creativity & sewing blog

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About
Products
Art Prints
Contact

About
Products
Art Prints
Contact

Recent Posts

Reduction Block Printing: Rainbow Palm Trees
In Printmaking
Sam Learns to Paint: Introduction
In Painting
Laser Cutting and Magic Making
In Laser Cutting, Painting

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Hi, I’m Sam.

I love making things. I’m an engineer by trade and a creative person by heart. I love color, plants, yoga, and fabric.

I sell plush narwhal kits at Fluffyland, and laser cut art at Samanthasnap.

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Instagram : Samanthasews

Big upgrade yesterday, I finally hung some gauzy c

Big upgrade yesterday, I finally hung some gauzy curtains on my sewing room window - still letting the light in but now I can freely sew without pants. If you sew clothes, you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t start out that way, of course, but midway through making a dress it’s time for the “pants down try on” as I like to call it. Putting my shorts back on after each fit adjustment is just... not likely. Nor practical. So thank you, curtains, for the freedom!
.
#sewingroom #sewingstudio #craftroom #creativespace #sewingwithoutpants #garmentsewing #handmadewardrobe

New shirt! This has been quite the week. I know I’m not alone in this, but this was one of those weeks when the pandemic slump hit me hard. I got all stuck in my head and even though I have the most magical sewing room, I’m sick of being stuck at home so I don’t want to make anything. I know I’m so fortunate - I have a job and a home and a partner who makes every day better - but I still just want this all to be over and sometimes it just wears me out.

But! I made this shirt over the weekend! It started off really discouraging and looked like an old man nightgown but I *think* I managed to drag it out of that stage. I used an old, heavily modified raglan shirt pattern for the body, and added the #kalleshirt placket (which I installed inside out, don’t tell.) I added little pleats at the sleeve cuffs out of necessity, but that ended up being my favorite feature.
This fabric is from Bangkok, I think it’s a rayon/cotton blend. I’m so glad my fabric stash can transport me to faraway places, even just for a moment.

I love the desert so much. Missing Tucson and the

I love the desert so much. Missing Tucson and the breathtaking saguaros. I drew this image as a potential future block print, but first I’m submitting it to @slowdownstudio for the #slowdownartcomp2020 ... wouldn’t this landscape make an incredible blanket?

They’re done!! I deviated from the script and ju

They’re done!! I deviated from the script and just used shadow colors- didn’t want to detract from the gradient 😍 I just published a blog post about the reduction printing process, it’s such a neat method and I wanted to explain it in more detail than insta allows.
Thanks again Nick + @oolitearts!
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprint #rainbowpalmtrees #palmtrees #beachrainbow #printmaking

Printed color 2 today and loving it 🌈✨😍 .

Printed color 2 today and loving it 🌈✨😍
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprint #blockprint #rainbowpalmtrees #palmtrees #beachrainbow

Magical block printing. 8x speed with a slow-mo re

Magical block printing. 8x speed with a slow-mo reveal 😂
I did use a clean brayer to apply the pressure to my paper but this is not a recommended technique 🙅‍♀️ but it was what I had available.
Not pictured: I actually had two inking plates, both inked the same of course but the first had more ink on it, an “ink application” plate if you will, and the second was to really even out the load on the brayer.
Having so much fun with this class from @miamiprintmakers / @oolitearts
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprintingprocess #blockprintingvideo #printmaking #printmakingprocess #blockprint

Printed the first color (rather, colors...) of my

Printed the first color (rather, colors...) of my block for reduction block printing class with @miamiprintmakers . I just had to give those palm trees a Miami sunset 😎

I went back in for another few layers of shadow. I

I went back in for another few layers of shadow. I think there’s a lot to be said for “knowing when to stop”, because it’s so tempting to keep adding layers, and I didn’t want to mess something up. So I almost didn’t speckle my mug because I was worried it would go wrong. But I’m so glad I speckled that mug.
Thanks for following along with the dramatic little journey of this still life 💛

Watercolor class day 2. For my still life today I

Watercolor class day 2. For my still life today I chose Brussels sprouts and a white mug, of all things, which made for a big challenge. But my victorious moment was when I did the first blips of green on the Brussels sprouts... and they already looked like Brussels sprouts!!! I sent the picture to David (photo 3) and he guessed what they were! It’s really hard for me to paint something without including every tiny detail so the sketch-like, watery quality of this little still life feels like a big step in my painting journey. 🙌🙌🙌
Class with @artwithabr, put on by fantastic @oolitearts - thanks Ariel!

Recent Posts

Reduction Block Printing: Rainbow Palm Trees July 19, 2020
Sam Learns to Paint: Introduction July 16, 2020
Laser Cutting and Magic Making July 2, 2020
QUILTID-19 Photoshoot: My Completed Rainbow HST Quilt June 23, 2020
QUILTID-19, Part 7: Binding June 19, 2020

Categories

Books
Fabric
Garment Sewing
General
Interior Design
Laser Cutting
Painting
Plush Sewing
Printmaking
Quilty
Sewing
Travel

Archives

Archives

sponsored

My Favorite Tools

Kai Berry Dressmaking Shears

Kai Professional Dressmaking Shears (the best sewing scissors I've ever used)

Clover Chaco Liner - White Rolling Chalk for Sewing

Big upgrade yesterday, I finally hung some gauzy c

Big upgrade yesterday, I finally hung some gauzy curtains on my sewing room window - still letting the light in but now I can freely sew without pants. If you sew clothes, you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t start out that way, of course, but midway through making a dress it’s time for the “pants down try on” as I like to call it. Putting my shorts back on after each fit adjustment is just... not likely. Nor practical. So thank you, curtains, for the freedom!
.
#sewingroom #sewingstudio #craftroom #creativespace #sewingwithoutpants #garmentsewing #handmadewardrobe

New shirt! This has been quite the week. I know I’m not alone in this, but this was one of those weeks when the pandemic slump hit me hard. I got all stuck in my head and even though I have the most magical sewing room, I’m sick of being stuck at home so I don’t want to make anything. I know I’m so fortunate - I have a job and a home and a partner who makes every day better - but I still just want this all to be over and sometimes it just wears me out.

But! I made this shirt over the weekend! It started off really discouraging and looked like an old man nightgown but I *think* I managed to drag it out of that stage. I used an old, heavily modified raglan shirt pattern for the body, and added the #kalleshirt placket (which I installed inside out, don’t tell.) I added little pleats at the sleeve cuffs out of necessity, but that ended up being my favorite feature.
This fabric is from Bangkok, I think it’s a rayon/cotton blend. I’m so glad my fabric stash can transport me to faraway places, even just for a moment.

I love the desert so much. Missing Tucson and the

I love the desert so much. Missing Tucson and the breathtaking saguaros. I drew this image as a potential future block print, but first I’m submitting it to @slowdownstudio for the #slowdownartcomp2020 ... wouldn’t this landscape make an incredible blanket?

They’re done!! I deviated from the script and ju

They’re done!! I deviated from the script and just used shadow colors- didn’t want to detract from the gradient 😍 I just published a blog post about the reduction printing process, it’s such a neat method and I wanted to explain it in more detail than insta allows.
Thanks again Nick + @oolitearts!
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprint #rainbowpalmtrees #palmtrees #beachrainbow #printmaking

Printed color 2 today and loving it 🌈✨😍 .

Printed color 2 today and loving it 🌈✨😍
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprint #blockprint #rainbowpalmtrees #palmtrees #beachrainbow

Magical block printing. 8x speed with a slow-mo re

Magical block printing. 8x speed with a slow-mo reveal 😂
I did use a clean brayer to apply the pressure to my paper but this is not a recommended technique 🙅‍♀️ but it was what I had available.
Not pictured: I actually had two inking plates, both inked the same of course but the first had more ink on it, an “ink application” plate if you will, and the second was to really even out the load on the brayer.
Having so much fun with this class from @miamiprintmakers / @oolitearts
.
.
#blockprinting #blockprintingprocess #blockprintingvideo #printmaking #printmakingprocess #blockprint

Printed the first color (rather, colors...) of my

Printed the first color (rather, colors...) of my block for reduction block printing class with @miamiprintmakers . I just had to give those palm trees a Miami sunset 😎

I went back in for another few layers of shadow. I

I went back in for another few layers of shadow. I think there’s a lot to be said for “knowing when to stop”, because it’s so tempting to keep adding layers, and I didn’t want to mess something up. So I almost didn’t speckle my mug because I was worried it would go wrong. But I’m so glad I speckled that mug.
Thanks for following along with the dramatic little journey of this still life 💛

Watercolor class day 2. For my still life today I

Watercolor class day 2. For my still life today I chose Brussels sprouts and a white mug, of all things, which made for a big challenge. But my victorious moment was when I did the first blips of green on the Brussels sprouts... and they already looked like Brussels sprouts!!! I sent the picture to David (photo 3) and he guessed what they were! It’s really hard for me to paint something without including every tiny detail so the sketch-like, watery quality of this little still life feels like a big step in my painting journey. 🙌🙌🙌
Class with @artwithabr, put on by fantastic @oolitearts - thanks Ariel!

Recent Posts

Reduction Block Printing: Rainbow Palm Trees
In Printmaking
July 19, 2020
Sam Learns to Paint: Introduction
In Painting
July 16, 2020
Laser Cutting and Magic Making
In Laser Cutting, Painting
July 2, 2020
QUILTID-19 Photoshoot: My Completed Rainbow HST Quilt
In Quilty, Sewing
June 23, 2020

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