Sunday, November 22, 2009

Finally!

I finally got some of my handbags, scarves and key chains added to the slide show. No small feat mind you! Some of them have been sold :( but I have others and will continue to create one of kind items since there is no lack of ideas rambling around in my brain.

Actually I met a young woman outside of the Rotary Building on Friday that had the coolest shoes, it sparked a design idea for a handbag so I dragged her into the Craft Show and had Shari take a picture of her shoes so that I could create a handbag to match her shoes. Watch this site for a preview of the process and the final product. I will post a picture of her shoes and my bag; I am sure someone will let me know if they thought my interpretation was correct.




Saturday, November 21, 2009

What a Day!





Well here is part of my private collection which consists of handbags, beaded key chains and hand knitted scarves. Some of my handbags are knitted, some are felted wool with needle felted designs and others are old purses salvaged and re purposed. I had an opportunity yesterday, 11/20, to share my private collection at a Craft Fair at Rotary Intl in Evanston, Il.

You can say I can't leave well enough alone. I love to take an existing bag, paint it, add fur trim, embellish it with some bobble, like a vintage pin, feathers even a magazine advertisement or try using unusual yarns and combining them to make a unique scarf or knitting with fabric.

Each one is one of a kind and I have names for most of them. Like the Black and White knitted fabric bag, I call it 'The Third Rail', pictured here. Most of my knitting takes place on the CTA's Purple Line. One day I was waiting for the train at Wabash and Randolph, knitting my purse, when the ball of fabric fell down and rolled off the platform. There I was trying to pull up the fabric as it unrolled in mid air; eventually finding its way onto Wabash. I feared it would break and I would lose the remaining ball of fabric yarn. I was almost done with the handbag and had just enough fabric left to finish it. Plus the spool it was wound on was heavy and could hurt someone if it hit them in the head. I don't know what happened to the spool, I did look for it, but I was able to save the fabric. Of course, I missed my train but I think it was worth it.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Thank you all!

The craft fair at my place of employment was today and we were ready (I took the day off). Being both excited and anxious, we couldn't wait to get there.

We appreciate everyone stopping by and ooohing and aaahing. We love sharing with others the tangible aspects of our creativity!

For those who chose to take one of our favorite things home with you a HUGE and sincere thank you to you all!

We had a blast today!

P.S. for those that we said we'd touch base next week -- we will!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Progress (at least I think it is)

We're both fast and furiously preparing things for this Friday's craft fair. It should be a blast! Neither of us can talk fast enough to communicate all that we are trying to express. Sue's sister took a ton of photos yesterday and we hope to get them posted soon. Great stuff! I'm off to continue the labor of love and creativity. And the depletion of my stash. That's the best!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Fabrics.com loves me this week...

because I have placed two orders. Armchair shopping - the best sometimes. I found some great wacky buttons (see below) and had to buy some Amy Butler fabric (yes HAD to!) No I haven't figured out what to do with the buttons. But their assymetrical, rather Suess-like shape, intrigue me and I will use them on one or more of these pillows. Promise.

Round 3 or is it 4?

The creations continue! We have both been furiously creating/making/finishing items for the craft fair next week. Sue is revamping old wonderful purses into new creations and works of art! I haven't seen the latest but am anxious to get photos (HINT Sue!)
Pillows are coming along. I keep getting these spurts of creativity and energy at 9pm at night and can't seem to understand that I have to get to sleep by 11 to get up for the work that currently pays the mortgage. I've gotten about 13 pillows created and 1/2 finished. A few new techniques coming along too!

Check out the photos!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The fur that keeps us sane!





Daisy Mae

and

Bailey!

Keychains from Sue









Pillows and other ideas...

Okay they are actually inspiring not sleep inducing. At least I think so. For the craft fair that I've entered I'm focusing on pillow covers 16" and 18" squares primarily. Some will be made of silk and linen and others of upholstery weight cotton in fabulous fabrics (http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/). Two are completed with two more fronts done; I just need to finish the backs and press them.



But I have had ALL weekend! My husband has been gone all weekend on a business trip Saturday - Monday so some my best cohort and friend and I have had some quality time on Twisted Fiber Studio and our stashes as well as the sewing machine.



Here are some photos. Keychains are Sue's. LOVE THEM! She's also working with a new product, Omni Gel, which when brushed on to photos, magazine photos, photocopies, etc, it will pull the image on the gel and you can wash the paper off, yes off and be left with the gel with the image. You can even get brush marks on the image making it look a bit like an oil painting.



Mid process...

She called me this morning to let me know that it worked! She has a lovely gel of the image here and will be adding it to the front of a handbag! Cannot wait to see it.