Local illustrator and designer Joanne Gilbert, of Cazenovia, will present a Trunk Show from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday Nov. 7 at Cazenovia Fabrics.
Gilbert’s “Drawn to Letters” designs include cloth alphabet books and paper goods.
“Quilters, crafters or anyone who appreciates playful art and handmade designs will find this event full of creative ideas and personalized gifts for young and old,” Gilbert said. “This is an opportunity to view unique projects for all skill levels. Personalized cloth books, pillows, cloth banners or framed prints can be made by starting with a Drawn to Letters alphabet square in your favorite letter.”
This event will introduce Gilbert’s newest fully-illustrated alphabet on a fabric panel, a baby block kit/panel and “piggy prints,” all on 100 percent cotton quilting weight. Knitters’ pun cards, greeting cards and wall prints for holiday giving will be displayed, and tea and cookies will be available.
Gilbert began “Drawn to Letters” in 2009 as a modern twist on the classic cloth alphabet book. She created bright illustrations for every letter sound and designed a fold out book where each page uses the child’s name letters as the story.
Since its inception, the line has expanded to personalized wall prints, nursery rhyme prints, cloth message swags and greeting cards for grownups. All books and small prints are original art reproduced and handmade by Gilbert in her home studio.
Gilbert says the upcoming trunk show is an opportunity to use her illustrated alphabet in visitors’ own projects.
“The letters lend themselves to many ideas and I thought a natural extension would be to offer them to sewers and home d cor crafters for their own use,” she said. “Cazenovia Fabrics has been very encouraging and supportive of my designs. By mixing my art with national brands of fabric and yarn you will get a unique local shop experience.”
“Drawn to Letters” finished products can be purchased or custom ordered at Cazenovia Artisans, where Gilbert is a newly juried member, or at Chloe’s Closet in Fayetteville.
She said she values the opportunity to sell in small local shops, where the customer wants to know the maker and the shop owners know their customers’ tastes.
“I’m selling good memories and it is a thrill to think about each customer’s future experience with a personalized handmade item,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert is one of a growing number of Central New York artists who also showcase and sell their work online via the handmade shopping site called Etsy.
“Selling online offers a different kind of personal touch by allowing your work to be in people’s homes and businesses at all hours,” Gilbert said.
She has found customers from the mid-Atlantic states, Australia, Ireland and Finland. Her knitters’ pun cards were featured in the UK magazine Yarn Forward and most recently she sold 5 prints to NBC studios for props in a TV drama.
“That was really a kick – to be acknowledged by a professional stylist – but I am much more thrilled to create a book or card that will become a good memory in someone’s life story,” she said.
Gilbert has a degree in illustration from Syracuse University and worked as an illustrator, designer and materials buyer in the food and fashion industries before relocating to Cazenovia in 2000. For the past nine years she has been teaching adjunct courses in drawing and fashion illustration for Cazenovia College, ESF and Syracuse University.
To view or purchase Gilbert’s work, or to contact her, visit “Drawn to Letters” online at drawntoletters.etsy.com. For more information on the show, contact Cazenovia Fabrics at 655-8500.
