I've been cleaning out my work area, stash, old patterns, you name it, I'm getting it into someone else's hands. Feels good. And, I'm using my fabrics; some of them have been hanging around for a long time. More on what I am making with them in a future post.
The idea of a hip purse has appealed to me for a long time. I see them on the runway sometimes and think they would be really useful when visiting large cities. I've been diddling around with a few ideas. Most of them have not worked. Some have possibility, one is getting close. I'll show you in order of success, the LEAST successful one first.
Here is a purse I've posted before but wanted to show you because I love the shape of creel bags and thought it might adapt well to a hip purse. It's made with hand painted canvas so it has plenty of body.
Here is a prototype of the creel bag I thought I could convert from an over-the-shoulder style. This has serious fabric choice issues but then it was only supposed to be a muslin. Its stretch denim, just not enough body. But I like how it looks.
The bottom was sagging like two things I won't mention, so I stitched a few pin tucks...no dice, it didn't help. Then I inserted a thick interfacing in the bottom. Now it sticks out like a clown bag. But hey, I'm gonna wear it once just to see how it works. Onward...
I think this one has possibilities. It is a Marcy Tilton purse pattern that is on sale right now on Vogue Patterns! It calls for leather or leather type fabric so it is a bit more detailed than I wanted so I just used the base pattern.
The fabric is a mix of two pieces by Miles Frode that are hand stenciled and painted plus a piece I bought from a delightful man outside the Met in New York several years ago.
I'm excited about testing this one on the mean streets of Carmel next week when I attend the first ever Carmel Design Outside The Lines.
The back; fabric by that really nice guy in New York.
This is my year to work on painted fabric. I visited Holly Badgely's studio with my friend, Sharon, for three days. Holly provided such a lovely space, her time and expertise, plus she mixed all of our paints!
These are vintage monogrammed linen napkin that I picked up at an estate sale for nothing. They had stains and holes but were meticulously starched and pressed! Hope springs eternal.
You can see the black patches, they add so much.
I painted them and then created a silk screen to funk it up a bit. I love them, monograms, mended holes and all.
I overdyed another set of napkins and then stenciled them using Holly's stencils.
I am really excited about this direction. I love making utilitarian things. These small homewares are right up my alley.
I know, this post is all over the place. It's just that it's been so long since I posted. Hang in there.
My handwork of choice for the last few years has been coasters, again, utilitarian. They make wonderful gifts, and are so fun and portable to make. I made these a few years ago and use them in my studio.
I made these at an Oregon coast sewing retreat last week. Glorious weather, great friends, food, beach walks...heaven.
From our living room!
This was just one of the pieces of fiber art in the Portland airport. It seems like I'm seeing more textile art, does it seem that way to you?
And I just have to end with my latest Ann Wood bird. An owl, actually. My first, not my last! The next one's tummy needs to be fatter! Get ready, there will be more birds in the future. Just saying.
