More Bags & Totes

It's that time of year again- holiday shopping will be upon us soon! Last night I went through my giant stashes of fabric in preparation for a month of sewing. Every year it amazes me how much fabric I accumulate.

Between summer flea markets and donations from friends, I have a nice variety of vintage and new- prints and wovens. So- production begins. I might not list much in my Etsy shop- it's a very time consuming process to photo, edit, etc. I will add a few things weekly though.

I'll post my holiday show schedule next post. Off to the studio!

Cheers!

More pillows!

In my studio, I have a basket next to my work table where I collect all the fabric scraps too big to throw away. When that basket fills up, I have the urge to use them. I cut birds and leaves and other assorted things, and spend a week on pillows. Very therapeutic.

I have some new designs in the works, but these leaves and bird designs have been a staple in my Etsy shop this year. It's almost time to move on....

....but I just love making these! I think I'll start making the little bird pillows with a pocket for a tooth fairy pillow. People seem to buy them for baby's rooms, and what a fun keepsake to be able to use it for a few more years.

Maybe I should put a handful of lavender in these? Hmmm...

what I've been working on....

Later today I'm setting up for another outdoor craft show- the first Art on the Circle at Notre Dame College. I snapped a quick pic of a new pillow I made. I've made a few of these over the years- another way to use all those tiny scraps of vintage fabric I can't bear to throw away!

I know- the design is not the most original- but who doesn't love trees? Mostly vintage quilt fabrics from the 1940's, it's appliqued on linen. This one's about 20" x 20".

Wish me luck this weekend- and stop by the show if you're on the east side of Cleveland!

Some New Work....

Here's a few new cushions I've been working on.....using vintage fabric scraps from old quilts, appliqued on linen. This is a series of scenes I've been sewing from sketches of mine and my son's- like little memory quilts. The sand castle scene is dear to me.....

...the "head stand" is a snippet of a memory from my childhood (when life was carefree!)......

...so is the "puddle". These are all characters from my past & present, but I don't want to be too descriptive, as I hope people can attach their own personal memories.

I'll be listing a few in my Etsy shop, but saving most for summer shows.

More soon!

what I've been working on.....

Here's a few little linen pillows I made last week- vintage fabric birds appliqued on linen with nests made from stitched linen fibers. I quite like how these turned out...

I found out last week I was accepted in the Art By the Falls show in Chagrin Falls 6/11-12 (yay!!!)- so I've been making some smaller pillows for the show.

I also have spring fever- the weather here in Ohio has been really nice.

My next project I'm just finishing is some totes & new bags made from vintage quilts and barkcloth. More on that next week when I have time to photo them.

Have a great weekend!

Treasury Time

Weekends are busy for Etsy Treasuries! I wanted to share a few of my favorites that include my work. Always honored to be included in these curated collections!

Irish Eyes are Smiling

by DiVaRoCks- features all things Irish green, including my Vintage Applique Leaf Pillow.

Looking for Robins

by whiteoakroom- beautifully serene in shades of my absolute favorite color! I LOVE the enameled necklace by tekaandzoe. Thanks for including my pillow!

We do color well....

by VintageRerun is an explosion of color featuring Cleveanders- including my Tiny Silver Lovebird Earrings.

Take some time to look at these Treasuries & all the wonderful handmade finds.

Best Friends

This is a new little "sampler" I just finished this morning. I have a whole sketchbook full of little scribbles like this so I decided to bring a few to life. My usual use of vintage 1940's quilt scraps stitched on to linen.

The patch is only about 8" square- so rather than make a mini-quilt I made a pillow. Originally the sketch had "best friends" stamped onto twill tape, but I didn't think I needed it.

I have this crazy picture from the 70's of my 4 sisters & I all lined up in age order on a diving board- probably ages 4 to 9- in typical 70's style. I think I'll applique that for my Mom for her birthday next week. Hmmmm...I better get to work!

A Very Fine House....

So- here's my dilemma. I made this cushion as a special order for a repeat customer. It's bigger than most- 20". She's waited about 3 weeks (I had some problems getting inspired) Now that it's done I don't want to sell it. I really feel attached to this pillow!

I usually don't feel that way about my work. I admire the finished project, photograph it, and move on. I suppose I could make another for myself- I do have some of the same vintage fabrics left over....I just love the vintage fabric used for the back of the pillow too...

Ahhh! What to do? In the end I probably will let it go. I won't make another one because I hate to make the same thing twice.

I'll let you know tomorrow what I decide :)

Have a great night!

Signs of Spring...

Signs of Spring?..... I'm searching! More snow? Ugh!

I can't get enough of robin's egg blue. A few of my favorites to inspire my day! Off to work!

Petite Lovebird Pillows....

A productive days work and new in shop....

new Petite Lovebird Pillows. Made from linen, vintage fabric and buttons, & a little crocheted heart....

...the perfect Valentine for anyone......

Get yours here, here, and here!

Etsy Treasuries.....

Just showing off a few weekend Etsy Trearury lists I was included in. I'm always honored to be included in these artist curated collections. This first one is "Greens and Blues and Browns...Oh, So Pretty!" by trinasclaycreations. You can see the entire collection here- including my Vintage Fabric Lovebird Pillow.

This next collection "Foggy Morning by Monarchdancer" features my new Linen Flower Sampler Pillow. Thanks Monarchdancer- you can see the entire list here.

Lastly, "I love you this much" features my new Applique Valentine Pillow. Thanks magalerie for including me in this lovely collection!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Vintage Fabric Valentine Pillows

You all know I love working with vintage fabric scraps, and my studio is heaping with little bits of tattered quilts that I can't bear to discard...so I spent the last day or so cutting X & O's for my new little linen pillows....

I only made a handful for a local shop- Gestures here in Cleveland, and for my Etsy shop. I'll most likely be making more little pillows with other sayings and such. What a wonderful way to use all those scraps!

I'll have these in my shop through early February. I'm working on a new little collection of products that I hope to share with you soon. It too was inspired by all my vintage fabric scraps...

...and soon some exciting news about a magazine feature of my work (I'm not allowed to tell!)

I'm off to clean my studio floor of all the little fabric scraps too small to use. Call me crazy but I put them in a little pile in the garden so the birds find them for nests in the spring. How exciting when you see a little nest with brightly colored fabric bits woven in! Ahhh- spring!

Have a great weekend friends!

...what I've been working on....

Here's a few of the pillow samplers I'm working on. I was inspired by a Crescendoh post last week about a garden of button flowers (see previous post) using favorite scraps of lace, buttons and beads. This first one is my favorite- I love the dove gray linen with green and cream.

I was sick all last week- still recovering from a terrible cold- and working on these was quite therapeutic. My hands are always working on something and my sewing machine needed a break anyway.....

This is a really great project to have by the TV- just grab a few scraps of linen and some lace bits. My initial intent was to make little wall quilts- but I never have any wall space so they made better pillows. What do you think? do you think small textile pieces look unfinished as wallhangings?

I hate to frame textile pieces because I think they need to be touched, but I also think the edges need to be finished off somehow. any thoughts out there??

Anyway, you can find these in my Etsy shop, along with other cushions you can't live without! More tomorrow on my Valentine pillows.

Have a great Monday!

Being Thankful

It's that time of year again to reflect on all I have to be thankful for. I have only one word- Family. These are the people with whom I have been blessed, and I'm thankful for them every day. I hope you all share a peaceful feast with your family tomorrow.....

As I said in my previous post, I won't be blogging much in the next few weeks. I need to focus on sewing & getting ready for upcoming holiday shows. This a new little bird design I'm using for little pillows and little bags.....

Of course I have many, many new leather wrap bracelets. Since most of these are one-of-a-kind, there's no way I can photo and list each one in my Etsy shop. I will try to list a selection of color & styles......

I dug deep in my stash of vintage fabrics and have a new little clutch style bag I'm selling this year. They are all in various stages of completion- hopefully later in the week I can photo a few....

I hope you all survive the airport scanners, Uncle You-know-who's terrible jokes, and Black Friday shopping and remember to be thankful!

Holiday Show Info...

I've been so busy "making things" lately I haven't had a chance to blog. The holiday season is a busy one for crafters that make a living (or try to) from their work. I'm doing 4 local Cleveland craft shows this holiday season. Below is a list with links to their sites for more specific info.

1. My first event is a small holiday show at Hyland Software. My sister works there and tipped me off, then Cleveland Handmade started spreading the word. It's called the Hyland Holiday Vendor Expo- Tues. 11/30 from 11am- 2pm. They are at 28500 Clemens Rd. in Westlake.

2. The 11th annual TerraVista show is nearest and dearest to my heart. This will be my 6th (or 7th?) year there and I have made many dear friends there over the years. I'm proud to be among such talent. Plan to stay awhile and mingle- there's so much to see! The show is 12/3- 12/5 at 1400 E. 30th. For more info click here.

3. Bazaar Bizarre- 12/11 & 12/12 at 1301 West 78th Street. More info here. I've never done this show but have always heard great things about it.

4. Last Minute Market sponsored by Cleveland Handmade. This show was such a success last year that even in a Cleveland snow storm people came out to SHOP!! Sat. 12/18 at the Screw Factory 13000 Athens Ave. in Lakewood. More info here.

So that's why I haven't been blogging. If you're not in the Cleveland area I will still be adding a lot of new things to my Etsy shop over the next several weeks.

Well- back to the studio!

What I've been working on.....

I guess you win some & lose some. Here's a few things I worked on last week- I was so excited with my octopus pillow when I sketched it, but somehow it lost it's cuteness in the process. It took me forever to make too. But not a total loss- my son loves it & he slept with it last night :)

I made this Good Luck pillow for a friend that's moving- but I didn't like how it turned out so I made the See Ya pillow instead.....

I like this one better- but hmmmm- I don't love it. Hopefully she will because I'm not making another one. Oh well- not a very productive week in the studio...

...you win some & lose some.

Etsy Front Page!

Whooo Hooo! It's not every day I make the front page of Etsy. Last night there was a flurry of activity in my Etsy shop & it wasn't until this morning I realized why. Thanks to HausProud for curating this great collection.

Hopefully a handful of those 140 hearts will end up as sales! You can find my Vintage Fabric Applique pillow here!

What I've been working on....

Here's a little peak of what I've been working on the past week. Some of my new vintage fabric leaf pillows are in my Etsy shop and some are getting ready for Buttermilk Hill.

The brown pillow is made from a new fabric collection- Moda I think? The other 3 are made from vintage 40's feedsack cotton and other vintage fabrics. I love making these- it satisfies the quilter in me and the recycler- no scrap goes in the trash in my studio!

More later!

New Pillows at Buttermilk Hill

Stephanie from Buttermilk Hill posted this picture of my new pillows on her country porch in central Ohio. I know I mentioned this in a previous blog post- you can now buy my pillows at this new site. Featuring "local, handmade, and vintage goods from the back roads of beautiful Ohio", I'm excited to be part of this new venture.

The site is new and she's still stocking the shelves- but I wanted to start spreading the word. Buttermilk Hill offers free domestic shipping, and their country market features Amish quilts and baskets, rag rugs, painted gourds, my pillows, and much more!

I hope you take the time to have a look!

I'm off to enjoy my Indian Summer day !

What I'm working on.....

I just realized tonight that it's been awhile since I blogged. My show last weekend was a success. I would have liked a little more traffic- but this is an odd selling season. The Cleveland Handmade group is a really wonderful group of people! I met some great artists and am sure I'll do this show next year. Shows take so much out of me though- not so much the actual show- smiling, talking about my work, shlepping displays, making sure my presentation looks great. It's the preparation- new ideas, new product, pricing, display- it's all so important. Am I making something people want to buy? Is this self-indulgent?

Sometimes I feel so comfortable here behind my computer that to step out and interface with clients face to face I always question myself. I don't know why....

Here are a few new pillows I made- vintage 40's quilt fabrics appliqued on linen (the 1st photo is from a new fabric collection) I really love to make these- it satisfies the quilter in me- without having to commit to months of time. (My mother is an amazing quilter with the patience to HAND quilt her pieces. HAND quilt!) These are all new in my Etsy shop.

I hope I'm not too rambling... more later about some new ventures I'm working on..

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peace.