Look at what Jackie did! Using the Pop Dangle stencil, she stenciled a pattern on this wall in her home. I love the alternating colors she used, and I really like the black picture frames against that patterned background. Great work!
Do you have a stencil success story? Email me!
I really like creepy artwork. I don’t know why, but I always have. I grew up in a kind, loving home with very soft things around me; why do I like art with a dark twist? I was never part of the “goth” crowd, I don’t like the current vampire trend, but a well-inked drawing with twisty lines will turn my head every time.
Being October, I have popcorn balls, orange/red/yellow leaves, and Halloween on the brain. So in honor of a month where this kind of artwork is unusually acceptable (and delightfully ubiquitous), here are some bits that I find deliciously creepy.
The gate in Alice in Wonderland below is a prime example of the way he adds creepy detail to a setting.
Enjoy those twisty lines! Grab a black marker and doodle! Fall is a wonderful time to explore the beautiful, dark side of illustration. Have a happy, creepy October.
Billy Hobbs of Rogers, Arkansas! Billy won the Alluminare Design Challenge on Home Workshop! Congratulations, Billy!
Here is his winning pattern:
And this is how Christopher Lowell described it:
Depending on color choice, this could easily go from organic to pop art. Its range is calm and sensual or upbeat and highly graphic depending on chosen contrasts. I like its non-gender specific attitude. Its flow and movement give it a contained animation. Its soft, pod-in-water-like suggestion could integrate well into both global-organic modern, traditional and pop or young and hip spaces.
Billy will now be inducted into the league of World Class Designers on Alluminare.com. He also won a $300 gift certificate toward any of Alluminare’s fabulous products.
The runners-up were: Renata Rubim, Maria Cheek and Nicky Martin. Congratulations to all!
In light of recent developments, this post has changed to congratulate a new winner. I stand by Homeworkshop.com’s decision to adjust the outcome.
I love, love, love to see someone feel awesome about something they’ve done. Their shoulders square up a bit, the corners of their eyes crinkle slightly, and a hint of a smile starts to spread across their face. That’s why, nine times out of ten, I’d rather show you how to do something than just do it for you. Sure I can stand back and say, “Looks good!” But allowing you to have that moment for yourself? Priceless.
Friday of @Alluminare tweeted the other day “It has always been our opinion that our customers are the designers. We are the facilitators of design.” Hear that? Empowerment. Alluminare* provides a platform for anyone to be a great designer.
I have recently had the pleasure of judging a contest with Christopher Lowell**. I have been a fan of his for YEARS and you know why? Empowerment. He’s always showing people how to do cool stuff. I love it. Just watching his show will make you feel like a rockstar.
In conversations it’s often expected and/or acceptable to downplay your accomplishments, to not take any credit for anything. It makes me uncomfortable. Would you let someone talk about your best friend that way? Sure, there’s a fear of sounding prideful, but we’re all adults here, and we know when we’re being arrogant. What about genuine, unabashed pride in a job well done?
Everyone needs their own moment, their own moment to stand back and feel awesome about something. What are you good at? What have you done that makes you smile at yourself? Did you surprise yourself?
For me, recently, I’ve been shocking my own socks off with the level of detail I’m able to draw. I had no idea I had that ability! Now if I could just find smaller pens…
What’s your awesomeness? What makes you feel like a rockstar? Come on… Dish. 
*Affiliate. If you buy my stuff over there, I can get that new pair of Chucks I’ve been eyeing.
**Not an affiliate link. I just think he’s amazing.
I am pleased, honored, thrilled, and completely beside myself with excitement at having been invited to be a judge in the Alluminare Design Challenge on Homeworkshop.com. 475 delicious patterns were submitted from around the world, and the one and only Mr. Christopher Lowell has narrowed them down to ten finalists. Keep an eye on Homeworkshop.com — within the next week, voting will begin and another designer will be inducted to the World Class Designers of Alluminare.com! Good luck to all!
Lots of buzz about yours truly online today (very exciting!!). Alluminare’s been awfully busy, redesigning pages, creating widgets, and…interviewing moi! Tres chic!
Click here for my very own profile on Alluminare.com. You can see my latest work (created exclusively for Alluminare’s products, which are FABULOUS), read a little bio, and even grab a widget for your own use (feel free!). Oh and feel free to get some Christmas shopping out of your system while you’re there. 
Also – TA DA! – read my interview with Alluminare and hear about inspiration, colors, and see some of my favorite colorways and pattern swatches.
Thanks bunches to the amazing team at Alluminare for all your hard work (the site looks great!) and for creating some buzz about yours truly! Tootin’ your own horn is one thing; when someone grabs the horn and starts playing it for you is another thing entirely. Thanks a million, guys. You’re awesome.
Remember the Crafty Wallpaper Contest? (I won!) Part of my winnings was a Design Hole T-Shirt, and I received it today!
Thank you, Jennifer!
We move into our new house in 9 days, and I have plans for the wallpaper I’m going to order from Alluminare (including, but not limited to, the idea that won me both the wallpaper and the shirt). I’m so excited!
I’ve been reading for an hour. I’d make some comment about lost productivity, but learning and growing are sometimes more productive than actual work. I have a website to lay out, a contract to write, another series of patterns to publish, a PDF form to structure, but amidst all that, I’m captivated by this blog. I was lead to Sarah Bray’s blog thru a post on Sparky Firepants’ blog. I am officially now a Sparky Firepants blog-reading junkie. He’s got the best links.
I typically have a very, very low tolerance for, and even less interest in, blogs that discuss social bookmarking, SEO, marketing, branding, etc. I outsource this stuff for a reason! Bore. Ring. But Sarah Bray is making me listen, er, read. And I like what she’s saying. She makes sense and she makes me want to read more. Just like the Blue Scarf from France rocked my face off for a few days despite being apparel, S.Joy Studio’s site is captivating, despite being about all the topics I typically ignore. I would gladly have lunch with her sometime.
Along the same lines, I should make a plug for Danielle LaPorte’s White Hot Truth blog. She explores self-realization, as it applies to business, as it applies to life. Again, a topic I usually roll my eyes at and run from, however, Danielle’s writing makes me feel like I’m sitting with my friend, Liz, and we’re half a bottle of wine into our discussion. The honesty she presents (and inspires) isn’t gooey, isn’t forced, isn’t hyper. It’s just there. And I’m actually willing to read it.
Thanks, girls, for having blogs worth reading.
Sparky Firepants just released this great Halloween image. Love it!
Check out his site for fantastic illustration and even learn a thing or two! And his blog is always a good read.
Happy Friday, everyone! This week has been an “Ooo! Ahh!” week in Blog World. Fall is upon us, and my Google Reader has been ablaze with some serious eye candy. (Really puts a [worthwhile] dent in productivity!)
Apartment Therapy has been running their “Room For Color” contest, and, as you know my affinity for bright colors, it’s been gorgeous to watch (mostly – I’ll be honest). Here’s a fave:
Katie’s ‘Apple Green’ Studio
*Photo from ApartmentTherapy.com
Stephmodo has rapidly become a favorite blog of mine. Ever since Design*Sponge mentioned their remodel of La Maisonnette du Coteau, I’ve been hooked. Lots of excellent before and after shots, and the attention to detail is inspiring.
*Image used with permission from Stephmodo.
Katy Elliot’s blog always makes me think. For days. I was watching TV the other day, and this blog post came to mind. I was analyzing a living room on some show’s TV set, wondering if this painting technique would work…or what if they tried to…or maybe if… I love a blog that sticks with me well after I’ve left the computer.
*Photo by Simon Watson, whom you should also check out, even though it’s not a blog.
Enjoy!