Category Archives: General

sometimes the ideas work out perfectly,

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other times, not so much.

The idea was, make a tattooed man using toile. I scored a great selection of toile scraps at a swap I did with some fellow Boston Etsy people.

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note to self- check to see if decorator fabric has been Scotchgarded, before using on a project that includes dyeing/painting the finished piece. hmph.

Maybe you can’t tell from the photo, but the color went on unevenly and worse, the fabric looked scabby after the paint dried. Yuck. Since I knew I wasn’t satisfied with it, I thought I might as well see what I could do to make it better.

First, I put him through a gentle cycle in the washing machine. That made the texture better and the blotchiness worse. So, I stuck him in a bucket of dye for a soak…

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then, another trip through the wash, and out to dry-

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He is still as blotchy as ever, and somewhat misshapened. Not out of shape- I mean he is clearly in great shape! His head is lumpy as you can see.
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I’m not quite sure where I will go next with him, but I have now dyed a selection of fabrics to try again with.

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and another thing…

Fresh peaches are one of my all time favorite seasonal treats-

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well, and then we ate it!

meet up- Lilla Rogers

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It is amazing to discover the interesting people that live right in the same town as me. Through an odd series of events, which included helping someone deal with getting rid of a lot of fabric, I met Lilla Rogers. We got together yesterday and had a marathon, 4 hour, gab-fest. It was so much fun to talk to someone else about the web and it’s influences on the art and design world. To see her house and studio. And her art and the art work of some of the artists/designers that she represents. I was so impressed. We talked about blogs and flickr, etsy and the business end of art. I don’t know very many people that I can discuss these topics with- it is like finding someone who speaks the same language.

and one more baby

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more fall colors

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I think the wallpaper in my living room is creeping into my work!

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close-up of the birds-

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When I checked my computer this morning, there were 254 comments waiting moderation- all spam… I think. If you sent me a comment and it has disappeared, that is why. I don’t know what the problem is- my spam filter has been excellent until now. Gotta get my tech guy onto it, eh?!

babies and business

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I think I have always harbored a baby on the doorstep fantasy. Baby in the garden is even sweeter.
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ready for fall-

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the design goes around the back-

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flowers and vines-

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around the side, but the back is plain-

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There is another one coming- lilac blanket.

I often brood on my lack of enthusiasm for the business and marketing end of doing “craft work”. I have spent a lot of time this year, trying to do the marketing thing and as a result, have produced much less work. I think of myself as an artist, not a small business person. The selling of my work is a chore that has to be done because otherwise I would fill the house and I’d have no money to buy stuffing. Selling is not why I do it.

It is hard for me to send out a doll to someone who has bought it from a photograph- like from Etsy. I worry that it will not be what they were expecting. I am always grateful (and relieved) when I hear from buyers who let me know that they are happy with their purchase. I find it very stressful to sell in person, doing craft fairs and the like, so that doesn’t solve the problem. I have always thought of my work more like kittens then merchandise- I want it to go to a good home where it will be loved.

That brings me to the subject of commissions. I am bad, bad, bad at doing commissions. On the one hand, someone asks me to make something for them, I am happy and flattered and I want to please them. Then, if I say yes, I spend the whole time I am making the piece, feeling like they are sitting on my shoulder, second guessing every design decision I make. I can not seem to keep their voice out of my head. I seem incapable of reproducing one of my pieces- which is often what someone asks for. The face I made on Monday will not show up again on Friday. Especially if I am trying to do it! The only direction that I can work with is color- that isn’t a problem for the most part. Know thyself- a life long learning challenge. This is a rambling apology, and excuse I guess, to the most recent frustrated and probably very pissed off person I have dealt with.

Now, I should go back up to my attic and get back to work. Making stuff makes me happy.

another summer week

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It was a rather hectic week with nothing really to report. I met up with someone that I connected with through the blog vine. We made initial contact when she wrote to me from Australia and now she is living in Arlington!

I did a fabric rescue- found homes for a carload of fabric that probably would have ended up in the dumpster- the idea that it would all be tossed makes me crazy (or crazier?) And, by giving the fabric away, I got to meet lots of interesting local people that I had never met before- everyone was so happy to be getting free fabric and I felt like I was doing a good service. Fun!

Saturday was the Recraft Fair. What a wonderful event. There was a good crowd and everyone was enthusiastic about what I’m doing. It is not just the people that take out their wallet and buy something. It is also people who talk to me and get excited about the work. It is the way people walk by and something on the table catches their eye and they smile or come over. Everybody seemed so cheerful and engaged. I came away feeling recharged by all the positive energy.

I have to admit that doing this sort of thing is way out of my comfort zone, so having it go well was a huge relief. I borrowed a tent- something about the tent makes it all look so much more professional. Here is a view looking in- photo by Ben-

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and my view, looking out-

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I was right next to the music. For the most part it was fine, even pleasant. At one point though, I thought my head was going to explode! Ahhh, too loud!!! I started to think “I am too old for this!” Thank goodness for husbands’ who say, “I’ll take over now- you go walk around”

Earlier in the week I took Noah down to the Boston Common. I am hoping to finish up with Noah’s summer vacation in Boston by the end of this week. Then I’ll post the photos to Flickr.
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What’s happening

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I’m working on some fancy swaddled babies- lots of applique.  I have covered my table with all my favorite fall kind of colors.

We went to the Peabody Essex Museum on Sunday to see the Joseph Cornell show, among other things.  The show is large with an amazing amount of his work.  Unfortunately I was left with mixed feelings about the experience- the exhibit was very dimly lit to protect the artwork, but really, what is the point- I could hardly see the pieces.  It was frustrating.  I also couldn’t understand the theory of how they arranged the show.  It wasn’t chronological or based on themes or anything else I could figure out.  That always leaves me feeling confused.

The other exhibit I was excited about seeing, was an origami show.  It was fantastic!   No crowds, no shoving, absolutely mind boggling constructions.  One that I can’t stop thinking about,  was a giant squid attacking a sailing vessel… all made out of one sheet of paper.  Incredible!  There was a hands-on area too.  You can check out instructions here-  Ben and I both made butterflies.  Fun!  I was very into origami when I was a kid.  The enthusiasm has carried over.

The other show we wanted to see in Salem, was “Ode to Cornell-  What would Joseph Do”.  Abby had 2 pieces in the show so I particularly wanted to go check it out.  It was so much fun to see after seeing the Cornell show at the PEM.