PROGRESS

 
I suppose, based on the title, you were expecting to see a bright and shiny new studio by now, right?  (sigh)

 

Well, believe it or not, things are getting closer to completion.  All the junk walls are ripped out (in my side of the basement, anyway...we're not touching the other half yet), the ceiling lights are cut in, and most of the wiring is done (all thanks to Steve...thanks honey!)

The poor man has spent most of his spare time the past couple weeks crawling through the attic, drilling holes through beams and studs, and cutting into everything to string a series of wires and cords from the garage circuit breaker up, over, and down into this part of the basement.  It has been more work than either of us had ever imagined.

And this is after he played demo derby (I helped the first day, then gave up partly because I was overwhelmed and partly because our kids tend not to get along so well when unsupervised (understatement).  Plus I've been hard at work on my new patterns...the only thing I CAN do with no studio in sight!

 

Isn't this a charming little picture window by the stairs?  Someone, at some point, had cut this "window" out to, apparently, let in some natural light to that part of the basement.  Nice concept in theory, poor execution.  My kids were constantly trying to jump down into my studio - over furniture and piles of stuff - from that space = bad idea.

So the window is getting covered up, and I'm getting a beautiful set of glass-paned french doors at the base of the stairs instead.  Can't wait, can't wait...

We ended up hiring a handyman friend to frame in the walls and doors, plus finish up the electric work.  Now we "get" to install a bunch of sheetrock and I "get" to do a bunch of mudding and patching on the walls and ceiling.  I'm jumping up and down with joy, can you tell? 

Actually, if I didn't have 5,000 other things to be doing right now, it would be fun for me.  But since I'm trying to finish a bunch of new sewing patterns (quilts, clothes, and bags) for the upcoming QuiltMarket, plus build my booth for Market, plus get everything set so that when my fabric arrives I can sew like a maniac to get all my samples done, I'm a little overwhelmed.

BUT on a happier note, and speaking of my fabric, lookie what showed up on my door Friday evening.....

 

My first round of strike-offs!!!  I hope I don't get in trouble for sneaking a few pictures (Susan?  Am I in trouble?) but I was just too excited to keep these to myself.

Hopefully it's enough of a view for you to get excited to see more, and not enough that some cheater pirate person can steal my images and copy them before mine are finalized = every fabric company and designer's  nightmare.

So what's a strike-off, you ask?  It's a trial run proof that the manufacturer makes and sends back to the company/designer for approval before production begins.

 

Some turned out great, others have serious color issues due to the difference in printing procedure between paper printers and fabric printing.  Because none of my work is flat color, it can become super challenging to avoid too much color "smooshing" and blending in undesirable ways.  For example, little bits of green and pink can combine to create a muddy brown color, which is totally different than what the paper printer produced.  Fabric colors are printed wet-on-wet, so the colors, when overlapped, can morph.

 
But I'm very pleased, overall, with how they turned out.  I made all sorts of notes for the marvelous Jill (the fabric/computer expert who has miraculously turned my artwork collages into repeatable, printable fabric) to work her magic, along with the help of the printers in Korea.  Here's hoping that all goes well in round 2 so I can get my hands on that fabric in time for Market!  Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?

 
 
Oh - I almost forgot to show you the logo!  At least what I have so far, anyway.  It could change.  Plus, since I'm such a genius at Illustrator (not), I haven't figured out how to plug the textured images of my fabric into these shapes.  And I don't have time to figure it out right now...so flat color will have to do at this point.   What do you think?

Comments

[Sona Jacob]

Loved your fabric strike-offs. Was just wondering that the logo looked very digital and vector-graphicky, but the fabric looks very painterly and layered. Seems a bit of a mismatch. I do think it would be much nicer and more cohesive if the logo also had a painterly, arty feel.
Just a thought, though...

[Whitney W]

Ooooh! I cannot wait for this fabric to come out! That is not a strike-off, it is a teaser. What is so exciting is I can buy as much as I want with the complete support of my hubby :) That will be a first time in my fabric world.
Congrats! May is too far away (for those of us waiting anyway).

[Shelley]

Whitney - Thanks! Can't wait for you to see it in person!
Sona - I completely agree. I'm planning on plugging in my textured color for the final version of the logo - I just don't know how to do that yet. I'll figure it out eventually... :-)

[Melissa]

Love. Love. Love. the fabric!!!!! Absolutely beautiful. You are terrible talented.
Excited for the studio to come together for you. Progress always seems to go backwards before it goes forward doesn't it! Good luck with getting everything ready for market!

[Edith Songer]

I especially think the pink and green ones look nice, at least on my computer. When is Quilt Market again? My brain is a sieve.
Can't wait!

[Sarah]

I LOVE the fabric!!! I can't wait for it to come out so I can get my hands on it!

[Kim S.]

I love the colorways. Very pretty prints.

[Katie]

I'm a sucker for little birdies and love the blue and red combo! Your studio will be worth it and hopefully you get to enjoy it for a while! You are doing amazing things Shelley! :0)

[Shelley]

Thanks for all the love, ladies! Your enthusiasm gives me the strength to continue working through all the stress and mess of my many projects right now. I appreciate it!

[Stacey]

Very eye catching! I personally love the *pink & orange* combo...gets me everytime! :) The logo is cute. Are you calling the collection "The Garden Club?" The logo will come to you when you can actually see and touch your new fabrics! If you need any help at all doing a "mock" set up of your booth I am willing and able to help! :) Good luck..you are doing a fabulous job.