Book give-away and podcast on craftsanity.com

Jennifer at craftsanity is buzzing with enthusiasm and ideas for craft-niks. She inspired me to start making aprons, denim ones, and then, naturally, one apron developed into three, and then four.

Visit her site for a podcast with me. We speak about fashion, designing, fashion sketching, combining work and family, and naturally, sewing denim cast-offs. I loved meeting Jennifer, who is an amazing mother, journalist and online, craft trailblazer.

Jennifer also is doing a "Denim Revolution" book giveaway! Yes, it's free, just leave a comment on her blog to enter the drawing.

And, a step-by-step how to make the "Hanky Panky Cowgirl" apron in the top photo.

Which can be downsized or done up differently for little girls like in the photo below. (I've discovered it is the perfect outfit for play dates in Central Park, jumping on backyard trampolines and even as a cosy blanket for a sleepy plush puppy.) It's an easy craft project for a lazy summer day.

More homemade Pin Cushions in Pots

The pin cushions are taking over the studio! As always, I have a well founded excuse. It's just that I have so many rather useless but truly lovely containers that can now serve a purpose -- masquerading as pin cushions. And honestly, they are more often becoming quite useful paper weights with the windows open in the summer time, or, funny little decorations that just appear in the house in unexpected and humorous ways.

Posh Pin Pot

This one, held by a trio of angels, is made out of lovely embossed silk velvets, an olive silk looped cord and topped with this goregeous, chinese hand made silk button.

Orange Pekoe in the Pot

The old chinese tea tin is topped with a retro printed cotton, a polka dot jersey covers the join, and buttons are everywhere, covering joins and adding to the festive character. It looks to me like either a jewerly stand, to keep dimestore jewerly, or to stay as a pin cushion ... hmmm. What do you think!

Pin cushion on a vintage button jar

Okay, I caught the pin cushion bug! Here's another one. This time the cushion is on top of a glass container, maybe from the 30's. I've turned it into a button jar, for storing favorite vintage buttons - and the pin cushion is a patchwork of vintage fabrics encircled with a bit of bandana, topped with - naturally, some vintage buttons. Now, since it was finished, I'm waiting for someone to ask me to sew on a button ... .

Summer hearts, flowers, bees and butterflies

Spoonflower.com is where you can print some lovely cotton or linen cotton blend fabric in one of your own artistic visions or afavorite memento, or order yardage from another artists' original work. I am always amazed and delighted by what I discover there and have entered my fabric, "Sweet Charity" in their their fabric of the week contest.

My design, is centered in a fabric width 42" x 36", printed from a hand drawing by little ole me scattered with love, flowers and bees and butterflies. In the photo just above, it is on a garden table. And naturally, I used it as a backdrop for a screen saver (in the photo down below), ...but it has mostly functioned as a sunscreen taped to our large kitchen, picture window (the top photo.) When I gaze up at it, I think about finishing the edges with some lace or woven braid, or how beautiful it could look in the center of a large quilt, with a pretty floral border, picking up the black and yellow tones...or maybe adding a patched floral and gingham border to fit a larger table...hmmm... Since it is from an original drawing, it is signed once on a repeat, and it is also open to the public domain to purchase at Spoonflower. One repeat is all you need, to gift, sew or brighten up your day. Vote for your favorite fabric - and I hope it's "Sweet Charity" and that I win!

I would love to hear how you would use this cloth.

Another handmade pin cushion

Cherry Blossoms

I'm calling them "Cushy Pots" because they are just that, a cushion snug like a bug, stuffed in a pot.
For this one, the base is a simple, a very plain piece of damaged pottery found for 50 cents, that I covered with strips of cotton printed fabric, and then the cushion, a funky shape, pretty vintage fabric scrap, a bit of lace and gaudy silk flowers taken apart and sprinkled on top.
More to follow but I'd love to hear from you -- your thoughts about Cushy Pots...

Cocconia - almond scented glue

Charming equipment enhances the joy of handmade. I adore this glue, Coccoina, the little brush, the lovely tin, the sweet almond scent, and a wonderful addition to any craft-nik's box of tools.

Pin cushions to make and enjoy - from flea market finds

I'm busy making pin cushions!
With fun names like "Lady Limoges" and "Orange Pekoe Tea Time." It all began when I found a piece of Limoges pottery in the flea market for 3 Euros, a one of a once pair of candlesticks. A quick decision was taken, without much consideration or consultation that it couldn't be left behind but deserved to be re-cycled into something else that was pretty, useful and decorative.
Much more to follow soon with a tutorial or two!

Trash becomes preschooler's art at Beginnings

Photo: Piotr Redlinski for the New York Times

"Robin Koo, a studio art teacher at Beginnings, helps to oversee the potpourri in the fourth-floor attic that serves as the school's Materials Center." NYT

Wow, this looks like every craftnik's candy store! Organized household disposables of all varieties have become an integral part of art and self-expression at every age (above they fill the art supply room of a NYC nursery school.)

When confronted with a pile of "trash" and a desire to create, the range of possibilities is full of intriguing surprises. There is something that captures our imagination about the concept of taking something that has been tossed aside because it no longer has a practical use and making it once again a worthy item, of looking with fresh eyes at something that is raised from the junk pile to a thing of beauty. Everyone has their own vision. We incorporate our wishes, dreams, experiences and needs into our re-invention of junk. What better material to work from than the functional, ordinary items that we used to carry to the re-cycle center and are becoming obsolete and precious?

June fashion screensaver

(Click here to download the June screen saver or to save it and print a hard copy.)

It's free, it fun, enjoy!

June is always so very lovely. Sunshine, gentle breezes, raspberries and flowers fill the air with the kind of special delight that's as quiet and astonishing -- as the activities and songs of the wide variety of birds one is finding everywhere. The fashion sketch in this month's screen saver is a mix of that light hearted and dreamy mood that seems to prevail all month long. After struggling through some rather serious sketches, I finally landed on this one, which has the big over sized denim weekend bag (long weekend journeys must start now!) from a few posts ago, and a spontaneous layering of old and new clothes, based on a peplum effect. Don't we all feel like shedding our serious clothes and having some fun, defining our individuality and self expression? The background this month is a collage taken from my desk -- with a favorite birthday card from a friend and wonderful artist, flea market finds, postcard stands made from re-cycled plastic (which I'm really having fun with and will post more about it soon) and much more. Isn't one's desk always an expression of thoughts, wishes and things to do and not to forget... .

Liberty of London style

The windows at Liberty, always have a story or a tale to tell,

...with their mix of vintage, retro and new, all combined with a fairytale magic that is so wonderfully imaginative. And along the way a tea-stop is a must,...
where they've covered lampshades, teapots, table legs, all kinds of housewares with their wonderful fabrics. Finally a pause to see what new scents are in their perfumery, that has been appropriatelly, lushly filled with an inviting, den-like coziness and their original furniture.

One simply can't resists their journals, their fantasy jewels, scarves, fabrics, kits of diy projects, bags and household accessories. It is all very daring and fun in that British voice that I so love from Liberty.

Browns and their mad hatted and masked mannequins

Browns on South Molton Street in London, has a unique love and understanding of the clothes that they sell. They don't just gather the chicest and prettiest clothes available with absurdly expensive price tags -- but they are convincingly honest about their enduring enthusiasm for them. They deeply appreciate the handwork, the textures, the creativity and force that went into their creation and delight in embellishing them with exquisite accessories. Even though there is a nonchalant attitude at the shop, they are serious merchants, and convinced about their understanding, their personal viewpoint and adoration for everything they cultivate in their shop ... and this has been going on for decades! Their window displays are artistic expressions of their creativity. The past week they were with masks and props, that stir your imagination, make you wonder, where and what, that take you on journeys to far off lands or big city events.

with a revolutionary and adventuress London style.

A New Magritte Museum

this sketch has been etched out of the white washed window front

of a shop under renovation, a few blocks from the museum

Yesterday, with great fanfare, a spectacular new art museum, devoted to René Magritte, the Musée Magritte Museum, officially opened in Brussels. Situated on Place Royale in the heart of the art and antique district, and an extension to the Brussels Royal art museum (filled with work from his illustrious Belgium colleagues), the Magritte Museum has gripped the city. Everywhere you look you find Magritte symbolism, which is not only amusing, but also creates the feeling that Magritte is amongst us, chuckling to himself ... Ceci n'est pas une musée… as you bite into an apple green macaron.

My personal introduction to Magritte was The Empire of Light II, hanging in the MOMA . Hanging next to a Salvidor Dali, I returned over and over again, week after week, in disbelief, trying to absorb the contrast of the magnificently painted blue sky and the lamppost lighting the dark street. The perfection was surreal and impossible to fit into my natural world. Permanently etched into my memory, the effect of this one painting, had such a demanding presence, even though it was a comparatively small work, in the far side of a large room filled with a stunning assortment of art, that I wonder if a whole museum devoted only to this artist, will make the same powerful impression? It will be a different kind of experience (the museum opens to the public in June) and why not, isn't that art?

From Biba to Blahniks, wonderful fantasy shoes

from the UK, about 1720, a green tapestry shoe with a rust bow

One would imagine that there could be nothing more perfect than a pair of shoes by Manolo Blahnik, but actually, it seems that wearing the perfect shoe, has been a passion, and that every decade, or century, has their stellar shoes, that can leave 2009 in the dust. At a tiny display at the V&A in London, I discovered some of the most diverse and best examples of shoemaker fantasy, creativity, originality and craftsmanship.

Biba, 1972, Satin Platform sandal with sequins A red silk boot, trimmed in bobbin lace from about 1870
a serious shoe with ribbons and a rosette from Oxford Street -

reminds me of the Penhaligons Bluebells bottleSalvatore Ferragamo, 1930, suede booty - look at the TOE!
Andre Courreges, Paris, 1965, leather boot They are all splendid and each in a world of it's own.

A sunny weekend bag

A soft, light bag, that can always squeeze in something else, and also fit into any airport overhead luggage rack, makes for a perfect weekend or trip to the outdoor vegtable market. This one is about 22" square and made with old jeans (always) and fabrics pulled from the pile of scraps. The bright orange webbing shoulder straps are practical and summery.

And it's been fully lined with another contrasting printed cotton for delight and durability.

Oriental sweets and rich gingerbread

These sweets were gathered together for a friend's birthday (who is not mad for chocolate, like me and my family) - and the freshness of another palette, rich in tradition and different from our usual dessert menu, simply enhanced the mood of the special occasion. From the top, there are assorted Moroccan sweets made with honey, almonds, and other nuts, followed by a gingerbread cake, that is so rich, we were advised by the baker to eat it smeared on thick slices of fresh bread...

... and finally, an almond cake. All handmade by different bakers, they are luscious specialties, rich in flavor, smells and tradition.

Wardrobe Refresh on Craftzine.com

click here for a tutorial on blog.craftzine

to make three eco-hip accessories from recyclable cast-offs

Blog.craftzine is a simply wonderful, free flowing, source of crafting possibilities and inspiration! They really do their research and comb the globe for ideas and trends. I am thrilled to also be a contributor, this time on their "Wardrobe Refresh" column.

Another blogger and creative "junk" artist I adore is Junkjewerly. She's a stylish crafter with an abundance of hip and easy ways to create your own jewelry.

Wishing you lots of fun - making, wearing and gifting your new summer jewelry!

HATS and Stephen Jones

Master hatter, Stephen Jones, opens his world and milliner secrets at the exhibit he curated in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Infused with charm and desire, for DIYers, this exhibit inspires you to pull out any old forgotten hat, and to dress it up and make it personal. Naturally, I loved SJ's "denim" hat sketched above, created with a patchwork of worn, rugged denim, and a big bunch of blue cornflowers and margaritas that seem to have been so carelessly and naturally tossed on the rim, that you can imagine the sunny, country lane where they were gathered.
The exhibit, though chiefly SJ's hats, included also plenty of other hats pulled from the extensive V&A archives, including this pretty hand stitched country bonnet, stiffened with cord and lined in undyed linen from the mid to later 1800s, ...

and a colorful straw boater from 1937, heaped with water lilies.

Except for some uniforms and a few exceptions, hats are worn today to entertain, for our own pleasure and to fulfill some dreamy thoughts. They are a medium to express yourself and your lifestyle. Today there are no milliner rules, you can freely use the most unexpected or unusual materials - and I hope you're inspired (like I've been) to start rummaging around, through all your crazy re-cycled junk, pluck some things from the garden, or mix in some fine delicate silks and ribbons - and experiment with shape, texture and color - remaking some old hat found in the back of your closet into a happy, or romantic, or hip creation, to add some whimsical fun to your day! Hats are the newest accessory.

May screensaver and the hip denim blues

(to download or print a copy of May's screen saver, click here)

When I start to sketch the monthly screen saver, I actually don't know what will happen, and it always turns into an unexpected surprise. This month was no exception. I've been busy with my calligraphy, and started with some new inks and new nibs, and the "Bleu Myosotis" ink led me to denim, and the list of different jeans on the sketch, which was where it started. Feeling that there is nothing more cool or comfortable, than plain old denim, I sketched it like a rebel who creates her very own individual jean statement - drawing baggy, boyfriend jeans, heavy runners, and a boyfriend's hat - all very tomboyish, which needed to be softened, which is how the pretty, totally simple, floral sun-top popped up with the dreamy floral background. The background is taken from a corner of the invitation to the Romanian artist, Carmen Marin's recent exhibition. I have pastels from her, which are dramatic, with great confidence and strong convictions, and love to meditate on her dreamy world and deliriously broad color palette. And now we're in May!

A garden photo

Lovely soft light and gentle breezes are gracefully leading us toward May.

Sewing a pretty spring dress

Spring dresses are especially lovely...and to sew them can be as much of a pleasure, as to wear or spin in them - at any age! When special occasions arise, it is a joy to imagine, plan and create a dress, just for that event, and then enjoy it and the memories associated with it, for years to come.
This breezy, dress started with some vintage yardage, with a soft, cottony, hand feel and a pretty 50s era print. The fabric was narrow, only 36” wide, so I had to do some figuring to achieve a luxurious sweep to the dress - which was how it grew into the flounced design. The top part is based on Burda's pattern #8347/C. Elastic was added, encased in the waist. It expands so that you can pull the dress over your head without a need for any zippers or buttons. The flounce, with a circumference of 120 inches, is a couple of inches longer than the upper skirt and a narrow self belt with a vintage buckle has been backed in a lime ribbon. I do hope it inspires you to look through your fabrics and notions, and think about sewing some pretty dresses with spring and summer blooms to carry you into the next season.