In Circles

The studio has been a flurry of activity with little time to post images of completed projects, but along the way I have snapped some shots for sharing later. These pillows were for Z's new couch in her cozy library. I am falling in love with more natural fibers including linen...perfect for applique and embroidery. The only hiccup in this project was the mysteriously disappearing circle template. I had to run out and pick up a new one because in my studio it has somehow become an indispensable tool. So, circle template #3 is tucked in safely next to my template collection and numbers 1 & 2 are playing a sneaky game of hide and seek somewhere in the house...

Blankets Cost Money






I'm looking forward to a girls night out tonight to celebrate my friend Karen's birthday! We are meeting up at our ritual hangout to eat good food and celebrate our friendships. The lap quilt is a birthday present for Karen. I love making these and combining a palette of colors. These colors speak her name and are from at least a couple of Amy Butler's lines. The quilt is machine sewn and the bias tape is half-machine and half-hand sewn. I learned a new bias tape trick recently that has really made the task much easier. Have I mentioned how much I love to hand sew? I could really sit for hours and sew on bindings... very methodical... very meditative...

On the subject of quilts... I recently had a conversation with my son Kolya about some quilts that I am making for some upcoming shows. This comes following many conversations where I am trying to teach Kolya that we can't always buy new things when we get tired of the old ones. Things cost money and we should spend our money wisely.

Kolya: What's that?

Mama: This is a lap quilt that I am making.

Kolya: Oh!... a blanket!

Mama: Yep, that's right.

Kolya: Who is it for?

Mama: I'm going to sell it... hopefully someone will love it and buy it.

Kolya: Are they cold?

Mama: (chuckle) Maybe.

Kolya: Don't they already have a blanket?

Mama: Probably, but they might want another one.

Kolya: Oh, but that's not a good idea if they already have a blanket... blankets cost money!


Yeah, I guess I got my point across...

Three Little Toadstools All in a Row...

I couldn't resist making a couple of mushroom button sets right away... they make me silly happy for some reason. I need to go scour my closet for something to add some to... so if you see me walking around town with random buttons affixed to my garments...just smile and wave...there really is no therapy for this type of thing... pssst.... check them out in the shop...

The mini apron is a gift for a little "Miss C" who is celebrating her 4th birthday today! Kolya is invited to her birthday on Saturday, so I whipped up this little apron for the birthday girl... I love being the Mama to a little boy, but once in a while it is fun to make something girly... I want to go to the book shop and pick up a little children's cookbook to pair with it. When I was little, I had a Jello cookbook and my favorite "recipe" was one where you cooled your Jello in a clear glass and then stuck a straw into it a few times... then add some cream to the top of the glass and beautiful white pillars would appear in your Jello! So cool! I know you are off to try it now...

Little Red Riding Hood & The Itty Bitty Embroidered Mushroom...

I did some updating in the shop today... including a couple of cute Little Red Riding Hood Zippered Pouches. They each measure 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and are lined witha cute coordinating red polka dot cotton. The main fabric is a linen blend imported from Japan. I embroidered itty bitty red and white mushroom buttons as pulls and now I'm sure these are going to show up on button cards in the near future...

Also pop into the shop for a new Matryoshka doll zippered pouch and two new applique tanks in some new sizes in case you have had your eye on those...

Japanese Matryoshka...

I bought this cute Matryoshka fabric from Japan a while back. There are always a few fabrics that I just like to look at for a while before I can bring myself to cut into them. This was one. I absolutely love it... linen fabric with the rows of little Russian dolls... So, one of these zippered pouches will stay in my personal collection, but the rest will be in the Etsy shop or at upcoming shows. I only have a tiny piece of this, so snap one up if you love it... I also added a cute hand embroidered button as a zipper pull. Cute.

I've been working on all types of projects for two shows coming up in September. Make sure to mark your calendars for Twist... September 5th & 6th in Northampton and StART on the Street September 21st in Worcester...

Applique in Circles...

Zandra and I made a trade a while back... she decorated my embroidery basket with some really beautiful papers and I agreed to applique a skirt she owned that had a sad little stain on the front. Here it is... I used a variety of Amy Butler fabrics and coordinating embroidery thread. It makes me happy...hope she likes it! I'm really inspired to go into my closet now and rescue some old favorites to style a bit...

Is anyone else watching Project Runway? I have seen bits and pieces of the show before, but shamefully have never watched a season before. Now thanks to my DVR I have been watching this new season. I LOVE it! It really inspires me. Some of the personalities are a bit big for me, but I love watching each designers process... Oh, and how much do you want to just hang out at Mood with all of those bolts of fabric...yum... Now let me channel Suede for a moment... Karen June is inspired... Karen June loves to sew... Karen June can't wait until nap time to go up to the studio and create!

Domestic Goddess...

I had a number of inquiries about custom orders at ArtBeat this weekend. I'm always happy to take on a challenge and combine my design ideas with those of my customers. I finished this custom order retro style apron late yesterday. She wanted an apron featuring mostly black and white fabrics and was open to a little bit of color. I combined three of my favorite Michael Miller fabrics including this little bit of his "Domestic Goddess" print that I have been hanging onto. I keep all of my fabric in a large cabinet in my studio. It is folded and stacked and this way I can pull certain fabrics and create by color. This retro green print just jumped out at me and I love the combined effect. I also added a bit of the green for the bias trim on the pockets. How could you not feel like a domestic goddess in this...

Swell...

I finally was able to cut into my "Swell" fabric by Urban Chicks... I love how the whole line works together and I added this cute red and white polka dot fabric as an additional accent. I'm seriously crushing over this apron and tempted to keep it for myself, but alas it will be for sale on Saturday and I will have to wait to make one for myself...

People have asked me if it is hard to not keep most of what I make... especially on pieces I invest a lot of time in. For some reason it isn't. I guess some of it comes down to the quantity of things that I make. What on earth would I do with 50 purses? Okay...bad example, but you get the point... Once in a while though I make a piece that I just can't resist... I will have to say that if this apron doesn't sell on Saturday I may just be making pancakes in it on Sunday morning...

Girls Night Out Bag

I'm looking forward to a girls night out tonight with a bunch of the moms from Kolya's school. They are such a great eclectic group that have found a great balance between being moms and pursuing their own interests and dreams. So, I whipped up a little bag to go with my dress tonight. I wanted something fresh and summery and had this cute place mat among my fabric stash. I have really been trying to think outside the box when shopping and thrifting ... looking for items that are just begging to be re-purposed. I added some polka dotty fabric to the sides ... a bamboo handle hangs from hand-cut bias tape. I'm ready to step out tonight!

Polka Dotty Zip Pouches

The school year is quickly coming to an end. Kolya has one more week of school, but his teacher is having a special moving up celebration on Friday. I'm such a sucker for little kids performing songs with hand motions. Anyway, I've been whipping up some goodies for his teachers including zipper pouch sets. (I promise there will be plenty at my next show for those of you who have been inquiring.)

The rain is coming down steady today...the perfect kind of day for embroidery and yo-yo making ... Alexi Murdoch in the background... dark cashmere incense burning... slipper sock mary janes covering my toes...

Polka Dotty Yo-Yo Flowers...All in a Row

I'm busy in the studio working on end-of-the-year teacher's gifts...goodies for my Etsy shop & even more goodies for an upcoming show - stay tuned for more on that!

I have been happily hand sewing fabric yo-yos with no particular project in mind. But, last night they were just begging to be flowers. This cute polka dotty garden dish cloth is in the Etsy shop!

June is definitely my month in more ways than one... Did I ever mention that my birthday falls on June 1st? It is also my middle name, but the two have nothing to do with each other. Now it is the name of my little cottage industry too and it seems to just suit me. Happy Tuesday!

3 Zip Pouches

This trio just showed up in the Simply June Etsy Shop... I recently ordered a bunch of oilcloth retro prints and couldn't wait to have some fun with them. I've made a set for myself to help organize my tote and I might whip up a few oilcloth totes for trips to the beach this summer... Keep an eye on the shop for those too!

Etsy Shop & Oven Mitts

I'm working on some new projects in the studio including this cute oven mitt. I love this leaf and ladybug fabric. It is a Japanese import and has almost a twill weight to it. The mitt is lined with pre-quilted Insul-brite . I made my own 1" seam binding with some bias cut polka dotty fabric and added a little tab as well. I have a few things I would change the next time around as the mitt is a bit wonky in areas. But, I know the changes I want to make and hopefully I will add a few to the shop soon. Speaking of the shop... It is really in need of a total overhaul and I think that might be on the plate for this evening. I have recently opened an Etsy Shop and am planning on linking that to my original site. I'd like to at least see how this works for me. I also plan on redesigning the look of the site...you know - in my spare time... :)

I really think I should break this pot holder in with cookies...

My Black Apple Doll

I finally got a few minutes to whip up my Black Apple Doll last week... She is looking sweet in her polka dot duds and blue crocheted scarf. Emily Martin of the Black Apple shared this cutie pattern on Martha a few weeks back.

Happy Monday everyone! I'm in the studio this afternoon needle felting some flowers for Spring and sourcing purse handles for some Summer accessories...

Stitched Portfolio

I have been busy in the studio putting together my portfolio for an upcoming juried show deadline. I actually need to have it in the mail tomorrow and the show is not until November! I'm used to having to think ahead, but this one is really keeping me on my toes. I have been working on tear sheets for my portfolio that I can mix and match for different applications, but I wanted something unique to present my work in. Z came up with the idea of sewing a cover for my portfolio and then it sort of evolved from there. I love how it turned out and I think I might need to whip up a cute cover for my day planner now.

I have many other little projects in the works and I am so thankful to be back to sewing now. I also had the treat of getting to listen to an interview with my ultimate crafting icon over a Craft Sanity this week. It is so inspiring to listen to the thoughts of a like minded crafty soul...someone who really recognizes the NEED to make...to design...to create. Pop over for a listen if your so inclined...

Embroidered Nataliyas & Wool Buttons

Some new Embroidered Wool Nataliyas will be making their debut at this weekend's show... designs are stitched free-hand, so each is one-of-a-kind. The Nataliyas are sewn from lambs wool coating fabric and would look delightful tucked under the arm of a vintage style wool pea coat...

Wipe-Clean Children's Aprons

I just finished a batch of children's aprons in polka dotty pink and polka dotty blue... very cute with a front pocket and wipe-clean for that messy little kid in your life... Aprons measure 17.5" x 13". They will retail for $15.00. If you want to add one to you holiday shopping list, send me an e-mail and I will set one aside for you. I will have some at the show on Saturday, but won't have time to add them to the web shop in the meantime.

Hope to see you all at the show on Saturday! Let me just say, my sewing machine is really looking forward to having the day off. :)

Saturday November 3rd - 10am-4pm
10th annual Arts & Artisans Craft Show - Saturday November 3, 2007 from 10 am - 4 pm at The Morse Institute Library. Proceeds to benefit Kids Connect, Inc. Call 508-652-4211 for more info.
14 East Central Street; Natick, MA