Dawn Lewis Paints

Fine Art & Decorative Painting magazine

2010-06-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a long-held dream of mine to be published in this magazine. Sure, it's changed it's name a couple of times, but this is THE magazine for folk art patterns. I submitted my little princess last year, and she was accepted straight away. I'm kind of glad no-one saw me when that email came in ... I went a bit nuts LOL.

So ... watch out for it! Fine Art & Decorative Painting magazine, Vol 17 No 10 which hits the stands next month!!!

It's all happening here!

2010-06-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

I've been super busy, but not so much with a paintbrush in my hand. I have just joined the Design Team for The Town Scrapper, in the role of Senior Scrapette! I get to make all kinds of gorgeous cards, like the one above. The challenge this month is 'Save a Tree', so I used lots of leftovers from previous projects for this one. The stamp is a Victoria Case image called 'Made with Love Lola'. You can see more gorgeous cards here.

I am teaching scrapbooking classes at Erina Scrapbook Store on the NSW Central Coast. My classes are called 'Guilt Free Scrapbooking' and we focus on ways to use your crafting powers for good instead of evil, and how to use up the stash at home to alieviate a bit of scrappers guilt. My class in July is this gorgeous cookie sheet advent calendar. You can click here for more information.

I have painted a few new things (mostly princesses) for the big Quilt & Craft show at Darling Harbour. I will be demonstrating at the FDAA stand in Hall #3 on Sunday 20 June. If you're at the show, please come and say hi!

New princess!

2010-02-27T04:32:00.000-08:00

Last month I decided to take a day off from designing for other people, and just painted something fun for myself. This is a valentine Princess Pointy Shoes. I forgot how much fun it was painting her, so I'll be painting up quite a few pieces featuring her royal pointy-ness for the Quilt & Craft Show in June. Would love to hear suggestions for surfaces to paint her on! I'm keen to paint her on clothing :D

Flat out!

2010-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting my blogging. Sorry blog!

Lots is happening here. I have dreamed for 10 years of having one of my patterns included in the Fine Art & Decorative Painting magazine ... and in 2010 that dream is coming true! I submitted one of my princess pointy shoes patterns (above), and it was immediately commissioned for publication! Not sure which issue yet, but I'll keep you posted.

I am still designing for Brandcorp, in several departments including Semco, Milford and Francheville.

Watch for a new crochet book (suitable for beginners) from Milford Threads. My Mum has helped me with lots of the projects, and we're just putting the finishing touches on the text now.

Also watch for the new Francheville scrapbooking papers & embellishments in Spotlight. Yours truely has designed a gorgeous mothers day project, and there will be a project sheet.

There are also some gorgous little Easy Peasy wooden transport blank toys at Spotlight ... watch for the project sheet I made for those as well. They're really fun to paint.

Lastly, the sewing machine has been getting a workout. I'm designing sewing patterns for Australian Girl Dolls, exclusive, and especially to fit these beautiful dolls. The new limited edition doll, Matilda, also has a cute little froggy in her pocket ... I designed that too. The competition to name him recently closed, and I'm thrilled with the name of Prince that was declared winner.

2010 is going to be an interesting year! You can find me at the Quilt & Craft show at Darling Harbour in June, as well as the St Ives Heritage Markets in November and December with the FDAA.

Free pattern to download!

2009-06-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to present my very first ever free pattern! You can download it from the Freebies section on my website www.DawnLewisImagery.weebly.com

I hope you enjoy it ... it's quick, fun and cute. Yes ... you can sell items painted with this design! See the Terms of Use for more details :) If you paint a little sheep I would really love to see it.

Meet Fifi & Frankie

2009-06-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

Last year I was commissioned by Brandcorp P/L to paint 6 bears. These bears were to be turned into 6 cross stitch kits, and when I stitched the charts I was really impressed. Each one only took me 3 nights to complete (though the bride & groom took 6 because there are 2 bears) and they were really easy to do.

Well ... they're going to be in Spotlights stores across Australia late July or early August. The kit even includes a lovely white square frame!

You can see them online by clicking here. The photos really don't do them justice, so check them out when they're in the shops. I would love to hear from anyone who stitches one :D

Kokeshi

2009-05-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

A while ago my cousin visited Japan, and brought back little Kokeshi dolls for my daughters. They are so beautiful, and I immediately wanted to paint one and put my own personal twist on it. This is a gorgeous upcycled denim pinafore (suited to a 10-12 year old girl), which I've hand-painted with a Kokeshi of my own design. It is heat set and washable and available in my Etsy shop. But get in quick ... if it's not sold in 3 weeks it's going to be submitted for sale at the amazing Quilt & Craft Fair at Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia. You'll find many of my painted items available to buy at the FDAA stand, along with many other delectable painted goodness.

Click here to visit my Etsy Shop.
Click here for more details about the craft fair.

Princess Pointy Shoes

2009-03-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is Princess Pointy Shoes. She sketched her way into my ideas book and demanded to be painted immediately! I'm so in love with this new painting that I'm looking at having prints made in 5x7 and ACEO size to start with. Stay tuned :D

Loving this designing gig!

2009-03-06T01:44:00.000-08:00

After a year of making dolls from other people's patterns, I decided it was time I attempted one of my own. So far I have made 3 dolls with little variations, and their main feature is their hand-painted faces with enormous Anne Hathaway eyes and Angelina Jolie lips :D

It's the perfect way for me to combine my love of sewing and painting in the one creation. I can customise these dolls with 5 different skin tones, any colour eyes, and 7 different colours for hair. If you want a doll with one blue eye and one brown eye and hot pink hair ... I can do that! You can email me at dlewis71@aapt.net.au to enquire about a custom order. Alternatively, if you prefer to buy through my shop, convo me via Etsy.

Kokeshi

2009-02-23T02:11:00.000-08:00

I am in love with Kokeshi dolls ... kind of my new obsession. This is a baby singlet I painted today ... just to see if I could. It's listed in my Etsy shop, Hello Dollies.

Painting + Dollmaking = Awesome!

2009-01-30T17:24:00.001-08:00

I love making dolls.

I love painting.

I guess it was only a matter of time before I put the two together. Dolls like this will be available in my Etsy shop HelloDollies soon. I also hope to submit this piece to teach at the FDAA convention 2009. After that, patterns will also be available :)

Tis the Season

2008-12-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

What a cute way to tell the family whether the contents of the dishwasher are clean or dirty. I got sick of everyone asking ... hence the magnet was created!

Knit one ... Purl one ....

2008-11-25T00:52:00.000-08:00

I painted this on Mothers day, but was reminded of it today when I bought a couple of cool knitting patterns on etsy. This is one of my original designs.

A different kind of manicure

2008-11-22T14:13:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was at St Ives Heritage Markets with the FDAA. It's our annual sale, and we'll be back on Sunday 7th December for the last time this year.

I had a ball painting people's fingernails with little Christmas motifs. The snowman was most popular, and the 5 year old girls seemed to all want hot pink snowmen ... go figure! It was free, and most people couldn't believe it. I even painted a batman on a 4yo boy's teeny tiny fingernail ... cute!

This is my own hand ... my display board as it were. I'll be interested to see how long they last LOL. If you're at the St Ives market on 7th December ... come and see me and I'll paint your fingernails :D

Welcome to Dawn Lewis Paints

2008-11-22T04:02:00.000-08:00

I know it's stating the obvious, but I do paint, so why not name my blog after what I spend a fair slice of my day doing (or thinking about) LOL

I do have another blog dedicated to my broader range of interests www.DawnLewisImagery.blogspot.com

You can also find me at my website www.DawnLewisImagery.weebly.com

... and shop with me at www.DawnLewisImgery.etsy.com

Yes ... I am a busy girl. I design painting projects for Brandcorp P/L using their Semco range of paints. Semco paints are very affordable, available in Spotlight stores, and the colours really pop! I also use Crafters Choice soft grip brushes, and can literally paint all day without my hand cramping up ... they're awesome!

My first project was published in Handmade magazine in October 2008, which was really exciting.

I also have a range of Cross-stitch kits due to be released in February 2009 by Brandcorp. More details to come later.