Robot City

Robots are the big thing around here these days.  We are robots, we eat robot food and we do robot work.  We are good robots, not bad ones.  I have heard Arjun explaining this to the dinosaurs that live on our kitchen table.

Last week I made a robot screen using the photoemulsion method.  I wanted sharp lines and intricate details, otherwise I might have cut the initial screen from contact paper.  I have not yet figured out a foolproof way to burn these screens so I usually opt for cutting contact paper.  There are a lot of advantages to using the photoemulsion, though.  Including:  sharp details, the option of using bleach to discharge tthe dye out of the fabric rather than using ink to print it onto the surface....durability.  I'm sure there are more advantages that don't come immediately to mind.  Anyway.....this was a lucky day!  I burned three screens and each one was successful!  First time ever for that!  I attribute it as much to luck as to experience.  Hooray!

 So.  We printed a batch of robot shirts

 and robot underpants

and even a robot curtain.

 And now....it turns out...that Arjun cannot go to school - or any place else - without wearing at least one robot.

I have been interested in printing more than one color for some time now, but since I do my printing my hand, I always worry that getting the registration right will be too much trouble.  BUT, lately I have found myself admiring textiles and wall coverings from the 50s in which the registration is off - either intentionally or not - or insignificant, and I love the way it looks.

Arjun told me that he wanted the new curtain in his room to be yellow and black.  With robots.  So, I cut the silhouette of the robot screen out of contact paper and I tried two color printing for the first time.  I love it and so does he!

 Of course we had to make two color shirts and two color underpants....

I even snuck a robot onto the wall.

Ack!

I forgot to bring the appropriate wires to the farm which leaves me, at nap time, without any work to do!!!!
My plan had been to photograph new dresses and add them to my new website:  www.mylovebird.net
- definitely a work in progress - and to post more farm pictures, wedding pictures and swimming pictures.  Arjun is getting to be a little fish!
Here he is explaining to me how "cooly" the pool will be after he finishes putting his "tools" into it: 

"We are farmers. We are workers. We take care of animals......and ducks."

Arjun and I are looking after the animals at our friends' house while they are on vacation.  We are having a great and wonderful time.  It is like a "working" vacation for us, even though all of the work is fun to do. 
We are taking care of chickens, ducks, horses, rabbits, goats, dogs, a cat and two peacocks.

Our dog, Haarle, is here with us as well.  He is also enjoying himself.

Arjun loves all of the animals, but I think that he is particularly interested in the Mama duck who is sitting on her eggs.  Arjun says that she is "sniffing them.  Getting them ready to be ducklings."

One of our jobs is to get the chickens into their houses at night.  This was really easy the first night since it was stormy and rainy.  The second night it was perfectly lovely outside and I think we tried to get the chickens to go in before they were ready.  I wanted Arjun to be able to help me with this job because I knew he would love it.  He goes to bed at 7:30, but I think the chickens prefer to go in around 8:30.  Anyway, Arjun and I ended up trying to chase the chickens around the yard for about 15 minutes and Arjun, in all his trickiness, ended up getting covered in chicken poop - which he thought was very, very funny.  We did not convince the chickens to go inside until they were ready.

Another of Arjun's favorite things to do around here is make tea and food in "The Tiny House." 

 He likes to "cook for the guys in there."  Mostly they eat french toast, manzanas, tea and bread.

Oh yes, and there is a pool.......

Wish you were here.
Happy Father's Day all.