lysa flower

This isn’t good-bye… it’s see you soon!

Lysa August 27, 2016 3

UPDATE: WWW.LYSAFLOWER.COM’s new site will be going live September 5th, instead of the 1st. See you there!

Hello you! How have you been? How’s your summer been? A whirlwind, like most summers? Our family just got back from a typical family wedding.

In Italy!!! That part not so typical for us! For those of you who followed me on Instagram, you know what I’m talking about. It was marvelous. Like most people I love traveling but my two favourite reasons are:

1) I get caught up on my reading (I may need an intervention a some point. My stack of books is growing faster than they’re getting read). I was thrilled that I got through all three books I brought with me on our trip. Now if I can just resist buying more books…

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2) Travelling gives me time to reflect on BIG PICTURE stuff. What I’m doing and why I’m doing it.

And with number two I’ve made these three decisions:

1) I’m retiring my drawing project (at least for now).

2) (so I can) Focus on my surface pattern and sewing designs.

3) Create a website that reflects and shows my work more prominently. Still including a blog where I’ll continue to share projects, inspiration and my creative journey.

Which means this will be my last blog post from this site. It also means if you subscribe you’ll no longer receive email updates from this site.

So how will we stay in touch then?

I will continue to use WWW.LYSAFLOWER.COM for my new site and bonus! It’ll also have an email subscribe.

I cordially invite you anytime after September 1st to visit WWW.LYSAFLOWER.COM. I’m beaming with pride about it. I’m so excited I can barely contain myself!!! It’s so pretty! I can’t wait for you to see it.

I’ve always been so grateful for, loved and enjoyed you all so much. Thank you so very much for all the support, comments and camaraderie you’ve been so kind to give…

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Now, let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into over there!

There’s a new kid on the block: A VMQG block printing workshop with Lysa Flower

Lysa July 27, 2016 0

I had this thought a few weeks back… “I think I’d like to get back into teaching again.”

Then funnily enough the chance fell right into my lap at Mini Maker Faire! Amy, the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild’s Workshop Coordinator, popped by our booth and told me she had an idea. We chatted for a while and, by the time she left, I was scheduled to teach a Block Printing Workshop for them in October! The focus of the workshop is creating repeats and printing on fabric. I couldn’t be more tickled! Wait, that’s not true, I can! The workshop is almost sold out already and they haven’t even officially announced it on their website yet!

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Here’s the write up: Love fabric? Have you ever thought of designing and printing your own? It can be tricky knowing where to start. Join Lysa Flower and create your very own fabric with these three easy steps.

Step one: Create a design – Design a repeat block and various other repeat patterns.

Step two: Carve a block – Use the proper technique to carve a lino block with your repeat pattern.

Step three: Printing! – Ink your palette, roll, press and print. Your life will never be the same!

WHEN: Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

WHERE: Room C, Croatian Cultural Centre Vancouver (3250 Commercial Drive)

COST: $50 (VMQG members) $55 (non-members) , plus a supply fee payable to Lysa $20

TO REGISTER: email Amy at workshops@vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca

SUPPLY LIST: (what to bring):

Apron

Fabric (anything goes, any amount goes!)

Exact-o knife

Palette knife (if you have one, no biggie if you don’t)

Paper and fabric scissors

Lino block cutters

Opus has Speedball starter kits with a cutter set (only three blades though) and a brayer for $29.90. (Kit also includes a lino block , water soluble black printing ink, a foam tray and an instruction booklet). To order online click HERE. Larger sets are also available.
Opus also has individual Speedball Lino cutter sets of 5 for $16.50. To order online click HERE
Michael’s has a Speedball Speed Carve Kit. It only has a V and U shaped blades with a wood handle (all other Speedball carving handles I’ve seen have always been plastic). However this kit also comes with a 4″x 6″ block, tracing paper and an instruction booklet). Online, there was no price listed and I’m not confident each store carries them. Perhaps give them a call before going down.
Amazon has a Speedball Lino Carving sets for $8.10. To order online click HERE.

4″ soft rubber brayer BUT if you have a hard rubber brayer we won’t turn you away. AND if you already have a smaller one, bring it too.

Opus has individual brayers ranging from 2″-6″ and range in price from $16.80-$22.80. To order online click HERE.
Michael’s. I did see some online but again I’m not confident each store carries them. I suggest calling before going down.
Amazon has a variety of Brayers and prices. To check them out click HERE

PROVIDED SUPPLIES: Lino blocks (enough for three repeat patterns), a variety of coloured inks, palettes, sketch pencils, erasers, sketch paper, tracing paper, test paper and fabric. Plus a take home resource list of supplies, inspirational links and books.

The goal is to set you up so you can do this easily at home. WARNING: it’s a teeny tiny bit addictive!

Maker Faire: PART TWO

Lysa June 12, 2016 1

Day two!

Here are a few other things that are in our booth. Aprons!

I created two kinds. One for gathering your garden’s harvest.

And one for holding all your tools, you know when you have to hunt those pesky weeds.

Each apron has a clip for your keys and a unique back to it!

Then there are the chairs. I LOVE the chairs!

And last, but not least Hot and Cold packs, which after yesterday’s breezy weather was a delight to use!

Thank you everyone who came out to Mini Maker Faire. It was SO fun to visit with all of you!

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Mini Maker Faire: PART ONE

Lysa June 11, 2016 1

Today it the day! Mini Maker Faire opens today! Lori and I have our booth all set up and ready to go!

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Here’s a preview of the bandanas. I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am with the way they turned out!

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My dear sweet friend Jonna (@bespokeoutlaw on instagram) hemmed each and everyone for me! She did such a gorgeous job. I was blown away when she offered to sew them but then when I saw how she did them – M I N D B L O W N!

Lori had mentioned how hard it was to find bandanas large enough to tie in her hair so I made sure these were plenty big. Their 27″-ish square.

Getting ready for this show was an amazing experience. Especially with so much encouragement from those all around me. My father in law cut the wood for these boxes.

And my Mother in law put these together.

I painted them and ta DA! This is what a group effort looks like!

I’ll be posting about my garden aprons, chairs and the hot and cold packs tomorrow but for now I’ll leave you with a few shots of the kneeling pads. Made from up-cycled foam, these are covered with 100% cotton sateen washable covers.

If I see you this weekend GREAT! If not, thanks for all the encouragement and I hope you have a LOVELY weekend!

The Scariest thing I ever did.

Lysa June 9, 2016 5

I placed an order with CLOTHO, a local printer in Vancouver! It didn’t seem that scary until I hit the confirm button. Why should I be scared? I’ve been dying to have my designs printed on to fabric for ages. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t afraid of anything CLOTHO might do. In fact, they were great!

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Was it nerves about Mini Maker Faire? No, I don’t think so. First time jitters? Maybe. That, and realizing I probably should have ordered some test prints first!

When I held the freshly printed fabric in my hand, relief finally washed over me. It turned out even better than I imagined!

What am I going to do with all this fabric you ask? Let’s see, I’m covering four chair cushions…

making two types of garden aprons, one for holding tools and one for gathering the fruits of your labour…

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… I’ve also made up some bandanas for either your brow, your hair or your outside garden table. Plus some Hot & Cold packs for after a long day of gardening- ahhh…

And, lastly some kneeling pads.

I also wanted to mention, while I was waiting for the CLOTHO fabric, I ordered these cotton twill labels from Mommie Made It on Etsy. I adore how they turned out!

As for the second scariest thing I ever had to do… well, that would be having to cut into the fabric. YIKES!