etsy update and vintage fabrics

Posted on by

I am going to be listing the three tattooed ladies on Etsy around 3pm (ET) this afternoon. Yesterday I cut out 6 more. I’m having fun with these ladies!

I didn’t want to post just that announcement- so boring and no pictures. So here are some photos of a few favorite vintage fabrics in my collection- I know, I probably should have ironed them…

fabric1

What is that cloth called with the texture of little squares? Waffle weave? This (above) is a remnant with a small amount of this very cute border and a lot more of the square dots.

Below is a silky fabric- maybe rayon? I’ve never tried testing it. It is an unfinished dress as far as I can tell. From someones wip pile.

fabric2

And this little piece is a real favorite- I keep it hanging in my studio. I can imagine a tablecloth, but much more fun would be a little girls’ puffy skirt.

fabric3

I hope to post more fabric photos, every once in a while. I’ve got some great ones! They have come to me from 3 places- my mom’s stash, my doll club, and from a friend who bought a house that had an attic full of a former seamstress’s collection. She had a sale where you could fill a bag for $10. So many treasures!

Tattoo lady #3

Posted on by

This third one- she has freckles-

face

I over-dye all the toile to make the skin tones and then dye some plain fabric and hope they match. I am not very good at it, but I have a great time. This fabric ended up with tiny red dots and they give her a freckly look.

tattoolady3

I love her shape. Playing with the variety of lady shapes has been great fun.

back

I made a skirt, or maybe you’d call it a tutu, for my Tattoo lady #2-

lady2

And, I gave her fingers.

This is how I sign my dolls, in case you wanted to know-

sign

It is a little tag made of shrink plastic.

Here are the three ladies, relaxing at the dumpster next door-

three

I like this photo because you can see my new lady’s little busom.

the last few days

Posted on by

Fall! The last things blooming in my garden- chrysanthemums and dahlias. I love how all the blossoms on the mums are facing in one direction.

flowers1

flowers2

Walk in the neighborhood. It is surprising what you see when the leaves start to go.

walk1

walk2

walk3

And my class on Saturday- so much fun! There were 5 of us all together.

house1

house2

house3

This is the Haunted house!

house4

And here is the table with all the felt and wool-

table

The market on Sunday was canceled- we were having a nor’easter here in Boston- wind, rain, cold… I was not sorry to miss standing under a tent from 7am to after 4pm. And then it snowed! It was the right call. Still, I’m left feeling a little deflated- all the anticipation and hope that comes as I prepare for a show. The next show I am scheduled to do is the South End Holiday Fair– Dec. 12 and 13.

discombobuated

Posted on by

My head is all over the place these days. I am still working on settling into my studio- although I am at the point that when I think of something to change it tends to be an improvement instead of just a reshuffle. I have partially finished projects everywhere.

I am loving the morning light in the studio. Here is some test work for kitty pattern- using different fabrics, reconsidering how I do things, thinking about clothes-

kitties

I’ve got these four Purl girls done and waiting to be dressed-

You see the one with the decorations on her? My little friends from next door came over and decorated a whole lot of my unfinished dolls for me! Scraps and pins.

purlgirls

More decorated unfinished dolls-

girls

This one only got a little bit of color. And next to the baby, an unfinished tiny world.

baby

Here is the pile of fabric that will eventually get dyed for some more tattooed people-

toile

Yep- these ones. I am working on a tall lady design to go with the more round version.

ladies

And, more wool balls for the workshop next weekend. I need to have some small ones. Last time, several people brought very small cups and I didn’t really have exactly the right thing.

woolballs

I actually got the wool balls done today- hurray! One thing off the list!

making a list

Posted on by

One of the people who will be taking my tiny world workshop is traveling from out of town. She asked me for recommendations for “can’t miss” crafting related places- for shopping and for inspiration- in the New England area. I have some places that I’ve been to and like, but I thought I would do a general shout out and then organize and make a page with all of your suggestions too. If you know of fun, inspiring, off-beat, esoteric or whatever places in NE, add them to the comments. Thanks!

I did a quick look through my postings that were in the resources category and came up with these-

Vintage and Antique Textiles in Sturbridge, MA. Unfortunately the Wright Factory Outlet has closed.

The Fiber Studio in Henniker, NH

The Dorr Mill Store in Newport, NH (Yikes, they are having a Columbus Day Weekend Sale!)

Camp Wool in Wells, Maine

Whispering Hill Farm in South Woodstock, CT

and here is a list with some suggestions. (I haven’t been to most of these places)

I’ll be getting out the dye pot

Posted on by

A tattooed lady-

tattoolady

face

torso

tlady

I’m playing with some ideas and that means time to dye more toile. I have enough scraps to do some experiments and tests, but… Sometimes playing with the little bits means wasting a huge amount of time figuring out how to make the idea work with what I’ve got instead of figuring out the best design. Luckily, I’ve been collecting  toile, so the first challenge of any tattoo person project is checked off. I’m working on these ideas while trying to write the kitty pattern. We shall see if this keeps me sane or makes me crazy!

October plans

Posted on by

BH2-1

I will be at the South End Open Market on October 18 with my pals of Boston Handmade.

On Oct. 17, I am doing a Tiny World class- yes, there is still space available- info here.

I am working on a new pattern-

kitty

Kitties! I am working on a pattern for this kitty that will include clothes to make it either a girl or boy kitty. I find this pattern writing thing to be very difficult, in case you are hearing some screams coming from my window.

kittyface

Here are some of the original kitties I made.