Noctiluna

Printing fabric for skirts while the wind rages outside.

This week I am teaching myself Sashiko, a Japanese decorative mending stitch. It is going to be a week of paperwork and admin, so this is my way of sneaking some joy into the days. ☺️

Check out this adorable cutie in her cherry blossom pinafore! We still have a few cherry blossom print items left, and I’ll be listing a couple of the skirts and accessories on my website next week. 🌸🌸🌸

Thank you to all the people who braved the wind and cold and came to see us at last weekend’s market . We really do appreciate it. It has been a busy few weeks . Now I’m taking some time off to recuperate and have some fun with my family. 💕

Day 2 of Art Blooms and it is warm but super windy! Come get your shirts before they all blow away! 🤣🤣🤣

I’m here with all my wares at the Art Blooms market in the Mosaic District. The sun is beginning to come out and there is going to be live music. Come and say hi! I’m across from Bloomies this time (near the Barnes and Noble) 😘

More new products for Spring/Summer 2022 that will be coming with me to the Art Blooms market at the @mosaicdistrict this weekend. I will have info there about my summer camp as well, so stop by with your questions, or just to say hi!

Exclusive products that Scout & Indiana and I have been collaborating on for this weekend’s market! Come to Art Blooms at the @mosaicdistrict to shop these limited edition hand printed goodies and other new offerings at both my and @scoutandindiana booths. 🌸🌸🌸

NEW! Denim rattle toys are now in my shop. You asked for an alternative to the black and white and here it is! Less easily stained, but just as squishy. Go to noctiluna.com to see the whole range.

My work life can prove a little too solitary at times. So I was really excited when my friend @pallavishahart dropped by for tea. As an added bonus, she bought her camera with her and took these lovely shots documenting my printmaking process. 🙌🏽😍😍
📸 @pallavishahart

I have blisters on my hands, but this print is worth it. 😍

Camp

Learn more about this year's Noctiluna Camp visiting teachers on my website!

Camp CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION!Summer 2022 camps will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna. Noctiluna camps are process oriented Visual Arts camps, with a focus on problem solving and FUN. We keep the camp sizes small, and the atmosphere relaxed with plenty of breaks and....

Citrus fabric finished and drying. Now to get on with some much less exciting work on my computer. 😐

Printing citrus fabric for @scoutandindiana to sew into aprons today. We will have them ready for the Art Blooms market in the Mosaic District on April 2 and 3!
🌸🌸🌸

Block printing is a messy business. Sometimes I can’t help getting a little ink where I’m not supposed to. But it can often be fixed with some creative problem solving. I just carved this mini bike tread block, to cover up a couple of smudges on freshly printed shirts, and I love how it worked out! Less waste for me, and a totally unique shirt for the person who chooses to buy it. Winners all around! 🙌🏽
Check out my stories for the video behind this and a link to my upcoming textile upcycling class @shopmadeinva . ♻️

Come and see me at my first spring event of the year. Art blooms is the most fun for the whole family, and I’m bringing lots of new and limited edition products with me. 😉😉😉

I’m printing wheels onto the Juicy Bike shirts for 2 and 4 year olds today. The bigger shirts will be next. Hoping to drop all of this lovely new stuff onto my website by the end of next week. Start counting down the days!

I haven’t printed the citrus wheels on the bike shirts yet, but there is something quietly beautiful about this shirt as it is. I have always loved black on cream.

It is International Women’s Day, so I thought I would reintroduce myself and my one woman micro business to you. Hello 👋🏾 to any new followers! 💕💕
My name is Chitra, and I am the owner/designer/maker/ behind Noctiluna. I am a textile printmaker trained in England, who particularly likes making things for babies and kids. 👶🏽
I love making things with my hands, and teaching other people to make things too. My two favorite things to do at work are block printing fabric lengths, and teaching kids at summer camp.
Here are some other things I love: tea🫖 picnics, libraries, geeky historical films, painting on big canvases, mending things, hiking, sarcasm, mending things while being sarcastic, more recess for kids, testing out playgrounds, reading fantasy fiction, and doing yoga (the one activity it is actually hard to be sarcastic during) 🧘🏽‍♀️
I’m currently focusing on making Noctiluna a Good Life Business. This means I want it to impact our lives, and the environment in positive ways. Part of my plan is to focus in on quality rather than quantity when making my products so they last longer, sourcing materials from ethical companies, and repurposing materials as much as possible. ♻️

Thank you so much for following me, and come and say hi if you are at any of my events! 💕

Panda shirts waiting to be pressed. This is a crazy week of school/orthodontist/pediatrician appointments, so I’m working in between and around things. Hoping to get all the things made for this Spring! My first show is Art Blooms at the Mosaic District on April 2&3. 🌸🌸🌸

Today’s Block printing workshop at @shopmadeinva was a ton of riotous fun! I’m doing another one on March 19, so start digging out all those textiles you want to upcycle. ♻️🥳🙌🏽

Ice cream fabric close up. I can’t capture the soft pink in pictures. It is so much prettier in reality. Come and see the skirts at the Art in Bloom market at the Mosaic District on April 2-3.

The cherry blossom shirts are printed, pressed and in my online shop! 🌸🌸🌸
Hurry! I only managed to make a few.
I couldn’t find anyone else to model for me, so you will have to do with a delightful shot of me standing in harsh sunlight. The shirt was super soft though, and Spring is definitely on the way. So there’s that. 😊🙌🏽☀️

Noctiluna updated their information in their About section.

Noctiluna updated their information in their About section.

Block Printing Textiles with Chitra Sharma

Here is the Eventbrite page for my upcoming class at SHOP MADE IN VA I'm so looking forward to teaching this. Know anyone who wants to learn to block print, or is interested in upcycling some clothes/ small textiles? 🌏

Block Printing Textiles with Chitra Sharma Bring in your old/plain/ stained clothes and textiles, and learn how to breathe new life into them via block printing.

What a beautiful day to walk/climb the Billy Goat trail. Hope you all had a lovely weekend too!

Ignore my messy studio and just focus on the fact that I have been making cherry blossom shirts for adults!! Yes! Just imagine how good you would look promenading the tidal basin in this. 🌸🌸🌸
They will be heat pressed and in my online shop next week. 😉

This year’s Summer camp flyer! This year’s camp will be at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Vienna, VA

If you have a rising 8th grader who wants to do one more Noctiluna camp before they age out, go ahead and sign up. We will have two separate age groups! The camp is small enough for us to accommodate you, and I have missed you all! 💕 ☀️🙌🏽

Denim rattle toys sewn and waiting to be stuffed. I’m so happy with how these have turned out so far! They remind me of blue skies and clouds. Perfect for Spring. ☀️