Textile designers Marisa Anne and Lizzy House recently collaborated to produce a podcast called The In’s and Out’s of Textile Design. In this 2-hour informative conversation, each artist/author draws on her experience as a surface designer in the quilting industry. Both love what they do and their enthusiasm is infectious, but working in the industry isn't always a walk in the park. Find out what they've learned by purchasing their podcast, along with a downloadable list of resources at their website http://www.ourcreativehouse.com/.
And, if you aren't already familiar with Lizzy House's eBook "How to Enter the World of Textile Design: for the Quilting Industry," you can find it here.
-Kiera | |
We've decided to postpone the selection of our next Featured Member until the end of July. If you are interested in becoming our August Featured Member, please stay connected to our blog. We will announce the call for entrants the week before August begins.
Until then, keep on designing! | |
Have you been searching for a unique source of inspiration for your next surface pattern design project? Lucky you, because Urban Burp Rare and Vintage Fabrics is doing a Groupon! Spend $20 and get $40 worth of fabric (redeemable in-store only). That's a 50% discount on some of the coolest inspiration that can be found! | |
 Carol Van Zandt's colorful and inviting booth at Surtex 2012. A HUGE thank you to Monday night's guest speaker, artist and designer Carol Van Zandt. Carol generously shared her experience and insider information about exhibiting at Surtex and licensing one's surface pattern designs. We are so impressed by her ambition, talent, and can-do attitude!
Detailed notes are posted in our members-only archive section for those of you that missed the meeting.
-Ruby
 Photo courtesy of www.bioalloy.org. We know you were impressed by Anke Domaske’s Qmilch, a fabric made from spoiled milk protein. Well, hold on to your glasses wine and beer lovers: Researchers at the University of Western Australia have devised a way to turn your favorite fermented beverage into clothing. The cellulose fabric, dubbed Micro’be’, isn’t quite as advanced as Qmilch (it looks a bit like raw meat, lacks flexibility, and smells just like the alcoholic beverage it orginated from) but the material's creators are excited about its potential. Click here to read more about Micro’be’. Cheers!~Ruby
| |
Before:
Shadow photograph
| | Okay this is one of my favorites! Shadows. We do not take much time to notice shadows cast by items. Anything with light behind it will cast a shadow, from flowers on pavement to lattice holding up your favorite rosebush, to that fence down the street or your kids playing in the drive way. Capture that image. Even if you need to have a subject hold still it will be worth the effort.
| | | Shadow photos have great contrast and can be turned into high contrast black and white very easily. Now you will see you have captured the most amazing shapes. Take a look at my before picture and my work in progress. Let's see what you can do.The world around looks so different in shadow.
Jen T. | |
| I hope you liked wandering around looking at foliage wherever you found yourself. This time I'd like you to notice the pattern that nature leaves behind. Erosion patterns on a dirt trail, droplets of sap from a pine tree. What did the last rain wash down your gutter? How did it dry? When you look closely enough you can find beauty in the most amazing places. Try some of the filters in Photoshop to change the whole look of the pattern. Click, click, click to a whole new design!
Jen T.
| |
We're excited to announce that Urban Burp Rare and Vintage Fabrics will be hosting a trunk show before our meeting next Monday, June 18. Doors will open at 6:30 PM at our usual space in the lower level of the Berkeley Finnish Hall. The Guild has helped Urban Burp hand pick some amazing printed fabrics just for this event. Come browse a fabulous selection of printed barkcloth, shantungs, quilters' cottons, woven jacquards, and more! The best time to buy vintage fabric is when you see it, because you never know when you'll find it again! Cash and credit cards will be accepted, along with "Burp Bucks" coupons. Show up early, as the sale ends at 7:00 PM.
Long distance members: don't fret! Urban Burp has a new web site where you can shop. Check it out here!
| |
| | Don’t miss next week’s meeting where Guild member, Carol Van Zandt, will be giving us the lowdown on her second year at Surtex. If you have any interest in licensing or selling your designs, this is one you won’t want to miss! Check out Carol’s blog post on Surtex 2012 to see her booth. | |
It can be hard for us to come up with truly inspiring ideas without feeling like we are borrowing from other designers. One thing I like to do is get away from the computer and the books and magazines. I don't go to the fabric store or the museum, instead I head outdoors.
Grab your camera or your phone and stroll your neighborhood, hike a trail, or go into the city. Open your eyes and really pay attention to what is around you.
Sometimes it feels like there is visually too much to comb through so I give myself an assignment and that is what I am going to give you. Just look at foliage. Focus on the shape of the leaves and the color. What kind of pattern or the texture is on the surface of the leaves? How do they interact with other leaves?
Once you have your photos at hand, see what you can do on the computer to turn them into an original design. For inspiration, you might want to check out the tutorial that Sarah created for using photographs in our members' archives.
Now go get out there and be creative!
Jen T. | |
|
RSS Feed