. The size I cut is not a European size.

Hope that heads you in the right direction!

Carla said...

I may have to try the inkjet fabric roll soon.