Hello!

Let me begin my studio update sharing that I have SNAIL MAIL mailing list. I have lots of plans for my list so I can send cool stuff and updates in the mail. For now, I’m building my list. If you want to stay in touch with me, this is the best way to keep track of my work in the world. Link to Snail Mail sign up

Now! What have I been up to? First - HURRICANE GIRLS! This book, available for preorder is written by National Book Award Winning Kimberly Willis Holt!

Hurricane Girls takes place Westbank of New Orleans, this contemporary coming-of-age novel is a journey of growth, healing, and difficult transitions as the girls navigate their many life challenges: family trauma, body insecurity, and the conflict between ambitions and responsibilities. It's a powerful and enlightening exploration of how to surmount personal tragedy through friendship and forgiveness.

Not only did I get to work for one of my dream clients (and birthday twin) Christy Ottaviano but I go to illustrate a full wrap and the inside of the book as well. Jenny Kimura designed this terrific type treatment on the cover and was a joy to work with in from sketch to finish. To see some of Jenny’s design work, visit her website here.

Would you like to see some of the rejected sketches from the project? Below are the ideas that didn’t make the cut!

Throughout the book, the chapter heading is decorated with black and white illustrations. This is one of my first times getting to showcase black and white work. I have an exciting project under wraps that will include a lot more black and white in pastel. I look forward sharing more on that when the time comes.

Along my client work, I am writing my own stories. With my stories, I have been working in pastels exclusively to create the illustrations. These pastels are different than what you might think of. They are small dishes and the chalk is applied with a sponge.

As you may have seen in the news, AI (in summary, a robot that creates art by scrapping images from the internet to produce a new image) is threatening my job as an illustrator. Because of this, I think that is why I have been drawn to more traditional mediums like pastel.

It’s unknown if my stories will find a home at a publisher but for now, I’ll keep working.

Now let’s talk CRAFTS! I was intimidated to make a bag like this - but dying to try it! To my surprise, look how well it turned out!

To begin, I collected scraps from some of my favorite collections. All good things begin with scraps! Let’s be honest, most of the fabrics were by Tula Pink!

Working the squares in this diagonal looks really impressive but it’s easy to do.

A bit of trimming and we are off to add batting. I used a foam batting with a lofty batting on top to get a puffed up look.

Now if only I had a place to go to take my duffel!

Speaking of intimidating crafts, last night, while watching Christmas movies I made this star using folded fabrics. Isn’t it charming?! Would make a lovely ornament or keepsake. This craft is no-sew! Only fabric and your iron is needed. Check out the pattern and my advice, go slow!

With some imagination, this could be made in different sizes. Garlands, placements…. endless possibilities. Want to make your own? Check out this pattern here.

Lastly, many people have reached out about my health and I know it has been surprising to see me out and about with a cane. However, I want to thank-you for the prayers and kind words. To say the last two years have been hard would be an understatement. Death knocked on my door and I told him, NOT TODAY! Though I am still undergoing treatment, I am doing significantly better. As for autoimmune diseases, it’s often a day-to-day, ups and downs but I am okay. Here’s a photo of me and a note from my nurse on the cup.

Craft and be Merry! Best wishes to my friends and readers! Happy Holidays.

Kirbi

The quilt I title “blue raspberry” it uses the same “Sister Star” pattern that my Chocolate Horse quilt is.

Can you see the blue raspberry influence?

This quilt is lightweight, but the best I can describe it is that it’s on the heavier side of lightweight. It’s an oversized baby blanket, about 40-40.

This is quilting in a “free motion” style. No two areas are the same.

Details includes 6+ designer fabrics, 100% cotton. Fabrics are floral, gingham, polkadots and a few patches of illustrated horses.

I’m going to be an aunt again!

I poured my heart into a shower for my sister this weekend and it’s been killing me to keep it all a secret from her! The day was a success with faces I haven’t seen in years. Life is my canvas! Come on in, let me show you all the details.

Evan and I (try) our best to be conscious of waste. For this party I wanted the things we decorated with to be things my sis can use and treasure…. including this quilt! Bailey described her dream nursery to me with blues and greens, a watercolor feel which inspired this quilt that has a touch of a gradient.

I’ll do a whole post on this quilt another day. The hand quilting is done in a variegated thread ( I don’t think I’ll ever sew with anything else from now on! I didn’t quite get the edging in time, but luckily, I still have a 15 more days until my nephew arrives!

Under the chandelier, we created this paper hot air balloon and sewed stuffed clouds to hang The hot air balloon base we found on Cricut but we made some changes to the design. Like adding small flowers and gluing the tabs on the outside for more interest. This piece was really hard to put together. I enlisted Evan to help with this one and it was a mistake to give someone with huge hands this job. Oops. Thanks Ev!

In the dining room, I hung these hand made whales. I was inspired by Wallace the Whale pattern (free.) This pattern was way too big for what I had in mind so I shrunk it down. I also added barnacles using a French knot embroidery technique. Adding some patchwork with multiple fabrics and some textural stitches created some variety. With the clouds, these will make a great mobile for the nursery!

My motto throughout the house was, PUT A BOW ON IT. Cutting paper into eyeglasses shape create an easy bow. Add some tails and voila! I held it together with a clothesline clip which also made putting up the bows easy!

Our biggest wow factor was the balloons. Posh Parties came with a stunning display. If you are looking for some pizazz for your party in Michigan I highly recommend them. Their color scheme pulled everything together and created a great place for us to take photos. THANK YOU!!!

We picked out some fabrics based on these colors and sewed “mini” bunting and used it all over the house. This can be reused for a future birthday or special event. The “mini” bunting is extra cute for shower but I’m partial to “mini” as many of you know!

Labels made with the help of the Cricut!

Our home town favorite chicken salad on the menu.

Ya know I had to have matching nails! LOL

My Aunt and Mom were a key in every piece and I couldn’t have done it without them! This wooden train, a gift from my Mom to my sister we dressed up on the mantel. We hung 6 outfits with bunting and bows beneath, though I did not get a picture of that or the pillows my aunt made! Things got down to the wire at the end there!

Thanks for checking out my creations and I hope this inspires some ideas for for repurposed parties and showers to come!

Happy Fall!

I don’t know about where you are but here in Michigan we’ve had a stunning fall so far. Sometimes There’s snow… there’s always rain but this year has been sunny and bright. As many of you know, when I’m not drawing and painting I’m sewing. For the first time, I’d like to sell one of my baby/toddler quilts.

It’s hard to let some of my works of art go and this one is no different. My hope in selling this is that it lands in the hands of someone who can love on it and that the funds can allow me to continue to make these special, one-of-a-kind creations.

The fall-inspired quilt has a hint of horses! The design is a star, that my sister and I teamed up to design. Stars in quilts historically have a special significance. When a woman would leave her town to travel west, her friends would each make a star block that they would put together into a larger quilt. Consider this big star my well wish to its new owner!

This quilt is 100% cotton, oversized baby/toddler quilt about 40 x 40 inches. I use the highest quality cotton. (I’ve already washed it so you don’t have to worry about shrinking!)

The back of the quilt is chocolate brown and the star pattern is visible on the back as well. I used a free motion technique to create the meandering lines as well as loop-de-loops to accent some of the squares.

This quilt is a heavier style quilt, with 4 layers of fabric total. One the edges is a satin cream edging - just like my childhood blanket.

The price of this handmade quilt is $95. Free shipping (US only.) To purchase this quilt please reach out to me via Facebook or email kirbifagan@gmail.com

Hello! Today I have a new art sample to share. This October weather has been so beautiful and the season is inspiring me with its color and decorations! I met a neighbor’s little girl this week who is dressing as an Alien for halloween. I’m hoping for good weather so I can set up on my driveway with some of my books for trick-or-treaters and see all their creative costumes - Aliens and all. :)

The narrative is all about the little details.

This is the background I drew with pastel and colored pencils, that I used for the background in the final illustration.

Until next time,

Kirbi