Goddess of Many Colors

Found this dinner napkin at a thrift store:

and here's what I did with it:

I enjoyed letting go and letting the designs fall randomly without planning. 

I think I'll name her "Energy."

Zipper-De-Doo-Dah....

Zippered pouches make great gifts! Come learn how to sew these at Hancock Fabrics in Merritt Island, Wednesday October 30 or Saturday November 2, 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Pre-registration and supplies are required…visit store for details or email bright_ideas_studio@yahoo.com

A Prayer Flag for Peace

Prayer Flags have suddenly introduced themselves into my life. A chance post on Facebook not long ago, then a mysterious appearance of a set of meditation flags in the yoga classroom, and finally today a story in a magazine....OKAY, I get it! Time for me to add Prayer Flags to my collection of projects.

So I made my first Prayer Flag today, using batik fabric and applique techniques, topped off with metallic thread free-motion stitching. I added fabric strips to help catch the wind, attached with tiny glass beads.

A prayer flag's purpose is to release its message to the winds that will ultimately carry the vibration around the world. I hereby send positive energy to the Universe by creating and hanging this Peace Prayer Flag.

Arcania

 

Arcania keeps her secrets hidden.

She looks the other way, pretending the secrets do not exist.

That’s the only way she can keep from sharing them,

because secrets are meant to be kept.  

The owner of secrets has power.

When you possess secrets, you are allowed to be selfish,

because once secrets are shared, they are no longer secrets,

and their power disappears.

Arcania is the result of an indescribably wonderful ReTREAT attended by our Doll Club, the Space Coast Doll Artists (see us at www.spacecoastdollartists.com ) Our talented leader Patty Briggs brought supplies, techniques, and expertise to teach us how to make a woods-fairy type doll that incorporated a variety of techniques. “Arcania” (from the word “arcane” which means “secret” or “mysterious”) is made from a soft-sculpted cloth body covered with paper clay, mounted on an altered repurposed plastic bottle (expertly carved by Patty’s husband John to reveal the inside of the “tree). The body was then painted to look like wood, and embellished with dyed cheesecloth, yarn hair, tiny beaded necklace, and altered Tyvek wings.

 

 

The base was made from a masonite panel found at the Reusable Resources Adventure Center (visit them at www.reusecenterbrevard.org) and trimmed out in balsa wood to contain a mossy ground, a fitting place for Arcania to be while guards her treasures!

I love making purses from thrift store finds!

The eyelet fabric in this blouse caught my eye and shouted “repurpose!” to me. So I did!

First I decided the fabric needed more interest, so I randomly squirted SoftScrub (the kind with bleach) on the blouse, then rinsed it in water. 

The effect was just what I wanted, and the solid color cotton lining of the blouse also took the bleach-discharge process nicely. The lining of the blouse became the lining of the purse, but I did have a hard time not using it for the outside since it was so pretty!

I used a piece of yellow cotton from my stash to make the pockets, and also as a lining between the eyelet fabric and the pretty lining, so the pattern of the eyelet was easier to see. I had enough fabric left to make 2 rosettes for embellishment.

New ribbons added just the right touch to the rosettes. My purse is ready to go shopping, and so am I!

Let's Sew!

Classes begin again this week! Fun for kids AND grownups!

Sew Much Summer Fun!

June classes are over, but never fear, July is near!
Here are some photos from my recent beginner's classes for kids:

"Learn To Sew" classes start again on July 9th.
We'll learn all about your sewing machines and make fun projects...

...including pillows, tote bags, aprons, and in July we will also make PAJAMA PANTS! 

(Adult classes, too, in July and August...more info on those to come soon!)

Summer Sewing Workshops!

Spirit Goddess

Haven't posted in a while....here's a doll I made from a pattern found in an old issue of Art Doll Quarterly. She's living at Art & Antiques Studio & Gallery at the moment.

Greetings!

The marbled fabric made very nice one-of-a-kind greeting cards.

I'll be selling these at the Art & Antique Studio & Gallery in Downtown Eau Gallie. Come take a look, they're all different!

Lost My Marbles!

I went crazy making marbled fabric at our Fiber Arts meeting last week. Here ar photos of the results. Too much fun! Too much fabric! I'll have to lock myself in my studio for a while to use up all these pretty pieces!!!

Lily Pond

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Cracked Marble

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Girly Swirls

Some Kind of Flower

(my favorite!)

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Blue Poppies

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(never mind - this is my favorite)

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Fabulous Funky Fabric Flowers!

My students will learn how to make these flowers, and more, in my sewing classes this month. I will also hold a Beginning Sewing Class in "the basics" and an Intermediate level class on how to make Aprons. Here's a copy of the flyer for more information.

Waves of Wonderment

This is my prettiest dryer-lint sheet to date! I pulled it this morning, after hearing my daughter declare “Mom, the dryer’s broke, my clothes are still wet!” My cue to check the lint trap, and  voilá! Fluffy puffs of variegated flotsam that will find their way into art of some kind...maybe another little purse?  (See my Dryer Lint Purse and Pattern at my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BrightIdeasStudio)

The photo below shows the whole piece:

 No, dear, I haven't burned the house down...yet...

Oh, So Comfy!

We had fun in class today at Hancock Fabrics, making wild and wonderful pajama pants! 

More classes coming in April….SEW much fun!!!

Zippy Sewing Project!

We made these cute pouches in my sewing class at Hancock Fabrics last Saturday:

They are fully lined with a functional zipper closure. Perfect for pencils, makeup, or just gathering those loose items that often fill a handbag.

Coming soon: sewing classes for beginners, including Machine Basics, Fabric Flowers, and Awesome Aprons!

Totes Amazing!

We had SEW much fun making tote bags in my sewing class at Hancock Fabrics this past Saturday. The highlight for me is always watching my students get so excited when their project turns out…they are so proud of themselves! Here is a photo of the finished products.

On to zippered pouches next Saturday, then pajama pants after that!

Recycle! Reuse! Repurpose!

Our soft-sculptured doll club, the Space Coast Doll Artists, took a field trip to the Reusable Resources Adventure Center in Melbourne. Here’s a photo of the wonderful items I was able to “rescue” and plan to recycle, repurpose, and reuse:

There were so many things to choose from! Stacks of all kinds of papers and cardboard (look at those manila folders, just waiting to be made into little paper boxes!); chunks of foam that will become “rubber” stamps; tiny plastic bottles that will become storage for beads and trinkets; little foam circles that will be glued onto a base and become a texturing tool; a bag of shredded paper; a roll of twine; tin boxes; metal rulers (a closure for a purse?); pens; labels; laminate I will use as paint palettes….

I can’t wait to go back! Here’s the website in case you’d also like to visit:

http://www.reusecenterbrevard.org

...and our doll club website:

http://www.spacecoastdollartists.com

My Friend Ruth Funk

Ruth Funk’s book signing was today, at the Foosaner Museum in Eau Gallie. Her book entitled “Dolls Etcetera” showcases her private collection of dolls, which will also live permanently at the museum.

My “Ruth doll” evolved as many of my dolls do, with no preconceived notion of what will be. I began with the head, and as I was painting the face, it bore a remarkable resemblance to Ruth. That was all I needed to decide that this doll would be a tribute to Ruth Funk.

I added to the sculpted body many details that I knew to be Ruth. She often wears slacks and t-shirts, so velveteen pants and a cotton shirt were made from repurposed thrift store finds. Ruth is somewhat famous for her fabulous coats, so I used a piece of vintage kimono silk to create a small jacket, lined in soft peach fabric, and trimmed in green silk. Inside the jacket I hand embroidered “I’m a spontaneous artist” which is a quote from Ruth’s first book “Cloth and Culture”. Also, true to Ruth’s jacket design aesthetic, I added hand-made bead embellishment to the back of the jacket.

Ruth is accessorized with strung beads, tiny metallic bracelets, rings, earrings, and a watch. She stands permanently on a paper-covered wood block, with hands clasped, looking like the lady that she is.

I have been blessed to know Ruth for many years. We share a love of textiles, art, fiber and dolls. Ruth radiates peace and love, and a passion for her art. I’m so happy to have crossed paths with her, and was very happy to have God’s hand guide me as I created a doll just for her. I presented it to her at the book signing, and was so happy see her reaction: “That’s me! That’s me!” she exclaimed.

I think she likes it!