Welcome to Day 10 of the Minnesota Designer’s Blog Hop. I’m so glad you stopped by to join the fun.
I’m Shelly Stokes, and I’m the owner of Cedar Canyon Textiles. Most people know me as the “paintstik lady.” I discovered this wonderful paint product about 10 years ago in a book from the UK. You can read more about my adventure with paintstiks by clicking over to the “About” page on our website.
I’m back from the big Bernina University event in San Francisco and ready to serve up some serious paintstik fun! (At least now that I’ve recovered from that red-eye flight… it seemed like a great idea when I booked the flight, but I’m not at all sure I’ll do that again!)
Leave a comment today to tell me how you will use your placemats or who will receive them as a gift. From all the comments today, we’ll choose a lucky winner for a Paintstik Starter Pack. You’ll get a set of iridescent painstiks, a copy of Painstiks on Fabric, and one set of our rubbing plates. Now, let’s get started!
Easy Paintstiks Placemats
You can download the free pattern from the Learning Center. While you are there, download the Top Tips for Great Rubbings that were discussed in an earlier post on the blog as you will need the instructions from Top Tips for painting your placemat fabrics.
As with all paintstik projects, you need to have a “paint day” and a “sewing day” to make Easy Paintstik Placemats. If you plan them a week apart, the paint will have plenty of time to dry. Plan for at least 3 days to avoid issues with wet paint — trust me — you really do have to let the paint dry for a couple of days or you’ll be making a mess!
I chose Gradations fabric from Benartex for this project because the graduated color changes adds a wonderful effect to the finished project. I especially like the Rainbow versions of this fabric because the color changes happen faster than they do with the other variations. If you don’t have Gradations fabric handy, just choose a nice fabric from your stash that is not an obvious print — because you’ll be making your own!
Here is a quick overview of the sequence for making the placemats. The complete instructions are in the pattern on the Learning Center.
Work Day 1: Paint your fabric
First, paint about half of each placemat “top” using your favorite set of Cedar Canyon rubbing plates. I made up fabric for 6 placemats, one from each of the Curves plates. To make “piled up” rubbings like this, I put my fabric over the rubbing plate and paint a part of the image. Then I move the fabric a bit and paint the next partial image, overlapping it a bit with the first image. You can read more about this technique in the Top Tips document you downloaded from the Learning Center.
After you finish painting, set the fabric aside for at least 3 days to allow the paint to dry. Allow 5 – 7 days if you live in a really humid area. After the paint is dry, you can heat set the paint by tossing the fabric in the clothes dryer on the hottest setting for 30-40 minutes. (Don’t even think if putting the fabric in your dryer until it dries for at least 3 days — and if you do, don’t call me!)
Work Day 2: Stitch Placemats
The assembly for the placemats is really fast and easy. First, cut the painted fabric in 3″ strips.
Then, reverse the strips so the painted end of the strips alternates between one end and the other. Number the strips 1 through 5.
The placemats are assembled with a sew-and-flip method. Layer your backing and batting, and mark a line 8″ from one long edge of the batting. Put strip 3 face up next to this line, add strip 4 face down on top of strip 3, then stitch with a quarter inch seam. Flip strip 4 open and press. Add the remaining strips using the same sew-and-flip method.
After you add all the strips, trim the placemats to get a nice finished edge, add binding, and you have an Easy Paintstik Placemat!
Bonus – Make a matching Table Runner
You can make a table runner to coordinate with your placemats by simply starting with a wider piece of fabric. Rather than starting with a 16 x 19 piece of fabric, start with 16 x 36 — or the width of the fabric if you have a big table. Again, paint half of your fabric with rubbings, leaving the other half plain. Use the same assembly steps that you used for the placemats and you’ll have a matching ensemble for your table.
Tags: embellishment, free project, Paintstik Rubbings, Shiva Paintstiks
I have been wanting to try these for awhile. This looks like a great pattern to get started with. I need to get started on those Christmas gifts! Thanks for sharing.
I would love to try this…it looks so easy and creative. Thanks so much for sharing!
Mary Jo
Thanks for sharing this. I like to use paintsticks.
I enjoyed your placemate/runner tutorial. You’re the 1st person who’s said let the paint dry for longer than a day. That is very helpful as I would’ve heat pressed after overnight. Thank you.
This technique is new to me. Thank you for sharing this information.
I haven’t played with the Paintsticks yet, but I’d sure like to. It looks like so much fun! Thanks for the demo.
Way cool, I really love playing with my paint sticks! i will be back to try out some of the ideas you have given me!
I think I posted on the wrong post …. anyway thanks for the tutorial.
Lovely tut. I can see some place mats in my future.
OMG! I love how those paintsticks look! I foresee great things in my future! Thanks for introducing them. They have them in one of my LQS, but I had no idea what to do with them…
Well, you certainly make it sound easy – and they are fantastic! Thanks for showing us this technique. I don’t think I would trust some people with placemats – but would love to try making them. Jan
I have never used paintsticks before, but I have wanted to give it a try.
Thanks for the tutorial and for participating in the blog hop.
I thought I posted here yesterday, but I couldn’t find it. So if this is my second time to post, I apologize!
I have heard about the Paintstiks and can’t wait to try…looks interesting.
If I were to win the give away I would use my placemats to make a special Christmas set of them. Thank you so much for the Tutorial I will be using it soon and trying out some of your paint sticks.
I think I will grab my artsy niece and try this technique. When I saw paintsticks demonstrated at Nashville, I was clueless as to what I could do with them.
This kind of paining looks like fun to try. Thanks you
NDquilter
How cool! And another new to me technique on this wonderful blog hop. I’ve learned so much and found some new wonderful blogs to visit. Thank you!
Cathy ?
Thank you for the placemat directions. Also for all the info on paintstiks. I’ve been wondering about this product but have never tried it. Thank you for the information.
Sounds like a fun project to do! My daughter and I may have to give it a try. Thank you for the tutorial
What absolute fun to make your own fabric easily and with such and easy technique.
thank you
Alex
wow, how beautiful, I have never tried this
I have not yet used my paintsticks but this is a good sized project to start with. I will have to visit regularly to get some more great ideas. Thanks for the wonderful project. I will be using my placemats on my new dining table.
Paintsticks look like great fun. Thanks for the info!!
Amazingly beautiful! What a great way to customize your dining room! Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop!
Pick me! Pick Me! I really liked your placemat project, I’ll have to give it a try!
I have never tried painsticks. But it would be fun using them.
I think I should keep the placemats for myself, because it seems like I always give away the things I do.
I’ve never seen this technique; it looks very intriguing. These placemats will make great Christmas gifts. Thank you for the tutorial
I hope I’m not too late to comment but I’ve been out of town for my son’s wedding and then had hand surgery when I got home! I didn’t know how to use paintsticks..thank you for the tutorial!
DAY 10 HAPPY 4th of July to you and yours–thanks for doing the shop hop and I will continue to keep your blog site on my blog list, so I will be back to visit–have a great week end–hugs, just, Di
thanks for participating in this blog hop. I have enjoyed being a part of it.
Eleanor
A really neat idea for the placemats and a great use of the Paintstiks. Thanks for the tutorial. It looks much easier than I thought it would be.
Love the paintsticks! Thanks for being part of the bloghop.
I’ve looked at the paintsticks a number of times, but alway thought they looked like something that required a lot more talent than I had, but your tutorial gives me hope. Thanks!
I have also shied away from this technique. Your directions and pictures make it look very doable! I look forward to trying this interesting technique! and the pattern looks incredible! Thanks for sharing your talent.
Thanks! A brand new technique…I’m running out of room for supplies as it is! ;o)
Forgot how to say I would use the placemats! I think they would be fun to use outside for a summer picnic on an old fashioned picnic table. Thanks!
Thanks for the fascinating placemat pattern!! I’ve never seen anything like it!!
Keep up the good work!
Lisa in Louisiana
Oh and thanks for giving me something new to try!!
Lisa in Louisiana
The variety of effects is just delightful; thanks for the tips (tape and fingernails) and for the pattern!
Nice looking I will have to try this Just getting started with paints and I love it so far Very pretty
Very cool…would love to make some of these for friends. Thanks for the tutorial.
Whew, I made it to every blog – everyday and it was so worth it! I learned so many things and feel like I made some great new friends! What a wonderful group of talented women you all are! Thanks so much for having this blog hop for all of us to enjoy! Looking forward to next year, but in the meantime-I will be checking back in on you to see what else you are up to! Happy 4th! God Bless America!
this is so fun! a truly new thing for me to try! can’t wait to give it a whirl! thanks
I enjoyed the blog hop very much. This was sew much fun. Thank you!
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
I’m not sure I’m up to paonting yet but it looks interesting.
I will give the placemats to a friend as a Condo Warming gift. I have never tried the paintstiks technique and this pattern seems perfect to get my feet wet.
Cool technique! Another new thing to try!
Quilthugs, Carolina
I am thinking this is a great project to do with my youngest niece for her mother. She can do the rubbings and I can make the placemats from it.
Love the blog and have added to my watch list! The multiple color tips and removing mistakes write up was great. Never knew I could do that.
This is is a brand new technique to me – I was really fascinated when I read about this and I’d love to be able to give it a try.
I’ve never used paint stick but may try them after the explanation. Thanks!