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!

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!

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!

My Hearts...

I first shared this heart one year ago.....it was inspired by a Rebecca Sower blog post when I joined her in spreading hearts all over our cyber world. Do check out her old post- it's well worth spending time pouring through the submissions. It was fun!

I stitched my heart on linen with an old Japanese glass heart and tattered lace. I set in in an old pocket watch frame and backed it with red leather. Since making this I frame a lot of old photos in these pocket watch frames and hang them in a collage on the wall.

These heart stones are among my most prized possessions. My young son gave me these treasures he found with the words "I love you with all my heart". Just holding these stones lift my spirits when I'm down.

I hope you all take the time to share your heart today with your loved ones.

XOXOXO

Linen Birdhouses....

I made these 2 linen birdhouses last summer to hang in a show booth. I was envisioning a bunch hanging from the tent roof- I thought they would be a real attention getter. Well, time didn't allow for it and since then my puppy ate the red one and the other one was given as a gift....

I have 6 or more all cut & ready to sew. This is the year I finish all my unfinished projects! The world really needs fabric birdhouses- right?

Hopefully in the next month my new Linen Birdhouses will selling in my Etsy shop!

Do you have any unfinished projects to share??

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!

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!

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!

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 !

Dog V Cat

This one makes me smile :) RockStarDogTreats curated this awesome Etsy Treasury list titled Dog V Cat. (Personally I like cats better but I 'd never tell my puppy that) You can see the entire list here- it's worth your time!

Thanks RockStarDogTreats for including my Applique Cat Pillow!

New Pillows!

I FINALLY finished a few new applique pillows this week. I have a sketchbook full of new designs and not enough time to sew! These are the first in a new series of animals. As always- appliqued on linen....

with touches of vintage quilt fabrics. What a purr-fect gift, or for a girl's room. Each is one-of-a-kind....

I love the little dapper black cat and big white puff kitty. I'll possibly do custom cat portrait for the holidays- wouldn't that be fun!

I know this is a short post- I didn't want to spend all morning on my computer (I always forget how long it takes to photo, edit, and upload images! Then blog, flickr, etsy, ect!). You can find these new pillows in my Etsy shop.

Up next, puppy and fox pillows. Have a great weekend!

"tweet"

I couldn't resist sharing this adorable Etsy Treasury- a collection of bird themed crafts curated by myartstuduio. Titled "Tweet"- one of my Vintage Applique Bird Cage Pillows is included in this cheerful group. This is just a snapshot- you can see the entire list here.

I'm always flattered to be among such talent- thanks myartstudio!

I have some new applique pillow designs to share this week. I'm working on a cat series, some dogs, and smaller house pillows. A LOT going on & and upcoming shows- more tomorrow! Time to get ready for the first day of school. YAAAAY!

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!

Fabric Birdhouses

Just what everyone needs- a fabric birdhouse- right? Not the most practical thing I ever made (what my husband told me). They're made entirely of fabric- linen house with fabric roofs, and dresden plate fronts.

I had intended to make a half dozen or so to hang in my booth at Summer Market, but it took me awhile to figure out the construction, and I thought I should focus my efforts on more salable items for the show. With all that behind me, I'll finish these houses before I move on.

Wouldn't they look cute hanging in a nursery? They stand about 8" tall, and each will have an invisible line for hanging. I'll photo the rest when they're done. Maybe they'll make it to my Etsy shop- I don't know yet.

new linen pillows....

Summer Market was a great success this past weekend! After a few days off I'm finally getting around to listing new linen pillows in my Etsy shop. I just listed more of my little Linen Applique Bird pillows in new colors. A lot of people bought these for baby nurseries.....

Starry Night- linen applique house pillow has a pretty sprinkling of "stars" in the background.

Lastly, a few applique leaf pillows. All my linen pillows use recycled vintage fabric- mostly 1940's quilt and feed sack prints.

I'm done with 2 fabric birdhouses that have been in the works for awhile- more on that tomorrow!