THE ROAD TO HERE AND NOW Ode To Spring

I’m a spring baby, born in April and living until young adulthood in a four season’s part of the world. Anyone who inhabits space where there is a true blue winter knows just how squirrely one gets anticipating that light at the end of the tunnel: the coloring up, warming up, and freeing up from confinement and cabin fever. I could barely stand the fickleness of some winters, taunting and teasing with snippets of spring, only to backslide and resurface with a vengeance, showing no mercy on nature’s little baby bloomers, that appear on the scene without skipping a beat each spring.
Some of my best work as an artist, however, was born in winter. Long hours indoors fostered and nurtured my love of sewing. Barren landscapes inspired my infinity for color, and I hold the palette of spring bulbs, particularly, dear to my heart. The seasonal affect on wardrobe, required skill in sewing a variety of fabric weights and textures. The anticipation of nature’s rebirth added inspiration just when I thought my head had turned as grey and frozen as the terrain around me.
Although I have relocated to a warmer climate, an area that actually turns green each winter, the four seasons are alive and thriving within my being. Mentally, I still look forward to spring and the parade of botanical frontrunners: the daffodils, irises, freesia, tulips, and ranunculus that signify the passing of winter and the green light to warmer days.

IRENA Goddess of Peace ON A Shoulder Satchel

Meet Irena, grounded with lofty goals and the latest in my series of goddess-inspired sisters who grace the front pockets of my wearable art bags. Irena was the Greek Goddess of Peace and Springtime, as well as the keeper of the gates of Heaven. My modern day interpretation reflects her timeless message. I created the bulk of this bag using an upholstery weight, ribbed cotton in medium brown. The pocket is collaged using brocades and tapestry fabrics with a smattering of beads. Buttery soft chocolate cowhide, accents, and adds durability in all the right places to this one of a kind satchel. Wear her dangling from your shoulder or crosswise on the body. MAY PEACE BE WITH YOU!

PACKRAT-ITIS

I am a packrat, a saver. It’s such an obsession and as a seamstress, I always have a “use” for whatever it is, therefore, it’s added to the subcategory-of-a-mountain it belongs on. I’ve worried in the past, that I would die an eccentric, old, saver-lady. And even though I’m gone, the thought of my kids shoveling my scrap pile (exasperatingly shaking their heads) into a dumpster is more than I can bear to think about on several levels.
About a year or so ago, I opened up an old suitcase and entered a whole new plane! It was a trip back to the early “90’s”, a time when I began combining tapestry and leather, sewing handbags, and marketing them through a circuit of shows around southern California and beyond. What fond memories surged to the forefront! That gypsy spirit within me resurfaced. And the wheels in my brain started to turn……………
I laid a few pieces side by side, enjoying the visual. It was like a favorite old song. I was transported back in time to when, where, and what was going on in my creative life! I was loving the flashbacks, and then the vision of what to do with my scrap heaps came into focus!
To create unique, functional, (often) one of a kind handbags, is my new obsession! Playing in the scrap piles with my imagination is where I like to lose myself these days. I have reinvented myself as a fabric collage artist/seamstress, thrilled to pieces (no pun intended) that resourcefulness combined with my abilities has brought my products fashion forward!

CITY KITTY

City Kitty........With her head held high, never under dressed, socially connected, and ready for that next photo op, this gal's stepping out with purpose and lofty goals! I created the bulk of this shoulder bag using an upholstery weight chenille. The front pocket and flap are a collage of fuzzy and textured chenille, fringe, tapestry, beads and a croc embossed belt. Black leather bottom and strap add reinforcement where needed. Croc embossed lamb wrap arounds and buckle strap covers add accent and dimension. Wear this cutie dangling from your shoulder or comfortably cross-wise on the body.

ESTELLA LUNA Reach For The Stars

Grounded with lofty goals, Estella Luna is one with the Universe! This sister knows who she is, what she wants, is confident, calculating, a celestial navigator on the road to success. This tote bag is beefy enough to handle the daily load, and just quirky enough to have a "life of its' own." It was a joy to create!

LIVE LIFE SHOW YOUR SPOTS

Kitty Go Nightly.................now here's a girl who knows how to balance her life!
Housecat by day, girl-about-town by night. She's fun-loving, savvy, a little wild around the edges, and dares to defy curfew!

I live to create bags such as this! To have a fleeting thought ricocheting around my brain, and like a snowball, have it build momentum and become a full-on design. Sifting through my scrap heap, jotting down word fragments, dashing off to the bead store, and having it all fall into place: my next quirky collage,appliqued to the front face of a very useful and durable shoulder tote. One of a kind all the way!

HELP! I"M ON THE BRINK OF STRUCTURE!

It's been a slice.............having the summer to be carefree and playful, go to bed as late as I feel like, sleep in (8:00ish is sleeping in for me), go to the pool and beach, each day running into and over the previous and next, without the pressure of the daily SCHEDULE!!

I accomplished soooooooo much these past two months: I created handbags to my heart's content, one forming in my mind before I could finish the one I was working on; and on and on it went, at peace, one with the scrap pile and sewing machines. I tweaked my ETSY shop, retaking photos, editing, adding new pieces, and set up a new shop on Dawanda. I met friends for coffee, lunch, and dinner, catching up, no pressure, I had time. I took a trip to the east coast to visit family and refresh my bones and brain. I attended the 51st Annual Mystic Fine Art Festival and got awed and inspired!

I won't be able to fall asleep tonight.........just like a kid anticipating the first day of school, I'll be joining the rank and file, those who are returning for the start of the new school year, students, teachers, support staff, putting the schedule back into play!