Amanda Kastner⬥StorySeamstress

When I saw the week's Illustration Friday word, I knew this project was doubly appropriate. Above is my 18" doll pattern design for an 1812 day dress--check it out at my sewing pattern website ! Below is the 1812 "roller print" style pattern I designed for the 1812 day dress sewing kits  available on Etsy . It started off as an ink sketch which I scanned and tweaked so the pattern would repeat smoothly. It's super fun to see it printed on fabric at a doll-sized scale!

I feel, my dear, that you'll need plenty of pluck and common sense. Your husband thinks he's quite amazing--which may be true--but I'm afraid he isn't always extremely practical. Recently I re-read Howl's Moving Castle and thought, "What if Sophie trimmed a hat for herself? What sorts of enchanted things would she tell it?" I imagine it would be something like this. Howl isn't amused. Pen and ink with an ink wash. I hope to give it some digital color one of these days.

It's official...someday I need a gypsy caravan.

It's been a while since I posted, but I've been busy traveling this spring/summer--and giving a few watercolor lessons as I go. Yikes! As someone who learned watercolor mostly by trial-and-error, that can be a little intimidating. :)

Someday (ah, elusive someday!) I'm going to turn this into a picture book; the Norwegian Cinderella with her rosemaled wooden shoes in place of glass slippers. Pen & ink, ink wash, & watercolor

Pencil sketch                 Pen and ink (traced from the sketch)               Watercolors