So, we were asking ourselves, how do we advertise the blog in style on the yurt?
The black canvas walls are perfectly suited for decorating. Many groups in Germany decorate their yurts with their own customised patterns. We decided that a QR code - integrated in a pattern - would be both decorative and useful in drawing attention to the blog. When we started looking for suitable patterns we came across patterns that are used to decorate yurts in Kyrgyzstan. These patterns often symbolise ram's horns, tulips, soldiers, or dog's tails. Quite often, these patterns are black and white, and are composed squares. Could the Kyrgyzstanis have invented the QR code thousands of years ago?
The next challenge was to design a pattern that could be printed in white on a black background, and would contain the QR code and traditional Kyrgyz patterns. We tried many drafts until we found one that worked. I really like the very clever pattern with the tulips but the 45 degree angles and curves just didn't work with the unforgiving grid pattern of the QR code. However, this pattern made me realise the benefit of the stripes running along the top and the bottom to visually hold the patterns together.
The next challenge was to find a DIY technique to print the pattern on to the canvas. We decided on screen printing using StencilPro photo emulsion-coated screens. We needed two screens: one with the QR code and one with the Kyrgyz pattern. Both were to have a stripe running along the top and the bottom to visually hold the patterns together. Making the screens involved printing the patterns onto transparent overhead film, exposing the photo emulsion in sun light and rinsing off the unfixated (unexposed) areas of the emulsion with water. We mounted the finished screens on plywood frames and chose white textile paint that could be heat-fixated by ironing. Since the craft shop didn't have any squeegees small enough we made one from am strip of plywood with old bicycle inner tube stapled to it. The first couple of test prints looked quite promising.
The next challenge was to design a pattern that could be printed in white on a black background, and would contain the QR code and traditional Kyrgyz patterns. We tried many drafts until we found one that worked. I really like the very clever pattern with the tulips but the 45 degree angles and curves just didn't work with the unforgiving grid pattern of the QR code. However, this pattern made me realise the benefit of the stripes running along the top and the bottom to visually hold the patterns together.The next challenge was to find a DIY technique to print the pattern on to the canvas. We decided on screen printing using StencilPro photo emulsion-coated screens. We needed two screens: one with the QR code and one with the Kyrgyz pattern. Both were to have a stripe running along the top and the bottom to visually hold the patterns together. Making the screens involved printing the patterns onto transparent overhead film, exposing the photo emulsion in sun light and rinsing off the unfixated (unexposed) areas of the emulsion with water. We mounted the finished screens on plywood frames and chose white textile paint that could be heat-fixated by ironing. Since the craft shop didn't have any squeegees small enough we made one from am strip of plywood with old bicycle inner tube stapled to it. The first couple of test prints looked quite promising.
