New style winter hat

After a long time thinking and working and tinkering and waiting for time I happened onto this new hat design.

I am sure there is still a lot of work to be done. But you can see the first three in this new series at Turtle.

This look feels fresh and new and I am looking forward to working more on this new idea.

Artists' Market at The Store @ DeCordova

The Holiday season is coming closer. If you need a handmade gift it is a must to go visit the Artist Market at the Decordova Museum in Lincoln.I just dropped off my scarfs, some berets and some winter felt hats.

It is so hard to photograph black. Sorry this photo is a big blurry!

Pieced flower beret

Here is something new I have been playing with. I was working on sewing circles onto berets when I suddenly started sewing the circles together! And look how it turned out!

It all looked just a bit flat to me so the hand embroidered small circle made it complete.

I really wanted the flowers to stand away form the beret ......but I was not sure that it worked as fashion statement.

Fun girls pants

I made another comfy pair of pants for the little big girl in my life.

I found this really bright green cord form Jo-Anne's and could not pass it by.

So I found inspiration here and sewed these.

I am also wondering and looking at these, stay tuned.

Again with just a elastic waist. I made sure not to make them too wide in the leg and I like the way they turned out. They have been through the wash and the applique is staying and fraying at the right places.

Fun Cat Pants

At last I had time to sew up some pants for the smallest or shall I say youger member of our family.

And how theme appropriate to have her wear cat pants today!

I found this great fabric at Jo-Anne's . It is a very soft , fine cord. She is going through a "I love Cats" period and seeing that we will not be getting a cat soon this was the next best thing.

The pants are cut from a pair that I made the previous year and I just added a inch and a half to the leg and a bit in the waist. She was very worried that I was cutting the old pants but had her first lesson in "cutting around" and "using as a pattern".

After they were done they did look a bit like pajama pants and that gave me the idea to have a cat face on the one pant leg. Not sure how long the whiskers will hold but we will see.

The waist is just elastic as we need easy access these days!

Happy Halloween!

Felt Berets

Oh wow it is cold today!

I am still working very hard on some fall beret's.

Last season I started the polka dot berets and they were very popular.

This year there is a lot of flowers form the recycled sweaters and then there is a bit of beading and some more dots!

Hope to get a few more done soon and load them onto Etsy.

Stay warm those of you entering fall!

Scarf weather

Just in time for the cooler weather that is coming! Here are some of the scarfs just delivered to Turtle.

Lime green and berry sparkly linen decorated with chenille ribbon and bias cut strips of polka dot taffeta.

Dove grey linen scarf with vintage lace and plastic red rings.

Super luxurious double velvet green scarf. Vintage flower and fabric accents

This has got to be the best scarf I ever made! Almost kept it in the closet for myself. Wide, Lavender, vintage, velvet ribbon and a vintage copper bow. ( I have had this bow for over

15 years ... find a good home bow)

Fun washcloths

I have recently made some of these washcloths for the kids and decided to makes some for my Mom's visit that is fast approaching.

I used just pieces of left over cotton for the bias strips and this makes for a very colourful display.

I made two of these bigger with loops, so it will be easy to hang. I just extended the bias strip, made the loop and continued the sewing.

There will be a lot more of these made as gifts, they are fun and quick to make and looks great!

Sneak Peak #2

Today showing you my fall scarfs I am working on. I have had the linen for a long time and finally started making scarfs last week.

I love how some of the colours have a bit of a shimmer.

( You cant really see it really well in the photo , but the scarf has vintage beads at the bottom and LOVELY French vintage trim.)

These scarfs will work really well with a denim jacket or paired with linen pants.

I made this patchwork scarf last and think there is more to come in this idea.

Sneak Peak

The summer has been quite busy but I am so keen to show you a sneak peak of what I am working on in the studio. This year I am felting wool sweaters from Savers. This has given me so much pleasure. Not only to "hunt" for the right colour but also to reuse the sweaters and i love the texture these sweaters add to the basic beret.

I found such great buttons at Brimfield this year and plan to use almost all of them.

The other interesting thing is that the pieces that gets cut off from a sweater can turn into.....a hat!

Not sure if this will be how this hat will turn out but here is a hat in progress.

If you see the siding of my house, yes I took these pictures in 3 minutes while the kids were doing this:

Baby quilt and gifts

A while ago we were very lucky to have the arrival of a new baby girl , no not in our house but in a household that we know very well. So I had to send her a little quilt of her own. The quilt was a very last minute idea(when are they not) but so much fun to make.

 I kept it very simple and got all the fabric from Jo-Anne's . Front all cotton and back matching flannel. The quilting itself took a long time , but I am pleased with it.

Also for my friend Kate I made this plastic bag holder. Yes I know we are all suppose to be more green, but if you have kids with diapers you have some kind of plastic bag to dispose of it all. 

She phoned one day with a request and it was fun to remember my mother in law's one hanging miles away.( Maybe she needs a new one.) I love this fabric and now I need to make myself one too.

Oh and please notice my new labels!.

Nothing better than a sequin cape!

Around two weeks ago I had a request from a certain boy that he was in need of a sparkle and purple velvet cape. Oh and it had to have a lightning bolt on. Needless to say I had to make one for his sister too.

Three night ago he gave me permission to " work though the night until I finish the capes"

Well I had to do it!

The fabric is from Jo Anne's . I do still want to change the piece around the neck to a bigger piece of fabric  that rests on the shoulder and fastens with a press stud. The elastic and button does pull around the neck.

So here are the capes.!

New summer hat

I have been so busy sewing for the house and the kids and the family but I finally got around to making a new hat. 

Yes the colors are strange but works really well together.

Who says you cant wear a hat with a purple polka dot brim?

Available on ETSY.

I know there is sunny weather out there.