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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Little Essentials Pouch

Here's an idea for a quick and easy project:
This little pouch measures about
3 3/4" tall by 2" wide when finished.
All you need is a layer of batting,
fabric to line it (I used cotton denim)
and a cute fabric, this is a washable organic cotton sateen with
earth friendly dyes.
Perfect for your favorite lip glosses or a small flip phone.
Also great for gifting!
http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/387903
In blue, too:
"Wise Guys" fabric by KDL Designs. © All rights reserved.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Illuminated for a celebration

Tall bucket tote
with a folded package seamed base
is perfect for holidays and celebrations.
An easier than cut n' sew project
made with a quarter yard of fabric
(I used organic cotton sateen)
and fusable interfacing to make it nice and sturdy.
"Illuminated" candles fabric by KDL Designs. © All rights reserved.
http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/396182
With woven nylon adjustable strap.







Thursday, November 18, 2010

Bean Bag Buns Toy Kit

This little guy is the prototype for a new
bean bag pattern kit.
Made of organic cotton sateen, and poly stuffing.
The pattern has 8 to 12 bunnies to a fat quarter,
and 32 to 48 bunnies to a yard,
depending on the fabric type.
The actual bunny from the fabric kit is even cuter!
I added a pom pom tail to this one,
and it is filled with rice.
Now available at Spoonflower, KDL Designs:

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Holiday Cheer Stockings

Decorative fabrics for fun and gifts.
I love pre-printed fabric kits that are fun and festive.
It was fun to make this one.
A 4 Stocking kit on a yard.
These were easy and fast to put together,
with straight stitch quilting,
one layer of batting,
and cotton muslin on the insides.
I used coordinating ric rac for loops to hang.
I especially love the little ruffle detail.
Several ornaments are included with this kit,
you can make 20 two dimensional or 10 three dimensional
flower ornaments.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Fabric Pins

I've been thinking of ways to use my fabric swatches and scraps.
I came across some pin backs I had picked up at 
a crafters sale.
 Cat Nap Pin.
Inside is one layer of batting and interfacing.
 Sew pin on back.
Backed with cotton muslin.
Little tractor pin is backed with interfacing.
Cute to identify your belongings,
such as a backpack or luggage,
or inside a coat.
Apple and Pear Pins.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

2011 Kitchen Towel Calendar Gifts

I have been working on these
dual purpose gifts for the holidays.
My sharpie marker design.
I Love it in these colors.
Tea towel calendars are also an excellent
way to hide a land line phone jack on your kitchen wall!
Coffee and Tea Towel 2011 Calendar:
by KDL Designs. © All rights reserved.

I am also working on some items for an upcoming handmade market.
But this one will be in my kitchen this year:
Black and White design with a pop of Red.
2011 Coffee and Tea Towel Calendar.
by KDL Designs. © All rights reserved.
http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/366419

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sewing Tiny Things Is Not My Strength, however, I am improving a bit...

I would consider myself a beginner to intermediate sewer,
and a clumsy and impatient one, as well.
I also have a machine with just the basic features.
I really surprised myself when I started coming up
with these little 18 inch doll patterns.
Designing and editing these little patterns is a fun project,
and surprisingly this little outfit pattern below came in
8th of 22 great entries in Spoonflowers 18 inch doll clothing contest. :-)
Beautiful Dreamer 18 inch Doll Loungewear / PJ's
by KDL Designs. © All rights reserved.
You know, I really want some lougewear like this for myself!

Butterfly Dreams pattern is available on the
Four Outfit Collection (4 outfits on a yard)
but just this pattern can be purchased on a fat quarter.


Friday, October 1, 2010

Applique templates for fabric scraps and Doll Clothing patterns

Projects of the week:
Project Applique'
Making templates for fabric scraps...
by KDL. © All rights reserved.
Will soon be available with other applique' designs on a fabric fat quarter.

And designing 18" doll clothes:
(Project Doll-way)
Cat's Pajamas Loungewear / PJ's
by KDL designs.


Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Little Twist on a basic cold weather Knit Cap

Here's a little freestyle decorative twist on an otherewise basic cold weather knit cap.
I just wanted to add a little interesting element to it.
(The buttons are decorative only)
It's fun to wander away, even slightly, from a basic pattern.

Just to make something somewhat unique.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I Love Kawaii!

Ever since I watched Speed Racer as a kid, I have loved the Japanese kawaii style. Here is my little cartoon design, my personal take on kawaii ("cuteness").


Kawaii Kitten by KDL. © All rights reserved.
Here is my finished print design on cotton knit fabric:
"Cute Kits Chorus" Fabric

Friday, September 10, 2010

Animal Masks, a Super Easy and Practically No-Sew Craft Idea

Make them up in a jiffy.
This is my design for the Masks theme at Spoonflower.
Super easy to make Halloween Animal Masks (or just for everyday play).
I ordered them on quilting weight fabric, ironed on fusable interfacing,
then cut them out. To hold mask on, I chose 1/4 inch braided elastic, hand sewn to the
left and right of the eye holes, about 3/4 of an inch to each side in a coordinating
thread color.
Trick or Treat!
(My husband found this to be just hilarious on me!)
Tiger Cub, super cute for kids.
Panda, Rabbit and Owl, too!
(On a fat quarter there are all 4 masks, on a yard of quilting weight fabric, you get a total of 16)

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

New Cutout Patterns on a yard, Mod Relic Apron

This apron design was inspired by elements of an antique linen, and reinterpreted as a modern updated print
for this craft or cooks apron.
As my cut and sew patterns come in,
I've been making them up for future gifts.

Here's my favorite color ;-)
The pockets are hard to see, but they are there!

Here is a blog with great ideas for recycling and repurposing your old garments:

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Reversable Fabric Coasters


This fabric printed out in the perfect size for reversable coasters.
Pictured here are 2 from the set:

Medieval Woodland Creatures Printed Tapestry Fabric

Friday, August 27, 2010

Fabridoodles

I am way too obsessed with illustrating fabridoodles.
This is a yard from a design I created for the recent windows themed contest.
Spoonflower has so many great theme ideas, that it really stirs my creative juices, and like a journalist jots down their thoughts, my ideas  have to come out and inevitably become digital designs.
Here is my latest fabric:
Birds Eye Balcony View fabric
by KDL. © All rights reserved.


by KDL. © All rights reserved.
And the Halloween Mask contest inspired these zoo masks,
I've always enjoyed creating illustrations for kids.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Sewing projects, and some In the Works...

I have been waiting for this fabric, which I received today.
It's a cut and sew design I made, a 7 piece apron pattern,
that took me about 2 to 3 hours to put together.

A cheerful and juicy Strawberries apron.
Now available at KDL Designs.

Includes all the pieces you need,
including 2 side pockets,
and comes to the knee on a 5 foot 7 1/2 inch body frame.

Many projects are currently in the works.
I just received my fabrics for a baby gifts project.
I'll be making the quilt and 3 coordinating bibs,
and will post them when complete.
All are available at KDL Designs:
Garden Hop Quilt: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/284462
Bunouflage: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/298134
Bunouflage Grassy Greens: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/298729
and Sunny Bun: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/177582

Monday, August 9, 2010

Custom Knit Bag with Ruffle and I-cord detail

Here is a project I completed today,
modelled after a little bag I showcase on my recent I-cord projects posting.
It's a sturdy one, and looks like it took a lot more yarn than it actually did to make.
The final dimensions are 12" x 12", with a 24" adjustable strap.
Outside bag and inside liner were knit on circular needs, 88 stitches around.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Ideas and Projects

This little corner of the world is for sharing my creative projects and ideas. The fabric art in the picture was made using a jacquard fabric I designed a few years ago. The fibers in this fabric are recycled corn and recycled polyester. The various colors on the sample fabric color blanket inspired me to create this artwork.
I've been a textile designer for over twenty years, and a creative body since I could hold a crayon. I enjoy drawing and painting in gouache, to use to create print fabric designs.
I also enjoy knitting, sewing, cooking, and making small fused glass projects.

With an art and graphic design background, and a long career in jacquard and dobby textile design, I find that it is essential to me to stay busy with new projects. I created this blog to share my projects and creative process with those who may be interested in finding a little inspiration, too.


I've recently sewn quite a few things using my fabric designs.
Here are some of my projects:
Craft Apron: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/253147

My "assistant", Meg, giving my quilted throw a final inspection: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/266458


Another Crafty Apron Design: http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/266693



And a site recommendation:
I Love this blog, it's dedicated to fabric!
http://www.trueup.net/

Monday, August 2, 2010

Knitting Ideas for I-Cord

I love to knit i-cord because it knits up so quickly, and you can create so many great projects and embellishments with it.
Over the next several days I'll post some of the different project ideas I've come up with.

These little earrings are really better for cooler weather,
but I came up with the design over the summer,
and have sold a few pairs on Etsy.
I use bracelet tubing (which can be cut to size) inside the i-cord, to make the circle shape.
Embellishments, drawstring, and shoulder strap for
a little pouch purse.
This little pouch was knit on circular needles,
72 stitches around, knit for 6 inches, then decrease to 20 or 15 and thread string through,
pull tight and tuck in ends inside.
I also made a liner, in a coordinating color, for it in the same fashion,
and attached by stitching it with a needlepoint needle to the inside of the purse.
And a little purple pouch purse, which uses i-cord for the strap, drawstring, and florets
Detail of an i-cord pendant necklace
Necklace with adjustable length i-cord.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Enjoy a Hearty and Healthy Lentils Recipe

Since one of my creative pursuits is inventing and re-inventing recipes,
I thought I would throw one in here.

You will need:
1 bag dry lentil beans (the french green organic lentils are my favorite)
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 celery stalks, peeled and chopped
2 medium or one large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
Teaspoon garlic powder or minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 box vegetable broth (I use organic)
2 to 3 fresh chopped tomatoes or 1 can organic diced tomatoes

Soak lentils in big bowl of water for 5 to 6 hours in fridge.
Drain.
In large stew pot or dutch oven, add all ingredients above,
and simmer (after bringing at first to a slight boil) on medium to medium low for about an hour,
uncovered at first, then cover to reserve juices, or remove cover to thicken sauce.
Stir every few minutes while cooking.
Great over rice or pasta, or even a baked potato.
Freezes well, we split the pot into several containers, for future meals.
But honestly, most of the time we eat it up so fast that I only have to store leftovers in the
refridgerator for a few days.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Recycled Button Earrings Idea

   My daughter and I came across a large assortment of antique buttons while browsing in downtown Greensboro at Mary's Antiques. My daughter, Shannon, collects buttons for her button jar, so she was pretty excited about these. My attraction to them was for a different purpose, though, I thought the little 1/2 inch sized button pairs would make really pretty earrings. With some inexpensive ear wires and findings (wait for the sale!) from Hobby Lobby, I made them into little show pieces for my ears, and get lots of compliments on them, especially after I found a way to make them a little more interesting by backing them with the findings (I sew the findings to the button backs with nylon thread, then attach a hook, which looks updated and so much more interesting than just suspending the button from a wire)  An easy project that's fun to make, and no glue required, just needle and thread, and little jewelry pliers.
Here are a few of the buttons I've found
(Will update my post when I attach the backs)
My favorite is above, these go with all my denim (and I love the little spiney paisley shapes).
Dressier Pair (will also update this picture when I attach the findings)

Here's a little casual pair, such great tiny details.
Love these buttons! There are findings on the back of these, but this pair is a little larger.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Gouache Painted Designs

Some of the hand painted designs I've created
and converted to print designs.
Blue Bud by KDL. © All rights reserved.
Here is the little project I made with a swatch of the fabric:
Zippered pouch purse, organic stretch knit cotton.
American Beauty by KDL. © All rights reserved.
A little project from the fabric swatch:
Quilting weight fabric potholder.
Strawberry Patch by KDL. © All rights reserved.