MAKING WAVES FOR SURFERS!

Designing the waves of this intricate surfer print was one of my favourite design challenges in this Goin’ Surfin’ fabric collection!

surfers (blue)

surfer (pink)

surfer (yellow)

surfer (purple)

Once I got my head wrapped around the repeat, and realized I needed to bring each wave to a point (otherwise it looked like toothpaste, ha, ha!) AND then when I put the surfer silhouettes on the waves, it was pure joy!

Then of course I played with ALL the colours (my very favourite thing to do!)! While I didn’t end up using the pink and yellow waves for the surfers I did end using it for the base of the sunshine floral!

In the end we went with the above colourways. ALL of them I’d LOVE to swim in! Or Surf! :D

wrapping my head around the repeat

surfer silhouettes (why stars?)

playing with colours

see the pink + yellow background

SUNSET (STRIPE)

Just a heads up: if I’m working on a collection, you might end up in it!

…Sometimes collections come out of unexpected places. Last summer I’d been working on a new collection when an opportunity to go camping with some friends in Tofino popped up. We’re hotel-ers not campers, but we went for it anyways. Little did I know, taking this break would become a breakthrough for my collection too!

Tofino had these amazing sunsets on its beaches, and with these beaches came surfers, walkers, dog walkers, bikers and sometimes surfer bikers (he’s my favorite!)… which is how this SUNSET (STRIPE) print came to be!

GOIN' SURFIN'::A NEW FABRIC COLLECTION MAKING A SPLASH!

I’m very excited to introduce my seventh collection licensed to Paintbrush Studio Fabrics called, Goin’ Surfin’. It’s being sold to stores now, so keep a look out at your local fabric store for it soon!

View fullsize

View fullsize

endless summer

View fullsize

surfers (blue)

View fullsize

sunshine floral

View fullsize

daisy chain (purple)

View fullsize

surfers (purple)

View fullsize

surfers (pink)

View fullsize

surf van

View fullsize

surfers (yellow)

View fullsize

sunset stripe

View fullsize

goin' surfin'

View fullsize

party wave

View fullsize

beach sand

View fullsize

surfboards (pink)

View fullsize

surfboards (blue)

View fullsize

daisy chain (blue)

View fullsize

daisy chain (yellow)

View fullsize

beach blanket

View fullsize

daisy chain (pink)

View fullsize

heat wave

Sometimes collections come out of unexpected places. Last summer I had been working on a collection when an opportunity to go camping with some friends in Tofino popped up. We’re hotel-ers not campers, but we went for it anyways. Little did I know, taking this break would become a breakthrough for my collection too!

Often when I’ve finished a collection, I realize what it’s really about. Sure this collection is about surfboards, beaches, sand, waves… but to be honest the last two years have been tough on our family. The good news is we all learnt a lot about ourselves, we have all grown and are better for everything that happened. I won’t go into detail but let’s just say, when we were watching, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, I looked at my husband and said, how is it possible they know this is our life! Minus the hot dog fingers of course.

I realized, especially in the making of the wave print, how important it’s been to let go. Let go of the past, to what we perceived as our future. Let go of expectations. Let go of strangling the moment, instead of letting it arrive naturally.

Even though I never fully stood up on a surfboard, I did catch some waves that took off and it was shocking how fast it was. When that happened I was like, “OH… I get it!”… all I had to do was to let go.

I also realized how important it was to find the calm in the chaos. While trying to learn to surf, waves crash into you, or you fall off your board (there’s a reason they call it the drink!). It can be hard to find your footing, on the board and in the sand. Like our last two years, just as we got up again a new wave would come and crash into us. It was hard for us to catch our breath but eventually we found the calm in the chaos and it’s a beautiful view.

So my hope for this fun summer collection: not only does it fill you with endless inspiration for summer sewing projects, I hope it also helps you let go and find calm in the chaos in this thing called life (imaging those last few words being said like Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy intro!)… and speaking of music, as I do with each collection, I create a playlist early in my workflow. You can listened to my Goin’ Surfin’ playlist HERE.

YOU WANNA PLAY, OUI?! Le MINI GOLF!

I have always loved mini golf! I also fell in love with Paris when we were there in 2016. Then, fast forward to 2020 when I was taking Stacie Boomfield’s Leverage Your Art course, we were given an assignment to do a map. I used that assignment as a jumping off point and created the first version of the illustration you see in the panel of this new collection. This past May, I reworked it and it became the backbone of my Le Mini Golf fabric collection for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics!

Here are few fun facts that inspired each print:

MONUMENTS: When I was in Paris my mom and I did a speed run through the Musee d'Orsay. We had 45 minutes before it closed. It was the first time I had ever seen an actual Monet! His colours are to die for!

FLOWERS-PLAY DAY: In high school we’d take the bus to the big city (an hour away) just to play mini-golf! * This print also comes in RAYON! it’s so dreamy soft!

FLAGS: Well I love geometrics, triangles and colours. I only wish real mini golf had flags you had to take out of the holes!

POLKA DOT-GOLF BALLS: When I submitted this collection to PBS Fabrics and they accepted it, they requested this print with larger golf balls, which I loved the idea of!

SCORE CARDS: Truth be told, I don’t keep score when I play (I find it more fun that way) but I do LOVE the little pencils!

Le MINI GOLF SIGNS: This is the print that inspired the Sunshine Inn signs!

HOLE IN ONE: I love pink and green together AND I love BIG stripes! I can imagine these flowers popping out of each hole like whack-a-mole!

WOOD-TEXTURE: This is the texture behind the panel repeated… because who doesn’t love a snazzy tone on tone?!

PARIS GOLF COURSE: Paris is everything everyone and every movie tells you it is! I would love to go again even if I could only go back for another 45 minutes in the Musee d'Orsay!

This I did not know: The Eiffel Tower isn’t black, it’s beige! I was shocked standing in front of it, what the heck! I guess I had seen so many black and white photos of it, I just assumed. Also did you know there’s an apartment at the very top! Yeah! Me either!

HELLO BIRDY: It feels weird to have an odd number in a collection, so when I submitted the golf balls, I also submitted this print. I took the layout of the Paris print but used my text instead and added a few flowers. I used one of my favourite colour combos, red and pink. Although what I consider red some people consider orange. If we split the difference we can call it orangie-red :D

So there you have it, the whole scoop behind this collection. Le MINI GOLF will start shipping to stores in November and if I had to guess (and it’s 100% a guess) it will be in stores January-ish.

Lots of people ask me where they can buy my fabric. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see the distribution list but when stores tag me on Instagram I make sure I link to them on my website under COLLABS and under the specific collection. Also local fabric stores will often happily bring in a collection if it’s requested.

In the mean time, we will be sewing up a storm of projects and samples that will be posted on Instagram (@lysaflower) and under Le MINI GOLF COLLABS on my website. AND of course one of my very favourite things is to see what you make! Please tag me, I’d love to see it and repost it!

And lastly, as tradition has it, I have created a playlist for this collection on Spotify. I actually curate these and listen to them while I’m creating each collection! Enjoy! FORE!

SUNSHINE INN! WELCOME!

I’ll admit, every time I finish a collection I think… “This one is my very favourite!”… and that’s how I feel about Sunshine Inn, my fourth collection for Paintbrush Studio Fabric! It was created deep in the dogdays of last year’s COVID summer. We were all itching to travel, relax by a pool and be carefree! Since I couldn’t do that I dreamt of being welcome to the Sunshine Inn:

“The ultimate destination to relax and recharge! The sun is warm but the breeze is cool, perfect weather for summer VINTAGE or GROOVY FLORAL dresses. Dip your toes POOLSIDE. Complementary TOWELS are provided. Loungers are by the BREEZE BLOCKS, left of the snack shack, they have POPSICLES! They also have FILM for your POLAROID camera, to capture all your vacation getaway memories. When you've filled your day to the brim be sure to pick up your ROOM KEY at the SUNSHINE INN!”

I bet they’d have tiny umbrellas in the drinks too! So now you can join me there! The fabric is shipping as we speak! P.S. The large Hexi’s are a panel print.

I often get asked if I know which stores sell my fabric. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see the distribution list but if a store tags me on Instagram or sends me an email I happily add them to the list on my website. Also I always suggest people ask their local quilt or fabric store to bring it in. All they have to do is reach out to Paintbrush Studio Fabrics Wholesale and they can hook you up! Personally, I can’t wait to get sewing with this collection! Because, yeah… it’s my new favourite! And as tradition would have it I also made a Sunshine Inn playlist. Double enjoy!

In other news! I was just notified that I’ve been accepted into Print & Patterns Designer’s for Hire! I can’t even begin to tell you how over the moon I am about this! So many of my design heroes are on that list. The second photo is my banner (AND you might notice the new logo!). I’ve Oooohed and Aaaawed over the Print + Patterns site for years! So I’m super pumped to have now been featured on it!

Coming up: from May 7th to June 4th, I’ll be showing work at the Seymour Art Gallery. Here’s a little sneak peak. I’ve never done art prints before and I LOVE how they turned out! Maybe I’ll see you at the opening! It’s May 15th from 2-4pm.

Again, I’ve collaborated with Mad About Patchwork for some “What would Dolly Do?” bind and winds… because what would Dolly do? She’d finish that darn quilt, but in style! Using a snazzy bind and winder!

Later this month I’m going to be interviewed by Brandy for her podcast Quilter on Fire. She invited me after I did a talk for her Okanagan Modern quilt guild last month. It’ll be out in June!

And Lastly, I have a present for you! A tutorial for making the Nesting Boombox bags from the Let The Good Times Roll Panel… and yes there are some still out there! Or again, your local quilt or fabric store can still order them. In the mean time you can download the tutorial HERE.

Wow, so much has happened since February… I’m ready for a getaway vacation!

FABRIC.COM DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT!

So this happened! I’ve been dying to share it with you forever… Now I finally can!

Big thanks to Paintbrush Studio Fabrics for EVERYTHING! To my sewing community that rallied around and embraced #sewinglikeamothertrucker to prepare for this… WE DID IT! A specific post about all the makers is coming soon! And especially a BIG thanks to Steve Hawkins for the bang up job on the video. To see it and the feature just click…

Then stay tuned throughout the month on Fabric.com for more Lysa Flower sewing / fabric fun times! HIGH FIVE!!!

REBEL GIRL! A * NEW * FABRIC COLLECTION!

Rebel Girl is my latest collection with Paintbrush Studio Fabrics! I was so thrilled that I took the month of December, along with the help of my friends (and my mom!), to sew ALL THE THINGS!… And I wanted to share them with you first!

Number one on the project list, was the Rebel Girl jacket. This was an absolute must make. If you follow me on Instagram you might know of the illustration I did of five women, each having their own Rebel Girl jacket in different colours. I did a second illustration of the inside of the jacket with the Rebel Girl text pattern. Now, it’s almost a year later, and it’s REAL! After I appliqued the Rebel Girl on the back I sent it to my Mom to sew the bomber jacket. I’d love to share the pattern she used but honestly it was the WORST. It had instructions like, “sew the collar, sew in the zipper”. Yep, that was it for instructions. If anyone comes across an actual bomber jacket pattern, I’d love to know the name of it. Luckily, my mom figured it out and crushed it! Thanks Mom : )

On the top of my to do list is to sew all my patterns in my very own fabric. My good friend Sherri helped me out with that by sewing my Cassingle pattern! We added the text part (again applique) and it was Sherri’s idea to center the flying Vs in the hearts! Brilliant! I should note here I used HeatnBond Lite-On Adhesive for both Rebel Girl appliques (and I see a lot more appliqueing happening in the future!).

My mother in law and I made the Tilly and the Buttons Francoise Dress. It had been a while since either of us had sewn clothing and we had a blast doing it! The Leopard print was screaming to be a dress!!! We’re both super jazzed with how it turned out, especially after seeing it on our model Jaden!

Reece, makes the most amazing bags and she made two back packs for me. The one with the drums on the inside (because every girl has a drum solo in her!) is a Sew Hungry Hippie pattern .*Also check out Natalie’s Rebel Girl sewing!!!* The pattern comes as a two for one called, Trina and Wendy. This one Reece made is the Trina pattern. Before taking the fabric to Reece I pre ironed on Therm-o-web HeatnbBond Iron-on Vinyl Roll-Gloss Finish. I mean, let’s face it, I live near Vancouver and it’s a raining 98% of the time. I LOVE the way it turned out! Plus it was super fun ironing on the Vinyl! It was Reece’s idea to do the drums on the backs of the straps too! Which I LOVE!

Reece also made Noodlehead’s Making Backpack! I knew this one HAD to be in the Cassettes print! It just HAD to be! While the backpack turned out larger than I had anticipated, I ADORE it! It’s going to be a great travel bag, which is lined with guitars, because I believe every girl has a guitar solo in her too!

Early in December my husband and I binge watched a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers documentary (side note, I never knew much about them or cared BUT now I’m a huge FAN!). In some late 70’s, maybe early 80’s footage of the guitar player, Mike Campbell, was wearing a tie and I thought, “That’s like my checker print. I’m making that!!”. I also fussy cut the Flying V fabric for the backing. I had an old fashioned tissue paper pattern to make it but wow, it was silly hard. Hello YouTube! Easy peasy! I used this tutorial. Thank you MADE Everyday! You were a lifesaver! I may never buy another tie again!

Now, there’s lots of reasons I love PBS Fabrics, but, among them is their selvages! I’d like to take credit for designing them but I can’t. It’s a great surprise when I get the fabric! And you know how I love a good selvage! So, of course, I had to make my Cassette Tape Zippy pouches with them! These were made from my Cassette Tape Quilt pattern and my zippy pouch tutorial… and with those patterns I came up with something new! Cassette Tape BOXES! A tutorial for those will be coming out sometime this year!

So yeah, the fabric will be in stores soon! So clear a place wherever you store your fabric!

P.S. Here’s another sneak peek! A Boombox Pattern is coming out made specifically for the fabric and panel from my first collection Let The Good Times Roll! For each size of Boombox! Eep! But shhh, it’s still a secret! Just between you and me! xo