so here they are...

The beginnings of a pocket advent calendar.

my second bag... not quite put together yet

detail from the bag

machine embroidered zipper pouch

and more zipper pouches...

Pictures of a few of the things I'm working on for the Moss Rock Festival. I keep hearing such good things about this festival and can't wait to check it out and participate!

Oh my!

It's been over a week since my last post - I'm still getting the hang of blogging - figuring out the timing of taking pictures, editing the pictures, and then posting. Any advice?? I'd love to figure out how to utilize flickr better...
Beau has been gone all week, and needless to say, life is always more hectic as a single mom. I was thinking that, without him here, I would have extra time at night to get some sewing done, but most of the nights he's been gone, I've fallen into bed with the little ones at their bedtime! I did start working on some fun things last night for the Moss Rock festival, and I will hopefully be able to post some pictures later tonight of the things in progress...

i love a good deal!

i know so many people who have found great deals on ebay, but i have always hated the way ebay makes me feel - all jittery inside, ready to pounce to get what i want! but, alas, i stumbled upon the above adorable jumper along with two others and couldn't resist bidding. i bid 99 cents for all three jumpers and then didn't go back to check until the auction was over - and i won! it was finally cool enough today for z. to wear the first one with a long sleeve shirt underneath, and i just wanted to eat her up all day long she looked so cute in it... (okay maybe not when she was swatting at my face and yelling for me to get her some crackers this morning at the thrift store!) i love to get a good deal! and i'd say 33 cents for this cute jumper was a good deal!

Two new little landscapes

I finished a couple of new little landscapes. I have never painted this small before, but I'm enjoying it. Each of these paintings is about 8" x 8". It's funny... I have so many ideas for mixed media work, combining stitching and fabric, collage and words, along with the encaustics, even doing some installation type pieces, but something is blocking my way from letting them out just yet. I don't know if it's fear or if they still need some time to develop in my head first. So for now, I'm enjoying making these little landscapes.

family heart and amanda soule's new book

i received a copy of Amanda Soule's newest book, Handmade Home, in the mail a few week ago and read through all of the projects right away. i am so inspired by all of her great ideas! a few days later, as i was working on some other projects at the sewing machine and thinking about my oldest going off to school full time, an idea came to mind from Amanda's book. one of the projects in Handmade Home is a family heart that any member of the family can take with them if they will be away from the family, especially overnight. her heart is made from scraps of fabric cut into the shape of a heart- sewn together and stuffed... so as i thought of c. being away from us all day, i decided to make him one of these hearts. i found his old blankie that i had put away in a keepsake box and cut it into a heart, sandwiched some flannel between the two layers and sewed a pocket to the outside for little notes. he loved it! and i love that he can carry it in the pocket of his backpack while he's away!

2009 Vintage Swap

I'm going to be a part of my first swap! Thanks to Heather at Shivaya Naturals for hosting such a fun swap... I have recently begun to frequent the thrift stores around me again, looking for interesting fabrics or clothing that can be repurposed, and I can't wait to pass some of these along to someone else and see what they make of them. These are a few of my recent finds... a set of 1960's floral sheets (which i think would make some very cute little girls' dresses or skirts) and some yardage of a great olive green and orange fabric along with a nubby green tablecloth.

New Purse

So I had some extra time this weekend since my oldest and his papa were backpacking. I stayed up late one night and finished a bag I had had in mind for quite some time. I used an old wool skirt and some herringbone tweed that I had found at the thrift store, and I like how it turned out. I really want to keep this one, but I'm trying to get some extra things ready for the Moss Rock Festival that I will be vending at November 7th and 8th. I keep hearing great things about this festival, so I'm excited to be a part of it! We'll see if this bag ends up there or not!

Improvisational Quilting??

I have absolutely fallen in love with the blogging world and all of the inspiration it offers me. I recently found the AlewivesGirl blog and this inspiring post about a Denyse Schmidt quilting workshop and fell in love with Denyse's work and the idea of improvisational quilting. What, might you ask, is improvisational quilting? I'm still not sure what the official answer to that question is, but I've made up my own version and am having a lot of fun with it. I just took several leftover pieces of fabric and began cutting them into odd size scraps and then assembling them into (almost) rectangles. And then I'm using this blue map fabric to finish out the squares.
I decided this is going to be my son J's Christmas present because both of the other kids have special blankets, and he has been requesting one lately as well. I'm really liking the process of just putting the fabrics together haphazardly and seeing what comes of it... Only 13 more squares to go! I've never finished a quilt before, started several but never finished a single one... maybe this will be the one!

A beautiful day

A week ago, I had the opportunity to spend the day with my son and his classmates at his school's outdoor classroom. We all caravaned from school to a friend's property south of town and once there spent the morning on a hike, enjoying the unusually brisk September air and searching for mushrooms. I had no idea Alabama was home to such a variety of beautiful mushrooms. Here are a few that we saw on our hike. Thank you Ivey for sharing your woods, and thank you to all the incredible women at Red Mountain who are giving my son an irreplaceable education!

Finished Backpacks!

So, all of my kids have started school for the year. and i actually finished backpacks for two of them before school started. i did a little tweaking of the pattern when i made the second of these backpacks, because i wanted the straps to be more appropriate for a youngster. the day in the park backpack/tote pattern is a great pattern, but i realized once i had it made, it's not really proportioned for kids. i think for my littlest's backpack, i might try this pattern. (actually, there are several of rae's patterns that i'd like to try!) but my two boys have enjoyed using their homemade backpacks, although i do wonder if at some point (if i continue this craze of homemade madness) if they will begin to resent me for not having the store bought things!

this girl knows what i like...

i received a wonderful gift a few weeks ago... a friend of mine handed me a bag full of vintage buttons, knowing that i've been making some fabric wrist cuffs and that buttons can make or break the whole cuff. i can't wait to figure out which ones i want to use first... maybe the ivory one with the carved flower, or the crocheted brown one, but the greyish blue one is really great too... thank you lisa!

so sorry...

... i have been away so long. the past few weeks have gotten the best of me, and i've been busy with our end of the summer vacation, the beginning of school and our new routine, and some new projects. i have also been doing some thrifting and collecting. it's so much fun to find things discarded by others and give a new life to them. i had great success a few weeks ago finding some new winter duds, and this past week i found the fabric above that i'm so excited about. i had no idea how much was in the bag when i purchased these, but there are over 3 yards of each, and i've got plans in my head already for both.

i am also very excited about the possibility of a new studio space. i tried it out yesterday for a few hours while my little ones were in school, and it was so nice to be all alone with my paints again - and i can tell i've grown a great deal in the past few years. the pressure of making something "worthwhile" was gone, and i was able to just enjoy the process. i think that's a small taste of victory for me! soon i'll post some pics of what i'm working on...

So I made a little progress

At the expense of some much needed sleep last night, I made some progress on the first of three backpacks. The pattern has been very easy to follow so far - lots of steps but not difficult. Next up is the lining, which includes a zippered pocket, so we'll see how well I pull that off. J's not too excited so far, but I think once he can put it on, he'll be hooked. He loves to have a bag to put all of his things in to. And there are all kinds of pockets and hiding places in this backpack to carry his beloved treasures.

Earthborn Pottery

Through a random coarse of events, I ended up being introduced to an incredible Birmingham artist a couple of weeks ago. I had noticed Cahaba Clayworks on a recent drive through Leeds, and then I was able to meet Tena Payne of Earthborn Pottery who owns part of the Cahaba Clayworks studio. It is a massive building out in Leeds, Al where several potters have studio space. I fell in love with Tena's work after seeing her website and then getting to see some of her work in person. It is so, well, earthy... I love the heavy feel of it and the rough edges... Tena was very generous and gave me a small plate that I have been using as my utensil holder on my stovetop. It's a welcome addition to my kitchen. If you have a chance, check out the earthborn pottery website or better yet check out the studio. They offer pottery classes periodically - I think a new one is starting this week. I always love finding local artists whose work I admire.

Call me crazy....

Our school year is going to look a lot different this year than it did last year. Last year, I homeschooled my second grader, had both of my little ones at home, and taught two art classes during the week... This year, my oldest is going to school and the two little ones will be at preschool two days a week. I'm excited for them and for myself but also a little anxious about what the year will feel like. Anyways.... as a going off to school present, I decided to make each of the kids a new backpack. Yes, I do think I'm crazy. But I found this very cute pattern, and couldn't resist when it went on sale for half off. The kids and I picked out fabric for each of their backpacks, and I've gotten it all washed and ironed - ready to go. I began cutting out fabric last night, and I definitely think I'm in for a few weeks of hard work, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I'll keep you up to date on my progress.

Chocolate Chip Yumminess

Just thought I'd show you a picture of my new favorite cookies... For my birthday, my in-laws gave me a grain mill, and I have been baking ever since, using freshly ground wheat. Soon after I got my mill, I discovered a yummy recipe for whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, and they have become a hit around my house. What's funny is that I am so not a baker, but I think this mill was just the thing I needed as inspiration...

Flower Bag and Craft Bazaar

A couple of friends of mine are holding an arts and crafts bazaar this weekend, and I'm so excited to see all of the great handmade things that will be for sale. I will have a table, but I'm afraid I won't have enough to fill it! My plan last night was to spend all night sewing, so I could build up some inventory... well, I did spend all night sewing, but I got sidetracked by making this new tote. It took me much longer than I thought it would, but I love the results! It was very inspiring to make - gave me lots of new ideas of things to include in future projects. Maybe tonight will be a more productive night sewing, though! I will have some new zipper pouches, some tote bags, and a few paintings for sale this weekend. The location of the arts and crafts bazaar is the old Alpine Skating Lodge, located at 160 Oxmoor Rd in Homewood. Come check out all of the great vendors: there will be jewelry, stationary, paintings, hand sewn bags and totes, clothing, and furniture!

how i misunderstand you

And here is the second.


and another detail...

Neither picture really does the painting justice as far as color. The first is a little too dark, showing more of the shadows of the texture than are apparent in real life, and the second is way too blown out, but it shows a detail of the stitching that i included. I'm still trying to figure out how to photograph my paintings...
This is a mixed media painting... fabric, stitching, encaustic on wood. And it's pretty small, measuring 6"x7.5". I've never included imagery such as a heart in a painting before, but i'm playing around with it in several paintings as representative of the unseen...

darkness covering, but there is a thin line between

Here it is, my newest painting...

And a detail...


It is encaustic on wood panel and measures about 12"x12". I began this with the intention of it being a fabric collage with encaustic, but yesterday, this is what it became. I am loving working in encaustic again. I feel much freer with it now than I did eight years ago.

finished two new paintings!

I have started painting again recently for the first time in over six years. I can't believe it's been that long, but finally I feel like I am ready again to paint. It's a little scary - wondering what will come out, but exciting too... It feels like a fresh start, and i have so many new ideas. Now to find the time to actually work on them!
I started a couple of paintings several weeks ago and put them away to finish some sewing that i've been working on. Well, I had time this afternoon to work, and I think these two are both finished. I want to see them in the morning light, and hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of them tomorrow.

framing a child's artwork

After seeing so many of the little gems of artwork that came from art camp last week, I wanted to post about some easy and inexpensive ways of framing those pieces. I know that when I've finally finished a painting, there's this feeling that I get when I see it framed. It somehow feels more complete, even important. And i think that children need to know that what they have created is important.

I'm using two of the things that my son created at camp last week in these examples. The first is a charcoal drawing. What you'll notice with both of these projects is that i have had to do some major cropping before i start the framing process. Children tend to draw and paint in the middle of the page. No matter how large or small the paper is, they tend to leave a lot of white paper around the edges. Children also like to write their names BIG on the front of their paintings and drawings. You will notice that I have to crop Cole's name out of the first drawing.







I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up an 8x10 matte board that was already cut for a picture and a ready made frame. I placed the drawing in the middle of the matte opening and situated it just how I wanted it and then placed a small piece of tape on the top of the drawing to secure it to the matte. Then all I had to do was place the matted drawing inside the frame. One thing to be aware of with the easel backed ready made frames is that sometimes the easel can cause the frame to stand out from the wall when it is hung, but these are easily removed from the back of the frame, which will allow the frame to lay nicely against the wall.

The next framing project is of a watercolor cat also done by my son Cole at art camp.

I purchased some large 20"x25" charcoal paper from Hobby Lobby, located in the art supply section of the store. It comes in lots of great colors. I chose a bright blue... I also purchased a 12"x15" plain black ready made frame and used the picture from the frame to cut my fake matte from the charcoal paper. Here's how:

I took the picture insert (the one with girl and woman with matching striped hats!) and used it to cut a piece of the blue paper the same size as the inside of the frame.

I then cut the boarder off of the picture insert and used it to trace inside the blue paper, making sure that i am lining the picture up in the middle of the blue paper. This will be the template for my fake matte.

I then cut the inside of my fake matte out, and it is ready to place the painting inside.


Here's what the finished framed artwork looks like. (I had a hard time photographing this on the wall in the boys' room, so here it is on the den wall and then on the sofa with two other paintings i matted and framed to go with it.




I think they turned out pretty well, but the best compliment came from Cole. He did not want me to frame these... but when he saw them complete, he was excited to hang them on the wall! I purchased all the supplies I needed at Hobby Lobby, and all of the frames were half off this week, so I spent under $35 and framed four pieces of his artwork!

Happy framing!

art camp

paper mache bowl based on this project

project based on Wayne Thiebaud and inspired by this project

project based on Paul Klee's work


I spent the last week with eleven very fun and creative kids making art at my very first art camp. It was so much fun and as always inspiring to see what comes from the creative minds of kids. Above is just a small sampling of the projects we made. We painted and worked with clay. We made drawings from our imaginations and from a still life. We used oil pastels and charcoal. We got our hands very dirty with paper mache paste. And we just had a lot of fun! You can see many more pictures from our time together here on my flickr account. And I just want to say many thanks to Kathy at Art Projects For Kids for all of the great project ideas! My mind is reeling with ideas for future camps and workshops, so I'll keep you posted...

Fabric Cuffs

I love all the fabric cuffs that I have seen lately, so I decided I'd try my hand at them, and this is what I have come up with so far. The first one I made is the dark brown one, and I really love the button and the haphazard back and forth embroidery, but I'm not too pleased with the ribbon loop. I'm trying to figure this part out. i tried three different things on this one cuff and finally decided to stick with this. On the second cuff, I made a fabric loop, which I like the look of much better, but I will have to see how it holds up. I like the frayed edges of this one. I made both of these to fit my wrist, which is very small. So, I'd like to make a few more average sized cuffs to give as presents. i have some ideas for some new ones and will share as I have time to follow through on those ideas.

New and Improved Zipper Pouches

I have been making zipper pouches for the past couple of weeks, first out of necessity, and then because they were so much fun to make. I really think everyone needs a good zipper pouch! I finally had to retire my much beloved zipper pouch that I purchased in Viet Nam, and I was lost without it. I use it as my wallet and often hook it onto my belt loop when shopping with my kiddos so I'm hands free. So I was inspired when I purchased my new sewing machine (more on that later) to make myself a new zipper pouch. My first attempt was less than perfect, but it has sufficed in function. Since that first pouch, I have made several more, improving with each one. This latest pouch I really love because of the orange zipper and thread and little appliqued flowers. I found a great tutorial on machine sewing the lining to the zipper and had great success with it. My previous pouches have all had a hand sewn lining, which I think actually lent a nice feel to them, but I wanted to try out attaching the lining in this way, and I think it might be a little more sturdy.