#8 Sparks! Fall 2007
Diane Ericson’s Creativity Newsletter & Studio Notes
Fall Greetings!
I am in a quiet moment in between fall traveling and want to share what is new on my design table with you. The focus of my newsletter is to share the projects, exercises and experiences that spark my creativity and inspire my work.
>> MY NEW PATTERN: FAULTLINES #118
I love how this new pattern goes together and works on the body. There are some nice options for creating different looks using all the pieces in different combination.
GET FAULTLINES HERE -->
http://www.dianeericson.com/pc/FaultLines118/PATTERNS/Fault+Lines
Here are two that I have just made: The black and white one is a rayon brocade with a sheer Undershirt out of the vintage Kimono Fabric. The second one is made from a recycled piece from the Golden Triangle by the Hmong people. The piece I used was a panel from a woman’s skirt. I loved the heart of the piece including the repaired areas, sometimes appliqued with western scraps. The Hmong fabric is from: http://www.bohemianelement.com (you will want to e-mail and ask about the Hmong lengths since they are all a bit different). Faultlines is perfect for small amounts since the Jacket is short with the Undershirt finishing the design. The Undershirt is a suiting blend with a small pinstripe. And would tie in nicely with some pin-strip pants or a Taos Skirt.
SEE SAMPLE GARMENTS -->
http://www.dianeericson.com/pc/GAL-FaultLines/WEARABLES/Fault+Lines
http://www.dianeericson.com/pc/GAL-FaultLines2/WEARABLES/Fault+Lines
SEE TAOS SKIRT -->
http://www.dianeericson.com/pc/Pattern-112-TaosSkirt/PATTERNS/The+Taos+Skirt
More DESIGN PLAY IDEAS for FaultLine Garments :
1. The collar is an asymmetrical bias tube…which can be tied on or stitched on. Make one that compliments some of my favorite scarves, which threads through the collar.
2. Make scarf with tassels on the ends and extra length so it can wrap around the neck twice.
3. Make a garment with lots of contrasting hand-stitching in the direction of the grainlines. Use striped fabrics and piece the stripes in different directions first, maybe in smaller pieces on the undershirt and larger pieces on the jacket.
4. Create several collars (using different favorite techniques ie. Felted, printed, stitched beaded etc.) and Undershirts for the same basic jacket. Make some dressy, some for everyday with Undershirts to match pants or skirt.
5. Combine the Undershirt pieces as layers but attached as part of one jacket.
6. Make Pieced Taos skirt in pin stripe fabrics to work with Ethnic fabric Jacket. Include piping: repeating lines of colors (from Jacket fabric) in the skirt.
>> NEW NOTIION: MEGA SNAPS
I have used the new Mega Snaps in the antique brass (on the Ethnic Fabric) and in the Black Nickel on the Black and White Brocade Jacket. I am just starting to play with combining the snaps with some padding, additional stitching and Stenciling to frame the snaps and tie in with the snap shape. They have some weight to them so they are perfect for Jackets and heavier vest and sleeve closures. I will send you some shots of the closure details I create with the snaps soon.
GET MEGA SNAPS HERE -->
http://www.dianeericson.com/pc/megaSnaps/NOTIONS/Mega+Snaps+3-pack
>> A NEW LINE OF PATTERN DESIGNS -- SUPPORTING SAVE THE PLANET FUND
Faultlines is the first in a series of designs that will all be inspired by natural events on the Earth. I am excited to see what kind of design play this challenges in me! I am donating 1% of the profits of this line to The Save the Planet Fund. I am also looking into what I can do to influence and encourage the use of more green products in the manufacturing my stencils and patterns. I feel strongly about doing what I can, and I look forward to that creative playground and new playmates who join me there. I always feel the recycling of garments and fabric by all of us contribute to that effort.
As a teacher, one of the things you can do is list thrift stores with fabric stores as a source of fabrics and notions for students…what about giving extra credit when students include recycled materials?
>> WHERE TO GET REVISIONS PATTERNS & STENCILS
My commitment is to serve the stories that carry my patterns and stencil designs. Please check this list, and support a retailer near you. Of course you can order on our website, but we want to encourage you to keep the stores you love in business by shopping with them whenever possible. If you know a great, local store that you think would be a fit for my products, I’d appreciate hearing about them. If they are not already a customer, and they place an order, I’ll send you a free pattern or stencil as a thank you gift.
FIND A RETAILER NEAR YOU -->
http://www.dianeericson.com/v/vendors.html
>> MINNEAPOLIS CLASSES IN NOVEMBER
I will be offering classes in Minneapolis, Nov. 8,9 and 10th at the Sewing Expo (http://www.sewingexpo.com) that will be held there. Stenciling, Details, Pattern shapes and Fashion Illustration Basics are some of the classes. I am enjoying sharing my passion for painting and drawing with sewers.
>> IKEA CHAIR STENCILING PROJECT FOR CHARITY AUCTION
At the Creative Quilt and Sewing Expo in Minneapolis, I will be Stenciling a 3rd IKEA Chair for auction during the show. The project is being sponsored by the Creative Sewing & Quilt Expo. and Jacquard Paint Products (http://www.jacquardproducts.com) I will be printing on black canvas pads with the Jacquard metallic paints. I will be in booth #521 printing the chair in between classes, so come by if you attend the show. To see the chair I printed in Chicago earlier this month, go to the sewingexpo.com page and follow the links to the stenciled chairs.
>> STENCILING IN SEW STYLISH
I have just stenciled a garment that will be featured in the Winter Embellishment issue of Sew Stylish Magazine (by the Threads folks at Taunton Press). It was a fun design challenge for me to collaborate with the editors there. They sent me the garment in a beautiful light-weight charcoal grey wool gabardine, which I printed with some of the Jacquard Metallic colors. I am looking forward to the issue coming out later this month to see the finished results. Let me know what you think.
>> MORE WITH JACQUARD PAINT PRODUCTS
If you get some of the art and craft magazines that are out there, you will start to see some of my stenciling work in the Jacquard Paint ads (see their ad in the current Fiber Arts Magazine). We are currently working on a short, How-To Stenciling DVD that should be available before Christmas. I will keep you posted on other projects we collaborate on. (To find a list of outlets for their products: http://www.jacquardproducts.com).
Thanks for joining in, now back to work and play,
Warmly, Diane
