Kitchen Doodles Fabric

Time to freshen my all white kitchen with a bit of whimsy. I created this pattern so I could get a roll of wallpaper. I plan to paper a narrow wall and possibly the fronts to my drawers. The really fun part is when I am tired of it I can easily remove it.

This fabric is available in napkins, tablecloths and other fabric items as well as yardage. This pattern would make cute kitchen curtains too. Go to Spoonflower.com and search Rae Kaiser to see this pattern and others.

Christmas is coming, fast. Time to make your gifts. While I am working on this year’s Christmas designs there are fun ones from past years to start with. Ready, set, sew!

New Orleans fabric. Finally.

Through out the pandemic I pondered this New Orleans fabric. I always start with color and was stuck until I stumbled on New Orleans color palettes for the exteriors of buildings. All the elements come from my New Orleans Doodles font and several others. I am quite pleased with this fabric. It has that New Orleans feel without using the Mardi Gras colors. I think it has that NOLA energy.

My fabrics are for sale on Spoonflower. They are a print-on-demand site. They have many types of fabric including upholstery, knit, performance, woven and organic fabrics. You can order anything from a fat quarter to as many yards as you need.

If you don’t sew they have quite a few items that they will make for you. How cute are those cocktail napkins?

And wallpaper too.

Next up I am working on toile fabrics and starting with a New Orleans one. I am excited about that.

Pandemic Shopping with Rae

Small businesses appreciate every single sale. I know, because I am one. During the pandemic is is truly important to support those small businesses you love.

Rewind Decor. I love everything about this place and have bought a fabulous 1970s black leather lounge there. It was designed by Ingmar Relling who was a major player in the Scandinavian Mid-Century movement. Also got two of the vintage chairs above. They are a fun addition to the screened porch. If you need a little outing don your mask and go visit Morgan. 1336 Williamson St, Madison. Or if you are staying in check him out on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/rewinddecor/

Equally delightful are Hatch Art House and Hazel General Store at 1248 Williamson St, Madison. This is my go to place for gifts. We need to buy as much local as we can to help places like this stay in business. I recently got 2 birthday gifts there. Hatch is full of art and Hazel is a general store full of fun things. I am sure it will be an easy one-shop-spot for you. While both gifts I bought came from Hazel, Hatch carries my cards. Be sure to say hi to Tammy when you stop by. https://www.instagram.com/hatcharthouse

Jack + Ella Paper has endless cute cards. During the pandemic I think it is more important than ever to send cards, postcards and small gifts as everyone is more housebound. Just a little note that you are thinking about someone can turn a sad day into a good one. I send mail to 90+ year olds in assisted living and those who need a note so they know they are not alone. It is not that hard. But the important thing is to have cards on hand. Jessica has endless cards: pet sympathy cards, graduation, birthday, knitting, sewing, gratitude and lots more.

Her cards are also at Hatch and on her website https://www.jackandellapaper.com

P.S. and the illustrations are mine!

Be safe everyone!

Art Therapy #21

Art Therapy is where Rae & Nancy make postcards and send them to each other. Yes, we get real mail.

This postcard sat on my desk for weeks, waiting to be finished. Until I figured out it was finished. I tend to overwork things so it felt good to not add any more. That little card with the girl would also surface in my desk mess endlessly. I love her energy and it seems like you as a little girl, Nancy.

I am less pleased with this illustration. But this, for me, is also an exercise of not remaking something 5 times until perfect. I used colored pencils and watercolor pencils. I really like the drawing until I overworked it. The black lines in the flower seem too harsh and I should have done something else with the handwriting. But I learned things, so that was good.

I think this postcard of Nancy’s tells it own story. And knowing Nancy as I do I see this card as where she is in her life.

Nancy’s comment with this illustration was… trying out a new style or maybe same old style just different paper and pencils.

I think it is a little of both.

Mail is good. I am always excited to see an oversized kraft envelope in the mail from Nancy.

Make someone’s day, send some real mail.

Japanese Sashiko Mending

I am learning this method of mending because I am tired of throwing out all my favorite flannel and denim work shirts. Oddly I wear out the elbows just when a shirt is becoming a favorite. In the 70s I did embroider on jean jackets. I find this easier on the fingers and more fun.

Sashiko is a hand-sewing technique that originated in ancient Japan. In Japanese, its name means “little stabs”—a reference to the plain running stitch. This type of mending or embroidery goes from the basic running stitch to more decorative stitches.

I ordered these two books from Amazon. Actually I ordered more books but settled on these two. Mending Matters talks about the Slow Fashion Movement and the opportunity to repair and reuse our favorite garments. Neither of these books are specifically Sashiko mending books but I am learning what I need to get started.

The Geometry of Hand-Sewing is another nice book. It has beautiful stitch illustrations and a vast array of stitches to ponder. What really sold me on this book are the two templates in the back with little holes to use as a pattern. I am sold on anything with a template.

You may not need any books. But I love books and love to read about whatever new thing I am going to do.

I bought the Sashiko needles and thread. I would say both are a must. The needles are nice and sharp and nice and long. The idea behind this mending is to be able to have 6 stitches on your needle before you pull the needles through. It is not happening for me because I am using a cotton, linen, canvas fabric for the patch. The thread is nice and strong and a tightly twisted heavy-weight cotton thread. You can use embroidery thread but I would not. Embroidery thread is multi strand and a soft thread. Since I want my mending to last I am using the right thread. I ordered both of these from Amazon also.

I also got a fine point disappearing ink pen to draw my lines. I found that overnight some of the lines disappeared. Not sure if it is the pen or my choice of fabric. I was hesitant to draw harder and will try that next time. I am in a trial and error mode.

I started by cutting away the frayed fabric. I then cut a piece of fabric and put it behind the hole and stitched it in place.

I then drew some lines with the pen and did kind of an alternate running a stitch. You can really do what you want.

And here is the finished patch. Lots of things I like about this. I like the white thread on the soft blue and the addition of some vertical crosses. I do like it that my stitching is a bit irregular. As many of you may know I design fabric through Spoonflower. The best part is that I have a drawer full of swatches of my designs.

Next project will be a favorite gray and cream buffalo check shirt. And I get to use a black bear piece of my fabric.

If this inspires you or if you do this leave me a comment. I’d love to know what you make.

Many ways to say I love you!

I know. Who wants to think Valentine’s Day when, like me, all the Christmas decorations are not put away. But it is just around the corner. These heart fonts are a great shortcut to a professional quickie invitation, kid’s valentines, lunch box notes, flyers etc. Endless choices.

Keep it simple in the new year. Here are 4 different heart fonts. $9 each for a limited time. Soooooo many uses for all those last minute things. The top 2 are my designs and the bottom 2 are Justine Childs.

You can see them here http://www.outside-the-line.com/fonts If you want to use these fonts to print things you want to sell contact Rae (using the Ask Rae link above) she would be delighted to chat with you.

Art Therapy #19

As you know this is where Nancy and I send art postcards to each other.

These 2 cards are mine. Both are entries into the Minted/Target contest. I like them both but I really like the first one. I really like the shapes and color palette. Always hoping for a win.

I really like these 2 postcards of Nancy's. As usual interesting and thoughtful. Love her poem too.

We have been doing this since after the election. I think Nancy is putting on her traveling shoes. There is a possibility that this may be the last post for a while. No matter what it has been a good ride.

Mike's Dish Towel Fabric #1

Here is another set of wilderness dish towels. These 4 dishtowels are one yard of fabric 54"x36". You need to cut the dish towels apart and then hem the edges. Or find someone who will do that for you.

These are tighter shots so you can bet a better look at the designs.

This fabric is printed by Spoonflower.com. Spoonflower is a print on demand online company. This means you can have any pattern on their site printed on a variety of different fabrics. You can get one yard or many yards. 

These make great hostness gifts when visiting your friends at their cabin, cottage or lake home.

These  dish towels were inspired by my font Wilderness Doodles.  These were drawn after an amazing trip to Alaska. And were a Christmas gift a year ago for our friend who lives there. You can see them here.