A to Z Fluevogs Return in April

This year I'll be "Blogging from A to Z" with my annual (going on six years) challenge of drawing Fluevog Shoes and creating repeating patterns with them. Eventually, these designs wind up on Redbubble and Spoonflower.

Link to a spreadsheet with specific links for each shoe 

From Arbus (2017)

to Zewde (2022)

Ready for an exotic shoe adventure?

What the heck IS the A to Z Blogging Challenge? you ask.

The A to Z Challenge is held every April. The challenge is to blog through the alphabet every Monday through Saturday. The “A” theme is blogged on April 1st, “B” April 2nd, etc.
More about the challenge can be found on the official Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog.

It's a lot of fun! Give it a try!

Linking up with...

Shelbee's Edge of the Week

Pretty in Pink Fluevog Munster

Fluevog link

I originally made this repeat in psychedelic colors to go with my inspiration from Lady Miss Kier and Deee-lite's video of Groove Is In the Heart.

A recent browse of the Fluevog site revealed a pale pink version so I recolored the repeat and uploaded it to all the Redbubble things.

Redbubble link

I ended up using the single image more than the repeat!

Fluevog #vog_beesknees Repeat on Repeat

This one took a lot of rehab!

For the original post, I didn't achieve the under-and-over lattice effect that I wanted, and didn't have time to figure it out.
I cropped a screenshot of the repeat layout for my posting here and on Instagram.

entire screenshot!

cropped image used for posts

It took a lot of retouching in Photoshop to get it correct (or as close to correct as I feel like getting). The shoe sketch got a major facelift as well. And color corrections! Fluevog is not too accurate with color on their website, so I called upon guidance from some Fluezies (Fluevog fanatics) on Facebook. Angelique sent me this photo of her own shoe:

I used it for my blue/pink colorway:

Shopping links [I get a commission]:
• Black/ White colorway on Redbubble  || on Spoonflower
• Blue/Pink colorway on Redbubble  || on Spoonflower

Which pattern should I fix next?

Fluevog #vog_Liz New and Improved

This style comes in lots of colorways (as evidenced in this Google Image search capture:

I'll eventually get versions done.

In the original version of this, I couldn't decide, so I made a mixed plaid:

Compare this to the new version, and you'll notice the shoes are less distorted.
I traced the new version in Illustrator, using a stylus on my Wacom Cintiq.
Less character, more accurate.

For Redbubble, I made a "hero" image for some of the items:

Redbubble link [I get a commission]

And here's the Scarf with the repeat:

Redbubble link

Fluevog #vog_Fantine Print

The Fantine print needed no corrections, aside from some color adjustments. (Original post here).

Available on Redbubble items [I get a commission].

I also worked up a colorway for a Spoonflower limited color palette challenge.
The rules were to use "at least 2 of the following colors: Navy (#031838), Light Orchid (#D3A0CC) and Burgundy (#81001E) and black/white are optional".
I opted for Navy, Burgundy, and White, which turned it into patriotic goth.

If you feel like voting on my design, click here [only active 2/15-20].

Fluevog #vog_Arbus Print

Let's see if I can make Mondays my day for revisiting my Fluevog prints that I did last April and getting them uploaded onto Redbubble.

Today, I started with the Arbus, in two colorways.
Blue, like last year's:

Redbubble link [I get a commission from Redbubble sales]

Burgundy/Ochre/White on Black:

Redbubble link

I'm Enthusiast! #vog_enthusiast

I've polished up Enid's Enthusiast repeat and am happy to say you can now find lots of Redbubble stuff in the Black/Pink colorway. [I get a commission on my Redbubble product].

Here's the mug:

Here's the A-line Dress:

Here are Leggings:

Do you own another colorway of the Fluevog Enthusiast?

[Image swiped from Fluevog.com]

I could use your color matching help!
Grab this handy color chart JPG,

Right click or Control click on image

print it out [do not try to match from your screen],
and let me know which color codes best match ALL the colors on your shoes in the comments below.
Also add a link to an IG photo, if you can.
I will be VERY grateful!

I'm not even sure how to deal with the contrast T-Strap style... maybe put that in the plaid?
Also wondering... make the shoe outline the buckle color? Keep it white? So many possibilities!
Back to the drawing board, as they say.

[Update, 40 minutes later]
You can also add a link to your #vog_enthusiast IG photo below and post the codes as your title.

Clog Sandal -- Black Colorway

I did a black colorway of the Sandal Clog. It's slick.
Now I want the shoe itself in black.

See the full range on Redbubble (I get a commission from sales).

Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

The 70s Called -- They Want Their Fluevog Clog Sandal

Scarf link on Redbubble. Per usual, I get a commission from Redbubble and Spoonflower sales. 

This one I redrew. I was unhappy with the original. 

Because the bodycon dress always comes with black sleeves and back, I put the image on black: 

Dress link

Shall I be lazy and buy the A-line dress?
Or shall I sew it?

Sew it, much less $$.

I even corrected the repeat so one can interlock pattern pieces.

Spoonflower link

I wish I could find my Spoonflower Color Chart test prints to check that I have the correct yellow.
Probably faster to reorder. Sigh.

Hey Punk! The Fluevog Creepex is now on Redbubble! #vog_creepex

Here's a Creepex outfit available on Redbubble:

Yes, she looks weird.
I frankensteined two images.
Tee link.
Skirt link.
[I get a commission from Redbubble sales]

I decided that a hero image of the shoe was the way to go for the tees, etc. 

Plus you can choose your own color tee, if you're getting one of the non-allover styles.

I'm working on uploading the black and white Fluevog shoe prints while I wait on my Color Chart skirt, which I will take over to the Fluevog Venice Abbot Kinney shop to perform precise color matching -- because I care!

Not sure exactly what garment I'll get in the Creepex.

I must get SOMETHING, since I actually own this shoe.

Still debating on whether to get the Giver. I am VERY tempted. Plus it would match my dress.

And yes, it's on Spoonflower too, for all you crafty types. Not yet for sale. 

But pretty funny as wallpaper, no?

Linking up with Catherine's #SaturdayShareLinkup

#AtoZchallenge and #ifjm2017 -- Conclusion

Whew. One pattern, one hour, 30 days. I did it!
How often was I late for work during April? Um, we won't discuss that.
Some I'm happier with than others, and I'm not sure if I'm going to go back and "clean up" the more distorted shoes ("details mattering" and all). Maybe their crudeness is part of the charm.

I made a compilation print of four shoe styles, so I'd have something to wear for Fluevog Day.

I got myself a Tee Dress in it on Redbubble, and am very pleased with the quality.
[I get a small commission from my Redbubble sales, thanks for your support!]

I sprang for the faster shipping so that I could wear it to the Otis Scholarship Benefit Show on Saturday:

On Sunday, I posted this photo on the Fluevog Friday Facebook page and the Fluezies went nuts!

You know how "they" say find a need and fill it to market something successfully?

I think I found it!

OK, back to Concluding.

I took on the persona of Enid for this two-pronged challenge (A-Z and IFJM) to get a body of prints created. Complete success! I can already tell that my followup tasks of putting the art into proper repeats and uploading to the print on demand services will roll out more slowly. Color matching to the shoes is one hurdle. I think I'll have to go to the Abbot Kinney Fluevog with my color chart printed on a Redbubble dress or skirt. And I'll need to do the same for Spoonflower. Gah. I loathe color matching. Too much like the day job!

I will definitely do something similar next year. It's a great way to trick myself into getting new patterns created.

I want to give a shoutout to my dedicated commenters. (Blogger doesn't notify me when I get comments, so I was a bit slow in responding, sorry about that!) It was a different group from my Trucks A-Z posts, which I find interesting.

Pat of Missives from Missouri, posted A-Z photos. 

Deborah, of Temenos of the Blessing Light, wrote about unusual A-Z words relating to "pronoia, peace, and quiety".

Debby, of My Morning Cup of Coffee, wrote about us Baby Boomers, A-Z.

Joan did a fake journal as Tracy at the Ranch

One more thing, for the A-Z admins:
I REALLY REALLY preferred this year’s daily letter comment links over the previous intimidating Linky list. People were able to give theme descriptions along with their links and I found more blogs to read and follow that way. The legacy list is too long and too uninformative and I DON’T LIKE IT.

The End. [is only the beginning]

Party Leopard

Meet "Party Leopard" my newest print-from-a-class-demo artwork:

I didn't think I'd come up with anything exotic this week, I surprised myself!

At the end of class, I took a photo of the classroom's Cintiq monitor and posted it to Instagram, as a joke.
Lo and behold, a Facebook Friend loved it and wanted yardage!
I then had the task of putting it into repeat, because it was an unplanned combination of 3 different repeats.

Here are the elements:
Leopard forms the topmost layer of lavender ground and transparent leopard motifs.
It came from this demo file:

Next are the purple dots, from this file (in class, we all created a dot 1/2 drop from scratch):

And, at the bottom layer, is a lovely print that I've been using to demo Photoshop's Offset Filter.
I call it The Tie Dye Eggs:

I found this dumpster diving at the Otis Fashion Campus in the early 00s,
when they were situated at the Cal Mart in downtown LA.

IT EVEN HAS COLORWAYS!!!!

Recently, while doing a Google Image "tie dye" search, I discovered it online!
Had to "Pin" it! [Alas, the Pin link is not good. Boohoo]

So yes, the Party Leopard can [soon] be found on Spoonflower* if you want yardage.

And Redbubble* for most of the Redbubble things:

* I get a small commission from Spoonflower and Redbubble on purchased items.

Party on, Leopard People!

Did someone say Conga Line? Taking this party to Shelbee's #SpreadTheKindness and Catherine's #SaturdayShare
Catherine introduced me to Redbubble, and I'm forever grateful!

Happy Year of the Fire Rooster!

[Added]
I just put this graphic up on RedBubble and it's available on all sorts of items!

Throw In the (Beach) Towel

New thing available at Society6 -- towels!

In addition, they're offering free shipping through midnight, May 8.
Use this extra special link.

**I will get 10% commission on every towel sold.
Thanks!