Introducing: Alli Coate Weddings

In the past year or two I've started getting a number of requests for custom wedding designs, and while I really enjoy working on custom projects, there can also be drawbacks - custom work doesn't always fit within a thrifty bride's budget, and juggling my job and etsy shop keeps me pretty busy so it can be tough to take on extra projects.

I came up with a way to offer customized products, without the custom pricetag. As an ongoing project, I'm going to be creating different suites of wedding stationery with a whole range of coordinating pieces.

Here's how it works - you choose the piece(s) that you'd like, order through Alli Coate Weddings and submit your text in the "Notes to Seller" field. Within 24 hours you'll get a digital proof e-mailed to you to double-check for any mistakes. Once you've approved your design, you'll receive a print ready PDF file- ready to print on your home printer or send to a local or online shop. You can print as many or as few as you need; the cost stays the same.

Take a look... what do you think? What other products would you like to see?

Young Blood

My prints have taken a little journey down to Atlanta, GA; if you live nearby, you can go visit them at the lovely Young Blood Gallery & Boutique!

Soft

After months of only creating works digitally, I've been longing to make something that lives beyond my computer screen. This collage combines a drawing inspired by a taxidermy butterfly with some of my favorite threads and a scrap of fabric left over from my projects in Bolivia. I love the faded colors (which might not translate so well on screen, unfortunately) and the beautiful mess that always occurs on the back of an embroidery.

{for sale here}

Last Minute Gifts

Hello, friends! If you've had an eye on anything in my shop, now is a great time to grab a few gifts (and perhaps a treat for yourself). For the rest of this week, use code HOLIDAY2010 when placing an order through my etsy shop to get 20% off any order (valid until next Monday the 20th). I have most items in stock (will ship immediately), and anything that I've run out of will ship Monday the 20th at the latest. Which is conveniently the USPS holiday shipping cut off date (for U.S.) ! Ah, and I almost forgot to mention- I'm also including a free bird ornament with any fabric item purchase.

I hope this helps you cross some lines off your to-do list. Hope you have a peaceful week!

Bazaar Bizarre Boston!

I am getting so excited for Bazaar Bizarre Boston this Sunday, it will be my first time attending or selling there. I'm sharing space with fellow artist friend Karli Hendrickson who makes awesome prints. Come visit us at booth 114!

RISD Fall Alumni Sale 2010

This Saturday was such a perfect day for a sidewalk sale! The weather was beautiful and it was so great to meet and chat with so many people. I've stocked my etsy store with some new things and am working on getting ready for the rest of the season- look for my work at this year's Craftland Holiday Show as well as Bazaar Bizarre in Boston. Here are two photos I snapped before things got busy, and the last two by risd president John Maeda.

Cloud Carrier

I have been spending a lot of time lately searching through old photographs, digging through my family's collections and diving even deeper into vast online archives. While I'm not sure exactly what has prompted this recent binge, it reminds me of the hours I spent as a child engrossed in the stories of how life used to be. Now, I'm enjoying taking these snapshots and giving them a new life.

For this piece I started with a pencil drawing of the boy carrying a wheelbarrow. After experimenting with a few colors digitally, I mixed a perfect shade of mint and painted a background directly onto some linen. Over the weekend I stitched some fabric clouds over the paint, and when everything was finished I combined all the separate elements digitally. I am so glad to live in a time when technology allows me to combine my favorite mediums this way!

I hope you like my newest experiment; I'd love to hear what you think! And if you have a spot on your wall just waiting for this fellow, you can find him in my store.

winner!

I love this candy-colored palette right now! So happy and summery. I thought this would make the perfect little gift for someone you think is a winner, so it's for sale here in my shop:

shop update!

Hooray, finally getting my shop updated with new work! I've been itching to pretty up my print photos, and here's what I came up with. A recent acquisition of vintage spools of thread provided some inspiration and color, along with some of my sewing accessories. I think these new shots do a better job of emphasizing the fabric aspects of these illustrations, what do you think?

I've also added some of the fabric jewelry leftover from the risd alumni sale. Take a look and keep checking back for more updates!

Little details

Working on beautifying my product photos a bit! You'll see soon...