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 :)