Being a Maker

 I hadn't done any bag making for awhile, focusing more on Mail Art and knitting, but during the chilly be-in-the-house-all day weather, I decided to sew.

I have lots of vintage linen dish towels with the plan to make them into little bags.

Here's what the most recent ones look like.

 I have to find some BIG colorful buttons for them.

A Maker has to make, anything, something, always. I first heard the term Maker at a ceramics gallery in London in 2011. The woman explained that it's the term that is being used now for crafts people. I loved it. It's so encompassing. When I returned home, I had a new rubber stamp made - Maker in Residence USA, replacing my Artist in Residence stamp. I'm hearing this word a lot now and am happy that it's become THE word. Maybe you'll use it, if you don't already, to describe yourself.

My sister had sent me a souvenir towel from a trip she'd made to Spain many years ago. I was able to make 3 bags from the towel, one of which went to her. This one from the center area with the figures is the one I sent her.

Here are the other two bags plus a few of my purses for change made from a vintage linen napkin. I gave my Spanish teacher friend the one that "says" ESP (on the front) and AÑA (on the reverse.) This was the only way to get the design on the bag and it makes me laugh.  My friend liked it very much.

Here's Bizoo, He love sleeping on the radiator in my studio, tucking himself under the shelf. The little figure behind him is watching him!

I have to share our grand girl with you. She looks older than her 11 months, with the fluffy jacket we got for her, and which she likes a lot. She's holding her "baby head" which was a piece of Mail Art that I received from someone. It's laminated and was sent through the mail just like that - Zinn even likes the reverse with the postage stamps on it. She says Baby very clearly. Bay-bee! Okay, so we're smitten.

Sewing

I've gotten back to sewing, in preparation for participation in Bizarre Market for the month of December. I sew up my Pockets and Purses for Change, on the sewing machine, only hand sewing the buttons for closure. However, I was asked to donate a one of a kind little item for a fundraising auction to proceed the market. I decided to make a small wristlet, based on my Purses for Change pattern. I used some really nice velvet-y fabric (high end upholstery sample) for the outside and a nice sateen cotton for the inside (high end upholstery sample) and then for pizzazz tried my hand at some handsewing. I was inspired by my friend Bridget, who hand makes beaded buttons that are extraordinary. Wish I'd taken photos of them while visiting her. Next visit, I promise!

It was so time consuming to do the beading. I had no idea since the last time I played with beads was on my old beading loom, a long long time ago.  The wristlet is about 5" x 5" (12.7 cm x 12.7cm)

My older sister sent me some cool old packets of needles and pins a few weeks ago. I couldn't carry them back with me on the plane since I was doing carry on luggage only. Even though I'd seen them in L.A., I was delighted when they arrived. The needles are nice and sharp and the packaging is terrific.  You can see my other sewing projects here.

Sewing, lots of sewing.

I'm getting ready for my participation in the 3rd Annual Johnny Z festival on 7 August. (I've linked to an old bit of info about the festival.) I've got 10 Pockets, 17 Purses for Change, and 9 sunglasses Pockets ready. Whew. I sewed up everything I had cut out so my next task is cutting our more pieces. I have new fabric (from Ikea) and new buttons. It's the first time I've purchased buttons since 3 years ago in Paris. I've been using buttons from Mom's collection mainly, but really wanted some bigger ones and some colors that I didn't have, especially for the Vintage Tea Towel Pockets.  I'm really enjoying this. Since it's still quite hot here, staying indoors is preferable and having something to make is delightful.

Purse for Change

Okay, here's a bit of self-marketing! I just added a couple of purses for change to Fritzi, my Etsy shop. I made so many last week that my neck hurt from bending over my sewing machine, I was like obsessed with making these. I loved every part of the process from choosing from my fabric stash, cutting out the pattern, choosing the combinations (what lining with what outer fabric,) choosing the buttons, and even ironing the seams. I'm giving myself a rest from it all, focusing on the class I'm teaching at the VMFA studio school. I have a piece in the studio school faculty exhibit, with a reception this Friday; if you're in the area, come on over.

Purses for Change

Here's a sample of the Purses for Change that I sold on Saturday. Oddly, the skull ones didn't sell. I really thought those would go fast. Hmmm. I'll post those in Fritzi, my Etsy shop, where they might be of more interest. But, I was happy with my sales and that I was able to help out ART 180.