Classes

I am going to be the Artist-in-Residence at Gather Here in Cambridge in mid-January. I’ll be teaching a bunch of new classes! I knew if I said yes to doing the classes, I would have to finish some new patterns- you know, deadline incentive!

I’ve posted photos of examples but what we will make in the classes will all be unique because everyone will choose their own fabrics and colors. Here is what the week looks like.

I’m teaching the Owl on Tuesday, Jan 22 (although that one looks full already!)

On Wednesday, Jan. 23, I am teaching the Swaddled Baby. I am working (or maybe mostly procrastinating) on that pattern now. The class (and pattern) will include directions for needle-sculpting the face. Also a variety of designs from very basic using pretty ribbons, a design that includes a new baby’s name embroidered on the ribbon, a folk-art type design and one like this picture which I think of as a puzzle pattern (fit all the pieces together).

On Thursday Jan. 24, I will try to convince you that the patterns aren’t sacred and you can cut them up and tape them back together, make them bigger, make them smaller and generally take charge and get what you want. I will be specifically referencing the dog toy since dogs come in so many variations. On Friday, January 25 we will be making the dogs.

This is the basic design-

And above is a long version. Obviously there are lots of options to play with. This design is a basic toy with the clothing as part of the body.

On Saturday (1/26) and Sunday (1/27) will be a two-day class to make foxes. This class will cover constructing the fox and then dressing. You can make a girl or a boy fox. The clothing options will include a vest, jacket, dress, and/or skirt. You could make a kitty instead since it is the same basic construction and fits the same clothing.

This is my first adventure of 2013. I want to teach more so I am pushing forward full steam ahead! I’ll be teaching all these classes for the first time so there will be some unknowns- the biggest mystery for me is always how long a project will take another person. I’m hoping we’ve scheduled the right amount of time for the projects but I’m willing to be flexible and relaxed and hope we will all have fun. My teaching philosophy is that most people who take a class from me are looking to have a little time away from their everyday life and want play with new materials and tools- a mini-craft vacation. I hope to see you there!

The patterns will not be available for sale until after the classes so hopefully at the end of January.

Winter worlds

It has been feeling pretty wintery around here. We’ve had a few dustings of snow and some cold days mixed in with days in the 50s. Very New England. And, I’ve been making Tiny Worlds, because, you know, they were started and in a bin and I am cleaning my studio *wink wink*

A big one and a littler one. These cups come from the thrift store and it is hard to find cups that work for the winter scenes. I wouldn’t use a flowery cup for one of these and cups decorated with flowers are the most common. Sometimes they don’t come with saucers, in case you are wondering.

I will be putting these into my etsy shop at the end of the week- I have a few more in progress and I want to do it all together.

Reminder- I won’t be doing any markets this December. If you are interested in anything you see here you can email me directly at mimik@pobox.com or check out my etsy shop.

donate

Have you seen what is going on over at Gather Here? They are doing a raffle to support the Red Cross’s effort to help victims of Hurricane Sandy- all the info to join in is here. I donated the doll model I made for the book We Make Dolls- He was on the cover!

There are lots of amazing prizes- check them out here. I have been obsessed with the news of the damage from the storm and I’m so happy to be able to find a way to help.

another week goes by

Lots of things going on and not much time for writing blog posts! Here is what I bought myself on my San Francisco trip.

This gorgeous tape from another vendor at Renegade- petitcollage

If you’ve ever bought something from me, you know I love some cute decorative tape!

Cute mushrooms from Castle In The Air. I’m not sure what I’ll do with them but until I figure it out, I will enjoy having them in the studio.

My 2 surprise balls from Tail Of The Yak, plus a yard of ribbon.

Here is their bag and their card- so lovely!

Threads from Lacis-

Next time I will do an inventory before I go so I will know just what I need- because they will surely have it!

And lastly some fabric from A Verb For Keeping Warm.

I love that yellow on the right so much that when I got home I checked out if it came in other colorways. Why, yes it does! And different scales too! I got this in the mail a week later from fabric.com-

I’ve got a lot of things going on and my head is all over the place. I need to work on my inventory after San Francisco. Foxes are on my list of things that need to be made and I played with my wool and dyes to see if I could come up with some good foxy colors. These colors look better in real life.

We went up to Portland (Maine) for the weekend to see son Peter, help him move into a new apartment and eat some amazing food. We celebrated my birthday with an amazing dinner at 555. It was perfect.

And I had a happy surprise this week- look who has come back home to me!

I have a search alert of my name on Ebay just in case. And I am so happy that I did because I never would have known without it!

I will have some finished things to show soon. I’m going to the dogs- check back tomorrow!

 

what’s up

I am in a weird twilight zone between Brooklyn Renegade and San Francisco Renegade. I will be in San Francisco in 2 weeks!

When I got back from Brooklyn, I had a very long to-do list. I’ve been working through computer jobs, travel planning and home sewing. I made new shades for the kitchen-

a nightgown, and a baby gift-

I’ve got a number of projects going on in the studio so I’ll have some dolls to show soon.

I am going to have to start haunting the thrift shops again- I need more fox-colored wools.

I’ve got lots on my mind. The SF show has a lot of little logistical problems that I have to figure out but it is all coming together. I’m excited!

I ought to be spending some time in the garden but it seems to be doing just fine without me-

I know that other parts of the country have been having a difficult summer, but the Boston area seems to be having the perfect Daylily weather. I have never seen them look so healthy and have so many flowers. Everything else is looking good too.

Two of my garden favs- crocosmia “Lucifer”

and poppies-

 

and the winner is…

#92, Betty from Kentucky! Congratulations! And thanks so much to everyone who entered.

and a garden picture so this post will have some color.

I’m off for a quick trip to Connecticut but I will be back to work by mid-week.

I am going to try to get the Generals into my Etsy shop soon.

I am getting my summer plans firmed up. Brooklyn Renegade- I will be in the NY area from June 22 to June 26

and San Francisco Renegade- I’ll be in the SF area from July 19 to July 27. WooHoo, a vacation!