On the Radio!!

Yael Ksander from WFIU came to the Paper Crane Gallery to interview a few of the artists participating in the Bloomington Handmade Market! It was a TON of fun! I was super nervous and had NO idea what I was going to say. However, it seems to have turned out just fine.

If you'd like to hear the interview, you can visit the artworks link, here.

Sweet, Sleepy Rattles.

Hi!

It's been a very warm and sunny Sunday here in my neck of the woods. The past couple of days have been really busy with things non-craft related, which has me itching to sit at my sewing machine again. However, between things, I've been sewing on faces and stitching up stuffing holes on these pretty handmade bunny and kitty rattles. They make the most pleasant sound. I love to give them a shake as I'm embroidering. They'll be on my table at the Bloomington Handmade Market coming up in just a few short weeks. (two to be exact!)

I'm headed out for a walk in this early spring weather!

Art Star Craft Bazaar!

As a crafter, there are a few things I would like to accomplish in my lifetime. There are some outlandish ones. (I'd like to meet Martha Stewart) And some ambitious ones. (I'd like to be the author of a craft book.) And there are some that are just fun. (I'd like to have a completely handmade wardrobe of smocked sundresses.) 

Then, sometimes, moments come along and you think to yourself, "all of these are absolutely possible."

One of those surprise moments came this week when I, just another crafter from a tiny town in Indiana, got accepted into a craft show in a big city. Yep! I'll be heading to Philadelphia for the amazing Art Star Craft Bazaar, May 14 &15!

I want to downgrade it and tell myself it is just a fluke. I'm just one tiny crafter in the big world of the handmade movement. But I can't help but be excited. Two years ago when it was just me and a stack of fabric in my living room, with no direction and no idea of what I really wanted to make, I never would have dreamed I'd be making plans to head to the city of brotherly love, with the love of my life, for a pretty important craft show. I'm really proud of myself. (even if that voice in the back of my head is telling me I shouldn't brag.)

I cannot wait to strut my stuff. I even have the fabric for a pretty smocked sundress to make.
And, fingers crossed, I can sneak a peak at that Jay McCarroll in all his wonderful glory. eek!

Today.

 

 

 

listening: lots of motown.

 

eating: greek salad.

drinking:  grape juice and lemon water. 

wearing:  my favorite blue cardigan.

feeling: ambitious.

outside: Sunny, warm and breezy. hello, spring!

wanting: to go for a swim.

needing:  some money in the bank.

thinking: how lucky I am.

enjoying: making patterns.

wondering: about craft show applications.

Snakes!

I've been working really hard on a new line of plush for my upcoming shows. (I'll be at the Bloomington Handmade Market on April 2nd and at the Art Star Craft Bazaar May 14-15!) I made these snakes this week. I like that even snakes can be cute. Their backs are all different colors and their face embroidery is color coordinated. Their tongues are made out of felt. It was brought to my attention that my snakes are poisonous due to their diamond shaped heads. However, I think they would only poison you with sweetness.They are so Monday to Friday.

Bloomington Handmade Market: Spring Edition

I'm super excited about being in this show! It's put on by a great group of ladies and there's always so much happiness! I'll have a brand new line of plush available as well as some other sweet hand sewn treats! Come out and see us for more info: www.bloomingtonhandmademarket.com/

Craft Room!

Remodeling Post: #2 This is my new ironing table!
I built it all by myself.


During a pretty great little yard sale trip last summer, I came across this enormous idea board at a church yard sale. The lady who sold it to me didn't even know what it was. When I told her, she looked at me funny and said, "why do you want it?" but want it I did! Two dollars later, I had in the back of the car, laughing all the way home. Because of it's cushion and wide flat space, I thought it would make the BEST ironing table in all the world. I made the frame from some left over wood and confidence in myself that I could use a circular saw without cutting off any extremities (I am positively the klutziest person in the entire world!). It turned out beautifully! It's a little taller than a normal table to make it easier to iron. I'm going to make a skirt for the bottom to store completed merchandise underneath. All in all, I couldn't be happier!

Craft Room!

Holy Moses, Chief!

The past week has been exhausting. I have sorted, scraped, scrubbed, sanded and painted the room that used to be storage into a room just for sewing. I cannot wait to get everything in place and show you what I've been up to. But, until then, here's a picture of the perfect colors I didn't even chose. The green was left over from an ill conceived living room paint choice. White was just a perfect blank palette choice. I absolutely cannot wait to get everything put together.

Until then!