<![CDATA[Dawn Stratchko - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[Dawn Stratchko - Blog]]>Fri, 23 May 2025 00:44:26 -0400EditMySite<![CDATA[I Will Sew a Mask for Anyone]]>Sun, 10 May 2020 19:50:47 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/handmade-masks-to-slow-the-spread

Wow! The Covid-19 has changed our lives. What started as making a two masks for Rich and I, turned quickly into many. I will sew a mask for anyone. I have sewn for family and friends and will continue to sew masks. Two layer masks that have no pocket are 5.00, adjustable masks with straps are 7.00, masks made of chiffon are 9.00 each. The above fabric prints above are sold out. All sports sold out, too. I did not design the prints on the fabrics above. Eventually, I will be getting back to custom designed prints on my fabrics, but currently do not have in stock in quilter's cotton fabric.
   My studio hours are now 11-4:00 Tuesday through Saturday. Delivery days in local area only Tuesdays and Thursdays after 4:00 p.m. No returns due to Covid-19 pandemic. I will be more than happy to make a replacement.
   God bless you! Thank you to my new customers!

   This fall I will be making felted, wool masks! Watch for designs to come.

]]><![CDATA[Flowers of Faith]]>Mon, 13 May 2019 02:46:08 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/passion-grace-believing

May has been a rainy month in Massachusetts. It is has been easy to get down and blue, but I have been working hard on staying faithful to God and flowers to stay up-beat and happy. Recently, I visited Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston, MA and was greatly inspired with the beautiful spring flowers. My mediums I used were gouache and alcohol inks. I painted the gouache on hot-press watercolor paper. With the alcohol inks, I painted on palette paper. Through flowers, scripture and prayers, I worked myself out of my dull moods. When you put Jesus and flowers together, how can anyone get down? God bless and keep painting.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

]]><![CDATA[SURTEX - Art Licensing & Buying]]>Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:49:56 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/surtex-art-licensing-buyingI have not written in several months. In February, I attended SURTEX at the Javits Center in NYC for the very first time. SURTEX is a B2B convention for illustrators and pattern surface designers who wish to sell their art for licensing deals. It was very excited to attend. It took a lot of work, time and money to achieve this first venture. I am extremely happy I went and exhibited. I met amazingly talented and gifted artists whom have similar or the same dreams as I. I felt like a fish in water. I have searched my life for this and will continually work hard at this, for this is my dream - to have my artwork in stores throughout the nation, that people can enjoy my artwork.

At SURTEX I met buyers and senior art directors. Through meeting and discussing with potential clients, I began to learn what they are interested in with my style of artwork. I have learned that I needed to make adjustments and see things a little bit differently than I had seen before. I have to vision the end goal, the end product of what it will be used for. I realize now that I have to achieve collections for the products and not just one piece. Most importantly, I have to be aware of what color schemes people are buying today and what scale are the designs.

What I always have to keep in mind when I am creating, I have to remember to ask my self, "Would I buy this?". This is important.

]]><![CDATA[Christmas Trees]]>Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:44:13 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/christmas-trees

Close-up of the backing of the blanket. (super soft fleece.)

I have been working on making products for the craft fair in Peabody, Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Glenwood School. I have made plush Christmas Tree warm and fuzzy blankets that measure 50x70". I have also made a new painting on wooden panel (to the right) 16x16" Sunrise Christmas Tree with gold embossing and rhinestones. I will also have scarves that have prints made from my other paintings and prints. (See bottom, right.) More products soon to come!
Be merry, be happy, stay warm, and keep creating! :)
God bless.

thank you,
Dawn

]]><![CDATA[The Holidays are Coming!]]>Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:28:43 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/the-holiday-are-coming

Christmas trees! This will be my next product coming soon to my Etsy shop in Minky Fleece!

My process began with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. Next, I drew tshapes to mimic needles with a fine tip black marker. After drawing, I cut the shapes out and began building the trees. I took pictures of them and edited in Photoshop. Once the Photoshop editing was complete, I brought my images into Illustrator to streamline the color process and build my repeat pattern. I am very excited about this design. I have the design out now to be printed on Minky Fleece.

I am offering a special through December 25, 2018 - anyone who favors my Etsy shop will receive a 25% off in my shop! I even have some items that offer free shipping! The link is below to my Etsy store. I will be adding new products (like the above pattern) as we get closer to Thanksgiving!

Get inside offers and free promos when you sign for my newsletter beginning in November!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DawnStratchko?coupon=HOLIDAYCOUPON

]]><![CDATA[Beautiful U]]>Sun, 30 Sep 2018 21:52:53 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/beautiful-u

Introducing my Beautiful U sporty, plus size dress line! I have worked long and hard for year to launch this new line. Thanks to the lessons from Bonnie Christine and working with Clothier Design Resource to make the dream a reality. Since the arrival of my dress line, I will be focused on selling through ETSY.com.

Dreams can come true! Follow your passion, creating your own rainbow.

We all work very hard in our everyday. On a daily basis, we begin mostly happy and something will come our way with a challenge, like a sickness or something else. You wonder, why me? For every hard time, we have to remember that this will make us strong and we have to somehow learn from this. When time gets hard, my release is my painting and walking my dog, Izzy. When I get stressed, she will lick me and ask to go out. I hook her up and we walk. Our walks are so special, I love each one. It gives us time to enjoy the nature right in our own neigborhood. During our walk I always get inspired by something.

I am continuing to paint ,especially I have been inspired by fairies, flowers and pumpkins. I will also focus on designs for the winter as those cozy nights are arriving.

Come see me at:
October 13, 2018
Holiday Craft Fair
290 Granite St
Elks Club
Manchester, NH

November 17, 2018
Peabody Holiday Craft Fair
West elementary School
15 Bow St.
Peabody, MA

]]><![CDATA[Abstract Summer]]>Thu, 23 Aug 2018 15:16:26 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/abstract-summer

It has been an abstract summer! This summer was life changing for me! Along with getting my alcohol ink paintings getting printed on fabric through Spoonflower, I also started hiking and exploring the outdoors. This is my passion and I would love to travel more; letting the great outdoors influence my work. I want my passion of colors, through abstract design, to be worn through clothing. People should wear joy! I am continually working on my scarf line and will be soon announcing my menswear tie line and plus-size, sporty dresses which can be worn on all types of occasions. Enjoy the last days of summer! God bless and keep creating. Please, shop my Etsy store at: www.etsy.com/shop/DawnStratchko

]]><![CDATA[Passion of Abstraction]]>Sun, 20 May 2018 17:31:08 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/passion-of-abstraction

This month I have been attracted and engulfed by the passion of abstraction. Due to the recent loss of my beloved best friend, my emotions have changed and soul saddened. This person is no longer sick and I am glad he is in heaven. I now truly feel what an artist feels. I have an emotional story now to tell of my life - it is real - love is real - emotions are real. I am no longer afraid of letting go any longer. It seems these emotional images are coming through my work now and now know what I am supposed to be doing. I was going to write a book about it, but instead feel I can show my best through my artwork. The images are coming through when I paint. I hope everyone will enjoy my journey of passionate life through painting. Painting is my passion.

]]><![CDATA[Falling in Love with Alcohol Ink]]>Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:59:23 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/falling-in-love-with-alcohol-ink

I have been experimenting with alcohol inks and have fallen in love with this new medium! I began using the alcohol inks on Yupo paper, but have found that it is expensive. Continual use of Yupo paper will get costly. After searching YouTube channels, I found and experimented that one can use freezer paper. It is very affordable and be found at any grocery store. Another method, is to prime board panels used for acrylic painting with KILZ primer.

Application and Use Instead of using the method of applying the ink by droplets from the bottle, put a few drops in a palette and use a paintbrush. Instead of using water to clean the brush or to spread out the ink on the paper or primed board, use rubbing alcohol. What I experienced was amazing, that was a step beyond watercolor! You can also mix the colors of inks to create your own colors and adding the white mixing medium, you can create pastels and muted colors. You can also let the inks dry on your plastic or glass palette and reuse them at a later date- just add a drop of alcohol! Have fun!

PLEASE USE ALCOHOL INKS and RUBBING ALCOHOL in ventilated area - THESE CAN BE FLAMMABLE!

]]><![CDATA[Rise]]>Sun, 18 Feb 2018 17:57:55 GMThttp://www.dawnstratchko.com/blog/rise

As a gift, Rich took me to see the Georgia O'Keeffe show at the Peabody Essex Museum. I was greatly inspired by her when I was young and in high school. She will always be a great, strong woman icon in my life - she is one of the reasons I paint. She was always so bold and was never afraid to represent herself in her own way; not conforming to society standards. Her strong spirit is felt in all of her work. As an artist, I felt at times that I had to conform to what is popular, or what is selling, or what is "on trend". I have realized now, it is perfectly fine to be different, to rise up and stay true to your heart. God wants each and every one of us to rise and share our own gift with others. I do not understand why we have fear, that sometimes hold us back in our lives. We have to release this fear and let God and nature in. Due to this reawakening of artistic spirit, I broke out my old calligraphy set and starting lettering again. Once my still-life study painting was complete, I superimposed the lettering over the painting to make cards. Keep painting and keep rising. God bless.

]]>