Alternative sources for Art Materials: fabric & leather paint, dyes, & raw materials

Atlanta is blessed with hordes of creative folks and many of you are interested in redesigning your look– or even redesigning the concept of “fashion” altogether.

bless you.

Being a costume designer myself i appreciate the need to create that shirt that dress that doublet that fabric or even those shoes that are lodged on the periphery of your thoughts.

Please do pursue these creative paths. The fashion world needs a regular shake-down, and people need to distinguish themselves from the ready-to-wear mobs that strut these city streets. Don’t get me wrong, I love the traditional fashion empire, and I myself wear tons of standard brands, but nothing beats the creative flash of inspiration zinging off an individual’s unique pieces. If you have been in the store you’ve probably heard me ooh and aah over various spectacular pieces that my customers have toddled in wearing.

I also love that blurring of the “fine art,” “fashion,” and “craft” borderline. Blur away, baby.

I love that stuff.

So how can WE help you? Well, we DO have a small assortment of really high quality fabric inks and paints. Following this blurb is a listing of alternative suppliers and notes if you need what we don’t currently carry.

FABRIC SURFACE DESIGN tools and techniques:

• SCREENPRINTING

We carry the Speedball line of fabric screen inks. We carry the Speedball brand of screens for do-it-yourself screen-printing, and all of the chemicals necessary to get a crisp image that is exactly-what-you-had-in-mind.

I am btw looking for another supplier for larger screens with tighter mesh weaves– and would appreciate any input y’all could provide. Stay posted if you do work larger.

Freedom Screen in Atlanta can build large single screens for the individual artist or company.

We also have an assortment of books to teach you various ways to create the screen design that you want. We also have a handful of associates who can also tell you basically how to achieve the screen design that you want. If all else fails, find me where ever I am in the bowels of the store. I have made so many mistakes over the years with screen printing that I can certainly tell you what to do and what to not do.

We also carry the wonderful, amazing, fantastic line of Permaset screen printing inks. These are perfect if you are printing onto thinner knit and spandex materials. They dry to a much thinner, more flexible finish than traditional fabric screen inks. They are imported, however, so they cost a pretty penny more than the Speedball brand.

• STAMPING and PAINTING:

We also carry the small tubs of jacquard fabric paints. These can be brushed, troweled, or stamped on. We do NOT– however, carry any fancy stamps. In the name of individuality and creative superiority we encourage artists to create their own stamps from the various linoleum and carving supplies that we DO carry in the store. It IS one extra step– but believe me, it will be worth the satisfaction of knowing that the design you have created is entirely your own… and is not decorating the pages of 5000 scrapbooks across America.
All of the above inks MUST be heat-set with an iron to a temperature that is the limit for the fabric that you selected for printing. Use common sense and test a swatch if you are not sure about the fabric’s temperature limit. Always use a pressing cloth of scrap cotton [that you do not mind ruining] between the iron and your creation. Ask your father, mother, or grandmother for ironing directions if you do not know how to use one properly. I have noticed that us younger generation [unless in the military] have forgotten how to use an iron properly.

• BATIK-LOOK FABRIC PAINTING:

Also you can make beautiful fabric designs with the SHIVA brand oil painting bars. These you can color with as if with large crayons. When heat-set they resemble traditional batik prints. You can also create designs by rubbing the sticks on the fabric over textures and shapes. Once the color has dried, cover the image with a large pressing cloth [that you do not mind ruining] and iron it at whatever temperature is the limit for the fabric that you chose.

• MISCELLANEOUS PRINTMAKING TECHNIQUES:

A quick note on various other printmaking techniques: Most of these can be printed onto fabric as well as the usual paper. Look beyond screen printing and traditional linoleum block printing. Explore mono-printing and any of the other relief printmaking techniques that fine artists have been using for generations.

For example, you can make your own relief printing block by building your design with layers of cardboard, string, gel mediums, or card stock. This technique for the curious is called “collagraph” printing. This “gypsy” block will need to be sealed before inking and printing. Our brand of Matte Gel works brilliantly for this. You can also pour a thin coat of resin over the block if you want it to last absolutely forever.

Think outside of the box and the limits of fabric store fabric designs. Good luck, fashionistas.

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LEATHER PAINTING, DYEING, and TOOLING:

And now LEATHER. I have had the pleasure of meeting a great number of Atlanta artists who have decided to take up– at least once– shoe painting and shoe-redesign.

We do NOT carry any leather paint. However, if this creation is going to be a work of art and NOT a WORN garment, acrylic paint will suffice. Fabric paint also will do.

[Do NOT iron the leather, though. Remember, leather is SKIN… imagine ironing the skin on your arm… and how that would turn out… rather gross, don’t you think?]

Oil paint pens will also work beautifully to draw very detailed designs on smooth leathers. Chartpak brand AD markers will stain softer suedes with beautiful rich tones. They will not work so well on polished and varnished leathers.
Like paper and fabric, leather can also be stamped and printed on. We do have the supplies to make your own stamps and screens.

If you are interested in DYEING leather or suede, and do not have the facilities to purchase or use true leather dye, you can make a homemade version by mixing powdered pigment or packaged dyestuffs with RUBBING ALCOHOL (isopropyl– found cheaply at your local grocery or drugstore). Be kind to your roommates and children, though.

Rubbing alcohol should be handled with care, smells foul, and can burn sensitive nasal passages. Wear a mask, work in an outdoor or ventilated environment, and for goodness’ sake– only use this technique for very SMALL projects. Do NOT try to dye enough leather to make a trench coat. You will make enemies of your family and neighbors, and you will need a straw to breathe for the rest of your life. Also, wear GLOVES. Your skin is living leather and will dye all sorts of funky colors in a very permanent-looking manner if you don’t. Literally, you will be “caught red-handed”, or will have a “green thumb.” We DO sell gloves. Or you can use the tall rubber dishwasher gloves that they sell at the grocery store.

We DO carry powdered pigment in a limited assortment of colors. Please be kind to your lungs and wear at least a dust mask while handling these.

Oh, and NEVER use WATER [of any kind] when processing, painting, or dyeing leather. Although we humans like to dunk our living skin into baths of tepid water– do NOT get your leather work wet while working on it. Leather will harden and become difficult to work with if it gets soaked.

And don’t, I repeat DON’T use the sort of alcohol to dye your leather-stuffs that you must be aged 21 or over with a valid ID to purchase. It will make you smell like a wino, and will not even mix well with the dyes. I know this from personal experience, believe me.

The best retail place to purchase leather working tools, dyes, paints, and chemicals is TANDY LEATHER. This place is brilliant. It is, however, geared toward the cowboy/saddle-and-belt making enthusiasts more than the haute couture industry. The trick is to think outside of the box. Try to avoid the various ready-made kits that they carry, and head straight for the various open-stock leather supplies.

The associates at Tandy can answer any of your leather work questions. Also, sign up for their mailing list so you can shop from their catalog and save some fuel dollars. They are also set up online for bulk purchases… by “bulk” I mean that you will be buying box quantities of things as opposed to the only one or two that you may need.

Michael’s Craft Supply in Buckhead Atlanta just started carrying a small assortment of the TANDY leather supplies, so you In-town dears do not need to truck so far to buy your studs, leather thong and needles, and suede patches. They have only a couple of the dyes however.

So let’s all encourage TANDY to move Intown. Let them know where you live and how far you had to scoot on the interstate to get to them. Next mini topic:

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FABRIC, RIBBON, and VARIOUS FLOSSES etc etc:

HANCOCK FABRICS. A staple fabric chain retailer in Atlanta. They are geared more towards the home sewer who makes fleece bunting bags for babies, log cabin quilts, and knitted mittens for winter. However, they do have a really good basic assortment, and if you sign up for their email list you can get coupons to make their prices more reasonable.

Another bonus: Michaels and Hancock are right next to each other in the shopping center at Piedmont and Sidney Marcus. Nothing beats one-stop shopping if you are a frazzled fashion design student.

HOBBY LOBBY. Outside the Perimeter these are a great supplier of basic fabric stuffs.

Another favorite fabric shop:

FORSYTH FABRICS. I love this place. It is geared more toward the interior design professional, but the fabrics are all singular and spectacular enough from which to build boutique garments. They also [last I checked] allow individuals to swatch the fabrics for free. But for goodness’ sake– PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE when swatching the rolls. A 2 inch square is reasonable. A 12 inch swath will have this free-for-all privilege revoked. They have a trim room that will make you cry with happiness… And the beauties in their clearance room will make you drool.

And– OH YEAH:

LINEN and COTTON DUCK in various weights ARE in our store’s assortment. If you have a need to make a spectacular trouser suit out of mountains-above-ordinary linen, come check out the assortment snoozing in our cubbies. The prices are a little rich for the novice fashion designer– but graduate level and professional designers will appreciate the beauty and perfection of our imported linens. We can order rolls of any of them.

Other fabric source ideas:

I love to trip through the discount clothing stores to find extra-low clearance priced bed linens. I have stretched these over frames when cotton duck canvas was too rich for my pocketbook. I have also made costumes, dresses, and even a wedding gown out of the nicer cotton sateens in the funky discontinued colors and patterns that can be as low as $5 for a queen sized flat sheet.

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And now, RIBBONS, TRIMS, CLOSURES, AND DIDDLY-BITS:

Yes, I know that one of our competitors sells ribbon by the yard, and the other little diddly-bits that you can use in your hand-made book, interior design board, or fashion creation. I say, brilliant, but do you mind that all of your classmates or competing designers will have the same ribbon as you?

Once again, I must direct you to Forsyth or any of the independent fabric stores that litter Atlanta. I have also found a few spectacular specimens of vintage ribbon on spools and bolts on EBAY and at closeout sales for hat-design and boutique fashion companies.
And, of course, of course, New York’s fashion district is a goldmine for junior and professional fashion designers. Make sure you plan a trip there at least once a year, and once per design season, if you consider yourself a professional-on-the-rise. You can find perfect little toggles, buttons, and yarns there as well.

A source for fancy yarns: TWO STIX in Decatur.

One word of caution about New York’s fashion district– the best fabric and trim shops do NOT have prices on any of the merchandise. Don’t be green and accept the first price that the gents spooling and cutting your goods offer you. Be kind to your pocketbook and negotiate. It’s like a great big organized yard sale. They expect dickering, and will make fun of you in various languages if you do not at least give it a go. When you are there, please stop in one of our fantastic little New York Utrechts and tell them HI from Georgia. You will see how different all of our little stores are!
OK. This is enough for now. Good luck little fashion designers, fabric artists, and mixed media and crafter punks. Stop in the store some time and show us your wares.

HANCOCK FABRIC BUCKHEAD ATLANTA 404.256.5768

MICHAEL’S CRAFT SUPPLY BUCKHEAD ATLANTA 404.266.8711

FORSYTH FABRICS WEST MIDTOWN ATLANTA 800.241.9393

TANDY LEATHER OTP TUCKER [ATLANTA] 770.934.0081

TWO STIX DECATUR 404.687.0285

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm and is filed under Art Supplies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.