Those who know me well, are not terribly surprised that the majority of my designs are of mushrooms. I did mix it up a little and included a snail in the mix this time. Mr. Snail is rather my favorite of the four blocks, and prints up beautifully.

These two are my first and second blocks, I’ve learned a lot since these first two, carving technique, design dos and don’t. When you are learning as you go, and teaching yourself from tutorials and how-to articles, you make a lot of mistakes, though…as I’ve heard before “we aren’t making mistakes, we are making experiences”. I’m hoping to take a class at my Community College this coming fall semester, I’ve heard that they’ll be offering a printmaking class for those of us that want to learn more. I tend to learn hands on, so that would give me the opportunity to learn “proper” techniques, and the process a little better, as well as try out other aspects of printmaking.

I hope in the near future to start offering prints of these and other blocks in my Etsy shop.

This gazelle is from the early 20s I think, very art deco in design- I’ve never seen this design before, and can’t find reference or pictures for anything like it in the vastness that is the internet.

Click for full size- the framed version is 8 inches across and the single gazelle is 6 inches.

If you use it please post a link in the comments- I would love to see what you do with it!

If you know anything about this design please share!

Bella  Modiste

It will be my first *big* collection- all the designs I want to do and with the color waves- will take it to around 40 designs…

Since I’m only in the very first steps of this…I only have the color palette to share…

Very excited about this…

I know what I am doing tomorrow!

-Mod

I have 19 designs up on the site right now,  6 of which I completed this weekend…and expect to be in by next week. I’m very excited about this most recent collection…and am most eager to get it in and go over it with a fine tooth comb….:D

I’ve been contemplating all of the possibilities with my design work…not only can I offer my fabric, but embroidery patterns to match! I can just see my travel trailers hand embroidered, too fun!

As soon as I finished(well tentatively finished, until I get the printed fabric) this collection on Saturday, I started another…heh

This is opening up so many possibilities, along with learning more and more about my design programs it is forcing  me to think outside of the box to create *different* styles then I am used to doing. I’ve always kind of been stuck in the “must be realistic looking” box, it is really nice to finally break out and actually be able to create different styles…and have them turn out properly!

So, right now- lots of ideas rushing about in my head..bumping into one another and making lots of noise…time to post this and go write this all down so I can sleep tonight!

-The Bella Modiste

#12 Caroline

#49 Sharon Chapman

#56 PEA

#107 Lisa Lectura

#113 Lisa W.

I’ve contacted each of  my winners, and sent each their patterns.

I hope that they will have as much fun making him as I did designing him.

Cheers!

The Bella Modiste

The design is Hopalong Cassidy By: Naomi Wilson….

See!—>

*ahem*What!? I am a little bit excited! I already ordered a swatch of it, that will be in next week…..eeek!

I had so much fun designing, coloring and choosing the layout….

Hopalong is about 4 inches wide, so really quite large.

If I win….I’ll have another giveaway, this time for a fat quarter, eh a 1/2 yd!

Yes. I am unashamed in my attempts to bribe you. Completely and totally unashamed.

Now go vote!

*hehe*

The Bella Modiste

Edited to add:

It should be noted that the fabrics appear in random order on 3 pages, so you may or may not see  my design on the first, or even second pages.

It is that time of year again!

I thank Lisa of A Whimsical Bohemian for hosting this for the fourth time. I know she puts so much time into making sure everyone is included in the list.

But, lets cut to the chase shall we?

This year I would like to offer my PDF pattern of Oliver Bunny to five(5) lucky people

All you have to do to qualify is to leave a comment on this post. If you want extra entries you can blog, twitter,  facebook, or otherwise tell people about it, and then comment again telling me that you did(along with the link to the tweet or blog)

I’m sure Oliver would love for lots of little brothers and sisters all around the world!

I’ll chose 5 winners on February 14th using a random number generator, and email and announce the winners February 15th.

Cheers!

The Bella Modiste

Comments for this post have now been closed! I will announce the winners later today(Feb. 15th)

But here it is! I plan to embroider the fine details, outline the mushroom, and will probably use a few different shades of brown to stitch the gills.   Of course I am going to add some detail to the door, it is to flat right now.

I’m fairly certain that those fabrics are what I will use around the center, but in what pattern I don’t know. Simple blocks maybe, or strips, but nothing to take away from the mushroom.

I really hope that my partner will like this, *fingers crossed they will comment* because you know, if they do not like it….I’ll just keep this one for myself….hehe

Because I know the question will be asked…it is just crayons on linen. I drew my mushroom and used a light table to transfer it to the (very thick) linen.

This is a first time technique for me, so I’m really hoping it works out, it is supposed to do just fine, if you heat set it(which I did).

I finally got some pictures of the vintage goodies I got over Christmas break… I fell in love with this little rabbit with the head of lettuce(or cabbage I suppose).  I really could not  pass him up! I was rather upset when I discovered that all of my pictures of him were blurry, that is what I get for trying to photograph stuff on a rainy day *sigh*.

Also….Purple cows. Yes, I have had my eye on a set of purple spotted cows on Etsy for a few months,and then, ka-bow! There was the creamer, along with the salt and pepper shakers  in the little shop that I found the dear little rabbit! *That* was quite exciting!

Anyways, I’m trying to get with the blogging world again. My year long blog break was rather nice, but I really lost track of a great many of my favorite blogs.

Oh! Before I forget….Welcome to my new blog! I’ve brough over all of my old posts, and hope to add a great many more in the following months!

Cheers,

The Bella Modiste