After seeing beautiful lino prints popping up all over Instagram, I decided to have a go with the kids.
We bought carving tools and artist lino from the local Bundaberg art shop on Electra St and started experimenting. The process is pretty simple and satisfying. Carve a design, roll on some ink, press it onto paper, and watch what appears. There was only one downside to this activity. Professional artist lino isn’t cheap when you’re learning, especially with enthusiastic little artists wanting a turn. Then, during a visit to the local Neighbour’s Aid op shop, I spotted a worker from Solomons Flooring and had an idea. I asked if we could buy some leftover lino offcuts to practise on. After a quick chat with the owner, Solomons did even better. They gave us a boot-full of scrap flooring completely free of charge.
As it turns out, using flooring for printmaking isn’t such a strange idea. Linoleum began life as a floor covering before artists discovered it was also great for carving and printing. Purpose-made artist lino is more predictable for detailed work, but suitable flooring offcuts can be great for practising and experimenting. For us, scrap flooring means hours of experimenting and making memories with the kids. They also repurpose materials and upcycle waste.
So, a big Chitchat thank you to Solomons Flooring. It’s a simple act of generosity that encourages creativity, reduces waste and shows what can happen when locals help locals.
It’s a lovely reminder that generosity doesn’t have to be grand to make a difference.
Published Chitchat Newspaper October 2026