Embroidered Pillowcase -- Fall

Have I blogged about these embroidered pillowcases yet? I don't think so. I bought the vintage, king size cases is Alton, IL where there is a whole lovely row of antique shops in old buildings that are cavernous and beautiful. Next, I over-dyed them in a "blue wash." Finally I chose some motifs and embroidered a Spring and Fall version as a set for a wedding gift. Ta Da! I love the texture, and hand of this personalized gift--hope they wear them out!

Postcard art...as quilt?

You know what would be really cool? To blow up a post card image into an art quilt. How would one go about doing this do you suppose? I would scan it and plot it out with a grid--then somehow reproduce the image onto fabric?? But as quilt squares? I don't know--or weave it as tapestry--or just fabric paint it on? I just love the colors and the composition of this card and think that it deserves to be more than just a postcard I sent to someone in a postcard exchange where I got very little in return--but enjoyed the creative process and the act of giving art through the mail very much. Does anyone want to work on an art exchange? I am actually long over due on the completion of a piece from my last exchange--, ahhh maybe I should work on that and then blog the finished results--I am pretty far along --its a long cabin art quilt that incorporates found objects. Did ya'll know that I love washers--any size and fabrication from plastic to copper--they are so fun to sew on to things!

Hardware, its almost as titillating as office supplies and stationary--maybe equally so. My art is a direct result of me being a pack rat and a collector of objects--lately I have heard this type of stuff referred to as "ephemera" which I suppose is what it is--but its being justified as a legitimate category of things--like its ok to have inspirational objects floating in your living space--that's ephemera--embrace it!

Gilda

Here's Gilda, she came to life last December. She lives with Bruno, 2 boys, 2 cats, and a lady named V. This style of doll is totally unique for me. I was scaling things down a bit in order not to be overwhelmed since dolls can take days of work. Her ensemble is simple yet unique, Her woolen scarf is embellished with sequins, the lace trim makes rib knit into a "flirty frock." I took liberties with permanent Sharpie, and kept the palette rich, jewel and mustard toned, as it was holiday time. I believe she was very well received.

Morning Glory Quilt

This quilt is super fun I think, I made a point of making it kind of psychedelic. It was hard to do b/c the pieces have round edges-and so the piecing didn't lay completely flat. Plus I didn't know the hand quilting trick then about hiding the knots, so the back of the quilt has the tiny finished-end knots on its soft flannel surface. Alas, we live and learn. Its important to always ask questions, and to listen. It lives across the street at our neighbor's house and hopefully gets used often by their beautiful son.

Always an inspiration

Just soak her up--I retracted the post I originally wrote--so I'll simply give you Frida's image as inspiration on this glorious Friday.

Clothes horse

Well, I wore something that I made to work today and received a lot of compliments and "is that Anthropologie?" so that felt good--its a sort of smock dress in a linen blend fabric. So I decided to highlight garments today on the blog. I made a whole series of these cap sleeve sweatshirts two years ago and I still have some. I have tons of fabric too so I was hoping to make a little somethin'-somethin' soon probably just for myself, but who knows? I think this great young friend of mine, the daughter of a former co-worker owns this shirt, bought it at the show at the Cornelia Arts building that I did just before I started working for Sears. Speaking of Sears which is like speaking of Kmart, the past two days at work the NY clothing design team has been holding a trunk sale at work and Kmart duds seemed to be selling like hotcakes:

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/c_10151_10104_Clothing_Women%27s

We do have some pretty cute things at very competitive prices for any fashinistas out there reading, (Jordan).

Anyway--Making clothes can be mucho fun when it works, and these shirts that I designed were the largest run of any garment that I have ever made...what do you think?

Scary Lady...

Sometimes art is for art's sake only, and it can't be made to please everybody. I picked up this postcard in a wacky, eclectic, antiques type place somewhere near the Welsh border between England and Wales, Hay on Wye actually that's the name--They had this mannequin in their shop and also made a series of postcards and who knows what else with her likeness. All I did was doll her up a bit using flowers cut out from the Papersource catalogue ("do something creative...") some washers, a bolt, and a lovely rhinestone teardrop right in between her deranged eyes. I love this piece, and have enjoyed doctoring up existing postcard images ever since. I actually sent out 6 or so in a postcard exchange that was organized by another Sarah, however the cards I received in return, if I got one at all, were truly disappointing! So that's when I decided to start sending out the watercolors to whoever "raised their hand" or to whoever I felt I needed to reach out and touch. Snail mail has just gone by the wayside, and I have to say I am still in the denial stage, I'm just not ready to say goodbye.