the other ones are here and here.
Category Archives: applique
some Grandmas
Hey! I finished something today. 2 things actually- 2 Grandmas.
These are the baking cookies, carry a turkey in at Thanksgiving kind of Grandmas.
I had so much trouble with the faces. Usually the face is the most fun part for me, but this time I just wasn’t getting it right. I re-did them several times. Finally I got something I liked- a face that looks happy.
Here is Grandma #1-
I think the back of her dress is pretty-
Color inspiration-
And Grandma #2-
And the back of her dress. Fun with polka dots!
And here are the 2 friends, sitting on the stoop after a hard day of cooking delicious food-
Ahhhhh!
summer lady 5
summer lady 4
another night baby
family tree
Phew- I really wanted to be able to post at least one doll before the end of the month. Thank goodness for the extra day!
Two little woolly babes.
This one is the day baby with an orange cashmere bird.
This one is the night baby. I guess I needed to try my hand at owl imagery… so much owly goodness around the internet- I was inspired!
A moon “hat”-
The owl is cut from an angora-blend printed sweater. I have found several printed, natural fiber sweaters. I always grab them. There is something odd and wonderful about them. When I found this one, I thought it would be perfect for a kitty or wool hair. Instead, an owl!
2 more babies with trees to finish.
sweet birds for Artstream
My piece for the Artstream Gallery Lovely Hearts 2 show, to benefit breast cancer research.
not quite finished…
and done-
and then I put it into a shadowbox frame, which was more of a puzzle then I’d expected. The finished artwork (unframed) is approximately 7 1/2 x 9 1/2.  I wrote in the artist statement, something along the lines of- it is a traditional valentine image interpreted in wool applique and embroidery.
Something I’ve been mulling about- when I was down at Etsy, I was put in front of a camera to do a clip for their series- Your Handmade Stories. I was suppose to say who I am, what I do, and why people should buy handmade. Well, I was stumped. I am still stumped. Why should people buy handmade? … I don’t know. I couldn’t come up with anything that I felt was sincere except, well, buy MY handmade, because I need to get it out of the house!
I can not think of why someone should buy something just because it is handmade. Buy something because you love it, need it, it will haunt you if you don’t. Buy art because it makes you think every time you look at it.  Buy things that are beautifully crafted because you appreciate the design, the workmanship and using something that is so well made will enrich your life. There is a lot of handmade crap out there… along with all the manufactured crap. I’m going to have to watch any videos that they post to see what other people say. I’m really curious.
january wips
Getting something done for Lovely Hearts 2–
commission work- another tiki in tweed-
piles and projects, creeping out of my studio because the attic is just too cold.
Paperbag swag month/page 5
This month I am working on Amy’s book. I already showed the first 3 steps of the project. Here is the rest. Tons of photos ahead.
After doing the background, I sewed the figures onto the fabric and cut it into the pages afterward. This is the pre-cut photo. Sorry it is a bit out of focus.
I glued rickrack onto the edges- silver and blues. Photo of glue drying-
Then the part which always feels like a huge step- gluing the pages into the book-
… in case anyone wants to see my oh so complicated system for clamping, weighting and gluing.
Phew- they are in! I’m committed! Now for the finished photos-
left page-
right page-
close-ups-
I had so much trouble with this face- I did it over 3 times!
I wrote “Momma’s Dream” on this piece. When my kids were little, the one thing that seemed like bliss was when everyone, even me, was asleep and safe- ah, peace. Amy’s theme for her book is balance, but I don’t really think you get much balance with three little babes. You get through every day, trying to keep your sanity intact, and if you can relax, laugh and still notice the beauty around you, you are doing an amazing job!
Finishing this project has overlapped with starting the next- the printed fabric swap that Bitter Betty organized… this is all new to me, but more about that learning process another day…
postcard- people reading
My latest postcards-
These took me way too long. You can see I was working on them on May 1. When a project drags out, with too many interruptions, a lot of the fun and energy goes out of it for me. After a while, all I can see are flaws. Too much rethinking of things that don’t need rethinking! I originally did some of the faces with machine stitching. I wasn’t crazy about that. One went into the trash as unsalvageable. The guys have stitched glasses. It wasn’t working for the women. I ended up doing them with a couching stitch. Much better and more control.
I will try to get some good photos or scans to show. I’ve already taken at least 100 pics that I’m not happy with. That’s my last frustration- I can’t get decent photos… either bad light or bad angles… so often I look at my photos and realize everything looks warped, even though they are perfectly square. Something else to work on.
Okay, and about the workshop/gathering. There is one planned for August 4 in Northboro, MA. First priority to members of my doll club. I am try to put together something for Saturday, July 28 or 21, closer to home. Sorry it is taking me so long- I am not good at this sort of stuff.