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About Us

Established in 1998 Cartoonqueen started when two sisters began creating unique collectibles out of original cartoons. Joani Hanley designs the hand sewn collectibles and Virginia Hanley creates the cartoons. Together they create the bespoke cartoon collectibles and stories you find on cartoonqueen.net.

Custom Collectibles

Fabric by the yard

Designers and Fabric Junkies, on our Boutique Fabric page,  browse through our gallery to select the perfect design for your project. Submit a quote request with the design name or sku number of interest.  We will provide you with design, sizing, fabric choices and repeat options. We love to create the perfect level of whimsy and color for you, so please provide us with your project details. Whether you are a novice seamstress or design professional, Cartoonqueen ‘boutique fabrics’ add unique beauty to your project.   (add link to quote link on fabric page).

Things to do Miami Beach

Find out where the cartoonqueen Chix likes to eat, drink and what they know about Miami Beach and the surrounding barrier island History. Check it out and download the 411.

Ryan's Case for Smiles

In 2019, Cartoonqueen began working with Ryan’s Case for Smiles program providing custom designer pillowcases for children in the hospital.  They have a network of sewing centers throughout the USA, that accept fabric or finished pillowcases. The pillowcases are distributed to their local Children’s hospitals. We continue to work with RCS and encourage you to visit their website for ways to give back.

JOAN HANLEY

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VIRGINIA HANLEY

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JOAN HANLEY

My interest in fabric originated at a young age. I spent hours roaming the fabric isles, while my Mother searched for patterns and fabric. There was never any sewing challenge Mom would not take on, however, teaching me to sew possibly qualified. As a teenager, I loved being able to sew my own clothes. As an adult, I work with a local seamstress, to create some of my own clothing. I have come full circle when designing with Cartoonqueen prints which takes me back to those days Imagineering with the colours and textures in the fabric store. It is a thrill to watch the base CQ design transform with geometric brilliance in mirror image.

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My Dad influenced my interest in storytelling. He traveled during the week, always returning with funny tales of places he visited and the people he met. Growing up with 7 siblings in our household, there was never a shortage of stories born of the calamity of eight. I write stories, poems and songs because… they play in a loop in my head until I record them on paper. That action seems to make room for the next loop to begin. No apologies that this doesn’t make sense. It’s just the process. My sister Gin and I began collaborating on stories in 1998. Creating in Cartoonqueen brings me joy. We are stoked to share.

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In 2018, I happened to be visiting with a friend, who was sewing pillowcases for the charity Ryan’s Case for Smiles. When I saw the stacks of bright colour-coordinated bundles of fabric on her dining room table, I was hooked. Since then, Cartoonqueen has been designing custom fabrics used in creating the pillowcases we donate to Ryan’s Case for Smiles project. Take a look at the pillowcases donated by Cartoonqueen as well as our customers. (add link to CaseforSmiles page) Ryan’s Case for Smiles program has sewing centers that accept fabric or finished pillowcases which they distribute to their area hospitals throughout the USA. To learn more about Ryan’s Case for Smiles visit their website www.caseforsmiles.org.

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Cartoons | Illustrator
As a fan of anything silly and oversized, figure drawing and cartoons have been
a passion of mine since I was a child. My illustrations focus on Miami Beach as well as places I’ve traveled. To create the whimsy, I start with a simple sketch on
paper and move to a painted canvas or create a digital file.

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Pop Art | Digital Artist
Majorly inspired by music, old buildings and old people, my Pop Art Series reflects that inspiration through daily life as well as travel. I began drawing on the computer in 1998 with a mouse and bootleg copy of Macromedia’s Flash. Sometimes I still draw with the mouse.

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Fabric Design | Boutique Collection
In 1990, I started my career in Miami hand painting fabric for the Interior Design Industry. I painted hundreds of yards of fabric and wondered how I would use the trade later in life. Today, we have the ability to create fabrics digitally and capture sheer qualities that are not obtainable in hand painted fabric. There are over 150 different kinds of fabrics we can print on and the ability to have it treated for high end commercial installations.

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Studio | Cartoonqueen
In 1990 my studio space was located on Lincoln Road on Miami Beach. I was juried into the South Florida Art Center and provided a studio space on Lenox Avenue. In those days, the artists shared Lincoln Road with a few homeless people. We held gallery nights on Fridays and we also had to do time in the Sokolsky Gallery as part of our responsibility to the Art Center. After a few years of feeding the homeless wine and cheese, we were asked by the Art Center to participate in the Lincoln Road revival. It was said that Lincoln Road would be renovated back to a proper pedestrian mall and the artists would be included and rewarded in that revival.
A few years passed and we saw an artist named Romero Britto move in from his studio in Mayfair, Coconut Grove. Soon after the Lincoln Road renovations were complete, the rent went WAY up. My Studio moved to the Design District above Piccadilly Gardens owned by Mary and Mac, also owners of Club Deuce.
Shortly after this move, Art Basel started in the Design District. This was an extremely fun time. All the shop owners would open their doors, offer free drinks and music. It was a fun street party in the District! Art Basel became a rapid success and now it’s a huge commercial market that extends from downtown to Miami Beach for one week.
Today, in 2020, I am happiest creating in my home.

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VIRGINIA HANLEY

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