April/May 2025

Dear First name / friend,

 

FYI - this issue of the funletter is a two-in-one due to an upcoming break. I'll explain, but first, I hope your creativity is blossoming as much as the cherry trees around the world!

 

I have poured my energy into generating numerous designs by participating in a blender design challenge on Instagram in order to top up my Spoonflower shop before I take some time off. Blenders are generally simple designs with fewer motifs and colors. They are often small in scale and contrast nicely with other more complex and bold designs, just as solids do. They can stand alone or support a show-stopper. Hand bags, for example, may feature a bold print on the exterior, with a subtle blender for the lining. Complex designs, known also as hero prints, may be more exciting to create but, blenders are super functional staples.

 

Now about that break - I'll be on an off-line adventure for a little while and look forward to sharing more about it in a future funletter, which I hope to send out in June. During my hiatus I intend on gathering new sources of inspiration and taking a digital pause while making a long journey by foot. Since I know life influences art and art influences life, I can't wait to see what shows up for me!

 

Have you ever had an experience that shifted you toward a new creative interest or influenced one you were cultivating? Please reply and share the details.

Spring is in full swing here in southern California as evidenced by abundant wildflowers that follow seasonal rain. It's beautiful and even makes driving on the freeway much more pleasant! Yellow mustard, coastal sunflowers and wild lilac are punctuated with pops of vivid orange from California poppies. The colors have been influencing my work with palettes that just feel good right now, such as the lilac color below.

Right: Roadside wildflowers

In last month's funletter I mentioned the Speedball Stamp Making Kit I was using to create the motif for this design. After some carving, stamping, scanning and manipulating, I settled on this half drop version. I enjoyed creating several colorways in multiple sizes for different applications. Here it is in the small scale on walls with a mid-century palette.

One could think the author missed his calling as a comedian. I recommend the audio version, narrated by the author himself, so as not to miss the tone of his message. It's all in the delivery! I found myself laughing, nodding and applauding at this art critic's tough love advice for aspiring artists of all types. It's a short listen/read and free on Libby!

If the slow, labor intensive process of carving a block the way a printmaker does isn't for you, I have a much quicker method that yields a similar rustic result.

 

Take a sticky back foam sheet and use scissors to cut out a shape. Peel off the backing and adhere it onto salvaged cardboard for more rigidity to make a stamp. Then using a ballpoint pen, draw details to create recessed impressions in the foam. Make a little tab out of masking tape and attach it to the back of the cardboard for easier handling. Press the foam stamp onto an ink pad and then onto the desired paper. Embellish as you wish with glitter glue, paint pens, cut paper etc.

A page from my sketchbook combining foam stamp impressions with line drawing

The stamps are re-usable and can be applied to all kinds of crafts including card making, hand made bookmarks, art journaling, collage papers and of course, pattern design. I've used these stamps in some of my pattern designs including the fat quarter I'm giving away below.

 

This month, a “Playful Garden” fat quarter (second from left below) goes out to the following subscriber by random drawing: bethany.routamaa. Please reply if you'd like to claim it and let me know where to send it. I'd love to see what you make!

Giveaway Fat Quarters

Until next time, happy creating!

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you know someone who might enjoy this funletter, please pass it along.

 

View past funletters here.

Subscribe to future funletters here.

Lately on Instagram…