Hacks on a Shipping Tag

L-R Life Hacks, Pattern Hacks, Business Hacks, Photoshop and Illustrator  Hacks in front.

Back when I was subscribed to Alsyon Stanfields tribe she had us write down daily affirmations onto cards or tags, which I dutifully did and placed said tags onto a ribbon.

Then on day I noticed that Jamie Fingal had her pattern tags she was creating and she had organized them onto a metal ring.  Bingo, I have a ton of those, and I had a ton of these tags laying around that I was leaving notes on for Photoshop, Illustrator, and the like.

So I reorganized them, and I'm in love with this method of note organization.  Yes I still keep a daily journal and sketchbook, but it's super convenient to have all of my patterns on a ring on my table, or my life hacks on a ring and not have to dig through a journal from way back when to see what inspired me that day.  Yes I still put my life hacks/inspirations/affirmations into my sketchbooks and journals, doing so allows me to see where I've been and how far I've come!

Pattern

Pattern and Inspiration often come from the unlikeliest of places in this case it's old vines attached to the wooden siding on my house.

I've been using this vine inspiration in my work for about thirteen years now, lines and french knots is what it has inspired.

Butterfly Collection No. 2

Butterflies No. 2
Repeat for paper and fabric.

Dualing Diamonds Collections

Dualing Diamonds One

Dualing Diamonds Two

These will be available through my Spoonflower Shop later this evening. 

I learned how to make t his pattern this past spring when I was researching how to make sunflowers using Illustrator and happened upon a youtube tutorial on how to make Lotus Blossoms instead.  I have to admit the idea of using illustrator to create such a complicated looking object was a wee bit terrifying at first, but after two days of practicing I had my very first Lotus.

Snow Pattern Inspiration

Light Shadow Pattern

Morning Light

Streaming in through my studio window.

Bloody Butcher Corn

Corn Cobs

Rusty Horse Shoes

Given to me by Norma for rust dyeing, she's my horse manure supplier, I can't wait to see what kinds of patterns I come up with.

Hosta's Unfurling

Crow

Crow sitting on my roof, I love the contrast of the texture and pattern of the shingles against the sky and the crow.

Rusted Grid

Rust Pattern Making

John cut salvaged scaffolding walk ways for me to use in my rust dyeing projects, one cannot have enough rusty things.

Sketch Book - Motifs

I made my own sketch book journal to fill with various patterns and motifs I was finding around the house, this one is from a stencil I'm in love with.

Sunset and Pattern

Stopped at the end of a new development to take photos of the setting sun last night, these warning signs looked pretty good against sky.

Summer in Iowa

Chestnuts

Beautiful fall texture and organic patterning.