Modest Dresses & Art News

I was shopping this weekend and found these 3 modest timeless dresses.  With a little research I discovered the original website as Dainty Jewell Clothier.  Beautiful dresses!  These are designed for a younger market (at least by looking at the models) but the styles are so classic.  I've started listing my fall clothes in my Poshmark store.  Even though it is high 90º outside, it's time to be fashion forward!  You can access my store with the widget in my sidebar.

Fun embossed knit with long flouncy ruffles!

Pieced Stripes out of 2 Knit Fabrics

Fully Lined including the sleeves

Great knit with a crochet lace inserted as a stripe

Also fully lined including the sleeves

More Channeling my Inner Frida :-)

Spent some time yesterday posing for photos to use on my website.  I'll be working soon transforming this blog into a website.  It's time to move forward.

On another successful note, I've been accepted to 2 art markets that I was waitlisted last year.  Yea!  So I have 3 major Houston markets booked for the Fall/Christmas season already. 

My Crazy Life: Progress & Raw Edge Quilt Panel

I sat down in my front sitting room last night and hand stitched.  What a strange feeling!  It's been 4 years since I looked at this quilt with any intention of finishing it.  Slow progress but it's progress.

I spent most of the day stitching this middle panel of a queen sized quilt.

It's all raw edge batiks with a flannel batting and batik backing.

Have a Creative Day, Y'All!

It's expected to get to the 100° mark today in Houston.  

Crazy Quilt: My Crazy Life

Various events lately have me thinking about taking up my hand needle for some crazy quilt stitching again.  

I have a healthy pile of unfinished projects from my previous sewing studio.  It would be good to finish them; possibly even offer them for sale.  I might consider making this fall a "Get 'er Done" kind of season.  They are pretty projects and I still love them.  They just aren't finished.  Life interrupted them.  Four years later life has settled into its new rhythm and it's time to hand stitch again.  I've discovered I spend too much time in one place in my house in front of the computer.  It would be nice to enjoy other rooms too.  I think hand stitching would be a nice balance to all the machine work I do most of the time. And I can do it in another room! 

If I was really disciplined, I would finish the Christmas pieces now so I'd have them for the holiday season.  But, I'm not feeling it with them at the moment.  I pulled out a very large and very personal piece called My Crazy Life I pieced in 2012.  There are 9 - 21" blocks pieced with favorite fabrics, machine embroidery motifs and some linens.  I started the hand work a few years ago.  When I am in the groove, my hand embroidery is very regular & I can remember all kinds of stitch combinations.  It's been long enough I'll probably need a little refresher to regain my momentum.

Here it is from 2012 on the design wall.  I'll probably soften Our Lady of Guadalupe to blend more into the composition.  I've also envisioned a lace and vintage border with smaller blocks.  I'll see.  :-)

Some areas of the 1st block are already embroidered.

Have a Creative Day, Y'All!

Out and About Houston: The Veggie Pizza Quest

One of the local malls: Memorial City Mall

At California Pizza Kitchen

We gave the pizza a 4 star rating

When we added the leftover artichoke spinach dip, the rating went to 5 stars! 

Really good pizza; great crust

The gathering area looked inviting but unfortunately, it was too hot for sitting and chatting.  The flower gardens were lovely.  Notice the yellow shrimp plant was in bloom.

Have a Creative Day Y'All!

Stay Cool and out of the Smoke. 

Raw Edge Work: Ordinary Fabric Quilt

Ready to Bind.  I've fallen in love with this quilt.  I doubt I'll be cutting it up for pillows or table runners. 

Have a Creative Day Y'All! 

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up

Currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum is the exhibition:  Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up.  If I could hop a plane, I would be there immediately.  When I did have an opportunity to visit the V&A, it was awe inspiring.  Be sure to watch the trailer (above link) for a glimpse into the exhibition.  The following video is a wonderful little glimpse into the mannequins. Enjoy! 

Have a Creative Day Y'All! 

Raw Edge Work: Embracing Ordinary Fabrics

I am just a few hours away from having this queen size composition stitched.  I can hardly wait to see it!  I had plans to cut it into various projects but oh my goodness, that may be too hard!  I love the simple calm harmony of the everyday fabrics I have been using.  Various ones have reminded me of the people who are or have been in my life.  It's been a nostalgic journey the past few days.

I like working with cast-off fabrics.  It's a wonderful challenge to combine them into a story.  Their irregularities and oddities remind me of ourselves.  These fabrics are predominantly harvested from clothes and household linens so I feel they are continuing their story.  Who wore those clothes?  What house was decorated with these curtains?  Where did you come from, oh ordinary fabric?

Have a Creative Day Y'All! 

Childhood Art: Little Treasures

A few days ago I was in my local Goodwill store waiting to check out at the register. On a shelf nearby were a variety of knick knacks.  I won't tell a lie.  I like knick knacks.  As I was looking a little colorful cross caught my attention.  Upon closer inspection I could see it had a little heart in the middle.  When I turned it over, it said "Mary Grace 2007".  It had probably been painted in vacation bible school or at a religious school.

I was saddened to see it there.  It belonged with a momma or a grandma.  I knew I would be taking it home.

With my latest round of neighborhood power outages I've found myself eating dinner at my little kitchen table instead of at the computer.  I had laid the little cross on my table.  Across the kitchen from the dining area I can see a picture I cherish with my whole heart.  It was drawn by my son Will when he was in early elementary school.  At that time I was teaching school and I had it laminated.  I count it as one of my prized possessions. I would give you my diamonds before I would give you my picture. 

If I could find Mary Grace I would tell her that her cross is safe with me.  I'm sure she didn't think anything about donating it.  She's probably a teenager now.  Who wants that old art project stuff from when you are young?  Certainly not a teenager.

I'm sad the cross ended up at Goodwill but happy I can now enjoy it with my little hand drawn picture from Will.  I hope Mary Grace will always be safe and her momma never says, "I wish I had something to remember from Mary Grace."  We don't know where our children's paths will take them. I'm thankful I have something from Will.   God Bless You Mary Grace.

Yes, that's a statue of Jesus.  Kitschy, I know. 

I love you too Will. 

New Improv Work & Out and About Houston

It's been an interesting few days.  A huge power outage in the neighborhood Saturday night fried my modem.  I've been without internet & limited phone usage 3 days.  It's been a blessing in disguise because I have to get organized for the upcoming fall markets.  Besides new work, I'm going to concentrate on some UFOs that have been lingering; waiting for their 15 Minutes of Fame. 

This is currently on the longarm.  It's raw edge patches machine quilted with straight lines; my favorite way to work.  When finished it will be the size of a queen flat sheet.  I'll cut it into various products, such as pillows, table runners or small wall hangings.  I'm working with medium muted tones.  I guess I'm just feeling mellow.  :-)  Lots of reclaimed clothes are being quilted into this big piece.

The weekend activities included Houston's White Linen Nights which is an annual art show stroll with everyone wearing white clothes.  The stroll part is now a crowded stream of people but it's fun even if it is crowded.  Dinner was at the Mellow Mushroom which has great pizza and art. Click on this link to see some of the art in their restaurants.  Below are a few pieces I enjoyed seeing in the Houston Heights collection. 

Bob Marley quilt at the entrance

And yes, horses do sniff cactus; as clearly shown in this little vignette I happened upon at the thrift store recently.  :-)

Have a Creative Day, Y'All!