inspired by my time spent in alisa burke's class at inspired, i wanted to try my hand at creating my own fabric design. so with nothing but a ball point pen and a slab of canvas i began drawing a loose handed repeat poppy pattern.
i discovered the magic of jacquard's dye-na-flow in her class as well. it is simply the best colorant i have ever used on muslin and canvas. it doesnt bleed on dry fabric, it will only "flow" where you add moisture so painting with an aquabrush is perfect. this is only the turquoise dye-na-flow simply diluted out with water to create the color variance. LOVE!
then i started filling in the background with Scarlet Dye-na-flow
once the color was done i tossed the piece into the dryer to heat set the color (and because i have no patience to wait for it to dry!)
i began cutting up the large piece into smaller pieces for it's next transformation...the reason i started this process.
a pocket (with my special hoarded fabric lining!)
can you see it yet?
so awesome from start to finish...love the creative process. LOVE IT!
if i had put some make up on today i would have left my face in the photo...HA!, but it is a holiday!
happy memorial day!
god bless our troops and all those that have fought for our freedom!
This is totally amazing Donna! Love the design and such a cute bag!
Posted by: Jennifer Smith | May 30, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Debby Schuh | May 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM
stunning!
Posted by: Mary Dawn Q | May 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM
It's gorgeous! Do you think those poppies will become stamps? (She asks hopefully.)
Posted by: Pam | May 30, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Copying someones words,"I'm lovin it"
Posted by: Denise S. | May 30, 2011 at 10:57 AM
LOVE it!! Simply gorgeous!!
Posted by: Kim Boken | May 30, 2011 at 10:59 AM
wow...way cool!
Posted by: [Sue] | May 30, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Oh my - this is awesome Donna!!! So cool that you "made" the fabric and colored it. Guess I'll be getting some of that dye. You are so creative...thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Robin Orewiler | May 30, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Super cool! =) I love it.
Posted by: pingouin | May 30, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Love this! What a cool idea from start to finish. When's the class gonna be?
Posted by: Grace | May 30, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Wow - great color combination and I share your love of poppies.
I really think you should sell 4x4" scraps or something. I'd buy one...
Posted by: Leslie | May 30, 2011 at 11:11 AM
working on it as we speak!
Posted by: donna downey | May 30, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Shut the front door!! (a phrase I picked up from one talented lady!) I am loving that bag!!
Posted by: Paula Kelsall Langille | May 30, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Oh Donna, what an "aha" moment, your fabric design is gorgeous. I can see it in turquoise and orange, turquoise and magenta and red and black!! And to whip up a bag like that well just a cherry on top! Girl you need to get yourself a wacom tablet and get your fabric designs digital. Love it.
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 30, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Very cool Donna!
Don't you want to make me an Owl one? You know you can draw branches and owls??? ha ha ha
This looks amazing .... seriously ... thanks for sharing~
Posted by: Amber | May 30, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Leslie | May 30, 2011 at 11:36 AM
love it! thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Lauri | May 30, 2011 at 12:12 PM
wowow, I love it Donna!!
Posted by: flkipper | May 30, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Donna, you are so talented. The fabric and bag are gorgeous.
Have a great memorial day.
Debbie
Posted by: Deb | May 30, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Those are some big ass blue poppies! Love It!
Posted by: Kathryn in Benicia by the Bay | May 30, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Geez...I have to say that this looks like a new direction for you...again!
Posted by: julia jones | May 30, 2011 at 12:49 PM
incredible!
Posted by: Nessa Pretty Days | May 30, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Beautiful ...love seeing the process and the end result...gorgeous!!
Posted by: Cynthia Schelzig | May 30, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Fabulous. The paint looks like a great product and the colour variations in the poppies look superb :)
Posted by: Emy | May 30, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Both you and the gorgeous bag are one of a kind. How great!
Posted by: Judy Webb | May 30, 2011 at 02:50 PM
OH, OH,OH, OH I love it!
Posted by: Kathy Gledsdale | May 30, 2011 at 02:51 PM
The fabric you have painted and a tote look fabulous! Lovely colours!
Posted by: Irena | May 30, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Absolutely gorgeous!! Wouldn't it be fun to create something to wear this way? Is this how Alisa created that cute skirt at the top of ther blog? I love the possabilities!!
Posted by: Jessica Hess | May 30, 2011 at 03:32 PM
Simply beautiful! You have to put this design into production.
Posted by: Angela | May 30, 2011 at 03:55 PM
This has to be one of the most fabulous things ever created! WOW!! I need to go lay down and rest because of its sheer wonderful-ness!!
Posted by: Michelle Mathey | May 30, 2011 at 03:55 PM
The colors are wonderful - looks like you used many different shades. I have to try the samples we got at INSPIRED!
Posted by: ida | May 30, 2011 at 04:48 PM
It's amazing!
Posted by: just_shine | May 30, 2011 at 04:59 PM
thats pretty freakin awesome buddy!!!! Fyi my bday is coming up if you feel the need to mail it this way lol
Posted by: bree | May 30, 2011 at 06:21 PM
I am swooning here donna, that is just so amazingly fabulous - how clever you are!!!!! Just AWESOME!! xxx
Posted by: Philippa | May 30, 2011 at 06:50 PM
WOWZA! AWESOME!!!!!
Posted by: Aussie Emma | May 30, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! You make us home ec. teachers proud! LOL! Thanks for having Alisa share her talent with us at Inspired!
Posted by: Staci Shuck | May 30, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Oh how I want you to come to Chicago and teach me to use the Dye-na-flow so I can create beautiful fabric, too!
Posted by: Marti Schmidt | May 30, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Gorgous!!!
Posted by: Jean McNulty | May 30, 2011 at 09:14 PM
Gorgeous. I would certainly buy fabric designed by you Donna. Just so delicious.
Posted by: Joanne Freeman | May 30, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Donna, that turned out so nice! I just love all the different shapes of poppies and the color just flows. You are so talented.
Posted by: Judy | May 30, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Love your tote bag Donna. Will have to get some of that fabric paint/ink.
Posted by: Dianne | May 31, 2011 at 12:35 AM
Damn I wish I could sew!
Posted by: KazT | May 31, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Wow, that is just gorgeous! Beautiful, I am quite certain that I will be buying your fabric someday soon.
Posted by: Barbara Hernandez | May 31, 2011 at 12:41 AM
very cool!!!
Posted by: jacqui jones | May 31, 2011 at 03:23 AM
Simply stunning Donna!
Posted by: Cheryl M | May 31, 2011 at 06:00 AM
That fabric is a pleasure to look at! Loving the bag too!
Cheerful, bright but not overpowering, looks sturdy and holds a lot, has all the qualities I like.
Posted by: Sue | May 31, 2011 at 10:46 AM
My uncreative inner artist lives through you. You are a visionary artist to create such a beautiful work of art. I love the canvas as a bag, but I'm also kinda sad you cut it up!
Posted by: Theresa K. | May 31, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Wow! I'm speechless - utterly BEAUTIFUL!!!
Posted by: Karen | May 31, 2011 at 11:35 AM
AMAZING!!! I love how it turned out and the colors are fabulous! I held my breathe for a moment when I saw you cut the fabric and then I saw the finished product...I should have known! You always have such awesome results. You are truly an amazing artist!!!
Posted by: Jodi A | May 31, 2011 at 11:44 AM
I LOVE IT!! I mostly love that you made a tote bag with it. You're going to get so many compliments while you're out and about with it. It would make the perfect library book tote - I'm just sayin'...LOL!
Posted by: pam | May 31, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Donna you suprised me again! Your bag is so awesome!
Posted by: IsabelleM | May 31, 2011 at 12:55 PM
That is wonderful. Is it washable if it should get dirty? What type of pen did you use to draw—not a regular ballpoint?
Posted by: Ginny Mapes | May 31, 2011 at 01:41 PM
ADORABLE...SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY....oh god...you are so talentuous...
Posted by: Liette | May 31, 2011 at 01:57 PM
um.....wowza!! just beautiful!!!!
Posted by: annette abrahamson | May 31, 2011 at 02:20 PM
I went out yesterday to Barnes and Noble and bought the Georgia O'Keefe book you mentioned. Maybe it will inspire me to draw flowers.
Posted by: Theresa K. | June 01, 2011 at 03:04 PM
u are so damned talented its rediculous...like a little craft monster u go!!!!
Posted by: jennifer | June 02, 2011 at 08:27 AM
I agree with all above--especially Pam--Perfect Library Tote!!! Do you know HOW many books you could fit in there?
Laughing
Posted by: Christy B | June 04, 2011 at 06:31 AM
My daughter and I think it's beautiful. Nice work :)
Posted by: Tanya | June 04, 2011 at 05:01 PM
Donna this is sooo pretty. I loved Alisa's class. You inspired me to play with dynaflow soon
Posted by: Ruth Guthrie | June 04, 2011 at 07:22 PM
I posted a link to this post on my blog here:
http://thecreativeartist-jordan.blogspot.com/2011/06/linky-monday-4.html
Hope you check it out!!
Posted by: Jordan | June 06, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Donna- this is LOVELY!! Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl Carraway | June 09, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Holy Cow!!! This is gorgeous!! I love the poppies and the colors that you used. I am so intimidated by fabric!! I'm taking Alisa's Sketchbook delight class so I'm immersed in sketching. I draw like a kindergardener and I've noticed a definate improvement! I love the colors that she uses and your are just as gorgeous! Fabulous job!!
Posted by: Kathie Barrus | June 12, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Simply amazing and very motivating write up loved it ...great
Posted by: balimridula @gmail.com | August 17, 2015 at 05:00 PM
Beautiful design.....I've never seen DynaFlow look so good. I've had problems with using it in a background. ( often got color lines like watermarks)
Posted by: Linda | April 01, 2016 at 08:53 PM