Photoshop is easier than sewing | How About Orange

January 25, 2008

Photoshop is easier than sewing

While scheming about projects to make with fabrics from my new line, I figured I'd test some ideas to see if I like them before I go through the agony of actual sewing. Some of this might be on the ambitious side for me. Who am I kidding? Reupholster a chair? Definitely beyond my skill level. But I think I could pull off the pillow.

I would love to see what you guys make from Modern Flora. And now you can get started, because it's available to order at j caroline creative! Yep. Right here, right now, for How About Orange readers. The link is hidden on her site so only people clicking over from here will find it. And better yet, Caroline is generously offering 20% off Modern Flora purchases just for you guys! (Ssshhh, don't tell anyone.) Enter the coupon code ORANGE at checkout to receive the discount. The coupon is good through this Wednesday, January 30, so don't waste any time. The fabric will be advertised to the rest of the world on Monday morning.

Thanks for all of your encouragement and enthusiasm, guys. You're wonderful.

62 comments:

Sarah said...

Sweet discount! And congratulations on your new line. It is absolutely beautiful. I love the fresh, spring feel. (Come on, spring!!!)

Anonymous said...

So cool! Love your prints!

Grandma G said...

So cool about the discount!

I'm excited for you!!!

Love,
Mum

Anonymous said...

I love all the patterns. AND I just went on over and ordered a yard of the Blue Leaflet. I have been looking for something mod and blue and bold, exactly like this, to make a curtain with for my sons' bathroom, and this fit what I had in mind perfectly!

Also, this is the first time I am commenting, even though I read your feed all the time :)

Average Jane Crafter said...

Yay! Thanks for that great coupon. Just got some of the pea pod - I can't wait to see it in person! Congrats and best of luck with the line. :)

Jessica Jones said...

Stephanie, that's great! Thanks for saying hello. AJC, thank you, too.

T. Kimberlyn said...

Wow...your Photoshopping skills are awesome....all of the images look great! The new line is gorgeous, you should be really proud of yourself!

trisha said...

haha, i agree! but photoshopping on the bedspread, that's pretty good ;)

Georgina said...

Hi Jess! I love your fabrics! I wanted to buy them but when I went to the checkout I saw they dont ship to Argentina yet... :(
I'll have to wait.

Jessica Jones said...

Bummer. I'll lobby for this.

Jodi said...

Wow! I can honestly say that it would be easier for me to sew these items than to figure out how to to "that" with Photoshop!! I aspire to become more computer literate this year!! I love your new fabric collection. Congrats!

Shannon said...

Hello! Long time lurker, but this is my first comment too. I just ordered some of your beautiful fabric. Thanks for the discount! I'll send you pictures of what I make with it. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

grace said...

Just ordered - cannot wait to get my hands on those prints. But I don't know if I'll be able to cut into them...

Crystal said...

Your photo shop skills are amazing! I pretty much want to marry your entire line of fabric. It's so cheerful and spring-y. I'm ready for spring.

Anonymous said...

Wait - you Photoshopped those photos? Sweet Jesus! You have mad skillz.

Off to place my order!

Anonymous said...

I do love your fabric line, and congratulate you on it! Plus, your photoshop abilities are downright crazy.

paperseed said...

That is so cute of you to photoshop all those items with your fabric. I like them all. If you were secretly hoping to inspire the rest of us, then you've done a brilliant job!

Anonymous said...

I
LOVE
IT

Sister... its gorgeous!! FUNKY, FUN, and FRESH!! Can't wait to order mine! One of these days I gatta pick your brain on how you got started designing fabric! Inquiring minds want to know... Keep up the good stuff mama!

Stephanie said...

It is sooo awesome!

dede said...

Yum Yum Yum!
Ordered some up last night.
Good goin', kid.

dede

Christy Amular said...

Gorgeous stuff. :)

Anonymous said...

Ordered last night! ;)

Jessica Jones said...

Oooh, fabulous! Thank you! It's so gratifying to know some people out there like it!

craftyclaire said...

What a cool idea, with the photoshopping!

Good luck with your fabric, hope it sells out!

Anonymous said...

I love these fabrics, but international shipping costs are ferocious! Are you planning to work with any European sellers?

Anonymous said...

I love these, just ordered and big thanks for the discount!

Jessica Jones said...

I have to admit I don't know the answers to questions about shipping internationally. (I know Caroline wants to try, but some countries have customs laws that add extra taxes, so it can be a bit complicated or cost-prohibitive.) I'd suggest contacting jcaroline creative if you want to have fabric shipped to you and your country is not on the list.

As for selling the stuff in Europe, that's another Caroline question. It's up to her!

Thanks for asking about all this. I know we want to accommodate as many people's requests as we can.

Alya said...

I tried sewing, hated it - actually didnt feel like it.. it was too hard!

So a Gold Star (or 5) for you!

Anonymous said...

ooh, it's so fun to see your fabrics on all those items. You really should dive in on the chair. I have that chair in my daughter's room. I recovered it with a pink print for her pink/green room. If you can sew a straight line, you can cover that chair. It's basically two big pillow covers. It really would look fantastic in your fabrics.

Thanks so much to you and j caroline for the discount!

Oh, and I'd love to see more ideas for your fabrics. So fun!

47cats said...

OMG,that fabric is BEAUTIFUL! I love it. And I have to have some, but have to wait till Monday...no money now...boohoo! Lynn

Unknown said...

I agree about your Photoshop skills. I, on the other hand, find Photoshop much harder than sewing. What instant gratification!

Thanks also, loyal readers, for your fabric purchases!

(I will definitely investigate shipping to Argentina. No plans for European distribution yet, but we can ship limited yardage via the Postal Service.)

Jamie Lives in Tokyo said...

Jess, I can see that I'm not the first person to think that making something with your fabric would be a million times easier than using Photoshop to pretend that I had? Anyway, I hope I actually have the inspiration to back that statement up, since five yards of your fabric is coming my way soon and I know you'll be watching!

Vacuum Queen said...

I would really love to hear what people's plans are for your fabric. I have a hard time coming up with new fresh ideas. For now, I just want to look at it and enjoy it! I know there's a way to make something for my farming gramma too. Peas are all over here. Must make pea project. :)

Vacuum Queen said...

AND...I just ordered 1 yd of each. Couldn't decide! So far I'm thinking...patchwork placemats. Has anyone here ever used clear vinyl with fabric for placemats? I'd love to hear about that. I'll have to google it.

Anonymous said...

SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONS! Beautiful beautiful fabric

Anonymous said...

Congrats! It is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love the chair and the little purse!! I'll cross my fingers for European distribution soon :-)

jen said...

sweet! I'm just beginning sewing, so it'll likely take me a while to be confident enough to use it, but I just ordered some green sprig & green herb!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the fabric. as for an idea, i was thinking of covering some frames (like stretching a canvas) and just hanging them on my walls as a series.

don't be intimidated by upholstery! it is one of the most satisfying things i do. just practice on some cheap fabric the first time around. you'll get the hang of it soon. (here's a secret: some furniture pieces require very little sewing: lots of pulling and stapling.)
thanks for your beautiful fabrics!

jessilong said...

yay. I got a yard of all of them. Now to figure out where I want to use them.

Julie said...

What, no orange? Seriously, they are beautiful and have me wishing for spring.

ellencrimitrent said...

I am curious how you did that, I would love to know! I love your fabrics, you were in my state to see them how nice!!

Ellen

Jessica Jones said...

Oh, I just use the "upholster" tool in Photoshop. Just kidding. Um, a combination of clipping paths, layer styles, scale and warp transformations, levels, curves, and contrast and selective color adjustments.

Grandma G said...

Yeah, Jess... that sounds soooo much easier than sewing... ha! I think I'll stick to sewing. :-)

Mum

Unknown said...

these are wonderful!

Adrienne said...

I couldn't stand it any longer - I had to order! I was so excited I forgot to use the discount code...but I don't care! I love these fabrics so much that it's worth it! Good work.

Anonymous said...

lovelovelove! i just purchased some blue/green peapod. thanks for the discount. i'm sure the experience of creating your own fabric line was fantastic. me = orange with envy!

thanks for the fantastic blog.

adesignaffair said...

Congratulations. I spotted your prints on print+pattern! They are fabulous & so modern!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous fabrics! They're all so bright and fresh. I just bought some of the Green Herb and I can't wait to use it!

Lisa said...

My fabric shipped, my fabric shipped!!!

Unknown said...

argh -- I can't believe I missed the coupon by one day. sigh.gotta wait until the dollar improves again. pink

Emeline said...

Just wanted to say congratulations on your fabric line... they are gorgeous! Can't wait to get my little hands on some!
I think I've commented on your site before, but way to go! This blog is a really great balance of stuff. You should be really happy with it!

Unknown said...

Very cool stuff. Congrats on the J Caroline gig. It must have been exciting going to the mill to see your stuff come out. Love your palette and color sense.

Lisa said...

LOVE the fabric and I'm so glad I found your blog!

Miss*Laurence said...

Great! I'll get over there right away... Oh, I was lucky I scored 75% in the famous-cheap test!

Desi McKinnon said...

I love reading your blog. I was wondering since I consider you queen of the tutorials...could you tell me how you applied your fabric to those photos? Congrats!

Jessica Jones said...

See my answer in the comments above... in a nutshell, it's way too complex to post a tutorial on!

Cassidy Jayne said...

I love the little clutch!

Anonymous said...

Love the line :) a lurker coming out. You have a really inspirational blog - thank you!

i'm trying to look for tutorials on photosohop to do what you just did with your material and everyday furniture but could not find something. i was looking up masking but not sure if that is what this is. any tips?

thank you - liz

Jessica Jones said...

Yep, part of the process is creating layer masks. You'll also have to warp (a function only available in CS3, I think) and switch your layers to multiply style to get the background shadows to show through. And do some adjustments for contrast and whatnot.

Melissa said...

what version of photoshop do you use? i am very interested in buying it but i'm not sure what version...

Jessica Jones said...

I've got CS3, the latest version. If you buy it, you might as well have the most up-to-date one.