From an Artist to a Pattern designer!

Like you, I too have many talented friends, trust me when I say way more talent than I could dream of having.  So...... there are a couple of these friends that their drawings when I see them I see a future quilt block or mug rug or something awesome in fabric. And of course these are their works of art so I can't just turn it into something for me can I?   I look at their drawings and wish I could have come up with that!

Anyway, one of those friends KD Sams is one of the friends I just spoke about that when they create their paintings my eyes always see it in fabric.  Her drawings are quirky and I can see bright colors of candy fabric floating around in my head after viewing her art.  So finally I told her this, and to my surprise she liked that I thought her art would translate well into a quilt block.  Now mind you she's an artist, not a seamstress but I told her that if she could use the heat and bond lite she could create the block and pattern without ever having to use a sewing machine.  Then she would have her art in fabric form to take pictures of for that perfect pattern.  Well to get her excited about the process I made one of her girls into a little quilt.  Mind you I did rush it so it's not perfect but I think now she see's what I see.

I created a quilt block and the pattern for her girl "Maddie" to show her just how easy it is  (and to get her motivated to create this quilt I have in my head, hehehe).  I sent the pattern to her so she can see the process, (and improve on it I'm sure).  I hope that she posts it for sale, I think she will be surprised by the response she will get from quilters.  I'm hoping for 11 more of her quirky girls to make a quilt with.  I think she could do a block of the month and people would be anxiously waiting for the next block!

I'm going to send her this Maddie quilt block once I get the binding on it and a hanger for the back but I will be making one for me too <<<<grinning.  I think I'll use needle turned applique on the one for me because I'm not so good at the raw edge applique.  My satin stitches look like Shat.  :)

Here is KD Sams first pattern from her original art.  What do you think of her?  I'm going to put the binding on today after some weaving tool orders I have to complete.  :)
I hope she is excited as I am about her work!

A Texas Snowman Mug Rug

My new mug rug design, he's a Texas snow man. Now if you've never made a snow man in Texas then this information will come in handy.
To make a snowman in Texas you have to have at least 1/2 inch of snow fall on the ground. You must have a wagon so you can collect all the snow from all your neighbors yard. Once you have collected all the snow from your neighbors yards you must rush home and have the entire family help you quickly build your snowman while your mom complains about all the trash, dirt and grass in the snow you collected. And your dad is upset cause you insisted on using his cowboy hat! You must take a picture right away because he will be completely melted in 30 minutes to an hour... but what the heck, you had fun and you got your Christmas card picture!!!

This mug rug is for a mug rug swap I'm in... I hope who ever gets this one loves it as much as I do!
You can find this pattern HERE.

Little Lamb Quilt Block

Here is my newest creation.  I finished the design of the main block, this little ragged edged lamb.  Now to decide on the quilt.  I think it will be a square quilt with 3 blocks across and 3 blocks down. I will make 4 lambs and 5 - 3D pinwheels with inside sashing and 2 outside borders.
Once I get the top made I can sit down and write the  instructions while it's fresh in my head.   I'll show you the finished top in the next couple days.  I love the way this block turned out!  Wish me luck on getting this one done!  You can get this pattern HERE.

Birds of a feather block or mug rug

I'm so excited about this new design.  I love the bright colors and of course I'm a huge fan of ragged edges.  Since I love birds and bright colors this one is the perfect design for me.
I'm calling it Birds Of A Ragged Feather Flock Together.  This is going to be one of the blocks for my block of the month pattern but of course I want to test it out before I settled on this design as one of the block.  Well a mug rug is the perfect way to test out a block design I think and a of course a girl can't have too many mug rugs!
Here it is, I hope you love it as much as I do.  You can find this pattern HERE.

The Fox Tangle

I want to design a block of the month quilt.  This is my center block and I have started the design for 3 more (much easier) blocks.  This one I rushed a bit so I don't have the tangle part as perfect as it should be but I love it anyway.  Today I got it all hand appliqued into place on the back ground.  Tomorrow I will audition centers for the Dresden plate.  I'm thinking either gold/yellow or pink/purple or green.  I will decide this tomorrow and get it sewn into place.  I think I will make this one into a wall hanging so that it can also be a stand alone design or can be block one of 12 blocks.
I am happy with this design, I have always been fond of Celtic designs.
You really have to pin and glue the Celtic design into place before you begin hand sewing because the bias tape goes over and under itself in several locations which is what makes the design appealing to me.  Someone suggested I call this block the Fox Tangle or Fox Tango which I think is so cute.  I might just consider the Fox Tangle... :)
Here is some of my process on this block so far.

Sweetest little sewing caddy

Here is my newest project.  This one took me most of the day to get the shape right.  It's is now the perfect size.  One side I can put my latest work in progress in and the other I can put all my sewing tools in and of course there is a pin cushion on top (this is going to save the arm of my chair were there is probably 20 needles lost inside of).  I'm pleased with my color choice for this one.  I used lace down the middle and tea stained it to look old.  I did a search for J&P Coat advertising and found the perfect one for the pin cushion.   This one I'm going to sell so now I'm off to make myself one.  I think I'll make mine in some sweet teal fabric.  (I love that color).
You can find this one HERE

Chiwawa Pot Holder

My newest pot holder creation.  This little guy was so much fun to make.  Isn't she the cutest little fellow you've ever seen.  I fashion her after our little Penelope "Penny" for short.  We love our dogs so of course we love doggy pot holders too!
Here she is,  she's made from some old denim jeans I had lying around the house so this cutie didn't cost hardly a thing to make.  You can get this pattern HERE

"The Artist" Collectible Mohair Piggy

Here is my newest creation.  He's an artist just like I want to be called, but he really is!  He is sporting artist clothing designed just for him.  His beret has a hand cut filigree design on the top and his matching cape is made from a tweed black and red wool.  He sits at 8 inches tall and is made from mohair from Germany.  He is completely made by hand and is cotter pin jointed.  Hes facial features and hooves are felted by hand.  He is the cutest little thing right down to his curly tail!
I truly enjoyed making him and hope he finds a good home soon.

You can find this cutie in my Etsy online shop Here

Having fun with Redwork again!

If you have never tried red work and like to have a project while you sit down in the evening to watch TV you must give it a try.  Red work is very fast to complete and the results can be a pillow or even a quilt.  I have several I've completed and haven't decided what to do with them yet.

Here are some I've done in the last couple months.

Cloth doll with tentacles???

I'm guessing you sew too right?  You have people all the time that have requests?  Sometimes people even ask you..."will you make me a quilt"  my short answer is No and my long answer is to explain how expensive and time consuming a quilt is that selling them or giving them away is extremely difficult.  I rarely make a quilt for someone else any more...  If you get one from me then you must be super special to me.
Oh anyway that's not what this post is about, it's about a request for a doll...  A friend wanted me to make a doll to match a character she drew.  It was intriguing to me so I took on the challenge...
Well...I failed <<< laughing  mind you if I were to make it again it would be much better I assure you but since I was doing it for a trade and making a doll is expensive (of course she doesn't know that) I sent her the doll as is.  I might make another one just to see if I can but it will be for me or for me to sell...
So here is the doll I made....  He looks rather creepy but he is not supposed to be creepy.  His hair is suppose to look like suction-cup less tentacles not dread locks but now I know how to make dread locks!!!  I decided to let her paint his face since it is her painted character she would be better suited for bringing him to life.

Here he is before I put a clamp on his head to slim his face.

 These are after hours of clamping his head.