Anyone Can Learn to Draw

I had the pleasure of teaching a private session yesterday of my Anyone Can Draw class to the fabulous design team at Colours Inc. in Las Vegas.  Over the past 25 years my good friend Leslie Parraguirre has built Colours into one of the premier design firms in Nevada.



She and her talented design team were great pupils for my full day immersion class that teaches design professionals how to easily and accurately draw professional quality design renderings that will knock the socks off their clients and help them communicate with their workrooms and installers.



Here they are showing off some of their drawings done in class.  They really rolled out the red carpet for me with gourmet pastries for breakfast, a fabulous lunch, and delectable deserts and wine after we finished.



It was a long day full of creative learning but they all took to it like the pros they are.  My favorite part of teaching this class is seeing the finished renderings at the end.  They are all so well done and beautifully executed.  Thank You Leslie and Colours Inc. for making me feel so welcome and for being open to new ideas and creative growth! 

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Who are the Best Design Bloggers?

 

The best design bloggers are ones who work hard at improving their message, content, and voice by taking the medium of blogging into new directions and stepping out of the lines. 

The beautiful stage setting designed by Currey & Company – just look at those flowers!

I just got home from my second Design Bloggers Conference run by the gregarious and always entertaining Adam Japko and his fantastic team at Digital Sherpa where I was once again challenged to step up my game.  This years conference was held in Atlanta and it featured A-list designers, blogging superstars, TV personalities, marketing experts,  magazine editors,  a fantastic wine tasting and some of the top home dec brands in the industry.

sketch of the gorgeous flowers by Currey & Co on the stage set.

Aside from the beautiful decor and those flowers the conference is an intensive immersion into the nuts and bolts of design blogging and the future of the medium.   Digital Sherpa hosted in depth blog analysis for all attendees who wanted to participate so they could have key questions answered or just get a broad overview of their blog by experts.  It was a huge success for everyone involved.  

 

One of the highlights was Candice Olsen giving a lively talk on the importance of texture and contrast in design as well as tips to create a good lighting plan.  Other speakers included Timothy Corrigan, Suzanne Kasler, Jeffrey Allen Marks, Susanna Salk, Tobi Fairley, Jennifer Bowles, Andrew Joseph and many more.  It was quite a line up.

Melissa Galt, Deb Barrett, and Shannon Leclaire enjoying the annual wine tasting hosted by Digital Sherpa and wine expert Jeremy Parzen of “Do Bianchi” There is nothing like a room full of 350 design bloggers with three fabulous glasses of wine in front of them.  Cheers!

 

After the educational portion of the conference was over for the day the parties began with Kravet, Sunbrella, and Ethan Allen partnering up with Traditional Home magazine to host three fabulous nights of revelry, great food and drink including a swanky Oscars viewing party on Sunday night.

Next years event will be held again in Atlanta if you want to join in on the fun.  Thanks to Adam Japko and the Digital Sherpa team for putting on such a fun and worthwhile event.  See you again next year. 

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Here is a preview of my new collection of quilt fabric for Northcott.  I think it would make a really cute Easter dress for a little one!  Click here to see it online.

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New JVT Dinnerware from Keller Charles

My new dinnerware collection from Keller Charles has made it's debut at the Atlanta Gift Market and I love how it turned out.

Each collection starts out as a group of art that I paint that is ready to be modified for lot's of different types of product from wall art, fabric, stationary, dinnerware, etc.

Once the collection is selected by a manufacturer for a particular product I go to work customizing the individual elements used in the original designs to fit the product.  Here are some of the finished designs I did for Keller Charles.  They did a great job! 

More new products coming soon!

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In The Studio Today ~ Christmas Decorations

 

It’s Christmas today in the studio with a whole box of decorations arriving  from my holiday collection with Sunset Vista. 

 

The collection is fancy but fun with detailed ornaments and larger door signs. 

 

 

Some fun embossing and a dose of gold flitter make them sparkle.

 

 

These are hung from bouncy springs so they move if you hang them outdoors.   I can’t wait to decorate my tree this year!

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I am a Quilt Fabric Designer * Northcott Fabrics

 

 

I am so excited to finally announce my first collection of quilting fabric is new available through Northcott Fabrics !!!  This has been a long time goal of mine and I am so happy to be able to achieve it with this wonderful company..

 

The collection is called “Enchanted” and it features whimsical fantasy florals and butterflies.  The extra large stripe  pictured above is  one of my favorites. 

It comes in two colorways;  Black Magic and Summer Sun. 

So far I have just recieved the sell sheets and I am still waiting for yardage.  I can’t wait to get my hands on it and start sewing.

 

I see some cute dresses in my twin 3 years old nieces futures. 

Northcott Fabrics tag line is “Cotton that feels like silk” and they are true to their word.  This fabric has a fabulous hand and superior drapeability compared to other quilt fabrics. 

To view the collection go to Northcott Silks here.

 

 

Have a Great Labor Day Weekend!! 

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My Princess is all Grown up

My beautiful daughter  Angelica graduated from design school in December and she has hit the ground running. 

 She's got  great job with a firm in San Francisco; Woodsen & Woodsen and is knee deep in interesting design projects and staging assignments.  I am so thrilled that she found such a great group of people to work with.  Here is a picture of one of their recent jobs. 

She is also making some great accessories of her own including this lovely dream catcher she just finished.

Geli is a chip off the old block if there ever was one.  I am so proud of her!!!!!!

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