New Shop Models

We haven't really felt much like working this week so we decieded to play with shop models. This is what we've accomplished so far.



Jan did this tote bag by following directions in the article "Converted Canvas Tote" by Gail Ellspermann that was originally published in Haute Handbags Vol. I. She had a lot of fun using the chalk pastels and then building up her collage. It of course is in her typical color scheme.....lol!!

I decided to try and play with the chalk pastels on canvas. Well as you can see they definitely don't fix so when you added gel medium it seems to turn into watercolor. I'm pleased with it but would have prefered the chalk stayed in place.

So in doing this canvas I used the same chalk pastels but sprayed it with a fixable. I really like how this one turned out since the chalks didn't run. A customer really wanted to walk out with it as soon as I finished it but had to convince her that it couldn't go anywhere quite yet. Now I guess I better go and get a little bit of work done before we close in an hour.

Sad Day

Hi everyone,

I know I don't typically write about personal matters, however, today I feel the need to. A woman who I absolutely adored and respected a lot passed away last night. Ann managed Share the Spirit, another local quilt shop, and was also in a guild I joined this year. I met her first through all the shop hop meetings we would have as she would come to represent that shop. She was an ally in those meetings that actually made them fun. Life certainly hits you with curveballs that take you a while to comprehend. This was definitely unexpected and I'm sure that it is going to take quite sometime for her family and Diane, the owner of the shop, to come to grips with. Since she was so active in the quilting community in the area I'm sure there are many people who were touched by her and will miss her dearly.

Thanks for listening.........

Judy Coates-Perez has come and gone.......

.....what a shame. We would have loved to have had her at least another day. Judy is a fabulous teacher and a lot of fun to have around. Her manner of teaching really makes the painting feel accessible to all even if you think you have no drop of talent for it! The first class was Mixed Media Fabric Painting....I didn't get to take it but I'm sure my aunt loved her birthday present! You can see a whole bunch of pictures from that day and Judy's take on it on her blog http://judyperez.blogspot.com/.

On Sunday I got to go down and take the class on Tsukineko Inks. I had a blast! I had dabbled with them before to do a postcard swap but this definitely made more sense. Here are the things I did in class:



Our practice piece. She really breaks it down so that you get the hang of them first before going all out with them. I was quite pleased with my peachy sphere.

So decided to keep working with the same colors and make this.

Then finally broke down and had to do a flower!!! I know, I know.........

Then she let us have a beautiful piece of hand-dyed fabric to work on. I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew by doing this rose picture. While I was "slaving" away at it Gaby was mass producing beetles and Katie was going to town on butterflies, beetles, and birds!! Oh well, I was really pleased with how this turned out. Now I just need to think of what to do with it. I also can't wait to play more.

We will most definitely work with Judy to find another time where she can come down and "play in our pond". She is absolutely fabulous. If you just so happen to find yourself anywhere near where she is teaching a class I suggest you jump on it.

New Direction.......

Like I've hinted for the past few weeks we were preparing a "new line" for here at the shop. We made the decision to exit out of the dollmaking arena. In doing so that left a void in our "trio" of crafts. With our love of all things embellished we have created "Bitz of Whimsy"!! Bitz of Whimsy entails lots of new things for those doing art quilts, mixed media and altered art. We have transformed the front of the house to fit the personality of altered art. The line contains many older items with a lot of vintage ones thrown in. Bitz of Whimsy has postcards, linens/lace, book pages, map pieces, pattern pieces, cards, game pieces, found objects and more. There are even items just waiting to be altered.


Looking into the room. Bookshelf full of a variety of things.

Vanity that is overflowing with linens/lace.

Postcards, skeleton leaves, trim, and more.

More linens.....

Baker's rack filled with pages and found objects.

New book room with seating.

New clearance nook.

We are very excited about this new direction and hope that you are too!!! Drop on by and be prepared to dig!