After a busy fall 'season' all but two of the bags from my previous post have been sold. Here are a few of the recent batch I've been working on. More pics on my FB page in the album ArtBug Bags.

I just can't seem to figure out how to 'wrap' my text around these pics. someday I won't be so illiterate.....

I've also been making some really fun quilted vases (w/ glass inserts). They are a great way to use up those batik scraps that I just can't bear to throw away!!

The holidays have been hectic -- we had a great First Friday/Open House the beginning of the month and have been frantically sewing ever since. I'm planning a coat for a show in California with my friend Rachel Clark with the theme 'It's Called Classic for a Reason'. We each choose a classic design, designer, or pattern and give it our own personal twist. I'm using a semi-vintage (1975) Vogue Paris Original Christian Dior coat pattern and will be adding some needlefelted accents to the blue/grey twill wool. Must get through Christmas though!!!!

                                                                                                                                                                 After a fun week in California celebrating my mother's (and her twins'!) 80th birthday I got back into the studio to catch up on some bag production.  I love all of them, maybe I should just keep some and use a different one everyday?  :)

Guatemalan w/ batiks & leather

It's gotten colder the past couple days. Today it felt like a Weaving Day! So, I've threaded up the loom with rayone chenille and will be making some scarves.  A nice afternoon to pop in a movie and stay where it's warm...

African Mudcloth & Lamb

rayon chenille makes the BEST scarves!

more Guatemalan cottons

larger Mudcloth totes

I spent TWO months on TWO projects.  Normally I would have whipped them out in a couple weeks, but these customers knew (or didn't....) exactly what they wanted and we went through a number of modifications before the physical matched the picture in their heads :)  

 The first version of the wedding dress was full with an asymmetrical hemline, it ended up being a much more fitted affair by the end :)  Lots of changes, fittings, ripping, but finally the king sized tee-shirt quilt and the wedding dress left the building.  whew...    Now I am about a month behind on my production pieces. Late nights await.

I have 14 new bags cut out and ready to sew for the fall/holiday bazaar season.  Time is limited, so I need to put my nose to the grindstone.  African Mudcloth, Guatemalan handwovens; Dutch wax batiks, Bali batiks, I just love these ethnic fabrics mixed with the Italian lambskin.                

A few posts back we were all excited about our studio. Throughout the winter it was wonderful, until the cardio-kickboxers moved in last March.... Long story short, we started the entire process over and have moved one door to the right, to what we hope is a long-term relationship!! After about 3 intense weeks of gutting, painting, and moving we are again back in business :) Same amount of area as the last one, but with a slightly different lay-out. I think it may actually end up being better for us. We have a small kitchen; lots of storage in the back; a separate area for wet projects. It's nice to be settled and creating again! I am simultaneously working on a commission quilt; a wedding dress; quilting a friends placemats; and designing bags for the fall. Lots to do, and a wonderful place to do it in :)

My latest ArtBug Bags: I've decided to give each style a name! the ClutchBug and the On-the-GoBug; the HoboBug; the ToteBug; and the Beachbug. Every time I finish a bag I want to keep it! Maybe it's the ethnic fabrics, or perhaps the supple lambskin, but they are so fun to make and I like each one more than the one before. I am experimenting with various patterns and styles, the possibilities are endless......

Robbie's quilt - way later than his graduation! This is what you do when a boy says, 'My school colors are black and gold, but I also like red/white/blue'! Found that gorgeous paisley border in my stash and it just fell together from there.

Corlis at her machine and a view of the cutting table. Things are coming together and we are settling in, organizing, and finally working on fun stuff again!

My space when it was tidy! Now that I'm in production mode things have gotten a bit out of hand! Leather/batik bags, pashmina shawls & berets to felt, lots of projects in the works. Gearing up for holiday sales and perhaps an Open House!