Kitchen Doodles Fabric

Time to freshen my all white kitchen with a bit of whimsy. I created this pattern so I could get a roll of wallpaper. I plan to paper a narrow wall and possibly the fronts to my drawers. The really fun part is when I am tired of it I can easily remove it.

This fabric is available in napkins, tablecloths and other fabric items as well as yardage. This pattern would make cute kitchen curtains too. Go to Spoonflower.com and search Rae Kaiser to see this pattern and others.

Christmas is coming, fast. Time to make your gifts. While I am working on this year’s Christmas designs there are fun ones from past years to start with. Ready, set, sew!

Tag You're It! - #1

Hello! It has been a long time since I posted. I retired and have been figuring out what creative outlet is next. I’ve always wanted to collage and have certainly collected enough to do just that.

Late last year we saw the Ray Johnson exhibit at the Art Institute in Chicago. His work inspired me. Especially because he was the father of mail art. And if you know me at all you know I love mail. Weekly I sit at my Dad’s small mid century desk to do my correspondence. I also like tags. And small art. Above is my first attempt to develop some mod podge skills. Not perfect but I made some tags and sent them out with a blank tag in case the friend who received it wanted to send me some art back. The best part is that there are no rules. It is just some creative fun.

© CARRIE SCHERPELZ

© JUSTINE CHILDS

© NANCY VALA

© LAURIE BERGREN

Laurie sent 2 because the first one appeared lost in the postal system. And then it showed up!

That is it from here. Enjoy your Summer, it is going fast.

New Orleans fabric. Finally.

Through out the pandemic I pondered this New Orleans fabric. I always start with color and was stuck until I stumbled on New Orleans color palettes for the exteriors of buildings. All the elements come from my New Orleans Doodles font and several others. I am quite pleased with this fabric. It has that New Orleans feel without using the Mardi Gras colors. I think it has that NOLA energy.

My fabrics are for sale on Spoonflower. They are a print-on-demand site. They have many types of fabric including upholstery, knit, performance, woven and organic fabrics. You can order anything from a fat quarter to as many yards as you need.

If you don’t sew they have quite a few items that they will make for you. How cute are those cocktail napkins?

And wallpaper too.

Next up I am working on toile fabrics and starting with a New Orleans one. I am excited about that.

It's Spring, kind of.

Spring is coming slowly to Wisconsin. A 80 degree day here and there and then a 30 degree night a few days later. It is time to book your cabin or get the kayak rack on the car. I am busy with some New Orleans fabric. Until that is ready to share here is some Summer fun in fabric, cards and fonts.

Here is my most popular fabric. I designed it for a Spoonflower.com contest. Two color ways and two sizes. People are buying it for use in vintage trailers. I got some to make a tablecloth for my picnic basket.

Here is an oldie but a goodie. Black and white for a more contemporary camping feel.

These darling cards are from Jack + Ella Paper. You can see all of Jessica’s goodies here.

Last but not least are the some of the fonts that were used to create this collection. For a limited time they are $9 on my Outside the Line site ONLY. Normally they are $15. If you want to make anything and sell it contact Rae for a commercial license.

Enjoy your Summer! Time to be vaccinated and gather with a few friends, to reconnect. Be safe. Have fun, we all certainly need it.

Door County and some Gandkid Art.

We miss our grandkids something awful. So we started sending them a postcard every week. Sometimes they write back. We are now starting a Sunday night Zoom with them too.

I made this multi fold piece to tell Jackson about something interesting we found on our trip this year to Door County.

Jackson is very interested in WWII and the battles and the ships. He sent us these two cards.

Reading glasses recommended for battle map update to last postcard.

And I think I have a busy head. I love it that he could translate a complex 1939 WWII battle into a graphic to tell his story.

So I responded with this multi fold piece that tells something interesting about our recent trip. I hope Jackson likes this. He loves learning new things. I really enjoy our yearly trip to The Door. It is not very commercial and it feels like going back in time.

We initially stopped because of the contemporary looking red and white building right by the road. It was such an interesting fine. Unfortunately, but understandably, the buildings are not open. But a nice find in our day of wandering. Next year I want to go to the Sturgeon Bay Museum.

We also looked at little cabins to rent. Since the pandemic will still be happening it seems like a safer way to be there. We will take our kayaks and groceries. Something to look forward to in these trying times.

Christmas Fabric + Christmas Fonts

This year I am all in decorating and making things for Christmas gifts. I am knitting (which I love) and sewing (which I hate). Creating something is especially good during this crazy time. If you want to make things now is the time to start.

I’ve wanted a funky, contemporary Christmas tablecloth for years. I finally designed this fabric. We have an unique tree that was the inspiration and this will be perfect with it. Some of these ornaments are from my Yuletide Doodles font, the rest I drew.

The ornaments are large which is great for a tablecloth but less so for smaller items. The dot pattern coordinates nicely as napkins with a tablecloth or as a stand alone fabric. This set is called Mod Ornaments and Mod Dots go here and scroll down.

Here are the Contemporary Christmas Trees in both large and small. Especially nice if you do a black and white contemporary Christmas. They can be found here. The trees are from my Woodland Doodles font.

My newest fabric is called Christmas Quilt. It can be used for Christmas (or not). And would make a great quilt (or any number of things). I am going to make some napkins with this fabric. Check it out here. These trees came from my Christmas Doodles font.

These fabrics are just a few simple examples of how I use the fonts I’ve created.

Think big. Be inspired. Make something.

Don’t these fonts just say “merry”? They are each discounted to $9 for a limited time on my site only. Make your own Christmas cards, add the illustrations to your holiday letter. If you want to make something to sell contact Rae at the link above for a license to do so. www.outside-the-line.com/fonts

Get your Christmas music out and start creating.

Pandemic Shopping with Rae

Small businesses appreciate every single sale. I know, because I am one. During the pandemic is is truly important to support those small businesses you love.

Rewind Decor. I love everything about this place and have bought a fabulous 1970s black leather lounge there. It was designed by Ingmar Relling who was a major player in the Scandinavian Mid-Century movement. Also got two of the vintage chairs above. They are a fun addition to the screened porch. If you need a little outing don your mask and go visit Morgan. 1336 Williamson St, Madison. Or if you are staying in check him out on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/rewinddecor/

Equally delightful are Hatch Art House and Hazel General Store at 1248 Williamson St, Madison. This is my go to place for gifts. We need to buy as much local as we can to help places like this stay in business. I recently got 2 birthday gifts there. Hatch is full of art and Hazel is a general store full of fun things. I am sure it will be an easy one-shop-spot for you. While both gifts I bought came from Hazel, Hatch carries my cards. Be sure to say hi to Tammy when you stop by. https://www.instagram.com/hatcharthouse

Jack + Ella Paper has endless cute cards. During the pandemic I think it is more important than ever to send cards, postcards and small gifts as everyone is more housebound. Just a little note that you are thinking about someone can turn a sad day into a good one. I send mail to 90+ year olds in assisted living and those who need a note so they know they are not alone. It is not that hard. But the important thing is to have cards on hand. Jessica has endless cards: pet sympathy cards, graduation, birthday, knitting, sewing, gratitude and lots more.

Her cards are also at Hatch and on her website https://www.jackandellapaper.com

P.S. and the illustrations are mine!

Be safe everyone!

Pandemic Baking with Rae

I am not much of a baker. That said, I am going to share a few things I’ve made since the pandemic. This is my second try at focaccia. The first time it did not rise. I went around asking everyone what could have gone wrong and my friend Gwen (thank you Gwen!) said you didn’t let the salt touch the yeast did you? Well, of course I did. This was my second try. And to be perfectly honest I am only doing this so I can make art bread . This is great with soup. The first batch did not go to waste. We had company and we decided it was veggie pizza and had a little lemon olive oil to dip it in. I did use a New York Times focaccia recipe but you can find one online. This will be a good Winter thing to do. Nothing like bread baking in Winter.

Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie, now that’s Summer. And I have rhubarb and the plants were my Mom’s. This recipe comes from The Joy of Rhubarb cookbook. And you can find the recipe here.

These are Jane’s brownies. These are the best brownies ever. My guess is that Jane got this recipe from an old 50s cookbook. They are the brownies of long ago, full of butter and chocolate. The best part is that the texture is right. More chewy than cake-like. And the recipe just makes 9 brownies. I make mine in an old square blue speckled pan. Go here for the recipe.

Here is the best banana recipe. (thanks Jen!) John often makes it, ok not really often. It is a treat and makes 2 loaves. Yum.

Enjoy!