Something happens when April rolls around. Bunnies, lots of bunnies.
And giraffes, who doesn't need an {easter} giraffe?
At the time of this post, there are just 2 bunnies and 1 giraffe left. If you had your heart set on one, let me know as I might be adding a few more to the shop.
As I shared earlier on Instagram~
These bunnies were sewn from my fabric. They became a photograph, and now they are paintings. One medium always influences the other, which means you never have to choose just one creative focus.
{click here to purchase originals - also available as prints}
Thought I'd share my favorite bag these days. I get compliments on it all the time. People always asking "where did you get it?"
Well it's one of those special, handmade items that you can't just get but you can make it!
Lynn offered to sew this bag for me to share at quilt market earlier this year and since then I haven't been able to put it down. It goes with me everywhere, from the grocery store, to dance class to the airplane {it happens to be the perfect size to hold my 15" laptop for travel} and I love the long strap so it doesn't constantly slide off my shoulder even in winter wear. You can even cross it over your body. This version features the prosperity hens and red stripe from my 'Locally Grown' collection that was out in the spring. I know she titled it Sandy's Beach Bag, which it's of course, perfect for; I will also be calling it Sandy's Everywhere Bag.
And the pockets...lots of choices for your Iphone and keys, including a beautiful deep pocket on the inside.
Maybe you want to make one for you? or a Christmas gift?
thank you again Lynn
Lynn's shop and the Bag Pattern
Still one of my favorite sentiments {and designs} now a new embroidery kit in the shop.
For the first time in 6 fabric collections, with the help of some lovely and talented people, I am excited to finally share with you some ideas for how I envision my fabric being used. Especially this collection, which is intended to be exactly as it's called: 'just for fun' for grownups and kids alike.
A few of my fellow creative entrepreneurs and I got together on the weekend. We combined our talents and our products and had a party 'Just for Fun'!
The fabric is available in stores now and bundles were just added to the shop. Hope you really do have a lot of fun creating with this collection!! From tablecloths, to napkins, aprons, dresses, bowties, bunting, party decor to pillows and quilts... that should get you started.
Fabric by Marisa + Creative Thursday for Andover Fabrics. Invitations by Christine of Darling Studio. Desserts and Decorations by Emilyn of Love Em Sweet. Photography by Miha Matei. Sewing by Marisa and Jennifer Au Chon.
I've been meaning to...is the start to a lot of sentences when your a business owner.
You have big plans or just mediocre ones too, and then the day to day tasks and certain projects of your business come first. But! eventually there's a moment when it's time; when that thing you've been meaning to do becomes the priority and voila.
That's my long way of saying, I have been wanting to share more photography of my work in a space. It makes such a difference, really, to see art work in context. I just released the option for a new large size 17" x 22", limited edition print in the shop, and this is how they look framed.
This is also how several of the smaller 8.5" x 11" prints look framed sided by side, combined with one of my canvases, the bunting, the patchwork, and a mobile, and a wall decal below.
While I always emphatically say that my work was never intended to be solely for babies or kids {as I've always painted for me!} It's fair to say that most of my customers by it for their children. I give in. This is my art in a nursery :)
Turns out! my assistant Rachel is expecting her first baby in just a few weeks, so she was the perfect model.
Next shoot will be for those adults who like me are still kids at heart and want what I create for themselves.
Speaking of patchwork - I've decided to add some new 'curated' fabric bundles to the shop = color to create with.
Since each fabric collection is a limited edition printing, some of the intial fat quarter bundles are now gone. However I do still have some of the patterns and I thought it would be fun to put together themed bundles, mixing six designs from different collections in color groups that inspire me.
Introducing the four 'Birds + Bunnies' bundles.
Oh you know, before I headed out to quilt market a few weeks ago, I just whipped up my first patchwork throw.
Seriously! I made this in a day {daily quilting?!} This is when I realized that all the sewing I've been doing, especially garment sewing, is starting to pay off. My skill level and speed is improving. Also, I was given some great advice about easing into your first quilt and that is to use a 12" x 12" ruler square to cut your pieces. Brilliant!
You can see the front is an assortment of 12" x 12" squares. At least one design from each of my printed fabric collections to date is featured. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun this was to make and how satisfying it was to put together a grouping of some of my favorite designs and see how they all tell the same story together. Joy. They give me so much joy.
The back displays 4 more designs. I didn't add any batting or quilt this throw. I just stitched the front and the back together and the combination created a perfect summer blanket.
As I told the audience at my schoolhouse at market, "I get it. I really get it. The love of quilting and the fabric stash." The chance to layout and design a favorite collection of fabrics and then turn it into your own, timeless piece of art, that is not only beautiful but useful. I get it.
I might be a little obsessed. For someone who felt intimidated at the thought of and really didn't think she would be interested in and/or have time to sew her own clothes; You must know how satisfying it is to sew something you can wear and then to top it off, in a fabric you designed. Nothing better. I'm sort of loving that my closet is getting filled with clothes I've made.
Locally Grown in dresses. Above is a pattern from a book called Simple Modern Sewing. Below is the Lulu Tunic from Alexia's book Liberty Love, and the last is the Washi Dress from Made by Rae. Red shoes by TOMS and Salt Water Sandals.
This is the time when I finally fulfill my promise of sharing more creations/ideas of how to use my fabric on my blog. Thought I'd start with this loveliness!
All I'm saying is everyone should have a chicken dress. For those of you wondering if and when I got tatoos. I did not. Although I'm thinking I want some now.
The dress above is modeled and made by Hollye and the pattern is Kwik Sew #3521
