Good results with Inkaid

I have been busy experimenting with Inkaid with some wonderful results. I love this one. I painted a couple of layers of gel medium and then a further two coats of Inkaid left it to dry and printed to it. It's difficult to take a picture to let you see the effect but I think you can see the result. It's like a transparency except it's stitchable. I have tried inkjet transfers using Golden gel with varying degrees of success but this is superb. Perfect prints.

I received a lovely package of gifts from Tomoko in Japan, thank you Tomoko my friend you are so kind.

There was a collection of printed Sashiko designs which I have to say are gorgeous and I will be stitching them in the next few weeks. There was a most wonderful magazine with a few articles of different textiles. Sumizome (dying with Sum or Japanese ink) which is intriguing. Weaving with nature in Okinawa. There are some gorgeous indigo dyed fabrics. A true feast of wonderful ideas Skikonzome - purple dying and Banibanazome - creating a crimson flush. This is a truly complicated processes, just amazing. There's an article on Lillies which is so very interesting and an advert which shows a beautiful tassel. I love Passementerie and this photograph has given me a wonderful idea to make one for myself.

There was also a book on Origami which fascinates me and since I have been making Geodecos I thought I would try one of the designs - the Kimono. The paper I used is painted using Radiant Rain misters. They are just wonderful to use. Once I had folded the Kimono I used embossing ink and gold embossing powder. The background is my Golden gel and brusho inks paper I painted last week. I thought this design would make a great fabric postcard if I bonded fabric. Something to try later.

I was tagged for the second time this time by LaRinda. I was given the option of opting out the first time but I guess I should reply so here are 7 things you didn't know about me (and probably didn't want to know):

1 I started working with computers 26 years ago. I started out as a computer operator and ended my career as an IT Manager and Client Manager. I managed mini computers upgrading software, installing hardware and network management.

2 Before I started in computing I worked for Court Shorthand Writers where I travelled around Scotland "writing up" public and private inquiries mostly oil related inquiries. I was known as "the fastest typist in the West".

3 I have always been keen on sports and played in the Scottish basketball league despite only being 5 foot 2 inches - I was fast.

4 I was nominated for the Medal of Excellence for my Part 2 City & Guilds work in 2001.

5 I used newsgroups and email on Digital's worldwide network back in 1986 before the Internet became popular.

6 I walk 6 miles every day when I am home.

7 In order to change career I studied Technology and Psychology with the Open University while I was working full time. I still love learning new things and enjoy taking courses to keep up with whatever is new in both computing and fibre arts.

I think everyone whose blog I visit has been tagged at some time or another so I won't be tagging anyone specifically but if you haven't been, and want to be, consider yourself tagged.

Now if you have managed to read this far - well done. I have a challenge for you. I was moving my fabric dyes etc out into my wet studio from the garage. In one of the boxes I found something I bought many years ago (about 6 or 7 can you believe that?). I had never used it and so today I opened it and had a little play. To my surprise it was still usable. I am sure we all buy things and put them away unused.

My challenge for you is to find something in your studio that you haven't used and go and experiment with it. I will post the results of my experiments tomorrow when they have dried and I have painted them - can you guess what it is? Let me know if you take up my challenge.