Scarves

Holidays and More

November 26, 2023 2 Comments

Yow! How did we get here??? The holidays are upon us and I am running up the down escalator trying to keep up.

Which is not a bad thing! I love to be busy. As long as I can keep up. And, I’m proud to say, I’m doing a pretty good job.

I’ve been juggling the last orders from the Smithsonian show and at the same time updating and adding in new work to my web-shop. Including scarves! A great gift, scarves are a simple way to add a bit of color as well as providing a practical way to keep warm. They work for all, no mater the receivers size, gender or age. I always try to make sure I have plenty for holiday shoppers.

And so important these days, no waste. They’re sewn from leftover scraps of my gorgeous hand painted, dyed and woven kimono silks.

Warm colors,

And cool. Check them as well as other items here.

Keep checking back, I’ll be adding in more during the next few weeks.

Besides scarves I’ve been working on a couple orders for my ‘Piano Jazz’ jacket and pants.

The promised delivery days were coming up so I needed to focus my attention on piecing little scraps of black and white kimono silks.

I spent many days sewing small, random blocks so there would be enough for 2 sets of jackets and pants. Time whizzed by, my mind in the zone as I blissing out with all the various patterns and shapes.

Equally fun, laying out the blocks, finding ways to make everything work together.

Below, the two fronts, each unique from the other, but similar, like sisters.

The one on the left has been sewn together, the other is in mid-process as I was laying out the blocks.

Somewhere in there was Thanksgiving. However you chose to celebrate, I hope you had a good one.

Now, onward! It’s coming up, the holiday season!

New Projects, and, Spring!

May 7, 2023 6 Comments

The closest I’ll ever come to having rose petals tossed at my feet, will be the springtime cherry blossoms that Mother Nature drops onto the sidewalks in my neighborhood.

I walk through as though I am a princess.

Gorgeous!

Meanwhile, in my studio, it’s all about beads. I’m in the middle of two projects. It’s always slow going with beads, but the final result is so rewarding. One in black and gold and the other in blue shibori.

Also on the table, several jackets and a coat. Can you tell? It’s those pile of fabrics in the back. One in reds, one in greens and one in blues.

Stay tuned.

And just in time for the American Craft Council’s on-line PopUp Marketplace, I’ve been working on a few more scarves to add to my store.

Two below, in process.

Maybe you remember my 30 second video of me making a scarf? Check it out here.

Below, one of the scarves finished. This one and others, along with jackets and tops, will be in my store at the marketplace.

The on-line marketplace will be open for ACC members on Monday, May 8th and open for all May 7th – 21st. The shopping pages will be up and viewable when the shown is live. You’ll be able to get there with this link. Click on ‘Online Marketplaces.’

There will be lots of gorgeous work by craftspeople from all over the country. Check it out!

One more thing.

My tree peonies are in full bloom. Last year it snowed when they were just getting going [… I know, snowed… in April. In Portland. Where we hardly ever get snow… ] and some of the big branches broke off. Sigh.

But they are back! Hooray!!! Gorgeous.

Thank you Mother Nature, for the cherry blossoms falling at my feet and for the rebirth of my beautiful peonies!

New Video: ‘One Scarf’

September 25, 2022 14 Comments

We are live! My newest video, called, ‘One Scarf,’ is up and available for viewing.

I’m participating in the American Craft Council’s on-line artist’s directory [click [here] to visit the website.] It is a platform listing over 150 craft artists with information about their work and links to their websites and social media pages.

This October 3 -16, there will be an on-line pop-up marketplace with featured artists who will have work for sale at the site.

We were asked to submit a 30 second video featuring our ‘favorite piece’ that will be for sale. Favorite! Yow! Each one I make is unique and loved. They are all my favorite. So instead, as a way to show that every single piece is created with attention and care, I decided to focus on the process. I chose the making of a scarf.

Click [here] to see what we came up with. 30 seconds is over fast. Do not blink!

Beginning-Middle-End

August 7, 2022 8 Comments

Here in my studio there is lots going on. I have pieces started, pieces in process and pieces finished. It’s my favorite situation. It can be overwhelming when I am finished with all my projects and it’s time to start something brand new. The sky is open and anything is an option. Where to start? It’s easier when I’m on a roll. I can walk into my studio and start right up where I left off. I continue with what I’ve been working on, bask in the accomplishment of what is finished and let my mind wander to think about new projects I’d like to do.

For example, right now, I have new, in process and just finished projects.

Below, a jumble of fabrics, the beginnings of new scarves.

Scarves are a perfect for in-between projects. I have the basic formula down, so the initial figuring out is done. But the finished design is not set so there is plenty room for creativity. All the possible variations of colors and shapes leave more than enough room for creativity. My mind gets lost in all the possibilities.

Also, up on my wall, a new coat with bias tube strips pinned in place. This is the front, next I’ll baste the strips and then hand stitch them down.

The bias strips in the black and white coat above, are leftovers from the jacket below, a special order, placed by a customer who wanted a different size from the original.

I’m right in the middle of the hand stitching. You can see my needle next to the black strip, as I hand sew it in place with tiny pick stitches.

Next up with this one, I’ll sew beads along the edges of the strips.

And one that is finished! This purple crane coat just sent to its new home. I’m pleased with how it turned out. A gorgeous silk from a very special kimono.

There were enough leftovers of the purple crane fabric to make scarves. Check them out at my web shop here. ‘Purple Cranes and Fans’ and ‘Purple Cranes,’

I hope you’re having a great summer, keeping cool and happy. And just busy enough, not too much, not too little.

Out on Their Own

June 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

A last look at a few of the pieces I brought to the Smithsonian and the American Craft Made shows.

Like this jacket, a shorter version of the coat we used for the ‘Pink’ video. This fabric came from a very long sleeved, formal kimono. Those traditional kimonos are like western ball gowns. They’re perfect for a special occasion, but maybe not so good for daily life. Fantastic when you want to wear a dramatic and beautiful piece of clothing.

My good fortune, when it’s time to retire it as a wearable kimono, the long sleeves make for a lot more fabric. Plenty for a long coat and a jacket.

The front.

The back.

Enough for a coat, a jacket and some leftover scraps for a few scarves. ‘Mottainai,’ waste nothing!

Can you see, in the picture below, the pieces of the same fabric? The grey leaf like shapes? And part of a green flower towards the center top. At the bottom, a sliver of dark mahogany petals.

The last bits of this gorgeous fabric, this scarf, ‘Blush Ume,’ is still available, check it out here.

A shawl collar coat, this one called ‘Streams.’ Sewn from two gorgeous kimono silks, two different versions of a flowing water design.

Appliquéd small squares, laid out as though they were tumbling through the water.

The squares were cut from the same kimono silk I used for the facing and the under the collar. A gorgeous deep, deep teal/green silk scattered with little odd shapes and dots.