4th of July Aprons

My Roller Derby Club "Derby Lite" is skating in the Oak Park 4th of July parade. We realized in our last parade that we really needed an apron to carry the swag (skate keychains, jaw breakers, helmet patrol coupons) so Vivi Sewhot (me) was enlisted to make the apropns.

Queen B and I went to TDO last week to pick out the fabrics and notions. We found a perfect combo of the red denim with the blue and white striped kitchen fabric for the pockets. I loved how easy the blue and white fabric was to cut and press! We picked out grosgrain ribbon because it will stay tied better than a satin ribbon. I estimated that it would take at least 5 hours to make the aprons - from cutting to the final step Quality Control - it ended up taking a little over 6. They went much quicker than the 20 Smash Cake aprons of course. I didn't finish the seams for ease, and also because we plan to cover the backside of the apron with St. Patrick's Day themed fabrics, since we skate in the Forest Park St. Patrick's day parade too!

I'm really pleased with the way the apron looks on - I think it will make a great impression when we are all skating in them on Saturday. Last year was our first year and it was a BLAST - I can't wait!! Come out and see us if you can - the parade starts at 10am and goes up Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Park.

Scarlet Letter Calling Cards

I designed this set of calling cards for the main characters of The Scarlet Letter a few years ago. (click on the image to see detail). Once upon a time I was a wee bit obsessed with the story. I designed and sewed my first quilt based on the it - you can see it here.

I have been watching the PBS version of the story made in 1979. It's excellent. I highly recommend it if you have never seen it. The production values are very naturalistic, and a lot of the scenes are shot outside. It is so true to the story in word and tone (I have read it many times), and Meg Foster and John Heard were so perfectly cast.

Why the Scarlet Letter you ask? I'm still not completely sure. When I was in my 20s I started seeing a therapist. At the first session after hearing my story and my reasons for coming to see him he said "You seem to see yourself a lot like Hester Prynne" - at the time I had a small copy of the book in my purse - I knew right then that I had found the right therapist!

It's true that when I was in my 20s I felt doomed to solitude, but now that I am in my 40s (with little solitude!) Hester still seems very familiar to me: Her independent spirit, her desire to be a good mother, and ultimately her hopefullness. When she meets Dimmesdale in the woods 7 years past their transgression, she still believes that their love can lift them above their present circumstances. She even convinces him for a little while. Of course things don't work out for them in the end, but I guess a story that doesn't end neatly is my favorite kind - it just seems so real.


In other news, we have gotten our first dog. Woody is a rescue - a schnauzer mix so he has hair rather than fur, he's about 5, and he weighs 19 pounds. He had been on the street and was next fostered in a home. We got him last Tuesday and I can't get over how quickly we have all bonded with him. I am the alpha, and I have been reading my Cesar Millan so I understand the importance of my role! We are doing a lot of walking - getting up early for a morning walk, and taking another long walk after dinner. Woody is adjusting to us just fine and has no real issues to speak of (he barks when people knock on the door, but it's not out of control). I can't get over how quickly we have come to love him - and he us - we are just thrilled with Woody!

Plaid Hat, Formerly a Pair of Long Shorts

Last year I thrifted a pair of vintage plaid petal pushers that were too big. I reworked them, blogged about it, then put them in the closet. This year I pulled them out and put them on - ugh. They just didn't look very good (and my husband laughed at them!). What to do?? Make a hat out of them! I love the challenge of working with plaid, and of transforming one thing into another. I used the inside of the fabric as pants as the outside of the fabric hat - the black was not so faded.


I didn't have enough fabric for the inside brim and the 2 bands (the pieces that connect the brim to the body of the hat) so I used some of the plaid from my last hat project. I also had to carefully piece 2 pieces together to form the outer hat band - look closely at the front and you can see where they meet. I used a small gingham for the lining.


Overall I am really happy with this one. I'm not thrilled about the way it looks on me - and that's the thing about making a hat - you really don't know what the hat is going to look like on until it's finished, so you'd better enjoy the process of making it (which I do, obviously!)

20 Aprons for Smash Cake

Michelle Garcia, owner of Bleeding Heart Bakery and the recently opened Smash Cake, ordered 20 children's aprons from me for Smash Cake a few weeks ago (my biggest order to date had been for 8 aprons). I felt confident that I could complete the order in the time that I had, but there were a few complications. The fabric I wanted was not available, and the replacement fabric that I wanted (and that had been approved by Michelle) was also not available. Plan B! The replacement fabric was available in a smaller print, and I figured it would work so I ordered it. All of this back and forth cut about a week out of my timeframe so I decided to make some changes to the design. Originally I thought I would use 1 fabric for all of the parts. But with the fabric arriving on a Monday and the aprons due on that Friday, I decided to use a contrasting fabric for the bib liner and ties, as I usually do.

I finished the bib liners, ties, and neckstraps in advance of the skull fabric (at right) arriving.


I meticulously tracked my time to see how much I could shave off the usual 1 hour per apron I spend when I work on a multiple order. I was pleased to discover that I got that time down to 45 minutes.

I especially like the back view where you can see the 3 contrasting fabrics.

Quality control and final folding took 30 minutes. I was surprised by how small the finished ordered looked after spending 16 hours on it! I was out the door by 1:30 on the day they were due, just enough time to get the aprons to Smash Cake AND make a stop at Bleeding Heart for the best cupcake I have ever had - rhubarb with a wonderful whipped strawberry frosting - yum!

Interior of Smash Cake, a bakery/coffee-shop/children's birthday party venue in Chicago.

The exterior of Smash Cake is great. The CAKE letters are especially fantastic. I thought they looked reclaimed, but Michelle told me she had them made for the shop.

I will be selling my aprons at the Smash Cake grand opening on Saturday, May 30th. (2961 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago) The event starts at 2 and goes until 6. I am working on child/adult sets, many made from various skull fabrics. I'm really looking forward to being part of this event. It all started with an ad that Michelle posted on Craigslist for crafters to sell items in her bakery, which led to the reality show aprons, then the order of 20 aprons – who knows what might happen next!

Mae's Apron

I'm just a little bit embarrassed to admit that this is the first apron I have made for Mae. She has asked before, but always in a general way - and recently I named one after her - that kinda counts, right?? Not really.

Yesterday I was thinking that I really need a child's full apron in my line, and she walked up and said "mom, can you make an apron for me now?" What good timing! She picked out the fabric for the body, and today she designed a pocket:


Pocket detail.

Bib detail.

We had so much fun making this apron. She did a lot of the cutting, and turned the pocket. I showed her all of my apron making secrets as I was sewing. We also put the design in my pattern book. She didn't lose interest until the end, so I just finished it and presented it to her after lunch. She just loves it. I asked her if she will be getting it dirty and she said "of course mom, that's what an apron's for!" well amen to that!

Today's Bleeding Heart Bakery and "The Chicas Project" Adventure

Yasmin and Crash on the set of "The Chicas Project".

I put some aprons at Bleeding Heart Bakery a few months ago. A few weeks later I got an inquiry from Tsahai, a producer of "The Chicas Project", she was interested in some aprons for Yasmin and Crash, the Chicas! (they were going to be shooting a segment of their reality show at the shop).

Callie Black pocket detail.

Tsahai finally decided on the Callie Black Full apron for Crash, and the Florence apron for Yasmin. She asked me if I could bring them to the shoot at the bakery. The shoot was today: I took the aprons she ordered, a handful of other styles, and a bag of goodies. The girls loved the aprons that I made for them - Tsahai chose well! Everyone at the shoot was really nice, and made a fuss over my aprons - thankfully I remembered to bring lots of PN business cards!

Yasmin's Florence Apron

I gave Tsahai and Michelle (the owner of the bakery) each a vintage hankie as a thank you for the opportunity. I also had a Callie Blue Child's Apron with me, and Michelle bought that one for her daughter who is almost 3. One of the producers asked me if I make anything else - (I could see the wheels turning in her head!) I told her I make bags and hats and said "I can make just about anything and I love a challenge - call me!"

I keep thinking about what a random and funny world we live in - Tsahai would never have seen my aprons if they hadn't been at the bakery, and my aprons would not have been at the bakery if I hadn't seen Michelle's post on craigslist for crafters to place items in her shop. It all worked out so nicely, and left me with the nicest feeling of fitting in to the random world, somewhere!

Lovely Pillow from She's Sew Slye

Cat at She's Sew Slye is having a weekly giveaway and I was the lucky winner last week! She sent me this beautiful pillow made from a vintage crazy quilt square. I put it on our back porch, which I just cleaned for spring. The pillow has all my favorite colors: blue and brown, with a little red and gold - it's just lovely, thanks Cat!

Nona Lou Apron

Just thrifted this fantastic vintage apron! It was manufactured by Nona Lou. 2 things give away it's status as manufactured: the tag obviously, but the other thing to look for is the perfect serger stitch - few home sewers had sergers.

I love the combination of colors, the print is amazing - check out the cats and the purple upside-down trees! The use of the black ric-rac is perfect. It's just terrific design overall.

This Nona Lou apron is gathered the same way I gather my waistband aprons - only at the hips with the center flat.

Terry Cloth Kismet

For my first order from my apron update last week Janice M. ordered the Irene, and Genevieve aprons. I also included a vintage apron with her order (after finding out whether she preferred a half or full practical, or a half fun/sexy. She went with a half practical). I went through my stash and picked out the apron I thought she would like (kicking myself for not taking a picture of it!). It was a full gathered/waistband apron made from and unusual crest fabric. It turns out that the crest looked a little like her family crest - a very nice coincidence, or as I told her, further proof that I have a spooky sixth sense when it comes to matching the textile to the person!

Janice also asked if I had any terrycloth aprons, which I don't. Vintage terrycloth aprons are usually made from hand towels and were popular in the 60s and 70s. I have never found a really nice one still in good condition. I think the terrycloth apron was usually used for the really dirty work, and terrycloth doesn't age as well as woven cotton. After getting Janice's email my daughter and I went out to do some thrift shopping, and what should I find but a lovely terrycloth apron with a wonderful rooster on the front in beautiful gently-used condition!* Put something out in the universe, and someone just might find it and pick it up!

*it's not made from a handtowel, and looks like it was made from a kit.

Symbolic Goodbye to Winter

Yes, it's about 17 degrees outside, but for me winter is over when I put away the flannel Martha Stewart sheets. I got this set at a deep discount about 10 years ago. Every November when I'm excited for the change of season I take them out of storage and put them on our bed. I love scenic fabric, and this one is terrific - but it's almost St. Patrick's Day and I am ready for spring - so see you next year!

Textile Wash Day, and some FUN NEWS!

Aprons and other kitchen textiles fresh from the dryer and ready for pressing.

I wash my kitchen textiles (aprons, kitchen towels) about once a month. To avoid all of the ties getting tangled up with each other, each apron gets it's ties done in a slip knot. I dry the aprons and towels together for about 25 minutes, taking them out of the dryer when they are still just a little bit damp - this makes pressing go much faster. Some of the aprons can be just hand pressed, but I iron all of the ties. I just can't wear an apron with folded, wrinkled ties.


I store my textiles in two orange crates next to the fridge. The aprons have their own shelf, and there's a spot for the cloth napkins and kitchen towels.

FUN NEWS!

I sent Gabrielle at designmom a link to the spring update for Practically Necessary last week. She wrote a post about it, and Sunday I received my first order from someone who saw the post - Thanks Gabrielle!

Orphan Pockets

I have a small bin of pockets, and pocket parts. These are all pockets I made while I was designing something that just didn't quite work. Some are from Christmas aprons, one is a Bev pocket that I just didn't remember right, and a couple didn't pass inspection by employee #1. I've only used 1 pocket from this stash after the fact, but I hold onto them anyway. You just never know!

Practically Necessary Updated!

I just finished updating PN with lots of new styles, and a clearer focus (I hope!). Please check it out and let me know what you think (and report any bugs or misspellings!). I'm hoping that Jenny fits the bill as "the new Caroline".

Fabric and buckle detail from Jenny.

The fabric has a similar quality - vertical stripes, dark in color, small print. The Jenny fabric also comes out of the dryer looking great, and has a very nice drape. Irene is also new and the fabric is fantastic: the print is adorable, and the soft hand and nice drape make for a very nice apron.

Irene

When I saw the fabric at TROY I recognized it immediately from a child's apron I have in my collection - it's a very good reproduction.

Vintage Child's Apron

Derby Lite is skating in the Forest Park St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Queen B working on the Giant Rollerskate of World Domination:
Yes, it's a bit of a gearshift to go from sewing sparkly pink vinyl to working on a new apron, but I'm versatile and I love a really BIG project!

New Blue from Practically Necessary

I had a very productive trip to TROY fabrics last week. I was primarily looking for fabric to make my next "Caroline" type apron: easy care cotton, vertical stripes, small print, lots of contrast. I looked at this fabric briefly, then I looked at what seemed like 1,000 bolts of fabric. I came back to this one and decided it was the one. I also picked out a sweet novelty fabric, and another that I think I will return for a second bolt of the blue stripe. This fabric reminds me of the fabric in my favorite full apron - a thrifted number that was well worn when I got it, and is still going strong.




I hope to update the PN website in the next week or so. I'll include this apron in the update, along with 5 or 6 new styles. I'm still working on a name for the New Blue, If you have any ideas please leave them in a comment - if I choose your suggestion I'll send you something special from PN.

iMac 20 Cozy

The minute I took the styrofoam cover off my new iMac I knew I needed to make a cozy for it. It's reflective black screen shows every spec of dust and kids fingerprint. I considered a few different barkcloths before I decided on this games cloth. I thought the target was just perfect. The backing is black denim, and I made slits for the vents.

I used the styrofoam cover as the pattern, which I will hold onto in the event that someone sees it and realizes just how much they need a computer screen cozy too.

Valentines

I really love to make my own valentines. This year I scored at Paper Source, they had a big selection of red papers and envelopes at 50% off. Each valentine is different and I used 2 of my fabrics: the Who's Counting fabric from one of my aprons, and some vintage car fabric I made a blouse out of a few years ago. I spent a few hours this weekend working on them. I just love to push the little elements around until I am happy with the results, glue it all down, and then move onto the next one. Yesterday it hit 60 degrees - so I rode my Schwinn to the post office and mailed my funny Valentines.

What a Weekend!

I took these pics of our garden house. It's so nice to have a dog to watch the baby, and I sure hope the hazmat guy was able to rid the house of all the asbestos!

A warm weekend in Chicago in February is such a gift! Marc worked in the garden and on the patio slate, Leo and I payed catch on the front sidewalk, and Mae walked home from the movies [she saw Coraline with a friend and loved it!]



Leo after some good "catch".

Marc got alot of prep work done in the garden. We are going to plant vegetables this year so he had to move a lot of rocks!

OMG it's supposed to be 60 tomorrow!!

Little Red Hen #3

I have finished Little Red Hen #3. It's impossible for me to really capture this apron in a photo - this is my best attempt yet. This version has the "Who Will?" in yellow at the request of the buyer - the yellow does read off of the blue better than the red and I'm happy with the way it looks. I hope she is too! I showed my brother-in-law Mike the finished apron last night - he recited some of the lines from the poem, it made my day to see him "get it"!

Those naughty animals! They will get no bread!

Spring Update Preview

Well it's only February 3rd and it's really cold in Chicago today, but I am thinking spring via some new apron styles! I love the way my label looks on the back of "Maryanne".

Maryanne - there will be 2 of these available, she was made from a tablecloth cut right down the middle!

I was working on a new pocket for Mae, when I noticed how perfectly it went with my sewing machine cover! I quickly put together an apron made from the same fabric and I just love the way it looks with the new Mae pocket. I will be able to make about 10 of this one - I call her "Jenny".

"Mae" with her updated pocket, also the pocket for "Jenny"

"Cocktail?" is a one of a kind. I have had the hand-embroidered cloth in my stash for so long (I added cocktail?). It will be part of Collection 2 on Practically Necessary very soon!

Caroline Order in Progress

I'm working on my order of 5 Caroline's from Pam at Salad Girl. First I cut the fabric, which is where I realized I didn't have enough fabric to make all 5 of the aprons in the same manner. I had to improvise and make one of the aprons with a strip of fabric at the bottom. I think it looks really cute, I hope Pam thinks so!

I'm feeling very nostalgic about this fabric. It was the first fabric I bought a full bolt of (eventually I bought 3 of them), and Caroline has always been my most popular model. I decided I really had to have another one (the prototype is mine but I have made significant design improvements to it since then). I went through my scraps of Caroline fabric and pulled out 4 strips and sewed them together. I really liked the way the selvedge looked showing - not something I usually like.


In progress - the very last Caroline apron! The fabric was a closeout and it's not being manufactured anymore. I wrote the company (Print Concepts Inc.) to inquire about it, but I haven't heard back from them. Next on my list for Practically Necessary is to find the next "Caroline" fabric - pretty, dark, sturdy, and in a perfect world, vertically striped!

Little Red Hen, Amy's Apron, and 5 Caroline Half Aprons - Yesterday Was a Big Day!

Wow! Yesterday I finished the first of 2 Little Red Hen aprons, I got a mailing address for advice columnist Amy Dickinson at the Trib so I can finally get her apron to her! I also got an order for the last 5 Caroline half aprons (that fabric is no longer available - arrgg!) from Pam at Saladgirl Dressings.

Folded and ready to go. All of my custom orders get a vintage hankie in the pocket. I have to make a Little Red Hen for myself, primarily as a record and a showcase for my work. I hate to admit it but I could never wipe my hands on this one!





WHO WILL? Now in a serif font done in a chain stitch.

Those cheeky animals! This time I did the NOT I in a split stitch, my new favorite stitch for lettering.

Inner bib. I love this little vintage button. I'm also very happy with the buttonhole feature on my Brother - it makes such neat and perfect little buttonholes!

Caroline is now out of stock! This was one of my very first aprons, and was always my most popular model. I have to get to my favorite wholesale fabric warehouse and see if I can find something as pretty, durable, and stain hiding as this beautiful fabric... wish me luck!

Practically Necessary Master Pattern Book

I started putting my designs in this book soon after I started PN. At first I just put them in a notebook I used while creating the whole concept, but I soon realized that I needed a book for that purpose alone. It's just a nice quality sketch pad. I covered the cover with fabric and added one of my labels.

Like many of my aprons, the top two on this page are one-of-a-kinds (see the top one - "Twiggy" below). The bottom apron is Kristina, I have made her twice, and have enough fabric to make her 2 more times.

The hand-embroidered towel that became the pocket had been in my stash forever! I added the line "There's a place for us."

The blue apron on top is made from fabric given to me by the lovely graygoosie. It's modeled after one of my favorite full aprons (a thrift shop find). The middle model is my "Tart Cherries" apron. The bottom apron is the apron I made for Amy Dickinson, which truth be told I have not gotten to her yet. I think it's time to email her at the Tribune and see if I can get my message through!

A couple more one of a kinds, the bottom one "MP1971" is shown below.

This one features a vintage 1971 Vera linen calendar for the pockets. The recipients initials are MP. The fabric is a vintage tiny medallion print in greens and golds - all gone now!

I have put the instructions and patterns for all kinds of things in this book: the derby lite helmet panties, purses, change purses, and basket liners. I recently started a section for the Little House on the Prairie quilt too. It's nice to have everything so accessible when I want to repeat something, or just refer to the measurements for a particular size or style. I also enjoy just flipping through it and remembering the items I have made, it's like visiting old friends.

Little Red Hen Redux

Recently a gal in Arizona named Phyllis emailed an inquiry about ordering 2 Little Red Hen aprons. Probably 95% of people who contact me inquiring about something never actually order anything so I figured when I responded with a price and other details that would be the end of it. Well Phyllis did respond and really did want two Little Red Hen aprons - I had to get to work!

Little Red Hen was a custom order and I never thought I'd need to make it again, (it's not on my apron website, Phyllis must have seen it here on my blog) but I kept all of the stencils as I do with everything I make. I made a few improvements on the original, namely making WHO WILL HELP? on the bib and WHO WILL? spoken by the hen a sans serif font for better readability. I also made this type just a shade lighter for better contrast on the blue. Both subtle differences but definite improvements on the overall product.

Phyllis needs one of the aprons by next Tuesday, so I need to get this one in the mail on Wednesday. I made good progress today and I won't have any problem finishing on time.

Progress as of Monday evening on Little Red Hen #2.

Mourning Quilt - 1839

If I had to name a favorite quilt, this would be it. It was made by Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell in 1839 and is part of the collection of the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort Kentucky. The following is paraphrased from the book America's Glorious Quilts. (Be sure to click on the image to view at full size, be patient, it's a large scan.)

In the center is a fenced graveyard with four coffins, each represents a deceased family member and bears their name. Quilting in the graveyard indicates room for 13 coffins.

Elizabeth's idea was that each of her family members would be represented on one of the coffins around the border and that when a person died their coffin would be moved into the graveyard (only 2 coffins were moved - from the bottom left corner). According to family history Elizabeth made this quilt after the death of her 2 young sons.

The combination of the illustrative quality of this quilt, and the frank way it deals with mortality fascinates me. I wonder if Elizabeth used the quilt or if it stayed tucked away. Did she consider it her masterpiece? (if she thought of her quilting that way).

My Masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter. You can see more images here.

I want to make another story quilt like The Scarlet Letter based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. It won't be designed in the same way with such a linear style contained in boxes. I picture it more like an illustrated map of the places they lived. I read all of the books last winter and I have plenty of notes, I just need to get started. What better project for a Long Winter, right?

Snowstorm!

This shot was taken just before Christmas - looks like an avalanche struck! Actually, this is a dollhouse in our backyard. This is the second dollhouse we have put in the backyard. You can see the first one here.

This dollhouse is a two-flat corner building. I don't think it was made from a kit. It was found at a yard sale by our friend Paul who has found much of our best art. It sat in the basement for 5 years and we decided to put it out in the yard just recently. It's a fun object to photograph. I'll shoot it in all seasons and document it's deterioration. I kind of wish we had a place for it in the house, but since we don't (and no one else ever asked for it) putting it in the yard and making an art project out of it seems like the best option.

Interior shot.

Update to my last post about the "Make it Simple" aprons: I finished the last 4 on Christmas day and sent them out the next day. I wanted to get them out before Christmas, but how I thought I could manage that I don't know!

Make it Simple - 8 Times

I got an order for 8 Anne aprons from Genevieve at Jewelbox Home. They are a give-away for a contest she had on her site. I made the 8 apron bodies, then completed one apron - I wanted to be sure I had all of the measurements right before cutting out everything. Once that one was complete and looked good, I did the rest of the cutting for the 7 remaining aprons. Today I am working on assembling 3 more.

3 pockets embroidered and ready for ric-rac.

I glue baste my ric-rac with Fabri-tac - I find it much easier and more accurate than sewing.

Sewn, turned, and finger-pressed. Finger pressing is one of the secrets to smooth pockets, or anything else that is turned (sewn inside out and turned right side out).

Close-up of the finished pocket.

1 down, 7 to go!

New "Vintage" Sweater!

UPDATE: Free Pattern Here!! This fabulous sweater arrived in the mail yesterday. My mom saw the vintage pattern on Vintage Knitting and thought it would be perfect for me. I love it - thanks mom!

It was knit with Ultra Alpaca (fine) by Berroco. It's surprisingly soft and I can wear it right on my skin. (If anyone is interested in the pattern please leave a comment and I will get the info from Rhiannon at Vintage Knitting.)

My mom has made me so many beautiful sweaters. She loves a challenge and I know that the nut does not fall very far from the tree in that regard! Making something new is so much fun, the whole time I am wondering how it might come out and it just seems to drive the whole creative process.

Which leads me to the subject I am just getting around to confronting - I need a new project. I am still having fun making aprons but I haven't felt compelled to design any new ones in a long time. When I look at my fabric I don't feel very inspired - and buying new fabric at this point doesn't even tempt me.

That being said I have been feeling surprisingly hopeful about the future and certain that 2009 will bring the professional growth I have been working toward. Hopefully it will also bring some new ideas to keep my sewing machine whirring!

We Love to Mod Podge

Around our house, "mod podge" is a verb. We have mod podged all kinds of things. The pictures on this door come from a book called Moonlight in Duneland, a collection of posters from The South Shore Line. We had the book for a couple of years before inspiration struck. I do feel a little funny destroying books like this, but overall I think it's a good tradeoff - now we look at these prints every day!

These images come from a couple of women's magazines from 1967.

The images on the inside of the bathroom door came from a New York Times magazine supplement (Real Estate). Those are a great source for interesting images.

This is a vintage map/pictorial about the Grand Canyon.

My husband Marc did this one. He used old hand bills from an obscure movie called The Black Hand starring Gene Kelly. It reads One man against The Black Hand - the dreaded mafia band! - Sensational in his first great dramatic role. I'm not sure if he had any more. There's also the line Pack in Italian Patronage!

Someone asked me if we got copies of the hand bills - no, we didn't, we just used the originals.

No, I don't plan to mod podge the pool table! I just like to show it off. It's just opposite The Black Hand piece. It was my 40th birthday present to myself.

Closet Reveal

With Francesca coming to live with us next month, I've been working on consolidating Marc's closet with mine. As you can see in the "before" pic below, I had to move and get rid of a lot of clothing! I like the way this closet sharing has forced me to really think about what I actually wear. I moved some things down stairs, but mostly just got rid of a lot of stuff. It feels good!



I removed the door of the closet to make more room - what a difference! I then decided that a curtain would be perfect. Finally found a good use for this cute fabric.

I have had a lot of plaid in my wardrobe for years, this year I will actually be in style with it!

Marc favors vintage shirts. He has found most of them himself. The Hawaiian shirt was a great find - never been worn/washed. It looks great on him.



I figure the closet is a good place for my senior portrait - it's not something everyone needs to see!

Marc produced a piece about Dick Locher last year, Dick made him this cool illustration and I finally framed it.

I made a curtain out of some great green velvet. I was pretty embarrassed when I realized that some of my vintage pieces had sustained sun damage in the closet - doh!

Everyone loves the new closet, it even inspired Mae and Leo to clean their rooms and get rid of old stuff. We are still working on transforming Marc's den into Francesca's room - will post when there is progress!

I Like to Make Things...

I made this doll house furniture about 7 years ago. There used to be 4 chairs, but I'm not sure where the other 3 are now. I photographed it this morning because I was putting a wider selection of art work together for a package I delivered to a local toy company that is looking for a graphic designer. I'm kind of a strange hybrid creative, and still trying to find a new place to fit in. I don't have the web skills that many graphic designers have (I did design Practically Necessary, but there is little coding involved, and a limited number of pages to negotiate). I love a new challenge, and to make things I have never made before.

This week I made a robe for Leo. His old robe was so outgrown, but he loves it so he was still wearing it. A robe is the kind of thing that it might be more cost effective to buy, but that is so personal I really wanted to make it for him. The materials and the pattern came to about $13 - when you add in a half day's labor, it definitely would have been cheaper to go to Kohls. When Leo tried it on and said "it's so great, AND it's handmade, I knew it was worth the time and effort.



I'm also working on an identity design for Unity Temple, a project I find rather daunting. Partly because I am a member, but mostly because it is such a beloved institution with a rich history that I am insecure about being able to create the appropriate design - the design that will express the correct aesthetic. I'll be going over my preliminary designs with my editor soon (my husband Marc) and hopefully will be ready to show something to my contact at UT soon.

How does this all add up? I'm not sure. I like to make things, I like a challenge, and I'm sometimes a little unsure about my abilities. Probably a description for many of us...