Thursday, May 21, 2015

Owl in the Family


My newest fabric line just made its debut at Quilt Market ! After months of work and planning I sent off my little projects for Quilting Treasures Booth. I didnt get my quilt finished but I managed to create an owl family. I am feeliing a bit like Dr. Frankenstein in my laboritory, sewing and stuffing these cute critters into life! They now sit on the bed in the guest room, waiting to go!

The first Family!

All together now waiting to go!

Placemats ready to go to market


Monday, May 18, 2015

Soaking up the Sun

Do you ever have those days when its just too beautiful to be cooped up in the house. The chores are calling your name but the day is calling to your very soul?

Those are the times when you need to take a few minutes to honor need. That need to take a step back and just soak it all in.
Chloe seems to understand too, lets just soak up some rays

I had that opportunity Sunday.

The sun was warm and the breeze was blowing. I grabbed my paints and ran outside to just paint the day. I was having enjoying the colors in the yard, the flowers blooming, I was so intrigued by the whole scene that my mind couldn't settle in on what I should paint. I ended up painting our dog Chloe, she did pose for a few minutes but was off chasing lizards most of the time. The rose arbor was a bit easier since it remained posed as I painted that last hour of light.

This arbor is so heavy with roses it actually broke this year and we are discussing our options for next year, I would hate to lose these roses. They look like giant ice cream cones of flowers that arch over the walkway! Have you captured a day in your yard recently? What new things did you discover ?

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Another Giveaway!!! Don't miss this amazing DVD on Thermofax Screen Printing 101!

My dear friend Lyric Kinard who just released her amazing DVD called Thermofax 101, which is all about thermofax screen printing and mixed media. I watched it all the way through in one sitting, I loved it! So informative and helpful since I didn't know anything about Thermofax screens!


I took one of my paintings and had her make me a thermofax screen. I had painted a picture of a Boston Terrier, since we have one and I love them.

I followed Lyrics wonderful instructions on her website on how to take a photo am make it Thermofax ready and I emailed it to her. She created my wonderful screen from my painting! 
I then decided I needed to add some words and Jennifer decided she wanted Boston's Rock so I added the text!

When I got my screen I started to do practice screens and I have printed many now! 

I will be making some goodies for Jennifer, a bag to carry treats for Chloe and more. I will be making some more black and white prints for you! I will be giving away 3 of my screen prints for you to make into something fun for your dog lover!  Make sure you leave a comment below to be entered into Lyrics drawing for a FREE DVD!! I  free give away of Lyrics DVD but also I will be giving away some of my prints of my screen on fabric and paper for you to do what you please with! Here are links and the blogs to visit starting May 1st and check out the Thermofax 101- picture is a link to Amazon!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Seeing through an Artist's Eye- Mastering the Basics- REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Join me for my 6 week class:


In this course we will not only be learning the secrets of how to draw almost anything we will be building a strong foundation for you to build your new artistic life.



We will be also going deeper and addressing some of the negative mindsets that often surround art and Artists.

  • Have you always wanted to draw, always wished you could express yourself creatively and openly. 
  • Let me help to build your confidence so you can learn to creatively begin your artistic journey. 
  • Learn how to really see like an Artist, how to notice the important things. 
  • Learn how to no longer be just a casual observer but an intimate partaker in the beauty that surrounds us! 
I would love for you to join us. Read more about the class here! Early Registration is now open, register before May 20 and get early bird pricing and my bonus E-book on Enhancing your Journaling experience.

Save your Seat Now!

Friday, May 08, 2015

Celebrating Sue Bleiweiss's new book - Colorful Fabric Collage with prizes for you!

I am honored to be one of the featured artists in Sue Bleiweiss's new book- Colorful Fabric Collage. This wonderful book is about appliqué and how varied and wonderful it can be. Sue has some amazing projects in the book and several guest artists so you can see different styles of work. Sue has done a great job of writing this book and sharing her love of appliqué. She not only gives you tons of ideas for creating, stitching and displaying your work she also has lots of fun projects in the book! I know you will enjoy this book! 
THE SUNBATHER

When Sue asked me to do a small piece for the book I was thrilled and really thought about what I wanted to share with you. I decided that it had to be one of my favorite family's pets. I love to do these wonderfully lit, fun pieces that capture our furry best friends! This is Winston, he is my brothers Frenchie and he is a character. They live in northern CA where it gets cold, in the winter you won't find Winston far from the wall heater. In the Spring you will find him sunning himself in the garden! Make sure you check out Winston on page 57! And make sure you check out Sue's book for more wonderful examples of different methods to use  appliqué. 

If you leave a comment here today you will be entered to win all this;  prize package that includes a book, a stack of 10" squares of Sue's hand dyed fabric, some spools of Aurifil thread and a package of Mistyfuse.
Click on the book to see more, its an affiliate link to Amazon where you can get your copy! Below is a list of the contributing designers that will be doing the blog hop and offering free prizes!! Don't miss out!

May 4: Sue Bleiweiss: http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/
May 4: Jamie Fingal :http://www.jamiefingaldesigns.com/
May 5: Leslie Tucker Jenison: http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/
May 6: Terri Stegmiller : http://stegart.blogspot.com/
May 7: Deborah Boschert : http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/
May 8: Desiree Habicht : http://myclothesline.blogspot.com/
May 9: Kathy Sperino : http://finishinglinesbyksperino.blogspot.com/
May 10: Barb Forrister : http://www.barbforrister.com/blog/
May 11 Kathy York : http://www.aquamoonartquilts.blogspot.com/
May 12: Lyric Kinard : http://lyrickinard.com/lyric-kinard-blog/

Thursday, May 07, 2015

Quiltmakers 100 Blocks! All this from one inspired idea!

Its my turn to share with you my block and remind you to leave a comment here to be entered into a drawing for lots of great prizes!

This story is all about inspiration! I was working on a new Mug Rug pattern for my Mug Rug Club and I was babysitting my twin granddaughters. We were watching cartoons and a fish poked his head out of the water and my heart jumped and I knew I had my new pattern. While I was designing and making my new Mug Rug pattern I decided to make my block for Quiltmakers 100 block volume 11 magazine.

My first Fish Mug Rug
Then I had another idea

and another, all Mug Rug patterns then I went to the block

Here is my block that you have in your magazine with the pattern and templates! But I wasn't done yet, I was on a roll!


From the there my mind was still spinning and I decided that this would be a wonderful fabric line so I designed the small stripe after my Mug Rugs and block and sent it off to see if my fabric company, Quilting Treasures was interested in me developing the line, they were very excited and I started developing the whole line. 

This was the painting of my idea for fabric I sent to QT and I went on to develop the panel with all the characters and the coordination fabrics too. 

The Under the Sea Panel

But wait! Thats not all! I thought to myself that it was too cute to not make a baby with this idea, and so I designed this cute quilt that matches everything! 

Same idea, worked a bit differently. And just when you thought I was finished with this idea I thought that these adorable and now very popular fish would make a wonderful embroidery CD to go along with everything else and so Free in the Sea Embroidery was born!

All that from one afternoon watching a cartoon and being inspired enough to keep developing my idea! 

So if you are interested in anything you see here today you can find it on my website at www.desireesdesigns.com but you can get the block pattern now in the Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol 11 out now!! Leave a comment and be entered into a drawing to recieve a free magazine and gifts too! I will also be giving away a free panel to one lucky person who leaves a comment here! 


Monday, May 04, 2015

Right NOW!! Blog Hops with tons of giveaways!!!

This week is a crazy week of blog hops for me but that makes for a great week for you and it all starts Today!! Make sure you check back often in the next week and a half and leave a comment for chances to win some amazing prizes from magazines and authors and other creatives!! This is going to be a killer week for everyone!! I am so excited you will be joining me!! First we have the Quiltmaker Blog Hop Tour featuring the 100 Blocks Magazine that is available now!!
  

Check out the designers that are featured today and leave comments on their blogs for chances to win some great prizes! I will be on Thursday so come back and leave a comment here too!!!

Today also starts my good friend, Sue Bleiweiss's Blog Tour to celebrate her newest book called Colorful Fabric Collage! Friday the 8th is my day! I am honored to be one of the featured artists in the book and I will be talking about my little quilt I made for the book and if you leave a comment on that day you will have the chance to win all this prize package that includes a book, a stack of 10" squares of my hand dyed fabric, some spools of Aurifil thread and a package of Mistyfuse.
Click on the book to see more, its a link to Amazon where you can get your copy! Below is a list of the contributing designers that will be doing the blog hop and offering free prizes!! Don't miss out!

May 4: Sue Bleiweiss: http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog/
May 4: Jamie Fingal :http://www.jamiefingaldesigns.com/
May 5: Leslie Tucker Jenison: http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/
May 6: Terri Stegmiller : http://stegart.blogspot.com/
May 7: Deborah Boschert : http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/
May 8: Desiree Habicht : http://myclothesline.blogspot.com/
May 9: Kathy Sperino : http://finishinglinesbyksperino.blogspot.com/
May 10: Barb Forrister : http://www.barbforrister.com/blog/
May 11 Kathy York : http://www.aquamoonartquilts.blogspot.com/
May 12: Lyric Kinard : http://lyrickinard.com/lyric-kinard-blog/


Then on to my dear friend Lyric Kinard who just released her amazing DVD called Thermofax 101, which is all about thermofax screen printing and mixed media. I took one of my paintings and had her make me a thermofax screen and I will be showing off my project and offering not only a free give away of Lyrics DVD but also I will be giving away some of my prints of my screen on fabric and paper for you to do what you please with! More on May 12 here on my blog. Here are links and the blogs to visit starting May 1st and check out the Thermofax 101 picture is a link to Amazon!

May 1- Elizabeth and Sue Gibson-http://pgfiber2art.blogspot.com/
May 2- Judy Coates Perez http://www.judycoatesperez.com
May 4- Linda Stokes  www.lindastokes-textileartist.com
May 6-Jane Davia http://janedavila.blogspot.com
May 7- Liz Kettle http://www.textileevolution.com/index.php/our-journey
May 8- Carol Sloan  http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com
May 9 - Kathy York- http://aquamoonartquilts.blogspot.com
May 11- Susan Brubaker Knapp http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com
May 12- Desiree Habicht- http://myclothesline.blogspot.com
May 13-Jamie Fingal-http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/
May 14- Deborah Boschert- http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com
May 15- Sarah Ann Smith-sarahannsmith.com/weblog






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