It’s Halloweeeeen! Since it’s celebratory sort of day, I decided to make creativity {and carving pumpkins} my highest priority. I’ve been so excited to illustrate more with my sewing machine and finally gave myself the opportunity to explore this mostly new medium for me. 

Essentially a free-motion illustration on the sewing machine, on natural cotton combined with batting and my fabric on both the front and back sides ~ I also hand embroidered the border and painted the skeleton. Seriously, I loved creating this and am feeling pulled this direction in my art. I think I’ve probably mentioned that before? I have no idea where it will take me, but anxious to see. 

So this is the first time I’ve made available for purchase over at the shop. I also created this little piece to wish you a Happy Halloween!!! 

It turned out to be a particularly fulfilling creative day and now at nearly 5 pm with more work to do, I’m wondering exactly how and when the pumpkin carving will fit in? Ok, fine. You know me and my love for roasted pumpkin seeds. I will find the time. have a fun Halloween out there!

A tiny get away ~ I’ve been visiting my Mom in Ashland for most of the week. I  came across this display outside of one of the shops and had to share it with you. Don’t you just love the colors? that red and lime green with the touch of burgundy and purple. Oh!! I am loving it!

I’ve been working on the book! My second official deadline met on Sunday of this week, it’s fair to say I’ve been writing {a lot} more than my usual blog posts {even the lengthy ones}. 

This means that most likely my posts will be short and sweet over the next few months. I’m conserving my creative writing voice at the moment. Visuals, lots of visuals for you. The majority of which are courtesy of the Instagram and the Iphone. 

Also when it comes to sharing about retreats I’ve decided that it’s best to do so with visuals so that if you decide to attend, your expectations won’t be too influenced by mine and your experience at the retreat can be all your own. Fine, ok. I decided to write a caption to each of the photos below. {So much for trying not to share too much.}

Of course the title to this post kind of gives away how I felt about my time at the Create • Explore •Discover  Art Retreat. 

Retreats embody the love and intent of the founder and let’s just say that every detail was infused with Sarah's beyond kind and generous spirit. She was a wonderful hostess for an intimate gathering with the loveliest people, in a beautiful setting {at the Cedar House Sport Hotel}, some of the best food {maybe ever}, delicious wine and seriously comfy bed.

Ok, that’s all I’m going to say, except seriously, who would not want to attend a retreat with a bed like this?

I know better than anyone {as someone who is slightly addicted to building her business from her home studio and rarely ever leaves said studio}. It’s hard to justify getting away sometimes, but every time I do I am reminded just how ESSENTIAL it is for us to do this for ourselves. 

Lucky for all of us! Sarah is doing this again next October. 

 photo captions in order of appearance

• first evening in Truckee 
• an open invitation to create {don’t you just love a table full of art supplies} courtesy of Denice
• dessert {don’t you love creative time interspersed by dessert time? seriously is there anything better?}
• kathleen’s finished  'meet the gang' embroidery in my new class 'painting with stitches'
• i got to make a journal with Denice
• and a necklace pendant with Liz
• the dining/creative hall where we spent most of our time, all lit up at night
• every little detail, beautifully packaged by Sarah and Kathleen
• the light on the balcony to my room - fall light is just so pretty
• creative coconuts. love them more
• the european style down bedding. did i mention the comfy bed?!
• fresh berries and real whipped cream - did i mention the desserts?
• did i mention the heirloom tomatoes fresh from the organic garden on the premises?
• a visit to the town of Truckee
• my own embroidery creation 'coming home'
• squaw valley ~ a short drive away
• breathtaking sunset at lake tahoe 

https://vimeo.com/19147130

Run, don’t walk to see this film. Seriously, it has changed my life. 

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned so as to have the life we have waiting for us" ~ Joseph Campbell

3 x 3 in. and 3 x 2 in.

got some writing in, some podcasting and even some painting! = my idea of a good creative weekend. i’m so much happier when i create {often}

happy sunday to you xo

{click here to buy originals}

Finally! More than just a tiny swatch ;)

I actually scanned in every print so that I could share some of the details of each pattern with you while also trying to get the most accurate representation of color and texture. {please forgive the wrinkle here and there. Turns out scanning fabric is not so easy, nor is trying to photoshop out said wrinkles} So here’s the scoop! The fabric is set to ship to stores next week. I’m waiting on an updated list of the shops carrying 'Meet the Gang' and my plan is to add the list to the bottom of this post so that you can find the fabric either near you locally or online. If you are a shop carrying the fabric and want to be added to the list, drop me a note via email or in the comments. And if you are a shop wanting to order the fabric you can see more images here and contact Andover directly to get in touch with the Sales Rep in your area. Until then I have added a limited quantity of fat quarter bundles to my shop.

When I made the decision to pursue this, I had no idea just how much I would enjoy translating my art and designs into fabric. I have already completed my next group as well as a holiday group that will be presented at Quilt Market in just a couple of weeks. Not without it’s challenges, as designing fabric has been a whole new learning curve, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve loved making this. I also want to note that this venture is a big collaboration. There’s a whole team of people that helped my vision become fabric. Thank you Andover, Kathy and Lizzy.  

One of my missions with Creative Thursday has always been to inspire others to be more creative {if they are wanting} and now I’ve actually made something that you can create with. Full circle moment.

I realized when I was putting this line together and telling the 'story' of how it came to be ~ that these characters came to life when I needed them most. During a very uncertain and scary time on my journey as an artist, I needed extra support and encouragement. Every time I painted one of these characters it felt like they were calmly cheering me on, reminding me that everything would be ok and that I should keep going. Wherever you are on your creative path, I hope these little fellows will do the same for you. Cheer you on!

Cannot wait to see what you will make :)

So this is the inspiration behind the little snippet of  Ruby that I shared with you last week. I thought it might be fun to create an embroidery pattern to complement my first fabric line "Meet the Gang". And after sharing these in my class last weekend at the retreat, I saw firsthand how much fun everyone was having stitching and painting these little fellows, especially RUUUBY!! 

And yes, painting and stitching. I’m sort of enamored with combining the embroidery and applique with acrylic paints on fabric. I started exploring that a short while ago and now with my work in fabric design, I feel like I get to combine my loves and explore a whole new direction in my art.

If you feel inspired, you can create one too. I’ve listed a pattern, ready to go! already printed on fabric, so you can grab a needle and thread and start stitching. I’ve also listed six kits that include a hoop, a needle, a sampling of thread and my fabric.

You can find everything over at the shop {pssst...including a limited number of fat quarter bundles of 'Meet the Gang' that I just listed today}

And that blog post... the one I’ve been promising to share...for a really long time...with larger views of the fabric...that one is next!

I hope you enjoy these new additions!

3 x 3 in.

Inspired by the costume kid series ;)

I’m back from the retreat. Oh and was it wonderful in every possible way. I promise to share more with you shortly.

For now...all I want to do is paint. So much creativity inspired over the last few days. And this is what came out first. He’s so darn cute. I know his emblem is kind of big, but he’s very serious about this superhero business.

{click here to buy original}

An embroidery Sunday.

hope you are having a wonderful Sunday wherever you may be

{oh and! hey! happy october too!}