Sparrow Avenue

Finally, Friday

2012-03-02T04:57:00.002-05:00

There is a small collection I have of pottery with floral decal decoration. They remind me of my grandmother and the cottage they had on the Credit River. Days long gone. This one has been bleached by the sun as the same decal inside the bowl has deep oranges and prussian blues.

This one is on a little creamer I keep near the kitchen sink. It reminds me of warm summer evenings. It is all that's left of a set my mom had.

And this last one is a reproduction pitcher I bought a number of years ago. I love the little dots and the cascading blossoms. One day I will replicate it myself into a screen.

Have a lovely

almost spring

weekend

everyone.

Thursday Things

2012-03-01T06:24:00.000-05:00

When I have down time I work on building stock against a "rainy day". These are pouches with new and older images.
The other day I made a new screen of the elm leaf pattern. I'll show you the results of that soon.
It's a dreary rainy day here. In a way that's just fine. I'd rather rain than snow. March has always been the light at the end of the tunnel for me: winter is just about done. For sure the sparrows are indicating that.

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-29T04:14:00.002-05:00

I had decided to re-visit this piece because (as you might remember) wasn't entirely happy with it. I'm sure you can see quite clearly now, what was wrong with the original (which is on the right). The new version is much better, the perspective works better and it doesn't have that awful "pinched" look.

As well, I have been working on a pattern of elm leaves which I hope to use in conjunction with the new birds I have been doing.
With any luck I will have new screens ready next week!

Hope your week has been going well.

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-02-28T04:50:00.054-05:00

It was a year ago today that my Dad,

my dear friend,

died.

There is not much

I can say here

other than I learned quite a lot from him

and I miss him terribly.

The work I do has seen me through many crises over the years. This past year was no exception. I pushed myself to do things I might not have done had the circumstances been different; trying to find myself without him.

For the first time ever,

I saw a robin in February.

In Canada they signify the beginning of Spring:

a new beginning...

Mosaic Monday

2012-02-27T04:30:00.002-05:00

All drawings and photographs copyright Barbara Di Lella 2012

1. sparrow drawing 2. plaster cast of my hand 3. kinglet drawing

4. photo 5. owl screen print 6. photo

7. wren drawing 8. vintage keys 9 wren drawing

I hope your weekend was a good one and that you got to do everything that you wanted.

I managed to finish a drawing I've been re-working and it's much better now. I'll show you in a few days. As well, I've finalized in my head the next new screen prints. Now that I've my own light exposure unit I have more control of the "what" and "when" of work which is a nice feeling.

Needless to say, the cutting printing and sewing are a constant backdrop everyday.

Finally, Friday

2012-02-24T04:39:00.001-05:00

bird drawings copyright Barbara Di Lella 2012

I've been spending the mornings re-working some of my bird drawings. Sparrows, wrens and a Kinglet. The sparrow second from the top left is from a photograph that Geninne took and gave me permission to draw. Hopefully over the next few days I will be able to arrange them into a group for a new screen. This is something I've wanted to do for some time now, but the images just haven't been to my liking. These ones should be able to work.

The winter (or lack there of) has been remarkable and I'm starting to feel like Spring Cleaning. So I guess I'll be starting that soon.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Thursday Things

2012-02-23T04:26:00.003-05:00

February 18 2012 6:00a.m.

Back on Saturday it looked like this out my studio window and it didn't stop til the afternoon.

February 20, 2012

Back on Monday this was our day. The girls and I went on a long beautiful walk through High Park. Grenadier Pond, normally full of geese swans and ducks, was frozen over.

These are happy dogs

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-22T04:47:00.001-05:00

I've been sewing the new designs into pouches. I had made so many last year that I didn't think I'd ever run out. But stock is getting low and it's a good time of year to build it up again.

I hope your week is going well. It certainly seems to be going quickly. And have you noticed the sun is rising earlier and lasting just a little bit longer. Very exciting. I love the spring the same way I love the dawn.

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-02-21T04:07:00.008-05:00

Last week I experienced a small incident that has caused me to think twice about how I present my work. I have had work stolen before and I'm sure that most artists have had that unfortunate experience. Last week's incident was more of a misunderstanding and it was soon resolved. I was lucky.

But it has caused me to look into "Watermarking" my work. Take a closer look at my drawing: you'll see my name. Perhaps it's too discreet, but it is a deterrent. Usually I'll scrawl my name discreetly in the work itself (I do this with my screen prints; they're all signed but only I know where it is).

You can easily google a Photoshop tutorial on how to do this. Try this one.

Chalk one up to another "Treasure" that I've learned this year.

Poppytalk

I found this in my mail this morning. Such a lovely surprise to have a publication about the Pre-Spring Market I'm participating in at Poppytalk. You can go though it by clicking here. In the actual Market, it's the Moose Pillow that is being featured. Have a look and let me know what you think.

Mosaic Monday

2012-02-20T04:29:00.016-05:00

I hope your weekend went well.

All the drawings and photographs in this mosaic are mine. Some of them you may recognize from past posts.

1. Kinglet drawing 2.out my studio window 3.sparrow drawing

4.vintage lace 5.pinecone drawing 6.old postcard

7. wren postcard drawing 8. carved wooden vase 9 Kinglet drawing

Commitments to shows are beginning to happen and even though they are months away, they are large enough that I'm feeling the early twinges of pressure. That's a good thing, right?

There are a few more items in the shop that you can see here and here.

Finally, Friday

2012-02-17T04:34:00.008-05:00

Leslie Norgate

If you are in Toronto and perhaps looking for a nice place for dinner with special people you might want to try Cowbell. And if you do you'll have the added attraction of seeing Leslie's work. She works with pastels and oils on vellum creating pieces that just move me into another world.

It's been greyish and damp all week, more like April than February (which normally is -10 C.) I have running around to do; picking up supplies as well as finishing the "piles".

Amanda Dilworth "Bees"

I wanted to leave you with this book I found:

"Print and Pattern, Bowie Style" by Marie Perkins.

It is a collection of surface designs by various artists. There is a second one as well.

The Bees

have such a warm weather feel.

I hope your weekend is a good one.

Thursday Things

2012-02-16T04:11:00.002-05:00

Spent the day packaging, mailing, sewing and clipping curves.

Just like kids, when they've had all they can take they stick their noses in your face/in your work. And how can you ignore them? I mean, you try, but a certain time of day comes and they just know it's almost treat time.

Now, be honest: can you resist those eyes?

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-15T04:48:00.001-05:00

Sonee

Here's the proof that we had some snow this year. Sorry about the picture: her leg is still not great so she wouldn't come closer. I love the wolf/coyote quality of her, especially that bit of ginger.

I'm still working on the bird drawings.

Here is a bit of an up-date:

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-02-14T04:08:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day

Last week I was learning how to use the Rolled Hem Presser Foot and thought I did pretty well actually. But I was using a thin muslin to experiment with. What I really wanted to apply it to was flannel. I was concerned that perhaps it would be too thick.

Well it went through all right except that it was doing something distorted making the flannel wavy like there was too much tension. But after fiddling with that, I was getting the same results. hmmmmm

So I decided to decrease the number of stitches and it worked!

Mosaic Monday

2012-02-13T05:00:00.008-05:00

collages copyright Barbara Di Lella 2011

Winter seems to have finally come to this part of Canada; a bit late, not that I mind.

Hope your weekend was a good one.

It was lots of work here and Art's birthday too. But it was too cold to venture out. So we stayed home and had one of his favourite pasta dishes: Spaghetti alla Puttanesca.

As for "news" there is a little "market" going on over at Poppytalk that I am participating in. If you're interested, you can have a look or even here. You might recognize something about today's collage.

2012-02-10T04:24:00.002-05:00

Did you see the moon?

It was shining through my studio window in the morning long before the sun decided to wake up.

I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to a nice weekend.

On Monday I hope to have some news to tell you.

In the meantime, there's lots of work to do and a birthday to celebrate.

Have a great weekend everyone

Almost Finished

2012-02-09T04:41:00.002-05:00

A new commission was started yesterday and I ran into some snags along the way (don't you just hate when that happens?). But I'm just about finished. This is the third in a series of bags I have done that has seen these kids grow. Each bag I do seems to get larger as well. These are my second cousins once removed or something like that (I can never remember how it works); my cousins' children, in other words. If you ever want to know how to get so many kids to co-operate for a photo shoot: bribe them.

Note the suckers.

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-08T04:18:00.004-05:00

Some new drawings of little birds have been showing up on scraps of paper in the early morning hours. I find it so odd that I can only do this at 5:00 in the morning. Any other time, drawing just acts like a sedative and I'm yawning my head off!


copyright Barbara Di Lella

Hopefully I will be able to find some time to refine these into something finished along with the others that I showed you last week.

Hope your week is going well. It's starting to get colder here.

For the last few days "the girls" and I haven't gone on our morning walks as Sonee has somehow hurt her leg. It's not broken and it's not swollen which makes me think she may have twisted it. A few days of rest will help. Roxy and I go out for short walks to the fabric store or post office. She's so good: no leash for her.

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-02-07T04:23:00.000-05:00

Tuesday is my chosen time to share something new that I've learned. This is an Rolled Hem Foot. I've had this all along but was always afraid to ask. But lately I've been wanting to learn how to make faster, neater and smaller hems, so I spent some time struggling to make sense of it.

Even though I don't intend to make this a tutorial, it's going to come out looking like one anyway.

Step 1.
You need to start it off by pressing a double fold for a couple of inches/centimetres.

Step 2.
Take a couple of stitches with the hem lying flat and leave the needle in the material with the last stitch.

Step 3.
This is the trickiest part. With the needle in the material, lift the presser foot and sort of tug the creased fabric up into and through the forks of the foot. I hope the picture explains it better.

This might show what I mean a bit better.

This picture shows you what comes out the other side.

And here are the results: wrong side and right side.

A Rolled Hem

Mosaic Monday

2012-02-06T04:34:00.003-05:00

Well, I hope your weekend was a good one. Although I know that those of you in Europe are having a rough time. What's with all that snow?

more info here

Toronto has been having the most unusual winter that I can remember. The weekend was warm enough to do some product shots outside. And speaking of product: there are a few new things in the shop.

Sparrow Avenue Porcupine Pillow

2012-02-03T04:13:00.002-05:00

Sonee and Roxy

Was this a fast week or what??

Whenever February comes along I feel like I'm running out of time to get all my work done. Winter is the best time to work; it's too cold to do anything else!

February is the penultimate light at the end of the tunnel. Not that we really had a winter, in fact, I think Italy had more snow than us!

I thought it might be a sweet idea to package the little bibs I've been making.

So far I've come up with this little buttoned bag.

Maybe the little dots should be on

the outside of the bag

instead of being

the lining.

I'll figure it out. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend.

I have work to do.

2012-02-02T04:24:00.001-05:00

If you haven't visited the shop lately, you might not have noticed that there are new tea towels there. I will be trying very hard this month to have more items.

I had posted this on Facebook a few days ago. You can find more of these wonderful microscopic designs here. They remind me very much of Margie's crochet works of art.

Hope your week is going well.

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-01T04:47:00.003-05:00

Working away on a wack of wonderful whale (and other animal)baby bibs that are in the shop starting today! O, and these too.

As well, I have been working on new drawings. I know the last batch of bird drawings I did never amounted to much. I have higher hopes for these:

They are only pencil sketches now but I hope to make some kind of patterning with them; not so much a compositional group but more of a repeat.

As well, I wanted to show you what I picked up when I visited the Do design show this past weekend. Aren't they beautiful?

tumblers by Bookhou

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-31T04:30:00.015-05:00

There has been some time to work on a few of the new ideas I had spoken about earlier. These are a couple of proto-types for baby bibs (which have changed since this image was taken) and I decided to use flannel; it is so so soft!

This is the first time I've printed on flannel and I've learned that it's great to print on. Even the finest lines of the Balloon Ship came out. Well, at least those that came through in the exposure: you can see I had a bit of trouble with this one. But the porcupine printed beautifully! Even on cotton fleece (shown below) which I'll be using for more baby stuff to come.

And by the way: this is the last day for the set sale in the shop.

Mosaic Monday

2012-01-30T04:27:00.003-05:00

How was your weekend? Here in Toronto most of the winter has had little or no snow. It is quite unusual as January has always provided sub-zero temperatures and enough snow (even though the rest of Canada would scoff).

This mosaic has images, not only of some of my recent drawings, but some of the little treasures I have around the house (except for the door knobs which are from a photograph I took in Montreal). The bird house is by April Gregory. She uses up-cycled materials and I love the textures and colours in her work.

Sparrow Perch

2012-01-27T04:24:00.001-05:00

It would seem like a perfect vehicle for a perching sparrow: ya think? I'll give it some thought.
I'm looking forward to checking out some of the work for the DoDesign show tomorrow. Here are just a few of the things I might see:

Bookhou

Alexx Boisjoli

Reed Hansuld

Here's wishing you

a great weekend

The Studio

2012-01-26T04:50:00.003-05:00

In light of all the talk about January clean-up and organization, I thought I'd take a rare photo of the work table at it's neatest. You can see my little Featherweight and the piles of work slowly building. I have so many ideas in my head, I feel like there's not enough time.

Just thought I'd remind you that the sales in the shop will be finished on the 31st of January.

Wednesday's Work

2012-01-25T05:02:00.020-05:00

It's still pretty dreary here but I suppose that's to be expected for mid-winter. I'm thrilled to pieces the temperatures aren't sub-zero.
This is my screen for the porcupine drawing I did last year that you may have seen in my 2012 Calendar (which, by the way, is on sale in the shop, if you still need a calendar). If you look closely you can see the "ghost" images of previous screen burns.

I have been printing on this tea towel linen/cotton blend material now. And the cut is very generous. They will be in the shop later this week.

Hope your week is going well.

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-24T04:31:00.006-05:00

Last week I began Tuesday's Treasures:

journaling new things that

I've taught

myself.

I was quite pleased when I put this chickadee of mine onto this old French label. As I've said before, I really like the combination of graphics and images, let alone the mixture of time periods. I also like how the bird's head is right under an emblem making it look like it's wearing a crown.

This Photoshopped postcard has a little drop shadow behind my drawing of a sparrow, making it look like the bird was a cut out that was only lightly taped down.

There are lots of tutorials on line that explain how to do Photoshop techniques. But if you're new to all of this it can be rather daunting.

Over the weekend I was working with my new light table, exposing screens. Here are two of my new images for 2012.

(Actually,

the owl is in my 2012 Calendar,

so there was a sneak preview of it last month.

But the humpback,

as you know,

is this month)

I have to tell you that this was my first time applying emulsion and burning screens without any help. So I was a wee bit nervous in the process. But aside from the lousy emulsion application,

(the first one I did was perfect

but the screen was exposed for too short a time

and the whole thing washed away)

the images, themselves, turned out pretty well and I've been printing up tea towels ever since.

Hope it's not too dreary where you are.

Mosaic Monday

2012-01-23T04:25:00.002-05:00


All drawings by Barbara Di Lella

Such a full weekend. I hope yours was the same. I had spent it burning new screens with the Light Box Art had made. I'll show you the new designs later this week.

Part of my January studio organization

involves re-thinking Sparrow Avenue's Journal.

Monday will now be a place to record images in a Mosaic format.
I've seen others do this and it's quite wonderful to see unusual things juxtaposed with other images.

sparrow drawing, books from adorevintage , sparrow postcard

old Bingo card, sparrow in grass, Margie's vintage lace

white throated sparrow postcard, vintage heat grate, robin nesting

Something New

2012-01-20T04:26:00.002-05:00

It was 10 days ago that I was lamenting about other people's schedules. It's a drag when you haven't all the skills that you need to do a project. There's a whole post right there about self-sufficiency, I guess. On the other hand, 10 days isn't really all that long (if you only knew at the start, that is)

As of today I have

a new light/exposure box

with which to burn my screens.

Very excited!

Thank you so much, Art

Along with that I have some new images that I am finally and completely satisfied with. Some months ago I was working on a number of bird images and everyone was so generous with their kind words but somehow I still wasn't pleased with them. These new images though, are much better. This is one of them:

I can't wait

to start

printing

this

one

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend

full of accomplishments

and happiness.

2012-01-19T04:30:00.003-05:00

Sparrow Avenue

I hope your week is going well.

This is a small corner of the studio.

The hand is mine.

Art must have molded and cast it 10 years ago.

The spools of thread were a gift from

Arounna when she used to have time

to go to yard sales.

The sparrow

was a collaboration

of which Art did most of the work.

One day I'll show some of the other collaborations

that we've done.

I wanted to show you the final drawing of the air ship I've been working on. Something's still a little wrong about the perspective and I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it would mean starting all over and I'm not sure I want to do that. Seeing as the idea is a little wonky, I don't see why the drawing shouldn't be as well.

Vintage Inspiration

2012-01-18T04:30:00.002-05:00

Part of what I try to do with my work is combine images and graphics. Maybe it was game boards when I was little, that started that attraction, I don't know. The one above I found at Margie's last year when we were doing Natural Dye.

Mostly it's the vintage items that compel me. You can find this one here.

And this one here.

What images inspire your creativity?

Tuesday's Treasures

2012-01-17T04:28:00.000-05:00

Last year I had recklessly said that I was going to try to learn something new everyday. I quickly learned that that was a wee bit ambitious. However, I'm thinking that something new each week might be manageable. Tuesday's Treasures

The image above was done in Photoshop. Most of you would think nothing of that but for me: it's something new. In the past I would have done this direct. I would have found an old post card (of which I have boxes and boxes), photocopied it, aged it, stamped it and drawn on it. Simple.

Tuesday's Treasures

will become my catalogue of new things learned.

Winter Work

2012-01-16T04:17:00.000-05:00

Sonee

The last few days have been pretty cold: the girls and I stay curled up in the studio instead of going to the park. This gives me a lot more time to work out drawings and patterns.

Winter Trees

Air Ship

And then later on I have these to print and sew and hopefully put them in the shop this week.

Hope your weekend was

restful

warm

re-energizing

for this new week.

Drawings and Sales

2012-01-13T04:59:00.003-05:00

original sketch (copyright Barbara Di Lella 2012)

I don't have a sketch book anymore. When I stopped painting I didn't think I needed one. Now I just scratch out my ideas on any piece of paper lying around and half the time there are scribbled notes pertaining to other things. Anyway I wanted to show the beginnings of this idea.

Here it is, still not quite done but the idea is definitely there. Sorry I didn't show the process of the humpback, but it was coming so quickly and easy, I just didn't stop to document it. Actually, the idea isn't fully presented because I'm tweaking it just a bit more. Hopefully by next week it will be done.

The 2012 Calendar with all my animal and bird drawings is now on Sale in the shop.

Here's wishing you

a lovely January

weekend.

Early Morning Drawing

2012-01-11T04:31:00.001-05:00

Because I wake up so early in the mornings I have to work on quiet things. Drawing has proven to be quiet enough and, as I have a cup of coffee, I'm at my best for this. (During the day the concentration required just knocks me out)

Still a long way to go but bit by bit I'm straightening out the perspective. I have great plans for this. Perhaps by the end of the week it will be further along...

Hope your week is going well.

O, and by the way, check out some of the sales in the shop

Toddler Hat

2012-01-09T04:32:00.001-05:00

What a glorious weekend we had! I hope you had some of it too.
I've had a bit of time to fine tune the little toddler hats. I'm wondering if a band of brown across the bottom might just give it that extra little bit of accent?
Nothing ever seems to happen quite as quickly as I would prefer; other aspects of the studio are being worked on and someone else's time schedule has to be considered...more about that later.

Sales Ready to Go

2012-01-06T05:04:00.004-05:00

A Fresh Start

The significance of this picture is that there is nothing there! This is my work surface (well, part of it, the printing part) and it's absolutely clear of work. I've tossed, I've purged, I've sorted and rearranged. There's still more to do, but I can at least start this year's work knowing that I don't have to look under piles of other work to find it!

And speaking of work, I have been putting some "sales" in the shop. One is here and another here. There will be more coming next week.
Have a great weekend. I hope the weather where you are is as great as it's been here: totally unseasonal and brown!

Mosaic Monday

2012-01-05T04:23:00.001-05:00

2012-01-04T04:18:00.000-05:00

Peter and the Wolf

Inadvertently while cleaning and sorting, older work comes into view. I have a few of these small oil paintings left over from a show I had a number of years ago.

Out With the Old, In With the New

2012-01-02T04:39:00.001-05:00

I've finally come to the conclusion that I have to clear out a lot of my old stuff. There is so much that accumulates over the years. I organize it and put it in boxes but then what?

So it has to go.

And what a struggle that presents!

I've always worked in very tiny spaces making do with just a little square surface space while things pile up around me. You'dthink I'd be claustrophobic; but not.

I wonder if I'm just one of those

who needs the mess to inspire the work?

See what I mean? I've been working on Summer Hats for Kids: a new project I'm quite excited about. This is just a prototype. But just look at the stuff all over my work space. And yet that seems to inspire me.

Nevertheless, wish me luck in my endeavors to "Out With the Old, And In With the New.

Thursday Things

2012-01-01T04:33:00.000-05:00

When I have down time, I use it to either draw or build stock against a "rainy day". The last few days I've been working on more of the pouches; I might as well because it's pretty rainy and dreary out there these days. Prelude to Spring.

I've finished a new screen but I'll show you that later after I've tried it out.

2012

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00


Gung Hay Fat Choy / Sun Nin Fy Lok * Gong Xi Fa Cai / Xin Nien Kuai Le * Wishing You Prosperity / Happy New Year

The year of the Dragon: a year of success and happiness

You can go here to find out which symbol you are.

Good-bye 2011

2011-12-30T04:28:00.002-05:00

Good-bye 2011

This has been a crazy year for me and, I have to say, from almost the beginning I didn't have a good feeling for it. On the other hand, there are a few people I know who have had an amazing year and I am so happy for them (they know who they are).

2011 was a year of challenges and learning new things; but then aren't most years like that? I wonder what it was like for you??

This morning I was reading a very appropriate post for this time of year. Sometimes we need to be reminded about things we might have taken for granted.

 I was commissioned to do a very large version of my whale shoulder bag. For sure it would fit any lap top with room to spare.

In January I will be posting some SET SALES in an attempt to clear out stock and make room for some new work. If there is anything you have been interested in but were afraid to ask, NOW is the time. I look forward to hearing your wish list. 

2011-12-28T04:29:00.001-05:00

A sweet little message to download from Cartolina.

It's a bit of dull day here but I've been working away at some new ideas although they're not ready for show quite yet. I was also hoping to straighten out the studio but there is so much stuff that it's just too overwhelming. I know the trick is to start in a corner but you've no idea how FULL the corners are!

And then again, I sometimes wonder if working in a mess is the only way I know how to work? At any rate, I know I'm not the only one. Through clothpaperscissors I found this article which sums it up pretty well.

A Small Window

2011-12-27T04:50:00.000-05:00

Returning from Christmas dinner on the other side of the Lake. Lots of family, food, laughter and prezzies. Hope you had a wonderful time too. It was starting to snow where we were but nothing as ominous as these clouds out my studio window. But, like my girls, the bark was worse than the bite (meaning: it didn't snow)

This little window between Christmas and the New Year is my opportunity to work out potential new designs. There are a few things kicking around in my head that I hope will see the light of day.

Sometimes there are spin-offs from the work Art does. These are life size casts of sparrow skulls. I'm not really much of a bone person although I do see how intriguing they can be.

Just to give an idea of size, the skull in the background is of a small dog (the size of a fox). Art has lots of animal skulls. Maybe one day I can convince him to do a post of them.

2011-12-24T17:00:00.000-05:00


Happy Holidays Everyone

2011-12-23T05:08:00.002-05:00

A Merry Holiday Season

I would like to thank all of you who visit me here and talk to me via the comments. To me, far more than Thanksgiving, this Holiday Season is the time to express love for family and friends.

I have lost some so close to my heart

and I have gained some along the way.

And sometimes it can be confusing

piecing it altogether

so that it makes sense.

But I am grateful for everyone in my life

and I wish you all the best.

Walnut by Laruelapalooza

2011-12-21T04:14:00.007-05:00

Mid-week and I'm still working away. I wouldn't have thought the pillows would be so popular. But these will be the last ones for a little while so I'll probably put them in the shop after Christmas.
Hope your week is going well these last few days; that everything is in order and you're not tearing your hair out in traffic or line ups to pay for prezzies and groceries. Certain people I know would have heads rolling with their sharp tongues. I guess that's stress. Nothing a good drink, at the end of the day, wouldn't cure. ( is that too many double negatives?)

This is the first year that we have decided to scale way back. Ithas been a tough year in many respects. In the past, it has been the routine to damn the torpedoes and ignore the difficulties.

Sometimes it's important to do that.

But reality and perspective have hit their mark this year and we will do with less. I don't mind. Small and simple and definitely handmade are the main thing. A salute to Margie and Sonia for their focus on these ideas.

I just thought I'd leave you with this article to read and ponder.

Serindipity

2011-12-19T04:15:00.001-05:00

Another busy weekend; I'm sure for you too. But even so, Christmas shopping hasn't even begun yet. The weekend was partially spent at hospital emergency. Nothing to worry about; an infection requiring antibiotics. And even though I'm glad there was nothing horrific to deal with, it's still time you don't get back.
But do you ever notice that if one unusual thing doesn't happen, then another won't either? That sounds vague, I know. But on the way home I saw two beautiful bistro chairs being tossed and if I hadn't been coming home from hospital then I'd never have seen them.
They will now be seen in some of my product shots as I've been looking for some time now for a special "vehicle" for them.

2011-12-16T05:23:00.000-05:00

By the time the sun was rising back on Monday I was in Ontario with my first cup of coffee for the day.

The Lake was so incredibly dark and blue and no doubt, cold.

The hi-way home was clear and easy the whole way, totally unlike what it was to Montreal. But wouldn't you know it: once in Toronto traffic was almost at a stand still enabling me to take this image of the Lakeshore.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Although I guess it will be hectic

as it's the last one before

Christmas

2011-12-14T15:02:00.001-05:00

Just a quick little reminder that I will be in the Sassy Little Craft Show tomorrow night. You can find it here

2011-12-14T04:19:00.001-05:00

One of the things I love about Montreal is the architecture. The buildings and atmosphere seem so much more European than Toronto. Walking is a bonus when you come across fascinating windows like these:

This shop on Saint Laurent was crammed with so much vintage and antique. Wish I could have come away with one of these amazing marionettes.

To get to the Puces Pop show you have to go through this long dark tunnel to the basement of the church. Something rather medieval about that which I like: something to build the mystery of what you are about to see.

When the show is crowded it's impossible to take a picture. So this was a small window of opportunity towards the end of the day.

But one of the other things I love about the show is the people watching especially the little ones.

Puces Pop

2011-12-12T15:17:00.000-05:00

St. Enfant-Jesus Church, Montreal

Merci a tout ceux qui sont venus a Puces Pop!

My weekend was spent in Montreal doing the Puces Pop Show at this beautiful church. It was a bit of a messy day driving there and it seemed like Montreal's first bit of snow too.

A big thank you to everyone who came to show and supported Hand Made. The show was so well attended.

I'll tell you more about it later.

Hope your week has started beautifully.

Back home in Toronto,

the sun is shining

as if it was

Spring!

Puces Pop

2011-12-09T04:22:00.009-05:00

Part of doing shows in other places (I'll be in Montreal this weekend for Puces Pop) is the organization that's required. I usually take over the living room as it has so much more space to spread out. Then it has to be packed really tight.

Usually a hockey bag is borrowed but this time it wasn't available. So off I went to find something and spend more money than I want to just because "cheap is expensive". But, I gotta tell you: there really is a Santa Claus! Because when I went to pay for it, it was half price. Such a deal!

But the hardest part about doing a show in another town is saying good-bye.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

A Hazy Shade of Winter

2011-12-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

Look around

leaves are brown

And the sky is

A hazy shade of Winter

Coming home from the park the other day with the girls and the sky and light filled the streets with an amazing pink glow. By the time I got my camera this rainbow was all that was left.

These wonderful clay pieces came in the mail while I had been making dinner, setting the girls barking their brains out (if there's anything I can't stand it's senseless barking!) They are a gift from Laura: so sweet. Thank you. They will be hanging on the Christmas tree.

Shows and 'Shop

2011-12-05T04:39:00.000-05:00

Mondo Bazaar was a couple of days ago now and I'd like to thank all of you who were able to come out to the Gladstone and support the show. Lots of wonderful artisans there and it's always such a pleasure to talk with everyone from past years and newly met.

Next on the list is Puces Pop in Montreal. This year we're going to take a chance with the weather and drive out instead of taking the train. Not til Friday though, but wish us luck anyway?

The pictures above are little experiments trying to learn a bit more about Photoshop. I am so used to doing collage the old fashioned way (actual cut and paste) yet I'm intrigued by having the capability of manipulating the transparency of any image. The photo is of the Di Lella family taken in the 1930's in Florida.

New and One of a Kind

2011-12-02T05:07:00.002-05:00

I hope to be making more of these pouches in the new year. When I saw it in my shop, the colours just popped out from the rest of my quieter work. This fabric was printed from a collage I had done last year. The young girl is my aunt when she was 14. It was her passport picture from when she came over from Belgium to Canada after WW II. Isn't she beautiful?

I finally got myself over to the One of a Kind Show and saw a few friends and new artisans. I've always loved Danielle Hession's work.

Her collages are like no one else's

Always nice to see Bookhou there as well and had a nice little talk with John. Apparently Arounna is a bit under the weather which never happens so I hope she feels better soon.

In the Rising Stars section I saw and spoke with Jenny Kuri whose artistic dolls/animals just called out to me. I have a strong attraction to "toys" but they have to be different, they have to exude a story. This attraction goes way back to this little guy:

He's quite old now and a little bit faded, especially around the mouth but he used to "dance", at least to me he used to dance. My grandmother made him when I was quite small.

Lorraine Chien's work was very special with lots of personality let alone the articulation of legs and head. His nose is a long carrot shape and his hat has patches and holes lending a complete curiosity to hear his story. All my guys sit in an old wooden crate in my studio. They and the "girls" keep me company while I work.

Now there's a story too!!

Just before I wish you a great weekend, why not go here and check out the wonderful Giveaway the Paper Place is having from now til December 15.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend

and check out all the local

Handmade shows

2011-11-30T11:20:00.000-05:00

This is actually a colour photo out my studio window

but it has been

so bleak and grey the last few days

and actually s n o w i n g

(not my favourite weather, for sure).

Sutcliffe and Harrison

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of George Harrison's death. I can't believe it's been so long.
I've been spending lots of time building stock for the Holiday Shows coming up. They seem to be happening one on top of the other starting this Saturday at Mondo Bazaar being held at the Gladstone Hotel. I hope those of you in Toronto can stop by.

I trust where ever you are

that the week is going just fine for you

2011-11-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

Aprons are such an awkward shape to photograph being so long and narrow. The person who commissioned it wanted a large divided pocket and I thought the sparrow in the grass would look nice.

Originally it looked like this with no pockets and a little wren.

2011-11-28T07:16:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a good weekend especially with all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday going on. The pressure seems to be slowly mounting for the Holiday Season. I've been getting ready for more shows. Mondo Bazaar next week is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it (sorry for the poor image). After that I'll be going to Montreal for the Winter Puces Pop: another festival I'm looking forward to. As well, I hope to visit the One of a Kind which opened last week. A few of my friends are there. You can see them here and here.
Over the weekend I spent some time working on a commissioned apron. Last year I used to make these and I really don't know why I stopped because they are a good kitchen apron. I'll show you it later when I've had a chance to take some pictures. Hopefully the sun will be out later today.

Hope you have a good start to your week!

2011-11-25T04:32:00.001-05:00

I trust that all my American friends had a scrumptious Thanksgiving

I'm so lucky not only to have such a wonderful cousin/friend who lets me come for lunch at a moment's notice but also lets me use her beautiful kitchen (with it's incredible light) for a photo shoot!

Thank you Nancy!

The new (and improved) i-Pad covers are now available here. And I've also made them with my other favourite animals and Natural Dyes.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

New and Improved I-Pad Covers

2011-11-23T04:35:00.001-05:00

I have been revising the i-pad covers I showed last week as they were a wee bit tight. Not having an i-pad myself I could only go by the dimensions on the spec page which isn't as good as having the real thing.

But I still love this new natural dye colour that I've been working with and now that I've combined it with some brown it has even more of that WWI era feel about it.

This image shows it a lot better. All that mottled colour is the dye but somehow it comes across as looking like vintage army surplus canvas or postal bag canvas that has seen some weather.

Come Friday I hope to have it in the shop. In the meantime, all the other ones I made seem to fit Blackberry's "Play Book" so I'll probably have them there as well.

Moosie

2011-11-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

There are a few of these headed to Australia and I've been so curious as to why. I finally got up the nerve to ask and I have to share this wonderful story:

Hi Barbara,
I'm a born and bred Australian (about 6th generation). The pillow is actually a present for my sister who found it and put it on her christmas list. My sister went overseas with the army and they took a toy moose (moosie) as a mascot. No idea why, just a random cute toy. Moosie ended up in every photograph and featured in some of Saddam's Palace pictures that she took. The moose thing just evolved from there.
You've got an awesome website. I'm meant to be studying! At least if I fail I'll have seen many pretty things. :)

2011-11-21T04:35:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a great weekend. Here the temperatures were unusually warm for this time of year which is really nice on my heating bill! It was a weekend of replenishing for me. Lots more pouches on the go. I've been concentrating on making them sized for phones.

Pillows are also high in demand. I work in stages, it seems to go faster that way. This picture is just after I've put in the zippers. By tomorrow, they'll take over the couch as I've no where else to put them until they're delivered. Have you checked out Scout, the newest store in the neighbourhood? That's where these are going.

2011-11-18T05:11:00.000-05:00

I'd like to thank everyone who came out on a very cold day to the Howard Park Craft Show. It's always nice to meet new artisans and share their interests: Janice from Dandy Tiger and David from kynk to mention a few.
After every show there is plenty of straightening out of the studio to do.

Hope you have a great weekend and bundle up if you're north of the 49th!

Red

2011-11-16T04:32:00.003-05:00

Red

isn't usually a colour that comes to mind for me. I'm more the quiet, subdued type.

But Christmas is coming and people usually ask,

"Does it come in red?"

So...I've made some totes and i-phone pouches for the coming

winter shows.

If you're in Toronto's west end please stop by the show on Thursday (click the link on the side bar)

Hope your week is going well. It's been sunny here but I hear the snow is coming.

i-Pad Covers

2011-11-14T04:06:00.001-05:00

Hope you had a good weekend. I spent mine working with a new Natural Dye that I had completed last week. It's pomegranate and logwood. It reminds me of buckskin and WWI khaki. I really love it and hope to do more. But this weekend I made i-pad covers with it and some logwood.

The mottled effect of the dye gives the impression of being under water: that's why I use it with my Right Whale.

Remembrance Day 11/11/11

2011-11-11T04:00:00.007-05:00

image from www.timeanddate.com

Remembrance Day is always a difficult time: family lost in wars.

In just a short time, it will mark 100 years since WWI. Unfathomable.

Have you ever read "All Quiet on the Western Front"

by Erich Maria Remarque?

My Dad gave me a copy of this book published in 1929. It was one of the reasons why he (18 yrs old) refused to fight in the Second World War. The other reason was that his father, who fought in the First War, encouraged him not to go over, to abstain.

There is so much that can be said, and then there seems to be so little reason why. There are definitely others who are far more eloquent, more capable.

Autumn Colour

2011-11-09T04:45:00.001-05:00

This gorgeous bush lives at the front of my house, originally bought because of it's sharp thorns! There is a retaining wall there and in the summer people like to sit and talk and smoke. Well, you get the picture...

There were piles of pillows waiting to go off to stores today. As well I have been working on more Market Bags for the shows coming up. If you're interested in one you can e-mail me because I won't be putting them in the shop, but they are available. I just sold some to someone living in Hearst (pretty far north of here).

Enjoy the rest of the week

It has been so beautiful the last few days!

2011-11-07T04:28:00.002-05:00

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend. The sun was certainly generous where we are and it shows beautifully with these golden leaves in our backyard. I thought it was a perfect backdrop for my Market Moose Bag.
I have a small show coming up in a few days and I've been working on it as well as a number of others coming later in the season. I'll post about that later.
Boy, is it getting colder, at least early in the mornings when the girls and I go to the park. And yes, we have a new furnace! I can tell you I was feeling like Sam McGee.

O, and by the way the calendars are now in the shop. You can find them here.

2011-11-06T14:37:00.000-05:00

Pascale Palun, who hates to have her photo taken. I told her I know few who do. I also told her she was beautiful, in which like many of us, cannot take a compliment said, "I would rather you take a photo of my objects, of things I have collected."
But you know beauty cannot be contained, it is a source that has no boundaires, it runs with those who are willing to capture it, hold it, give it, share it... live it. Pascale breaths it giving it wings.

I found this here...

2012

2011-11-04T04:35:00.003-04:00

I finally have the finished printing of the project I was working on the last few weeks. Laura might recognize the robin that she had photographed this past summer and gave me permission to draw.

The lighting today is just dreadful: no sun. So I'll more than likely be reshooting these. But I just wanted to show you. By next week they'll be in the shop!

In the meantime, I hope you all stay warm this weekend.

(I only say that because our furnace bit the dust! )

Margie Influences

2011-11-02T04:54:00.002-04:00

When you stop and slow down, you inevitably see things differently. It's been a few weeks since I went up to Algonquin and many of the pictures were never posted. But while I was up there I couldn't help but see things that reminded me of Margie.

Of course, I don't have her amazing eye nor the camera and lens but there you go...

Scout, Lane Ways and Pumpkins

2011-10-31T00:05:00.003-04:00

Scout is my latest store. If you can, check it out. Here is a bit of a sneak preview.

On the days I'm off to the printer, the "girls" and I usually go through some lane ways. It's quieter, less traffic and you never know what you'll see. It's like a peak into another time, which is kind of cool.

Of course, this is kind of cool too.

After today we won't be seeing much of these. Although the park where we go for morning walks has a gorgeous display of the neighbourhood's pumpkins. Everyone brings them after Hallowe'en. There are hundreds of them! Or you can go here to see what I mean.

I hope everyone has a very scary night tonight, have fun with all the costumes and make-up.

I've been crazy busy clearing out the basement for a new project. And what a time to do it too as it was sunny all weekend and I was in the basement! argh. Well, in the end, it's for a good cause. I'll tell you more about that later.

2011-10-28T05:01:00.000-04:00

With these colder grey days it's always been my firm belief that people were meant to hibernate, instead of this incessant drive to work.

I suppose that's why they invented furnaces.

Over at the shop many people from all over have "hearted" my Moose Pillow. Actually, it would be quite nice to curl up with and read a good book, I think.

Have a warm weekend.

I hope to show you what I've been designing soon.

The Colour Purple

2011-10-26T04:13:00.002-04:00

The last clematis and morning glory in our yard. I thought it appropriate to show them with my logwood hanging to dry.

Out back is full of green and yellow but soon the leaves on the coton easter will be brilliant red. They look so amazing against Art's studio.

terra cotta head by Art Di Lella

The Owl, The Lynx and The Wolf

2011-10-24T04:51:00.000-04:00

Hope your weekend went well. We finally got some Sun yesterday which was more than welcome. I spent my time jumping between dyeing, drawing and printing. This is my finished drawing of the owl I showed you last week.

And here is the finished wolf drawing. Actually it's not the one I showed before, but one I started all over again. It's a bit dark but hey...maybe it's one of the black wolves.

I actually started this one yesterday morning and finished it too in one go: pretty rare.

Can't wait to tell you what I'm planning to do with them...

New Drawings

2011-10-21T05:54:00.001-04:00

My head is still in September but it's almost November and I just can't understand how fast the time seems to be flying. The furnace was reluctantly turned on today: grumble grumble hiss hiss.

Thought I'd show you some of the drawings I've been working on for this "new" idea I gave mention to a few days ago. I think the ink drawing of the wolf looks better here than in reality because I was going to do another one. You know me, not easily satisfied.

This one, a Boreal Owl, seems to be going in the right direction so far. Let's hope I don't mess up the eyes. I have a tendency to do the hardest thing last which is really dumb because if I'm so close to finishing and then mess it up, well...you know.

Stay warm this weekend

Algonquin Part II

2011-10-19T04:33:00.003-04:00

It was a week ago I escaped to the wilderness Just thought I'd visit it again with some of the pictures I didn't post before.

a small pebble dropped by a glacier

I know they would love to be back there as much as I would.

Enjoy the rest of your week. I'm loaded down with more drawing and printing for a "new" idea I have. More about that later...

2011-10-17T05:21:00.000-04:00

Autumn is definitely settling in here. I hope the weekend went well for everyone.

This is something very special that I wanted to show. Perhaps you can see the writing (which must have been done by the teacher). Helen Devor is my aunt, Clinton was her public school and 1936-7 was quite a while ago!

Don't you just love the exploded patterns, use of colour and shape, let alone the beginning of fine motor skills and observation?

In the news I hear that the use of computers has virtually eliminated the need to learn how to write with pencil and paper. I don't even know where to begin about that...

A Time For Everything

2011-10-14T05:57:00.001-04:00

It was a time for wiping the slate clean. What better way to do it than to disappear? This is Algonquin Park: for me a place of renewal, a place to begin again.

All these images have so much meaning for me, so much symbolism. Exactly what I was looking for.

I hope these pictures give to you what they have given to me. All you have to do is add the silence of the trees, the "chick" of the chickadees, the rush of the rapids and the smell of the earth.

Enjoy your weekend

close your eyes

breathe the air

and take your time

2011-10-13T20:01:00.000-04:00

Found myself on someone's Pinterest here. Still not quite sure about these. On one hand they're for organizing; on the other, they seem to get way out of hand.

Old Photo Effects

2011-10-12T03:34:00.000-04:00

Hope your week is going well. Apparently the "girls" still are a bit wiffy according to some.

What with all the family gatherings, let alone preparation, there hasn't been much time for work. Still fooling around a bit with old photo effects. This one I found here. You might want to give it a try.

2011-10-10T07:44:00.000-04:00

Just quickly checking in during this amazingly beautiful Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Wherever you are, I hope it's as lovely.

I was spending some time fooling around on photoshop. It kills me how obscure some of the steps are to achieve certain effects. But if I keep plugging away at it...well, you know.

Collages at Mitzi's in October

2011-10-07T00:37:00.001-04:00

For those of you unable to come to the show, I thought I'd just post sort of what it looks like. In the past I've taken shots hanging in the cafe but it never looks right: the angles, the light, all wrong.

Hope you like them.

Here in Canada it is Thanksgiving weekend and a time for families to get together or go to the cottage and close it up for the winter. The colours are in full view and I feel like hitting the hi-way.

Wherever you are, I hope it is a great weekend!

Old Yet New Collages

2011-10-05T02:17:00.002-04:00

Hope your week is going better than mine. Let alone all that uncalled for cold wet and depressing weather, the girls were skunked during our walk yesterday morning. Pictures wouldn't begin to describe the smell! The only saving grace was that it wasn't a direct hit. But if you ever need to know:
1 litre hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tsp. dish soap
Rub it in and rinse with warm water about 10 - 15 minutes later and repeat. Do not store with a lid as it could explode!!

Later today I will be hanging yet another impromptu show and these are some of the pieces. As I've had absolutely no heads up about this, all I can do is go over some older pieces that I still have.

Enjoy the rest of the week, the sun should be out with the promise of warm hugs.

Montreal (part 2)

2011-10-03T06:50:00.002-04:00

One of the discoveries we made while wandering around Montreal was Style Labo, a shop full of industrial vintage pieces. I would have loved to have brought home something from this place.

But even the used postal bags were way out of my reach, let alone those wire baskets. Darn.

And what's traveling without food? "Beauty" was another wonderful find. A sun-filled cafe in the old Jewish district and filled with patrons. Not only that, but the original owner, Hymie, who easily pointed out a table for two during the packed lunch hour.

Hymie Sckolnick at 90, 2011

Random Lines

2011-09-30T05:11:00.003-04:00

In the mornings, long before dawn while the house is so so quiet, the girls and I go up to the studio. With a cup of coffee and the CBC on the lowest volume, I putter in my sketch book/journal. Lately I've been trying to work out pattern ideas. Random lines that have no meanings but lots of suggestions.

I've also been replenishing the card stock. I love making these even though they're so time consuming. Something about the implied distances traveled...
And so with this weekend we'll have kissed another September good-bye.

Hope it's a beautiful autumn/spring weekend where ever you are

Puces Pop (cont'd)

2011-09-28T17:15:00.001-04:00

Just a quick little mention: Annex Vintage wrote a great piece about this past weekend's Puces Pop. You can see it here.
It was a nice little surprise to see my work so beautifully photographed too.

Montreal

2011-09-28T06:22:00.000-04:00

While looking for somewhere to have dinner we passed this sign that was irresistible. Walking Montreal was total eye candy. Everywhere there was plenty to see.

Dinner that night was at Schwartz's. I haven't had a corned beef sandwich like that since before ever having gone to school! And with a pickle the size of a small dog.

Hope these first days of autumn are beautiful where you are.

Montreal's Puces Pop

2011-09-27T04:50:00.000-04:00

St. Michel Eglise, Montreal

Montreal has to be one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. It is almost like being in Europe or as my friend Roisin, says: it is so "civilized".
St.Michel is the venue for Puces Pop's handmade show. I would like to thank everyone who came out to support all the people involved with putting the show together and those exhibiting. So much beautiful work!

This was Saturday morning's set up; a bit sloppy, I admit. It was drastically changed on Sunday.

When we arrived there was plenty of time to just walk the streets of Montreal. Let me tell you, Art and I did a lot of walking.

The streets of Montreal are so beautiful, the architecture, ironwork, woodwork and gardens are as you see and everywhere not just a few little corners.

Even the laneways were intriguing.

and abandoned store windows.


St. Viateur Bagels

One of the things Montreal is known for is their bagels. Personally I love Toronto bagels especially Gryffe's. But one of the jokes about Toronto bagels is that they are more like donuts as far as the centre is concerned as Montreal bagels are more like a ring. As St. Michel was just down the road from St. Viateur Bagels, that's where we bought ours with a cappuccino down the street.

Later in the week I will show you some of the other things we saw during our too short trip.

Thank you to everyone who left comments about my bird drawings. I hope to get them printed on stuff for the winter.

2011-09-23T00:22:00.002-04:00

At it again with more drawings. I suppose the more I do the happier I become with them; so it's not such a bad idea to not always be pleased with what you do: it helps to push you just that little bit further. These sparrows are headed in the direction I wanted to go and the picture below shows where they've "landed".

I might play with the composition a little bit more but I think they definitely work better now.
As well, you can see the very quick sign I've made for Puces Pop. Yes, as you read this Friday morning I'm heading off to Montreal. Should be a great show. I'm quite excited about it. I won't be back til later on Monday but I hope to have lots of pictures to post of this energetic show.

Until then, have yourself a wonderful weekend.

2011-09-21T02:35:00.004-04:00

Last Year's Winter Coat seems to translate to many different things. I found this sweet little piece on our early morning walk. I was looking for something with drawers for display at some of the shows I do (like this weekend's Puces Pop).

Here it is cleaned up a bit. Still must find some hardware for it. But it should do and it is amazingly light to carry.

Hope everyone's week is going well

It is now officially Autumn

Drawings

2011-09-19T04:59:00.002-04:00


Hope you had a lovely weekend. I was busy with more bird drawings. Somehow the drawings I had shown before just didn't sit well with me. In the end I decided that most of them were just too cute. Further work will put these into a group and then that will be combined with some other ideas that I will show you soon. If you look closely you will see a ghost of a bird on this page.

Birds

2011-09-16T04:46:00.001-04:00

anon

For weeks now I have had an image in my head of little birds on a branch of apple blossoms. I've been trying to find it with no success. Very frustrating.
However, along the way there have been some really nice finds.

anon

Imao Keinen 1845-1924

I am still working on those drawings of mine...not totally happy with them. But I've gotten a pile of work finished and off my table so perhaps over the weekend I will work out the bugs.

Have a great weekend. I think I'm making soup and pumpkin pie: it's so cold!!

Queen West Art Crawl

2011-09-14T03:32:00.011-04:00


Danielle Hession


xavier peterson This weekend is the Queen West Art Crawl in Toronto.

2011-09-12T04:48:00.002-04:00

Such a busy/productive weekend; working away on these new canvas bags. Not quite the army bag I carried my school work in but a serviceable school/work bag nonetheless.

I've combined it with different colours and really l o v e the combinations. There will be snaps at the bottom corners of the front flap-closure.

Canvas Bag Ideas

2011-09-09T05:07:00.013-04:00

OMG it's Friday again! I have been building stock for a show coming up in a couple of weeks and every time I need to be building stock, that's when I start getting new ideas distracting me from production.
Years ago I used my dad's army bag as a school bag. I always loved that bag for it's design and strong canvas. It looked something like this:

Then I happened across this beautiful bag and of course I can't afford it so why not try to have it influence something?

So I started playing around last night and today I went to my all time favourite store and hopefully by early next week I'll have something to show you.

Until then, have a wonderful autumn/spring weekend.