HARMONY ART ORGANIC DESIGN
  • Fabrics
  • Ordering Fabric
    • Fabric Calculator
    • USA Ordering >
      • Organic Cotton Plus
      • TeresaMade
      • Honey Be Good
      • Silver Needle & Thread
  • Who's Using our Fabrics?
    • Featured Designer
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • Baby
    • Bedding/Home
    • Children
    • Pets
    • Service Providers
  • Press
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Blog
  • Why Organic?
    • Why Organic?
    • Textile Truths
    • Organic Evolution
    • Organic (r)evolution
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • History of Harmony Art
    • Artist Statement
    • Speaking
    • Trees Talk
  • Fabric Glossary
  • FAQ
  • BUZZ

100% Organic Cotton Fabrics

For home sewers, businesses, retailers, and anyone who gives a scrap!

Wind Over Mountain (or Smacked Down)

11/18/2010

4 Comments

 
Picture
The on-demand digital printer Spoonflower asked me to participate in their "Celebrity Smackdown" design competition.  The theme we were given was The Elements and we were told to interpret as we liked.  You can see the other entries and the winning fabric by clicking this link.

Above is the design I came up with and here's the explanation:
My design was inspired by the ancient I Ching, specifically reading number 53: Wind over Mountain.  (The top leaves/petals have an image of grasses being blown in the wind.  The lower leaves/petals contain photos of mountains.) The background of my design is the ancient I Ching coin (round coin with square hole in the center).
53:  Wind over Mountain - Chien/Development - Those who persevere make continuous progress.


I really wanted to take the opportunity to do a design that could not be printed using rotary technology (which is how I print my stock fabrics).  Rotary screens could never get the photographic effect that you can achieve with digital.  I figured if I was going to do a design specifically for digital printing it should use those advantages.... unlimited colors with no per color screen charges - heaven!

I have done some digital printing in the past for special projects like a photo shoot for Modern Bride magazine or special pillows for an interior design project, but I had never printed with Spoonflower.  I learned a few things in the process.  Spoonflower is definitely geared towards automation.  Their business model certainly seems to hing on this.  See, I did the design, in repeat, uploaded it only to find out my esoteric 3" drop was not an option.  WHA?  I was shocked to learn that digital printing can be less accommodating than rotary.  I had never in my 13 years of designing textiles been told that my drop had to be a particular size.  So, of course, being me I had to ask why?  It comes down to automation.  To give everyone the right to make any drop would require different scripts to be written.  Spoonflower only has automated 1/2 drops along with a few other more straight forward options.  So, if you want to print with them you must get with their program.  Wish I had realized this before I did the repeat - sigh - I did the repeat over.  From their business model it makes complete sense.  From a designer's perspective, I found it annoying. 

I told Spoonflower I would ONLY participate if I could specify that my print only be printed on organic fabrics.  I made the commitment to organic fabrics in January of 2005 and am not about to end that commitment for this competition.  They agreed to my "terms" but are so far unable to limit what selection of base fabrics someone can choose.  So, my design is not available for purchase at this time.  They tell me they are working on it.  This is another example of the down side of automation.  On the plus side their printing is very reasonably priced and they seemed to have created a wonderful community of designers.  If I were a new designer just the thrill of seeing my design on fabric would have me sucked in.  Their weekly (open to all) contests are also a great way to get your designs seen and your name out there.  Congrats to Samarra Khaja (representing the Spoonflower home team) for her takin' the win. 

What would I have gotten if I had won?  Well, the prize was that 20% of the sales of the fabric of any of the contestants would go to the charity of the winner's choice.  Drat!  That would have been fun to pick.  Oh well... you win some, you lose some.

To quote the I Ching this design is based on again: " Those who persevere make continuous progress."  Cheers to that.

4 Comments
Cathie Haynes link
11/19/2010 01:11:38 am

I just LOVE your design!!!!!!! It is the BEST!!!!!!!

Reply
lizzard
11/19/2010 02:43:31 am

I knew that was yours! I like it!

Reply
stardove link
11/19/2010 02:50:23 am

shoots!I voted for yours!!well,we all know YOURS really is the best!

Reply
Teresa Van Hatten-Granath link
11/20/2010 02:39:19 pm

I still like yours bestest.

t

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    www.HarmonyArt.com

    Harmony in an oak tree

    Harmony Susalla

    Founder of Harmony Art organic design.


    Thought as a System book cover
    currently reading
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2025
    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    January 2015
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Braggin
    Business
    Challenge
    China
    Co Creating
    Co-creating
    Design Process
    Diy
    Family
    Friends
    Giveaways
    Gmos
    Goals
    Gots
    Guests
    Humor
    India
    Interviews
    Knits
    Misc.
    Monsanto
    Organic Fabrics
    Packaging
    Plastic
    Politics
    Product Guides
    Products
    Recycling
    Research
    Retailers
    Sales
    Soapbox
    Speaking
    Special Offer
    Travel
    Tutorial
    Usa
    Video

    RSS Feed

© harmony art 2005-2025
  • Fabrics
  • Ordering Fabric
    • Fabric Calculator
    • USA Ordering >
      • Organic Cotton Plus
      • TeresaMade
      • Honey Be Good
      • Silver Needle & Thread
  • Who's Using our Fabrics?
    • Featured Designer
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • Baby
    • Bedding/Home
    • Children
    • Pets
    • Service Providers
  • Press
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Blog
  • Why Organic?
    • Why Organic?
    • Textile Truths
    • Organic Evolution
    • Organic (r)evolution
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • History of Harmony Art
    • Artist Statement
    • Speaking
    • Trees Talk
  • Fabric Glossary
  • FAQ
  • BUZZ