I have a bit of a strange attraction to poppies. I love their whimsical ways, all their different colors and their podlike sidekicks.There is nothing quite like a field of poppies swaying in the wind,especially when it’s a field somewhere in the french countryside.
I must have 1oo’s of pictures of poppies in all their glory .
A 4 month sabbatical in the south of France and it was hard not to come home with a picture, or two, and a sketch. That is a whole other blog ago which I have never even mentioned here! (If you feel like an afternoon escape you can follow my family of 4 through a 4 month adventure, full of mishap, in Europe at http://www.lifeinaoncetime.blogspot.com. It seems like a lifetime ago.
I have started to incorporate my poppy drawings into the pattern world, but I have yet to do them justice. They are not BIG enough or whimsical enough yet. I find I am much looser with them in paint. In the digital world I am finding the pattern part a bit restricting.
I am starting Michelle Fifis The Ultimate Guide to Repeats today and I am definitely hoping for some insight into this.
For now I will continue playing with positioning and different ways of representation for my #365 pattern project.It is easy to whip up a pattern, but it takes lots of tweaking to get it just right. #365patterns is a good starting point, but I have to remember to go back and continue to work on my daily patterns.
And a coordinate just for fun! There is a small part of me thinking that I may start to create some digital download scrapbook pages and clipart so my mind is all about coordinates these days. I will keep you posted.
Have you had a chance to check out Skillshare yet? Skillshare is an online global community centered around creativity, collaboration and learning by doing.
I have two colleagues teaching there next month and I think you may be interested. The first is Faye Brown of Faye Brown Designs. She will be teaching Typography how to communicate effectively through the power of typography – starting June 14th, 2013
The second course is Reign Repeats learn how to create perfect repeats in Illustrator taught by Majo Bautista. Starting June 7th, 2013 she will teach you everything you need to know to create a design to submit for a Spoonflower competition.
These women are both knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.
Never stop learning!
spaark.wordpress.com 
Julie~I love poppies too. You know that they will look very different to each person & I think that you have captured them beautifully. I am sure that I will continue to enjoy your journey as you work on them. 🙂 One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! What you are not happy with I thoroughly enjoy. TFS
Thank you! I have been on quite the poppy journey for some time now. In my minds eye I know how I want them to look on paper, but getting them there is a whole other thing. I like your comment – so true!
Another poppy fan here. I used to live in the South of France and they just grew wild along the road. I have some lovely pics. Enjoyed your post and the designs looks great. Particularly liked the black and white version.
There are a lot of poppy fans out there… me too! Lovely post Julie x