An amazing array of brushes and mark making tools.  I have had a bit of time in the UK to catch up with my family and friends over here and get a bit more planning done with Jayne for our Sonas Studio online workshops - more of that further down this post.  I popped over to Eastbourne today to see Christine Chester. www.christinechester.com   I have always admired Christine's work, so sensitive and thoughtful. We have always had the chance to have have a quick hello at shows but it was good to sit down and have a good chat and not rush.  As it is going to be a least a year until I can start work on my studio at home in Ireland, (it's a cow shed at the moment) I thought I might get some inspiration and ideas by having a look at Christine's studio. The studio is called Studio 11. My goodness it is fabulous. Studio 11 is right next to Eastbourne railway station, so it is very convenient. It is a bright airy space with plenty of room to move around. Classes are lim

 Fabulous layers of colour - just fantastic.  I seem to be in the mood to write - so here we are again. Sooner than expected. I love teaching this workshop. Transforming Transfer is my workshop that teaches you how to work with disperse dyes/transfer paints. The dyes are made to work with synthetic fabrics and they form a chemical bond once they are ironed onto synthetic fabric. Immediately washable. These dyes can be used on natural fabrics, they transfer paler and to make then washable there is a product called Transfix. The dyes can be thickened if you want to print with them. Art Van Go do a great starter pack. www.vycombe-arts.co.uk The dyes are painted onto paper . . . cheap copy paper is fine. The paper doesn't need to be absorbent or the dye wont transfer efficiently.    Thimblestitch@Zoe's has a great studio above the shop  Painting the dyes onto paper. Once the painted papers are dry - the papers are ironed, paint side down onto the synthetic

The beginnings of something by Norah. Now for the next part . . .  The group produced a huge amount of samples - it did help having my heat press there.  It isn't always necessary to 'muck about' with your work too much. Sometimes the beauty of the process is enough. I know I can be the first one to encourage layering and stitching, but I can also recognise when it is time to stop.  This sample is just 2 prints, one on top of the other. A sheer on top and a heavier fabric underneath. Torn layered transfer prints give a very lovely shadowed effect.   These 2 layers just need a little stitch to define a few of the lines. Gorgeous. The great fun of working with synthetic fabrics is that they can be cut and distressed with heat. Cutting applique shapes to iron onto a background is one of the techniques I include in this workshop.  The student irons Bondaweb on to the back of the fabric that the shapes will be cut from. Shapes are then cut with a soldering iro