Printing on Fabric (Part 1)

I owe a few fabric postcards. I am late because I was obsessed with trying a specific technique - printing photos on the fabric, then embellishing/quilting them for "so pretty" fabric postcards. I hope they will be pretty.
I worked from the Quilt Rat's recipe although I did use washing soda. My internet research suggested that soda ash and washing soda only differ in their moisture content so I compensated for that in my mixture.
I did make the solution over 3 weeks ago but household responsibilities prevented my playing with my toys for a while.
So, last night I soaked my pieces of bleached muslin and a white cotton. I dried them on a wooden rack overnight. They were pretty crusty so I used a towel to brush off the dried crystals and then ironed the pieces flat. Next, they were pressed onto freezer paper and cut into the paper size I need for my printer.

I had prepared a few photos so that they were close to 4" x 6" and 300 dpi. I printed these at the best photo print setting that I have. Of course I did have to trick the printer into taking the paper. It did not believe that I was using premium quality glossy photo paper; I found that a matte paper setting worked.
Here are the pieces:


.. in the printer

Come back in a few days when I have rinsed and embellished  these prints. I am experimenting!

Quilted Table Runner

Our on-line quilting group does a gift swap to celebrate the Summer Solstice. This is not silly or wiccan or anything like that but it did start with Christmas Swaps. Many groups have Christmas gift exchanges. During the holidays people who do not share the same celebration often feel left out of the fun. I suggested that we hold a Winter Solstice gift exchange. I always say that no matter what our beliefs we still all look at the same moon. It has been a great success. This is why we also do a Summer Solstice gift swap, it is only fair.

I wanted to make a reversible table runner and I had this pattern by Karen Montgomery. I do not recall if I bought it, received it as a gift or just picked it up at free-for-all. I really like it though. The pattern is quite easy to follow -great directions. Here are both sides:



I think I will have a lot of fun making these and using up my stash.