Surfing Contest

Surfing...something of which I know nothing about!  I am from Kansas enough said.  There we have puddles, ponds and lakes. However, I am human and can surely appreciate the ocean that I seldom get to see.  For this next Spoonflower contest we were given a restricted color palette and for me that is always a challenge.

With almost every design I sit with my children around a brainstorming table.  I share the theme of the contest and then everyone starts shouting out their ideas.  Now you know my little secret. :)  When I told them about the Surfing Contest the eight year old said..."Bunnies on surfboards!" Then the five year old said..."Orange shark fins!"  Her favorite color is orange.  Perfect I thought since there happens to be an orangish color in the restricted palette.  All ideas get written down because you never know when you might one day get inspired to create such things as bunnies on surfboards.  I love the way kids think.  Without further ado here is my design for the Surfing Contest titled Fins & Boards.

  

Fins & Boards at Society6

The Surfing Contest at Spoonflower will begin on Thursday, June 5th.  Would love to get your vote if you like my design!  Click here to vote for your favorites.  

Mustache Waves

This is my design titled Mustache Waves for the Beards and Mustaches Contest at Spoonflower.  It is nearly summer and it's raining buckets here, and under all of this water I just felt inspired to create a nautical design celebrating facial hair.  Why not? :)

Mustache Waves at Spoonflower

Mustache Waves at Society6

If you would like to vote in the Beards and Mustaches Contest please click here.  You do not have to be a member to vote and you can vote for as many as you like.  I would be thrilled to have your vote if you like my hairy design. :)

Wooden Wonders

 A new contest at Spoonflower that celebrates our beloved utensils!  My design is titled Wooden Wonders.  I chose to focus on those wonderful wooden treasures.  I felt this post at The Reluctant Gourmet about wooden spoons says it all.  Click here if you would like to check it out.  In this post he talks about why cooking with a wooden spoon is such an important utensil and why recipes actually call for stirring with them.  I always wondered and now I know.

Wooden Wonders at Spoonflower

This is the fabric design at my shop at Spoonflower.  With the right kind of material that Spoonflower has to offer this could be made into aprons, potholders, kitchen curtains and more.

Wooden Wonders at Society6

Check out Wooden Wonders at my shop at Society6!  I have this for sale as a rug that would be perfect for the kitchen! 

This contest is closed.  Wooden Wonders got 140 votes!  Thanks to all who voted for this design.  I appreciate it so very much.  If you would like to see where your favorites placed please click here.

Monster Photo Booth

A new contest at Spoonflower that involves crayons!  The process of creating this design also involved my 8, 5 and 2 year old too.  I was just going to draw scattered monsters and then my 5 year old said that she felt the monster should have a mustache.  Then the idea of monsters in a photo booth was created.  I drew the monsters and the photo booth props separately and watched as the kids, with much consideration, chose the best prop for each monster.  My favorite part in the creation of this design was just sitting back and watching my kids have fun.  

Monster Photo Booth at Spoonflower

Monster Photo Booth at Society6

My little monsters!

This contest is closed.  Monster Photo Booth got 60 votes!  Thanks to everyone who voted for this design.  I appreciate the support so much!  If you would like to see where your favorites placed please click here.

Water Lilies

This is my design for the Lilies Contest at Spoonflower.  My piece is titled Water Lilies.  

Water Lilies at Society6

Water Lilies at Spoonflower

This contest is closed.  Water Lilies got 151 votes!  Thank you so much for all of the great support!  If you would like to see where your favorites placed please click here.

Paper Quilt

This was such a fun project for the kids!!  I got this idea from a talented designer at Spoonflower named Diane Frazier.  You can check out her shop of beautiful, fun and unique fabric designs here at dianef.  She's from Kansas just like me!  She had her son do this wonderful paper quilt and posted it on Facebook.  She also has his paper quilt for sale as a fabric design that you can purchase at her shop.  Check out his wonderful design titled Child's Play.  I couldn't wait to try this out with my own kids.

Here's how to make a Paper Quilt:

Materials

•  Large piece of foam poster board
•  Strathmore Bristol Vellum Surface 20 sheets
   (card stock paper or any kind of heavy paper will do)
•  Washable markers
•  Scissors
•  Glue sticks

Instructions

1.  First cut 20 - 4" by 4" square sheets.  Then on a protected surface color each square with the washable markers.

2.  After each square is colored with the markers now cut each square into 4 - 2" by 2" smaller squares to make a total of 80 squares.

3.  Put the foam poster board on the table and get your glue sticks and your 80 - 2" by 2" squares and place them on the poster board until the paper quilt is the way you want it to be.  Then start gluing down the squares with the glue sticks onto the foam poster board. 

4.  After the squares have dried to the foam poster board cut the poster board around the edges.  Now you have a lovely paper quilt.

5.  We haven't done this step yet but we can't wait.  Go to a flea market or Goodwill store and purchase a frame to paint any color that would go best with your paper quilt.  Hang the quilt to the wall and then place the frame around the quilt to showcase your art.

Here are the kids proudly showing off their work.

  

This was such a great activity for the kids because it did teach them the process of quilting.  After some time passed of placing the squares to glue them down they could tell which ones would compliment each other and which ones would not as much.  Now we have a box full of theme ideas for our next paper quilt.  Flowers, foods, shapes, my leftover gelli arts and animals to name a few!           

Little Toy Airplanes

If you are in the Chicago area be sure to check out the production of The Little Prince by the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois!  I so would if I could!  I was blessed with the experience to work with their amazing costume design team on a fabric design I created called Little Toy Airplanes on White.  Click on Lookingglass Theatre to get more information about this fabulous show!  The Little Prince has been extended to March 16th.  On their site you can see 32 photographs taken of the production along with fabulous sketches of the characters created by the very talented Sally Dolembo.  This was an experience I will never forget!  Thank you to the Lookingglass Theatre Company for this incredible opportunity!

The Little Prince performed by The Lookinglass Theatre in Chicago, Illinois!

Here is the children's book I wrote titled It's A Full Moon Tonight.  

This book also inspired my toy airplane fabric designs.

It's A Full Moon Tonight by Tara McGowan

Both fabric designs are currently for sale at my shop at Spoonflower!

 Little Toy Airplanes on White by Art Tree Designs

Little Toy Airplanes by Art Tree Designs

You can also purchase 

Little Toy Airplanes on White at my shop at Society6!

Little Toy Airplanes on White Throw Pillow by Art Tree Designs

Thank you so much for checking out Art Tree Designs Blog!