Monday, April 15, 2013

Sew excited!

I'm the newbie at Boutique 208 in Downtown Pittsburgh, across from Heinz Hall in the Cultural District.  It is a place for fellow handmade local artists to sell their specialities...and part of the Mayor's movement to revitalize downtown. 

These pictures are courtesy of C's iPod - thanks sweetie! 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

My name is Kelley and

I hoard buy a lot of fabric. And then I rip the cotton into long strips which I then sew back together.  Like this pretty purse...

When I worked at a fabric store, the quilters would often ask for their cotton to be hand torn not ripped. It seemed like a hassle, but it was so much more accurate than the way we would hack it at the fold. It may be that or my destructive nature, but I now prefer to tear my cotton/linen fabrics. Like the rough selvage edges, I prefer the texture once the fabric has been torn and then sewed back together. I am all about the texture!

on Etsy now...

This off-white and dusty cornflower blue toile is not exactly denim, but not lightweight cotton either. I tore long strips and sewed them back together with my favorite loopy vine stitch and rows of new-old-stock vintage lingerie labels “Eureka Hipform”, blush pink and ivory lace, two different widths of ivory ruffled eyelet, and as if that wasn’t enough – I hand sewed 6 ivory blossoms out of new-old-stock millinery petals. I adorned 5 of the flowers with vintage mother of pearl buttons and the last, focal point is an old cluster earring in pearls and crystal that I hand sewed on as well. A simple woven ribbon closure around another mother-of-pearl button. The handle is a lovely machine made lace. It is a fabulous… perfect for the first whispers of Spring… very Cottage, Shabby Chic, Prairie Chic, Gypsy Chic, Cowgirl Chic…It is a nice big size – perfect for slinging over your shoulder and heading for the antique show. It is fully lined with a new sturdy, cornflower upholstery damask. 

My next favorite things to collect...sewing notions and trims. Oh MY! 

I would love to have more time to create my pretties...we are heading into softball season and with both girls on different teams in different townships - I will be scrambling.  But, as always I will have a tin of buttons and beads to work on... so I will still have some time to create...

Pretty in pink...

Cotton shirts.  Love 'em. Usually can't wear 'em.  Too tight. Pull at the boobs.  Or, shrink in the first wash.  And being a plu...