New work...

I realized it's been awhile since I blogged here- so I thought I'd share some newer work. In addition to my thicker leather wraps, I've been working with some softer leather. This is a great weight to stitch and embellish- so I started with these pieces...

Olive green leather with tiny turquoise beads and brass details....

FLY is one of my favorites. This one wraps twice around your wrist, and has a little brass bird charm....

My favorite color combo- teal and brown. Amazonite and stitched brown leather...

...and another version with carnelian. If you're local in the Cleveland area, you can find these at the Gestures in Rocky River, and at The Log Cabin Gallery in Peninsula.....

...or you can hop on over to my Etsy shop to see more. I have more to share this week. Starting in "production mode" for the upcoming holiday shows. Wasn't it just summer?

"In Need of Inspiration" Challenge!

What's inspiring me recently are these gorgeous 100 year old hand embroidered Indian silk sari ribbons. These textiles are AMAZING!! My good friend Kim gave these to me as a thank you and I really want to do them justice.

My background is in textiles, (I worked in textile conservation at the Cleveland Museum of Art) so I have such an appreciation for the effort and talent that goes into these hand embroidered ribbons. My dilemma is- how do I incorporate these into my work and honor them at the same time?

Just look at the snowmen and reindeer on this one!! My first thought was to stitch these onto soft leather for cuff bracelets- maybe with some simple beaded detail. I've been researching textile jewelry lately and haven't really been inspired.

Does anyone out there have any ideas? Modern or historical? I would love to do a series of posts with all the ideas and images of my readers- so please email me yours.

This peacock silk is very tattered, but I can always back it on something to stabilize it. The last image is a cuff I made a few years ago with seed bead detail. It was the first time I ever did anything like that, but looking at it now I don't think the beadwork enhances the textile- rather it covers it up.

So please send your images (links in the comments) or email them directly.

A few new Vintage Fabric Pillows...

I decided to go through my fabric stash and make pillows from some fabrics I found this summer at flea markets......This mod 60's print came from a vintage tablecloth I found last month. LOVE the colors! You can find it here in my Etsy shop.

This beautiful embroidered pillow is made from a vintage 1940's table runner I picked up last summer. The hand detail work is really incredible. Does anyone do that tatting and embroidery anymore?......You can find it here.

My last bits of this vintage barkcloth from the 40's. I always loved this print and have made a few bags & totes over the years with this awesome print. Find it here.

Well, that's all for now- I know- boring post. Not a lot happening. I'm working on new applique pillow designs & getting ready for the back-to-school frenzy!

My New Bird Bag

I felt a little guilty this week.... I made MYSELF a bag. I'm feeling quite attached to it for a few reasons. First- I hand stitched the detail (not something I usually do), and second- I appliqued a leather bird (I never use leather). When my young son said he hated my sewing machine, I realized he thought I was spending too much time in my studio sewing....

So.... I have a basket-full of projects that I'm hand-stitching- something I can do in the family room while watching TV. I don't want my family to hate my sewing machine! So look out for more hand-detailed work in the future- AND more leather. I really scored at my local thrift shop and found a box of leather samples. I don't know if they were from a crafter, or sales samples, but I'm putting them to good use.