The Eyebrow Incident
Dear Diary, So this week started off like a nightmare. I was just SO mad at my face…
I am working on a full manuscript these days for Big Apple Diaries, which is based on my experiences and diary entries from 7th grade. I recently read this diary entry aloud at a Hobart event, Read To Me:
Yes, I did shave my eyebrows like that in 7th grade.
Crafternoon
Sewing a paint brush roll up and an eco roll up during a lovely crafternoon.
It's the very beginning Spring in Tasmania and with a jam packed season ahead of me I decided to take a night off and craft with friends. It gave me the chance to bust out the sewing machine and make something! For this I used the fabrics that I designed and printed using Spoonflower.
You can find this fabric here- https://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/4502943-sweeping-botanicals-by-bermudezbahama
My friends sewed useful things like patches and other mending, but I desperately wanted to make one roll up for my paintbrushes and another eco roll up for my purse to carry my fork and straw. Here is how it turned out. I apologize for the wrinkles and ROUGH sewing. I don't claim to be good at sewing by any means.
There I am in the spoon trying to take a photo of this with my phone.
Perfect for my purse!
I am pretty pleased with both!
The next chance I get I will make little edged napkins to match! I am feeling very crafty right now! SO many craft ideas... so little time.
Australian Book Week 2018
School visits and another real life Lucia The Luchadora.. or two
Last week was the CBCA's Australian National Book Week 2018. The theme was Finding Your Treasure. During this time schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children celebrate Australian children's literature and you will often see children's book character parades and talented librarians creating amazing displays. Many of my art students came in costume to class - it seems to be taken more seriously than American Halloween! Book week is also when the annual awards are announced for Australian Book of the Year.
I had the pleasure of seeing a lovely little Kindergarten student dressed as Lucia The Luchadora again. It reminded me of last year when there was another little blonde Lucia at book week who SWORE she looked exactly like the real version with one exception -- she didn't have green shoelaces. I didn't even remember that I created green shoelaces for the character, but this little girl did. It was beautiful to see that this girl had no idea that her and Lucia might have come from completely different cultural backgrounds.
I also made my debut into schools! I spent a lovely day at St. James College in Cygnet where I presented Behind The Scenes of Picture Book Illustration to grades Prep-6. The students were so engaged and ran up to me all day with Thank You's and to show off their Luchadora crafts that they made after. One kid apparently saw me in the library wearing my cape and ran to another kid saying, "OMG the REAL Lucia The Luchadora is here!"
Mid day coffee break!
I also had the pleasure of showing some of the younger kids what the sequel looks like! They were SO excited to be the first kids ever to get a peek of the next Luchadora.
I also visited Moonah Primary school where I presented and did some drawing with the 3rd and 4th graders.
They all created superhero characters and I was so impressed with their enthusiasm and creativity! Now that I have broken the ice, I will certainly be open to more school visits in future!
Send an email to alyssa.bermudez@gmail.com if you are interested in me visiting your school in person or via Skype!
Until next time, Book Week!
Inscape Tasmania
The new resident artist at the Royal Hobart Hospital with Inscape Tasmania!
I have recently added a new title to my list of ongoing freelance gigs - Resident Artist at the Royal Hobart Hospital through the beautiful Inscape Tasmania program. I am a part of their meaningful Tribute project which links illustrators and visual artists with patients on the Acute Older Person's Ward.
Hard at work in the Arts & Music room on the ward.
Here's more about the program:
Inscape is a Hobart based non-profit organisation that supports artists to work in healthcare and other non-art settings, with the aim of promoting a sense of wellbeing for health care providers, patients and families.
The Tribute Project: Through meaningful conversation our artists capture the memories and life of patients; providing a tribute to patients and visual cues that encourage greater connection between hospital staff, patients and families. The artworks provide staff with a way to recognise the person and their lives as well as to attend to necessary medical procedures. The patient and/or their families keep the artwork as a memento; and, with their permission, a copy of their artwork is exhibited in a public space at the hospital.
I spent time with each of the following patients and spoke with them about some of their favourite memories. Here are some of the tribute paintings I have created for patients at the RHH:
A piece for Susan, who loves reading, chocolates and other special things that are hinted at in this piece for her. I mix and match traditional or digital painting depending on the piece. This one is digital.
This piece for Clifford was painted in acrylics and based on this man's love for his pets and a lifetime of giving to others even when he had nothing for himself.
This painting was a special combination of dear memories, each represented in panels from her favourite cathedral in England. I also painted this one in acrylic as it suited her story more than a digital work.
This tribute piece was for a younger patient at the RHH who has traveled the world and explored different cultures on his own and with family. This one is a digital piece.
I am looking forward to meeting more amazing humans and hopefully giving them a small piece of joy during their various hospital encounters. Joining this team and hearing these stories has been one of the highlights of my freelance life. One older woman just couldn't believe that I was doing this just for her. I hope she felt as special as I did creating it for her.
More coming soon!
Lucia The Luchadora and The Million Masks Cover Reveal!
It's reveal time!
The moment you have all been waiting for! Lucia's return! It's been so exciting bringing Lucia and her family to life in pictures once again, this time introducing her little sister Gemma. Debuts October 9th, 2018 - We have a few months to go, but the anticipation starts now! Written by Cynthia Leonor Garza, published by POW! Kids. Click here to pre-order.
The cover will look something closely related to this!
Lucia The Luchadora was chosen as picture book cover of the year in 2017! It's pretty impossible to top that, so I went back and forth on so many different color schemes and designs. Some of them were a bit too scary! This story takes place for the most part at the Mercado. Abuela had a great idea once again and you'll have to read the rest to find out what adventures take place when they get there! I hope that old and new Lucia fans can enjoy this next part of their story.
Getting into some trouble at the lucha mask stall
The sounds of the mercado!
I was a little late in the game to watch the Pixar movie Coco, but it is so inspirational to see such beautiful art direction in a movie with Mexican culture. I actually watched it for the first time a few days after finishing all of the artwork for this book. My heart did a little flip seeing El Santo in it! Stay tuned in Lucia The Luchadora And The Million Masks to meet another very famous Lucha Libre star.
Hearing about your experience with Lucia The Luchadora is so meaningful to us, so continue sharing your stories and spread the love! #luciatheluchadora
www.facebook.com/luciatheluchadora
Lucia The Luchadora and The Million Masks!
I just wanted to share some in progress work for the sequel to Lucia The Luchadora! Abu still has excellent advice for both Lucia and her little sister Gemma.
Happy New Year in Singapore!
It's 2018 and I've taken my first trip of the year -- to the Philippines. On our way to the incredible archipelago, we stopped for a weekend in Singapore. As a native New Yorker, Singapore blew my mind.
I have never seen such an organized, clean, safe, green and orderly big city. Everything was just so streamlined and easy! Our Uber driver referred to it as the often called "Singa-BORE" and that it was a "fine" city, as in you get fined and taxed for everything.
In the subway were cute cartoon characters that taught different manners such as putting your bag down for more people to fit, giving up your seat, and not eating durian or drinking. The platform ground had lines so you knew where to stand and how to line up to get into the train seamlessly. Everyone had to come out first, and then you could go in.
The train stop map told you which side the doors would open at each stop. The stations were so clean, we actually saw a man sweeping up like 2 grains of dust.
The amazing thing is that of course many people abide by these rules in NYC or other big cities, but EVERYONE seemed to obey them in Singapore. In several social situations, we watched what everyone else did first, and then acted. We definitely did not want to do anything wrong there and stick out!
I managed to get ONE sketch in for Singapore of the giant baby statue.
Our accommodation location couldn't be any better. We stayed in Little India at the Wanderlust Hotel which was especially amazing because each capsule room was a different Pantone color from ceiling to floor. The streets were bustling at night with shoppers, a concert outside the Indian Heritage Center and lots of food.
It rained everyday that we were there and we were actually grateful because it cooled the weather down. Several people told us that this was COLD for them... and we were stunned. I was sweating! It's definitely a bad hair city.
The loveliest opportunity in Singapore was to make a guest illustrator appearance at the beautiful bookshop, Woods In The Books, in the Tiong Bahru area.
Photos by the Woods in The Books Team
We started off with a reading...
Photo by Sam Murray
And then we continued the fun with some mask making and coloring!
Photos by the Woods in The Books Team
I was very impressed by their attention and interest in the story. Lucia the Luchadora seems to charm children of all backgrounds in many parts the world!
After the crafting was over, I signed the books and made sure to buy some Singaporean children's books! Already carrying books in my luggage, and it was only the 2nd day of the trip. I just can't help myself!
Photos by the Woods in The Books Team
Singapore,
We will be back.
The Newest Addition to the Plushie Family
Carl the Koala has extended his little tree family! This version of Carl is twice the size of his original counterpart and is crafted with 100% Organic Cotton. All three of them snuggle in the tree together.
Right now I am only selling him directly in my shop and exclusively with Lily & Dot on Elizabeth Street for those of you that are local.
What little plush would you like to see next?
All of the Carls! <3
Sketchbook & Studio Scenes
I spent almost all of September visiting friends and family back in the USA. Every time I set out to travel, I try to squeeze new sketches in my travel book which is dedicated specifically to sketching from life while traveling. Every time I pack my favorite pens and envision myself on the sides of roads and in museums for hours filling up every page. This never happens.
But I did manage to squeeze a few in!
My trip was originally extended earlier so that I could attend my Grandmother's memorial in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately two hurricanes prevented me from going there all together. Now that it's nearly a month later, Puerto Ricans are still in need of recovery support.
Throwback photo from 1998 in Puerto Rico at our Grandma's house. Hopefully sometime soon we can all be there again together to memorialize her as a family.
Instead of going to Puerto Rico, I was stranded with loving friends and family in California for 5 days. Not a lot of sketching happened because I was SOOO sick. Terrible timing all around.
San Luis Obispo was an amazing place and I will definitely be back to the Central Coast.
My best friend from High School had a lovely succulent collection. This remains the ONLY color page in this book.
In the cutest little museum in town.
The best memories of all were of course being with my mom! No sketching happened in New York, BUT I did do a bit of writing and reading on the subway (most inspiring place for ideas ever) which I will edit someday and possibly post.
When I returned to Hobart I freshened up my studio and had a lovely visit from TasWeekend's Brady Michaels and photographer Richard Jupe. This is my 4th appearance in the Mercury, but very first feature of sorts. You can read the article here.
My studio doesn't always look like this, it's usually WAY more covered with materials and in progress crafts.
Until next time!
Highlights for Children Magazine!
Happy Halloween!
My work was recently featured in Highlights for Children Magazine which was one of my favorite childhood reads. I illustrated the scene, "Autumn Chores" written by Sally Lucas. I wasn't sure how I would get a copy of Highlights in Australia, but luckily they sent me two copies. I am so pleased to know that kids are still reading and enjoying this magazine.
That little squirrel is up to no good! :)
Follow Your Shadow Exhibition
Tasmania has a unique and fabulous group of artists. I recently joined forces with the comics & animation side of the field for a group exhibition curated by Sarah Jane Moore. Follow Your Shadow explores the diverse world of comic art. There were large scale giant pieces, projected works and even little character sculptures that all had a story. The artists involved were Vivien Mason, Sarah Jane Moore, Grace Garton, Paula Hatton, Scott Baxter, Josh Santospirito, Paul Peart-Smith and me.
I love what Vivien did in this poster -- the character on the right is actually one of my characters from Lucia the Luchadora in silhouette.
I chose to exhibit some of my comic diaries, which I have been working on and off for many many years. (Manuscript coming soon!)
My artist statement for the show:
“Do you remember how you felt when you first learned the nuances of the world? The shadow of the past lingers in the way that it shapes you. These autobiographical comic montages are a reminiscent exploration of growing up. They are taken directly from my childhood journals. ”
1. "The 14 Steps", 2017, Not For Sale. 29cm x 126cm, Digital.
2. "Big Apple Diaries- Part 1", 2017, Not for sale. A3, Digital.
3. "Big Apple Diaries- Part 2", 2017, Not for sale. A3, Digital.
4. "Big Apple Diaries- Part 3", 2017, Not for sale. A3, Digital.
5. "The Titanic", 2015, Not for sale. A3, Digital.
6. "Wayne", 2015, Not for sale. A3 Digital.
7. "In Art, We Painted", 2015, Not for sale. A3 Digital.
The whole gang trying to encourage kids to submit their character work!
And lastly, I will share with you my redo of The 14 Steps, my favorite awkward and REAL diary entry.
Life & Line
When I still lived in NYC I was an active sketcher. I sketched in books, at life drawing/fashion illustration events and of course in my MFA program at FIT. When I was leaving that program and moving across the world, our chairperson, Melanie Reim, offered the advice, "Make sure to keep drawing and sketching."
For me, it's so important to keep that eye hand coordination going and to constantly view the world with experimental eyes. As an illustrator I often feel that pressure for style and consistency. Being an active sketcher provides the opportunity to play and grow, to make sure I don't always stay within my square of aesthetic. It might even inspire growth for my illustration styles!
Since moving to Hobart I have found a fabulous group of life drawing enthusiasts! Life and Line (formerly Frankie's Modern Life) meets every fortnight for 2 hours of life drawing. They alternate male & female every session and there is no formal instruction involved.
Since joining them (as often as I can) I have started styling my drawings by tinting the paper mint green first with acrylic paint. I usually use light pencils and finally ink to add contrast.
I try not to miss the pregnancy special when it happens!
I find that my mint green and ink approach works best for the female models, so when there is a male model I use black pencils instead.
I've also sold several of these drawings along the way and if you're interested in any other ones, I have them in my shop. :)
Lucia The Luchadora Updates
How have I not written about this experience yet?
Lucia the Luchadora has been the most exciting happening of 2017! As far as I know from the publisher, she has entered at least 6400 bookshelves since March! I feel so honored to have worked on this fierce multigenerational Latina power story! Here are some of the highlights:
So much praise for Lucia!
The first exciting thing to happen was the Kirkus starred review. This being my first major publishing experience, I didn't know how big of a deal this was. The Kirkus review and the School Library Journal were the first major praise for the book. Here are some excerpts:
Woohoo!!
I read one of the reviews for Lucia about 1000 times - Review of the Day by Elizabeth Bird. I think we all cried a little reading that one. She offered such amazing detail about the story, its importance and what her favorite elements were. She even offered some constructive feedback which I am always open to hearing. I loved what she said about the book's endpapers -
"And did I mention the endpapers? Boy, you know I like a book when I start waxing eloquent on endpapers. The first ones you see display testimonial images to both Lucia’s abuela’s life (wedding photos, pictures of her cat, icons of Mary, lighted candles) and her loves (El Santo, her luchadora mask, etc.). Even better, when you turn that first page to look at the title page, the backside of the endpaper is now a repeating pattern of wrestling images done in blue ink. This becomes the pattern on the top of Lucia’s mask on the back endpapers. Who pays attention to that kind of detail?!? Class acts. That’s who."
This review from Building Future Readers says, "It is hard to find picture books that feature diverse characters. This book not only features Mexican culture through the main character it is also a universal and empowering story for girls. The pictures are vibrant and complement the text well and I love the influence from comic books and Mexican culture."
This review from Latinos in Kid Lit says, "The illustrations in this book are beautiful and bright. My favorite illustration shows Lucía when she gets angry. In a full page spread, red and orange peppers surround Lucia to show that she is “spicy mad. KA-POW kind of mad.” The illustrations are very detailed and show careful attention to the depiction of cultural artifacts and symbols such as rosary beads and the abuela’s perfume."
Here is the awesome interview on NPR featuring Lucia the Luchadora author, Cynthia Leonor Garza, "When She's Told Girls Can't Be Superheroes, 'Lucia The Luchadora' Grabs Her Mask" Another fabulous interview for her on Chron...
This review from Books4YourKids says it is, "one of those rare, great kid's books that is diverse without diversity being the subject."
Let's Talk Picture books says, "Even in the backgrounds of every scene Bermudez uses large, sweeping strokes to inject movement and energy into the spread so that readers can't help but want to flip the pages to keep reading. "
This review on SLAM Sports was conducted in part by actual children, so of course I had extra smiles. "I liked the whole idea of girls being super heroes," said Avery. "I also liked how she got 'Spicy mad. Kapow kind of mad.' They were good words."
Thank you world of readers for reading and reacting to this book in such a beautiful way.
Excited to be in Tasmania's newspaper, The Mercury, promoting my book event at Lily & Dot.
I even got to sew this amazing cape to match Lucia!
So much gratitude to everyone involved for making this a special book. Thank you so much, world! It's been an amazing experience!
"We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness"
It excites me to write about a recent project I worked on for Her Majesty's Favourite Really Great Graphical Festival and the Hobart City Council. HMFRGGF is an annual celebration of comics, illustration and graphic awesomeness featuring artists from Australia - mostly Tasmanians I think. This festival takes place in and around Hobart with public art featuring in Mather's Place. I was asked to do one of the public displays there along with Tanya Walker and Leonie Brialey and was granted placement on the side of Hobart's State Library. When coming up with a concept for this piece, I considered it's placement and season (WINTER) and chose a literary classic to base it on- George Orwell's 1984.
And from there I chose a quote, "We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness."
Initial sketch for the 7 meter long display
Logistics were pretty tricky since it's a GIGANTIC billboard and I needed to deliver a high res file for it. I mainly did it in Illustrator CC since it was the only program that wouldn't break my computer. So it's a giant vector illustration featuring several little animal stories - cats that are separated on the left and eventually reunited on the right after making a special wish in between, mother bear worried about bringing new life into this scary world, and a little sloth in between.
The display opened in June and will be up for a couple more months.
Finished digital file
I asked a random person to take this one of me...
Needed to get one with it to show how humongous it really is!
Hobartians, I hope you check it out. And if you do, please tag me! @bermudezbahama #bermudezbahama
xo
Running, Writing, and Art-ing for Loss Grief and Healing
13 years ago - July 7th, 2003- seems like a whole lifetime ago. I was just a teenager spending the summer at sleepaway camp. I knew my dad was sick, but I also believed my parents to be superhuman. They were parents, not real people! Dad was getting prepped for a liver transplant, so I figured it was an easy fix. I hadn't seen him for weeks, but he wrote me letters at camp, and things seemed okay. I will never forget hearing my name on the loudspeaker that day. Mom was on the phone in the camp office saying she was on her way up to camp to pick me up because Dad wasn't doing well. I still didn't understand, but I was scared. My friends brought me sandwiches and made a "we <3 you" sign as I waited in the unknown.
A few hours later when Mom finally got there. I tried to be happy, and told my mom how pretty and tan she looked. She sat me down and told me "Daddy didn't make it. He died at 3:42." Dad was already gone and it was too late for me to get to the hospital. Word had spread instantly around camp and everyone stood frozen silent in place in the rain while mom held me in her arms walking to the bunk. I remember packing some of my things and being in that car ride home, but I actually don't remember much from the rest of that entire YEAR. Only bits and pieces. I think I just blocked it out.
John Orlando Bermudez 10/19/1950- 7/7/2003
There's no one right or wrong way to cope with loss and grief. There's no one way to ignore the regret, confusion and shock that accompany it. I've never been the type to openly communicate my feelings and this experience was no exception. I channeled my grief into activities that my dad had encouraged - running, writing, and art.
Running, writing, and art-ing are all "mind over matter" activities for me, releases for all of the anger and questioning I had. Being on the track team meant I had people to work with towards faster and stronger goals. It gave me a place to belong and the thought of my dad traveled with me in every race. He made me try out for the team in the first place so I knew he would be disappointed if I gave up on them.
Nights were often the worst because nothing separates you from your thoughts at night. That's where writing came in. I've been journaling since I was 7 years old and it acts as my way of communicating and even meditating. I furiously wrote poems and letters to my dad for years, and felt like it was a direct channel to him in the universe somewhere. It even felt like he wrote back sometimes. One night (in my adult life not too many years ago) I put those frustrated and defeated feelings out into the universe and the next morning on my way to work I got what seemed like a response. I was on the subway feeling sorry for myself and my stop was coming up. I got up from my seat to stand at the pole and right in my vision line was this little note stuck on the wall advertisement that read something like, "Don't give up, you are here for a purpose, and things happen for a reason." I don't know who put it there, but it gave me chills and a head start to the rest of the day. Things like this have happened to me at least 4 times on the subway.
And finally there is art.
My parents have always encouraged my obsession with art. When I was 12, Dad took me on our first and only big trip, just the two of us. We went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Milan and Paris with a few other stops in between. Dad lived in Italy when he served in the US Army, and I was impressed by his Italian speaking and cultural understanding. Dad brought his famous 35mm Canon film camera as he did on every other occasion. It was the first time I saw all of the super important paintings and artists I eventually learned about in art history. We went to art havens like the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, The Accademia, The Sistine Chapel, The Louvre, saw inlaid woodwork in Sorrento and much much more. Of course I wrote daily in my journal about this trip, and it truly reinforced my interest in art and solidified it as my future career. It also connected my artistic channel to my dad - like any other type of mindful prayer on his behalf. I've since been back to most of those places, some of them 3 or 4 times including my study abroad in Florence and chaperoning as an art teacher. As a college art student in Florence, being back there for the first time felt like Dad was in every church, every painting and every photograph.
On top of the Arc du Triomphe, summer 2000.
In front of Bernini's amazing Quattro Fiumi Fountain summer 2000
The first photo is one that Dad took of me in front of Notre Dame in 2000, the next one is of me in 2009, the first time returning to those places.
Anyway, 13 years is a long long time and during that time span I've gone through many phases - good, bad, and ugly. At one point I had to choose - Am I going to let this destroy me and be a victim forever or is this going to BUILD ME. The experience has taught me about myself. It's taught me how to cope, how to appreciate, how to love and how to communicate a little better. It's connected me to the universe and inspired my creative channels. It has motivated me in deep, unearthly ways to be better, stronger and to pursue my dreams.
I'm going to keep running (sometimes haha), writing and art-ing. And I will never take anything for granted.
Lucía The Luchadora is coming!
For the past few months I've been working with the fabulous team at POW! Kids Books in Brooklyn on Cynthia Garza's story called Lucía The Luchadora. I'm so excited to show Lucía to the world. She is feisty and full of flare! Here is a sneak peek into my process from watercolour pieces to digital completion. Lucía's reveal will come later.
Abuela's house is full of fascinating history and colourful objects!
Typical the watercolour painting happens first in separate pieces and then it all gets collaged together digitally.
Here is the Publisher's Weekly announcement:
And conveniently enough, ABC Hobart interviewed me in the midst of this project and featured me on the radio as well. It was very exciting! http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-25/new-york-artist-alyssa-bermudez-on-moving-to-tasmania/7443978
I found painting again!
When I packed my life in 4 suitcases last year I had to choose which items would make the massive journey from New York to Tasmania. Anything that I packed meant it was more important than bringing something else. Anything deemed less important was either given away to my old students or put in my storage unit. It was scary and freeing all at once. Obviously one of my largest collections was my art supplies, surfaces and tools. Choosing which supplies came was like choosing a favorite child. At the time I wasn't really doing a great deal of traditional painting and because my oil and acrylic paints were some of the largest and heaviest items, they ended up in the storage pile.
I certainly had some regrets over that when the first job I got here was to teach acrylic painting to adult learners. I had to re buy a collection of paint in a country that is absurdly expensive in comparison to NYC supplies and I wasn't familiar with the brands either.
Putting that aside, teaching the acrylic class (and later on in the year I started teaching watercolor as well) has reinvigorated my love of creating and painting. Now when I work digitally, as I do in many projects, I crave the feeling and texture of paint on a surface. I've been reminded that not everyone has had a long history of artistic exploration and I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to do it so often.
I get to witness the magic of painting in my adult students as they take the class for a variety of reasons- some haven't painted since they were school kids and others just want to try out a new hobby. Mixing colors in a palette and experimenting with different harmonies and textures can be therapeutic bliss for anyone.
I will never leave my paints behind again.
Made with Love: From Pasta Sketches to DIY Kitchen Fashion
I'm currently in the last week of a worldwide professional development course hosted by Lilla Rogers called Make Art that Sells. It's been an incredible and resourceful journey, and it's really opened my eyes to new ways of making art for different markets. I've been focusing on fabric design in my work already, so I was eager to work on the first assignment to create a kitchen fabric that incorporates pasta and pyrex style casserole dishes.
Here is some of my process: Watercolor, ink, marker, pen etc
Lots of color correcting and fidgeting later in Photoshop and illustrator, my final collection includes the main fabric and two coordinates. I later created a tea towel calendar for Spoonflower's weekly contest since it was perfect timing.
You can find them all in my spoonflower shop: www.spoonflower.com/profiles/bermudezbahama
I'm so excited about my new fabric line, I even ordered some to make kitchen accessories with. My 27th birthday just passed and I was oh so generously given a sewing machine. Here is my first attempt at making something that a human actually could put on:
This certainly won't be my last sewing project! More to come very soon...
Expanding to more local shops!
I've recently begun the process of making work available online, in person at handmade and craft markets and in local shops. This past weekend I added another shop to the list - Post Office 176 in Newtown, Tasmania. This is not only a shop but a gallery, workspace, cafe, and more. They will be hosting several of my prints, stationery collections and hand painted upcyled items.
One of the fabulous rooms in the building
Local shop list so far includes:
Old Franklin Workshop & Store - https://www.facebook.com/oldfranklinstore
Three Little Feathers - https://www.facebook.com/ThreeLittleFeathers/
Lily & Dot - http://www.lilyanddot.com.au/
Post Office 176 - https://www.facebook.com/postoffice176
Plushies! - Etsy Opening!
An etsy shop is underway from here in Tasmania! The opening will coincide with my debut at local markets. The artisan & craft market scene in Hobart is fantastic and anyone in the area should come check out my products in person. You can find prints, cards, homewares, and fabric items at my table.
Markets coming up: August 2nd at Design Garage, August 22 at Brookfield, August 29 at The Nook, and back at Design Garage September 6th.
Plushies are a main product that you can only get in person for now and soon in the etsy shop - www.etsy.com/shop/bermudezbahama. Each sewing kit contains a fat quarter of 100% cotton with all patterns and instructions to make your own set of toys. Accompanying this fabric is a bag of stuffing and a matching embroidery thread to customize and decorate it yourself. It's a fabulous beginner's sewing project that ANYONE can make. I am new to sewing - literally this is my first experience with it, and there is nothing like the sense of accomplishment from creating something by hand. And what a special sort of gift it is to create this with a child or for a friend.
Here is a sneak peek into the little plushie photoshoot. Read further for extra tips.
Easy to personalize with initials or small quotes.
www.etsy.com/shop/bermudezbahama
Extra tips when making plushies:
1. Use an iron in between all of your steps to ensure smooth results
2. Embroider your designs before you sew the front and back together!
3. Even though instructions suggest to sew right sides facing, BOTH ways look fabulous. I actually prefer wrong sides facing for a hand sewed look.
4. Don't overstuff! Make sure to stretch out all stuffing and put only small amounts in at a time. Rice & lavender make a fabulous substitute - don't microwave for too long!
5. If sewing wrong sides facing, trim edges with sharp fabric scissors.
6. Sponge clean the surface for freshening up. Don't use too much water if it is filled with rice!
Thanks for checking it out!