Wyncia

Spring is in the Air: Bunnies by the Basket

These guys are multiplying like ... well, rabbits. Good to be using my doll making skills again!

Made in yummy angora/wool knits, they are soft as kittens.

Braggadocio, I can't help myself!

Hurray! Bwyneth Fiber Arts new product is Love Notes. these are palm sized hearts of felted wool sweaters, each with an embellished slot for love notes of little gifts. Thank you Beth for a lovable design! They made it on the website of Baby Doe's shop.  Take a look!

Living on What You Love To Do

This is so encouraging! "I'm Making A Living From My Hobbies" by Frank Hyman in the Sunday NYTimes. Frank lists arts, writing,gardening, and politics as the avocations that have sustained him for the last 18 years. And he says you have to try lots of different things to know what you like! Yes! And have an adequate budget for classes and books every year! Yes! And travel widely! Great! And have a wide tolerance for mistakes. I can do that.

So all I have to do is figure out the "making a living" bit! These days I am continuing with assorted fiber arts: knit, sew, layer fiber and paper; playing at encaustic wax multi-media pieces; learning to draw; starting a business with a friend using lots of recycled fibers to make wraps, mittens, oven mitts and pillows (Bwyneth Fiber Arts); and co-owning a co-operative shop and healing arts shop (Uniquely Natural in Lafayette, Colorado.) Wow!

So I am making a great life of avocations I love, even if it doesn't quite add up to a living!

  

   Bwyneth Mittens                                            Wyncia's Finger Free Gloves

Silk Hanging Honoring the Elements

Earth, Air, Fire, Water...the primary elements of living and being as we know it. 

The Earth - rock, soil, that which is under our feet - grounding.

The Air - breathe, wind, mystical ether of spirit - soaring.

The Fire - flame, heat, passion, destruction - cleansing.

The Water - life-giving, flow, ocean, lake - quenching.

Earth and water - mud and Golem.  Fire and air - consuming sensual passion and stardust. Fire and air - steam and force. Earth, air, fire, and water - Home.

Here is a banner with the Kanji symbols for water (blue), earth (sienna), air (purple, and fire (orange).  The backing material is handmade silk paper.  The symbols are waxed silk fabric. The hanger is beetle chewed pine. 

Earth
 

Air

 

Fire

Water

Namaste, fellow Earthings.

Studio Views: I spy something...

I started the new year by cleaning my studio.  I lugged out tons of paper to recycle, assorted clutter, even some fabric destined not to be used by me.  Now I have taken a few pictures of the room, to discover it is cluttered still.  What I see is all sorts of beloved inspirations and reminders of where my heart lies!

 

I spy a 60 year old Adirondack pack basket from my grandparent's Little Moose Lake summer home.  And beloved Larry as a boy. And plastic St. Francis for the love of critters and plastic St. Andrew for help in locating lost things.  An bowl from a Native American artist. A casting of a frieze of an ancient Celtic snake goddess (thanks Ann).  I spy Mexican folk art cross. a picture of my father as an infant, some art by Maggie, a fancy fly tied by Gardner, and a colorful goblet from Rachel owner of Arkay Workshop in San Fransisco. 

I spy an antique bag from the sleeve of a Greek dancer's outfit.  A picture of an old man in a curio shop that was a wedding gift to my mother and father. A jolly farmer doll head. A framed card of gratitude from Jenn. I can find Cardboard Man from doll pattern making class and a miniature bendy manikin dressed in a holiday ornament sweater with wool roving hair.

Here's Maggie in at a Maui waterfall on Mother's Day, appliqued and quilted. There is a picture of her under a red umbrella at the Adirondack summer home of her great grandparents along with postcards from her when she was in Bali.  Remember the little fox I knitted?  Maggie and I used to read the book Little Fox Goes to the End of the World.  And she did!

Looking out the inside window, I spy the Gypsy chandelier and the paper mobile. On the window frame I spy Maggie and me, a tongue of fire from a Kilauea postcard, a bit of free quilting sampler.  I spy vintage sewing needle cases, a dragon doll from an exchange last year.  I spy miniature prayer flags, a mess of colored threads, and hear a million whispered blessings.

I spy a scrap of an ink blot image (definitively a butterfly). I spy a print of critters of the Northwest in pairs and a couple wrapped in a marriage blanket which I bought in Seattle and which rode east across the US taped to the ceiling of the car in 1977.  I spy a card with a love note from Larry.  I spy half a postcard of the lake in the Adirondacks where my grandparents had their summer house and where I lived year round from '77 for about six years.  I see memories and paths that divided;  unimagined ways traveled into memories.

I spy a shelf of fabrics, so many creations to be born. I see a an Indigo wrap and quilted bags.  I see green cats and butterfly bears.  I see a melon colored dog bed, a window quilt from my sky light, and a summer dress for baby Mya...all imagination, all tints of dreams, a wealth of possibilities.

I feel gratitude.

Namaste.

ETSY 2010

No promises, but ETSY shop is open again and I hope to keep it that way!

I put the Lend a Hand bags on.  These benefit the Boulder County Emergency Family Assistance and are free shipping!

Here's striped silk

 

Here's contemporary Japanese designer cotton print

 

Fun, practical, and good for the community!  What could be better?

Namaste, Wyncia

Winter Mice: Knitted

These little guys are so much fun to knit, stuff, and to give.  They fit right in the palm of your hand!  In the background iyou can see the skirt of an ancestor doll, a bee's wax candle, an Earth marble, and the blue foot of a fairy!

 

To give a friend a wee mouse, I hold it gently in my closed hand and pass it to their open one.  And unlike Charlie's mouse, these can be petted as much as one likes.

Namaste,  Wyncia

Holiday Fairy Story Ornaments

Truth is fairies like to be a bit illusive.  Oft times I have nearly walked right by Hollia Flower Hands because she-he was hidden in the snowy holly.

 

Hollie Berry shows up where the doves coo. As Rene Marie sang, "When you're feelin' like a cooing dove, ain't nothin' but love."

 

Lady Red Skirt may be hiding in the winter poinsettias. boosting their rouge with her own.

 

Her sister, Prius Fairie, plays at being a hybrid, waving white blossoms around her red skirts. A shade shifter, she may change her colors on a white snowy night.

Autumn leaves provided good hiding spots for Fairy Berry Face.  But he burrows in with Momma Bear when the snow falls.  When she gets up from a winter's nap for a stretch, Berry Face protects her wee cubs who, about as big as he is, are blind and  toothless! 

Flower Face is all ablush with embarrassment when spotted by one of us wingless big folk, but what can he expect being so mixed up: spring flower face, summer leafy cloak, autumn colored wings, and winter berries.  He blends into no season at all.

 

Spruce Berry is an angel.  Really!  If you are very quiet you can hear their singing chorus. Hark!

 

This wee chubby Snow Elf waves from the cross sticks.

 

All the way, way to the south, Madame Sunnia Floress enjoys a summery holiday among the palms and the bananas!

 

Look real close, out doors and in.  Listen with your heart, and I promise you will see a fairy this holiday season!  Namaste, Wyncia

Uniquely Natural Holiday Make-over

It seems like forever since I shared my creations with you. While some folks are busy dreaming up scheme for reality tv - think Balloon Boy and White House Party Crashers - I have been busy with reality!

Really...I was at Sue Lion's Home Show Last weekend and spent much of the week helping with the makeover at Uniquely Natural, the cute and spirited little shop of healing arts and gifts in Lafayette Colorado.

Here's the shop:

 

That's me with the holiday decorations.  I dressed to match the shutters (accidentally) that are left over from when the location was a fly fishing store!

Here are some of the displays.  A new branch (tee hee) is open.  It provides a place for hanging ornaments, medicine bags and such.

Step back and you can see Lelija's tiny canvases to wear or display.  Anyone who loves miniature displays or doll houses would love authentic landscapes to scale!  And Kerry's Bee Works skin care and candles are on the shelves along the walls.

Here is Shaman Soapworks new display.  They are making a nice bar shampoo to help make plastic bottles a thing of the past.  Fill-it-yourself gift baskets are on top and reuseable gift bags at bottom.  To the top right are colorful Pulse Warmers.

 

From crow to wearable art cards to yoga bags, Larry the photographer featured my display.

 

Hand to Hand bags for cell, IPod, keys and means are to the left here.  To the right are Teresa Dunwell's remarkable spirit paintings with prints available below.

 

All in all I would say the shop is looking good and I am finding some time to write again!  Namaste in all seasons and to all beings, Wyncia

Fiber and Color in Kauai

Hey there.  Just a few shots of finished medicine bags and beautiful colors and patterns around the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Purples

Reds

Green

White

Orange

Blue

Enjo sacred sight and please send healing energy to Rhonda as she begins a journey of recovery. Namaste.  Wyncia

Twisted (cord)

I am engaged in a never ending search for the perfect cording for my smaller bags.  Colorful parachute cord works well for the straight forward, informal bags.  I want something else for others: more fun for whimsical bags; fancier for dressy bags; and just different for truly boring bags.  This morning I twirled up some yarns and thread to make my own twisted cords.  I started with these

Tied the threads to a chair

 

And began the twisting

Here are some results

 

We all need something different now and then, like the rock and roll song says:

You know you’re a twisty little girl,
You know you twist so fine.

So, shake it up, baby, now,
Twist and shout.
Cmon, cmon, cmon, cmon, baby, now,
Come on and work it on out. 

Recorded by Topnotes, Beatles, Mamas and Papas, and others.

Elephant are Beautiful

Elephants are known for there memory, enduring emotional attachments (we humans call that love), and nurturing motherhood.  These huge creatures are so like us.  They are at times gentle, caring, angry, rampaging, playful, and sad.  Sounds like the average day to me!

The elephant in art is beautiful.  When I dyed and embellished fabrics at Gail Denton's natural dying studio, I chose the elephant stamp for a final flourish on one piece.

Here is a recent secret pocket bag from the fabric. (Sorry, I have already passed ownership to another.)

See how to open the bag.

 

More details

 

And it has a place for your ear phone to exit, if you are packing an ipod!

 

Not too bad, eh?

 

The materials used: hand dyed and printed rayon, cotton print, metallic scarf, handmade fabric beads, bone beads, gold paint and pigment, gold filigree ornament, cotton braid, and waxed fiber cording.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

 

Stone Button Bag Completed

Here is the final result.  What do you think?

And from same fabric in a lavender color way with fabric barrel beads...

Thanks for stopping by!  Namaste, Wyncia

Hand Made Stone Buttons

Crossing through the Great Lakes region last summer, we stopped along Lake Erie for a night's rest.  Larry skipped stones into the water, while I collected rounded smooth stones for buttons. 

This week these stones became buttons to embellish a fabric bag.  First I made the button shanks or hasps from common fencing wire. 

Then I attached these to the stones with epoxy putty.  I think it helped that there was putty in which to bury the base of the hasp. 

The buttons are a bit thicker than I want, because of the extra putty, but they will work.

I also used an irregular shaped flat stone from the main closure of the bag.  I found my chosen piece to be a bit fragile.  I reinforced it with a net woven of copper wire.

I added some interesting paper to the back to cover the messy confluence of wires.  (I really do need to take a quick class in wire work!)

Here's the layout on the bag, waiting to be sewn.

 

Notice the handmade fabric beads, too.  Finished bag will soon be revealed so stay tuned!  Namaste, Wyncia

Snowy Day with Library Books

Happy Equinox!  September 21st and the night is equal in length to the day.  Autumn is official; we are headed into winter. Our days are going to get shorter and shorter for a while.  As we get ready to bundle up in our winter adobes, we were urged on by the first snow fall of the season!

Thankfully, I stopped by the library yesterday and came home with a marvelous load of fiber and bag books.  Little did I know today would be perfect for curling up by the fire to be inspired!  (Larry was especially wise to bring in wood last night, but neither of us has been chilly enough to start a fire yet.  Oh. well!)

Here is my picture post for the first snow:

 

Not a good day for breakfast al fresco

Pooh and I rescued the geraniums before they froze

The trellis is lonely in the snow

The books of inspiration await me

This is the one I find most fascinating!

I hope this first day of autumn find you enjoying the balancing of the seasons! This is the time when Mother Earth's fruits have ripened and she anticipates the quiet, introspective time ahead.  Look west toward the setting sun.  Let wisdom deepen.  And good reading!

Namaste, Wyncia

Alma Mater Boarding School Beads: Pure Kitsch

Here is what you have been waiting for, maybe.  These are individually hand-rolled paper beads made from the fall Choate Rosemary Hall alum bulletin. They are about 1/4 inch in radius (remember your geometry!) and up to 1 1/4 inch long!

You can see pictures of people from the schools' history and text on the beads.  They are really sort of fun.

   

Colors of the rainbow

 

The fund raising drive

Vintage sports...rah, rah team!

 

If we could save time in a bottle....and we can

You can even buy the beads at my etsy store  And make your own earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  Wow!

Now that this obsession is over, I can see if I remember how to make bags!  Namaste.

etsy Reopening and Interview

This is fun!  See my interview at the etsy Fiber Arts Street Team  (etsyFAST link) blog!  Wyncia's etsy store re-opening today! 

Bubbles, Bangles and Fabric Beads

Recently I have been fascinated with turning bits and scraps of fabric into beads.  Here are some of the supplies.  I used the top to a fruit box to create a workspace, but the work sprawled all over the table anyway.

  

My first attempts have involved rolling pieces of fabric and fiber scraps around a waxed string.  Like this: 

 

After the rolls are dry I have finished them with several coats either oil based (messy) or acrylic based polyurethane.

Then I pulled out the core, leaving a hole, and cut the rolls into beads.  These are then finished by treating the bead ends with varnish, paint, or lacquer.

 

The results are interesting, but not quite what I want yet.  I am looking for a slightly larger hole.  The beads do not drill out well because fibers twist onto the drill.  I also want a harder substrate and finish that is more like typical beads.

What I like is the primitive look of the beads.  Slight differences an the size and shape of the beads is natural.  I think they will combine nicely with glass, wood, and metal beads for a gypsy-esque look.

 

 

Doll Repair at my Dining Table, Mountain Style

At the Boulder Farmer's Market last month a customer bought a Gemini doll based on a stump doll pattern from Frowning Francis. The doll is made of  Japanese style quilting cotton treated with transparent gesso, then highlighted in acrylic.  Her arms are hand dyed and stamped.  At her heart center window hangs origami peace crane.

Later the customer called to say that she discovered a crack in the hollow wooden base of the figure which may or may not have been there when she purchased it.  This crack was at eye-level for the purchaser when she places the doll on her shelf.

Hard to see the crack, but it needed to be repaired.  She also said that she wanted the figure to "lean forward a bit more" to look better on the chosen shelf. So I gathered the necessary supplies for evening doll base repair. The lovely dark beer is Pearl Street Porter created by Twisted Pine Brewing Company for the 150th birthday of Boulder Colorado, the town down the hill from my studio. 

Wood putty was colored with a jar of mixed paint that had been used on the base.  (Tofutti sour cream is great stuff, but it will not fix a crack in wood.) It was  not the exact same, because I paint by mixing acrylics on palette (usually a pie pan or something like that).  I squirt out colors, dab a bit of each, and go at it for many layers.  But this jar of left over paint was close.  Mixed unevenly with the putty it made a gooey, spreadable mix.

I urged the stuff into the crack and painted it over the rest of the stand.

In the back I urged some of the goo between the base and the stump bottom.

Then I leaned the doll forward, balanced on a couple of paint tubes in hopes she will lean more forward as the customer requested.

She looks okay on my shelf, an old piano that doesn't get played much anymore. 

 

I hope the customer is pleased with the results.

Sharing Artist Stories: Mimi Kirchner

One of my favorite doll artist has made a video of her life as a doll maker.  I am sharing it with you here

My favorite work of hers are the swaddled babies with embroidered gardens.  They are a wonderful combination of simplicity and elegance.  You will see them in the video.

By the way, the little girl pictures of Mimi look a lot like me at a tender age.

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More Blog-cation Goings On

Oh, my! I am still trying to figure out where July went and I am well into August!  Just to catch up on the earlier part of the summer when I was a bad blogger:

 

Boulder Farmer's Market Fine Arts and Craft Fair

 

 

Jenn's Birthday:

 

 

A cake and a couple...then the Conifer Music Festival

With dancing dolls, Beth's scarves and big bags..

. 

We were Bwyneth Fiber Arts

 

And now july has moved on and August calls for new work.  Fabric beads and buttons coming up!

Blog-cation

The recent weeks turned into an unintended blog-cation.  This is unlike the newly popular stay-cation when people stay at home during time off from work.  Stay-cation is distinguished from the recent lay offs when people struggle to stay in their homes because they are out of work.

No the blog-cation is a pause in blog writing brought on my too much life-action living (LAL) to have time to write. 

Here is an LAL summary:

The "old" computer died...some say five years out of a lap top is good, I say there are villages in Europe with 600 year old buildings.  We need to do better with the longevity of technology by making it with up-datable components and repairable elements!

The new computer arrived. That meant transferring data, upgrading programs, learning new software, catching up on ancient email.  Eventually deciding to run two computers for different jobs to avoid purchasing new soft ware that I cannot come close to affording this week because by the time the new computer got Microsofted the cost was not so reasonable!

Then there was what I am loath to call "real work."  Working on automated insulating shutters at the Synergistic Building Technology shop.

 

At at homein the room formerly called the dining room.

 

Here's me and, next Larry applying a high tech radiant barrier ...aluminum foil...to a shutter's innards!

I hate to call the shutter building "real" work because I really intend studio fiber and fabric work to be real enough to satisfy the Horatio Alger part of me.  To  struggle successfully in the face of adversity (or at least my barely sufficient amount of skill,  creativity, and contemporary stylishness) to gain both wealth and honor, ultimately realizing the American Dream through art and craft! 

But then there is an even greater struggle on Larry's part to achieve the American Dream by getting energy efficiency to appeal to the American public.  And so 'round and 'round we go in existential circles!

More to follow about July's blog-cation.  Stay tuned, please!

Earth Air Fire Water: Elemental Art Figures

Recent work includes two series of elemental art figures. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water spirits, just 9" tall.  Inspired by elinor peace baily's Fire Dancer pattern. Take a look!

 

And

Check out individual figures HERE

Soon they will be for sale at ETSY online and Uniquely Natural in Lafayette, Colorado.  See you there.

Need one right away?  Contact me using the link on this page!

Time for Bags and Blogging

The process…sticking with it!  The days rush by.  It’s spring.  It’s summer!

write,sew,design. plan

The garden planted, sort of, though the tomatoes look sickly and the hail did not help.  The seeds were dated 2005 so sprouting is spotty.

write, sew, design, plan

Penny and Eric’s marriage was celebrated in fine and joyful style with the help of friends, family and scores of mosquitoes.  We loved the beauty and the bite of the beautiful Lone Hawk Farm, the yummy local foods with Spice of Life’s special touches and the bright faces of good friends lit up with love, hope, and contentment.  Bee keepers, gardeners, advocates for the environment and sane politics, these two are a mighty team and wonderful souls!

write, sew,design, plan

Van crashed Bicycle brought one daughter down for a week, and had us shaking in our proverbial boots while phone calls about her condition sped over the air waves.  Back biking, we are relieved.  Meanwhile lovely daughters and son spread from Hawaii to upstate New York sometimes leaves me feeling that my arms are not long enough to share the hugs, cups of tea, and laughter we want together.

write,sew,design,plan

Barny the computer only works when it chooses.  The cost of diagnosis, let alone treating the disorder is too hefty compared to the sleek new models.  Such a deal, right there on the screen (crash) back on the screen. No, it is not the machine that costs a fortune, but the software that I depend on.  Back to the evils of consumer debt…now if I gave up the astronomical bill for health insurance that never covers what ails me, the computer would be paid for…is that mosquito bite infected?

write,sew,design,plan

Oh, it is summer!  Hot sun and cooling thunder storms. fresh veggies from Farmer Ann (I do not have to depend sickly tomatoes and spotty seedlings).  Life is good! Time is on our side.  It must be.  We are present!

write,sew,design,plan…this is an artisan blog!

May the warm time sun shine surround you you.  Wyncia

 

Gift Card? Card Gift? Pictorial

I make pins (broaches) of animals and characters from a material of layered fabric and paper.  These are a variation of doll pin inspired by Virginia Robert’s Floor Sweeping Pin Dolls Pattern .  In the last year I have been mounting the pins on to greeting card and selling them as “gift cards.” 

The design of the card for mounting is as much fun as making the pin in the first place!  The newest ones have an option as a fridge magnet with a magnetic strip attached inside the greeting card! This opens the audience for the creations to those non-pin-wearers!  And it provides an easy answer to shoppers who ask, “But would she wear it?”

Last week I dabbled in a bit of re-purposed silver jewelry - using a vintage concho belt to make earrings.  To keep these creations consistent with my collection (oh, my!  what a designer-like term!) I used the greeting card mounting approach, without the magnet strip.  I would ask, "Who wants to hang earrings on the refrigerator?"

Each pair is slightly different and there is one pendant shown in the picture above.  I have put four similar pairs on sale at ETSY in case you cannot resist.

So are they “gift cards” or “card gifts”?  Or is there another name all together?  Tell me, please!  Namaste, Wyncia    

Still Young and in love: Gypsy Chandelier a Creative Inspiration

Today is my 58th birthday!  Sill just a spring chicken.  And what does a spring chicken like me want for a gift on her birthday? Of course for all of you beloveds to have a marvelous year, full of joy and laughter, AND a multi-colored whimsical magic gypsy chandelier!  And who would be wise and generous in obtaining such an item?  Why my beloved partner in life Larry of course!

Feast your eyes! Tee hee!

This beauty will hang where I see it when I work in the studio, brightening the staircase with it’s wild, colors.  Eee haw, I am ready to go to work.  Look for the gypsy influence in my future creations!    Namaste, Wyncia

PS:  Thanks, Mom! Wish you could see us!

Wow! Biggest Briefcase (maybe portfolio) in Basic Black and Yellow

This is a big case. (See the ruler?  This is about 14” tall and almost two feet wide) And it appears quite close to basic black, with a bit of grey, a geometrics,

 

and a yellow button…

Then peek in the front pocket.

A bit more yellow.  And open the flap…

It is becoming less black, less basic.  Now, look inside.

    

Wow!  It’s wilder than basic black!

Can’t live without it?  It’s a one of a kind bag available at www.wyncia.ETSY.com !

Technorati Tags: briefcase,portfolio,black,yellow,fabric,canvas

 

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Name That Bag! A Story and a Contest

While at the Boulder Farmer's Market Craft Fair last week, Amy Stewart with Zimfest came running up to tell me that the Sunday Magazine Bag was not a magazine bag at all.

"it's a mbira bag!  there is no question.  You are making mbira bags and you don't even know it!"

"What's a mbira?" I asked.

"It's a Shona people's musical instrument.  A piece of wood with metal tabs that are tuned..."

"A thumb piano!"

"Yes," said Amy, "that is what these are.  Mbira bags.  Will you come sell them at the Boulder Zimbabwean Music Festival running June 25th through 28th?"  www.zimfest.org

        

     

I did not even know I had made a mbira bag!

Which gives me the idea this bag may be known by many names!

Please add a comment and give the bag another name.  I will give a freebie mbira bag to one entry at random!

Here are the details:  it is "green", the materials are four recycled samples of home decorator fabric per bag; the bags are about 11" X 14" in size; they are reversible; the handles are parachute cord; with handles doubled the top is open and the bag fits under the arm; with handle singled, the bag draws closed and it hangs at about the waist; the bag is sturdy; the bag folds flat for packing or storing; they are colorful and every one is different.

So name this bag and get a chance for a free one coming your way!!!!  Thanks! Wyncia

PS: Want to buy one?  Email me and I will tell you what color ways are available.  They cost $12 plus $4 shipping through the blog!

"Holy Blistering Dung Beetle, Batman!" Card Plus Art

Yikes!  Something got my funny bone today.  I have been madly working on doll pin cards for the last few days, in preparation for my first Boulder Farmer's Market Craft Fair on Saturday. It is 8:00 till 2:00 in Central Park.  Stop by if you are in town. 

I needed a way to package my beetle sun catcher/pendants to add them to the card display.  As I looked at the transfers mounted on clear plastic, a wee little voice kept chattering, "Dung happens!"

As they say, a picture (even a slightly blurry one) is worth 1000 words.

The front says, "Dung happens!"  The back identifies the Blistering Dung Beetle, an amazing Bug Art image by Christopher Marley, from a calender I got at SCRAP.

More images, then I have to get back to work!




 

And the card maker's signature line:

You Bet'cha

I am so easily entertained, and am still chuckling.

By the way, if you do not want to miss any of these scintillating posts, please subscribe!

There's a button in the upper left.  It is safe, and you don't have to read the posts when you get an email announcement!

Here's hoping no dung occurs in your blessed life today!   Wyncia

Hats for Summer

Although not my primary production, I do make hats.  The baseball cap is a perennial favorite, especially when made in unexpected fabrics and without a silly logo.

Here is a recent custom cap, for a baby who called for an unconventional Easter bonnet.

Not quite the size of my "Be Bear Aware" hat.

 

But that's okay, cause the baby will grow and meanwhile we had fun trying on the hat here. 

Larry is being cool with his hat on backwards!

Note the adjustable tie! 

The cap did not work much better for me or dog Pooh!

        

But a tad bit big for the intended, though it will keep the sun away from baby's eyes. 

This hat will keep everything away from baby's eyes.

I can make hats that fit for most folks...drop me an email (there's a link to the left) and tell me what you would like for your new summer cap!  I will sew it up for $20 (or more for special fabrics)!

Can't beat that bronze lady as a model...it is my mother as a young woman!  She sure can wear a hat!

Namaste.

Saturday Night Tag Design

It's Saturday night in the hills above Boulder Colorado.  It's April; its even after the dreaded tax day.  And what have we got?  Three feet of snow, that's what!  A great night to work on the design for new sales tags for my origami bags.

I worked with copyright free clip art and fonts available on the web. Even all that wet snow does not defeat the cable internet connection, although the land phone line is kafluie.

I worked in Word which was probably not the best choice, but after a while the challenge was to make it work without starting over in another program.  I now have the tags saved as .jpegs, too.  I think I could have done it easier in Paint Shop Pro.

I decided to make the tags with a place to put a list of materials.  This gives me a chance to credit some of the wonderful fabrics and designers I use!

So Saturday night tag...a design? a game?

Tags on Bags...

 

Tag One...

 

Tag Two...

 

More bags and tags...

 

A Bag...

TAG...You're it! 

So comment why don't you! ;-)

scrap Francisco: an artist haven

Here I am home from the Mission in San Francisco where Arkay Workshop (www.arkayworkshop.com) had an opening of Peter Andrea's assemblage panels of salvaged materials (www.fusestudio.com).  Great trip! Great shop! Great art!

When I travel I like to include a search for supplies for my bags and figures.  Urban tracking, follow the signs!

 

On this trip it was a visit to SCRAP, the Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts.  

   

Don't you love that? Art parts!  Not body parts, or car parts.  Not chicken parts or private parts.  Just art parts, and these can be about anything in the eye of the creative soul, even the above-mentioned parts!

 

 

I brought home a boxed pair of fine crocheted silk slippers worn by the earl of Lafacia during a visit to SF around 1973.  Does anyone know where Lafacia is? The note describing the lace like footwear is written in blue marker and taped elaborately to the slim fading box. 

 

The earl's visit was at about the time Maria Mouliere Theilan, recently emigrated from Paris with her artist husband, was considering the need for inexpensive art supplies that to support the growing community of SF artists.  She opened SCRAP in 1977. She was working the counter when I was there.

 

 

(As can be seen, the air around Maria is electric with creative energies!)

 

I also collected yards of cording, a few scraps of fabric, a handful of baubles, and several calendars for the pictures!  All which fit in the suitcase; all for $15.00!  Yes, I feel supported and nurtured.  Thank you, Maria.

 

My greatest forbearance was about 6 yards of hand printed tapa (bark cloth) for $50.  But baggage space and budge mediated against the purchase. I believe that the opportunity to work with tapa will come around again, in its own time, and hopefully in mine, too.

Self help, donation, and working together to make SCRAP work is part of the deal.

 

Enjoy more pictures of our journey to scrap

 

Boulder/Denver locals, check out Eco-Cycle Exchange .  If you are in SF, go here:

Here is some info from the SCRAP website!

 

SCRAP is open Tuesday - Saturday, 9 AM - 5 PM and is located at 801 Toland Street, San Francisco * entrance on Newcomb between Toland & Selby

SCRAP is a creative reuse center, store and workshop space founded in 1976 in San Francisco, California. Donations of high quality, low cost, re-usable materials such as textiles, paper, jewelry findings, wood, buttons and plastics are collected from businesses, institutions and individuals then sorted, displayed and distributed by SCRAP for artists, educational and community groups. Free materials and art activities are provided through our community outreach service.

By breathing new life into old objects, SCRAP reduces the amount of waste going to crowded landfills. By offering low cost art and re-use workshops and providing schools and organizations with badly needed art supplies, SCRAP stimulates creativity and environmental awareness. Nourished by so many wonderful SCRAP treasures, Children and adults learn how to "REDUCE, RE-USE AND RECYCLE."

 Manufacturers save money on their disposal costs and receive tax benefits. Artists, museums, senior groups, summer camps, children's centers and theater groups transform SCRAP materials into sculptures, paintings, and other masterpieces. Anyone can contribute by purchasing or donating high quality, clean, reusable materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

 HOW TO START YOUR OWN SCRAP

•  Find warehouse space (at least a garage) where you can permanently store and display materials.
• Find volunteers to help with pickups, displays, making sample artwork, teaching workshops and selling goods.
• Visit manufacturers to find materials you want. They are often very surprised that anyone would want their disposables and are happy to save money on disposal costs.
• Display your materials in an organized manner. Insist that your customers take responsiblity to keep things as neat as possible.
• Notify schools and teachers that you have re-usable supplies available at low cost.
• Plan a Grand Opening with special events, hands on art projects, music and refreshments.
• Advertise with fliers, press releases to newspapers and radio stations,
• Establish a price per volume of goods, for example, charge $5.00 for each grocery bag. Smaller and more precious materials like buttons and beads can be sold separately.
• The money you earn can be used as matching funds for grants. There are many Internet Resources on how to get grants.

         

  from www.SCRAP-SF.org .

  Contact: scrap@scrap-sf.org

 

Wearing a Big Cross Body Bag

Saturday morning, wet hair and comfy jeans...so this is when I decide I need to show pictures of how these big bags look when I am carrying them.  We have a fresh 8 inches of snow, and it is cold.  This bag is good enough to keep you warm!

Not too bad, eh?

These pictures are taken on our chilly solar heating porch.  A lot of light comes in even on a cloudy day.  When the sun is shining this room gets enough warmth to keep the whole house warm.  And in the summer, the sun is north of the room and the low windows let cool evening air in.  Pure genius!

Did you know you can subscribe to this blog by clicking the button at the upper left?  Wish you would!

Happy Saturday, Wyncia

To Market, To Market...More Big Bags

More big bags that should be fun for big purses and market days.  Since it is going to be snowing in Boulder tomorrow, our first farmer's market of the season, maybe these bags can go on my head as a snow bonnet!

Here they are:

Here's Frog.  It's made of a sturdy Sunbrella fabric and lined with a shiny dark red home dec fabric.  The Sunbrella is from remnants that are a bit different in shade and some frogs jump up while others jump down, giving the bag a funky fun look.

This one has funky old time charm with over dyed ticking and patch work print.  It is lined and lighty over sewn to get a quilted look. 

Well, that was fun getting a few big bags sewed, but I am ready for a change...I am thinking spring bear next!

Big Bags for April Markets: No fooling!

April showers bring...farmers markets, of course! These wonderful street side events are the place for fresh local eats.  But they are also a green foodies version of the Victorian promenade.  On a Saturday morning what better place to watch people collecting grand bunches of rainbow chard and bouquets of daffodils!  Stop to listen to some guitar music, take a poll, and meet for coffee.  See and be seen at the Farmer's Market!

So, for a stylish approach to the farmer's market of choice, or any toting, traveling, carrying, visiting, or outing what is needed is a perfectly beautiful big bag.

Here are my offerings this week!

 

A big spring green tapestry and pink linen cross body bag.

 

A big red tapestry shoulder bag.

 

A really big orchid print linen bag with cantaloupe linen lining 

See all three on my ETSY sales page  www.wyncia.ETSY.com

And wish for gentle April showers...spring flowers...farmer's markets and great big bags!  No April foolin'!

With your great big bag, with all the fruits within it, you'll be the grandest shopper at the farmer's market! (Ugh!  Couldn't resist!)

Whale pillow spouts for the end of superferry

Hurray, the Hawaii Supreme Court shut down the big old superferry that was interfering with whale breeding around some Hawaiian islands.

My simple whale pillow, a sort of outline style stuffed animal, is on her way to Kauai (which had the good taste to offer a landing spot t the big boat in the first place)to play with my daughter, Maggie.  I do not believe anyone is too old for a friendly stuffed critter!

She is spouting with joy!

Three cheers and good-by superferry!

BTW, I found patterns for the whale and several other simple pillow animals at the used book store.  It is an old Folk Art pattern intended to be used to make the decorative pillows from old quilts.

 

Made-fabric Pins make Good Gifts

Small gifts: Made-Fabric Pins

 

Pins and ornaments of made-fabric are great gifts.  The completed object can be a simple silhouette or be highly embellished.  The two I made recently are of the simpler sort shown here ready to package.

The cougar is my own backyard visitor, by the way.

The made-fabric is key to these figures.  I started with 8" by 10" gauze that I painted and dyed in abstract patterns in color theme groups.

  

  Once dry I start adding layers of paper, glitter, threads, fabric scraps, and flower (real or artificial) petals.  I hold these in place with some sort of heat and bond product, depending on what is on hand. Then I usually cover the whole thing with a really sheer fabric or tulle.  Finally I free stitch, holding embellishments in place and adding another layer of depth.  Here are some finished fabrics
.

 I often take a gander at the back and add a little something.  If I decide to make an ornament (simply a figure that will hang in a window or from a tack in the wall), I want the back to be fairly good looking, too.

And details

 

I prefer the pieces to be in the 2 1/2" to 3"  range for pins.  Larger seems a bit gawky, even for wearing on a coat or bag!  I trace and cut from my collection of silhouettes and pieced figures.  For the pieced figure, you can think of constructing a hinged paper doll.

Each figure then awaits embellishment.

Sometime this is merely simple lines (painted, stitched, or penciled) and a few whiskers like the mountain lion.  The yoga figure has painted details, a couple of beaded chakras, and a halo of shiny hair! 

The cat at my ETSY site has even more googaws.

 The final stage is mounting the pieces on card stock or greeting card blanks.  I like to add some sort of background for my critters and folks.  Here's that mountain lion full sized.  The red thread is an oops!

Here's the yoga in full.

Some tools of the trade, a mountain blue bird (also a backyard neighbor like the cougar) awaiting a silhouette, knife for trimming the mounting cards, and cello sleeve packaging.

If you are interested in starting a similar project, a good place to start is Virginia Robertson's pattern called The Floor Sweepings Pin Doll that has instructions for these fun figures.

Hooray Arkay!

I have had great fun making up a series of large yoga mat bags for Arkay Workshop in San Francisco.  

Rachel Kinney, daughter of my spouse and forever partner Larry,  is the founder of this friendly boutique and jewelry workshop that specializes in organic, sustainable, and handmade products.

I was working on a series of yoga bags when she came to visit in February.  She wanted a few for the store.

It is important to know that Rachel has as excellent eye for design as I know.  Pictures of her store window, her products, even the store zombie dressed for Valentine's Day are eye candy.  

So when deciding on custom yoga bags, she went on-line to her fav fabric designers and then on down the hill to Elfreida's Fine Fabrics in Boulder.

It was perfect that she found some Anna Maria Horner heavy sateen cotton prints for the bags.  Most of my creations are made from remnants and samples.  Sometimes quite lovely, but not always so fine.  I found it heavenly to work with the lovely fabric Rachel chose!

 

These are made from Drawing Room Sketchbook.

This one in Drawing Room Pressed Flowers.


And this is Drawing Room Branching Out.

These beauties are available only at Arkay Workshop!

The SF Chronicle has noticed Arkay Workshop.  Take a look at their window shopping piece about the shop.

 

Here is what Rachel has to say about the Arkay Workshop mission:

Part of a fulfilling shopping experience is feeling truly good about your purchases.  Can we make a difference just by shopping?  We think so.  We ask lots of questions.  Who made it? Where was it produced?  What are the materials?  Sure, it takes some hunting, but we've found a nice little selection of clothing and gifts that make us feel good about sharing them with you!  Arkay Workshop offers a carefully chosen selection of fashion, gifts and accessories that reflects the modern ideals of today's conscious consumers.  Have fun shopping!

 

What We Love: sustainable materials; organic ingredients; innovative designs; progressive business

Arkay Workshop is located at 2869 24th St. in San Francisco (between Florida & Bryant).

Hours: Mon. 11:30-7, Closed Tuesdays, Wed. 11:30-7, Thurs. 11:30-7, Fri. 11:30-7, Sat. 11:30-7, Sun. 11:30-5.

Arkay would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact us at: info@arkayworkshop.com and check out our website at  www.arkayworkshop.com

Hand Made...yes!

 

Hand Made….I am doing it!

 

I recently discovered how calming hand stitching is to me.  Needle, thread, fabric and rhythm seem to take me to a zone of quietude and pleasure.  With the exquisite fabrics that are available, hand sewing can be a path back to the garden; a grand "Ahhh…"

 

About a year ago I purchasing a package of Kofu 4" squares from Quilters Express to Japan

 

   

You can find these at:   www.qejapan.com/kofu/full0701_19.html

 

The purchase was intended to launch me into simple piecing, sewing square to square.  I lined up the squares on a makeshift design board, and there they sat uninspiringly.  I found the Kofu materials of fine quality, but a bit drab in color. No arrangement got me to the sewing machine.

 

Struggling with a bit of creeping anxiety last fall, I thought, I could randomly stitch the those squares into 3 X 3 blocks, by hand. Stitch by stitch, I became more even in sewing and temperament.  I fond the exercise soothing.  I looked forward to evening stitching time.

 

With nine blocks completed and funds from a holiday craft sale in hand, I went to visit  Elfreida's Fine Fabrics .  Spreading my simple, drabbish hand stitched blocks on the cutting table I felt really humble.  I had a sketched design for attaching one block to another with strips of coordinating but brighter fabric.  The finished piece would be a lap quilt about 46" square.

 

After Elfreida studied the diagram, she pulled several fabrics that "went with" the blocks.  We rejected these heartily. Then she brought over Kaffe Fassett's Roman Glass.

 

 

The colors were subtle multitudinous and varied.  Contrasting my squares to rounded shapes of "glass" baubles lifted the blocks to a new level of interest.  Thank heavens for experienced helpers and gifted fabric designers. Check out Kaffe Fassett

 

Then I asked Elfreida, sort of shyly, "That amazing bolt near the door, the grayish background with stacks colored blocks.  Could I use it, too?"

 

This one is Drawing Room by Anna Maria Horner.

 

We brought it to the cutting table.  There!  I had my backing.  I was ecstatic.
The calming stitching and the humble blocks brought me out on an adventure to discover the most delightful fabric designs, elevating my slightly crooked seams into the beginning of something I love.  Lake the song says "We are stardust, we are golden, and we got to get ourselves back to the garden.*"

More hand made, hand stitching to follow soon.

*"Woodstock" by Joni Mitchell

How fun is this!

Wow!  You can make a word cloud like this at www.wordle.net/  

It looks really sweet at the site. 

This is from the text of my craft fair application profile.

I Love My Bags

I love Bags.

Okay, I love making bags.  I can't seem to help myself. A simple sack gives me satisfaction.  I like its completeness, its function, its colors.

Here is a collage of recently finished yoga bags and simple small market and reader's bags.

See some individual bags at my ETSY store www.wyncia.ETSY.com

While making dolls makes me feel tres artistique…okay, more creative, if not quite ready for prime time in the art department. The school of yogas outdoes the bags, I think. It was certainly more challenging and hardly less fun than making plain old bags.

 

So I took it personally when my favorite, high quality, simply beautiful local fabric shop, Elfriede's promoted a magic skirt making class saying  ”This kicky skirt is perfect for those fabulous fabric combinations that you are dying to use, but can’t think of what to do, now that you have enough shopping bags made up."  I mean, really.  Are there ever enough bags?

 

 

See the shop here

 

And skirts have to fit, and you have to got to go Out with a capital "O" to wear them.   

Though, I admit,  the pant variation is sort of cool.

 

The class uses Vogue Pattern 8561 by designer Marcy Tiilton.

 

But for a purely fun sewing day, give me box of fabric samples and I'll turn out a gaggle of sacks.

Then I'll take my bag and head to the Elfreide's to fill it with remnants!!!

 That's me.  

Have A Little Heart

Opening this blog near St Valentine's Day, it seems like a good idea to start out with a gift.  I have a little bag in my collection of hand-mades which is called Wild Heart.  A small shoulder made of cruelty-free leopard skin and micro suede with a bead and wood button.

Sort of fun for the heart holiday!

So I made a couple of others.

These new little heart bags open at the top and have fun linings.

Shop for the bags pictured at www.wyncia.etsy.com

To make your own here is a link to the pattern View  Free Pattern and instructions Download Heart Bag Instructions

Enjoy making you Valentine!