Silk Technique Tutorial    

 I have a Silk Series Project Information packet all ready to go, lots of pictures. This is the result of 5 months of work finding the procedure and compatible
products.  It is complete with step by step instruction, pictures, supplies listed and names of suppliers.  One thing with this tutorial - as questions have been coming to me I put the questions and answers onto the tutorial, so you have the latest information, right up to using pretzel salt!  And different products various people are trying. To cover my printing and postage costs I charge $10.00  Please e-mail me with your order.

Silk Dye Starter Kit     

Silk Dye Starter Kit

This kit contains items called for in the Silk Dye Tutorial one would normally not find in the “local” art/supply place unless they live in a large city.  In my case, I have to order all of these items over the Internet.  There is an ample amount to cover 3 gourds.

1.      The Special Gesso with instructions on mixing.

2.      Silk Salt, course grain

3.      Silk Dye Fixative with instructions on mixing – long shelf life

4.      Silk Colors Dye – your choice

5.      Silk Colors Dye – your choice

6.      Silk Colors Dye – your choice, YES 3 different colors you can choose

Apricot                   Black               Brown Sienna

Carmine Red          Choc Brown     Citron

Cyan                      Digital               Kelly Green

Magenta                 Marine Green   Night Blue

Poppy Red             Purple              Royal Blue

Sapphire Blue         Scarlet Red      Turquoise

Viridian Green        Yellow

The primary colors are Magenta, Yellow, and Cyan for those who like to mix their own.

Price is $20.00 which includes all postage and handling in the USA.  I can accept Credit Cards and Paypal.  I also accept M.O. and checks.  Checks must clear the bank before order is sent.

I also sell the products individually:

3 bottles of dye, you pick the color for $5.99

All additional colors, per bottle  $1.99

Special gesso, 2.25

Silk salt, .95

Dyeset fixative, 1.99

Individual prices do not include postage.

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Canteen Purse Kit  $35.00 incl Tutorial

One of a kind and color Purse Kit

    lime green         rose                buttercreme

   marine green      choc brown     white on black

                           turquoise

  Kits include beads, leather suede, Llama fur, lining material (handmade paper or silk) , all hardware plus tutorial, 8 pages plus 18 step by step pictures.  $35.00, includes tutorial.   Tutorial without the kit is $7.00

Photo Transfer Tips 

Supplies

Jacquard "Print on Cotton" and/or "Print on Silk"

Inkjet color printer

Sobo glue

Synthrapol SP or light textile detergent

Start with the very best picture you can find and like for the occasion and one that will fit on your gourd.  Practice getting that picture onto a regular sheet of paper before you start using the "cotton" or "silk" transfer sheet.

Prepare your gourd, finding a good place for your transfer and make sure the surface is smooth to the touch, even if you need to sand some of the surface.  This will make it easier to keep all bubbles from forming under the transfer.

For the silk:  I used a fan brush to completely coat the outlined transfer area on the gourd with the glue slip - you want this to stay wet while you're working on it.

If the gourd has not been sanded smooth watch for any little indent areas that could be cause for bubbles.  Finish the design of your gourd piece.  I put 3 coats of Polyurethane over the whole gourd, including picture.  Perfect!!

Some Background:  The last 4 months I've been working with all sorts of photo transfer methods.  I wanted something that when finished would look like a photo had been put onto the gourd.  I also wanted something that was easy to use, you could do it with your inkjet printer at home and not have to fight with "printer people" and pay high prices.  Some of the products were Omnigel, all three of the Lazertran papers, Avery transfer papers, T-Shirt transfer papers, and more.  I tried Turpentine, Alcohol, steam, etal.  I also used air dry clay, polymer clay cured and uncured and Cold Porcelain.  Next on my list was to find Rice Paper and unwaxed deli paper and see what the quilt people were using.  But first I got a catalog from Dharma Trading Company and just glancing in a couple pages found the Jacquard products.  Immediately I called Dharma Trading, we went over the pros and cons, I ordered the products and the rest is history.  This is the perfect product for what I was after and how I wanted it to look at the finished stage.  Have fun, check it out, and if any questions or comment, please let me know.  Dar

EXAMPLES:

Thanks to the families of Logan and Scout.