Messenger Bags upgrade

 

 

My newest version of my messenger bags have freehand machine stitched birds instead of the felt appliqué birds, for durability and a no pull effect. I love seeing my products out there in the world, but cringe every time I see a bird bird covered in pulled felt. The freehand birds are appliqué on and then sewn around the edges for extra strength. Closures are now all stainless magnets, saying good-bye to Velcro! All straps are adjustable with stainless steel hardware. A zipper pocket, and numerous accessory pockets fill the interior.  These guys are on sale for $125.00 in my Etsy shop!

 

                             

How I draw with my machine!

Check this out!!!! Thanks to my awesome buddy and Photo guru Ryan Twentey for filming and editing this video teaser for me!

A word or two from the sweatshop

Hiya from the sweatshop! I know, I know, I need to get this blog posting, web page making a happening thing! I have updated my technology with a new iMac and iPhone 6 hoping to up the quality and efficiency of my posts, photos in a hopefully consistent pattern. I am in my 28th year of teaching! Can't believe that one and my business of making has been growing and making some very good steps towards doing it full time! I am still hanging on to my teaching gig, not just for the benefits and pensions, but yeah, for the love of teaching art! Now that I am quickly approaching my last years, I am teaching at the top of my game and truly loving the act of teaching the way I want and seeing the benefits of showing up to work with a smile on my face. 

 Sweatshop talk: I bought a sweet 1950's era Singer Industrial Sewing Machine that I absolutely love the look of and am intimidated as heck to use it. I need to get some stronger industrial thread and go at it once my holiday making is over. 

The past month has afforded my three new wholesale accounts, the most sales of any holiday shows I have done and a some new products that I really am proud of ( and have been selling like hotcakes!). Putting the felt appliqué on the back burning and embracing the freehand machine stitched method of drawing with my sewing machine. My bird portraits have come to life and are filling up my sketchbook with so many ideas.  I am planning on posting my new products and my latest loves! Thanks for sticking by me and coming back to visit here every once in a while! 

How far we Have Come!

Little did I know that our weekend in DC would be so celebrated when I booked our stay! We came to celebrate my turning 52, and our marriage of 2 years! How glorious that the Supreme came through and made it possible for all  To get married no matter what sex or gender they may be! We missed seeing the White House in its rainbow glory. Hoping it will stay rain bowed for us to catch it tonight!

New Cosmetic Bags!

I love having time in my studio to play around and make new products. I heard my audience and have updated my zipper pouches to larger and wider cosmetic bags ! I played with my remnants of decor and barkcloth fabrics to create patchwork durable shells, added fleece and cotton linings to make it more padded and protected. Then adorned with felted birdie birds and rick rack! Look for them at Artscape this year! 

School Year Hangover

I think this photo tells it all.  Last Friday, I completed my 28th. year of teaching art in Baltimore County!  Which means I am staring retirement in its face! I have 2 and a half years, ( that half year is thanks to teaching four days a week for one of those 28 years). It's amazing how fast life can go as well as how slow it can also be. We said good-bye to Paul Pavik,  who retired at the end of his 33 year of teaching. We welcomed David Woodward this year as our new ceramics teacher.  We completed a crazy year of snow delays, riot aftermath and a very energetic ninth grade class that could use some time sitting on the reflection chair!   Oh well, time to regroup, work on my business and have fun in my sweatshop, travel and enjoy my summer. Which is down to two months now!!! Happy Summer!!

Watch me Draw!

  Click to see this amazing video Ryan Twentey did of me drawing with my sewing machine!

Stitched Birds..putting it all together

Stitched Bird Series...My one a day...otherwise what I did for the month of January 2015

This is my second year participating in the fun-a-day project  in which you work on project or art series for the entire month of January, specifically every day. Last year I did self-portraits which lead in to a very deep month of exploration of emotions since my Dad was in the hospital for most of the month until his death on the 29th of the month. This year, I'm going a bit more towards strengthening my drawing on my sewing machine and bird theme. So I drew with my sewing machine, freehand, a new bird everyday and appliqued it on a patterned background. All birds are then mod podged onto a 5" square wooden canvas. Today, I made labels that will be glued on the back that will have the name and a photograph of the bird . Once again, neglecting my blog, I am going to revived it with posting my birdies. The exhibit is not until the first Thursday of March.

I am An American Made FInalist! And I need your VOTE!!!!

WOW..what a year! I applied for the Martha Stewart American Made contest and I AM A FINALIST!

 It is currently people's choice time and I am begging everyone to go to my nomination page and VOTE for me! You can vote 6 times a day until October 13. I would LOVE to win $10,000 towards my business and I would love to meet Martha Stewart! So please VOTE and spread the WORD! Hit the Link HERE