Order and Drawing

So I am getting to know my Wacom Intuos* drawing tablet. The above drawing was done totally in Illustrator with the pen and tablet. This is an awesome bit of kit. It is giving me the freedom to just DRAW straight into the program, as opposed to sketching, scanning, converting, fiddling, mucking around. 

There is life in these lines.

Oh, and I like order..... I like to know what's going on. 

I need certain things to be in order. I need the sound on the TV to be set to a factor of 5... 25 for daytime, 35 for night time when the boys are running around making lots of noise.

I need the remote controls to be either in their tub on the side table or lined up parallel to each other on the armrest.

I actually LIKE spoilers. I like to know what's coming. I can't watch a film these days without checking IMDB to read the trivia about it.. to see who the producer was, to see what else that minor extra has been in. I like to know the stupid little details that no one else cares about. And then I like to TELL people (see: My Lovely Husband) those details. Sometimes he says, "Oh, that's interesting." 

Sometimes his eyes glaze over and he says, "Why do you KNOW that?"

Do you like order? Do you like my drawing?

*this is not a sponsored post or anything. I just like my tablet. I WISH I was that kind of blogger- who got sent drawing tablets and stuff for free!! but I'M NOT. I got sent some baby bash wash a while ago. It was OK. But you can't draw girls with baby bath wash, CAN YOU??? :-)

Fabric Painting.

 This is a new project I completed this week. It's an idea I have had for quite a while. I am glad I finally downloaded it outta my brain into the 3D universe!

I think of it as a fabric painting. Not painting ON fabric... Painting WITH fabric. And leather and ribbon.... I love the different textures and fabrics and the tactile physicality of the piece. 

I can envision making a piece like this for someone, using colours and fabrics they loved.. or using fabric from an old skirt or item of clothing that was special to them in the piece. Or how about one for a child's room using material from some of their baby clothes or bedding in the artwork? That could be cool and personal and special. Another way to display and retain memories. 

I think I will definitely expand this idea and create some more Fabric Paintings.

What do you think? 

Curvy Girls are so hot right now...

A few weeks ago, I submitted some artwork for consideration for Curvy Magazine's 8th Edition. Curvy is an annual Australian published magazine featuring female artists from around the world. It is uber cool and pretty prestigious- there were like 1100 entires this year by some amazing chicks.
No, I didn't make the cut. BUT, I was super proud of the pieces I created and it was a great catalyst for some new illustration work. I am also now really motivated to submit work for more publications in the future.

These pieces were inspired by this blog post and also this one. I have been seeking to be more positive and more open to accepting opportunities of late. But I am also more open to saying 'No' and being my authentic self. 
Yes and No can be a tricky balance, don't you find? Both are empowering, and both can be restrictive... 
Man, why is does everything have to be so frickin' complicated? I wish I was like Foofa on Yo Gabba Gabba, where the most difficult thing I had to do in a day was buckling my seatbelt....

Wise up, Foofa. There is some serious shit going on in the world....

SO, even though my submission was unsuccessful, I am really happy with this work, and I will totally be pestering Curvy Magazine next year! Maybe I should draw a picture of Foofa as the first female President of the USA....

Cheeky and Awesome

My sister's cafe in Tasmania is going fantastically well. Customers love it like a fat kid loves cake. Or like my Lovely Husband loves coffee. Or like I love owls.


That's a lot.

source

Deb has charmed the local community with her great food and coffee and also with her open, welcoming generosity. 

source 
And I am uber proud that my artwork is part of the experience!!

Check out this article on the gorgeous Cheeky Little Place.

My new mantra

I went to my first ever Blog Meet yesterday... and it turns out that bloggers are real! Real live people in person, who have blogs! Like Me!


I think I came across as slightly shy and socially inept, but, hey, I AM slightly shy and socially inept! There were uber-cool lovely chicks there and I have found some great new blogs!  As Suger says, Brisbane Bloggers are awesome!!

Blogging is a funny old thing. I love it. I love it like I used to love karaoke. I have so enjoyed building and growing this little space here at Tessiegirl. I am proud of myself for breaking down some stoopid barriers and reaching out into the blogosphere. I have found it to be friendly and welcoming. Thanks, Universe! I am going to continue to push my boundaries and challenge my ridiculouslessness.


SO.. I have decided that my new mantra is going to be...

Would you like to design Wallpaper for my awesome English company?


I'D LOVE TO!


Would you do a giveaway on my awesome blog so my awesome readers can see your awesome products?


I'D LOVE TO!


Would you like to get out of your pajamas before ten thirty in the morning?


I'D LOVE TO!!


Would you like to take a nap?


I'D LOVE TO!


Say it with me- it's very empowering. Especially when you say it in  loud, kinda English accent... like the 'Ladies' in Little Britain.....


I'D LOVE TO!!!!!!




Do you have a Mantra?

x Gillian

Guess What?

And I am totally in love with it. 


At this stage, it is still vector artwork. I am hoping my very clever Lovely Husband can help me to make it into an actual font that you can actually use as an actual font! How cool would that be? And then I can sell it to a billionaire Font Magnate (they totally exist, right?) and we can retire to Maleny on our font-earned millions....


Font is a weird word, isn't it? If I had another child (which will happen when monkeys fly out of my butt) I would call it Font. Or Colour. Or maybe Dave

Do you like my font?


x Gillian

Art Therapy Part 3

So, in Art Therapy Part 1, I talked about how the process of hand drawing intricate, swirly flower designs is kinda like a drug for me... it calms me and makes my brain short circuit and stop thinking. And this is a good thing.

Then, in Art Therapy Part 2, I showed how I refined the design and uploaded it to my Spoonflower page and then refined it some more.

NOW, I have finally received the actual, physical, in-my-hand fabric!! Yippee! I hate waiting for fabric to arrive. I know it's gonna take ages but I still have a sad little hope every day that it's gonna arrive. And then it doesn't. And then I wait. 


But then, the fabric does arrive!! And that is awesome. Except then I have to find something else to obsess over..... 


Like, why are the TV channels replaying movies so quickly after they have just been on? Evil Angels was on like 2 months ago!! So was Chocolat! And Fun with Dick and Jane seems to be a weekly event! Do they think we are stupid and that we don't notice?? 


Oh, and do the makers of Days of Our Lives reeeeaaallly think we haven't noticed that the actor who is currently playing Roman Brady played Chris Kosichek (brother of the Salem Strangler) in the eighties??? IT'S THE SAME DUDE! Do they not know we have been watching Days of Our Lives since we were 8 and our mum's pretended they weren't watching it when we got home from school????


Hhhhhmmmm........ I think I need to design more fabric. Or watch less TV.... 

Anyway! I think I may make a small evening size wristlet bag outta this special fabric. I am really happy with it and will definitely be ordering some more. 


Oh, and did it I mention it is totally for sale in my Spoonflower Shop? No? Well, IT IS!


x gillian

Pretty girls and things on books

So, the old Blog feels like it has been very family/ personally focussed lately and not so much on the Art/ Craft side.... Not that there's anything wrong with that... my family are awesome and fabulously entertaining!


 In between Away Husband, Crazy Two Year Olds, Visiting Parents and my own Social Retardation I am still trying to find my direction with Tessie and to get myself organised!!


I am currently working on a set of printed book covers- very exciting. I have ordered the first run from Spooonflower and can't wait to see them!! The concept is to cut down on the sewing involved by designing the cover more fully in Illustrator- right down to ribbons and buttons!! Mum and I had an awesome designing session before she left*- we always spark off each other and she pushes me forward in my designs in ways I wouldn't achieve alone. This always leads to some great stuff.

Here is the front cover image of another product featuring the Beautiful Anna. The book cover are all A5 size. Perfect for a diary or a journal or a notebook.

Platform shoes are my favouritest..... my favouritest shoes that I used to wear every day when I was young and fabulous. The thought of wearing ANY shoe that is not flat and unattractively comfortable now makes me wanna puke... But I can still draw them, can't I?

I have also ordered a sample of this fabric. I will share some pics when it arrives, so you can see how the design translates to fabric. 


Now, I will go back to obsessively watching the letter box, waiting for my fabric to arrive. Oh, hang on, maybe the mailman is coming..... NOW! Or, maybe, he is coming.... NOW!! 


Maybe I should rearrange my owl collection again instead......




X Gillian

Pretty new shopfront

Spoonflower has had a facelift! My little Fabric Shop is looking really cute.

After an inspiring lunch with my Linda a few weeks ago, I have developed a daydream of opening an actual brick and mortar Fabric Store (maybe in Maleny......)

Just a little shopfront, with a studio out the back where I could design and create.... and a super cute little shop where customers could buy original, cool fabric. have you noticed how hard that is to find in this Spotlight-dominated retail fabric market?

Services like Spoonflower are such a liberation for the designer and for the fabric buying customer. I only wish they would open a branch in Australia!! Maybe in Maleny.... I'll sweep the floors and make the coffee....

X Gillian

Dressing the books

I received a new fabric order from Spoonflower last week, and got inspired!!

I am focussing on products to take to the Mummy Tree Markets in October, and my first goal is to create a collection of Book Covers. As far as I'm concerned, all books NEED TO BE CLOTHED!!! That is my mission.... dressin' the books, people. Nude books are so last century....

So after getting all my bits together (jelly beans for colour inspiration only, of course) me and Mrs Janome got to work....

Owly Journal Cover 

I have actually had this fabric sinvce the very first Spoonflower order we ever did. I think this is the perfect project for it

Teapot Journal Cover

This fabric was inspired by my Teapot Collection. I think it works really well with this upcycled upholstery fabric from Reverse Garbage. 

Patchwork Journal Cover

I am so in love with this patchwork fabric. I've used some of our Spoonflower fabric in conjunction with odd bits and pieces of upholstery fabrics and other scraps... I find the process really therapeutic and calming... But, man it take a bloody long time!!! I think its worth it though. Love the look.

All of these Book Covers are now available for sale over in my Etsy Store.
They are A5 size, reuseable and all come with a lined 200 page notebook.

Unfortunately, I ate all the colour inspiration... or I coulda thrown some o' them in too.....

Cheers,

Gillian for Tessie Girl

Cheeky Little Place

A few months ago, I posted about the brand work I had created for my sister Deb's upcoming cafe in Tasmania.

It's Open!! Yay! Check out this article in the New Norfolk News. What the article doesn't say is that Deb is Hospitality Yoda- what she doesn't know about working in and running a cafe aint worth knowing. I am so cranky that the cafe is in Tasmania!!! I want a coffee and a home made beef pie!

Super cute little place.  Deb and Matt refitted the little shop attached to the front of their house.

How cute is this sign?!?!

I am so incredibly proud of Deb for taking this chance and doing something to change her and her family's life for the better. I just know she will be incredibly successful. I am also so impressed that she and her husband Matt did the majority of the refit work themselves. They worked so hard and they deserve the success that's gonna come flooding into their Cheeky Little Place!!!!

Interior- with blank wall for the artwork I created for them- can't wait to see it up!!

So if you are in Tassie, go and check it out!! I guarantee it will be the best coffee you have had in a long time.  And that is straight from my Coffee Man... and he knows his shit!


X Gillian for Tessie Girl

Art Therapy Pt 2

So, after more tidying and tweaking my design in Illustrator, I created a repeatable tile. This is a tile that you can repeat. Really? No shit Sherlock... Whatevs, smartass... it's a tile that matches up on all four sides. Which is WAAAAYYYYY tricky and awesome and I love myself sick every time I create one.

My repeatable tile in black and white.

The tile is then uploaded to Spoonflower. Here is when I can see if the repeat is working, if the design is consistent and flows well.

After I uploaded this tile, I decided there were a few too many straight lines formed, creating squared off areas that weren't pleasing to the eye. I also didn't care for that dominant black tri leaf shape- it's just too strong in the repeat.

So, here is the updated design. I minimised the size of that tri leaf shape- it now blends in with the other shapes. I also worked on removing a lot of the straight lines- the design now flows a lot better. And, I have started playing around with colour. I seem to be drawn to browns at the moment. I find them the easiest to work with. I am thinking now that the white outlines I have used here is diluting the design slightly- I may revise them.

Come check the design out over at Spoonflower- you can see how it looks on a larger area of fabric. Yippee!!

x Gillian for Tessie Design

Art Therapy

 I have always found that repetitive, stream-of-consciousness type drawing is a great way for me to relax and to turn my brain off. I have been dong this since I was a teenager. I have always had issues with depression and anxiety and while I, in no way, have these issues beaten (hence going AWOL from this blog of late) I do have a few go to tricks to reboot my brain and make it stop the insanity... although sometimes it seems Houdini wouldn't have enough tricks for that... just ask my Lovely Husband...

This kind of drawing also lends itself beautifully to fabric design. SO, I am going to show you the process I use to make a therapeutic-stop-acting-crazy drawing into a beautiful fabric design!!

This is the original raw drawing. Drawn in my sketchbook with whatever coloured pens I had available. While watching CSI New York in bed. Do you think they will just keep making CSI shows in different cities until they run out of Who songs for the opening credits?

After I have scanned the drawing, it's converted  to black and white, then imported into Illustrator. I then Live Trace the drawing, converting it into vector.

 Then I can clean it up and smooth out any lumps and bumps. This is also extremely therapeutic. I love turning my brain off and just getting lost in the lines and points and curves.

I have always loved repetitive tasks. It's my slight OCD coming out it think! When I worked in Visual Merchandising, one of my favourite tasks was sorting out all the nuts and bolts and nails and screws. I should have worked on a production line in a factory. Like Laverne and Shirley. But that was beer, so it was probably smelly. Maybe more like Goldie Hawn in Swing Shift. She had a cuter head scarf...

SO, that is the start of the process. Next, I'll be finishing the clean up, then I will start thinking about how to repeat the pattern, and what colours I will use. Rock n Roll.

X Gillian for Tessie Designs

Circus Girls are super cool

Here is my entry for Spoonflower's Fabric of the Week Contest- Circus theme.

I have been told previously that some of my designs featuring girls have been too 'sexy' for the Spoonflower market, so I hope these girls are are cheeky, saucy, but still classy.... like me. 

A circus is a funny thing. I remember going to so the Moscow Circus when I was about ten. The enduring memory I have is the bears. They rode bikes, wore clothes, acted like idiots... and they looked so very sad. They seemed to have enough intelligence to understand how pathetic and cruel their 'career' was, but didn't

have the ability to change it. It was like they were resigned to the fact that their life sucked. Sad.

I prefer a human only Circus- like Cirque de Soleil. Although, I could do without the weird fat woman shrieking on the side of the stage, who seems to be in every show. She kinda freaks me out.

I choose to believe that my cute Circus Girls are part of an Awesome Cool-Chicks only Circus that rocks the trapeze and when the 52 Clown Girls get outta the tiny car, each on is cuter than the next. And they all have fabulous shoes. 

SO come over and Vote for my design. If you like Circus Girls in cute shoes. And you think bears have no place wearing waistcoats.

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

Lots of Fabricky Goodness

I have had a surge of Fabric-Designingness in the last few days. I really enjoy it. I have been pushing myself in trying to create repeating designs. It's way harder than it sounds, dude.

I use Spoonflower.com for designing fabric. We get our fabric printed through them, and all of my designs are for sale. Fabric can be purchased by the yard and is quite reasonable for one-off, original fabric.

This will be the lining on all Tessie Products going forward. A recurring design to create a consistent statement. 

I have created a blue colourway too. 'Cos that's just how I roll.

This is my entry for the upcoming Coffee Inspired Fabric Contest over at Spoonflower. Spoonflower gives a theme each week for the contest. The weekly competition winner gets free fabric! Awesome! I never win, but it is a good way to test and extend yourself as an artist, and learn to work to a brief.

Owls, apples and flowers- what's not to love about that?? This one is quite cutesy- would be great for little kids bedding.

I love teapots. This is a representation of a few in my collection. Yes, we live in a Bric a Brac Shop.

SO, that is what I am doing when I am not doing this, or this, or hanging with them, or with him.

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

owls, cute girls and mistakes...

Over the last few weeks, I have made lots of mistakes. Lots. Every project I have worked on- somehow I managed to cock up some aspect of it. And I'm trying to work out why.


I created a brand profile for my sisters new cafe- logo, business cards, artwork.... I got the phone number wrong on the business cards, printed the artwork about 50 times larger than it was meant to be, then on the revised version, got a colour wrong. Dumbass.

 Cheeky Girl from Cheeky Little Place-
opening soon in Tasmania. All Dumbass problems
were fixed and I am so proud to
have been able to do this project for my sister Deb.

I am creating a range of cut and sew printed owls. I designed the little guys, then laid them out on a yard of fabric and got it printed through Spoonflower. I was super excited about them, and they took forever to arrive in the post. And when they did? All the wings are right wings. No left. These guys aren't flyin' anywhere. Again.. Dumbass.

I am actually pretty happy with how the printed owls came out... And he might even fly!

So, then I entered a fabric design contest at Spoonflower. The brief was to create a butterfly inspired fabric, using the colours specified by Spoonflower. Each colour has a number code. Guess who made a typo, entering the wrong numbers for the green specified, which meant the green I used was totally wrong. And instead of revising the image, as you are supposed to do, I deleted it... which means its outta the competition! And I really liked it! Can I get a "DUMBASS!" please people!!

My  Rockabilly Butterfly Girls design... with the correct green! 

And over the weekend, it seemed that the universe was continually messing with me... just bugging me with little annoyances like dropped things, banged fingers, forgotten things. 


It made me ask the universe out loud, "What am I meant to be learning here? What lesson are you trying to get across?! Cos I don't get it, and you are just pissing me off!!" My Lovely Husband thinks that I need to sow down, take more time with things. With my art, I need to get someone to check my work before I order/ upload whatever. In my life, I have a limited amount of time to get things done, and I guess I don't want to wait for help.. I just wanna get 'er done!! 


SO, I am going to listen to the Universe. I will Stop. Slow down. Think, before I fly off into a manic whirlwind of getting things done. And I will ask for help. 


Do you feel like there is a lesson you need to learn? How do you know what the lesson even is?




x Gillian for Tessie Designs