Large Format Printer + Canvas + Dragonboy = New Series

We have been wanting to do a collaboration with our friend Dragonboy56 for a long time, and finally have a chance.  We are printing his art onto canvas and then turning the printed fabric into bags. 

We acquired a large format printer when my last employer got out of the mapping business.  In the past it has been used to print maps and posters on paper, but it is a pretty flexible machine, and we got it because it uses dyes instead of pigmented inks.  We have been trying different media in it, with the goal of being able to print our own fabric.  After some trial and error, we are getting there.  We are now able to print onto uncoated raw canvas, and are working on building a steamer that we can use to fix the dyes after printing. 

Our next big creative push is for the 'Prepare for the Playa' Bazaar in San Francisco in July and August.  In the coming months, check back with us as we dive into Dragon-printed hip-belts, backpacks, and other desert survival gear.

Thanks, Dragon!

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Filed under  //   fabric printing   playa   the shop  
Posted May 6, 2011
 

Two shows to finish ADHD April

April is a wild month in Chico.  A budding, blooming, creative explosion of lengthening light and lusty life.  We were lucky/taxed to have two deadlines fall at the end of it - RayRay's 'Bike=art' show and Chikoko's 'Bizarre Bazaar'.  We overextended and are glad that they are over!  But we got to make a lot of new art - a spectrum from Bumblebee habitat boxes, psychedelic micro messenger bags, and rice harvester steel sunflowers to 'Opium Den' leather collage purses and fire hose totes.   Here are some photos from the two shows.
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Hillbilly yard art, firehose snakeskin samba belts, tough-mama firehose totes, and rake+ski pole garden diggers - our uncategorizable booth at Chikoko's Bizarre Bazaar.

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Pulled together some new and old bags with a bike theme and decided to use my old chopper 'Pinkie' as a rack at the last minute.  Welded a stand, loaded up the goods into the hemp panniers and rode it to the show.   The bags on the handlebars are a new design that I am calling the MicroMessenger - they are big enough for a mini Kryptonite lock, cell phone and wallet; they have a loop to go on your belt, or we can add a traditional messenger strap and stabilizer. 

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Our hemp panniers and large and mini messenger bags - I added a new stabilizer strap to the messenger bags.  
Stopped at the newspaper recycling shed at 6th and Flume to get some paper to stuff the bags with and found a paper bag full of old maps!  Score!  RayRay decided to put us in the window - I like what they did with the maps - they are prolific and amazing.

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My folks were in town and pops took these photos - you can see him in the reflection, below. 

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Thanks RayRay and Chikoko.  The RayRay show is still up in downtown Chico - make sure to go out back and look at Katrina's handmade longbike - she did a beautiful job on it.

Filed under  //   bike bags   bike purses   fabric printing   fire hose bags   messenger bags   panniers   rants   shows  
Posted May 3, 2011
 

Fabric printing

We bought some wide-format printers when my old employer got out of the mapmaking business. One of them is good for printing on banner material and textiles, so we have been experimenting with different media in it. So far we have used a lightweight polyester and an art canvas to print photos and some of my (Zeke's) digital art. Still looking into colorfastness and durability, but the material is great to collage, and I am working it into some of our bag designs. Pretty fun, and we are interested in custom printing fabric to order as well. Prices for custom printing are online at: http://deercreekgis.com/printing.php

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Filed under  //   fabric printing   the shop  
Posted April 26, 2011