a little lime

 I've been in the process for ages of curating, and redrawing my pattern reference folder - it's something I do on and off  when I'm in the mood (more off than on - I'm only up to the D's). I initially drew out patterns that I liked quickly and in basic format, now I'm going back and being a bit more adventurous with them, randomising, adding shading, etc, etc. It's a great way to revisit ones I have forgotten, put my brain in neutral, and get the odd idea, too. When drawing out Dawn's lovely pattern Blossom  - the zig zag grid got me thinking, the end result was this pattern: I had some fun experimenting with the fill options: If filling with black as above, you could ditch the initial horizontal lines and just do rows of zig zags. hx

So, I've got all these pattern ideas on scraps of paper strewn around my desk - I've been avoiding them as I wasn't planning on posting any more this year as the 2014 Pattern Folio is completed, ready  to go and I'm not adding to it............but, I just couldn't help myself from playing with one, and then I loved it so much I wanted to post now. .....so, here it is, an early 2015 pattern. I've called it Sails. Now,  you may have guessed that I don't really think all that much about pattern names......pretty much the first thing that pops into my head when I get to that stage is "it". This pattern in it's basic format reminded me of windsurfer sails. The basic pattern: What I've found particularly fun about this one is the seemingly endless permutations using straight, curved or s strokes to form the grid, changing the direction of the curved fill strokes or shading choices - I could have done quite a few more, but decided to stop ...

Here are a few more ideas for changing up the  STEPS pattern that I posted yesterday I know, I know, it's a confusing name.....but when a pattern name (or book title) feels right I am compelled to go with it - I am helpless to resist the pull of my compulsive nature. 1. Start with a curved line  (I love how simply beginning with a curved line dictates that the curves follow through the whole design and create a more organic, flowing feel). 2. Use "S" shapes to fill in design (a much more organic version) 3. Additional ideas and tips (yep, the stuff that just doesn't fit anywhere else) Hope your weekend is fabulous! hx

I have so many scribbled on pieces of paper scattered across my desk right now - pattern ideas, drawing ideas.......things that have just popped into my head. Yep, it's a mess! I haven't had time to get up to my room and draw, because, you know........it IS Spring and there's gardening to be done, a lamb who thinks I'm his mother and does not want to be weaned (though I do have him down to one feed a day), running my daughter around, catching up with my other kids......oh.....and having coffee with the first CZT I have met in real life! Exciting! Yesterday I met up with the lovely Jenny Farrell for a coffee at beautiful Karunga Native Nursery (well worth a visit if you're in Melbourne and love Australian native plants). So, onto this week's diva challenge ..........I wanted to go with the colour option and for some reason I was determined to do a string themed thing and it just wasn't working out.......after 2 aborted attempts, I scrabbled through som...

Two super-easy patterns that evolved out of the wonky grid challenge . I worked each flower in the grid from 2 intersecting figure 8's. 2/8's Some fill/detail ideas (the centres have been dotted in with a white jelly pen). Creates a nice loose pattern when you let it go wherever it leads. Pebble Flowers : again very simple concept - form into a grid, or work single line as shown in the image below from yesterday's post. It's a long weekend here in Australia and we are having some fabulous, warm early Autumn weather, so we're heading down to the beach on Monday to visit my eldest daughter. Tomorrow is not so much fun, we are planning to paint my youngest's bedroom. Lots of sanding in the morning and a day of painting after that! Have a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned. hx

We are having an absolute scorcher here in Hoddles Creek today - it has almost reached the high of 40degC as I sit here composing this post. Fortunately it takes a few continuous days of heat for our old farmhouse to become really hot - unfortunately, the next 7 days are forecast to be really hot. Ah, well, at least I have kicking back to read a book scheduled into my calendar for the rest of the afternoon. Here is today's pattern: Heartfully. Yep, it's full of hearts. Don't hurt me because I'm no good at the whole "naming the pattern thing". There's only so many directions that you can go using hearts in patterns and I think I've almost run my idea well dry.........though, I might have one more to put out there. Along with updating the gallery, pattern and video sections of the blog......it's on my to do list. I'll have to see how I cope with the heat this week as to what gets done. So, Heartfully. The first version I played with has cur...

***Update 31/12 - hello, everyone - I will be doing one more mail out of the pattern folio at approx. 9am AEDT 1/1/2015,  so please make sure you have confirmed email subscriptions, or signed up before that time if you wish to receive the pattern folio as this will be the final one! Thanks! Hello everyone! I mentioned in my previous post that I've been working on a Christmas surprise for my blog email subscribers and I think I finally have all my ducks in a row (but we are talking me , and computers , and the internet - yes, in the same sentence - so who really knows, right?) I've been working furiously on putting together the "A Little Lime Pattern Folio" - it's a compilation of patterns from my blog along with some drawings featuring the designs for inspiration. I'm offering this as a free PDF download to email subscribers (existing email subscribers should have already received the email with a link) and, new s...