What's that you say? It's Sunday?

I swear it was just Monday a mere second ago.

I think that I was abducted this last week, levitated out of my little house wearing legwarmers and my hair piled high, and time warped all the way to Sunday. I vaguely remember some small details such as opening mail containing a fabulous kitschy deer necklace, eating no less than six artichokes, snow falling in my hair, and a rockin' trip to Goodwill, but other than that, it's all a blur of unfathomable chaos.

Thankfully, at some point during the week, a sewing machine of workhorse intentions was loaned to me and I wasted precious little time.

Briar Patch Pouch

Linen and vintage flour sack

Bramble Patch Pouch

Raw linen and vintage flour sack

Thistle Patch Pouch

Linen and vintage cotton

These sweetie-petities will land in the textile shop tomorrow morning for the snapping up as soon as I've had my coffee. Additionally, as I'm packing and streamlining my life in preparation for the move, I'll be celebrating with a pretty fantastic Spring-Cleaning sale on other selected shop items (whoot!).

I'm so very excited about these new little pouches for all your pouchy needs (my needs include pencil cases, cabochon corralers - I've got a pouch filled with ocean jasper and turquoise that I've hoarded ever so greedily - lip attire, and last but not least, brightly colored bus ticket stubs I've collected from the streets of Seattle). I feel they hint at the new direction I'm striking out towards with my textile work, allowing me to use my prep drawings for paintings and simply translate them into a new medium.

On that note:

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Warning: I'm about to get all business on you here

From day one with my fabric I committed to using natural fibers - cotton, linen, wool - and creating as little waste as humanly possible - all those patchie pillows have been created from bits and scraps and trim otherwise destine for the trash. But these days buying new cotton just doesn't feel right [for me] as I educate myself on the environmentally destructive processes the commercial industry uses. I want to move ever closer to environmentally sound business practices and I feel it's important to let you know this desire of mine. I've finally begun cutting into my stash of vintage fabrics and I feel so wonderful knowing that these textiles I've rescued from the sad corners of thrift stores and found in the bottom of trunks long sealed are being breathed new life and new purpose. They already hold history, warmth and stories, and their life makes my own creations that much richer.

I have no wish to sound preachy, but I feel it's important to let you know my intentions. That said, I'll continue to use the new materials I've already collected (getting rid of them would absolutely seem to miss the point!) in conjunctions with previously loved fabrics. I'm really looking forward to setting up my new stitchery corner in our new home as the ideas are literally falling out of my head and bouncing off my knees as I work.

In other news, updates abound in the art shop...

The Brothers Grim: Tuck

Oil on Canvas, 5" x 5"

The Brothers Grim: Nip

Oil on Canvas, 5" x 5"

I have such a fondness for these two, sigggggghhhhhh. I love their little skull-y heads.

Cyclical Nature

Archival Prints on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

Receiving Messages: See

Archival Prints on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

Receiving Messages: Hold Fast

Archival Prints on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper

Whew!

I feel so businessy, I think I must go and put on my power heels just to hear them clickity-clack all over the house.

Please excuse me, there's a pencil skirt calling my name...