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.

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/312922

by KDL. © All rights reserved.

And the Halloween Mask contest inspired these zoo masks,

I've always enjoyed creating illustrations for kids.

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/328021

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.

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/300086

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

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.

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/

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.

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.

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.