Made: Screenprints at Atelier Crafts

 

Back in the autumn, I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Em's blog, Oh Gosh.  The prize: my choice of workshop run by designer/maker Georgina Bell of Atelier Crafts.  Considering I never win anything, and considering I was desperate to give screenprinting a try, I was over the moon!  So on Saturday morning off I toddled, up the M1 to Worksop, to learn how to screenprint.

After a short but thorough introduction from Georgina, the five of us taking part in the workshop were set free on the screens, inks and paper. Now, although I'm reasonably crafty (in that I can recreate something when I have a pattern or model to work from), I completely lack the creativity to come up with new designs, so I struggled with thinking of a concept for my screenprint.

In the end, I just got printing and started playing around with the pre-made line and bird screens.  After some testing, I decided to do a roughly travel-themed print, in blues and teals to match our spare room, which is full of map art and framed travel posters.  And of course I couldn't have any artwork without words, so then I made a stencil with which to print some text. I was reasonably pleased with my final piece, but especially so with the fabric panel I printed up to match.

Georgina was a very patient teacher, despite me making some very idiotic mistakes, and I was chuffed with how quickly I was able to pick up the basics.  By the end of the day I was exhausted by all the learning I'd done: now I know how my pupils feel after my lessons!

Stupidly, I left my camera at home so all I had to record proceedings was the less than stellar camera on my phone. But hopefully these photographs capture some of the magic of Georgina's studio, which is crammed full of her incredible designs.

Georgina's studio is located on the gorgeous ducal Welbeck Estate, which is within easy reach of Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Lincoln (even from Leicester it only took me just over an hour). Do take a look at her website to find out about upcoming workshops: I can heartily recommend a day spent with her learning new skills.