Resources for Assignment #2: A Cup, a Napkin, a Spoon

Please note that new information may be added to this resources page after class and between class sessions. Check back often. 

WHERE TO GET SUPPLIES:

Seattle ReCreative (recycled art materials, including fabrics and yarn, very cheap) 

8408 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

fabric remnants, thread/yarn and misc. notions

 

Goodwill on the Ave, U District (everything from used clothes to house ware)

4552 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 

used clothes and household textiles (upcycle them!), some craft tools

 

JOANN Fabrics and Crafts, Ballard (cheap fabrics)

2217 NW 57th St, Seattle, WA 98107

all kinds of fabrics by the inch/yard, thread, embroidery floss, needles, all kinds of tools and notions

 

Second Use and Earthwise Salvage, SODO (reclaimed materials from building demolition)

3223 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134  and  3447 4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134

Wide variety of reclaimed building materials, from wood milled from urban trees, to hardware and fixtures taken from renovated/demolished buildings, to used tools. They are a few blocks from one another, so worth going to both if you go. And like Goodwill, the variety of material they have varies widely, day to day. Second Use has a website with most inventory listed, except bulk wood, which there is always more of than the website lists. www.seconduse.com Links to an external site.

MAKING RESOURCES

1. NATURAL DYES from Guest Artist EMILY ENDO

Dye Sources:

See attached a document with a list of potential dye materials. Natural Dye Sources.pdf Download Natural Dye Sources.pdf
The 4 categories listed: "Kitchen/Compost Dye Sources", "City Plants", "From the Garden" and "PNW Plants"
One material that could be a great dye source for the class is invasive blackberry. Blackberry leaves and berries can both be used for dye (separately). Since they are being used for dyes - plants and fruit that you would not normally want to eat can be used, for example plants that grow by the road, smashed and fallen berries, etc.
Notes on collecting and storing:
  • Berries - Berries can be frozen and stored in the freezer.
  • Leaves - Young leaves and shoots are best (they have the most color and juice in them). We would want to have some gardening gloves and pruners available to cut down and process the leaves and branches. Fresh leaves and stems are best but its ok if they dry out a little.

Natural_Dye_Instructions.pdf Download Natural_Dye_Instructions.pdf

Ink_Recipes.pdf Download Ink_Recipes.pdf

2. LASER CUTTER

To start your design, use the machine-appropriate one out of these two templates:

Red_Laser_Rhino01.3dm Download Red_Laser_Rhino01.3dm

Purple_Laser_Rhino01.3dm Download Purple_Laser_Rhino01.3dm

PurpleLaserTemplate01.ait Download PurpleLaserTemplate01.ait

The templates include the machine boundaries and the line type that you need for cutting and engraving. See in class demos on how to make drawings and outlines.  Rhino

Setting Line Weights Links to an external site.

Essentials: Curve Types

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-t-yF9R_SI Links to an external site.

Rhino Modeling Tutorials: Curve Controls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZos0iziOU Links to an external site.

Editing 2D Shapes, Curve Tools, Explode and Unify, Cut, Fillet, Chamfer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pasq21IJUY0 Links to an external site.

 

3. HAND SEWING

Running/Straight stitch:

Running Stitch Links to an external site.Running Stitch

Back stitch:

Backstitch Links to an external site.Backstitch

Whip stitch:

How to Sew a Whip Stitch by Hand Links to an external site.How to Sew a Whip Stitch by Hand

Blanket stitch for Appliqué:

How to sew: Blanket stitch appliqué by hand Links to an external site. 

Slip stitch:

How To: Invisible Stitching (Slip Stitch / Ladder Stitch) Links to an external site.How To: Invisible Stitching (Slip Stitch / Ladder Stitch)

 

4. MACHINE SEWING
Demo videos (You can also find these by going to the PANOPTO RECORDINGS link in the main Menu:

Operating the foot pedal:

https://uw.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=f3def6c6-77db-418b-b39d-adb901277281 Links to an external site.

Operating the presser foot:

https://uw.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=bd2f4ce6-37d4-4926-8779-adb901275b3a Links to an external site.

Machine settings for straight stitch and sewing the straight stitch

https://uw.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=03dd9376-6dd8-4598-aa12-adb9012718b6 Links to an external site.

 

5. NATURAL ADHESIVES AND BINDERS

Milk protein glue

Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup hot water

    • 2 tablespoons powdered dry milk or 1/4 cup of warm milk

    • 1 tablespoon vinegar

    • 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

    • More water, to reach desired consistency

Instructions

    1. Dissolve the powdered milk in the hot water. If you're using regular warm milk, start with just that.

    2. Stir in the vinegar. You'll see a chemical reaction occur, separating the milk into curds and whey. Continue stirring until the milk has completely separated.

    3. Filter the mixture through a coffee filter or paper towel. Discard the liquid (whey) and keep the solid curd.

    4. Mix the curd, a small amount of baking soda (about 1/8 teaspoon), and 1 teaspoon hot water. The reaction between the baking soda and the residual vinegar Links to an external site. will cause some foaming and bubbling.

    5. Adjust the consistency of the glue to suit your needs. If the glue is lumpy, add a bit more baking soda. If it is too thick, stir in more water.

    6. Store the glue in a covered container. It will last 1 to 2 days on the counter, but 1 to 2 weeks if you refrigerate it.

Wheat paste 

flour
water

Instructions
1. Stir together flour and cold water until thoroughly combined. The mixture should look like thick pancake batter.

2. Let the flour glue stand for about 5 to 10 minutes for the gluten to develop. Then the flour glue is ready for use.

 

Starch glue

Corn / Potato / Wheat Starch

water

Instructions

1. Cook starch in hot water between 180–190°F to create a vicious glue.

2. Most starch glues are commercially produced using the Stein Hall process, which includes adding sodium hydroxide to lower the gelation temperature and borax to increase the tack.

3. Once the starch adhesive is applied to a surface, it is heated to around 140-158°F to develop an instant tack. This pasty, high viscosity adhesive is excellent for a range of paper applications, including corrugated boxes, paper bags, envelopes, bottle labeling, tube winding, and more.

 

Paper Mache paste

Ingredients

1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 cups boiling water

Instructions
1. Stir the flour into the cup of water until no lumps remain.
2. Whisk this mixture into the boiling water to thicken it into the glue.
3. Allow the paper mache glue to cool before using it. If you aren't going to use it right away, add a pinch of salt to discourage mold and store the glue in a sealed container.

Elmer's glue paper mache or hardening binder

1 part Elmer's glue to 3 part water makes a good paper mache paste

1 part Elmer's glue to 2 part water makes a general binder

further resources:

https://www.sewhistorically.com/20-ways-to-make-homemade-natural-glue/ Links to an external site.

https://www.naturalearthpaint.eu/en/methyl-cellulose-natural-plant-based-glue.html Links to an external site.

https://blog.lddavis.com/natural-glues-for-industrial-applications Links to an external site.

 

RESEARCH SOURCES:

ARTIST HIGHLIGHTS

Relevant artists/designers:

Lisa Walker (jeweler from New Zealand) http://www.lisawalker.de/home.html Links to an external site.also at https://www.masterworksgallery.co.nz/collections/lisa-walker?page=2 Links to an external site.

Lily Hope https://www.lilyhope.com/ Links to an external site.

Emily Endo and the High Desert Observatory https://www.highdesertobservatory.com/ Links to an external site.

Other resources:

Try resources like UW library Links to an external site. or reputable online sources like Google Books Links to an external site., Scholar Links to an external site., or Patents Links to an external site., or Archive.org's library Links to an external site. or magazine rack Links to an external site. before you dive into the raw internet.

Be aware that most social media platforms -- Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube, etc -- tend to reward spectacle and wild claims, rather than factual content, so the DIY/instruction space on these platforms is minimally useful, and even dangerous sometimes. In particular, the short format of posts tends to gloss over the amount of time, skill, or important steps that need to be taken to replicate them. If you are inspired by media on these platforms (and please, be inspired!) then do your best to find a secondary source of description of the technique -- again, Google Patents, Long-form Youtube Instruction videos, Blog post instructions, or Instructables.com are viable options for this deeper information.