Recycled Paper Coasters and Journals

Old pattern tissues, books, napkins etc...all find their way into my paper fabric. 

I paint and stamp the pieces after they are dry and then cut them apart. The edges are now fray free and you can create a lot of different things.

Cutting apart the large pieces.

Stacks of coasters kept in order for sewing.

                                                            Auditioning thread colors.

I zigzag the small pieces on the base and then straight stitch the edges through a bottom layer of cork.

                                                        All tied up and ready for sale.

           
                                   This all started with some journals I tried first.

Grand Opening

Okay, so it's been two months since I actually had my first day open but I only just had my Grand Opening a few days ago. You're allowed to do that when you make all the decisions yourself. :)

It was a wonderful day with lots of welcomed friends and some faces I didn't know which was great.

I truly meant to take a lot of photos especially of friends who helped me out for the day but besides taking a quick snap of the tea table before I opened and I last minute snap of just a few folks milling around......I totally forgot.......oh well.

                                              Tea table......best oat cakes EVER! Thank you again Jeannie. :)

                     My two helpers for the day on the far right, Joanne and Kathy, thank you both so much.

                                      It was a great day, good sales and wonderful company.

Mystery Solved!

Okay, I know you've been teased long enough!

This is what you get when you put a bucket of birds together with some tree stumps. :)

I made these Jewel Birds for the "Home To Roost" exhibit.

                      The opening night of the exhibit will be tomorrow night with a lovely wine reception.
                                                    I'll  be back to post some pics of course!  

Home To Roost

It's been a crazy busy couple of weeks here in my new studio. The basic move in is done but I haven't played with my work areas much because I've been busy with an upcoming exhibit that I am in with a group of fellow artists.

It's called "Home To Roost" and it will be up for the months of April and May in the Centre for Craft and Design Gallery. 

There are 6 of us in the group, Shari Macleod who is a basket weaver and felter, Sarah Beck is a potter, Teena Marie Fancy is a mixed media artist , Gayle Bird creates wire wrapped jewelry, Katherine Scott designs with paper and me who works in fibers. 

Shari began the idea and invited us all to join her, quite a well rounded group and I think the show is going to be amazing!

Here are some quick pics of a couple of the things I am working on.  Neither is completed but I'll post       pics after we set up and hopefully others will allow me to share their work too. :)

This grouping will be placed in a nest and a Papa bird added with a few other bits.

This fine fellow is nearly done and is having a custom made personal perch made to call home.

I wish you all  were close enough to attend our opening night in a couple of weeks but hopefully those            close by will come along.
                                             
                                                  Now back to work. :)

Ready Set Go!

Alright, if it's not done yet it's not getting done, time is up! I leave for Halifax in the am to go to the Atlantic Craft Trade Show.

Here a few pics of the finished purses that I'm taking.

Wish me luck. :)

Getting ready for Acts 2012

It's just two weeks to the Atlantic Craft Trade Show and I have to turn this pile of stuff in a new spring line of purses.......panic much??

Base fabric is all hand painted (that is all the messy bunches in the front). Lining fabric all neatly folded off to the side ( neatly folded ha! should be all cut out by now 0_0 ) Purses are designed and prototypes are all standing in the background ( currently thinking they don't look so bad in plain muslin......)  Need to finish the second layer of printing on the fabric (I'll leave that for a surprise...to you and me both! )  and then just put it all together.   Totally doable!  :D



Don't forget the January Giveaway! .  I'm pimping out a journal to one of my followers in thanks for dropping by my blog and checking out what I'm up to. Join up as a follower , post a comment and you'll be in the running for the draw at the end of the month for this journal. :)

                                          Good luck to you all, thanks for dropping by again. :)

January Journal Giveaway!

Well the holidays are just a memory now but I hope you all had a wonderful New Years and enjoyed being with family and friends. 

As promised I'm starting off the New Year with my first giveaway!  I've chosen one of my journals which are very popular so i know who ever  wins will be very happy. :) 

Here are the pics of the actual giveaway journal.

                    It holds a 9"x6" coil notebook which are very easy to find and so the journal cover
                                                       can be refilled again and again.

The cover is made starting with a bottom layer of cotton batik fabric then a few silk flowers are scattered that have been pressed flat.  A layer of organza is fused over top and finally free motioned stitched with a variety of variegated threads. The interior is a very stiff stabiliser and then the edges are all zigzagged.

                                               This is a close up of the free motion quilting.

                             So how do I win this giveaway you ask?  Very easy!  Just post a comment to this post      or any other posts this month (one chance per comment) and after a random draw at the end of the month                                   I will mail out your prize, no matter where you live. :)

                                           I'm excited to share my work with someone new and I'm excited to have              some new followers to my blog. Feel free to share this post through facebook or twitter with your friends and good luck! :D

NSDCC Christmas Craft Show 2011

I'm back from the NSDCC show and I'm posting the pics of my booth. the show was quieter than last year but still good and lots of fun to see friends again. 

 I had a corner booth this year with only two walls and I really liked it.  The booth was only 5 x 10 which was a bit small but I was trying to cut costs. May go back to a larger booth next year.

These are some brooches I made with left over scraps of my blow torch evening bags and then added felt, stitching and more melting. I've been called a pyromaniac by some. :)

                         The journals were back again because they always go over well. I added E-reader and
                                                                   I- Pad covers this year.

                           Key fobs were a good seller this year , a good stocking stuffer.

              I think the purses looked great all grouped together and people were really drawn to them.

 The felted ornaments had to be the best seller. I think it was the lower price point and they were really cute too. :)

 I can't believe I have to reload the car tomorrow and head back on the road for another show in Halifax at the Dalplex. And then there is another the next weekend but at least that is here at home at the CBCCD.  and then a little one day event at CBU. I'm looking forward to the end and a nice break.

Packed the car, time's up!

Time is up and I'm off to my first Christmas market early tomorrow morning.  The NSDCC show starts Friday and runs thru Sunday.  I'm excited about the show because I have a lot of new products and I can't wait to see how they all do. 

Here are some pics of the purses that are new product this season.  They are all from hand painted and hand dyed fabric using disperse dyes. 

These first ones are small evening bags with interior frames that snap open and the chain can drop down inside for a clutch.

These are every day size in a hobo style.

Off to put my feet up for a bit and have a good night sleep.

Wish me luck!

Felted Ornaments

 Working on some felted ornaments for the upcoming Christmas shows at Dalplex and NSDCC.   I prefer wet felting over needle felting, must be a left over from making mud pies, squishy, wet and a lot of fun. Only downside is the pruned finger tips , like when you fall asleep in the bath. :)

I did a running stitch spiraling around each and added an organza ribbon for a bow and hanger.

                                                  Basket full of felting waiting for stitching.

                     Ornaments are always a good seller at Christmas, hope that these do well.