Photo Challege to Applique

Have I officially lost my mind?! I am beginning to think so. This is more of a meditative thing for me than anything. I do challenge myself and take on way more than I should at times, but the great part about that is I am constantly learning. I am to create a bag using all scraps, using painting and stitching for details and accents. I hope this turns out and doesn't end up in the trash. So far I am liking it. The story on this challenge is that I received an e-mail this morning from National Geographic and photos of cherry blossom trees, I loved this photo the most and wanted to create something using it as a inspirational tool. I am still in the process of rearranging and cutting out the artwork so lots may change between this photo and the next. More progress photos coming soon.

Random Tote From Scraps

I wanted to utilize some of the brown vinyl scraps left over from the latest sunflower tote bags I made and decided that the vinyl would make a great looking tree. The waffle weaved pattern gives it some interesting texture. I am also digging into more tiny scraps cutting leaves and flowers and a couple of birds. I will begin machine applique some time today. If the wind would lighten up some more, I may be spending some time out in the garden cleaning things up and transplanting some of my perinnials. Progress photos coming soon:)

GROW Sunflowers Tote in Progress

Here is a picture of the final tote from yesterday(left). It is now listed in my Etsy shop for sale. It is priced at $98 + 9.85 for priority 2-3 day shipping. (Optional 4.95 for 5-7 day shipping). I am working on another sunflower tote bag today(right) This one says GROW. I just finished laying the artwork in place and will now begin machine applique around each tiny 1/2 inch leather flower petal and the small letters.

FRESH Sunflower Tote

This is just one of those examples of how my work just does what it wants to sometimes. I started off making a small zipper case and it developed into a tote bag. I kept picking it up and laying it down on the table , it was begging to be something different:)Here are some progress photos, I am getting ready to add the inside liner right now. More pics of final piece coming soon.

Clutch Progress

I started on another floral clutch today and will be posting the final piece sometime this afternoon, I just want to give you a peak at the colors that I am working with. I think that after this I am going to create another patchwork bag with the brighter fabrics. I really like the brights over the darks, although this red that I am using is soo beautiful, its got a iridescent sheen to it with a hint of teal green.

Silky Flower Clutch

I started sewing together a mixture of silky fabrics to create a new clutch. I am currently hand stitching small squares into random flower shapes and thinking of covering the entire bag with these.
I have become a little side tracked working on this one. A friend invited me to attend a Tea Party where I am to dress as my favorite Alice in Wonderland character so I have been creating my costume in all the free time I've had. I bought a dress at the resale shop and have been cutting it up into pieces and making lots of alterations to it. Hope that I am able to get some fun pictures of the party to share this weekend.
More progress photos of the bag coming soon!

Leather Mosaics

Armed with a nothing but a hand full of black and light yellow leather scraps, a bottle of glue and a piece of raw silk fabric, I am challenging myself to create a piece of art today. This one reminds me of the mosaics that I've done in the past and puts the itty bitty pieces to good use. When I first began laying the pieces down I was going to do a mixture of black and light yellow, then decided that it looked better with just black. I wasn't even going to originally have the raw silk upholstery background part of the whole,I was planning on covering the entire piece, but things just sort of developed on their own. Now that I have everything in place its time to start glueing. Stay tuned.... I hope to post the completed piece by tonight. The funnest part will be sewing around all the little pieces.

Mini Messenger Progress

Working on a mini messenger bag today with a colorful tree applique design. It's made with a remnant piece of striped upholstery and some scraps of leather, ultrasuede,vinyl and some left over painted fabric. No pattern is involved, I just started cutting random shaped leaves and the trunk of the tree; I really enjoy working this way and will be mixing together more scraps to make the final bag. I never really know what I will end up with. It just really depends on my mood at the time. More progress coming soon.

Owl Progress

I finally got back to working on my new owl bag this evening after an entire day of shopping with my daughter. She needed warm clothes; its been so cold here; plus you really don't have to twist my arm to get me to go out shopping. It was fun to hang out with her. We don't do it very often. I have completed all the cutting of the V's (his feathers) and the adhering to the background. After a little sewing I realized that the one thing I love the most about it is the frayed edging. Gives it a really fun look, especially around the eyes. I will be continuing around all the fabric on the body and will post progress pics asap. Hopefully it will be completed on my next post:) No hurry though. I am having fun with this one.

New Owl Tote Progress

I was in the mood for something fun and a little different last night, so I began working on a new tote bag with an owl, made from mixed upholstery fabrics. I talked to a friend of mine who is a big owl lover and she suggested that some owl bags would be a fun addition to my Etsy shop. She creates these amazing plushies... each one has a story, check them out here http://www.etsy.com/shop/paisleyannhome

Same Design, Different Color

I have been experiencing "Artist block" all day. It must be the acupuncture treatment I had this morning, I feel like taking a nap. Even though I drew out a new bag design in my sketchbook last night, I've had a hard time getting excited about it for some strange reason. I am having one of those days, so I decide to make the last bag design in a different color; make it easy on myself. Using dark gray leather for the background. I think the color is going to pop nicely. Stay posted on my progress here.

Applique Flower Tote

I have always loved applique work, so any chance I get to create something like this is exciting. I worked a lot on this one yesterday and wanted to post my progress photos here but Blogger was having issues and I couldn't log on. Here it is, already the day after and I am basically finishing it up. So much for progress photos, Its almost done. I will be posting it in my shop this afternoon and already thinking of the other colors that I want to do this one in. In this photo, you can see that I am working from my sketch book and have applied all the antique brass eyelets, ready to lace it up.

Final pics coming soon.

Cutting Petals

Cutting lots of petals getting ready to make some new bags.
I also have some new designs that I sketched out last night and will be starting on those this afternoon. I cant wait to post the progress.

New Large Teal Tote

I finished this amazing new bag this afternoon! First photo shows the progress of adding the eyelets and the beginning design. I love this color! These would be great in smaller versions too or even a duffel bag style.

Large Red Fabric and Leather Tote

I just finished a large red zipper top tote today. I have been working on it for a few days now off and on and am happy that I was able to finally get it done. I love the size of this one although I may make the height a little shorter for the next time around. Its a great size for everything and carries very nicely. I will be making more of these in a few different colors this week.

Featured in this Treasury

I was featured in this treasury on Etsy yesterday. This one was made by bijoullery.etsy.com

Here is a bag that I am working on right now. I will be making the strap and finishing this one up tomorrow.

Laptop Carrier Progress

I am making a laptop carrier/ handbag using this dark taupe vinyl. I wanted to create some texture so I decided to sew some vertical black stitching along the length of the bag. I will also applique some flower and leaf shapes to create a design element just under the flap of the bag. The first photo is taken of the original fabric cut without any design, then the next 2 photos show the design that I am creating.

New

A little sneak peak here...I started on a fun new project this afternoon. This one is going to be a tote. I added crystal rivets to all of the red flower blossoms for a little sparkly flair. I hope to have it finished by tomorrow and posted in my shop. ~ Back to work. Lots of new projects to come...

Custom Work

I'm playing with the new machine today. Its so much fun. Making a custom order for a customer at LaBussola. I love these colors she chose! Final completed bag and photos coming later tonight.

Fun With Paint

With my art reception only a few days away, I wanted to make a clutch to raffle off during the event. I am having so much fun painting these new bags. Great practice! I am so timid when picking up the brush because I don't do it on a regular basis. I think with more practice and continued effort I will be able to produce some really fun and different pieces.