For the first time ever...

I've listed some quilts for sale in my Etsy shop!

Check out listings for...

The "On the Move" Baby Quilt

And the Exclamation Point Wall Hanging!

I also listed some old favorites - aprons, luggage tags, pants purses, and milk carton coin purses.

Enjoy!

A Final Quilt in 2011

Just in time for the end of the year, I completed another quilt.  This has been a work in progress in my studio for a while now.

This one is a gift for Ian's Grandma. Her husband, Ian's Grandpa, passed away in July. I collected a couple of his articles of clothing (a checkered blue bathrobe, white linen shorts, and his red velvet hood from his doctorate degree).  I cut them up and remixed them here to make a lap quilt for Grandma.

I really love the back of it.  Just like my Super Square Quilt, I kind of think the back might even be prettier than the front.  I should try making my quilt fronts look a little more like my quilt backs.  Something for 2012.

I busted out the super special label - just for Grandma.

I saved the pockets from the bathrobe and shorts and attached them to the back of the quilt...just in case she wants to tuck away some tissues, or reading glasses, or anything else that comes in handy while curling up.

We're having Christmas with her tomorrow.  Can't wait to deliver it!

The Fine Art of Recycling

A few weeks ago, I hinted that I was working on a BIG project that involved lots of milk cartons.  Here's the full story:

National Grid, in partnership with the City of Providence and the Environmental Protection Agency, is proud to announce the 'Fine Art of Recycling' art exhibit, designed to encourage citizens to save energy and money by recycling their old refrigerators. Start practicing the fine art of savings today by recycling your old fridge. Then visit all eight decorated refrigerators in downtown Providence. Each refrigerator was given a new life using paint and creativity from local artists.

There are eight fridges total, transformed by local artists and on display around downtown Providence through October.  You can see all of the designs online, and download a walking map at the Saving is an Art Website. You can also vote for your favorite design, and enter to win an energy efficiency gift basket.  Visit the site to vote!

Here's my fridge!   

My sculpture is called "Windmill Whimsy."  Here's some of the thinking that went into my design:

I am a crafter/quilter and I enjoy transforming repurposed materials, vintage notions, and patterned fabric into decorative and beautiful art.  In this piece, instead of using new fabric, I collected colorful, recycled milk and juice cartons and used them as "fabric" - I cut them up and reassembled them into "quilt blocks" covering the fridge.  The quilt blocks are a traditional pattern - a windmill block - which reminds me of the possibilities for renewable energy.   

It's in a great spot - right next to the river downtown!  Stop by and say hi!  And don't forget to place your vote!

Just Listed: More Upcycled Button-Down Shirt Aprons

New in my Etsy Shop!

Upcycled Button-Down Shirt Apron - Eggplant

Upcycled Button-Down Shirt Apron - Blue & White Stripes

Upcycled Button-Down Apron - Olive Green with Orange Ruffle Trim

Upcycled Button-Down Shirt Apron - Shades of Blue Stripes

Visit my Etsy Shop to browse other aprons and new creations that I have available!

New Etsy Listings

I'm restocking the Etsy Shop, and I added a bunch of new listings over the weekend. Here's a peek at just a few:

Florida's Natural Orange Juice Coin Purse

Welch's Mountain Berry Juice Carton Coin Purse

Newman's Own Orange Mango Tango Juice Carton Coin Purse

(Paul Newman has a mustache and a rose in his mouth - so cute!)

Upcycled Pants Purse - Denim with Red Floral Straps

Upcycled Pants Purse - Checkered Beige Pants with Striped Strap

Upcycled Pants Purse - Denim with Purple Floral Strap

Visit my Etsy Shop to see even more listings - and there's more to come this weekend! Next up to be restocked: aprons!

Custom Providence Collage

My friend Aaron recently moved to New York City, and since he's missing his old home a bit, he commissioned me to create a piece to remind him of Providence.

I created this paper collage of Providence's iconic Industrial Building. While I mostly work with fabric, I secretly love paper collage as well. I particularly love using paper with text - like these old flyers for a local arts venue.

I've never tried this type of collage before, but I think it came out well, and I was a little sad to see it leave my house, so I'm certainly going to make more.

What other iconic building (in Providence or elsewhere) would you like to see me create?

His & Hers Apron Set

My dear friends Erica and Keith got married this weekend! It was a beautiful, fun wedding that was so very them.

They were one of those couples that didn't appear nervous or anxious about tying the knot - they were cool, calm, and just really ready to start married life together. I'm so excited that Ian and I could be there for their big day!

Naturally, I wanted to make them a super special handmade gift, especially since Erica is a crafty gal herself. So I created a coordinated his & hers apron set!

{ his }

I bought two coordinated men's button down aprons from a goodwill shop, and created a manly design for him...

{ hers }

...and a feminine design for her...

...with ruffles!

I used pieces of each apron to create monograms.

And wrapped them up with a scrap of sage green ric rac (their wedding color!).

Congrats Erica and Keith! I'm so happy for you!

Super Special Milk Carton Coin Purses

I just listed these milk carton coin purses in my Etsy Shop. They're super special because they came all the way from Greece, courtesy of a very sweet creative pal, Irene!

So cute! Check out these and other coin purses I have available in my Etsy Shop, or learn to make one yourself!

Wardrobe Revamp Week 7: Take Two

Welcome to the real week 7 of my quest to revamp my wardrobe one outfit at a time, one week at a time. Last week I had a wrestling match with my project into the wee hours, so I decided to revamp my bedtime and postpone the project to this week! So here I am - picking up my quest to grown-up-ify my clothing, and have every outfit include something I created myself.

I started with this cute little number. I picked it up from my friend Kerrie at a recent clothing swap.

Unfortunately, it had a couple of stains that didn't come out in the wash. So in order to make it wearable, it needed to be transformed. My favorite part about the dress is the top - how the sleeves and the shirred bust combine. So I cut off the bottom of the dress, just above the stain, and added a whole new bottom with some teal jersey fabric that I picked up last week at Lorraine's.

It was harder than I thought. Hence, the struggle into the night. I think I took it apart and re-sewed it about four times - jersey fabric plus shirred top = wonky.

Even now, I can see about 18 things that aren't quite right about it. But isn't that always how it is? When you're so close in the creating process, you can see everywhere that you went wrong.

But I've decided to make peace with it. Even if I can see imperfections, I'm not sure if the world can tell. Besides, failure is part of learning.

On its own, it's not quite a grown-up outfit - but I dressed it up for work today with a fancy black sweater, earrings, and heels. It's all about owning it.

Have you made something that wasn't quite perfect? Did you move past the imperfections?

Shirt Cuff Luggage Tags

Since I started making aprons out of men's button-up shirts, I've been holding onto the parts of the shirts that I don't use for aprons - the sleeves, collars, and cuffs - hoping that I'd eventually find some way to transform them into something useful. I think of it as "using every part of the buffalo" - if I'm truly going to transform a shirt, I need to use every part of it I possibly can.

So the shirt cuffs sat next to my sewing machine for a month or two before I dreamt up these Shirt Cuff Luggage Tags.

I love how each shirt has its own personality when coupled with the vintage bias tape straps.

They also solve the problem of trying to spot your luggage from afar since they're so bright and distinctive.

And let's face it: aren't man gifts always the hardest? I think dads and brothers would look classy with one of these on their suitcase.

Pick one up in my Etsy Shop, or in person at Kreatelier or River's Edge Flowers and Gifts!

And if a man in your life cleans out his closet (thanks big brother for supplying me with a steady stream!) I'd be so delighted if you'd send them my way!