Cyanotype love!

When I saw the google doodle today honoring badass botanist and early photographer Anna Atkins I had to share these placemats I made using the very same cyanotype technique she used over 150 years ago to document algae. I love that this early photographic process is almost exactly the same as when it was invented and still widely used today. It makes such beautiful Prussian blue hues. 

For a collaboration with Design*Sponge I was making sun print place cards. So, while I was at it why not make play with cyanotype on fabric? It was fall and then leaves were perfect. I love the way they turned out. Subtle purple leaf shapes, and undulating blues.

If you want to give cyanotypes a go you can try a sun print kit, or Lumi Inkodye, which works a lot like cyanotypes, but comes in lots of great colors!

Retreat

Last weekend I ventured out of Brooklyn for a weekend filled with inspiring ladies, making new things and enjoying the woods of Connecticut.  I was the lucky guest of Jacque of Larks & Japes and Amy of Art School Girl for their skill share weekend, Retreat. Together with Margie, also of Larks & Japes, and Sun, a very talented illustrator, we ate delicious food, explored the area, stayed up way too late making and talking, and dove into lots of creative projects.

I learned how to make bitters and terrariums from Jacque, sun prints with Amy, and I made my first painting ever with the help of Sun. Have you ever made a painting using a reverse gouache wash off technique? I have! For my part I taught a late night embroidery workshop that went on till we were too sleepy to stitch anymore.

It was amazing to be able to connect with other creatives in such an inspiring environment. Who wouldn't want a weekend of good people, good food, and good craft in a great cabin in the woods?

More info here and visit the shop to support Retreat.

Follow the adventure on instagram too #RetreatCT

Creative Experiments with Sun Printing

“I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Here are some magical experiments with sun printing on fabric I made a while ago when I had the luxury of space and bright, sunny days in California. Making sun prints is really easy and fun. Basically, you place objects on light sensitive material, expose it to the sun, and then dip it into photographic chemicals or, in this case, water. You get these crisp, graphic, silhouettes....

Sunography offers some very cool paper and fabric kits (with 6 different colored fabrics included) if you want to try this too! Let me know if you give this a try.

p.s that's Tatianna & Dexter, two of my mom's chihuahuas, helping me out. Stupid cute, right?