Back to the Drawing Board

I'm doing an illustration for a sewing pattern for a little girl's embellished corduroy jumper this week.

I thought it might be interesting to post photos of the process in progress.

By the time I thought to document the work, my ink-line drawing was complete, and some of the watercolor base applied.  Here is my crazy cluttered desk, with my reference garment and computer printouts of the fabric print I am to use.  This client (Patty Reed for Simplicity Patterns) designs the fabric as well as the garment, but nothing has been manufactured yet, so I just have prototypes to work from.

Watercolor base complete.  Next, I use colored pencils to add the print and make it come to life.

It was fun to go back to familiar territory: illustration for the home-sewing industry, my bread and butter income over the past 25-or-so years.  Except that the last few years have really been s-l-o-w for me.  I used to get hired to do maybe 8 to 10 illustrations a month, sometimes more...now I'm lucky to get a few jobs a year! The industry is changing, relying on quick and cheap photography more and more, plus there is just a decline in home-sewing in general.  But I still love to do the artwork when I get the chance!

To everything, there is a season...

These verses have come up in conversation several times lately, and they come to mind again when reflecting on the events of 9/11.  While we remember with sadness the horrific events on this day 10 years ago and honor those whose lives were lost,  this is also a happy day in our house.  We celebrate the birth of our precious daughter, our only child, who came into our lives seventeen years after we were married.  It was a jolt to our childless lifestyle, that's for sure, but now we can't imagine our lives without her.  And now she turns seventeen (the magic number, I reckon)!  So, yes, September 11 is a date that spurs quite a dichotomy of feelings for me...

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!

Hot Diggity Dog....I'm done!

 

WHEW!  Got 'em done.  Signed, sealed, delivered.  Yay!  And wouldn't the above be a great picture if it was actually crisp and in focus??  Arghghgh.

Right after I took this picture, I spent the next half hour untangling all of the chains.  Arghghgh.

 

Now....back to work!

Dog days... dog charms

The last few days have been devoted to making a pile of charms for a charity event.  The organization is called "Fences for Fido" and 25 charms depicting their dog hero, Chopper, are being sold at their gala this Saturday night. YIKES!

I always think, "No problem, I can whip those puppies (no pun intended) out in a jiffy", and I am always WRONG!  Invariably, there are snags and interruptions along the way and now I am frantically trying to copper-wrap them all and squeeze in soldering time between a bunch of pressing work commitments.

Wish me luck!