YOU WANNA PLAY, OUI?! Le MINI GOLF!

I have always loved mini golf! I also fell in love with Paris when we were there in 2016. Then, fast forward to 2020 when I was taking Stacie Boomfield’s Leverage Your Art course, we were given an assignment to do a map. I used that assignment as a jumping off point and created the first version of the illustration you see in the panel of this new collection. This past May, I reworked it and it became the backbone of my Le Mini Golf fabric collection for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics!

Here are few fun facts that inspired each print:

MONUMENTS: When I was in Paris my mom and I did a speed run through the Musee d'Orsay. We had 45 minutes before it closed. It was the first time I had ever seen an actual Monet! His colours are to die for!

FLOWERS-PLAY DAY: In high school we’d take the bus to the big city (an hour away) just to play mini-golf! * This print also comes in RAYON! it’s so dreamy soft!

FLAGS: Well I love geometrics, triangles and colours. I only wish real mini golf had flags you had to take out of the holes!

POLKA DOT-GOLF BALLS: When I submitted this collection to PBS Fabrics and they accepted it, they requested this print with larger golf balls, which I loved the idea of!

SCORE CARDS: Truth be told, I don’t keep score when I play (I find it more fun that way) but I do LOVE the little pencils!

Le MINI GOLF SIGNS: This is the print that inspired the Sunshine Inn signs!

HOLE IN ONE: I love pink and green together AND I love BIG stripes! I can imagine these flowers popping out of each hole like whack-a-mole!

WOOD-TEXTURE: This is the texture behind the panel repeated… because who doesn’t love a snazzy tone on tone?!

PARIS GOLF COURSE: Paris is everything everyone and every movie tells you it is! I would love to go again even if I could only go back for another 45 minutes in the Musee d'Orsay!

This I did not know: The Eiffel Tower isn’t black, it’s beige! I was shocked standing in front of it, what the heck! I guess I had seen so many black and white photos of it, I just assumed. Also did you know there’s an apartment at the very top! Yeah! Me either!

HELLO BIRDY: It feels weird to have an odd number in a collection, so when I submitted the golf balls, I also submitted this print. I took the layout of the Paris print but used my text instead and added a few flowers. I used one of my favourite colour combos, red and pink. Although what I consider red some people consider orange. If we split the difference we can call it orangie-red :D

So there you have it, the whole scoop behind this collection. Le MINI GOLF will start shipping to stores in November and if I had to guess (and it’s 100% a guess) it will be in stores January-ish.

Lots of people ask me where they can buy my fabric. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see the distribution list but when stores tag me on Instagram I make sure I link to them on my website under COLLABS and under the specific collection. Also local fabric stores will often happily bring in a collection if it’s requested.

In the mean time, we will be sewing up a storm of projects and samples that will be posted on Instagram (@lysaflower) and under Le MINI GOLF COLLABS on my website. AND of course one of my very favourite things is to see what you make! Please tag me, I’d love to see it and repost it!

And lastly, as tradition has it, I have created a playlist for this collection on Spotify. I actually curate these and listen to them while I’m creating each collection! Enjoy! FORE!

SUNSHINE INN! WELCOME!

I’ll admit, every time I finish a collection I think… “This one is my very favourite!”… and that’s how I feel about Sunshine Inn, my fourth collection for Paintbrush Studio Fabric! It was created deep in the dogdays of last year’s COVID summer. We were all itching to travel, relax by a pool and be carefree! Since I couldn’t do that I dreamt of being welcome to the Sunshine Inn:

“The ultimate destination to relax and recharge! The sun is warm but the breeze is cool, perfect weather for summer VINTAGE or GROOVY FLORAL dresses. Dip your toes POOLSIDE. Complementary TOWELS are provided. Loungers are by the BREEZE BLOCKS, left of the snack shack, they have POPSICLES! They also have FILM for your POLAROID camera, to capture all your vacation getaway memories. When you've filled your day to the brim be sure to pick up your ROOM KEY at the SUNSHINE INN!”

I bet they’d have tiny umbrellas in the drinks too! So now you can join me there! The fabric is shipping as we speak! P.S. The large Hexi’s are a panel print.

I often get asked if I know which stores sell my fabric. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see the distribution list but if a store tags me on Instagram or sends me an email I happily add them to the list on my website. Also I always suggest people ask their local quilt or fabric store to bring it in. All they have to do is reach out to Paintbrush Studio Fabrics Wholesale and they can hook you up! Personally, I can’t wait to get sewing with this collection! Because, yeah… it’s my new favourite! And as tradition would have it I also made a Sunshine Inn playlist. Double enjoy!

In other news! I was just notified that I’ve been accepted into Print & Patterns Designer’s for Hire! I can’t even begin to tell you how over the moon I am about this! So many of my design heroes are on that list. The second photo is my banner (AND you might notice the new logo!). I’ve Oooohed and Aaaawed over the Print + Patterns site for years! So I’m super pumped to have now been featured on it!

Coming up: from May 7th to June 4th, I’ll be showing work at the Seymour Art Gallery. Here’s a little sneak peak. I’ve never done art prints before and I LOVE how they turned out! Maybe I’ll see you at the opening! It’s May 15th from 2-4pm.

Again, I’ve collaborated with Mad About Patchwork for some “What would Dolly Do?” bind and winds… because what would Dolly do? She’d finish that darn quilt, but in style! Using a snazzy bind and winder!

Later this month I’m going to be interviewed by Brandy for her podcast Quilter on Fire. She invited me after I did a talk for her Okanagan Modern quilt guild last month. It’ll be out in June!

And Lastly, I have a present for you! A tutorial for making the Nesting Boombox bags from the Let The Good Times Roll Panel… and yes there are some still out there! Or again, your local quilt or fabric store can still order them. In the mean time you can download the tutorial HERE.

Wow, so much has happened since February… I’m ready for a getaway vacation!