Recently I completed another Instagram challenge, the Block Party with Gina. It’s run by Gina of Ridge and Roots (hence the “with Gina” portion of the name) and it’s a block printing challenge in which you create a new block print each week for five weeks. This was the second version of the challenge, and I feel like I did much better this time than the first time.
The first week’s prompt was “Celestial”. I went with a ringed planet with moons and stars surrounding it. I printed this one with a gradient in two different colorways.
The second week’s prompt was “delicate”. I decided to go with the tiny flowers that grow on the tree right outside the back door. In this case, I printed the outline and then finished it up with watercolors. I also decided this time to turn some of the prints into blank greeting cards. They are available on my Etsy shop under the Stationary heading.
Week three coincided with Earth Week, so the prompt was “Our Earth, Our Home”. I decided to go along with a little forrest nook, and the tiny owl friend in the tree is quite possibly the favorite thing I ended up making in this whole challenge. I’m definitely planning to do a bigger owl soon.
Week four brought the “(insert song lyrics here)” prompt. I had, of course, had the recently released Fiona Apple album “Fetch The Boltcutters” on repeat (it makes a great workout soundtrack, by the way) for the entire week, and those lyrics along with a Leslie Jordan Instagram post lead to the idea of being inside your own head.
The final week was “Mind, Body, Spirit”, and I had to include both coffee and music. I had originally intended to make a bright, hot purple, but the mauve ended up suiting the block really well.
All of the results of these blocks, both cards and prints, are all available on my Etsy store (along with some fabric face masks, if you are still looking for some).
Handmade by Casey Kay 