Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Diversion of the Spoonflower Kind

 
Have any of you tried Spoonflower? It's a magical place where you can transform your designs into fabric. The cheapest yardage is $18 a yard for a nice quilting cotton.

Due to my subpar seamstress skills, I am scared to actually make something. I'm still just purchasing samples ($5 for an 8 inch square). In truth, my master plan is to pick my favorite sample, purchase a few yards and a cute skirt pattern, then visit my mother. I will look into her eyes, butter her up with compliments, and reminisce about the glory days when she sewed all my prom dresses. If this doesn't work, I will start sewing at her house on her fancy machine. She will see me struggle and just take over. Fingers are crossed.

Here are a few of my latest samples. I scanned artwork into Illustrator, manipulated colors, then tried all kinds of different repeats.



original ink and acrylic design for the above fabric




the original acrylic on cardboard








basic repeat


same design, but in a different color and with a mirror repeat
 This kind of fun could keep me occupied all day long. Be careful if you visit. Block out some time!

6 comments:

  1. Love your designs--especially that first one! I haven't tried Spoonflower, but it does sound pretty cool. I definitely feel your pain on the seamstress skills thing, tho...I am big-time sewing-machine impaired.

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  2. I, too, love your designs. The last one reminds me of traditional Hawaiian patterns. I've been meaning to try Spoonflower but the price has kept me from ordering. Purchasing the samples is a great idea!

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  3. I'm gathering courage for spoonflower, and it's on the back burner.
    Like how you can take something fairly average and make it dynamic with repeats.

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  4. I'm not very patient with this kind of stuff, give me a big canvas and a big brush! But I do like what you've created!
    Don'tcha just love making art : )

    Have a great day!

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  5. Oh this is great fun. I have bought some spoonflower fabrics that friends have made, but not tried it myself. I keep thinking combining paper collage with these fabric pieces into larger works, stitched by hand.....With all the great collage you do, this could be a new creative jumping off point, no machine required! Hope Mom comes through. xox

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  6. Very cool idea. Very cool artwork too. Fabric printed from your art...Art turned into fabric. How awesome...I often sew bags, as you might be aware, and they are easier than skirts because bags don't have to fit you correctly. A big beautiful bag could go "sew" well with this custom fabric. Hope you are well, love the polka-dot tape too, reminds me of Nellie-related stuff! Talk soon.

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