A late night doodle.. trying my new watercolour brushes. Does this pumpkin orange kitty mean Autumn is on the way? Hmm..

P.s. Thanks for all your votes in the Connecting Threads contest. My Roselyn design has 132 votes - far more than I expected. You guys are awesome!

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This was my 11th-hour entry for the Connecting Threads fabric design contest. Literally, I finished it at 11:30pm on the last day of the contest.

Edit: This design is now live for voting! Click here to vote. My design is at the bottom right corner of the page.

It's not unusual for me to spend days - even weeks - working on my print designs. In this case, I had only a few hours before the deadline, which really made me focus and go through the design process much more efficiently.

I thought it would be interesting to show how a design can come to together very quickly and what stages I went through to create it.

Stage 1: Inspiration

I walk my dog Rosie every day after work. That day we walked past roses and lilacs blooming in our neighborhood - perfect inspiration! I placed them in a glass of water on my desk.

Stage 2: Outline

The shape of a rose is complex and can be very time consuming to draw. Fortunately, these roses are quite simple. I decided to draw them "straight on" to emphasize the uniquely curved edges of the petals.

I drew them directly into Corel Painter using my Wacom tablet, using a pencil brush in gray for a clean line and medium contrast.

Stage 3: Arrangement

I always design my prints in repeat (a seamless, tiling pattern) while I am working on them, rather than creating a design first and finding a way to repeat it later. I find it gives the design better balance.

For this one I went with an asymmetrical repeat (the roses are closer together on one side of the print) rather than a symmetrical arrangement (the roses evenly spaced from each other).

Usually I would have created a symmetrical arrangement, but I didn't have time! It turns out that I like this asymmetrical arrangement much better because it has more movement. If I revise this print later on I will make it even more asymmetrical.

Stage 4: Colour

The original colour of the roses was bright red with a white centre. I didn't want to keep the original colour because it was very strong and I was worried about taking attention away from the shapes of the petals.

I wanted the print to feel very feminine without being too girly or childish, so I first filled the background with a silvery taupe. Neutrals usually add a mature feel, and this shade of taupe really feels feminine to me.

After filling the background, the roses looked too stark white. I added a splash of peach and coral watercolour to each one.

Stage 5: Background Elements

I went back to my original inspiration for the background. The "x" marks are actually stylized lilac blossoms.

I meant to place them behind the roses, but some of them ended up on top and I kept it that way because I didn't want the design to get too fussy.

As a final touch I added some peach sparkle paint splatters to the liven it up a little more.

Well, there you have it. The design isn't perfect in my eyes, but considering the limited time I had to work on it I am very happy with how it turned out. I hope you like it too. I'm looking forward to finding out if it makes it to the contest finals!

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I love spaghetti sauce. Onion, tomato, zucchini, carrot and (of course) garlic. So I drew it. I like how the colours run together the same way the flavours do.

Just a few random updates...

My hubby and I have been very domestic lately. We haven't done much to our new house since we moved in, so it's about time.

So, I hung some art in the bedroom last week. Since summer is here we bought a grill for the patio, and some cozy chairs for the living room will be here in a few weeks. One wall of the livingroom will be covered with bookcases (for his 700+ book collection).

I'm working on some custom fabric designs - unfortunately I can't show you anything yet, but I will when they are done!

Annaliese received her fabric from the Spring Cleaning giveaway - check out her blog post here: http://thepewteracorn.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-got-mail.html

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Alison, a colleague in the fashion industry, contacted me a few weeks ago. Her mother Vivian had just passed away in April. Vivian loved to travel, and she collected tea towels from all the various places she had visited in Europe, North America, Africa and South Asia.

Inspired by this, we planned a design for a tea towel, to be sold with all proceeds going towards an endowment in her name for students attending Carleton University in Ontario, where Vivian worked for over 20 years and was a highly-respected and valued source of professional encouragement for students and graduates.

The design captures thoughts and memories from many members of Vivian's family. A mother and baby elephant, from Alison's sister who loves elephants. A book held aloft with Vivian's initial on the cover, representing her work with libraries and her lifelong love of reading. The phrase "it will all work out" was one of the last things she said to her family before she passed. The clematis flowers were requested by Alison's father. The XOXO at the end was how she always signed letters to one of her sons.

The tea towel is available for purchase on Vivian's web site for $20 plus shipping. All proceeds go to her endowment fund with Carleton University. http://www.viviancummins.org/towel.html

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But... one look at that adorable face and all is forgiven. :)

I sent out the giveaway fabrics on Saturday. Should be arriving this week for Canada and within the next 3 weeks for the US.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what the giveaway winners create with them!

Have a fabulous day..

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She's a 6 year old Shiba Inu.

We drove 5 hours from Vancouver to get her.

We've had her for 1 day and we're already head over heels. Just look at that face!

We love you, Rosie.

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This is my bike, Violet. She's a 1980's Raleigh. I found her on Craigslist after days of searching and brought her home on the bus (this was long before we had the luxury of owning a car).

Her seat was a little beat up, so of course she got a handmade bike seat cozy, made from a vintage tablecloth that said "Sweet Violets" on it.

Today Violet went to a new home along with my husband's bike. We realized that it had been a year since we had ridden them and that perhaps we are just not bike people after all.

But, somehow, she'll always be my bike.

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My husband and I have been thinking about getting a dog, so naturally I have been drawing a lot of dogs lately.

This is Champ. I can't decide if I like the ears pointing in or out. He makes me smile!

I should be able to ship the giveaway fabric this weekend. Unfortunately, I still haven't heard from a few of the winners!

Here is the list of people I am waiting to hear from. If you are on this list, either I have emailed and you have not replied, or your email address is not working.

Sara
Shelby
Sarah
Deniza
Laura
Jen
Rebecca
Taylor
Anna

Please email me at dottylogic [at] gmail.com with your mailing addresses right away!

Thanks, :)

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Thanks to everyone who participated in the Spring Cleaning Giveaway! Everyone (from US & Canada) who posted on the last giveaway post is a winner!

Wasn't that fun? I think I like giveaways better when there are lots of chances to win.

Deniza, Laura and Jen - Can you email me at dottylogic [at] gmail.com? Your email addresses are not working.

I can't wait to see what kind of things all of you make with your new fabric. I am curious to see whether they will mainly be small projects by themselves or part of larger projects with other fabric.

Please email me your pictures at dottylogic [at] gmail.com or feel free to post them directly on the Dotty Logic Flickr Group.

That reminds me... I don't think I've shown you all the places Dotty Logic can be found on the web.

Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/dottylogic

Flickr http://www.flickr.com/dottylogic

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/dottylogic

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dottylogic

Tumblr http://jasonda.tumblr.com/ (same posts as jasonda.com)

Hope to see you around. :)

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Spring is here and it's time for a little Spring cleaning!

I re-opened my Etsy shop last night and I'll be selling my fabric a little differently from now on. Instead of offering pre-cut yards, half yards, fat quarters and fat eighths, I'll only be offering pre-order yardage. When you place your order, the fabric will be printed and shipped to you directly from the printer (4-6 weeks).

I realize that this is inconvenient for those of you who prefer to buy smaller quantities of fabric, not to mention the annoyance of having to wait over a month for it to arrive! To make up for that, I'm now offering my fabric at wholesale pricing (previously only available to people who bought 5 yards or more). The new price is $30 for an extra-wide yard (36"x56") of organic cotton sateen.

Why the change? Over the last year I spent a lot of time cutting, photographing, listing, re-listing, packaging and shipping fabric for my Etsy shop. It's taken time (and energy) away from what I really love to do, which is creating new fabric designs and other illustrations.

Since I still have some pre-cut fabric left, I'd like to share it with you! I am giving away the remaining 25 fat eighths from my Beachcomber collection. Each one measures 12"x16" which is perfect for a small project like a zipper pouch, or would make a lovely addition to a quilt or other pieced project.

To keep it simple, the first 25 people who leave a comment with a valid email address on this post will be receiving one of these fat eighths. If you would prefer a specific print, let me know and I will try to make sure you get it. *Note: Some people have been unable to comment due to technical issues and have emailed me directly - I will make sure it is still first-come, first-serve.

Happy Spring!

P.s. I am only able to offer this giveaway to residents of Canada and the US (due to postage costs). Thanks for your understanding.

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When I bought them this morning they were completely green, now after only a few hours they are yellow and fragrant.

Life is short!

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Say hello to Safari Scrapbook... my entry in the Project Selvage fabric design contest sponsored by Spoonflower and Michael Miller fabrics.

Sweet safari animals parade across the pages of your scrapbook! Each animal has something to say, so don't forget to zoom in for a closer look. The background features a hand-drawn "scrapbook paper" design of vintage cameras.

Today was the deadline for the contest and with everything that has been going on lately, I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it in time! Thankfully it's done and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

It looks like the contest may have over 1,000 entries so far. It's amazing that so many people are interested in fabric design. Best of luck to everyone who entered!

If my design is chosen as one of the 75 semi-finalists it will be open to the public for voting. In the meantime, you can see the contest entry page here.

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One week ago the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami disaster struck Japan. Many people lost loved ones, many others are still waiting for news.

My sister Hana and her family, living in Shiogama, Miyagi, survived. The few days when we didn't have contact with her were some of the worst days of my life. My heart goes out to all of those who lost their loved ones, or haven't heard yet.

My sister's situation is slowly improving. We are putting together some care packages and hoping that they will arrive once courier service resumes in her area.

I can't imagine what it must be like to live in this situation. It will be a long time before things are back to normal.

Even for me, it will be a while before things are back to normal. That's why I have closed my Etsy shop. I think I need a break for a little while.

One more (very important) thing. I just want to say thanks, to all of those who have donated to the relief effort. There are many artists and crafters who have put together fundraisers or donated their work. It really has meant a lot to me to see people so ready to give. Thank you.

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You know you have become a hopeless camera geek when you drool more over the photo of a piece of fruit than the actual fruit.

I couldn't help it. This papaya was way too gorgeous. Like, supermodel gorgeous. See?

Yes.. I did eat it. Eventually.

I have been busy with a few things, namely..

I am working on an entry for Project Selvage, a fabric design contest sponsored by Spoonflower and Michael Miller fabrics. The theme is "baby boy", and since I've never drawn anything for baby boys I got some ideas from mommy friends of mine. It's coming along nicely and I will definitely post it here in a few weeks!

This doesn't really count as "being busy", but I have been spending way too much time on Twitter - what a great way to connect with other designers and crafters. Hope to see you over there as well.

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The new librarian - Digital ink and watercolor - February 2011

Owls make the best librarians. Since their wings are so quiet, they never disturb anyone.

What do you think.. is the mouse in his vest pocket a friend, or a snack?

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I thought I would share these beautiful flowers from my hubby. :) I hope you all have a wonderful day with the people you care about.

P.s. Don't forget to download your free printable Valentine's animal postcards!

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Banana, Tomato - Photography and digital oils - January 2011

This is based on a photo I took of my kitchen fruit bowl this morning.

I'm at home with a cold today and the bright colours are making me feel better... plus I just ate one of the bananas. That has to help.

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I recently received an email from Ai from Japan, who loves to paint intricate floral designs and is interested in becoming a textile designer. I gave her what advice I could - being new to this industry myself, I don't know how helpful I could be.

Despite being new to the world of textile design, I've been creating art since I was very young and I'm no stranger to people asking me how to become an artist. I'm sure most people who ask are just being politely inquisitive, but there have been many who are equally fascinated by and mystified with the prospect. I think I have narrowed it down to three things that, for me, make up the essential components of becoming an artist.

The first one is a unique perspective. This is actually the easiest thing to acquire, because you already have one. Your perspective is a result of the years of your life "so far", the experiences that have changed you, the people and places that have made a lasting impression on your mind and heart.

When you look at a beautiful sunset; is it the colours that grab your attention, or the shapes of the clouds? Is it the feeling of awe from streams of light cascading across the sky, or the uneasy feeling brought on by the impending darkness as the sun sinks lower? Every person will be inspired in a different way.

As an artist, your constant challenge is to find ways to tap into and translate your unique perspective into a tangible work of art so that others can experience it. Sometimes it can be really hard to find your own perspective at the beginning, but if you don't make the effort to develop it and end up borrowing from other things you've seen, the end result is bound to be hollow and unfulfilling.

For many people, it seems that the biggest stumbling block to pursuing a creative path is that when they attempt to make something, the result doesn't match the picture in their mind. To have any hope of overcoming that, the second thing you need are technical skills (drawing, sculpting, sewing, etc). Formal art instruction gives you the tools and methods you need to develop those skills in a structured environment. Self-taught artists (I'm one of them) typically aquire their skills from years of trial and experimentation.

No matter how you aquire them, the only way to get to the point where you can look at your work and be reasonably satisified is to practice those skills. You might never get to the point where you can create something and have it come out perfectly on the first try (I know I haven't... yet), but it will take much fewer tries if you continually learn and practice.

The third thing you must have is an inherent, unquenchable need to create. If you ask an artist how long they have been an artist, the answer you're most likely to receive is "always". It doesn't mean that they've always been technically skilled, it just means they've always had that overwhelming desire to make something.

Some people (like me) are encouraged from an early age. Some people never receive an ounce of encouragement but can't help pursuing a creative path, even to their own detriment. Some people have a latent desire to create for many years, but never discover it until new life circumstances give them the opportunity. The need to create is so essential because it is the only thing that will make you keep trying when something doesn't turn out right.

I haven't said anything about talent or creativity yet, and I think I might have to. Creativity is something that everyone has and most take for granted. If you've ever made a substitution in a recipe, you're creative. If you've ever fixed something using duct tape, you're creative. Creativity is just another word for problem solving. Applying creativity to art just means that you're finding a new way to express an idea using your unique perspective.

I don't really believe in pure "talent" - the idea that only a few people are naturally gifted and the rest of the world doesn't have a chance of creating anything worthwhile if they weren't born with it. Everyone has a unique perspective, everyone can learn new skills. Some people find those skills come very naturally to them and the perspective they express is fascinating; the things that they create are truly amazing.

However they achieved their abilities, it's only natural that the people we consider to be the most talented throughout history are the ones who never stopped creating. If they had, we would never come to know and love their work.

Best of luck to all of the new artists out there, I hope you are able to create things that truly make you happy!

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Smoke and Mirrors - Digital oil and ink - January 2011

New painting I just did tonight. It took about 3 hours. The shapes are inspired by vintage Japanese kimono patterns.

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A new blog header, just completed this weekend for Kathleen Fasanella, the author of The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing and the Fashion Incubator blog (both highly recommended for anyone interested in apparel manufacturing).

Kathleen just started a new blog about vanity sizing, a topic that has gained a lot of attention (and controversy!) from fashion-savvy consumers and media over the last few years.

Working from the concept of myth vs. reality, I created simple line drawings of clothes in black ink, representing reality; then mirrored the image on the right side in white to represent myth. A measuring tape, representing data, separates the two sides.

I used a "techy" grayish-blue for the background and punches of schoolbus yellow for highlights. The yellow is done in semi-transparent digital oil brush, so it blends with the blue background really nicely.

I love how it turned out! Go see it in action over at The Myth of Vanity Sizing.

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