Modern. Southwest. Baby bedding. That is the challenge with Spoonflower and Carousel Designs this week. As I was pondering what to do, I kept thinking of the unique and interesting shapes of cactuses - they seem so representative of the southwest - and I wondered "can cactuses ever be cute and cuddly?" So I set out to make modern and appealing cactuses that you wouldn't feel bad putting a smiling baby down on for a nap. Also I love the geometric patterns of ceramic tiles and wanted to keep that bold pattern feel for visual stimulation for babies. I've included a collage of cactus and tiles in a one-yard cheater baby quilt. I used the crib image from Carousel Design's website to see how my patterns could work in a baby's world.
Visit http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/4083311 to see the bumper pattern or visit my shop to see the whole collection of "Cactus Garden."

I know Halloween is over...at least for this year...

But these little ghostly friends have moved into the neighborhood and they have decided to stay awhile. They've taken up residence at spoonflower.com, haunting in my shop there. 

Actually, I was very honored and thrilled to place first in the "ghosts" competition through spoonflower. Below are the other spooky and wonderful designs by fellow spoonflower designers.

Haunt-on!!

What's your design inspiration? My muse is often one of my favorite things...yummy, delicious foods! So when Spoonflower, the lovely print-on-demand fabric company, posted the weekly competition was about PIES I knew I was up for entering!

Just last fall I discovered a wonderful recipe on Kathy Patalsky's "Healthy. Happy. Life." blog (http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com). It's her Vegan Caramel Apple Pie and it is delicious! I've made it several times, including her recipe for crust (which melts in your mouth!) My favorite way to make the apple pie is with about half the apples WITH peel on (getting those good nutrients) and about half peeled. The pie pictured here used some tart green apples and I hadn't made my caramel sauce yet. Check out Kathy's recipe here
http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2011/01/vegan-caramel-apple-pie-recipe.html
and dig in to warm, sweet, cinnamon and ginger-infused soft apples in a flakey, buttery crust.

So when it came to creating a design for pies...well, I knew apple was my pie of choice and I get a big sense of satisfaction from making this pie from scratch. From rolling out the crust to peeling the apples, this process is a good activity to share with my kids and when it's done, it's just that much sweeter to eat!

Spoonflower fabrics: http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/2472564
and http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/2472515

Happy 4th of July!! I got to sleep in today due to the holiday (yes!!!) and awoke to an excited email from my Mom about the Spoonflower weekly competition. Yay! I won first place and am so thrilled! Thank you, thank you to everyone who voted!! There were many entries of fantastic designs (around 480 entries I believe) and I feel very grateful and honored to be selected to be in the top ten and as the pick with the most votes. I'm blushing brighter than a ruby-red grapefruit...

I am really thrilled to have placed in the top ten designs for the Spoonflower Farmers Market design competition! My design came in second place and I feel so thankful to everyone who voted for it! Thank you!

Because of placing in the top ten my fabric will be produced for this next week in a fat quarter bundle of the farmers market winners. And my fabric will now be for sale individually as well! I am so excited and am ordering some to make a market bag.

http://www.spoonflower.com/fat_quarter_bundles

One big, lovely thing I am finding with Spoonflower is there is a really nice and supportive community of designers and fabric enthusiasts who communicate with you. When you work on your own you often feel you are working in a little vacuum and it is great to have connection with others who are creative.

So onwards to sewing and again, thank you! thank you!