A Few Favorites of Mine....

My sewing machine is getting tired- so I decided to get out the "good beads" and have a relaxing evening making a few more of my favorite designs. I have to be in the right mind to make these little bird cages. After drilling holes in the bottom, each cage has to be carefully pried open and the vintage glass bird slipped in so the wire goes through the bottom hole- and trying NOT to break off the little tail!

I can never keep these in stock- and I can't take special orders (because you never know if that tail snaps off after working on one forever- then I have to put it all away & start something else!) I just love working with the "good beads". I think tomorrow I'll snap a few picks of my private little stash of vintage glass- I covet the wire embedded birds- Venetian birds from the 40's and 50's. I just found a few more of my little hour glass charms....

...so I'll be making a variation of this design I made last year. About 1 inch tall, the glass timer is filled with real sand and actually turns. I LOVE these!

So, off to my bottle of red, my audio book (because I'm hosting book club Friday & I haven't started the book), and my apothocary jar filled with the "good beads".

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!

Shop update- A Few More Leather Wrap Bracelets...

I'm still here! I spent the morning photographing piles of new work- leather bracelets and new pillow designs. (I still have to photoshop the pillows) Not everything will make it to my Etsy shop, as I'm working hard to get a variety of inventory for summer shows.

So far this summer, I'll be participating in:

*Art By the Falls- June 11-12th in Chagrin Falls, Ohio

*Summer Comforts Exhibit at The Log Cabin Gallery- June 24- Aug 14th in Peninsula, Ohio

*Summer Market- July 29-30th in Avon Lake, Ohio

I'm also trying to get in a new outdoor art festival here in Lyndhurst at Notre Dame College called Art on the Circle June 25-26th. The deadline to enter is May 4th, and I think it will be a good show. Spread the word! It's a beautiful campus, and a great opportunity sell locally.

More pillows designs this week!

Shop Update- New Leather Wrap Bracelets

Just a quick note to share a few new leather wrap bracelets- new in my Etsy shop. I just acquired more antique lace "flowers" and will be making more of the lace studded style.

All are one-of-a-kind- I use a variety of semi precious stones, vintage glass, vintage religious medals, various trinkets, and antique lace.

New applique pillows will be coming later in the week.

xoxoxo

I'm a bad blogger...

Sorry friends! I just realized after a few emails from friends that it's been weeks since I posted. All is well- life stuff has kept me away from my computer. This is one of my favorite photos- so simple but it speaks to me. It says "hope".

I'll be back soon and "hope" you're all well.

Peace.

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!

Feature in Midwest Living Magazine

That's my pillow on the pages of the March/April issue of Midwest Living magazine!!! Oh Yea! A few months ago a writer from the magazine contacted me about my work- she was writing a feature on green crafts "in the spirit of Earth Day". (You can click on the image to enlarge)

I started using vintage fabrics years ago because I had collected so many tattered and worn quilts- too abused to repair. I LOVE the old prints and the colors. I went a whole year without buying any new fabric- with the exception of the linen "canvas". I always love putting random prints together- 40's quilt prints with mod 70's prints and a few Kaffe Fassett prints.

I was so excited to finally get the magazine over the weekend. Thanks Midwest Living! Visit my little shop for more vintage fabric pillows and bags.

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.

Spring Almost Here?

I thought I heard birds the other morning- it must be Spring. Why is there still a chill in the air & snow on the ground? I love March- my birthday month. Many people very close to me share my month- all of them Pisces at heart!

I was overwhelmed the other evening with deadlines and other life stuff, so I put my sewing machine away and made myself a birthday bracelet. My absolute favorite part of this piece is the handmade lampwork glass bead. Made by starctcher, each egg is one-of-a-kind and very special. You really have to hold one of these eggs in your hands to feel how special they are- pictures really don't do them justice.

In addition to the glass egg, I used Korean jade, amazonite, leather cord, sterling, and a tiny vintage silver Miraculous medal.

Well- I better get back to work! Have a great weekend!

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!