August is here!

Hey Everyone… it’s August!  The temp is going sky high and air conditioners are running a lot! The bees are getting thirsty and a little angry.  I hope you are staying cool and getting some R and R.

For those who are new…. I am Shirley Hudson, designer for Hudson’s Holidays Designs. I live in Spokane Washington with my husband Dana and 21 year old daughter Selina, who is also a designer.  I have designed over 400 embroidery, quilting and home décor patterns.  I especially love making patterns for the holidays… all holidays. 

I am super proud to tell you… that I have been writing and designing a BOOK!  My first book…and it is by C and T publishing called “Lovely little hand embroidery”. 

It is coming out March 2020.  Books take a long time to create and I have been dying to tell you about it. This is such an exciting adventure and can’t wait to share the cover with you soon. 

I thought these colors screamed Hot ... Summer .... August!

The phone or tablet calendar is downloadable here.

Just set as your background.

The desktop version of the August Calendar is here!  

Once again I made the left side bright pink so you could see your computer icons.

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This is the freebie that comes in my august newsletter....sign up so you will get the next one and future freebies.

This is how my design first started, just a doodle. I fix it up on the computer using adobe illustrator.

I thought it would be fun to have some bees wanting the bears flower. Usually the bears want the bees honey.

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I have been really loving watercolor lately...it is fun.

When I start a watercolor painting...I basically use a water soluble pencil and wet it down with a brush and water.

I start adding colors and shading.... 

after many layers of watercolor....I get out my black India ink and pen nibs.

I found a cool antique brass ink well at an antique store for 20 bucks.

It has been so much fun to use, plus I feel like I am in another time using it. 

Here I was playing around with ATC cards....which I later painted with watercolors.

I inked up this lady....added color after my ink was completely dry....

Here she is all painted up. 

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For my birthday, my hubby bought me a class I was dying to take....from Cori Dantini.

IT was awesome. 

You learn how to add old papers to wood...and draw using pen and ink....

I also was working on a plain box I got from hobby lobby.

At this point I am adding watercolors. 

Building up layers and ink. 

She ended up great!  Her dress was an old embroidery pattern.... that I beefed up.

I am really happy to learn more techniques.

My box turned out great too...wild flower garden.

I recommend taking online classes.... they are great to do at your own pace.

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I made a stop at a fabric store....Bear paw in CDA for my birthday...

I fell in love with these Tim Holtz fabrics.  I am not sure who designed the cats though.

I spotted these Valentines...I love all the holidays so much! 

And camping fabric....oh so cute. It looks like my daughters camper.

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Here is what's new for Halloween so far....

I made some One of a kind Halloween ornaments ...from muslin and they are painted.

They are primitively stitched and have sweet little bakers twine hangers.

I love this crazy guy.

If you would like one, they are in my etsy shop.

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Update.....

I just wanted to let you know...that I have reduced many of my older patterns in my etsy shop....they are all instant download and u print....but they are a great deal. 

I figure since they are not new anymore, that it makes sense and gives you a discount. 

 But they are still super cute!

There are great patterns from fall crafting...

And Christmas crafts too!

Plus many more of all holidays and everyday!

This baby grew in my garden, without me planting it...so sweet to just show up....

Have

a 

Very 

WONDERFUL

AUGUST!

What the peep?

Ok...I promise I am not getting vulgar!

Just having some fun...Easter is coming...lol.

I love the look of peeps and the marshmallow smells so good.  I just don't like biting into the sugar.

Well...I am not really going to talk about Easter....

I want to share with you some little bits of art I have been doing.

I have been playing around with lettering.

I need a lot of work, but practice always helps.

Here are some atc cards (they are white cardstock pieces of paper the size of a playing card)  I did...first the lettering on a card...just using a black sharpie.

Then I watercolored it...very simply I might add.

I was enjoying the painting alot. 

Here is what is looked like before.

Just me goofing around.

There are globs of ink and letters that look goofy....but I was trying to let myself just play around. 

Isn't this funny!

I love it! 

I love this one....believe it sooo much!

If you can't be nice, then either I am leaving or the pest is!! lol

I watercolored it with some favorite colors....then I added a border using the free photo editor

Pixlr 

I love pink also....my digital sign"Everything is better in pink" sells constantly on Etsy...I think there are alot of pink lovers out there! 

I added pink watercolor...which I had to make mixing red and white together since I didn't have it in my watercolors.

I think you should try making some of these to.

Take a favorite saying....write it on a atc card using a black sharpie...then watercolor.

It doesn't matter if something didn't turn out...you an always throw it out if you hate it.

Play alittle today!!

Come to thrifty Thursday!  Come to the Pin me linky party! Come to the Party Bunch!

Making my space more me...

I probably said this before...but bear with me. 

My studio is a huge building right next to my house.

To save on a huge heating bill...I decided to have an office in my house during the real cold months....since I am working on adobe illustrator most of the time anyway. When I want I can heat the building...and craft up a storm...haha.  So far our weather has been pretty darned nice.

I guess I am a thrifty Scotswoman.

I made my new office as cute as can be ....and the sun shines brightly in it most days!

I started organizing it...looking better all the time!

I got some wonderful wall pockets from Deflecto....My hubby put them up in a flash.

My house was built in 1921....plaster walls....so there is alot of wallpaper!

I kept this yellow wallpaper....so retro and cheery.

I added more stuff to my bulletin board.

Here is another wall pocket...right next to the door.

I put my DMC thread chart in there and my tablet and also the latest mag I am in (my project is n the cover)

My daughter gave me a cute butterfly print for Christmas along with some other goodies.

This file holder is handy for my idea files and also pattern info.

Nothing gets bent or scratched...love it.

Here is my one of my lamps...made from a goodwill lamp (olive green and mustard yellow base when I saw it).  I painted the base white....took off the awful fabric on the shade.

Took strips of a flowery vintage sheet and tied it to the shade....instant shabby chic lamp.

I have my old computer handy and printer.

It truly feels like my space...inspiring.

I have my artwork above my computer...it is nice to see all together like this.

This organizer has an inside divider so pencils/scissors can fit it without sliding around.

These fit great on a small wall space area that was even used before.

It is nice to have things easy to reach for.

Very handy.  They are strong too.

Selina (my daughter) and I went to Goodwill....there were these artist pens just brought out by a gal.....these are premium double ended ....one side a marker brush and the other a smaller tip...Tombow. A ton in a big blue basket. 5.99......SCORE! All new

Pretty all grouped together!

Normally these pens cost 3.19 a piece.

I felt so lucky to get these.

We are going to play around with them on her break!

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Life is art

Paint your dreams!

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