Latest Finished Bag

Here's a pic of the last one I did. I already have two more in construction stages. Show is coming up.......got to have stuff to sell. Why do I do this every year?

I am actually enjoying making these. Now that I have a bit of confidence in the how and why area of bag making, it is quite enjoyable.  :)

Birds in Stitches - on line viewing

You can now see the accepted entries of the pieces in the exhibit, Birds in Stitches. I am pretty pleased to see that I am rubbing elbows with "famous" artists like Caryl Bryer Fallert and Wen Redmond.
It is something to "Crow" about eh?
My piece will be shipped to NY later this month. Right now I am floating on air :)

Working on something old?

I have been out of the loop so long I just don't know what's "in" or "out." The good thing is that I know what I like :)
At the recent show in Manchester, I ran into a hand bag (yes, still doing those) that was called a chenielle bag. Being a touchy/feely kind of gal, I needed one, so bought the cutter and pattern. This one is purely experimental and that does sound good considering I just want one. LOL!

So after my post card label debacle yesterday which we won't revisit now that I am in a good mood, I decided to cut the fabrics for the main part of the bag. I am usually a neat and clean worker - sort of. This time I was cutting and throwing fabric scraps around! (I actually had fun) and put together the required five layers of fabric. Then I started sewing the layers together and am now half done the sewing. I should finish that later today.

I got my clips and rings in the mail for the handbags that I ordered. These are color coordinated and not sold in stores around here. I had to order from NY, but the colors are nice and next time I will get smaller clips - I think I could hold down a  German Shepard with these! LOL!!! I may not use them - I don't know. Ten minutes later..................I do know! I ordered some smaller ones :)

Today I get a certificate and pin for being a member of the DAR for 25 years! It sure does not feel like that long, but it is a nice acknowledgement.

Sewing adventures - I'm on the "I need express"

My only show is coming up fast, so now I need to do all kinds of stuff for it. I have been making hand bags, but need more than four.............don't you think?
I need to do more scarves before there aren't any leaves and things left for printing. I need to test some coating stuff for my silk bowls. I need to go faster or get more hours in the day. I have also been mentally planning my booth layout - no jewelry this year - it's all at the galleries.

So what do I do amongst all this stuff? I get more fabric for an apron. My old one has pooped out and just isn't "right" anymore due to a large hole worn into it. I got some weird asparagus fabric and some loud binding fabric and will whip that up today in between learning how to make labels for the artist groups postcard mailing.

I also could have had a job at a not so local jewelry store - which is why I don't have one. It's just not close enough for the bother. I'm not big on traveling through snow and ice to get there so - I just don't need it. Why do I put myself through this every once and a while? I have no idea, but will probably continue to do this - maybe to prove to myself that I exist? (sort of like pinch me to see if I am alive)  :)


Next week I have a meeting with the Gallery Committee at the new LNHC headquarters to learn from "Dan the Man" how to assemble the new gallery walls we have to work with.
The new space is so nice - very modern and museum like. It will be a pleasure to be able to set up exhibits there.

ACCEPTED!

One of my bird pieces, 'Bohemian Waxwing," has been accepted into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Exhibit, Birds in Stitches!


This piece was inspired by a photograph of this beautiful bird. It was hand appliqued, bird, branches and berries, hand embroidered, machine "thread painted" and machine quilted.


All in all it is a successful piece and I am quite proud of it.








Here's the shows announcement!

Nothing much

Waiting for the storm and nothing is moving out there! NOTHING - not a leaf is twitching, kind of creepy. Of course, my DH wants to go to the trail and clean the culverts.......guess who his non-volunteer buddy is? I get to stay at the top of this embankment (= huge drop off) and hang around while he goes into the culvert to clean out whatever is blocking it. On a normal day this is not too boring, today I would rather stay home.
I put away all my charming garden ornaments so they won't blow away or get broken. What a good girl.


Since last posting, I made a lightweight jacket. I have had this fabric for a while and just love it (rayon batik,) so thought I would take a break from hand bags.  


Today I am making another handbag in a teal/blue/green family. I am using one of the vintage trims I bought at the show as well as my potter friends buttons.

A New Red and Black Bag

Here's the latest! I finished it the other day but have been busy doing non-art things. So far all my bags are derived from patterns with my own twist. I plan on continuing this - the patterns are for the basic shape, but the artistic stuff is all me :) Doing this while my hand recovers and gets strength back - that is doing good, but not up to par yet.