Quilted Boxes

I've been puttering around the studio and improving things. I'm working on a cover for my sewing machine and just finished these cute quilted boxes. The fabrics are all of my Spoonflower prints (all gorgeous btw). Now I've got all my miscellaneous supplies in them, which neatens up my work table. I made them each 5" so I can line them up for supplies.

Funky Hat

Hubby and I have been going to some outdoor Mustang shows with our Bullitt edition. I needed something to shade my eyes a bit for sketching/reading etc. while we hang out, so I fancied up this cap from the craft store. I glued on some scraps of fabric and embroidered around them, glued on some small stuffed charms and painted some images.

Spoonflower Dolls

Here's my latest Spoonflower test--I'm going to get these dolls printed out on quilting weight cotton, then I'll cut them out and stuff them individually. They are about 12" high. If my margins are right, I'll get about 21 dolls out of a yard of fabric. My current thought is to embroider each one before I stuff it--adding some fun stitching. Oh, I could also thread sketch them too. Maybe some beading?? My mind is bursting with anticipation! This process was the same as for the bumble bees. I drew the doll outlines with a Pitt pen, scanned them all into the same document, then colored them in using GIMP, the free graphics program. Can't wait for these to arrive! If they turn out, they may need to find homes on Etsy.

Fabric from Drawings

In my latest batch of Spoonflower ideas, I sketched some quick drawings of whimsical bees, scanned them in and then added color with my GIMP graphics program. I've learned that you don't get much subtlety when you're digitizing things anyway. So here's where I started, and after I added color. Now I'm waiting for this to arrive as a fabric.

Fat Quarters

My first Spoonflower fabrics have arrived! They are even more beautiful than I imagined. Whatever will I make with them? I have two more orders yet to come and more thoughts on the way as I learn this process. These fat quarters are based on drawings, photos and paintings I photographed. See how saturated they are? And they were beautifully packaged too!

Fabric Design with Spoonflower

When I first heard of Spoonflower, I was entranced. Who doesn't love the idea of designing their own fabric? With Spoonflower, you can upload a pattern of your own making and have it printed on fabric in swatches, fat quarters or yards. I've been playing around and it's a good excuse to actually learn to use GIMP software. I've had this program for a few years, but it still intimidates me.

I'm still waiting for my first fabrics to arrive. They are simple block repeats of artwork I've already done. This pattern, Big Spools and Small Spools, was made from a journal painting/collage with the intention of using it for fabric. I'm still stuck in a regimented pattern, but at least I've broken free from squares. I'm going to work on a more random, free floating pattern next. Unfortunately, when translating art to fabric, much of the subtlety is lost. So I have to think more in terms of graphic design. So much to learn!