Flower art

A friend asked me recently to consider creating a piece for a charity auction coming up for a great agency she's involved with volunteering for. I told her I'd mull it over -- what would I create, and how could I best represent what I do at this type of event?

I starting playing this weekend, and my process evolved through some sketches and well, taking out every fabric I own and throwing it around the family room, and voila! I came up with flowers on canvas. Now, I do not think these will be the final pieces for the auction but I am liking the direction. It seems to have a fun, whimsical feel while allowing for tons of variety in color, texture and feel.

I am wondering, how do these feel? Are they kitschy, fun, different enough to look like my art, but feel thoughtful and finished enough to work in an art setting?

Chevron burlap wreath with fabric flowers

So this was going to be for my entry way...I just love it, and I didn't think I ccould part with it. But, more often than not I am just so curious about this Etsy process that I have to see if something will sell -- or just have interest. I think I should probably just be a market researcher? I am fascinated with colors and trends and what interests people enough to make them feel like they really want something, ya know? Of course, it is either that or I am just completely overthinking the entire thing. And anyone who knows me knows it could very well be the latter. 

And you know what? If someone snatches up this one, I'll just make another! Right!? I can't stop making flowers anyway, and I have an entire basketfull already! If you are interested in seeing it in the shop, you can see it here. Thanks!

Pleated pillows.

I love, love, these pillows. So much so that I rearranged my entry hall just so that I would have a place to put them! The funny thing is they started out to be a tote bag, which I found a tutorial for in this darling sewing book I picked up a few weeks ago. But, after painstakingly measuring, pressing, basting and fusing the pleated panels I could bear to ruin them trying to peice together the rest of the bag! I am just not a confident enough seamstress to risk screwing it up! So, instead I cut peices to make pillowbacks and Gracie and I stuffed them, and voila! I was happy to have scraps to add fabric flowers, since I am obsessed with them these days.

I think they're too cute to put up on Etsy -- I am going to have to keep them! But, now that I know how to pleat -- watch out! I am sure there will be more to come very soon!

Rock chalk flowers

I had my first custom flower order! My mom. I know, but she had a really cute idea about wanting KU flower pins for some of her friends. (That's the University of Kansas for the non-locals.) And I whipped these up the past couple days and was pretty excited about how they turned out! If you are interested in a custom flower order (team colors, or anything else for that matter!) please email me! I'd be happy to accomodate!

Pillow for little e

So, I did attempt to make a capital E shaped pillow for my nephew Ethan. Fail. It turns out the horizontal strokes of the E do not stick straight out -- either not enough stuffing, or not thick enough fabric. But either way, I went with this approach instead. I used the iron-in interfacing to add the e, and I like how it turned out.

I of course then had to make a fabric flower headband with these same fabrics. It is for Maggie, but Gracie is modeling it. I am trying to decide what I should do next with the chevron? I've got a yard or so left. What do you think? A pillow for our house? A skirt for one of the girls?