I'm not much of a girly girl but I am sucker for a floral print. Most of my favorite clothes have some kind of floral or abstract pattern. Unfortunately for me flowers are hard to draw, I have tried for years to come up with shapes and details that don't look to cartoony only to come up with unsatisfying results. But now I've finally made progress worth celebrating!
As some of you know when drawing a pattern you start with a focal point
and then add in smaller bits to fill around to create a repeat. This is a
focal point I'm finally happy with.
Here is the repeat print with different flowers, bees and humming birds added in.
What's funny about this whole process is I used a different drawing app for this project. Procreate is a favorite for painterly effects and I often use it in abstract pieces but not usually when I'm making a repeat pattern that's where Adobe Illustrator's pattern making tool shines- but there's a first time for everything!
I'm really excited to experiment further and make better patterns to list in my society6 shop and maybe get some fabric printed - the possibilities are endless with a floral print!
What's your favorite go to print to wear and have in your everyday? I don't know about you but florals always make me happy! :)
Do you ever see a cute outfit on one of your favorite tv characters and think "I need that for myself!"
I had one of those moments the other day when I was watching Big Bang Theory, Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco) had on the prettiest floral print sweater, I loved how vivid the colors were :)
I found the sweater on Wornontv.net it's such an awesome site for fashion nerds! I love seeing where clothes came from each episode because the characters looks so everyday casual and then it turns out they are wearing crazy expensive brands. Like the sweater Penny is wearing for example, isn't really a sweatshirt it's cashmere ( insert disappointing wail at pricetag here). So I made a floral print sweatshirt roundup, with prices in every range :)
When I get really obsessed with something I have to draw it and interpret it in my own way, so of course I had to draw Penny wearing the sweater, lol. I've always wanted to do fan art of the big bang cast, I have been a fan of the show since the beginning, it probably would have gone better if I had used my mouse and Illustrator instead of trying to sketch with my fingers on ipad but I'm glad I did it.
I can't wait to start of some new projects that have been bouncing around in my head for a while.
Anyway what pieces are you excited to add to your wardrobe for Spring?
I actually got out this weekend and went to a museum it was awesome, here's more of what I'm excited about now!
1. Ansel Adams
I got to see some of his favorite photographs at an exhibit this weekend, it was so great to get out and be inspired. His photography is amazing!
3. Summer Movies
Summer is ending soon, but there are still some great looking movies I have yet to see.
Like Phillip Seymour Hoffman's last thriller "A Most Wanted Man"
& on the goofier side "Guardians of the Galaxy" I've been a Chris Pratt Fan ever since Everwood so needless to say I'm pretty excited for this one. And on a hilarious side note, I love that Nan Lawson did a Rocket the Raccoon drawing lol :)
4. I'm loving this commercial, especially the laptop sticker of the funny looking cat in slow mo :)
5. I saw this story online awhile ago, about this girl painting Van Gogh's Starry Night on a thrifted dress for her prom, now that's dedication to a project! And what do you know I was perusing Modcloth the other day, and I found a Starry Night dress. Anyway just wanted to share.
I just wanted to share some pictures of my summer garden, it's starting to get pretty warm in Texas but the plants are still happy for the most part. I wanted to capture everything while it was still happy and blooming, I'd like to thanks my wonderful photography assistant for taking some of these lovely shots. I love when seeds start growing and sprouting, things you have forgot about greet you as a happy surprise. I love that with each new season, there are particular varieties that shine in their surroundings. I definitely couldn't pick just one as a favorite. What plants and flowers do you enjoy the most?
two different kinds of hydrangeas
garden gnome among the balloon flowers
My new favorite purple Liatris
Dahlia and Coleus happy together
Celosia among the garden animals
grasshopper hanging out inside a lily
happy zinnias :)
short zinnias and tall zinnias
fun mystery plant from a wild flower seed packet
pumpkin seeds sprouting
blackberry iris is finally blooming
if you look close you can see the little hummingbird enjoying the plants
Spring is officially here in Texas, and we couldn't be happier :) We went to the Dallas Arboretum to take in all the amazing tulips, cherry blossoms and other blooming beauties earlier this week.
Of course I thought it would be a perfect day to wear my new floral tee!
As you may know I was super excited about this tee and I finally bought it
1. Last week was so crazy busy at work, I haven't had a chance to finish any posts. Here is my top 5 things I'm excited about right now :)
The Lego Movie & Soundtrack
I was pretty excited about the Lego movie before I saw it, but it was even better than I thought it would be! I have been a fan of Chris Pratt since Everwood and he is hilarious and heartwarming as Emmett, and Elizabeth Banks is awesome as the kick butt girly adventurer Wyldstyle, and Will Arnett makes an amazing turn as an over the top and cocky Batman.
The upbeat techno soundtrack is wonderfully done by my favorite Mark Mothersbaugh :)
Everything is Awesome!!! kind of sums up the whole movie I think.
2. The weather has been warmer the past week or so and we were able to plant some bulbs and with the warmer weather everything has started budding out including our daffodils and tulip tree. Saturday it was over 80 degrees and Sunday it was icy and 24 degrees! I hope my veggie plants make it through this second terrible cold spell, I really would like some fresh veggies this Spring.
mini daffys
daffy says hello!
tulip tree
tulip close up
large daffodils
3. H&M girls apparel
I was working on some trend projects for work and I was looking at H&M's offerings and I couldn't get over the adorable blend of adult trends transformed with age appropriate cutesy details. Here are some of my favorites:
stripes and florals
bow print dress and sneakers
jean skirt with braided belt polka dot top and sneakers
heart prints abound!
4. Hi tree
I have been a fan of Tina Rodas of Hi Tree since I ready her Etsy interview in 2008, I loved her felt trees then and I was looking at Stuffed magazine the other day and I saw some cute tree stumps with faces and I thought they looked vaguely familiar and then I realized they too were from Hitree I was so excited!
Mr Oak Tree
Mr Stump is simply adorable
5. Art and Appetite an Amon Carter exhibit
Well this one is kind of a no brainer, I love art and I love food bring the two together and I'm pretty excited. This exhibit examines American painting, culture and cuisine. There is quite an eclectic group of artists from Norman Rockwell to Andy Warhol. I really love the Amon's diversity in exhibits and on the plus side it's free :)
I was inspired by post by Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere. It's a list of things to remember and laugh at when you are having a bad day. I sent to all my coworkers and they loved it so I thought I would do a post about the things that are making me smile these days.
My striped colored zinnias have finally started blooming. I love their happy faces.
The steering wheel cover my sweet friend Jennifer made me. I love the awesome quirky and colorful bird fabric, it makes me smile every time I'm in my car. She's a pretty awesome seamstress.
So happy and colorful
A nice apple pie. It's been awhile since I have baked for myself and nothing makes me happy like apple pie warm from the oven.
Pretty colorful paintings. Like those by Carly Allen Martin. She was featured in our local Dallas paper, and although at first glance, it seems simplistic or chaotic in form. It has a soothing and engaging quality too. She has inspired me to start painting again :)
picture from carlymartin.com
What makes your day a little brighter this summer?
