Welcome to Deb Strain's studio...

Welcome to Deb Strain's studio...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A Plate is Worth A Thousand Words

Hello Dear Friends!

Hope that you are having a wonderful summer.  We have genuinely enjoyed ours!

I have been working on my next fabric line and thought you might be interested in how I mix the colors for my designs.  It isn't very fancy, just a styrofoam plate (hate to use styrofoam, but the paint doesn't soak in!) acrylic or gouache paints, plastic wrap and a lot of trial and error!

Most painters know about the plastic wrap trick...If you are new to painting with acrylics and want to save a color that you have mixed, just lay a piece of plastic wrap over it.  It will usually not dry out for a couple weeks.

For the last few years, I have had this odd "hoarding" quirk of keeping all of my mixing plates from my fabric lines, paintings and other projects.  I laid them out today and WOW, there are quite a few!

Each plate represents a project that I fell in love with while working on!  Recognize the colors on any of these plates?


I thought that I would share one of the plates from my group of fabric that will be presented at Fall Quilt Market this year.  The quilt underneath it is one that I found AFTER I painted the group and was still in that color "world." 

 It is from the 1940's or 50's.  Isn't it beautiful?


I also wanted to share a quilt that one of my blog friends shared with me!
created this fun quilt for her grandchildren out of my "Love U" fabric.


Thanks for sharing Mary Jo!
Have a wonderful August everyone and try to keep cool!
Always,
Deb





5 comments:

  1. I so admire your paintings, those plates are wonderful! An exhibition all in themselves ;-)

    Thanks for making the fabric.

    My bank and my overly full cupboards aren't too chuffed, but I say thanks!

    Cheers,
    AJ

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  2. How very interesting! I love seeing how you come up with your color schemes for new fabric lines!

    Both quilts are beautiful, and now I want to make one like your friend's for my son. :)

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  3. Deb
    You must throw a colorful dinner party.

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  4. Hi Deb,

    It was very intriguing to see a part of your design process. Its always fascinating to see how an artist goes about creating...

    I discovered you while browsing Moda Fabric Shop. I recently worked with your Meadow Friends Line, and I just love it! The colors are so vibrant and fun. If you have a moment check out this dress I made for my toddler's upcoming birthday:
    http://bloomsnbugs.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-kept-me-busy-over-weekend.html

    I think the colors and prints express her personality really well. Kudos to you for designing this collection. I'm saving every little scrap to use in later projects.

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  5. Hi Deb,

    Thanks for stopping by.
    I just wanted to add that if you could set up a flickr pool to share the pics that would make it very easy for seamstress like me to share our work with your fabrics.
    I have more things that I plan to sew from your fabrics and I would like to share my creations with you.

    Best,
    Anshu

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