Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-12


wv ton this winter, and charming
table covers. sash curtains, divan
pillows. magazine covers, bureau
runners and table squares assume new
glories when sketched artistcally by the
new process.
1t has taken art workers a consider
able time to become thoroughly conversant
with its possibilities, but its application
TO house furnishings is at once so evident
and its field so wide that it now needs
no champion to further its cause.
One of the first questions asked by
those who are a bit unfamiliar with its
present adaptation Is. How does it differ
from stencilling II is n distinction rather
than n difference. for while the block
printing does all that stencilling does, il
goes further and presents a wider field of
usefulness-or so it appeals to women
workers In the craft
That wood block printing lends n more
commercial value to the material with
out detracting from its excellence as hand
work is one Of the claims made for it.
The colc.s are stronger and more definite
and the uniformity of the pattern supplies
n sense of satisfaction that is frequently
wanting in the case of indstinct stencil
tracery.
Geometrical designs are more applicable
10 the wood block printing than anything
else. and as there seems just now TO be
revival of everything that savors of ORR
entaism this is an added element in its
favor. At any rate it is having won
derful rage, and women who are having
their apartments or rooms done over are
turning them into the hands of decorators
in block printing and every studio in town
that makes a speciality of 1t is rushed
with orders or with applications from
Girls who are anxious to learn the art.
1t is interesting to remember that wood
block printing is hundreds Of years old;
that way back IN China, Japan and India
il was made use of as II is to-day, ana
many of the charming fabrics that come
TO us from the Far East are decorated i'll
this fashion. For example, from Japan
to-day there comes the most artistic
chintzcs, every bit printed by hand in the
quaint geometrcal designs for which the
Land OF the Rising sun is famous. Rut
frequently the materials used are not the
sort either in color or weave that will suit
the demand, and then The JOY of adapting
old ideas to modern textiles is an incentive
of its own.
1t is good for borders, centres or sur
faces, and therefore capable of a variety
of applications There is an almost
illimitable ield so far as materials and
textiles are concerned, for from such in
extensive stuff as cheese cloth and I'M
bleached cotton quite as delightful hang
ings can be made as though raw silk, bur-
lap or mummy cloth is used.
TT NY girl that can do stencilling can
~ do the block printing, and if she hap
pens to know bit about wood cary
ing so much the better, for il one has
neither the ingenuity nor the taste to cut
ones own wood block-which, by the way.
in very simple matter-it can be
bought in certain shops in the city for
small sums. OF course, if the block is
made there is always greater opportunity
for the exercise of originality and artistic
taste. However, for beginners, it might
not be bad plan to start with the blocks
purchased in the shops, then, when once
familiar with the method, it is always
possible to go ahead and delve further Intol
the detail of the craft on ones own re-
sponsibility.
As in stencilling, great care and accu
racy must be exercised in the craft, but
that as a matter of fact, might be eau
ton that would apply to any decorative
work of the sort. While some workers
use pine for their block-this on the sup
position that if girl is intending to cut
her own block it is easier-others prefer
close grained wood, like pear. 1t is an
erroneous impression that pine is easier to
cut than a wood of harder fibre, for the |
mere fact of its softness gives the knife
the opportunity of slipping, so that it re-
ouires a we'll trained hand to manipulate
the tool.
Pear wood, therefore, has been found
most satisfactory, and small pieces can be
obtained at any woodworkers or cabinet
shop. Blocks may be cut anywhere from
one-half inch to one and half inches in
thickness, though the latter depth is pref
cradle. as it is easier to hold firm when
making the impression The surface
should be very smooth, SO that no Unequal
flies in the grain catch in the fabric and
So destroy the uniformity of the design.
Plane the surface we'll before applying
the design and sand paper as well.