spore printing experiments continue

If you have been following the spore printing experiments over the last few weeks you might remember that I said I was experimenting with ways to fix the very fragile, easily smudged, powdery prints in order to preserve them and perhaps even make them scannable and frame worthy. 

You might want to review the other posts here and here  but here is a pictorial review.

If you leave the prints as is they rub off very easily like chalk pastels or are prone to moisture damage. I tried different things to preserve them put the mail contenders were:

 a. cytology fixative spray ( the stuff used to preserve PAP smears in a medical office)

 b.  hair spray ( used to fix hair for dance) and

 c. workable fixatif made by Krylon. 

And the winner was workable fixatif by Krylon available at art supply shops and Michael's. The most important thing is to hold the spray can at least 12 inches

away from your paper or the force of the aerosol will displace the spores.

I liked this because it dried very fast and did not leave a sticky or glossy finish.

Next step will be to scan these and then convert them to images suitable for screen printing. 

If you leave a comment below I will pick a name on friday and the winner will receive a crocheted vintage button mushroom similar to one of these.

I am actually planning of having giveaways everyday this week to celebrate the changing season and back to school for some. So please enter everyday for a chance to win.

Hope you are enjoying the last day of August.

Comments

[Roseanna Bogley]

Oh an adorable button mushroom, love it!

[Teal Cuttlefish]

I had never seen spore prints before! I live in a semi-arid climate, so wouldn't have much chance to do such a thing, but what a neat idea!

I just found your blog. I like the button mushrooms quite a bit.

[vickie]

that is so cool i love to knit mushrooms and than felt them

[saRAHHHHHH]

Gorgeous! What a warm fuzzy feeling they create.

[Emily]

These are so simple and gorgeous! I'm quite jealous of your variety of fungi.

Also, I'd love it if you posted a tutorial on the crocheted button mushrooms; they're adorable!

[learning parade]

Your last picture is so curious... what a super little collection! I especially like your crochet mushroom. How delicate.

[Nanou]

You never cease to amaze, impress, marvel me with all your special experiments ! What a nice hommage to mushrooms !
I love your crochetted mushroom to and I'll have a look on your tuttorial (I think you made one last year ...). The crochetted trees in background are great too !
Thank you again, Margie, for all your fantastic giveaways. Fall's coming is so exciting !

[Fanny]

your spore prints are so lovely. =)

[Allison Lu]

i can't wait to see your spore screen prints! i think they'll look just marvelous on fabric. thank you so much for sharing your experiments. i would have never thought of spore printing on my own.

[Artzier]

HI Margie,
I made many spore prints as a kid and now that the season is afoot in Oregon, I am about to head out and make my first spore pint in at least 20 years! I l am so happy to have stumbled upon your work. I am thinking of making spore prints with 6th graders and experimenting with different papers- Chris Drury is my soul inspiration! check out his website at http://www.chrisdrury.co.uk/

[booklet printing]

It is a amazing spore printing and i has seen the first time this types of the printing . After taking the spore from the cloth and than the design look awesome.