Renegade Craft Market and other news

Posted on September 3, 2013 by mimik

My life is very busy and exciting lately! This coming weekend, I will be in Chicago for the Renegade Craft Market. I hope some of you will come out and say hello!

And, today my appearance on Liz Smith’s (MadeinLowell) cable TV show went live. Believe it or not, I wasn’t totally cringing when I watched it. It just didn’t feel like I was watching me. Weird, eh? Liz is amazing and all her shows are super interesting.

Makers in Business with Liz Smith Ep 205 Mimi Kirchner from Liz Smith on Vimeo.

There is even more news- Check this out! I am going to be part of a weekend Art retreat in NYC in March- a collaboration of the Makerie and Sweet Paul Magazine. How fantastic is that! Check it out here and sign up to get more information. I am SO excited to be part of this event!

And what else? I am teaching the Tiny World Pin Cushion at the New England Quilt Museum on September 21.

I’ll be going down to Washington, DC for Crafty Bastards at the end of the month. All the info is here and a link for discounted admission is here.

Yes, things are crazy busy around here and that is fantastic!

another little fox girl

Posted on September 1, 2013 by mimik

I just had to make another one because that little fox doll is TOO cute!

And some details- the jacket has flower shaped buttons and a lining made from the same fabric as the skirt I am wearing today.

And here is the little fox- front

and back!

Her dress is made from vintage (from my Mom’s stash) Liberty lawn.

fox in green corduroy

Posted on August 28, 2013 by mimik

Fall must be in the air- he has a corduroy jacket and a cashmere scarf!

He is looking a little wrinkly in the back. Hmm. It must be his favorite, wear all the time jacket.

A close-up of his book bag.

a fox with a fox doll

Posted on August 27, 2013 by mimik

A little fox girl with her stuffed fox toy in her pocket.

She has a daisy on her collar. It is a single vintage clip-on earring.

A close-up of her little fox-

fox with a wallet

Posted on August 25, 2013 by mimik

I figured that if a fox had money it would probably be shaped like leaves. The wallet fits into the jacket pocket.

He has a watch too.

And a vest made from some of my favorite vintage fabric- one of my Dad’s old summer shirts. The buttons are wonderful tiny antiques.

fisherman fox

Posted on August 24, 2013 by mimik

This little fellow gave me several chances to solve interesting problems.

I had fun making little felt fish.

But it was a challenge to figure out how to make them be part of the fox.

The net bag was the end result of several hours of playing. I ended up knitting it, after trying crochet, netting and basketry techniques involving a variety of books off my shelves.

And the fishing rod. Can you see it clearly enough? I wanted it to be a stick but a real stick would break in a minute.

So I made one, because that’s what you do, right? It is made of wire and floral tape. The floral tape part involved a walk to my local art/craft supply shop but they didn’t have what I wanted- brown floral tape. I came home, used what I had and tried Sharpie marker- but it didn’t dry properly. The last step was to uncover and use my acrylic paint which haven’t been out for too many years.

I will never get rich doing what I do but I DO have fun! Here is his back view.

fox girl in green

Posted on August 23, 2013 by mimik

It has been a while since I posted anything finished. There is a lot of “in progress” going on in my studio. Today we meet a little girl fox in a very nice green linen coat.

The collar and pockets are rough weave (raw) silk. Her dress is a lovely Liberty cotton lawn.

Here is a close-up of the back of the dress.

I’m back from camp

Posted on August 20, 2013 by mimik

and here are way too many photos!

We were on an island in the middle of a lake in New Hampshire.

There were mushrooms and assorted fungi everywhere. I’ve restrained myself and am only posting a few of my pics.

There was music and art making.

I worked with 2 people on Tiny Worlds and we had loads of fun. How amazing are these?!

After my class, I was able to sit in on some of the other classes. The other teachers were amazing. I made a diorama with Rachel Blumberg.

It is a wish altar in a transformed cigar box. I cover the outside with birch bark.

I took an encaustic class with Susan Schwake. I didn’t love it so I’m not showing. I’m vain like that ;) And on the last full day, Saturday, I painted on the beach with Mati Rose and a wonderful creative group of fellow retreaters. Sigh. Paradise!

That is my painting at the bottom. Here is what I brought home. I might work on it a little more.

The retreat was wonderful. I let myself play with unfamiliar materials and get involved in projects that aren’t part of my “biz”. I never have time for that when I’m home. I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will work out and I can go back next year! Here is the info from this year if you are curious.

buying toys, I mean tools

Posted on August 13, 2013 by mimik

I have a bit of a problem when I teach in venues other than my own house. Other places have other tools and when I use them, I want them.

The latest is from the San Francisco trip- that rotary cutter in the pic-

I know, it looks like a regular rotary cutter. I have a drawer full. But, it is different because it is pressure sensitive- which translates to- there is not a blade cover that you retract but the blade slips down when you press it to the fabric. My problem/frustration with rotary cutters has been that when I am cutting up against a ruler, which is pretty much how I always use them, the retracted blade cover rubs up against the ruler and moves it. Gah! I am sure other people have figured out how to work this out but I never have. This cutter works perfectly for me! It seemed like a miracle when I tried out Sonya‘s at the Tiny World class.

I bought the Omnigrid 45mm Rotary Cutter Omnigrid 45mm Rotary Cutter
but it looks like Dritz 45mm Rotary Cutter is one too.

That wasn’t all though. Someone brought an embroidery book to class. It is pretty, clearly illustrated, fun to look at, (out of print :-( so sad), and I decided I need my own copy to bring to classes.

Stitch Sampler: The Ultimate Visual Dictionary to Over 200 Classic Stitches

After teaching at Gather Here back in January, I bought myself the Gingher 8-Inch Featherweight Dressmaker Shears which I absolutely love, and a white (actually sort of translucent) self-healing cutting mat. Working on a colored surface was affecting my color perceptions- not a good thing. Anyway, I think I am seeing a dangerous pattern here!

Tomorrow I am off to Art Camp- see you after the weekend!

the calendar is full!

Posted on August 10, 2013 by mimik

There is so much going on that I haven’t had time to post a schedule!

Next week I will be in New Hampshire for the Art Retreat Camp. I’ll be teaching the Tiny Worlds and having some fun art-making too. I am so excited.

September is when things really get busy. I will be in Chicago for the Renegade Craft Market, September 7 and 8. Last years’ booth-

Then, September 21, I am teaching a one-day workshop at The New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA. More Tiny Worlds. I will be back there on November 2 to teach the Swaddled Baby.

*update- direct link to workshop sign-up.

The following weekend, September 28 and 29, I will be in Washington DC for my first time at Crafty Bastards!

There are other exciting plans in the works that I’ll be able to tell you about soon. It is sooo busy around here! Besides talking on the phone about future possibilities, filling out show applications, reading business emails and all that other boring stuff, I am getting some studio time. I hope to do some dyeing of tattooed people fabrics before I leave on Wednesday. Full steam ahead!

Doll

the art and craft of Mimi Kirchner