Sidetracked in 2013

      Well, I started out last year with big ideas and great intentions and got completely blindsided in January with a breast cancer diagnosis. NOT ME??!! Can't be!! But it was.
I was SOOOOO lucky that it was found early with my ANNUAL mammogram. It was however triple negative and after having a lumpectomy I still had to have 5 months of
chemotherapy and 37 radiation treatments. It was rough, but I survived! So 2013 was the year of cancer, it was found in January and my final treatment was near Thanksgiving.
      I am very grateful everyday for my health and am starting to feel creative again!! I have been exploring painting again and working with watercolors. I have been doing a lot of organizing and purging. I don't feel much like sewing things to sell, but more to create some things for myself. I have created a travel wardrobe (mostly black) to wear to England in May.
      I will be traveling to England with my best friend for a couple of weeks. We have traveled together in the past.  We went to Ireland for 2 weeks, where we rented a car and found our way somehow all around Ireland. Mostly we were looking for sheep and wool fabric, we found lots of sheep but not much fabric. In 2011 we went to France for 2 weeks and explored Provence and Paris. We had planned this trip to England for 2013 but I kind of messed up the schedule. So now we get to go!! I have some hair again and am working on getting my strength and stamina back.
     I will try to use this blog to record my preparations for the trip,travel wardrobe,packing tips and hopefully the trip itself.

The Arty T

I am starting off the new year with a series of pieced tops that I am calling the Arty T.  I have drafted 5 different patterns for Ts with differing lengths and necklines.  I have pulled all of my stash of ITY knits and will use them to compose each top. I always seem to be on the hunt for really graphic black and white prints in the soft ITY knit fabric, not easy to find I must say.
Here are pictures of two of the first ARTY Ts. The second one is tunic length. I am hoping to have time this month to work on more.

Great Show at Stone Oak

      I had so much fun at the show yesterday at Stone Oak Country Club.  It has been a good show for me in the past too.  The show opened at 10 am and we were continually busy until about 1:30.  After a brief lull in the action it was busy again until it closed at 4.
      Not much action on the arm warmers, but maybe it is not cold enough just yet.  I sold most of the " repurposed" sweater garments that I took.  Some were ideas that I was trying but a few were the most recent revisions of those ideas and they seemed to be well received.  Now I know what to focus on for the upcoming runway show.
    Today it's back to the studio to make some more of the sweater tunics and one more hooded coat to use as the final look in my runway show.  I am inspired and excited to get into my studio and CREATE!!

Re-purposed Sweaters

the "stash"

felted scarf

     

felted scarf

arm warmers

arm warmers

I have been working my way through my sweater "stash" and using the felted sweaters to make arm warmers and scarves.  I will be taking these to my upcoming shows.  Whatever I have left after the shows I will put in my Etsy shop.  There is nothing on Etsy  right now because I want to have all of my inventory for these shows.

   I have finished 6 of these scarves and 20 pair of arm warmers.  It will be interesting to see how well they sell and the kind of feedback I get from my customers at these shows. I think they would be great Christmas gifts.

   I am taking lots of jackets and ponchos too so I hope we get a great turnout for these shows.

Upcoming shows for Fall 2012

     I skipped the shows last year, I think the economy kept a lot of artists out of shows last year.  Not much point in all the effort to set up at a show if you don't even make your booth fee!  I LOVE the interaction with my customers that I can only get in a show setting but hate the pressure of creating to meet the show deadlines.
     This year I will be showing at the Stone Oak holiday show in the clubhouse at Stone Oak Country Club in Holland, Ohio on October 20. It runs from 10 to 4. I did this show for several years and it has a nice mix of the best local artists and was very well attended.  If I am going to test out how well I can do at shows again this is the place to start.
      I am also thrilled to be collaborating with 4 other designers to present a fashion show event in Flat Rock, Michigan on November 3.  It will be held at the Community Lutheran Church Life Center 23984 Gibraltar Rd in Flat Rock. There will be 4 different runway shows and a vendors area where the garments will be for sale. Also other local artists with fashion related items for sale.
There are a limited amount of VIP tickets for $25 and general admission tickets are $15.  Doors open at 12.  To purchase tickets call Cheryl Zemke at 734-740-1292.
   

Silk and Cashmere poncho

pieced wool jacket

I have been in the studio working on some new designs, the creating part is what I love to do. 

Upcoming shows and new designs

Be sure to check out my upcoming shows for the holiday season. Here are a few of my latest creations. The animal print cowls are inspired by the trend on the fashion runways in New York for this season. The purple coat is made from Irish wool and has hand knit sleeves and felted embellishments. The black and red pieced jacket is fully lined and is a combination of felted wool fabric and sweaters. Recycling can be beautiful!

Where did the summer go??

Where did the summer go???? I am now starting to look at making fall and winter things again!! I have had a wonderful and relaxing summer, but am anxious to get back in the studio and explore some new ideas. I will be attending a huge fiber show in Allegan soon and hope to get those creative juices flowing. I have been cleaning and organizing the studio so that I can just get to work in there.

I have several of my garments at the new artist's cottage on Main street in Sylvania.

The Dragonfly Artist's cottage will be serving some great locally grown food and some wonderful teas. Stop in and browse.

I am working on some class ideas to teach for the Common Threads' sewing workshop to be held on October 9 and 10. I am looking forward to teaching and really interacting with people who love to sew.