Gearing up for the holidays already!

I know, it's only September, and already I'm talking about the holidays?  Well, this is when I switch gears, creatively.  Another Flagstaff Open Studios Tour is in the can (good  turnout, low sales but got some custom orders), so it is now time to start thinking about making gift items to put in the Arts Connection Gallery, because believe it or not, people are already starting to look for gifts to give during the holiday celebrations!  Some items I will be offering again this year are:

Covered Notepads

Covered Journals

 

Hand dyed Grocery Totes

Chiffon scarf using Permanent markers and alcohol

Drizzle dyed Habotai scarf

Silk/Rayon Devore Cutout Scarf, Bamboo Pattern

And of course, I will also have a good selection of tie-dye clothing and my coiled fabric bowls and vessels.  Fortunately, I have a pretty good supply of those items, so I can focus on adding to my gift inventory.  So that's what I will be doing over the next couple of months, and maybe I'll even get a minute or two to do some (dreaded!) housework!  Hope you are all having a good summer!

Ramping up for October shows

Since Flagstaff Open Studios tour in late August, I have been working hard to add to my inventory for the 2 shows coming up later this month: Holiday Artists' Marketplace coming October 22, and Autum Leaves and Holly, October 28 & 29.  See Show Dates for more details.  here are some of the items I have been working on:

Covered Journals

Inside of a covered journal

Covered notepads

Inside of a covered notepad

Coiled fabric bowls - green series

I have plenty of my tie-dye shirts and jackets, currently on sale at the Arts Connection gallery at the Flagstaff Mall, and lots of my dyed silk and rayon scarves, so there will be plenty of selection at the shows, and ongoing at the gallery after the October shows.  Great opportunities for early gift shopping, or just to splurge and treat yourself!
Back to the studio I go... you never know what will emerge next!

Just puttering...

It's been kind of a lazy month in some ways... although I have been spending lots of time in the studio!  But some of that time has been spent tidying up, some has been spent experimenting. However, this past week I have been able to finish up some projects, and that always feels good. First off, I took a little time to paint a covered box for a gift to a new friend:

I used to do flower pots and cigar boxes using a similar technique... forgot how much I like how they turn out!

I also started making my covered notebook pads again, trying to stock up for coming shows:

I have several more in the works, along with a start on some covered composition books.

Lastly, I finally found stretcher bars in the right size so I could mount my paper-pieced string quilt top:

If I had it to do over again, I would have mounted this on a slightly larger frame to include a small border in the black fabric... live and learn!  But at least now I have a better grasp of how to gallery wrap fiber art, and hope to do more in the future.

Hope you're having a fun and creative summer so far! 

Coming attractions

I have been busy making some new items for my shop, but they will not be available until later this month. Thought I would put out a 'teaser' to let you know I will be offering a new gift item soon!

These are based on a pattern by Beth Wheeler, and utilize some of my hand-dyed and/or embellished fabrics. The note pad is 5" x 8", with a pocket for pens and a velcro closure. I'm trying to get a bunch done for my upcoming show at our local University, which is my biggest show of the year, so I am hoarding these right now along with the scarves I have been dyeing. If you plan to be in Flagstaff November 19-20, I hope you will stop by! The show is at No. Arizona University, du Bois Center. Hours are: Friday, 11am-6pm, Saturday, 9am-4pm. Hope to see you there, but if not, I will let you know when these covered note pads are available in my shop!