Wristlets!

Yay! I wanted to get at least a few wristlets together to see what the final look would be, and I accomplished at least that much. I used a couple of found images that seemed condusive to a wristlet shape and printed them on the front side and then the back is a fun patterned fabric. This picture has an effect applied to it from rollip.com - the effects make everything look just a bit cooler (I think these wristlets are cool as is, but the effect turns them up to an 11).

Prints...Camera...Wristlet! (and cat toys)

It's always a treat when the items that you have been putting together in your brain com together in real life. I guess I would say it's half of a treat at this point as I have my current projects printed and have been doing lots-o-cutting, but I am still in the process of assembling.

What you are looking at in the photo above, besides my awesome franken-mug of coffee is the fronts of my new wristlets (cameras and larger stereos) and the fronts of my new kitty toys (lobsters, moonshine jugs and small stereos). The backs are going to be some funky coordinating material.

I was hoping to have one assembled by time I was ambitious enough to write this, but alas, I am more in the mood to type tonight than sew, so this is all I have to SHOW for now.

What?   Did somebody say "show"? Speaking of that, I have a couple of Holiday shows I am looking forward to. On Sat 11/17 there is the Handmade for the Holidays show in Oshkosh from 10-4 and then on 12/15 there is the Holiday Craftacular from 10-4 in Madison, WI.

Everybody I know will be getting t-shirts...

because I bought a bunch of t-shirts so I could play with my Yudu screenprinter.

Here are a couple of my new designs:

A homage to Wisconsin's (or at least my) beverage of choice - I am going to make a few adjustments to the artwork then make the "guy" version

This is my "affirma-tee". The idea has been rolling around my head for some time and I was happy to finally do it. If you are wondering whey the message is backwards it's because I want the wearer to be reminded that they deserve more every time they look in the mirror (okay, I'm easily amused)

A fan of Mauk asked me to make her a new purse. Her parameters were owls, pockets and purple. It was a good excuse to come up with a new design - this one's called the Tracie POP! (POP is for plenty of pockets as there are 2 pockets on each side of the outside, 2 more divided pockets on the inside, plus there is a divider in the purse that is actually a zippered pocket).

Yudu not know how excited I am...

It has been more than a year since I laid my eyes on a Yudu screenprinting machine and trying to be practical, I have held off, knowing that I did not have the time for it. I told myself after New Year's, I would look into it and with great luck, I found one on Craigslist - yeah!

I have a couple of sewing projects to get done before I get too carried away, but not being able to leave my new toy alone, I had to at least play with it a little bit...

It's not bragging if it's true right ?

Handmade for the Holidays!

Today I am vending at Handmade for the Holidays at Becket's located at 1 City Center in Oshkosh - I can't wait! Considering the fact that it starts in just under 4 hours - guess I don't have to wait very long.

Hope to see you there!

PS: I thought this was my last show for the year, but Jennifer Bellin, who hosts an annual open house (this year it's Dec 10) to promote her message business in Neenah has asked me back this year - more details to follow...

Bag Lady

The past few weeks I have been working on some bags for my upcoming shows this summer.

A couple of Becky Bags (above)

The yet unnamed smaller version of the Lazy Day Tote (above)

Thinking Spring

Not everybody wanted to pose, but here is a sampling of my latest.

Next week I will be participating in the Think Spring craft show in Lake Geneva. In keeping with the theme of looking ahead to warmer weather I made up a new batch of clothespin bags.

For fun I replaced my usual little tag with a heart on the backside (maybe I was subliminally inspired by Xavier Roberts, the creator of the Cabbage Patch Kids).

In other news, Michelle at Dainty Daisies has decided to close up shop to free up more time to work on her own projects. I picked up my stuff yesterday and I believe the shop will be officially closed at the end of the month.

Na na na na na- Go Pack Go!

Am I a hardcore football fan?

Hmmmmm - okay - no

Do I like an excuse to cheer and make noise?

Hmmmmm - okay - yes (and while you can see me blowing the horn, what you cannot see is that I actually splurged and bought a Packers sweatshirt for the big game)

Hey - it's Wisconsin Baby - and when it's this cold you got to get your kicks where you can ha ha!

Shrimp, ham rolls and a meatball sandwhich - ahh the finer things in life :)

Thanks to this special request I got back into the creative groove (I was in a funk) and started a new batch of "Jenny Girls". I finished this one (very sharp if I do say so myself) to deliver as promised and I have a few more in the works that will be done by the end of the week.

Let's Get It Started! (But Not Finished)

This is my latest set of bags, a larger version of the "Double Flap Snap". There were 6, but I actually finished one because it was a custom order. The remainder of them need straps & buttons sewn on (I will admit they were taped on for the photos) and threads clipped, which I will get to... eventually.

darn knit {anyway}

I would like to thank the fabulous ladies of darn knit {anyway} for featuring me in their "Meet the Artist" section on their website.

I recently sent them some new items including coffee sleeves, magnets and the cutest little hairpins. If you are in the Stillwater, MN area, stop in and take a look.

New Items for the Shop (Etsy that is)

I just finished two custom "Becky" style bags and it was on to some new stuff for my Etsy shop...

Patchwork magnets - sweet treats, dragonflies and odd little ducks.

Coffee / hot beverage sleeves make your drink a little hotter (visually) while keeping your hands a little cooler.

Dainty Daisies

This morning I dropped off some wallets & mini wallets at Dainty Daisies in Oshkosh (WI). If you are in that area you really must stop in and peruse this adorable little shop filled with handmade one of a kind items!

New Stuff

I've been sewing up a storm in the last few weeks trying to get some new stuff together for my show last Saturday (as well as upcoming shows).

A couple of my new clothespin bags, Vince (upper) and Dubs (lower)

Some new wristlets - once again I cut out forty, but I only assembled what I knew I could get done for last Saturday's show. I do plan on getting the rest done by the end of August...ish.

Two of the five "Double Flap Snap" bags that I finished a couple of weeks ago.

Show Prep

This weekend I am participating in my first outdoor show. In addition to wrapping up a couple of projects, I have been working on my setup. In order to do so I brought my tables and shelves into the sewing room, so now not only is there fabric everywhere, it's really hard to move around too.

I thought I found a setup that I like, but I hesitate to put my tables away just yet in case I think of a different arrangement. I don't think I have put so much effort into a project since college.

Hawai-I like it...

In the past couple of weeks I have acquired some fabric items that I am really excited about.

To be honest, I generally do not seek out vintage fabric or items to "upcycle" but here are a couple of items that I needed in my stash...

The first photo is of a shirt that I believe was bought as a souvenir at the Falls of Clyde in Hawaii. I found it at a yard sale and the tag was still on it (no price or date on the tag, but judging by the style - at least 20+ years ago?).

The seller wanted more than I wanted to spend, so I admit that I haggled a little. I did give in to a final price when she said that the shirt was really expensive. When I gave her the money I told her that is going to make a very nice bag for someone. I could tell by her reaction that she was curious, but still holding on to the regret of purchasing such an expensive shirt oh-so-many years ago.

The second photo is vintage fabric that my husband's grandmother bought in Hawaii back in the 60's.

I saw a project that my mother-in-law was working on and complimented her on the fabric. She said it was her mother's and that since it took here this long to make something with it, why didn't I take the remaining yardage. What a treat - I can't wait to use it!

Clothespin Bags

Here's a couple of pictures of my latest project - a new set of clothespin bags.

They will all be ready in the next couple of days to help with the laundry - except for the orange guy on the upper right - he'll just eat your socks :)

On to the next...

I am finally finished with the 13 totes I have been working on. The reason I always end up making more than I really feel like finishing (I did start and finish all 13) is because I start pulling out all these colors that I must use and before I know it I cannot say no to making one for each color.

I am about to go upstairs and work on my next project, which I am looking forward to, well - that is until it is half done, then I will be ready for the next.

What's In Your Wallet?

This past weekend I attended the Winter Farm Market in downtown Appleton. I changed my setup and really wanted to take a picture, but for some reason I kept putting it off and then I didn't think of it until I had half of my stuff put away at the end - oh well, there's always next time.

Once again I am working on a new batch of wallets - about 30 this time. I am done with all the sewing and just need to finish adding snaps and give them a final press, then I am going to take a short sewing sabatical (and then I might have something else to talk about).