Is it retro or something else?

Working on a new design today, I think I am feeling a little on the retro side. The first flag is my original design and from there I used some other color combinations. Which color do you like best?
My vote is for the original but the others are pretty good too.

Original retro burst of all kinds of colors 

Blue and greens 

Just the burst with salmon pink and red maroon 

Soft tones in ecru and peach

Bold black red and ecru

Ready to Paint Shades?

It's taken about a week but I have my designs ready to paint for my new class "Hand Painted Shades Easy Polysilk Painting" with 5 flags designs and a bonus! Super excited to share this, I think we will start to see more guards this year with there very own hand painted flags. 

Design a Band Color Guard Show Theme Board

I really love the simple lines and complex structor of this Color Guard Flag, with each box being in its own space. This is one visual effect that can be done with hand painted flags.

This flag design was inspired by aspen tree shapes, it's subtle cracks and snaps of her twigs. The individually hand painted box for each flag is something thats been an image in my head for a long time but getting the concept to translate into something that everyone else can see and understand was hard to do with out a photo. So, here we are introducing my first design board!

What shall we call the theme? I have a few ideas in mind but I want to hear yours. Post and let me know your great ideas.

Concept Board #1 Twigs Flags in Gray and Red Box

Adventures in Summer

Most of my summers, growing up, were spent traveling.  When I was very young my parents would pack up our VW bus and off we would go from Utah to California all 10 of us! As a teenager and young adult my summers were spent touring with the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps in Denver. Living in Utah and commuting to Denver took a tole on my social seen in Utah. The few friends I had didn't really understand why I was gone all summer and when I cam back I was transformed into a super human beach body.

It is only fitting that I am still traveling with my kids across the world. Doing what my parents did to me as a child. My evil plan starts with hiking, swimming, national parks, maybe a few lakes, my brothers weddings, our family reunion and if they are really really good I will take them to there first Drum Corps show.

The hi-light of my summer will be my 20 year reunion with all the lovely "92" BK guard/instructors, Drums Along the Rockies and the after party. I am so excited and its been such a long time and wouldn't miss it for the world. The friends and memories I have are truly the one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. I will forever treasure the endless summers spent performing, eating, sleeping, running day after day with my friends which became my family even if it was only one summer a year.

Life on the road

The hunt for really great show ideas, one of my favorite shows of last year was Cadets of Bergen County "Romeo and Juliet"

Who does your oscar go to?

With All My Hearts NEW Guard Flag

Because sometimes one just isn't enough. Say it with an explosion of hearts in pink, red, yellow and metallic turquoise. Shine and dance to your hearts content with this flag perfect for a young love flag for band show!

New Web Site is Live TODAY...

Ekkk and Hurray!

I had a few issues getting this to work but I think I have most of them ironed out... But if you do happen to see something out of whack it probably is just give me a holler and let me know.

I am uploading new products every day, its a bit of a slow process and I am probably doing it the hard way because naturally that is how I do things (backwards).

I would love to hear some feed back on my new site, let me know what you think about my work!

Visit StellaUSA.net and leave me a shout out!

Facebook 50 Fans Giveaway!

Its easy just like my Facebook page and post a comment here. You could win one of my silk 

 swing flags “Flaming Glory” hand painted by me!

Hand Painted Silk Flag Facebook 50 Fan Giveaway 

Be Sure to leave a comment on this post. Let me know that you have liked my facebook page

 and share with your friends!

https://www.facebook.com/StellaUSA.net

Don't forget to Subscribe to my blog and get instantly updated on my Facebook giveaways and news. 

The winner will be contacted on Facebook and chosen by Random.org

Winterguard Winterguard Winterguard

Say it with me now "Winter Guard Rocks!"
I wish I could have made it to Dayton this year, its been way to long since I have been and let me just say that I really need a fix. Yesterday, I watched a few shows from my 2010 finals DVD and I am just about to jump out of my skin to grab a flag and dance until something breaks... which should not take to long! If you know what I mean getting old is not good for the body.

Body issues aside this is what I did get done in the studio, new flags... Yaya

Which color do you think would look best on the field?

Pink flower orange shades guard flag

Teal flower blue shades color guard flag

Purple flower fascia shades band flag

FAQ Hand Painted Silk Flags

What is the difference between silk and polychina silk?
Polychina silk is a synthetic fabric that is traditionally used as flags for colorguards, its durable light and easy to use. Silk is a natural fiber spun by silk worms, it is also durable light and easy to use. The difference between the two as flags. Silk has a sheen to it where as poly china has less. Polychina is more durable then 6mm silk but will have the about the same life span as 8mm-10mm silk flag. Silk has less drag when spinning but can get sticky when wet. When hand painting silk can use both acid dyes and paint while polychina can only use paint.

How durable is silk?
Speaking from my own experience as a performer we used 6mm silk for our opener show in Blue Knights 1992 Billy The Kid. With a full 3 months of performances on average 4-5 show days a week our show silks were well worn at then end of the season with minor repairs. 

What is 6mm or 8mm silk?
mm stands for mummy, this is the thickness of the silk thread used to make the fabric. I use 8mm for standard silks and 6mm only on swing flags which take less of a beating.

Are hand painted silk and polysilk colorfast, will the colors run if they get wet?
Both types of flags are colorfast, washable and ready to spin. The colors are fixed with steam for an average of 6-8 hours then they are washed rinsed repeatedly to ensure that the colors have been set properly.

Can your hand painted flags be washed?
Yes, they can be washed. Its best to use a mild soap, with out bleach or additives (oxi-clean ect.)
They can be hung to dry or tumble dried on low heat.

I have a design idea for a show can you make a flag to fit our show and colors?
Yes, I can make flags in just about any shape, color and custom design. You can even create your own or let me design one for you.