As I mentioned the other day, I just purchased a new wide format printer – an Epson Workforce 1100. I’ve been playing around with it this weekend, putting it to the test, and it’s done *really* well. In fact it has a very nice feature that I didn’t notice first time round; it automatically positions the paper for printing. For example, when you send your file to the printer, sometimes it misfeeds as the paper slips or slides out of position and the resulting print starts inches from where it’s supposed to. The Workforce 1100 is actually intelligent enough to realize if the paper slips and it will readjust it automatically to start printing at the correct position – I really like that feature!
And of course whenever I get anything new I’ve just *got* to test it out. So this weekend I was working on a new art bag and did a couple of comparison prints while I was at it just to demonstrate once again, the amazing results you get when using digital grounds.
This is a new digital art design for my latest art bag. This is the original artwork – front and back.
Then I did a print on an untreated piece of pfd fabric ..
… and the same design printed on a piece of fabric treated with digital grounds.
You should be able to see a noticeable difference in color quality, and also close up you can see a very noticeable difference in detail. The print on the untreated fabric looks very washed out and dull by comparison.
So on to the art bag. This is “Daisy”, a simpler bag design than “Poppy”, but very bright and cheery.
I’ve been asked a number of times about how the art bags are constructed. The design of “Poppy” is a little complicated because it’s shaped with a rounded front and back, but “Daisy” is a much simpler design.
The artwork of course is first printed onto fabric using digital grounds. The pieces are then constructed individually – the artwork fabric is fused to a piece of peltex …
The lining is fused to the other side of the peltex …
The digital art is then sealed with a brush-on sealer to make it water-resistant, and then the edges are satin-stitched all round. Even after using digital grounds and sealing, the art is still very sewable both by hand and machine.
Then all the pieces are assembled flat and stitched together. Depending on the shape, sometimes this is done by hand, sometimes by machine.
And then finally the sides are handstitched into position to form the shape.
For “Daisy” I added a beaded embellishment on the front.
And lengths of machine wrapped cording were plaited to form handles. And finally – Daisy is born.
Pick up your Supplies at DickBlick.com
Find out why I recommend DickBlick.com
Have my articles delivered straight into your inbox each time I post!
Sign up for my Blog Email here.
This is lovely Linda. Thank you for sharing the process.
Thanks Lorraine, I’m having lots of fun making these.
Linda
Linda, how do you usually create your artwork? I assume you are making digital designs and then printing them on fabric, but it occurred to me that you might be designing on paper and scanning. Your designs are lovely, however it is that you do them.
.-= Donna´s last blog ..Right Brain / Left Brain Quiz =-.
At the moment I’m using Photoshop to make the digital art designs and then I print them onto fabric. I particularly like the visual texture that can be achieved when using Photoshop.
Linda
Amazing work…. It’s really beautifull.