art + socks = bliss

 

When I was in grade school I knew who Charley Harper was. I certainly did not learn about him in my Catholic grade school art class. My uncle was a printer and each Winter on a Sunday at grandma's house we would pour over the big books of Christmas cards. Those cards were then ordered and would have our names already printed on them. I loved those books. My favorite cards were any with Charley Harper art on it. I do remember an iconic red cardinal card that I do think we sent one year. I was mesmerized by how he drew. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Harper

I rarely shop. I am hard to buy for. I have what I need. I do like nice things though. And I really like toasty, warm socks. I almost always wear hand-knit socks or Smartwool socks. I even darned my favorite pair of Smartwool striped black socks. I know I do obsess over some things.

And this week I came home to this package of bliss on my doorstep. Not sure it gets much better than this. Charley Harper Smartwool socks. They are a wear now weight and a limited collection. So if you want some art for your feet check out the collection. http://www.smartwool.com/socks.html?cat=6837&gender=9915

Disclaimer: These socks were a gift from a friend (thanks Sarah!). I have no arrangement with Smartwool. I just wish I did.

what is on the drawing board

 

Here is a rough scan of the start to Farm Doodles. Living in the Midwest makes this one a breeze. Or at least it is so far.

This is my submission to the local co-op's t-shirt contest. I don't like contests but I do want my co-op to have a nice shirt. So I thought I should participate. When it is time to vote I may ask locals who are members to vote for mine. The veggies are from my Fruit & Veggie Doodles and the type is Ultra Condensed Lettered.

And this is part of a collection of fabric I am playing with. You've seen the hearts on my header and as the I Love You More Than Bacon card. I think it should be fabric. And I am trying my hand at a collection of fabric. I like the dots but not sure what else to do? Stripes? Big hearts? All you quilters out there feel free to weigh in on what you would would like to see to go with this collection.

Back to work for me... hope you are having a creative week.

happy hour doodles & giveaway

 

happy Hour Doodles is done and out for testing! This little font practically drew itself. The inspiration for this font came from a contest I entered on spoonflower.com. By the time I had drawn enough illustrations for the fabric I had over half a font done. So I finished it off.

And I did a matching postcard too.

Font will probably be for sale early 2013. If anyone needs it before that email me and I can get it to you sooner.

And now I am on to my yearly birthday card. I might make a couple and put them in my etsy store... more on that soon.

As you know Zinio is giving me 10 free digital magazine subscriptions. You can take a peek here at www.zinio.com.

If you would like to get in on the giveaway you need to do 2 things.

1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/outsidethelinefonts

2. Share this post.

You need to do this from this post as Facebook does not allow Giveaways on their pages.

Contest will run for nine posts. I’ll choose one winner daily and contact you through Facebook.

Each person can only win one magazine but you can up your chances by entering daily.

Enjoy and Happy Holidaze!

christmas cards & tea towels

 

First batch of Christmas cards are at Hatch Art House!

Some of you have been asking about the calendar which is now for sale here. This is fabric NOT a finished product. I ordered one and will probably frame it. If you are ordering it for a dishtowel buy a heavier fabric (you choose the fabric they print it on.) I think the colors are accurate but not as intense as the picture here. That is the difference between seeing it on a monitor and it being printed on fabric.

And getting closer on the etsy store....

cajun christmas

 

i did not create this amazing New Orleans holiday card but Jenn from Seahorse Bend Press did using my New Orleans Doodles as the artwork. Nothing makes me happier than to see my illustrations used so well by someone else. If you need some you can email her at help@seahorsebendpress.com and tell her Rae sent you. She will also have cards for Texas, Maine, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

(Great job Jenn!)

cocktail party art continues...

 

Here are just some snippets of the cocktail party art. Above is art for napkins for a contest on spoonflower.com.  Below is a corresponding fabric print. Now it is on to the postcards, setting up the etsy store and then I'll finish up the font.

Thank you to Pam, Rhonda, John and anyone else who voted for my dishtowel art on spoonflower.com. I really appreciate it. Voting for that contest closes tomorrow.

cocktail party art

working on a collection of cocktail party artwork for an upcoming flowerspoon.com contest for Holiday Cocktail Party Napkins. Eventually this artwork will be...

~ fabric for cocktail napkins

~ fabric, to be used anyway you want... maybe tablecloths, a table runner?

~ postcards  and invitation party postcards for my future etsy store

~ and in the end a font....

It looks like it will be a nice work week.

calendar tea towel

 

As I continue to explore fabric design my friend Maggie reminded me of the site spoonflower.com. It is a place where you can design, print and sell fabric. They have weekly contests too. An upcoming one is for Calendar Tea Towels so I made one to enter. I am not a fan of contests but think this is a way to figure out the printing and proofing. The winner and top 10 in the contest have their designs promoted and sold on spoonflower. So I am hoping to land in the top 10. And there is another contest for Christmas napkins that I may enter too.

Got some postcards back from the printer, some fun colored envelopes and another good fabric book. So as the weather changes and gets cool I'll snuggle in have a nice creative week. I hope you will have the same.