stacked

fabric bundles featuring new 'dipped dots' design

sent

There was a last minute dilemma. A quick call to my pal, Alison, and now it's all sorted and the artwork has gone to the printer. 'Dipped Dots' in it's final form for fabric yardage printing looks like the above. The fabric is at the printer (cream organic cotton/hemp) and the film should be there ready to expose on the screen. I just have to decide which colour to print it. In the mean time, I decided it would also be cool as a wallpaper. And luckily the girls at The Wall Sticker Company agreed! It will be released there soon.

dipped dots

Designing a print with dots is like trying to reinvent the wheel. There are already so many versions out there, the pressure is on to stand out. I printed out about 7 versions, stuck them on my kitchen wall (normally called the art gallery) and then did some rough sketches. I liked the way the different print outs formed a patchwork of dots in different sizes. The bottom picture is where I'm at today. Let's see if I still love it tomorrow.

lately

Meetings with Mel to discuss the retreat THIS weekend!

(look at the amazing kits she has put together featuring Grant Studios beautiful paper)

Working on a new 'dipped dots' design for yardage printing.

Step 1: gather jars and bottles. 

Step 2: dip the bases in paint and sit on wax paper 

Step 3: let dry then scan into the computer. 

Step 4: stay up ridiculously late into the night trying every conceivable configuration of dots until hitting the jackpot at 1.30am. 

Step 5: wake up early and check if the awesomeness you agreed on at 1.30am holds in the light of day.

I have to give credit to the lovely Kim for this accidental idea. She was helping me decorate some jars a few months back and when she pulled the jars off the paper to dry, the pattern looked very cool!

retreat update

Grant Studios

Inside Out magazine

make it cross stitch donated by Sew & Tell, Berry.

Embroidery samples for the Sew Craft Retreat.

Wow, I'm so overwhelmed by the generosity of people! Three amazing companies have come onboard and donated some gorgeous products for the retreat. This means that everyone attending the day will receive a bag of crafty treats on arrival. Thanks so much to Sew & Tell, Inside Out magazine and Grant Studios.
And thanks to so many lovely crafters (and some that are new to craft!) for booking in and supporting me running this event for the first time. I'm looking forward to sharing the day with everyone. There are a few spots available, so if you've been thinking about it now is the time to book in.

little owls revisited

Little owls is a design I created back in 2006. My second print design for sale under the label 'kristen doran design'. Not too long ago I decided to revamp it a little. Up the sizes and roughen the edges of my hand drawn lines.

3 ducks cushion

I've been preparing samples for the SEW craft retreat. This one I made from the '3 ducks' embroidery and some winter nest yardage.