eureka!!

I BUILT MY FIRST REPEAT PATTERN ON ILLUSTRATOR!!!!  EL YAY!!!

i feel like i should pop a bottle!!  silly...  i know...  but i feel like i have climbed (for me) the technological equivalent of a mountain summit... 

i still have to figure out how to save this as an uploadable file to spoonflower, but i really had fun hand drawing the little gems, now i want to color them and play with them a bit as the final pattern looks a little too directional...  :)

I. AM. EXCITE!!!!!

adventures in textile design : books

i really meant to be more active with blogging, especially regarding my online and offline searches and studies of textile design...  but textile design (or rather, the hand drawn to digital manipulation transfer of designs/patterns) is proving to be harder for me than I thought it would be... although i have a design (garment and fashion illustration) background, there are so many other skills and concepts that are somewhat foreign to me...it's a challenge... but i'm going to keep trying... :)  i think it's common knowledge that everyone learns differently.  i am a better student - understanding concepts and hands on practice - in a classroom with a teacher...  unfortunately, i have neither the time nor the finances to enroll in actual continuing education classes at a school with textile design courses.  although, i am thankful that a handful of designers have decided to share their knowledge, i really need books with text and diagrams, as well as video tutorials to really grasp this knowledge...

ennyhoo...i thought it might be helpful... for my/your future reference, since some of my books are from the library... to list the books i'm reading and using for research as i continue my education... and if you have any recommendations for me, please share them in the comments!!

1)  The Spoonflower Handbook - seeing so many independent designers on the custom textile design website, spoonflower, really encouraged me to learn more about surface and textile design.  this book covers some basic and fundamental info about what tools you'll need to start, fabric & surface, digital design, color theory, pattern repeats.  the book also contains great creative process exercises/projects that encourage you to test your skills.  i especially love that sprinkled throughout the book are quotes and anecdotes from some of my favorite designers about their struggles and thoughts on textile design.

   

2.  Print and Pattern Kids - if you're interested in surface and textile design, you've probably already seen the Print & Pattern blog. this book is from the creators of that blog and contains 700+ images of design from a 100+ designers.  personally, i like to see how other designers approach similar prompts.  this book is an excellent resource for design inspiration.  for example, i'll bookmark each design that references "dogs" just to see how a designer repeated a pattern, if they used text, what color palette they used....  i dunno, maybe it sounds boring, but it's fascinating to me....  :)

3.  A Field Guide to Fabric Design by Kimberly Kight - this book has been a great companion to all the other online classes I've enrolled in.  it covers much of the basic information needed to build repeating patterns plus some detailed diagrams and instructions on how to develop patterns in either photoshop or illustrator.

4.  Digital Textile Design by Melanie Bowles & Ceri Issac - this book has also been a welcome companion to all the online videos i've been replaying and pausing and replaying.  although it covers some basics on how to create traditional patterns as well as custom repeat patterns, it also covers more advanced topics (for me) like engineered textile design and texture/pattern mapping.

5.  Mastering the Art of Fabric Printing and Design by Laurie Wisbrun - i haven't referred to this book as often as the others, but it is wonderful.  it does have digital design instruction & exercises but also covers hand printing in detail.  this book also has some great interviews with established designers that are fascinating and a short but informative chapter on what to do if/when you decide to pursue textile/surface design as a profession.

ok...  i'm going to get back to trying to design a repeat pattern in illustrator...  thanks for coming by and reading!!

day 2: teacup

day 2 (of 30 day of drawing with lisa congdon on creative bug) is teacup.

my "go to" hot tea is chai, cold tea is thai...

but one of my favorite teas ever was a blend of loose tea a friend of mine made with chrysanthemum and vanilla... yum!!

what is your fave tea? go get some!

thanks for stopping by!

30 days of drawing

i had a really fun time participating in creative bug's 31 days of drawing with molly hatch and heather ross. so, i'm going to try another similar older drawing challenge for june... the first prompt from lisa congdon is "draw a tree".

the current challenge is actually 30 days of painting with augustwren.... which i might also try because i'm HORRIBLE at watercolor.... 😀

if you haven't tried any of these chalenges, i encourage you to do so! thanks for stopping by and reading!

doodleydoo...

more and more, i'm really intrigued by surface and pattern design... i've always loved looking and buying (ha!) patterned fabric. and now with the introduction of custom printed fabric by companies like spoonflower, designing your own fabric can be a reality. in an effort to exercise my creative process, i picked up lisa congdon's book "20 ways to draw a tulip". i really love the whimsical quality of lisa's drawings and her fabrics. lisa also teaches online drawing classes on creativebug. these two doodles were made from lisa's prompts. these were so fun to make! i can't wait to try these techniques in other ways! :)

#inktober day 4

#inktober day 3

#inktober day 2

i've been toying with this idea for a while...  wondering what words templeton would have found for charlotte today...

#inktober day 1

missing chicago...

doodle

life in so cal progresses.... :)  i realize now that i may have to revisit other creative processes to challenge myself... and hopefully meet other like minded spirits...  so i got out a micron pen and this doodle emerged...  a good sign...  :)

roxanne!

i bought this roxanne - victory pattern a while ago when we first got them in at the needle shop.  i had a difficult time deciding on fabrics until my last few days of working at the shop.  *sadhorns*  i liked the flowy look of the top, the crisp collar and the asymetrical hemline.

i picked two voile/lawn weight (lightweight) fabrics that were about 60" wide.  i think i purchased approx 3/4 yds of the black and 1  3/4 yds of the pyramid fabric.  

i decided to try version 2 first.  the layout instructions were slightly confusing as you can see below:

in the cutting instructions, you are directed to cut 2 pcs of pattern piece I out of interfacing.  however, in the diagram under interfacing, the pattern piece J is pictured.  then later, in the sewing instructions, the pattern piece I is referenced again...  so, i cut per the cutting and sewing instructions and ignored the diagram...  :)  also, i recommend taking the time to mark and notch wherever indicated.  no short cuts, newbies!!!

regarding the sewing instructions, i ignored the first one, indicating that the edges of some pattern pieces be finished beforehand...  i just french seamed everything.... i'm sure this would make the project take longer than usual and be more difficult for a beginner, but i prefer the look of these seams...   

and as i went along, i realized that french seams complemented the top...  between the care taken to create the pocket, the pleated collar and the simple, clean beauty of the facings and back pleats, the pressing and understitching, etc...  zig zagged or serged seams just didn't ring true for me...

i really enjoyed making this top and will definitely make more. if you haven't made this top, i highly recommend it!  it was a lot of fun and worth the time and effort.  i think the only thing i'd do differently next time is adding the bias to the armholes BEFORE sewing up the side seams.  it was awwwwwkward...  :)

and here she is!  she's a beauty and i cannot wait to take her out for a twirly test drive!  :)

  

all together now, "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXANNE!!!"

thanks for stopping by!

as you wish...

moving boxes are slowly disappearing and we all seem to be settling in nicely....  my son is in full nesting mode and asked me the other day if i could make curtains to transform his bunk to look like a sleeping compartment on a train...

i replied, "as you wish..."  

both son and cat approved.  :)

hey chicago...

hey chicago,

so, i just wanted to touch base...  because this time tomorrow, i'll be boarding a plane to cali.

i'm kinda amazed at how emotional i am at this move...  back in '95, when i left for sf, i couldn't leave fast enough...  there was just one too many deaths, unhappy endings, and personal failures...  i realize now how angry and desperate i was when i left that time... 

i became whole again and healed during my time away but i'm thankful that since moving back in '01, we've mended the bridge that i burned.  thank you for forgiving and forgetting and welcoming me home.

i shouldn't be surprised since you welcomed me into the world. you were there for my first tooth, my first step, my first potty parade...

you played with me under the streetlights in the illegal water spray of a fire hydrant while harry announced a cubs game on wgn (go sox!)....  we rollerskated at rainbo ate bowls of ice cream at zephyrs...  we shoplifted funyuns...  we watched movies at the milford....  we performed my solo at the mwhs talent show... we danced at medusas and ate cheese fries at muskies...  and graduated to rainbo club and marie's rip tide....  we shopped with michael jackson and siouxsie and the banshees at fao schwarz... and sprinkled in all our trips to the art institute, the shedd, eating ice cream at the msi...  that taste of chicago year, when i knew someone who worked at every booth and saw squeeze for free.... we danced with mc hammer in that bar in new orleans... we studied with gwendolyn brooks at columbia...  we whispered about our first kisses, our first loves and first heartbreaks while listening to sly and the family stone, on the hood of your car at the lake...

thanks for coming out to meet dj and to witness our marriage in sf...  and thanks for joining me in welcoming my children into the world too...  

and here we are, just a few blocks from where i was born...  

to be honest, i've kinda been avoiding you, because i know that i will break into tears when i see you...  just like i am, right now, as i type this...  but i just wanted you to know, that i think about you ALL THE TIME and will miss you terribly (to list the things i will miss about you will take a millenia...  and i type and edit with glacier speed...) while in california...  

i will experience something new, awful, and/or funny and will turn to you and not find you there...  and no, a facebook post is a poor substitute for you....  because you are brilliant, and funny and loving and supportive and there is no one else like you.

so, please send me off with good, happy thoughts and positivity and love, i leave all of that and inifintely more with you too...  

i close with one request... somewhere out there is another woman.... and she may have a family.... she may even arrive in chicago, the same day i leave...  please welcome her/them.   please don't be shy, show them around,  and not just the landmarks or weiners circle....   ask them over for your block party and teach them how to play cornhole, catch fireflies, ride bikes under the vast canopies of trees, meet them out at a SOX game, dance, drink and eat pizza and hot dogs with them....  

'cause if i meet her at o'hare, i'm gonna say "i gotta guy", and i'll be referring to you... you are my treasure, i want to share that wealth...

i will see you later, chicago.

be careful, be good, be nice, 

g

gifts for mrs. q & ms. m

new reversible bags!

for mrs. q: beautiful fabric designed by eloise renouf. i modified a bag pattern from very purple person blog. i loved how this one turned out, i may make another one for the shop. i hope paloma's teacher liked it.

for ms. m: beautiful fabrics by sarah jane studios wee wander nature walk in coral and leah duncan geos in deep marina.  all fabrics purchased at the needle shop.

bubble top

saw this really cute designer closeout knit at the needle shop.   i also purchased the pattern there: simplicity 2653.  super easy! i love the weight and movement in this knit!

third time's a charm...

i used another malong to make this schoolhouse tunic. it fits, i love the pattern and colors... i just love everything about it!! it's a great dress that i will put to good use as the seasons transition. this will most likely be the only picture with me in it... hopefully! :)

 

schoolhouse tunic #2

the first sew liberated schoolhouse tunic i made was a sample for the needle shop. so, i made it to fit the mannequin. i think it was a 2/4 aka too tiny for me.

so, i made another one in cloud 9 monsterz fabric designed by michele brummer everett.

i made it in "my size" aka i was lazy and didn't make a muslin.  and although i could/can get the garment on and it fits. it's uncomfortable. so, this tunic now resides in paloma's closet. :(   lucky duck. :)

i did make another one for me, the next size up....  stay tuned...

schoolhouse tunic

my first schoolhouse tunic. 

pattern by sew liberated.

hapi camel blanket in cloud by amy butler.

fabric purchased at the needle shop

pleated tote

had to replace ye olde fall/winter purse...  :(  

good news - i made myself a NEW fall/winter purse....  

pattern from the long thread

frida fabric from alexander henry
fabric purchased from the needle shop

ruffle camisole

new ruffle camisole for me.  have grown weary of the wintry weather.  am in denial and making summery things....  

pattern from feminine wardrobe by jinko matsumoto

llama love fabric from monaluna

fabric purchased from the needle shop