Fabric in my shop

A.tatzelwurm fabric can be ordered from Spoonflower. I chose the drawings I like best and combined them to a pastel-colored, lovely panel of harmless and serene lightness, just right for halloween. Another may be added.

The Dragons get started

Cushion finished. Back: Turquoise shibori-like print fabric. Hand quilted front. Color suitable for the bedroom. Dragon fabric available here.

Dragons

The heavenly dragons are drifting east after sunset. The same color dominates on a fabric I designed and ordered from Spoonflower. As it is a lighter weight, I prepare it for being a cushion top by quilting the surface with a shining Turkish nylon thread on top of a supporting cloth.

A closer look

You are right, the embroidery is not so visible in my latest posting, and maybe it is a little embarrassing to show it too closely... It is a little primitive. But some of the examples in the books show that not everyone who did embroidery had a hand for refined design. The red wool blinded my camera, it is just too radiant.


Arrived today after almost one month shipping: My latest Spoonflower goodies. Had to pay 9$ customs. But wasn't it worth it? There is the tablecloth for my m-i-l. The material is linnen-cotton canvas, a rather sturdy material. And as always, the printing is very good quality and 100% true to the handpainted design in shape and color.
My cloud pattern is not on the first page of the shop any more. They remove a design after 6 weeks in the charts. Boo. Couldn't it just go down slowly when people lose interest? But maybe they wouldn't? It is still selling, but now, less people will find it.

Painting like mad...

... but nothing really innovative. On the other hand it is so wonderful to paint these vintage patterns. I feel that drawing and painting spirals and stylized vegetable forms is kind of soothing, it puts my mind into a state of dream. I paint late at night, listening to jazz, never growing tired... J says, "don't stay up too long", I say, I won't, and then I switch off my light at midnight.

New method

I guess it is time for a little shift in style. The palette is limited on 7 colors: Chili, vanilla, mint, eggplant violet, clay, deep sky, stone grey. Most of it is handpainted with gouache. Digitally finished. Inspired by modern classics like Paul Klee. The panel on a fat quarter: here
One of my readers wrote to me that she wasn't able to send a comment. If this happens to you, please let me know, I'll ask Blogger to fix it.

the next generation

7 new designs have arrived from Spoonflower. They have been available for a few days already. It is fun to see one's fabrics printed.
It is so much more "art" to print by hand; and I made a few attempts to do so. But the paints I used make the prints look raggy and dirty. I find this rather unpleasant; and the things I made do not really look attractive.
That's why I made another version of the "chickenshack". If you compare with the hand printed version, the latter may have the charm of a typical hand print; but often, I am not satisfied with the quality of my prints, whereas with a hand painted matrix I don't have the problem. Of course, I think of trying something rougher, less refined. My first attempts were rather conservative, but I don't feel like running with the pack by making modern design as it is mainstream now.
The yellow chickenshack fabric will be for sale in a few days.

Not enough Floral Fabrics?

I'm so much into florals. Although there might be enough of this kind on the planet already. Are there enough? What do you think? And what direction would you like to be more on the market: Modern? Vintage? Nostalgic? I'm grateful if you bother to let me know.



Replies:
Jude, a good idea. I did it, uploaded to Spoonflower. -- Eileen, this reminds me of the cathedral of Tomar in Portugal where they have belts and chains and ropes within the stone carved ornaments around the windows.
-- Esther, my work is not to replace quilting, but to support it! My intention is to serve quilters.

I promised I would

The other day, I saw gorgeous indigos on Wanda's blog. I knew I would have to use the flower motif. The way I did is hopefully so different that it cannot be called theft anymore; I try to give at least as much as I take.
It is a shame I have to wait so long until I can offer them for sale, but that's the rule.
Any day, the next samples may arrive. But they can be ordered right now.

These patterns are for sale now in my Spoonflower shop:

The production is going on

I could write "new design" on most or all of my postings, ideas are coming to my head in violent violets and raging reds, moody mauves and marons. Hope it is not too heavy, definitely autumnal (funny!) or whatever reasons there might be to discard it again. I think of combining florals and geometrics in the same color combination. As the colors seemed too heavy, I tried another set. Haven't uploaded them to Spoonflower yet, because I have to work a little more on them.


J is having a vacation week now. He deserves it! He was working so hard since November. In a new job, you feel under observation. In Germany, we have 3-6 months trial time before anyone will get a firm contract. This is because the law makes it difficult to sack people, it is almost like being married; so the companies demand this condition.
Now, this kind of engagement is over, and he can relax for a week. If he is not asleep, he keeps me busy.
This means that I'm on duty for a week (haha).

New Designs ordered

Today I ordered 7 more designs to be offered in my shop. The curly clouds are among them with white background. It will take me some more days to finish a version with a colored background. You see it here, again painted by hand, and I added a red background in photoshop, but, as I said in my older posting, there is still a lot to be done. It is not clean in the corners. I'll make a better version.
And here is the original. It makes me want to start anew. I just can't print this one directly because it is under copyright.
The full moon looks so strong. I'll watch some more Snooker cause I can't sleep.

Uploaded

The Indonesian cloud pattern is ready and uploaded to Spoonflower. I just have to order a test swatch to release it for sale. I'll give it a coloured background, too, so you have the choice between red, gold and whatever you like.

P.S. I tried to insert a background in the graphic program, but I'm not satisfied with the result. Have to paint it by hand which alters the original.

Arrived!

My test swatches from Spoonflower have arrived. Now they are in my shop and can be ordered as small pieces like shown here, as fat quarters and also as yardage. The quality is excellent. The colors are exactly true to my painted design, and the finest details are visible. The cotton is soft and would be a lovely quilting material.
The percentage for the designer is low (10%). They anticipate to raise it, they say.
Why only five? Well, I have to order at least one test swatch for 5$ before I can sell my fabrics. So if you are interested in a design which is in my profile but not in this choice, please let me know.

What keeps me busy

As the fish theme seemed to please my readers -- thank you so much for joining the poll --, I made another version in an Asian style. The water on top is not quite that blue, but I had to pump up the saturation a lot before placing the picture in this blog, it looked way too dull on first attempt. Protect sea fish! Okay, these are goldfish in a pond. Nothing abstract on this style. People, I tried. Sorry, I'm just a decorator.

Fabrics

I finished the pomegranate + ruccola salad pattern and connected the parts for an overall pattern -- still some visible limit, but I can tolerate it. I also made a single motif for a cushion or quilt center. I'm still waiting for my first prints. The rule in Spoonflower is that a fabric will be shown in the shop after the designer has ordered a print of it. This is quite sensible because I should check the quality before I offer the fabrics to a customer.  Colors will inevitably change -- more or less.

I'm wondering if I should order a print of each design I have painted until now. Of course, there can/will be color variations in abundance. I rather feel like asking my readers about their preferences. I made a little galery and would like to know your opinion. Please don't spare me.
Of course, I see it as a poll. This doesn't mean that I expect orders! This would just mean that the most popular designs will appear in my shop.

Today, there's no flight traffic in Northern Europe. The volcanic cloud from Iceland is to blame, but it is invisible. If I look up, I see some blue sky.

Too many details?

This time, I painted a large panel. I wanted it to be full of details like those Indonesian fabrics. This one is not so easily made into an overall pattern, but maybe doesn't have to. It took me a few hours to paint this one, and although it doesn't seem so, it consists of a six tone palette. I'm using the same colors on a number of patterns. The fish motif is another in the line, just as the first floral panel.

The other one is work in progress. This one is more grandfoulardic.

Bears

Playing young bears, yesterday's pattern.
Today I'm 61. My love brought me the flowers last night already.
I usually celebrate my birthday in small portions between 13th and 18th of April. Why? The answer is astrological, a conjunction of Mars, Venus, Moon Node and Mercury around my Sun.
Will be working on more patterns tonight.

Turtle with Seaweeds

Many years ago, I saw a Japanese bronze box in the local art&craft museum. The lid was decorated with a turtle that carried a train of seaweeds. The turtle is thought to be 1000 years old. This illustrates a Buddhist metaphore: It is as rare to be reborn as a human being as the chance of a blind turtle that dives up to the sea surface once in 1000 years and by chance sticks his head through a wooden yoke that is swimming on the sea. Or you can say: It is important to use the precious situation of being human to be good.
This is the deeper meaning. On a more common level, it is a symbol for long life.
This is today's pattern.

Ocean Life Revisited

What a grey and ugly day. My way out is to look inside. Figure I'm diving in a coral reef.
I calculated my earning options when selling prints. With a 10% commission from my sold cloth, I'll start earning money after selling 3 yds of one pattern. How realistic is that? Yet, I'll try it. For the fun.

Fish on Friday: My latest design

Indonesian fabrics are fascinating. But I will not dwel on imitating them. I feel like transforming the design into my own (fun) language.
I painted the fish and vines with gouache and finished the design in photoshop with the background pattern. I limited the palette to five colours.
I ordered a few samples. These swatches will be 8X8. I can't wait to see the quality. Then I'll offer quilt fabrics on the internet with my own design!