Look...

… what I bought at auction!

 These are wooden stamps for printing textiles. I haven’t ever tried it and maybe it will be beyond what I can actually do but I couldn’t resist. 

Some of the pattern are amazing, don’t you think? My favorites are the 2nd, 4th in the top row and third one in the bottom row. You can click on the image to see a close-up.

I’ll probably do test runs on old sheets but maybe there’s an Etsy store re-opening sometime in the future :).

If any of you have experience in printing with old wood blocks, or have how-to links to share I'm all ears.

Comments

[Leena]

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out. How big are those? Cool stuff.

[Traci]

Oo! Those look like great fun! I'm imagining the possibilities...casual curtains, pillows, quilting fabic for a modern quilt, even a fun tunic top if one was feeling particularly adventurous. I like the spidery one on the bottom! I do hope other people Comment in with the how-tos because that's something I've thought would be fun to learn.

[Älvan]

They're amazing!

[elisa]

extraordinary! what a great thing to buy, i'm envious! good luck with the printing, exciting. x

[Yazmak İyidir]

I wouldn't be able to resist these neither! Hope the patterns turn out well :)

[Ava]

And they can probably be used on paper as well.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

They're around 12x20 cm (5x8") each. I actually didn't realize how big they were until I picked them up. 15 chunks of wood spiked with metal turned out to be pretty heavy :).

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Oh, must try that too!

[Juliette]

I just saw this tutorial linked to from another blog. It might help -and she also has a list of links to fabric printing on her sidebar: http://blu-shed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-tiny-tute.html

[Maja]

I have one from Java (Indonesia) and the people there use them for batik, dont ask me how, I never tried...but your stamps look really cool, love all the patterns.

[A Charmed Life]

How about printing your own wallpaper if the one in the stairwell doesn't suit you?! I'm sure you figure out how to do it and it'll look great :)

Maja x

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Yay. I just ordered the "Printing by hand" book from her sidebar!

[April]

I hope your prints turn out fantastic! When you "retire" from that hobby, the blocks would make for interesting art on your shelves, just as they are. :)

[Natalia]

It looks pretty good, can wait for your next DIY projoct with these! :-)))

[daniela]

http://bibliotypes.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/la-tipografia-de-julius-klinkhardt.html

Este enlace te dará información sobre grabado, tipografía y estampación.

Debes tensar la tela antes de imprimir y comprar tinte especial...que disfrutez del grabado!

[Judith]

Ooh, I second that! Great idea.

[April Sharman]

Block printing is so much fun, I bought a really beautiful wooden block in India for like 20p.

[celia]

They're gorgeous on their own, too. I hope you find a nice way to display them once you've figured out how to use them.

[Dusa]

How does Wille feel about the 2nd one in from the bottom (tryophobia?). And the one you like on the bottom row makes me think of spiders. Hmmm..maybe the blocks can be used as some kind of Rohrschach test. LOL!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

He didn't react on it when I showed him, It's more of a floral design IRL which is probably why :).

[Julia [lifeonchurchill]]

I've had similar ideas for vintage stamps, they are beautiful!

[t]

So cool--love the one that looks like spiders.

Have fun, Benita!

[Claudette]

Really nice find... but is it just me who, when I first saw it, thought that the photo showed a selection of fancy chocolate biscuits? That's what happens when one skips breakfast!

[Faith]

Benita,

You like Spiders? Yikes! I'd be terrified having those creepy crawlers all over a pillow or blanket!

[Jules Means]

Oh, you'll have a blast block printing..be sure to get the paint/ink for fabric and heat set with an iron. I used the wrong kind on a tote bag and when I got caught in the rain the ink ran off all over me! You'll be carving pink blocks in no time ... :) Jules

[Lilli]

Hej Benita!
Hoppas att det är ok att jag skriver på svenska. Jag har en liten fråga som dök upp då jag läste ett inlägg från 18 juni i år. I det här inlägget ligger Bonus (tror jag) i sitt kartonghus och i bakgrunden ser man också en vit kattbädd som till formen liknar Whiskas logga. Finns den att köpa och vet du möjligtvis i så fall vart?
Hälsningar Lilli

[Lisa Flaherty]

What a score! What kind of auction was it? Online? Sitting with a numbered paddle? Fun!

[Kay]

Benita,
Your wooden stamps remind me of copper tjaps (chops) from Indonesia. The copper shapes are dipped into hot wax and then stamped onto fabric. I took a seminar once several years ago and had a chance to use the instructor's stamps. It was great fun. I don't think your wood stamps could withstand hot wax but dye would work. The link below might give you some ideas on how to use your stamps. k.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2224425-AA.shtml

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I don't mind spiders at all actually. I always make sure to vacuum around any I find around the house :).

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Uh oh!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Absolut, svenska går hur bra som helst! Kattkojan är faktiskt från just Whiskas. Den togs fram i marknadsföringssyfte i Tyskland tror jag och jag köpte vår för 6-7 år sen på Ebay. Testa att göra en "whiskas cat bed" sökning där. Lycka till!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

It was online. It ended late Friday night so I sniped it while the other bidders thought the had it in their bag and were out partying :).

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Thank you for the link!
Some of the stamps are all wood but most actually have metal patterns so the wax might actually work!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Haha!

[Christin]

Hei! Så fine stempler du har kjøpt. Jeg har trykket med slike på hvit bomullsstoff tidligere, og syns resultatet ble best om jeg brukte en rulle for å påføre malingen på stempelet, fremfor å presse det mot en stempelpute. Malingen blir jevnt fordelt uten å samle seg nede i rillene, og det er enkelt å lage samme rapport gang på gang. Brukte forøvrig tekstilmalingen til Panduro. Veldig bra. Lykke til! Ser frem til å se resultatet.

[Liz]

WOW, what a find!!! Lucky you! I found this simple tutorial to start with and then you´ll figure it out... http://www.scribd.com/doc/36438971/How-to-Block-Print-Fabric-With-a-Wood-Block-Stamp-Wood-Print-Block-Like-a-Traditional-Indian-Artisan

Kul att du tog dig tid att titta in på min blogg och kommentera också, folk är lite fega med det märker jag som ny bloggare :-) Ta dig en utflykt till Östasiatiska museet, de kanske har lite info om träsnitts tryck. Snabbsökte bara på YouTube, mest indiska tryck där men där finns ju massa tutorials, fast mest naiva, mer för barn när jag snabbsökte men det finns säkert något där. Undrar om det finns kvällskurser för sånt eller någon helg workshop? Men annars tror jag att det är mest matematiskt och logiskt tänkande efter man hittat rätt färg och så. Lycka till, spännande och se hur du får till det.

[Lilli]

Tack för tipset! Jag kikar och ser om den går att få tag på :)

[Rebecca Melander]

I have an old textile stamp that I've used for batiking. You can use beeswax or paraffin or a combination of the two. A simple fabric dye with one of these stamps and voila! The options are endless - you could make pretty reliefs with gray dye, I would think.

[Julia]

Thanks for this link - it is very helpful. I've got some wooden print blocks and never been sure how to print with them

[the spectator]

I love these. They would make a really good stand alone group display, but I know you wouldn't like them in your interior.

[M.E.]

Ditto! What fun, actually!

[M.E.]

printing with "old" woodblocks, not so much. But I've made my own woodblocks and printed from them. It's great fun. since you already have the woodblocks, you'll just need paper or cloth, a brayer, and some ink. (probably some other items, too, but that's all i have. If you ever made stamps out of potatoes in kindergarten, you'll know what to do.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Now I'm dying to try that!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Great link, thank you, Liz!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Jag undrade också vad som är bäst, att rulla eller doppa. Mönstren är väldigt detaljerade bitvis och jag får försöka undvika att få på för mycket. Ska bli kul så att testa!

[Faith]

You are a kind soul, like my husband. = ) He carries them outside. I do like the pattern very much, I just don't know if I could have it printed onto anything that would potentially touch me!

[Bernadette @ B3HD]

Absolutely adore these. Saw some in a store about two years ago and kick myself to this day for passing them up. Love the patterns on these and can't wait to see what you come up with.

[Maria]

Love these, thank you for sharing them Benita. I admire old wood blocks and always wanted to have at least one. There is so much history in them. Someone was inspired to create these designs, somebody’s hands carved them and then they were used to print textiles. The textiles were worn by someone in other part of the world, perhaps someone got married in the dress that was made from the fabrics. I do textile design and printing, and understand what it takes to carve the block and print textiles. I have a tutorial on my blog on how to make a lino-block and print http://tanygina.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/lino-stamp-fabric-printing-tutorial/, just if you are interested. Carving blocks and printing is so relaxing, it’s a remedy. Enjoy printing Benita, experiment! Can’t wait to see what you will create using these, any ideas yet? Btw if you need some help with printing, inks, understanding repetition, write me a line, I will be happy help you :)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Thank you!

[Rose]

I have wanted to try this for quite some time! And the designs you picked are amazing! Good luck : )