Get inspired by Pokey Bolton

Pokey Bolton, thermofax screen printing, quilt festival, art quilt, www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com

One of the most inspiring parts about Quilt Festival was the art quilts. There are few people in my guild who dabble in art quilting, but for the most part show and tell is filled with traditional patterns in traditional fabrics.

I’m a big fan of “Quilting Arts” with Pokey Bolton and was really excited to see her in person for a mini workshop on thermofax screen printing. This technique is a way to transfer your photos to fabric in an artful way. All you need is Photoshop and Google to find an fiber artist to turn your picture into a thermofax screen print that you can use to transfer the image to fabric.

Pokey Bolton, thermofax screen printing, quilt festival, art quilt, www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com

Pokey created some really beautiful images on cotton and wool. I’ve already started looking for photos of my dogs to try this technique with.

Pokey Bolton, thermofax screen printing, quilt festival, art quilt, www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com

Pokey also demonstrated how to use a Gelli Arts Printing Plate. The plate remembers the impression of anything you press into it. Then you can spread any ink that has some viscosity to it on the plate and the impressions are transferred to your fabric. The results are stunning.

Pokey Bolton, gelli arts printing plate, quilt festival, art quilt, www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com

I was so inspired I tried dying fabric with some supplies I had at home the next day. The results weren’t that great, mostly because I didn’t have prepared for dying fabric, soda ash or professional dye to work with.

I think I’m going to give it a try again with a gradation dying kit from PRO Chemical & Dye, another product I discovered at Quilt Festival. For $10.95 you get all the dye you need to create 30 fat eights in various shades from light to dark.

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