vote for me!

As previously mentioned, I entered a design in the Spoonflower contest.

Will you vote for me? Be sure to click "submit" at the bottom!

Thanks!

calendar contest.

I've entered a contest! It's a Spoonflower themed contest. This makes me super nervous because, you see, I've never done this before. I'm not sure when voting will be. I've submitted a calendar design I just happened to have done this week.

My plan is to actually screenprint the calendar, but I thought it would be fun to submit it for voting.

You can find my design here.

ornament swap!

freshly{blended} is hosting their 4th annual ornament swap.

I'm thinking about signing up, but I don't put up a tree. Is it weird to participate in a swap without a tree to hang them on?

If you're going to sign up, you better hurry (as should I), sign ups end on Nov. 7.

stamp happy

Look what just came in the mail!


Ooooh, I'm so excited. It's so beautiful and I can't wait to use it.
It came from this Etsy shop.

Print Gocco Fun

I promised I'd be back with more, and here I am.

click on the image for a larger view.

I printed my business cards using my Gocco PG-5. This was a first for me. I was so nervous to use it since supplies are so precious, I didn't want to mess anything up. I read and re-read and watched tutorials until I was confident it was as easy as it looks. And, it is! I even printed two colors, which is difficult since the PG-5 doesn't have any built-in method of registration (I used graph paper, by the way). I used this and this as my encouragements.

I will admit that I made a couple mistakes, but I've learned from them. First, and this one I expected and was prepared for, I didn't use smooth paper. I was completely compelled to buy Eames Painting in Canvas Finish (in solar white from Neenah). It's beautiful paper and it was a must-have. The other errors were minor. I should have paid more attention to the paper registration when I was printing the first color.

All in all, I had a great time, and it didn't take long. I did let the orange ink dry overnight just to be sure it was dry enough for round two. Then again, overnight before trimming.

Now I want the other Gocco machine with the registration and larger printing plate. I also wish I'd climbed on to this wagon a long time ago (I've had my Gocco for several months).

well hello there!

I've been missing for a bit, haven't I?

Here's a little peek into something I've been working on.
More soon ... I promise.

Autmn Leaves

My forest has entered autumn. Now with the spring leaves and autumn leaves, I need to work on sizing. Currently this would come in at 48" wide. I'm certain they don't need to be any larger. Should they be smaller? Let me know what you think.

Click on the image for a larger view.

A Real Forest

I've worked on the trees. That star pattern previously posted just wasn't doing anything for me. Here's a new one. I am happy with this pattern. I need to try a few different sizes to see which works best. I've chosen fairly natural colors ... brown for the trunk, green for the leaves. Maybe I should try autumn colors? Have two different color-ways. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear from you.

Click on the image for a larger view.

See the Forest

Here's a pattern from the tree in the previous post. The actual size is 12" square. So, that means each tree "star" is nearly 3 1/2" square.

What do you think? Would this work as curtains, a sun dress, pillow covers, a skirt, slip cover, etc.?

Click on the image for a larger view.

Make Like a Tree and Leave(s)

I am taking a short break from my leaves. I haven't been able to make the repeat work, so I'm stepping away for a moment. But, before I do, what do you think of the yellow? I love yellow. It's so happy and cheery. I would like to see this as yellow curtains for a bedroom (or any room). What better way to wake up (this coming from someone who is not a morning person!)?



So, in the meantime, I'm going to shift my focus to another pattern I've started. Here's the new one ... what do you think?Have a happy Tuesday!

Tricky Repeats

In my attempts to repeat this pattern, it revealed it's flaws to me. I don't recall where I saw it, but I remember a tutorial about tiling patterns. (assuming I remember it correctly) You divide the pattern into quarters and switch the top right with the lower left, and top left with lower right. This then allows the outer edges to align properly when printing. Kind of like turning something inside-out.

I can't get it to line up! So, now I either start over or try to find what's causing the flaw.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Now if only I can find that tutorial ... Any suggestions?

CORRECTION: I found the tutorial. And it's by, none other than, Julia Rothman on Design Sponge. I bookmarked it (Thank you Delicious!) and there it was, waiting for me to rediscover it!

The Alphabet

This has been in my head now for a while. I'm relieved to finally get it out. It's so satisfying when something comes out as you picture it in your head, isn't it?

I would love to see this on a T-shirt, tote bag, or sofa pillow with no repeat. I could even print onto a nice cotton paper stock and hang as wall art.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Patterns

I've now made the leaves white on a green background with a teal outline. This could be nice in many different colors with the white leaves. I still don't quite have how the pattern would repeat, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

What do you think?


Click on the image for a larger view.

The Leaves are Becoming

I'm excited about these leaves.

Here is the next iteration of my leaf pattern. I chose a lime-green color to start but imagine it could be done in a variety of colors. One step at a time, though, right? If you click on the image you can see a larger version.

Tell me what you think. Would you make a sofa pillow with this? Any advice on making this a successful repeat pattern for screen printing?


Another pattern is already in the works. But more on that later.

The Boss of Me

A couple months ago I finished reading the book The Boss of You by Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears. Loved it! I have it crammed with other pages, articles, and notes that I've been collecting (not the most scientific method, but it's working for now). This is a fabulous reference book for the beginning and middle stages of starting your own business. I have flipped through, revisiting sections, and sometimes I carry it with me just to wrap my mind around it. I am definitely a fan.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in the imagining stage (or the actual stage) of starting your own business. It's a reality-check with humor and an easy style ... even the part about taxes and attorneys (ick).

If you know of any other good resources, let me know!

Visit their blog.
Buy their book.

Surface Design, step 2

This post is a continuation from my exploration blog, Dreamy Abstraction. Since this relates to surface and pattern design, I decided to post "part 2" here.

Here are two versions using two leaf sketches. They are essentially mirror images of each other, but are separate drawings. I scanned, clipped, and placed them in two different repeat patterns. These are rough sketches.

I feel like I need something unpredictable in the pattern. What do you think? Should I vary the mirrored images more? Does it need something else. I think so, but I'm not sure what.

v.1

v.2

Please send me your suggestions in the comments.

A Long Time Coming

So here we are, 2009 is well under way. Thank you to everyone (online and in person) who helped me with the Apples and Orange logo. I finally made a decision and added the logo to the header. I have also chosen the official colors of A&O. Many ideas were considered. This final result has, what I think, are solid ideas and theories behind it.

About the shape. If you slice an apple horizontally there are five seed pods that make the star shape. Each pod has two seeds in them. If you have ever seen an orange blossom, it makes the same star shape as the apple pods. Two and five are also fibonacci numbers. I like that nature can be so predictable.

I have to give credit to my friend, Chrys, for the information about the apples.