Two years, too long

It's difficult for me to believe that I haven't posted in 2 years! With a change in leadership at my day-job, I have been very busy at work, but trust me when I say, I've been Very Busy at ArtWork, too!

I've had a group show of my work, I started a new little series, of course I've been sewing massive amounts of clothing for myself, my mom, and dear daughter!

Rather than go into alot, I'll just share pictures! More to come!

Super Sewing Summer!

Once the students graduate and the Alumni have come and gone, the Ross Museum goes to a reduced schedule, leaving me with time in the morning to spend in the Art Barn for sewing!

This summer, I've been going through my stash of thrift shop finds, cutting things up, trying out new designs, and generally having a wonderful time. So far this month, here are about half of what I've made up:



Dresses, tops, slips with lace and ruffles to wear under other things.....I usually finish at least 1 piece every day this month!

My next project will be to re-organize all my fabric storage, since things have gotten a bit too jumbled to easily find what I'm looking for, and to think about having a "Supply Reduction Sale"...but that's for July!

My apologies!!

I don't know WHERE the time has gone! So many, many events in the family, but the bottom line is, I've neglected the blog!

So....


I finally finished the Spirit House quilt! Here's some photos, although since it was taken, I have gone in and added 3 more little houses on the hill, just to really finish it out. I wrote the haiku myself, and when I finally decided on the hands, it all came together really quickly. I'm very pleased with the results.


I've had fun at some craft shows, and whipped up some little monster pouches from recycled thrift shop sweaters. Zippers for mouths, buttons for eyes....they are so funny to play with!


I've been getting rid of all the Red Panty clothing, and have stopped sewing up any new cashmere kitties....I feel the need to change directions. I'm not sure if I'll still make clothing to sell: I'm still looking inside myself, figuring out where I need to go from here.

I've been winnowing out the Art Barn, because it's becoming quite the dumping ground...between moving Dear Daughter home this summer after graduate school, friends making "donations" of various items, accumulating vast amounts of supplies, whatever, it's just TIME to clean it up! I looked at photos of the Art Barn, after I finally got it all fixed up and situated, and I long to return to that state of cleanliness! So that's my goal, to get it finished by New Year's.

What's YOUR end-of-the-year resolution?

Charms from a charming friend....

As I continue to go thru fabrics and organize the Art Barn, I discover things! This week I discovered a big fat ziplock FULL of charm squares sent to me eons ago by a great quilting friend, Anastasia (just like my own dear daughter, and HER daughter!).

Looking at all those tidy little stacks really took me back...different decade, different style of quilting, fabrics I remember and they don't make any more. They called out to be useful, so I spent the weekend sewing over half of them together. I finished 2 nice big blocks, one in mostly yellows and purples, the other brights. The rectangular bright block I think I will quilt up and sew into a nice tote bag. The yellow & purple block is asking for a nice dark border, possibly some more blocks or applique. Perhaps it will end up a lap quilt, more probably a wall hanging.

I also pieced together a stack to be saved as a bright, random border for a project in the future...here they are all nicely pressed. Now they are neatly rolled and tucked into the drawer with other blocks that are waiting for their moment. It's nice to have a pieced border all ready to go, so when that urge hits me, I won't have to stop and fuss with it!

Thank you so much for the sweet memories, Anastasia!

Working and loving it!

Busy working in the gorgeous studio.....I have a pile of cashmere sweaters from the thrift shop all washed and ready!

See the pile? so pretty!

I'm scheduled to do some arts & crafts type festivals this May & July, so I'm concentrating right now on increasing my inventory of super-soft and cuddly Kashmere Kitties....not only are they cute, but they're environmentally-friendly!


See the cut & sewn up "skins" that I made next?? They look a little creepy and forlorn like that, I know.


I've also drafted NEW patterns for cashmere plushness! I've got a pattern that doubles as either a lamb or a puppy (see the pink & blue skins lower left) and I re-patterned an Owl, mostly for Dear Daughter. That will be the argyle "skin" on the bottom right!

Stay tuned, I'll post pics as I get them all stuffed and pretty!

It's the new & improved Art Barn!

When we first moved in, the poor place was a disaster! If we weren't sure where to put it, it ended up in the barn. Piles and stacks and bins, oh my! See the Disaster Site.

I did finally get a bit of organization going, setting up a sewing area...see, it was my Little Slice of Heaven!

Well, things have REALLY changed! Last Black Friday-day after Thanksgiving, my baby brother pulled up with his truck & trailer and unloaded a ton of wood & tools. We built a loft! Or as he calls it, a mezzanine. It is gorgeous! Sturdy, BIG, proper stairs, tons of space for storage!
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Dear daughter & I spent the next 6 weeks hauling stuff to Goodwill, to the trash, organizing, emptying bags, boxes, tubs and bins. Hubby installed the new eco florescent fixtures baby brother gave me for Christmas, and a great shop fan. And now.....


Unveiling the new & improved Art Barn!! There is a lovely seating area, with a coffee pot next to the furnace & fridge. There is Floor Space! There is organization! I actually KNOW where things are, and more importantly, can GET to them! Storage bins are upstairs, labelled. The only bins I still need to empty & organize are the fabrics, although those are semi-sorted already.



Room for cutting tables, all the supplies sorted and grouped together, Ana has her own area, plenty of room to move stuff around! My jewelry bench is finally put back together. Okay, so that area still needs sorted out, but at least it's all in one place! Stereo equipment & speakers are hooked up, and the CDs are actually right next door. I can put things AWAY and find them again the next time! Room for visitors, classes, parties, it's so wonderful!



Yes, I have been working, although most of what I've been sewing are UFO's (Un-Finished Objects) getting them done and tagged & properly put away. It has been really great to work in the new space, and I kind of hate to mess it up! That pile of tubs in the back, near the overhead door?? Empty!! There are still a couple items that need to go to Goodwill (anyone want some GIANT speakers?) but my, it is so awesome!

Logos and Labels

Thank goodness when I hired an internet designer to create the Red Panty Designs logo years ago, I thought to pay her to own the Copyright for the design!

I ordered my Hang Tags and Clothing Labels from her, but the last time I tried, she's apparently closed her business. I had, however, paid her for the copyright to the design, so that I could use it myself however I wished and not have to pay her for usage each time!

So, here's my first try at printing out some Clothing labels myself. Not nearly as nice as the ones she did for me, but nice and servicable!

Spreading the word about ReCycling, RePurposing!

Oooo, I have a group of Home Ec teachers and students planning a Studio Visit to see what I do! I feel so semi-professional.....of course you realize, this means I must straighten up and get prepared!

I've offered to take them thru my "process".....I'll show them my pile of thrift shop finds, how I prepare them for re-purposing, layout and cutting out my patterns, and show them some finished samples. Then take them all to the big Goodwill store so they can plan their own!! Yay! spreading the word about re-cycling!

I feel like a real, downtown designer!

Spoke too soon!

I should have known I'd jinx myself on Monday! Not only has it rained for 2 days, now it's supposed to snow like the dickens tonight!

Well, here is the new tunic top I finished Monday; I made myself a longer version to wear as a dress.

New look at some New Looks!

I found TWO of these tencel J Jill skirts at the thrift, in 2 different sizes. They drape really well and feel very soft. I also found this shapeless chocolate brown velour dress; apparently the clothing manufacturers think we real-sized women want to look like a big brown cow!

With a little more thrifting, and some great printed knit fabric, these reclaimed clothes have turned into........THIS!!










I think these are much more fun! The chocolate brown velour skirt can be skooched up to ride around the hips like a mini-skirt, with the top draping over a bit. I think this will look great with leggings and boots!

The J Jill skirt met another fun skirt from the thrift, and now I think it's a champagne party top! Great for that New Year's toast at midnight!

Sewing in the Art Barn

Today I invited Sherri from Go Figure Consignment to play in the Art Barn. Sherri has wanted to learn to sew for awhile now, so she brought her toys and we played!


Here is Sherri, sewing on my Bernina........



and here is her finished project! Is it not divine? I think it's very important to be able to finish something in the first lesson that you are happy with, and Sherri looks very happy!


You may recall that Sherri sells my Red Panty clothing at her shop; well strap yourselves in, because we're doing a Fashion Show! That's right, Go Figure is sponsoring a Fashion Show blow-out on November 20th! Admission will be free, and you'll find great music and refreshments plus Fabulous new Fashions from Red Panty, Sherri, and other local designers!



Get that great outfit for all your family holiday dinners, office parties and the upcoming holiday season!

Sewing Workspace - My little heaven!

I can't recall if I've shared a pic of my actual workspace in the big ArtBarn, but here it is! I do rather love it! I wish the rest of the barn was organized as well, but baby steps, you know!

Had the hubby turn on the heat yesterday, we'll leave it at around 55 degrees, so nothing freezes, and when I'm working in there I can turn it up a bit. I do tend to get rather warm when I work; do you supposed it's because my brain is working so hard? I'm not sure, but it sounds good!

I have a nice little rug under my worktable, because I don't know why but I must operate my machines bare-footed. I cannot stand to wear anything, not even slippers or flip-flops!

All my supplies surround me, and with my office wheelie chair, I can just swing around and reach anything I need....heaven!

Art Barn - the disaster site

Well the move is complete....we are totally moved in to the new house, nothing remains at the old place (except some lovely herbs and some brick pavers). The new place gets homier every day...at the end of each day, we proudly point out to each other the boxes we've emptied, the pictures we've hung, the new plants we've nestled into their beds. Soon, very soon, it will be our HOME!

The Art Barn, well, that's another matter! As the final days approached and we were desperate to be finished, boxes and bags and items which we just couldn't make a decision on (keep, toss, donate, sell?) were all tossed into the barn. MY barn! and so Ana & I made the brave first step last week, to try to clean-sweep and make some headway.



Here is the Barn immediately after the move....Ana is standing near the side door, in the only free space available. Mountains of rubbermaid tubs, plastic bags, furniture that had to be emptied pre-move, and the boxes of contents that came from within. Plus knocked-down shelving units, the barbecue grill, a completely over-the-top wheelchair ramp that came from the University....we need to put a small ramp off the back porch for Ron's dad Floyd, who uses a walker, and the university was going to trash a ramp, so the B&G guys dropped it off.....14 feet long, 48" wide, built to carry a rhino! Serious overkill for our needs! so THAT'S got to go!


Ana & I managed to carve out a tiny workspace for each of us, and I've put together 3 shelving units....a bit rickity, we'll have to move them around again before we're finished, but it gets some of the clutter out of the way. We've moved bookcases around and filled them back up, creating a nice pile of empty totebags, "borrowed" post office carriers and some empty boxes....I can see a teeny bit of headway!


Yesterday I actually got the Bernina plugged in and turned on....yay! At this point I can at least do some work while we chip away at the big pile of belongings. I dropped off another 2 bags to Goodwill this morning on my way to work, and we'll continue to rid ourselves of this baggage, I'm sure. It can't possibly be healthy to cling to so many objects. But I do look forward to the day when my friends and I can gather in the barn, to create and collaborate!