Thursday, January 14, 2016

Making my "BELIEVE" Box- a fun repurposing tutorial with a box and painted canvas!

When I choose my word each year I like to somehow turn it into art, either a painting, a quilt, a something special that I can have in my studio to remind me of my intention for the year. This year, as you all know, my word is "BELIEVE"!  As I was pondering what to put my word on I was straightening up from the holidays and was putting all the tea away from a gift I received. It was a gift box of different teas and when the boxes were put away I still had a wooden box that just couldn't be thrown away!!

I have been creating these wonderful pieces of painted canvas. I buy rolls of primed canvas and then I paint them with friends, with my grandkids, as classes and then they sit in an almost finished state, rolled up until I decide to use them to create something magical. I love them so much that half of the battle is cutting them up. I think I would like to wall paper my studio in them because they make me feel happy! They are bold, bright and wildly designed. All intuitive and nothing ever planned. This seemed like the perfect project for one of my pieces. I choose one that my grandkids helped me paint!

I set the box onto the fabric piece and marked it, my plan was to wrap it from the bottom up the sides and then piece the inside. 

Never having done this before it seemed to make sense but the fact that I was going to cut this up was a bit nerve racking. None the less, nothing ventured nothing gained and I pushed through and made my marks and cut out the corner sections and trimmed off the excess canvas. 
I used Mod Podge to attach to box, painting both canvas and box with it
Next I set the box onto my marked square and began to roll the sides up the sides of the box. I rubbed and burnished all the canvas to make sure there were no air bubbles and that my canvas was tight to the surface. 

I then started to audition pieces or the inside, saving one for the bottom of the inside that was my favorite. I also had to add other strips from other canvases to make the sides work without piecing them. 
After I wrapped the sides and burnished them down I took a razor knife and trimmed off the excess on top of the sides. Being careful to keep my fingers out of the way so as to avoid all injuries and blood on my project!

I next added some of the inside wall pieces and then added the one inside bottom piece that I would have also wrap up two of the inside walls as well as the bottom. Carefully trimming again.

Next I painted the Mod Podge over the corners and edges to make sure everything stays down. Next I spent some time with Acrylic paint pens and gel pens finishing up the details and writing things on my canvas that makes it personal to me. This part of the project is so special and also adds so much detail to the painted shapes which gives it a finished feeling. I also painted the top edge black. After I was done I then sealed it with Mod Podge over the entire box.
The inside of my box before sealing

** Word of Wisdom, sadly I didn't give my gel pens time to cure, I think they probably needed a few days and so the white smeared and had to be reapplied when the Mod Podge was dry. I still love it but suggest some drying time before sealing or use a spray sealer. Enjoy!

I love my box and I will use it to hold things I believe in for the New Year, I can also set it on my book shelves as inspiration. 







Monday, January 11, 2016

2016, a year of possibilities!

I took some time to be with family over the holidays and it was wonderful. Like everyone's family ours is not with out its issues but it seems like during the holidays everyone can come together and enjoy just being a family, well most everyone. I took some time to reflect over the past year, the struggles, the triumphs, the losses and the new things that came to pass in 2015. Change is a constant yet it never becomes easier. When I become so busy I often quickly forget the accomplishment since I am on to the next thing. Taking the time to slow down and look back on all the things I have done is critical in feeling like I am moving forward, accomplishing my goals and doing the things I want to do with my time and life. I enjoyed every moment of my time of reflection and family this year. One of the other things I loved looking back on were the amazing people I was able to meet traveling around teaching and at the trade shows. What a blessing! I want to thank each of you for your support each year.  Now for this year! Every year I choose a word of intention for the next year, this year my word is BELIEVE.
Setting Intentions for 2016 with a word.







I Love to choose a word for each year, words can be powerful and positive. I like the idea of not setting myself up for disappointment with resolutions but instead I set myself up for all things possible. This year my word is Believe:
1. To have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully. If you would like to find your word feel free to join Christine Kane and do her worksheet to find your own word for 2016!

Tradeshows- We did 4 trade shows this last year and had a wonderful
time showing new patterns and fabric to shops and lovely quilters all over
the west coast. Traveling to do these shows is always challenging but
Houston was amazing, check out my blog post! Thank you for stopping
by our booth!! We are so excited to tell you that we will be at Road to
California in the tent this year so I hope you get a chance to come by
and say HI! It is January 21-24.



























2. New Fabric Lines- I released 3 new lines this year!! Owl
in the Family was released at Spring Market and has been a best
seller! Lazy Little Ladybugs was released in the Fall and is now
hitting the retail shops. Kaleidoscope is shipping in February and
is a mixed media line with wonderful coordinating fabrics. It was
so much fun creating exciting projects and patterns for each line.
Check out my website for free downloads and fabric and patterns.
Each designs is special and has a place in my heart as do all the
 projects I create. Thank you for purchasing my patterns and fabric!
I love to hear how excited you are when you bring my designs into
your sewing room.

Lazy Little Ladybugs available now
Owl Pillow pattern is now available on my website




Creating designs 
that you love is the 
best reward as a 
designer and artist!










3. Travel- I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Ohio and
do 3 tapings for Quilting Arts TV!! They can be seen on series
1600 along with writing 3 articles that have been showing up
in the Quilting Arts Magazine! Thank you Quilting Arts for a
wonderful experience and I want to Thank all of you who watch
and buy the magazines and DVD's! I am so excited to be a part
of the Quilting scene both in print and on TV!
















































4. Designs- I started designing stencils for StencilGirl Products this year! 
I have added some links so you can see some of my blog posts and 
projects using stencils! I love applying them to many different 
surfaces! Thank you for purchasing my stencil designs! I would
love to see what you do with them!
5. Painting Parties- I also started Desiree's Art Parties this year!
I love teaching art in all forms and this seemed like a low stress,
fun way for new artists to explore their own creative talents in a
fun setting. They have been so much fun and Randy and I have
met some wonderful new friends in our own community! 
January 14th is my next class, here is the link! Make it a date
night with your sweetie or a night out with friends. Thank you 
for making what I do so much fun!
Sunflowers

















Our Pear Party










































Januarys Painting will be our tree of hearts
























6. Touring, Teaching and Sharing- I was able to tour Moore's 
Sewing Centers and teach a bit more this year! Thank you 
for supporting my classes and coming to hear me speak, 
what a blessing to be able to touch so many people with 
our story and meet such creative women! 














Painting fabric and creating beautiful art quilts and table runners
was my last class in 2015.

Art Applique Class in San Diego, I am teaching this again in 2016

7. Online Teaching- I was also so excited to launch my first 
beginning online art class! I am getting ready to release it again! 
It is a wonderful way to improve your drawing skills that will 
help you move forward in any area of your art. Check it out here 
8. Website- My least fun thing that I had to do this year was to 
rebuild my website so that it was mobile friendly. But I did it!! 
My quilt pattern and fabric website to be mobile friendly and I 
set up my new fine art and fiber art website. I hope if you have 
time you will drop by to check them out.
www.desireesdesigns.com.com and www.desireehabicht.com 

This is a glimpse of my year , a tiny taste of what happened 
in my business and I want to tell you how much I enjoyed how
 you touched my life during 2015. I was so busy my blog 
suffered so I will be working on posting more often, somehow! 
Remember I BELIEVE!  It was definitely a year full of so many 
blessings. I want to thank each of you for being a part of it and 
I look forward to seeing you again this year, building on what 
we started in 2015 and making this year even better. Many 
blessing to you! 
My Newest Fabric has arrived!

My newest fabric, Lazy Little Ladybugs, has arrived at stores 
near you and on my website. I still have some of my Owl fabric 
left too! But hurry its selling out fast! Check out all my new 
patterns too, lots of great e-patterns to choose from so you 
can get them immediately! I also have some free downloadable 
patterns just for you!

  
My blog has been sadly neglected, I just feel like I don't want to just be
more noise out there, taking up your valuable time with chit chat.
I want to make sure I am offering something worth the time to read,
something worth your visit.


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