TBT: I Spy Mod Hand-Drawn Type

Spring cleaning is allowing me the opportunity to look through and reorganize the books on our shelves. I had forgotten about the awesomely MOD hand-drawn lettering on the endpapers of this 1966 Whitman I Spy: Message from Moscow book.

Homespun Magazine: Neon Pop!

The April 2014 issue of Australia's Homespun magazine features a quilt project developed by the lovely Roslyn Russell, which she created using my Riley Blake Geekly Chic Cassettes in white. It's so bold and colorful, and looks amazing on the bed in the opener spread. Check out more of Ros's work on her blog, Sew Delicious.

Update: Surface Pattern Design Guide

It has been over a month since I last posted, so I thought I would update my last post about the Uppercase Surface Pattern Design Guide, with a picture of the spread on which my work appears.

You'll see familiar patterns in the first column on the right-hand page. I spent last weekend reading the whole magazine cover-to-cover, as I usually do, but this particular issue is especially beautiful and jam-packed with inspiration. Single copies of the issue are available from the Uppercase website, if you're not sure about subscribing. I'll be spending my freetime this week checking out the websites of all my faves from the Guide!

The UPPERCASE Magazine Surface Pattern Design Guide

I'm so thrilled to announce that my work will be featured in the UPPERCASE Magazine Surface Pattern Design Guide, which will be included in upcoming Issue #21, and also distributed at Surtex in May! Having been an UPPERCASE subscriber since Issue #3, I can't describe how awesome this feels!

If you haven't checked out UPPERCASE, it's worth a moment to visit their website to get glimpse at what the magazine is all about. Filled with design, creativity, and curiosities from around the globe, and impeccably designed by Janine Vangool, each issue is a treasure trove of inspiration. I read it from cover to cover as soon as it arrives. Janine has given me a special discount to pass on to my readers so you can receive $15 off a subscription. Just go to their subscription page and use the code USPDG2014.

Candy Swap: How Sweet It Is!

Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane recently organized a Regional Candy Swap. I've always wanted to participate in a swap, and thought this would be my first big break...a good chance to practice for a future swap that might involve making something. Heidi's hope was to pair people who lived in different areas of the country, so each would get some candy from another region of the U.S. Of course, being on the West Coast, I was way behind and didn't make the cut in time, but Heidi was kind enough to let me in anyway, pairing me with another of her blog readers who happened to miss the deadline as well. Turns out both Stevie and I were not only on the West Coast, but live only about 50 miles away from each other here in Washington state. But even though we're from the same region, we decided to "break the rules" and swap anyway!

While I went with a choco-centric retro theme, Stevie sent a box that must have weighed about 10 pounds, stuffed with goodies from around the Pacific Northwest, including Almond Roca made in Tacoma; regional favorite Aplets & Cotlets, made in Carnation (about 15 minutes from my home); a Moonstruck chocolate bar made in Portland; yummy Cary's toffee made in Grant's Pass, Oregon; dark chocolate-covered Goji berries from British Columbia; bonus Lindt chocolate bars; and an awesome retro Rocky Road bar, which I shared with my son immediately upon opening the box (he couldn't wait...and neither could I)!

Okay, so that isn't even all! Stevie is a master (mistress?) with polymer clay. Check out the fabulous, appropriately sweet, handmade gifts she included!

Stevie's Sweet Cherry Shop on Etsy is filled with mini delights. I am in awe at how the cake looks like cake, the sugar on the donuts is sugary, the pumpkin pie filling looks as though it has been beaten in a bowl and baked, then topped with whipped cream, mini sugar cookies are decorated with "icing"... Just amazing--see for yourself!

I'm so glad Stevie agreed to go rogue and swap with me. I loved my first swap and can't wait to do another. While it's great finding, curating, organizing, and packaging the material for the swap, I enjoyed meeting Stevie even more, and spreading the word about her work. Thanks, Stevie!

TBT: Needlepoint Alphabet

Words cannot even describe the fantastic needlepoint alphabet found in this recent thrift score. From 1972, I bring you these beautiful excerpts from Carolyn Ambuter's Complete Book of Needlepoint.

Making the Cut...or Not

A couple weeks ago I saw a Facebook post from online retailer ModCloth regarding a contest they were hosting called "Making the Cut". They were asking designers to submit up to five patterns, and the lucky winner would have their design printed on fabric, which would be made into a dress to be sold on their site. I thought creating some prints that would fit with the retro ModCloth aesthetic would be a fun challenge, so I put together some mockups. Then, just before uploading my entries, I read through the legalese (which admittedly I should have done before investing the time!). Basically the small print claimed ModCloth would obtain sole ownership of all submitted designs, not just the winning pattern. Thus, not wanting to relinquish all rights to patterns I could otherwise use, I decided not to enter. But I love the mockups, so I thought I'd share them anyway.