FINDING THAT MOMENT...NOT JUST THAT MOMENT BUT 'THAT' MOMENT

FINDING THAT MOMENT

Ok what the *&^% is she going on about???? Yes well there is sanity and then there is ME.

Busy times ahead I fear. Excitement! Experimentation! Goose Bumps! OMG moment! Sleepless nights! aching muscles! and a deep sense of achievement...

                                      ..................A Deep Sense of Achievement................

Ok so I will spill the beans......

1. Finished Module 1 'Surface Pattern Design'

5 weeks of bliss, excitement and exhilaration.... and to mention creativity. I obtained a mountain of knowledge and skill which not only has impacted positively on my creativity but has given me the boost I need to move forward and test the waters. In my last blog I showcased some designs that I had created during the course. Now I would love to show you the finale of this module. The support network and positive feedback I have received (as all the other candidates received) is overwhelming.

During this course I was inspired to enter competitions...... some finalised and some still awaiting results. I did not enter them believing I'm a winner but more so to feel like I belonged to a community of creative people.

Elemental Design

Dress using the Elemental Range

 The Elemental Design has been chosen as one of this weeks TRENDING fabrics on Spoonflower.com you can purchase direct from their website.

Dress using the Bloom Range

Bloom Design

2. I entered the Ohh Deer Pillow Fight II Competition (based on cushion entries):

Rain Drops Design

Elemental Rain

Insight Main

3. I entered the MOYO competition (theme - Winter Mornings):

Out in the Cold

Sunrise

Winter Blizzard

4.  I created another design to work cohesively with my Elemental Range of fabrics. I introduce 'Rain Drops'!!! This design has been very successful and is currently under print with several orders already on the way..... exciting!!!

Rain Drops

5. I have FINALLY completed what I believe to be the latest LOGO for NYTF. I had considerable help with my Module 1 students and exhausted Dafont.com with viewings of everything they had to offer. I would love your feedback on my new logo.

6.... and finally I entered the Stitched Postcard Swap. This was my first attempt. 

The theme : Celebration.

I was fortunate enough to have my Postcard buddy to be Jen Cook from Canada. She was so gracious to send me this photograph of her holding my Postcard and her kind and wonderful words regarding my efforts were humbling.... thanks Jen. I'm sooooo excited with anticipation to receive her Postcard and will surely give you all a sneak peek once it arrives.

As much as I should be promoting my postcard I'm IN LOVE with the painting behind Jen..... so mysterious.

WHOOPS YOU WOULD THINK I KNEW MY OWN EMAIL!!! I have updated my email link below.

Thank you again for your valuable time reading this blog. If you managed to get this far then you will be happy to know I have a little surprise for you. Email the word 'Elemental' to natalie@nytf.com.au to receive your surprise.

PS: Very excited about Module 2 starting next month woot woot.

Cheers,

Natalie Yates

Amazing Things Are Happening

SQUEAL!!!!

I may have been M.I.A. for a while but Ive certainly not been hiding. I decided to make sense of what I am doing, what styles I am honing in on and what my next professional goal will be (I have several).

I have immersed myself in course after course after course. Not because I'm lost in the medium but because there is so much more to learn that can only improve, embrace and grow your business. Sound exciting? well I'm excited!!.

I have recently completed a Yardage Course and Photoshop/Illustrator essentials with Steve Woods  Print Classes at Arcade Screen Printing This is a very real and confronting course that will get your screen printing mojo working to unexpected extremes (and good ones at that). During this class I was able to design (or at least attempt to design) two new fabric ranges. I tried and tested several, mind you failed at many, but I ended with two that I felt would work aesthetically. I'll reveal only one today.......

Testing my new Rain Drop design

Rain Drop design release late 2013

 I am currently enrolled in a Surface Pattern Design Course with Do What You Love For Life. This UK born website offers AMAZING e-courses for all stages of your creative lifestyle. This is a course not to be sneezed at....or snoozed at because its filled with daily exercises, fantastic interviews, and most importantly a support network designed specifically for your group to share and encourage. I have learned a lot about my aesthetic design and have found a whole new world of untapped interest and talent I didn't know I had.

Learning about identifying patterns within our everyday life and converting them to art!!! What fun! Its so simple its right there in front of our faces. Check out some 'scribble' exercises I did and how I converted them through Photoshop and Illustrator into layered designs (something I could not do before).

Sketched leaves.

From a drawing to a repeat pattern

Singular Motifs coloured (Bloom 2013)

Motifs repeated (Bloom 2013)

Even more daring is taking it into greater depths... literally. I have always struggled with multi coloured designs both traditionally with screen printing and now digitally. But alas this current course has shown me how to colour and layer in the same space..... YAY for me. I'm now totally addicted to Surface Pattern Design. The potential is refreshingly overwhelming!!

Voila!!! (unnamed 2013)

PS: Can I just add that prior to this course I hated drawing flowers. Never really liked them as a subject matter in my own style. Now I've learned how to take something I am not fond of and turn it into art.

Would love your comments on my latest adventure and progress. It's all in its initial stages and very experimental but the journey is incredible.

PERSONALISING YOUR CREATIVITY

Wow, its certainly been a while since I last posted. This year has been very demanding, and totally awesome!!!!
"So what have I been up to?" you ask........

WILD ONES MARKET
I have recently attended my third Wild Ones Market show casing my fabrics and wares. This has been a very successful networking opportunity and an amazing market to find gorgeous, talented and extremely artistic people, and the like, in the world of Handmade! So much so that I was invited by Hazelhurst Gallery, Gymea (where the markets are held) to supply my wares to their Gallery Shop. So honored!!! 

UMBRELLA PRINTS COMPETITION
I recently entered the Umbrella Prints Fabric Competition. Umbrella Prints is an amazing hand screen printed fabric company with gorgeous designs. I purchased two fabric packs (in case I stuffed up the first....) and decided after much deliberation to design my latest product 'Photo Bunting'.

Using the Umbrella Prints fabric I sewed the bunting flag edges. I backed the flags with a linen fabric matching the weight of the feature fabrics and used a clear plastic sheeting to form the 'see through' portion of the photo. It was all trial an error and I have learned a lot from the process. I would love to hear your feedback on my new Photo Bunting.

I will soon be making these using my own fabrics so keep an eye out for them in the near future.

MAKING SOFTIES
I'm a big kid at heart and often live vicariously through my children. My latest creative task was to design a softie for my youngest daughter, Mia. She is a stickler for Owls..... and so am I (just not so borderline crazy like Nina in Offspring). Soooooo, I put together an idea, drew up a pattern and using cute fabric scraps from some of my favourite designers (@Saffron Craig, @Daisy Janie) I whipped up Miss Owly. These are available for sale upon request.