Birdcage Designs

Fab and not so Fab Fabric

2011-12-21T04:02:00.001-08:00

Been busy in the cage packaging and sending needle cases like crazy the last couple of weeks. I don't think there's been a day when the post office is open that I haven't been there... and I have a couple of packages that are going out today, too. Not that I'm complaining-- always good to have things heading out!

I ordered some specialty fabric from Spoonflower in November. There are some awesome designs available (I love this one, and this one, and this one... I could spend hours just poking through fabrics on that site...)

Not only do they have awesome designs, but when there was a problem with my order they fixed it right away-- my replacement fabric came in earlier this week.

*And* when it arrived it came in a biodegradable "plastic" mailer that instructed me to reuse it (how much do I love this kind of responsibility? A whole lot).

Which is all in contrast to a recent problem I had with the fabric behemoth Joann's. I pulled out some cuts of fabric that I'd bought a while back and discovered that they had shorted me by two inches on all 8 cuts (except for the one that was shorted by 4 inches). When I brought it back in not only did they not fix the problem, they were super nasty and dismissive. I sent a letter to their corporate headquarters and got.... nothing. Not a peep. Apparently, that's just how they roll. I haven't been back since. So my order with Spoonflower was a reminder that there are some companies who value their customers. Go Spoonflower!

2011-12-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Just got an email that some super neat fat quarters I ordered eons ago from Spoonflower are on their way. Can't wait til they get here!

Utkatasana and such

2011-11-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

One of the things I've been working on are a whole pile of new yoga mat bags-- including some new bamboo forest style bags.

Busy busy birdie

2011-11-24T07:47:00.001-08:00

Whoo, it's been seriously hectic in the birdcage the last couple of months! So hectic I've barely been able to come up for air-- though some of it has been pretty exciting, I'm about ready for the pressure release.

Despite all the big doin's (as my grandfather would have said), I've still found time to work on some creative crafty goodness.... though I've been very, very short on daylight time for taking pictures of anything. The days are getting so short, and we had a long string of rainy weekends... I'm hoping sunny days are ahead and I can get a few pictures up! Lots and lots and lots of bags-- purses, project bags, yoga mat bags! And all sorts of other things in process (and even a few experiments).

In the meantime, in honor of my current pace of getting the documentation part of my projects done, a new pair of booties!

Entirely capable

2011-09-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

A dear friend's birthday is coming up and she requested..... a cape!

I'm digging this cape thing.... and apparently it's a fashion trend, even. And me thinking I was the only person with a thing about capes. Basically, I saw a picture of Twiggy in a cape when I was a kid, and I've wanted one desperately ever since.

But I mean... how could you not? Apparently I'm either way out ahead, or I've been so behind for so many years I was bound to catch up, because the cape is an official trend of the season. Ha!

2011-09-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

Whooooo, it's been kind of a wiiiiild summer. Wild and crazy crazy busy. In between about a million other things, I have managed to get finish up a couple of things...

First off, a cape! Which I made for myself for my birthday. I've always wanted a cape. Now I have one!

Next up, some knickers! I had a hankering for some knickers... and now I have some!

And a special order, for a yoga mat bag and matching tote. I enjoyed making them.... maybe things will calm down enough for a bit more playing...

Market Day!

2011-07-22T18:59:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is market day! I'll be at the South of the James Market tomorrow:

Forest Hill Park
New Kent Rd and West 42nd Street, Richmond VA 23225
Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm
http://sojmarket.com/

Piles of new stuff, so defy the heat and come out for a Saturday stroll!

Reading the signs

2011-07-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've got a new sign! Happy pennants spelling out Birdcage Designs-- and got a chance to put it up yesterday at the market. So keep an eye out for those happy pennants!

Market Day!

2011-07-09T03:17:00.001-07:00

It rained pretty heavily last night, but it's cleared up this morning-- just in time for the market!

I have heaps of new things coming along, so come on down and check it out!

South of the James Market
@ Forest Hill Park
Forest Hill Ave & 42nd Street
SATURDAY'S from 8 am - 12 pm
May 7, 2011 - December 3, 2011
For map & directions: http://tinyurl.com/neztj8

Oh no, a ghost!

2011-07-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

So this is what I've been working on-- a bag of pacman ghosts! I've got another one in the works with another 80s arcade nostalgia fabric featuring another game my brother and I played a ridiculous amount of as kids. I may or may not be able to let that one go....

Meanwhile, Mr. Tibbs has discovered the presence of his outdoor twin, who was rolling around in the front yard this morning. He kind of freaked out, ran up and down the house howling, and then threw himself on the couch.

That just can't be comfortable. Right?

Off to market

2011-06-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

It was a little warm over the weekend in Alexandria-- not quite as warm as last year when it was well over 100 degrees the weekend of the fair, but still pretty toasty. The rain held off, again better than last year when we all had to pack up posthaste after a tornado warning, gusty winds and heavy rain.

There are a few more market days to be had this season, and I'm working on adding new things all the time, including some supercool retro eighties bags that will take you right back to the arcade.

New Market/Old Market-- Square

2011-06-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a little crazy around the 'cage lately, so I've been mostly working at treading water to keep my head in the air. I had a great weekend of markets at the beginning of the month-- ain't success grand? At least until you realize that you're running low on things to fill the racks at the next market!

The sewing machine and the embroidery floss have been flying around here, and I have a whole new batch of bags, aprons, and other goodies ready for the 31st Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival in Alexandria, Virginia!

I'll be down on the square all day Saturday with my new bags and things, waiting for you!

A-marketing we'll go

2011-06-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a market-filled weekend!

Tonight I'll be next to Quirk for First Fridays with bags bags and more bags...

Quirk Gallery
311 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220-4218
(804) 644-5450

And tomorrow morning I'll be at the South of the James Market in Forest Hill Park!

Hope to see you there!

New Art!

2011-05-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

We've got new art!

Mr. P's gift for Valentine's Day this year was a new piece of art! A fabu, eight foot painting. Eight foot = logistical problem, so it took a while for him to find a way to get it home. He put it up this weekend! Yeay! I love it-- and he's delighted that it can be seen from the street :)

Meanwhile, kitty is loving the view out the door....

Oh (Alien) Baby!

2011-05-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Friends of ours who moved from DC to Minneapolis right around the time that we debunked to Richmond have sprogified!

It's their first, and they decided not to find out the sex of the baby ahead of time, so I hemmed and hawed a bit in deciding what kind of quilt to make for them. I thought about making one that was neutral, but it seemed too bland for them, and certainly too bland for their sprog.

So I went with colorful aliens and spaceships. I thought the aliens were adorable. They just welcomed their son into the world about a week ago. We're hoping to be able to get out there some time soon to meet him!

Market Day!

2011-05-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

It's Market Day!

First market of the season! And after a month of computer problems (why do computers die and eat all of your files?) I'm back up and running with pictures and everything. On the upside, I was busy making things for the market in the meantime.... so come on down and check it out!

South of the James Market
Forest Hill Park, Richmond, VA

A little birdie

2011-03-27T03:35:00.000-07:00

Spring has been springing around these parts-- though after a couple of warm weeks it turned chilly this week and even sleeted this morning. So much for the daffodils.... In the meantime there have been projects galore, including a little birthday gift for a dear friend.

A little bird bag...

With a pin to match...

All the springing spring has put me in a mind to make some new pins...

The birds have returned and sing every morning...

And soon there will be nests filled with eggs in the trees around the house...

More to come!

The unbearable cuteness of being

2011-02-27T13:47:00.001-08:00

New booties! Cute, no? And for sale on etsy!

Almost as cute as Mr. Tibbs....

Who is not for sale on etsy, or anywhere else.

Busy bunny

2011-02-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

Busy days in the cage....

New aprons and dresses and hats and bags and all manner of things getting ready for the new market season this spring!

ALittle birdie told me so

2011-01-31T03:11:00.000-08:00

Bags galore!

I just love this fabric... I wish I'd gotten more since you can't get it anymore...

And more on the way!

Record!

2011-01-29T15:26:00.001-08:00

It's a record! I posted this roll up artist's case on etsy this morning:

And it was gone in about an hour!

My needle cases have always done pretty well on etsy-- it being a crafty community with lots of knitters and crochet-ers and painters and all manner of creative folk, it's exactly the right market, right?

I've had things go on the same day before (this one went the same day I posted it), but this one was a record for quickness. Wish all of 'em went like that! But I can't complain. Though I loved the fabric on this one so much I was kind of sorry to see it go-- lovely Japanese fabric with a beautiful print and colors. Then I went to the fabric store where I'd got the stuff this afternoon, and they don't have any more. Sad! But also happy for the sale.

Hear 'em roar

2011-01-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

Spent a busy bit finishing up a gift for a friend having her first in just a few weeks-- a boy!

She requested a lion, so a lion she got...

Meanwhile, my parents went to the Caribbean and brought this back for us as a gift:

Because they know us well enough to realize that we would TOTALLY want a vintage movie poster of a Mexican film in which luchadoros fight zombies, and they are cool enough to realize that it would make a great gift. Can't wait to get it framed!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-05T05:18:00.001-08:00

New year, new things going on in the 'cage!

To wit: purses!

I've been working on some all new things over the last week, including quite a few experiments. More to come soon!

Meanwhile, Mr. Tibbs got to have a new experience: snow!

He didn't seem too sure about it, though.

The most wonderful time of the year

2010-12-25T04:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Merry Festikwanukahhmas!

Gifties!

2010-12-22T05:20:00.000-08:00

It was Mr. P's birthday, so I made him a chocolate pie. Yum! And lucky me that he was born.

Meanwhile, here are the things I have learned this holiday season:

The reason why the word satin is only one letter away from Satan is that satin is of the devil.
Glitter? Also of the devil.
Pretty much anything in the fabric store your five year old niece would think was awesome? Of. The. Devil.

Mr. P came home last night and was alarmed at the glitter covering the cat. He noted that the house looked like a five year old had exploded.

Satin, I have now discovered, is a complete PitA to work with. IT SLIDES. It's slippery. EVEN WHEN PINNED.

On the upside, the only thing left is to get the zipper in. Attached to the slippery satin and glittering overskirt. But almost done. To my eye it looks huge. I used the size five pattern, so it should be her size. Except when I hold it up it looks like it should be for a twelve year old. Maybe she'll still be into princesses when she's twelve?

Helping hands

2010-12-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

Mr. Thibbs is pretty sure he knows the best way to finish that paper. He also "helps" with quilting (mostly by knocking bobbins off the table and chasing them), knitting (oh yes, the yarn), and cooking dinner. (Lately this has meant that he thinks water should be added to everything, so he slops all of his water on the floor). But who can resist an adorable ball of purring furry goodness? Even if he is terribly cheeky.

2010-11-14T04:18:00.001-08:00

It's November, so that can only mean one thing....

Pumpkin bread!

Yum!

Too too much

2010-11-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's been busy around the cage as of late-- a little too busy since only a little of it has been fun. But I have been finishing up my last bits for the November South of the James market... and am thinking about maybe keeping things rolling in the winter market, too. We shall see....

In the meantime, the cupcake booties that everyone seemed to love but no one had a baby girl to fit into them have sold~

I think I might need to make another set, they were so often fondled and favorited. Actually, come to think of it, I think I may not even have any of the retro felt booties left, so I may need to make a few....

You've come a long way

2010-10-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up thinking about a skirt. More of an idea of a skirt, but one I thought I'd like to make. So I poked around in my fabric stash and found some fabric I thought would work well, and then I started drafting a pattern for it, and then I thought: pockets! I'd like to have some pockets! Now, I'm kind of partial to patch pockets, but they wouldn't work for the skirt I was thinking of. What I really needed were some pockets sewn into the side seams. It's been a while since I'd done those, so I checked my handy dandy sewing reference book: The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. I picked it up at a yard sale or a thrift store or some such ages ago for like a dollar, and it has proven to be incredibly useful.

Lo and behold, there was a description of exactly what I was looking for-- inside pockets on a skirt!

But then I thought, hmmm.... maybe what I really want are the kind of pockets that you get on the front of a pair of jeans. I flipped the page, but there were no more pockets in the women's clothing section. I was baffled-- surely there must be something in here about pants pockets? I checked the index, and there, under pockets, was a whole section on trouser pockets. Half a dozen entries! But none in the women's clothing section.

Instead, they were all in the "sewing for men and boys" section. So efficient the way that so many levels of sexism can be wrapped up in one section heading! The women's clothing section is not entitled "sewing for ladies." Because the implied audience is ladies. The subtext is, in fact, sewing for you. But when it comes the the male of the species, it is not about men sewing, but about women sewing for men and boys. And only men and boys need pockets in their trousers. I guess because they carry the wallets?

Certainly I'd noticed that the illustrations (and instructions on how to capture some hot fashion styles) were dated, but I'd never really noticed how sexist it is. I guess this sort of highlights how little sewing for men and boys I do? The book was published in 1976, which to me seems so.... not that long ago. Maybe that just means I'm getting old?

Merry Spooky Merry

2010-10-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the South of the James market this Saturday, and will be bringing some Halloween fun along!

Trick or treat bags!

And to round out my holiday craftiness, I finished work on a special order that I had for a Christmas dress.

A green denim jumper! I used some Christmasy fabric for the yoke....

And added hand embroidered snowmen to the pockets.

Hope to see you there this weekend!

Boo!

2010-09-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

Working on something spooooooky for the next South of the James market.....

Monkeying Around

2010-09-19T08:22:00.001-07:00

I always enjoy putting together a pattern and watching a quilt evolve, but I usually leave the bed sized quilts for special orders. This year I've been working on a small batch of twin bed sized quilts for etsy and the market. I finished up this one recently. I had two pieces of fabric that seemed to be calling out to be used together-- one with pink monkeys and the other one with cute frogs on an aqua background. I used a square in a sqaure pattern with an appliqued dot pattern. Et viola!

Now they are all sewn up in a twin throw! This one is up on etsy now. I've got two twin sized quilts waiting to be quilted-- one with butterflies and another one that makes me think of rainbow sherbet. Hoping to get them done before the next market!

Market Day!

2010-09-11T03:49:00.001-07:00

It's market day! I'm heading off to the South of the James market with some new things!

Update: This quilt, which I just finished a few days before the market, sold yesterday! Off to make a few more things....

2010-09-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

This plant just keeps blooming and blooming. It was something I picked up on sale and is the only thing that has thrived this hot, dry summer. But it's really thrived....

The other thing blooming is a special order for slippers based on the baby booties pattern. They came out pretty well and the girl for whom I made them was really happy.

Yes, Grasshopper

2010-09-02T04:53:00.001-07:00

A dear friend of ours is having a baby next month (there's been a baby boom in my world this year!), and I wanted to make something for the little nipper. She's an amateur entomologist so I decided to go with an insect theme-- grasshopper booties!

And since it will be a fall baby I thought a quilt might be nice to have. I never realized how hard it would be to find non-butterfly bug fabric. But I did, finally....

We joked when she first told us she was pregnant that we should call the baby lil' Bug, so I added that to the quilt. It was the first time I'd tried fusible web... it's pretty neat stuff. I'll have to see what other projects I can come up with to use it...

Lil muffin

2010-08-15T04:05:00.001-07:00

A friend is having a baby--soon!-- and she wanted a little muffin dress for her shower.

Which is tomorrow!

The fabric on the yoke lining and pockets is actually cupcakes... but have you ever tried to find muffin fabric? Impossible! Hope cupcakes will do as a standin...

Market Day

2010-08-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

Been working on all kinds of new stuff -- which I'll be bringing to the South of the James market in Richmond Saturday morning.

Some new retro aprons from my favorite vintage 1940s pattern-- some in new colors, too!

A huuuuuge new batch of hats in all colors, shapes, and sizes. And some new dresses to boot. Here's hoping it doesn't rain and that I see you there!

Bits and pieces

2010-08-06T04:52:00.001-07:00

An eventful summer around the cage... my husband had a piece in a show in Portland, Oregon, so we thought it was a cracking good excuse for a road trip. A looooong road trip-- a big ole loop, in fact, in just over two weeks.

With lots of camping along the way, which was really great. We don't get the chance to go out camping or road tripping nearly enough.... that's our little set up in Minnesota, the Mojave Desert, and the Badlands in North Dakota.

I offered to drive parts of the way, but Mr. Birdcage ended up doing all of the driving. I think because he is very sweet and knows that I hate driving. And since I was in the passenger seat I got to while away the hours doing a little piecing.

Now that we're back I'll be working on a whole new batch of things. In fact, there's a pile of hats at about the halfway point on my work table now, waiting for me to return...

Use your skull

2010-06-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

I had two skull-related special orders to make this week. First, I had a request for a skull and crossbones baby hat for a little girl. I think it came out awfully cute...

Then I had an order for a man-apron for a local artist who was looking to cover up while throwing pottery. He wanted something cool but not girly, so I had him pick out some fabric, and what d'ya know, skulls again!

Rock n roll card playing skulls, no less.

Pretty Pretty

2010-06-20T11:40:00.001-07:00

I'm a big fan of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), and our CSA here--Victory Farms-- is one of the best things about Richmond. We've bought a share every year since we moved here, and it delights me to have fresh local all natural (chemical free!) produce every week from May to November.
Yesterday I went down to my local market to help out with bunching flowers (and got a bag full of vegetables for it-- how awesome is that!? Vegetables for playing with flowers! Well, I also peeled onions, which gave me flashbacks to my days as a prep cook, but mostly I played with flowers....). How gorgeous are these? Black eyed susans, zinnias, snapdragons, irish bells, foxglove, dianthus and more. Pretty!

2010-06-12T03:10:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the S outh of the James market in Richmond's Forest Hill Park this morning from 8am until noon.

So come on down and check it out!

In with the Old

2010-05-28T04:34:00.000-07:00

Old Town Alexandria, that is. I'll be at the 30th Annual Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival on June 5th and 6th-- and I've finished up work on some new things that haven't even gone up on etsy yet...

as well as a few things that are...

The Festival will be held at: Market Square 301 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314. Hope to see you there!

Full serving of fruit

2010-05-16T15:04:00.001-07:00

Finished up working on a few new baby quilts-- apples and cherries and triangles!

With more to come soon. In the meantime I am getting ready for the Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival in Alexandria, VA on June 5th and 6th-- and then back to the South of the James market on June 12th. Lots to do between now and then!

Market Day!

2010-05-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be doing two markets in Richmond tomorrow-- one on the Southside, and one on the Northside.

I'll be at South of the James in Forest Hill Park from 8am to noon, and then I'll be heading over to the Bellevue Spring Fling on the deck of the Northside Grill on Bellevue Avenue from 3 to 7. Hope to see you there!

Wrapped up

2010-04-26T05:02:00.001-07:00

Finished up a baby quilt for a friend who is due next week... space monkeys!

I figured that as long as I had the flannel out, I might as well finish up the pile of flannel quilts I had started a while back. I quilted and bound three this weekend with a couple more in the pipeline.

And I have one more that isn't flannel-- a double wedding ring that I hand pieced over the winter. I'm hoping to have the binding finished by the weekend.

Birdcage out of the Cage

2010-04-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Birdcage Designs is headed to a market near you! If you're in Richmond, anyway. I'll be setting up the second Saturday of each month at the South of the James market-- check out info here. The market is open from 8am to noon every Saturday, and is chock full of vendors with all kinds of great stuff. The CSA that we belong to, Victory Farms, is there with the most awesome naturally grown vegetables. There are vendors selling baked goods, cheese, eggs, plants, and all kinds of handmade goods as well. So come on down-- I'll be setting up on May 8th!

Here's a detail from a garden apron I just posted on etsy-- it's time to go dig around in the garden and get some more seeds into the ground!

Spring is Springing

2010-04-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

The yard is full of flowers, so I've been working on filling my work basket with them, too:

Pins! They have a lock clasp on the back to pin them to your bag, jacket, hat-- whatever you fancy!

More to come in more colors and combinations...

Hats off!

2010-03-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy month replete with lots of traveling for both of us... and almost all of it separately. My least favorite kind. It's also been surprisingly sunny (I'm sure we'll pay for this weather later), so I've been whipping up some sun hats....

.... with more on the way!

Getting the message

2010-02-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some new bags the last week or so...

Some small shoulder bags with outside pockets. I plan to start putting those up on etsy soon. I've also started working on some messenger bags.

With an inside zipper pocket. The next one is almost done on the sewing table...

And now that winter is almost over I am suddenly in the mood to do something with that ball of mohair that I've had sitting around forever.... there's always next winter to use it.

Reuse, Recycle

2010-02-20T14:42:00.001-08:00

I've been finishing up work on the recycled market bags-- I've got several more to go from the set of drapes that I got from freecycle, but there will be small ones like the picture, large ones, and extra large ones. I've also got a new drape that is going under the scissors soon.

In the meantime, joining the carrot printed bag I finished the other day (which folds up into its own pocket for compact carrying)....

I've got two more blocks working, including a radish:

And a rosemary branch design I carved in honor of my rosemary plants that seem to have weathered the rash of snowstorms (the only herbs in my garden that look like they've made it).

More will be on the way soon. In the meantime, the radishes are up on Etsy in a new "afterlife" section for recycled items.

Easy being green

2010-02-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

Between the snow days and the holidays I've had more time than usual to work on projects....

It's never enough time, of course, but I've still managed to wrap up a few things that were sort of partially done, and are now all the way done-- like this last batch of needle/brush cases that are making their way on to Etsy...

And I've even had time to make my first stab at a project that I've been thinking about for a while. I had a set of not terribly attractive drapes that were saved from the landfill (yeay Freecycle!), but that needed to be turned into something....

The obvious thing to me was market bags-- the drape material is pretty weighty home dec stuff, perfect for groceries. So I cut up all the fabric and whipped the first of the drape bags together, and should be posting those soon. But that left the lining.

That, too, will be going to market, but with a little something extra. Being lining, it was plain, off white, and even a little bias tape on the edges wasn't snazzing it up too much. So I added some hand applied block prints-- in this case of carrots. I also have a block of a radish waiting for the second bag to be sewn up.

On a roll

2010-02-10T10:11:00.001-08:00

Snow again today... wowzers. I feel like I'm back in upstate New York. This week I've been working on some market bags from recycled material, and roll up artist's carrying cases, for knitting needles, paintbrushes, pencils... whatever creative tools you need.

The first two have gone up on Etsy, with more to come. Update: the bottom most pink case and the top most cases sold on Etsy-- but there are new ones up now!

More snow, more stuff

2010-02-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

Another snowy weekend-- this time complete with a canceled trip. I was meant to be on the train to Boston yesterday, but alas, Amtrak canceled all service through DC because of the snowpocalypse, so I didn't go after all. So I've been finishing up some projects now that I had a little time at home-- and we're more or less iced in.

I finished up the new flash art bag-- it's up on Etsy now...

I've also been working on finishing up some quilts that were waiting to get stuffed and backed and bound. I finished this one just before last weekend's snowmageddon.

And I've been working on a little applique project.... more to come, hopefully without a side order of snow.

Snow day

2010-02-01T05:23:00.001-08:00

With the weather outside looking list this over the weekend.....

I went back to work on some of the tattoo flash art pieces... putting them together soon!

Flashy, too

2010-01-29T07:13:00.001-08:00

Finished up the embroidery on the mermaid flash piece:

Now I just have to sew up the pouch! I also went back to a quilt I started working on in the fall before getting sidetracked with a billion other things. It's starting to take shape now, and I'm excited to see how it will turn out.

I spent a bit of last week finishing up some baby quilts that I'd finished the tops for a while ago, but hadn't had a chance to put together yet. They should all be going up on etsy this week, starting with a really old school piece-- both in that the pattern I used is very traditional, but also that I hand pieced and hand quilted it. A first for me!

It's up on etsy now, so check it out! I also finished up the bunny applique dress, so it's ready to go.

Flashy

2010-01-21T04:16:00.000-08:00

Been working on some new embroidered pieces using vintage flash art for tattoos-- and I just finished my first piece!

There are a few more in the works with different designs... I've got a mermaid I'm pretty happy about coming up. I also put together the cupcake cosmetic bag this week-- it's up on etsy now.

Update-- the cupcake bag has sold, but I'm working on some more cupcake embroidery pieces!

Booties to boot

2010-01-08T04:34:00.000-08:00

We have a fabulous-- if crazy-- holiday, traveling to see both sides of the family, who live 500 miles in opposite directions from where we live. We also threw in a weekend in NYC for Mr. P's birthday, with a blizzard to boot. And with boots being thrown in, I spent much of our travel time sitting on trains making booties... (the cupcake booties are up on etsy now).

And also started work on some new things for the new year... some animal applique and some embroidered pieces soon to come.... as soon as I manage to finally unpack from the holidays.

skulls and cupcakes for the new year!

2009-12-23T05:17:00.000-08:00

Working on some embroidered bags for the new year...

Skulls and cupcakes! More to come soon!

A little birdie

2009-12-06T13:20:00.001-08:00

I've been working on some small bags, appliqueing a little birdie or two to go up on Etsy... (Update: The bag below sold already, but I'm working on more like it)

And in between working on a couple of things for my niece for Christmas. I usually make her something, and this year I have two projects going on for her. One will come in handy for winter in New England. The other one involves a lot of ruffles... She's very girly, and while I think she has stopped declaring herself to be a princess to complete strangers in the department store, she's still pretty enamored of flouncy things. This is the sleeve...

And this is the bottom hem. Hope she likes it! (And I hope I finish it!)

Boatloads

2009-11-28T10:29:00.001-08:00

of fun. I just finished this crib quilt using Noah's arc themed fabric, so pairs of animals and peace doves galore. I quilted it with an overlapping circle design.

I'm putting the finishing touches on another using a bow tie design... should be done soon!

Lots to be thankful for...

2009-11-27T06:53:00.001-08:00

Including family, friends, and chocolate pie!

Pressed

2009-11-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day of my letterpress class, which I've enjoyed immensely. I'll never look at a book from the 1800s the same again-- all those slugs and spacers and that beautiful lead type...

Getting my holiday on

2009-11-12T19:09:00.001-08:00

I'm going to be heading up to Lakeside in Richmond tomorrow and Saturday for their annual Lakeside Avenue Christmas Open House. So if you are looking for some handmade gifts to give to people this year, you should come on up to where the Lakeside Farmers' Market is to check out some local craftspeople and to get some great stuff! Here's the info:

Lakeside Town Center

6116 Lakeside Ave., Richmond, VA, 23228

Friday, November 13th 5-9pm
Saturday, November 14th 10am-5pm

Space baby

2009-10-18T11:24:00.001-07:00

Packing up a new space baby quilt for a friend who just had her first-- a wee little boy :)

And just in time-- I found out yesterday that another friend is expecting in May! In the meantime, I have a little work to do for yet another friend due in December. The sewing machine is going to be humming....

Fall Fiber Festival

2009-10-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

We went to the Montpelier Fall Fiber Festival and had a great time-- lots of animals to check out, lots of great yarn and fleece and spinning wheels that I was deeply coveting, sheep dog trials, and sweet potato fries-- what more could you want?

So many beautiful colors...

Lots of animals to look at...

Including these angora goats, which were the cutest thing ever...

And there was no escaping without adding to the stash. One of the vendors what someone whose work I'd seen (and purchased) at the Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival five or six years ago, and the stuff is just gorgeous. So a little mohair came home with us.

Namaste

2009-09-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some yoga mat bags!

With more to come....

Birdcage out of the Cage

2009-09-13T06:32:00.001-07:00

Spent the day in Stafford County for Hartwood Days. Met some great people, had good weather, despite the cloudy start, and sold a couple of items, including this little hat:

I'm thinking about doing another show like this in October... although it will depend on how much I can get completed between now and then!

Come on out!

2009-09-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

If you are in the area, you should come check out my booth at Hartwood Days on Saturday, September 12th! I'll have heaps of new stuff-- so new I haven't had a chance to post any of it yet! Quite a few baby hats, girls dresses, and aprons, among other things. Hope to see you there!

Hey, Baby!

2009-08-19T02:16:00.000-07:00

Just finished a load of baby quilts....

A is for Apron

2009-08-10T02:13:00.000-07:00

Been working on some aprons, starting with this apple number.

I really enjoyed doing the embroidery on the pockets.....

More to come soon!

Do Do That Voodoo That You Do So Well

2009-07-17T16:24:00.001-07:00

I had a special request this week.....

for a voodoo doll.

for a two headed, Siamese twin voodoo doll. An unhappy, two headed, Siamese twin voodoo doll. Et viola! Happy sticking!

Lunch bags!

2009-07-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

Finished up the latest batch of lunch bags:

And the one in the front has already sold! Which I think means I should get going on another batch?

Bags!

2009-07-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Bags! Working on a new batch of lunch bags...

You can check them out on my new Etsy page!

Butterflies and holidays

2009-07-08T18:53:00.001-07:00

We went to the Botanical Garden over the weekend for the butterfly exhibit, which was lots of fun. The lotuses-- my favorite flower-- were in bloom, so it was fabulous.

All A-Buzz

2009-07-03T06:03:00.001-07:00

Working on a few summer themed bags....

Something girly

2009-06-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've been putting together some new toddler hats and dresses....

Knowing your place

2009-06-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

New placemats!

Just finished, and ready to go, with another batch in different colors on its way.