Alluminare: New pattern "Chains"

I am very excited to announce that I have a new pattern on Alluminare! In case your new to my blog, Alluminare is an online lighting, wallpaper, pillow, and fabric by the yard company. Once you find a pattern you like, you can change the colors and scale to match your taste and needs.

My new pattern is called 'Chains". It is a bit retro and a lot modern and a great alternative to a stripe. I was playing around this morning with some color combinations. What do you think?

Check out their site here. Also, check out the featured designer:)

A trip to the countryside: Sümeg & Hévíz

Over the weekend we headed to the countryside. It was such a nice break. I love living in Budapest but sometimes being in the city can get to me. People in the city seem to be skeptical and withdrawn. As soon as you arrive in a small town, the whole mentality changes. People are curious and happy. I think this is true in any big city, not just Budapest. Do you agree?

The village we went to was Sümeg. A sweet small town with a castle and a disco:) Who would have thought!

My friend Evi's grandmothers house. A sweet old house with beautiful roses!

The weather was not cooperating. It was cool and raining and very grey skies.

On Saturday we spent the day at a wonderful spa called Hévíz. A natural lake where the temperature of the water does not fall below 22 C° (71 F) even in the winter, and in the summer reaches 38 C° (100 F) ! Thanks to the 410 liters flowing forth every second from the spring cavern, the lake’s waters fully regenerate in three and a half days, therefore remaining continuously clean. There are water lilies everywhere! So beautiful and relaxing!

Saturday night we headed to the disco and danced with the locals!

It was so nice to be away from my computer and with great friends. A much needed weekend break:)

being inspired by fashion

I just got lost in the style.com for the past 2 hours. Being from a fashion background it is no wonder I get excited by the fabrics and the patterns.

So, here is what is inspiring me! One thing is for sure, florals are everywhere. And they are romantic and painterly! Just what I love.

Roses!

D&G, Jil Sander, Nanette Lepore

Garden Florals

Aquilano Rimondi, Betsey Johnson, Etro

Romantic Florals by D&G!

More by D&G

I love these florals by Marni
I love these prints! They look like they could be silk paintings.
Stripes and geos

Etro, Missoni, Missoni

I heart Pucci!
Animal
I love the twists on these animals prints. The blue ground by Blumarine is beautiful!

Blumarine, Blumarine, Philosophy, Trussardi 1911

negresco....I mean nespresso

Sometimes I just laugh at some of the knockoffs I see. Is it me or is this a bit too obvious? I saw this while doing a little shopping on Sunday.

The real deal.

I wish I took a photos of the "H&N" shop that was done in the same fonts as "H&M". Unfortunately, the H&N is no longer open and the sign is gone:(

brainstorming with brush in hand

It was a busy weekend and I have a busy week ahead of me. Not much to say but lots to share. I spent the weekend painting. it always feels good to get away from my computer for a day and paint. Here are the results:

I like the roses. I think it is going to become an all over print in dark multi colors.
I think it could be interesting.

I am really enjoying painting with silk paints on water. I imagine it is like sumi painting. (I think that would be a good class for me to take.)
Added some black on top of the yellow.
I love the rose in the upper left corner. I am excited to get this in to a print!
A days work of brainstorming with a brush:)

The 3rd Collection

I promise I will stop posting about the fabric collections but I am so happy about the excitement around the collections, especially "Sweet Tooth". Hawthorne Threads wrote a lovely piece about Anthology Fabrics and "Sweet Tooth". Click here to read all about it!

I have a challenge that I could use you help with. I have designed the third collection which will launch in November at the International Quilt Show in Houston. My challenge is naming this new collection. "Sweet Tooth" came so naturally. Everything about the collection is 100% me and if you know me at all you know I always have a serious sweet tooth (inherited from my father:).

So, this third collection was inspired by my recent trip to Beaucaire, France. I can transport myself back to those 10 wonderful days when I think about the following:

• Lavender fields and songs of the cicadas. Terracotta rooftops and old shutters in shades of blues and greens. Flower pots decorating balconies and door steps. Quiet siestas and afternoon naps. Enjoying a latte while a man with a baguette walks by, tilts his head, and with a smile, says "Bonjour".

photos taken in and around Beaucaire

So, any ideas?

Alluminare: Hot Happenings

Alluminare posted a nice write up today over on their blog. Check it out!

Also, I am currently working on a new design for them. It should be up by the end of the month!

click here to read Alluminare's blog

Antoinette's Garden

This weekend I started on a commissioned silk painting, Antoinette's Garden. Click here to see sketches of the design. It has been a long time since I have painted. It felt good to mix color, get dirty with paint. I love having paint stains on my hands:) There is a video at the bottom of the post where I explain what I am doing. Enjoy.

I thought I might try uploading videos. What do you think? Should I continue with the video blog?

More Press and Fabric giveaway!

**Sew mama Sew! is offering a fabric giveaway! Winners are being chosen on Monday so hurry up and check it out! Click here: Sew Mama Sew!

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It has been an exciting weekend! Sweet Tooth and Folk Life are starting to show up in online stores and the response has been great!

Anthology fabrics has been great to work with, giving me the creative freedom while working with me to strengthen the collections so they fit the customers needs. Anthology has a long history in the fashion industry and so working with them has been a very natural process. If you are new to my blog, you may not know that I have over 15 years designing in the fashion industry.

Another reason why I excited to be working with Anthology fabrics is that they are known for quality and value! And it is coming across in the press! Click here to read what The Fabric Quarter Quilt Shop is saying!

"Sweet Tooth"

Two more shops to find my collections:

The Fabric Quarter Quilt Shop

Fabricworm Etsy shop

The photo below is from Fabricworm. I like to see how the color ways are being mixed together!

"Folk Life"

For more info on where to buy my fabrics look on the right sidebar at the top. I will keep adding shops as I learn about them!

One Sweet Tooth Satisfied!

News Alert! The ladies over at Marie-Madeline Studio blogged about my "Sweet Tooth" collection AND they are selling the fabrics! Anthology Fabrics just sent my box to me so I haven't seen the real fabric yet. The photos below are from the Marie-Madeline Studio blog. I am so excited to get my box.

Thank you ladies for the blog and I hope your sweet tooth is satisfied:)

Morning Meeting

A great place to have a morning meeting at 10 am on a Tuesday.

Alexandria coffee shop above a bookstore. Its beautiful. Don't you agree?

WhoMi & Art Drops

Hello! After 2 crazy months of travel, visitors, and work, I am back. I can not believe today is September 1. I have been thinking a lot about the past 8 months. Last year was full of running after business and feeling like I wasn't going anywhere. Then January 1 came (no lie-it was really on Jan 1) and everything turned around. I have been waiting for business to slow down. But it hasn't-it just keeps growing! It is very exciting and I am so happy that last years work and patience has paid off. The projects that have been coming my way are fantastic and continue to push me as an artist and business women. Lets just say that there has been a lot of personal and professional growth going on over here at Diane Kappa Designs. I feel like 2010 has been my year. I am anxious to see what waits for me in 2011!

I know we still have 4 months left in 2010 so lets talk about NOW! Two new project have recently launched! One I talked about a few months ago called WhoMi. I finally got the samples and wanted to share with you what they look like. WhoMi are color coded agendas. They have color coded lines for planning events for each family member and they are durable and fashionable :) Very clever!

Next is the Ipop "Art Drops"! I have had so many people recommend jewelry be made out of the magnets. Well, Ipop must have been hearing the same thing. These necklaces are colorful and little pieces of art. Dear Ipop, can you work on rings next?

And of course they come in the gift case like the magnets!

I was happy to see my design made the cover of the brochure!

So, although you haven't heard from me in awhile I have been busy and there is a lot to share in the next couple months. Stay tuned for more!!