Ethan's Representing CA at the Cadet Freestyle National Championships!

Such Great Friends

Betty

If it wasn't for my friends, I wouldn't be where I am, do what I'm doing, smile as big as I do each day. The help before, and presence of my friends at Patchwork show this past weekend made it all worth while. I owe my friends a huge thank you. So Thank You my buds, my pals, my great friends who came from far and near! Seriously.
Thank you Carrie for "Betty". She was well dressed and even changed clothes a time or two. Also thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience of craft shows and giving me the confidence to get out there!

Thank you Jenn for making a sign with my logo without me asking for it, way back when that I recently had laminated and it helped everyone know where I was. And thank you for coming so far with your family that I've never met to show your support, and giving me home made mochi! I've always begged you for it. he he. It was amazing!! Missed out on getting your pic though. Darn!

Michelle, my neighbor and buddy you are always there when it counts and I appreciate you bringing Helen. I know she couldn't have made it without you. One of these days, when your little one settles down I may hire him as an assistant. I think he likes craft shows.

Kristin, me, and Steph

Kristin, thank you for all your encouragement in my up and down times and your willingness to help at the drop of a hat even though you had the hardest cake of your career to make that day. You will never know how much I appreciated that. And Lyle, thanks for being ok with being dragged along ;)

Steph you are the best for always promoting my business and getting the word out. Thanks for believing in me and being such a great friend!

And I would not have even thought of doing Patchwork if it weren't for Delilah. Thanks girl for having faith in me that I could sew in the first place and encouraging me to pursue the clothes and especially the dog portraits. Also, I really appreciated your generosity. For all that you did and that you are. And I know you are that way with everyone. I am humbled and forever grateful!

And last but not least, Marge. Thanks Marge for being you! As my "Cover Dog" on my dog postcards,  you really helped sell the whole dog portrait angle for me and lady, you have quite the loving fan club. In fact, I suggest you get your own Facebook page. As Delilah says best "from living on the streets with no love to more love than any dog should have you are one loved dog!"

Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival

What a crazy 2010. My goal was to do a bunch of shows after I did the Holiday Unique Show, but with my son's wrestling schedule going all year, all week and every weekend, it just wasn't possible. But I did manage to squeeze in one show and got accepted to The Patchwork Show on Sunday, June 6 from 11am to 5 pm. I'm so excited because it's in my backyard. This show is in Santa Ana and it's a show I really want to do to get exposure to my local crowd and show them what I do. So hopefully I'll see familiar faces (hint, hint). In other words, please come out and show your support!

It's a lot of fun. It's not huge and overwhelming but there are so many local artists and crafters to shop from. And such talent in one area. There's also music and food vendors. I love the joy and spirit in the air. You can really feel it. The show is pet friendly too. Go to the Patchwork Show page and Join it to keep up with the show's current events.

As for me, I'm pretty much going insane making new things and new displays. What I'll be selling is completely different from what I have on my website for the most part. I'm going to be selling the tops like I had blogged a few posts back. Skirts with applied vintage embellishments and accessories to be determined still. I'll be taking orders for custom pet portraits and I'll be taking portrait pics on the spot if the dog is present and the owner wants it. I'll also be selling the jewelry mixed media photo art pieces that are on my website.

Custom Pet Portraits - Mixed Media Photo Art

I love the face of the owner when I give them the finished portrait! It's always a huge smile. These pets are so adorable and have been a blast to work with, even if they are only digital images. Today I was featured on Rare Bird Finds. If you want more info on getting a custom portrait of your own. There is more info there.

The portraits are slightly different. This was for a Hawaiian themed room. I added a little flower for the theme.  The colors are chosen by the owners and the font portrays the personality of the pet. These all happen to be dogs, because up until now, that's all the requests have been, but that's not all I can do. Any pet will do!

Griffey passed away last year and this is an homage to him. He was an old guy and he had a mind of his own. He was very loved and he's obviously very missed. I really loved doing this portrait and wanted to make it just perfect.

Little painted details like swirls are fun to add as well. I use dots, so anything that can be done with dots is workable.

And of course I had to do Flick, my dog. He's got his ball here. He's a silly dog and full of energy as his picture and font depicts.

Another Road

It's a funny story really, and one that as a crafter looking to find my direction, as I've been lost for sometime, it's quite ironic and something that I really needed. It was risky and at this point I was ready for it.  I walked into The Road Less Traveled to deliver some more crocheted stainless water bottle covers to the owner, Delilah a couple months back. We started talking and somehow it came up in conversation that I started sewing again. She said wait a minute, come here and left the room. I followed. She walked to a shelf with a whole lot of antique lace and when I say antique, it was truly that! And beautiful. See above and below. Above is actually more ecru but my camera wanted it white for some reason.

Petticoat eyelet lace pieces and some that where whole petticoats. I just stood there. She blasted all of these amazing ideas at me of how she'd love pieces of these sewn onto this and that and......... I just stood there thinking that there is no way I'd want to cut these things up and I don't even know if my sewing skills are good enough. What if I ruin it? But I took them home with me and said I'd consider it. So for weeks I looked at the lace, each with it's own story. You could see where they were repaired multiple times as if that's all that person owned.  I looked closer. There were holes in some areas. I began taking pieces apart very carefully listening to each story that was told. I respected each stitch and promised to waste none. I also promised to keep portions together if possible and will use them for skirt panels perhaps. I promised.

So with these petticoat pieces I utilized vintage buttons and buckles to achieve designs that would show off the beauty of the lace.

And also show off the designs within the lace.

Here is a top that has a buckle. The sleeves are vintage hankies. 

This top has a vintage button and a vintage buckle with the petticoat lace.  The skirt is a simple cotton drawstring skirt that I made and also made this removable petticoat lace overskirt that is attached all the way around with buttons. 

So now I guess I have a upcycled clothing line in a store. I would never had dreamed this even 3 months ago. See. You never know what road you'll take or who will guide your path. Thanks Delilah!

In Love

It fits in the palm of my hand and it's no bigger than a deck of cards but I'm so in love with it. It's my new Canon Powershot DS 1200. And it's aqua.  This little baby thing takes better pictures than most any camera I've ever had.  I get giddy with every upload. So clear and sharp are the pictures. Now I feel like I'm really getting somewhere!

It's got a killer zoom lens. The gold lights above were about 50 feet away from me and high in the sky. I could have got even closer!

This photograph I took over my left shoulder. It happened to be a super lucky shot too. Someone was walking by somewhere and their shadow was captured on the window through the water drops in the fountain.  Each of these pictures was enhanced with a photo program as well to make them a little more interesting artistically with color and or texture.