Creative Thursday

they're all here {1} + {2}

6" x 6" and 7" x 5"

It's nice to be surrounded by things you love.

{originals are available here - also available as prints in the shop}

curated fabric bundles

Speaking of patchwork - I've decided to add some new 'curated' fabric bundles to the shop = color to create with.

Since each fabric collection is a limited edition printing, some of the intial fat quarter bundles are now gone. However I do still have some of the patterns and I thought it would be fun to put together themed bundles, mixing six designs from different collections in color groups that inspire me.

Introducing the four 'Birds + Bunnies' bundles. 

 

my first patchwork throw

Oh you know, before I headed out to quilt market a few weeks ago, I just whipped up my first patchwork throw.

Seriously! I made this in a day {daily quilting?!} This is when I realized that all the sewing I've been doing, especially garment sewing, is starting to pay off. My skill level and speed is improving. Also, I was given some great advice about easing into your first quilt and that is to use a 12" x 12" ruler square to cut your pieces. Brilliant! 

You can see the front is an assortment of 12" x 12" squares. At least one design from each of my printed fabric collections to date is featured. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun this was to make and how satisfying it was to put together a grouping of some of my favorite designs and see how they all tell the same story together. Joy. They give me so much joy.

The back displays 4 more designs. I didn't add any batting or quilt this throw. I just stitched the front and the back together and the combination created a perfect summer blanket.

As I told the audience at my schoolhouse at market, "I get it. I really get it. The love of quilting and the fabric stash." The chance to layout and design a favorite collection of fabrics and then turn it into your own, timeless piece of art, that is not only beautiful but useful. I get it.

beauty is embarrassing

 

stop what you're doing right now and watch this move. it will fucking inspire you! 

I can't even put into words the impression this film has made on me at this particular time in my life and career. I watched it last night and all I keep thinking of is how thankful I am that I went for it. And I now get to do this for my work. I am an artist. Always have been, always will be. 

Listening to Wayne talk about his process, made me more determined than ever to keep working and creating from my heart. And now I'm so fired up! I must paint!!

do what you love. it's going to lead you to where you want to go - Wayne White

everything is better with balloons and flowers

6" x 6"

I painted myself a get well card. Thankful this cold is finally going away.

 

{original is available here and a print is here}

the big book giveaway

Just FYI - this is happening right now. Seriously I have most of the books in this collection and whatever your level of inspiration is now, you will be MORE inspired just picking up any one of these titles. And if you're the lucky duck to win all 21...I'm giving away 2 copies of my book and! will be including extra treats for the winners!! good luck!

sewing dresses

I might be a little obsessed. For someone who felt intimidated at the thought of and really didn't think she would be interested in and/or have time to sew her own clothes; You must know how satisfying it is to sew something you can wear and then to top it off, in a fabric you designed. Nothing better. I'm sort of loving that my closet is getting filled with clothes I've made.

Locally Grown in dresses. Above is a pattern from a book called Simple Modern Sewing. Below is the Lulu Tunic from Alexia's book Liberty Love, and the last is the Washi Dress from Made by Rae. Red shoes by TOMS and Salt Water Sandals.

quilt market inspiration - spring 2013

Went to Quilt Market last weekend- came back with a bad cold and somewhere beneath the cold a lot of inspiration is percolating.

Certainly because of so many things I saw at market and also because I've been thinking a lot about saturation. 

When is too much, too much? And how do we as designers continually stand out in a world that is becoming inundated with design - which = awesome + overwhelm. Do our consumers know how to tell the difference between your average 'pretty design' and something that someone crafted with a unique point of view. Are we still designing with a unique point of view or are our creative visions getting watered down by seeing so much other design? Are we consciously or unconciously just mimicking what works over and over again, or remembering to blaze our own trail?

Bunch of questions, no answers yet - your thoughts?

What I do know is that I want to continue to know myself better. And from that space I want to create quality work that I'm proud of. This is always where I want to start and from there I'm sorting it out as I go. Because as soon as I think I've figured at least some of this out, the world in which I am creating changes again. I'm telling you, every time I attend market - I think this is my 4th time since 2011, the quilting fabric industry has changed again. And that's just one of the industries my work is a part of.

I keep reminding myself that this is all just a normal part of being an artist in business, especially in 2013. Keeps me on my toes for sure, challenged and still excited about my work and where it's headed. In a world that thrives on what's new and on trend, how do we continue to set ourselves apart?

Some snapshots of what inspired me this market.

 

from top to bottom

1. leah duncan's booth. her designs are contemporary yet hand drawn. she's also got an etsy shop, you should check it out
2. mo bedell's booth. my first time getting to know mo better, she's a fellow andover designer - as lovely as her fabric
3. penguin + fish cutest guinea pig embroidery maybe ever
4. rashida coleman hale's new fabric with cloud9 - a favorite design of mine 'its a plus'
5. oliver + s - always love liesl's style and especially enjoyed her booth floor that her husband hand painted
6. a hand made melody skirt {which her new line btw, i was so enamored i forgot to take a photo of it or the seven islands booth for that matter} and an alexia bag from her new book liberty love 
7. heather bailey hand embroidered this huge bird, oh yes she did
8. since i'm obsessed with patchwork, i loved this dress featured at the art gallery fabric booth
9. and this painting at our hotel - could not stop staring at it, so great against the red walls
10. didn't get out to see much of portland this time but i did make it to this restaurant - which was probably one of the best meals i've had
11. missed a photo, but the little bird is also a new favorite Portland hangout

hopeful

5" x 7"

{original available here}

my ideal grocery list + an organization tip

Did you see the new notepads in the shop update last Thursday?

Want the story behind these? Well first I'm exploring adding more stationery products to the Creative Thursday collection.

Second is my continued appreciation of an organized life. I'm a list keeper for sure.

Finally, third, and most importantly to fulfill my quest for the ideal grocery list. 

We keep a weekly grocery list,  like, I'm assuming most everyone does? The way it works in our household is that Sean and I trade off going to the store for our main grocery shopping once a week.  The idea is that we try to plan ahead, limiting the time that gets eaten up by too many random trips to the store. There are always the exceptions of course, like when we want a special treat or buy something super fresh to be made the same day, or when I go to the Farmer's Market. What has taken me years to figure out is; why not only plan my grocery list ahead of time but from an actual menu for the week - and by menu I mean mostly dinners as breakfast and lunch in our family is pretty simple and consistent -  instead of going solely off of what food supplies we we are out of, and what our favorite foods are for the season. Might seem obvious - yes? to plan your meals for the week, yet for a long time I was not able to make the time for that or find a grocery list that has place for you to write them down. Because! It's so helpful to have the menu in front of you when you're actually at the store so: a) you remember why you're buying the food on your list and: b) if you forgot to write down one of the ingredients for your meals, seeing the name of the dish might remind you? 

So that's my big organization tip - or make your life easier tip - for this week. Simple, just a little pre-planning required. Taking the time to figure out what you're going to eat {at least dinners}  on each day ahead of time, makes the shopping so much quicker, while answering the daily question 'what's for dinner?', while also eliminating the stress and frenzy that usually follows that question when you're fast and furiously throwing together a meal from what's in your fridge, freezer or pantry or all of the above. 

If you don't already know this about me, I love food. While an awesome meal out on occassion is a favorite, we are happy eating at home most nights. In the past couple of years I've been having way more fun cooking and trying new recipes. I honestly think it has something to do with being more organized, leaving me feeling like I actually have the time to cook. It's become some sort of a meter as to how balanced my life is at any given moment. Time to make a meal = in balance. No time = flying by the seat of my pants. Neither one is right or wrong. I've just found that right now I like having more days in balance than out. Preparing thoughtful dinners {not necessarily laborious} has become a priority in our family, not just this thing we have to do to keep my our energy going and blood sugar up. {because you don't want to see the crankiness that ensues when Sean or my blood sugar is low}

We also take a lot of pride in trying to use all of the food we buy. It seriously bums me out to have to throw anything out at the end of the week or have a fridge filled with foods that are way past their expiration date. One simple 'menu' section fulfills all of this for me, so I decided to make my own customized grocery list. I also added a third section for 'household' items since we often buy our household supplies at different locations. Should this kind of a list also work for you? I've added a few to the shop.

All the years spent rebelling against a plan, I get it now. A little planning is good. Thank you Sean. It's his fault, I mean influence. He and I also trade out cooking on different nights of the week and if you want to see planning in action, this man has his meal preparations complete way ahead of time {I'm still working up to this}  

Ease, more ease in my life. That's kind of been my word for the year. Personally and professionally I'm seeing if I can make more choices with ease.