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From Doodle to Rubbing Plate

May 22, 2014 ShellyStokes

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by Shelly Stokes, Founder and Creative Mentor
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plate1-compositeWith the new Kaleidoscope Rubbing Plates ready to burst on the scene in June, I thought you might like a backstage look at the process for bringing these babies into the world.

Like many other creative efforts, the designs begin as ideas that eventually find their way out of my brain and onto a piece of paper. At that point, I enlist Matthew Mills, one of my longest-serving team members to give me a hand.

Matthew is an amazing graphic artist — and he is incredibly good at turning my doodles into Illustrator drawings — and making them better in the process. It is very much a back and forth process. Here is how one of the Kaleidoscope plates evolved.

doodle-to-plate1

There is actually a lot that happens before a design reaches the “doodle” stage. I generally start with a theme and spend a lot of time looking through images. (Google is definitely my friend!) Once the concept gels, it is time to get the first cut at the designs down on paper.

doodle-to-plate2

Matthew takes the doodles and sends me the first iteration of the design. Then I get my handy red pen out and send back the first set of changes.

doodle-to-plate3

Rubbing plates have an interesting set of design constraints. The “white space” has to be large enough to keep the design elements from bleeding together, but small enough to keep make them easy to use. And the fuss-factor must be kept to a minimum.

doodle-to-plate4

Eventually, we get to the point where I am confident that the design will work after the plastic forms on the mold. Then I say a prayer and send the designs off to the manufacturer. And hold my breath while I wait…

doodle-to-plate5

It takes a week or so for the metal molds to arrive at the manufacturing site — I LOVE getting that phone call! I hop in my car and take a day trip to Brainerd, about two hours from home.

doodle-to-plate6

The acid test for the plates is to do an actual paintstik rubbing on fabric. The staff at the manufacturing company always get a chuckle when I arrive with my tote full of fabric and Paintstiks. But the guys in the tooling lab do not even want to think about drilling all of the tiny air-holes in the molds until they are sure I am happy with the molds.

doodle-to-plate7Soon, very soon, packages of these lovely rubbing plates will be available in your local shops and in our Online Store. I am cooking up a special offer that will include the Kaleidoscope plates. I will send it your way as soon as we have the ordering details worked out.

(In case you are wondering, this photo is more of Matthew’s magic. We won’t actually have the new rubbing plates to put in a package for weeks yet — but here is a product image, all ready to go. Yes, it’s magic!)

kaleidoscope-composite-blog

The Kaleidoscope designs are absolutely lovely — and the possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy using them as much as I have enjoyed designing them for you.

P.S. Speaking of possibilities, Laura Murray is already dreaming up cool ways to use the Kaleidoscope designs with her amazing line of stamps. I will visit her tomorrow and cannot wait to see what she has done with the sample I sent her way!

Filed Under: Blog, Exploring Design, Fabric Art Tools, Making Rubbings Tagged With: Remove Post

Comments

  1. Leanne says

    May 22, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Awesome! They look great! I’m very proud of both of you! =)

    • Shelly says

      May 27, 2014 at 10:14 am

      Thanks, Leanne. I’m so looking forward to getting my hands on the real deal!

  2. Judy McElwee says

    May 22, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    Some more talented and amazing work Shelly! God gave you and Matthew both a talent to treasure!

    • Shelly says

      May 27, 2014 at 10:15 am

      Thank you for your kind words, Judy. God certainly gave me a huge helping hand when Matthew came my way!

Trackbacks

  1. From Minnesota to You, Made with Love | Cedar Canyon Textiles says:
    June 4, 2014 at 7:58 am

    […] into production without my tag-team design partner, Matthew Mills. (You can read a post about our design process here.) Matthew is the guy who transforms my doodles into computerized drawings, helps me refine the […]

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