How to Present Floral Designs in an Innovative Way

I first found Animoto when wanting to make book trailers for Loveweaver and The Maiden Seer.

It occurred to me early on, though, that I could make a video using large images of my designs set to music. I plan to make several, each showcasing a different genre of my designs.

I love the results!

Dynamic Auto Painter

I'm not one for specialty software for creating art. I use CS6 Illustrator, the master program that allows me to design vector patterns with mathematical precision. And I use Photoshop for a few subtle effects, but mostly for formatting raster files.

It's highly unlikely that I'll ever learn to paint, though. So, I was intrigued from the start with Dynamic Auto Painter for $99 - on sale for $50. After thinking about it 6 months, I bought it.

Gosh, it's fun! There are a lot of painting styles to choose from and countless custom options for tweaking the process. But I just like to pick a style, click play, sit there and watch it paint whatever image I've opened!  Be assured this is not like Photoshop filter.

For $50, I got more than my money's worth. Only time will tell if it will be useful to me professionally. (Click on my images to enlarge them.)

Here is a photo of the lake I see from my back door:

Here's what it looks like after I used the Van Gogh Starry style:

Here's a closeup. I started with a high res image and ended up with fantastic detail:

Fab Florals - Vector Repeats

Last time I showed the softer side of my florals.

Here is now a bolder assortment.

Valentine's Day - Vintage Reimagined

This time I expressed my passion for vectorizing vintage images on an old Valentine.

I may have over-designed my version, seen in the lower of the two images below, but I wanted something bright and bold.

 Mission accomplished.

Colorization = Fun for Tracy

All that clipping! All those paths!

But, yeah, I love the process, the HOURS it takes.

Some people play video games. Others work crossword puzzles.

Me? I pick apart a black and white image and colorize it.

Of course, I have to add my patterns to the mix.

And then make a collage out of the results in the form of a postcard-style greeting card.

The Research is In!

Just for fun ...

Digital Collage

I've loved so many collages and have always aspired to make them. I'm not a "blank canvas" artist/designer though, so I face fear when beginning.

Lucky for me, I have a library of over a thousand vector repeats and a hefty library of digital images, mostly vintage. A lot of them are already clipped. (Another thing I do in my spare time.)

It was simple then, to begin with a design I love, likely a pattern I've recently completed. This is the case here ... in fact, I've featured several of the designs in this collage in the last few weeks.

Digital Scrapbook Paper

I've got SO many design collections, many of which go to Modern Yardage.

But, they're also perfect for scrapbook papers, and Etsy is the perfect place to sell them in digital format. Once the listing is posted, Etsy does all the work.

There's some overhead on my end, of course, formatting it all for the listings, but now that I have a process in place, I should be able to work my way through my collections.

Accuquilt Quilt Block Contest

I took my newest pattern collection, Merriweather, and applied it to a quilt block I created for Accuquilt's contest.

Fingers crossed!

Television Ad - Vivid Vision?

I love this Vivid Vision ad that's in black and white! Or sepid rather than black, really. 

Not exactly vivid.

I did my own version, keeping the same off whites and off blacks.

Opposites Attract - Tropical Designs

Winter is full of bright snow, indoor coziness, cold walks ... and dreaming of warm sunshine.

Maybe it's not a coincidence that I was attracted to recreate a vintage tropical barkcloth from the 40s.  If the warmth isn't outside right now, it can be in my imagination.

She Looks Like Blythe ... My New Paper Doll

I have an actual Blythe doll - her name is Ever Wild - and have even developed some clothing patterns for her that are for sale at one of my Etsy stores.

During this holiday season, I've had a few slow work days, which means I've had time to catch up with some half-finished projects.

My Blythe-like paper doll is one. It's done!

I originally was going to do several pages with lots of outfits and accessories, but I decided to pare it pare it down to just one 11.5" x 17.5" sheet.

Once I've received the first printing and approved it, I'll add it to the other prints I have for sale at my other Etsy store.

Another Vintage Car - Little Red Corvette

A shout goes out to Dustin of Retro Supply Co. for his great work at Creative Market.

His most recent special effects Atomic Age Print Pack PSD is responsible for the aged effect on my Corvette image.

What fun! Can't wait to finish my workday so I can play with it some more!

Issuu

It's been around for awhile, but I've only just discovered it. Issuu, a digital publishing platform.

I spend spare time each day perusing Pinterest and continue to make great discoveries there, some that have even furthered my career. Now Issuu has become, for me, a new go-to for exploring the worlds of design, diy and art.

I'm amazed at what's available there! It was the perfect platform for my make-your-own Trick-or-Treat bag using your own fabric, or the pre-printed panel that will soon be available on Modern Yardage.

Currently, I'm creating a lookbook especially to publish on Issuu, and it has truly been a labor of love.

In other news ... are you hungry for a vegan breakfast?

Colorblast June 2015 by Design Options

I was featured this very dynamic slide show by Design Options. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll across.

It's a long story, but I actually came to Kim Designs via Design Options, a fortuitous meeting! Kim has been instrumental as my agent for making design sales for me.

Today's image is a design done recently, and likely will become part of a collection called "Parlor."

I've been busy this last week or so working on new designs for Needlepaint, which is always a lot of fun.

Oh, and I've FINALLY redone my website. It looks pretty much the same but I was able to get out from under an old and vulnerable Joomla website. Wonderful!

My Interview with Make It In Design

In week that otherwise saw me designing like crazy - designs no one has seen yet - my interview with Make It In Design has been posted.

Eden's Garden Fabric Collection at Modern Yardage

I really like this little print, Precious in Turquoise, one of six patterns in my new collection Eden's Garden at Modern Yardage.  As you see, the colors are lovely aquas and pinks with a touch of white.

What a cute top Precious makes!

Modern Yardage

I've been launched at Modern Yardage!

Although MY is a place to buy gorgeous fabric online, one day in the near future, you'll see us in quilt stores around the country. We'll be the new big thing!

Come see us for fabrics for quilting, home decor, craft and apparel projects!

Four  of my collections are available now, including these two:

Florals

I did this one years ago. Maybe its time has come?

Colorization - Paying the Bills Part 3

My good pal, Charles of Helmar Brewing, creates some fantastical ephemera baseball cards that look like they could be the real thing. But, no, he's an artist who's found a niche that appeals to baseball collectors.

I've had the great fortune to help him on a good many projects, including the colorization of old black and white photos. Believe me when I tell you, there are no shortcuts to this.

Of course, the better the photo to start with, the better the finished results.

Here's a before and after of  Honus Wagner who played mostly for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1897 and 1917.

Yep, I'm still doing lots of designing for my fabrics collections at Modern Yardage, but fill up every minute with whatever I can to have an income as a graphic designer.