Here’s more info about the different products I make right here in Montpelier:
About My Design Process:
- I sketch my designs, then transfer them onto a linoleum block, which I then hand carve very carefully.
- Usually I test the design by printing onto paper first, and will carve any adjustments I’d like made.
First an important note: I wish that I could afford to work with blanks that are all organic cotton, only sewn in the US. However, the pricing for this kind of quality is such that I would not be able to sell them and get a proper return on the investment. I strive to make my original printed clothing affordable for regular people like me, and often don't charge enough as it is! Thank you for your understanding.
- Each shirt is 100% cotton, and starts out white.
- I purchase the blanks and enhance them with original dye and design work.
- Four of the Women’s styles are sewn in the US (California).
- The Hanes Men’s T’s and Women’s V-Necks are sewn in Honduras or El Salvador. One Women's Scoop style (cap sleeve) is sewn in the US (California), another scoop style from a different company is sewn in Bangladesh.
- I dye each piece in small batches using a professional textile dye, salt and fixative.
- They are machine washed twice (once in hot, once in cold) to take out excess dyes.
- They are shrunk once in a hot dryer.
- A white block is often (but not always!) printed first onto the clothing, so that colors in main print stand out.
- The design block is printed after the first block is dry.
- Color is put on the block using brushes, since I like the texture that brushstrokes add.
- I use Professional Textile Paints, which, when heat set, are permanent and wash-fast.
- When prints are dry, each one is heat-set by hand with high temperature to ensure permanence.
- My own unique take on the Tibetan Prayer Flag, these are sure to brighten all spaces!
- First I cut and then sew each flag (cotton crinoline fabric).
- Some of the colors are hand-dyed, some stay white.
- The dyed ones get washed w. the professional sudsy stuff.
- Designs are Hand-Block Printed, using the same method as with the clothing.
- They are heat-set for permanence.
- Then I assemble prints into groupings, and string them onto yarn & cording.
- Using blank greeting cards, I print the fronts with a design block using acrylic paint.
- Once dry, I print the back of the cards with my four-leaf clover block design
- When the backs are dry, I fold the cards, and hand-sign each card.
- Labels for mix packs are created and printed.
- Mix packs get assembled with ribbon and a label.
- Clear plastic bags are used to store the cards and keep them safe & clean.
- Framed artwork: the print is put into a frame, which comes with its’ own hanging fixture.
- They are high-quality 100% Linen
- The blank towels are purchased from a company in Massachusetts.
- I hand-print and heat-set each one, using the same process and inks as with clothing.
- Designer fabrics are mixed with silks, velvets, denim, corduroy, knits, wools, etc.
- I play with the colors and textures, cutting out pieces to assemble together into a hat.
- They are reversible, so it’s two hats in one!
- I use a serger sewing machine to sew the pieces together.
- The brims are then hand-sewn.
- Each one is One-of-a-Kind!
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