Strutting around like a peacock

If you see me strutting about town with this purse over my shoulder, stop and admire.

I have mentioned here before that more than photography, I love sewing.  I'm not the world's most gifted seamstress, but I don't let that deter me.  I keep on keeping on, although everything I try takes about six times longer than it should, and never quite works out just right in the end. 

But being able to make something practical, that I can use, is just such a thrill (I thrill easily, apparently). 

The purse above is from a pattern designed by Amy Butler, and the primary fabric is hers as well.  I've been wanting a huge purse that will fit my big old heavy camera when I want to have it on my person, and this one will fit the bill.  Maybe that means I'll take more photos, now that it's easier to carry my camera with me. 

Last weekend I finished this little lap quilt I made my aunt for her birthday.  She always feels cold so here's hoping it will warm her up a bit.  I sort of made the quilt's design up as I went along and might tweak a thing or two, but I think it's possible I'll return to the basic idea at some point in the future.  With the lessons learned and all that.

Hie thee to Paste

I have posted before about Paste, the new art and craft supply store in Soulard.

I was able to preview it a bit when I brought some of my photos there for sale a couple of months ago. (I can't believe it's been that long already.) But the summer was packed and I hadn't gotten back there to shop until a couple of weeks ago.

Love this place! Beads and ribbon and yarn and stamps and beads and photographs and beads and I am a sucker for beads, especially.

Much as I was super excited when City Art Supply opened up in my neighborhood -- an art supply store in the city! -- I am also excited that Paste has made a home in the city.

It's been a while since there's been a great spot for craft supplies in the city of St. Louis. Plus, it's nice when the folks who open these stores have a love for and knowledge about what they are selling, and even cooler when they are supportive of local artists, both of which are true about both Paste and City Art Supply.

So: go check these folks out! Spend money with them so we can keep them in business and keep them in the city! And while you're at Paste, you'll see some of my photos for sale (no pressure, I swear!)

Sham

 


What I love more than taking photographs is sewing. I intend to bring these together in my work at some point when I come up with a clever idea for doing it.

About a year ago I decided to make a quilt. It's a t-shirt quilt, inspired by a book written by Cathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica. I got a bunch of cute or funny or whatnot t-shirts from a thrift store, and chose other fabrics to go with the t-shirt panels. Measure measure, cut cut.

As I'm pretty new to sewing, it took forever to assemble this thing. But I finally finished it sometime in the Fall, I think. Ever since then I meant to make some shams to match the quilt but one project or another kept me from doing that and a couple of weeks ago I decided to just get it done. I finished them this morning and whew! I can clean a few sewing things off the dining room table so I can get to getting some photos ready for next week's show.

What have you been making? (Or what would you like to make if you had the time, space, etc.?)