Polyester Junction

Visit Me At My New Home

2008-05-20T10:38:00.013-04:00

Just want to let you all know that I have a new home, so feel free to visit me at the new blog: www.tracyville.blogspot.com. I also have a new website: www.tracyvart.blogspot.com. Pop on over and say hi. The cast of characters and I will be waiting for ya!

Plush, Plush, Plush!

2008-05-10T08:54:00.020-04:00

From the ProoodinThorpes Series, l-r: Nzinga, Erdelobos, Indeeoh

Also part of the Proodinthorpes series, l-r: Maila (Trixie's dog), Trixie, Millicent, Babette

The Country Girls

Hand Drawn Dolls

Top l-r: Christiane, Mina

Bottom l-r: Francoise, Marie-France (These are no longer in production. Sorry) .

I have some received emails this week inquiring about my plush dolls. Since I make so many, I'm not sure which ones some of you are referring to so I'm going to post pics of those I believe you're talking about. Have a gander and if you need more info, you know where to find me. :)

Joys Of A Good Ol' Crayon

2008-04-24T18:18:00.007-04:00

While visiting the family recently, I stayed days later than I'd planned (as usual) and I didn't bring any art supplies this time but I found some of my little cousin's crayons and an old book belonging to another cousin. This was the result of that union. :)

New Softies

2008-03-28T00:38:00.008-04:00

I haven't posted dolls in a while, so I felt it time to show some of my new plush babies - better known as the "Carney Creatures". These will be added to my new website that will launch in

mid-April.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T03:14:00.016-04:00

H A P P Y * BIRTHDAY * P A T R I C K

Happy birthday to my little, handsome, blue-eyed brother who was born on St. Paddy's Day so, so, so many years ago. (lol) Just kidding, bro. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and I'm so sorry I was mean to you for many years when we were little. Happy birthday. I Love you.

The Affair Continues

2008-03-14T00:47:00.008-04:00

My love affair with the medium of collage continues with these pieces. Above is titled "Original Detailed DressMaking". Below is "Chic Club". Both are 8"x10" and will be available on my new website which is now under construction. I anticipate a mid-April grand opening date. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Anniversary

2008-03-13T23:30:00.024-04:00

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HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO MY LITTLE P. J.

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It just occurred to me that March is a very special month indeed. Not only is it my birthday month but it also marks the one year anniversary of this blog. I really can't believe it - one year - gone so fast. I must say that I'm a wee bit proud that I've stayed committed to the thing. So... happy one year anniversary little blog!

New Work - Collages

2008-03-05T14:04:00.006-05:00

I've been attracted to collage for a little while but the painter in me just couldn't get comfortable with it. I've been really focused on it lately and working at it and working at it and I think it finally feels right. This mixed media collage is called "The Clearance Sale" and it was made utilizing recycled papers of many types.

All About Troy, New York - Part II

2008-02-22T18:50:00.013-05:00

Ok...The beautiful colors and that incredible window to the right. Must I say more?

Once again, the colors.

This one totally reminds me of my days in France...love it!

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In the previous post, I mentioned how taken I was with the architecture in Troy and here are some photos I took of these yummy buildings. Oh, and I must give a shout out to the awesome folks at one very good Mexican restaurant located at 465 Madison Avenue in Albany called "El Loco Mexican Cafe". I was sooooooo ecstatic with my delicious meal. Then, I turned around and saw all the accolades they've received for their food. In a conversation I had with my friendly waitress (did I mention that people in this area are super friendly?), I was told they'd been there since the 80's! The 80's people! I guess that alone says how good the food is. By the way, it's 7pm and it has been snowing all day in my part of Massachusetts. Incredible... and beautiful!

All About Troy, New York - Part I

2008-02-19T01:59:00.030-05:00

A few months ago, I read a posting on Craigslist advertising for W. Mass artists to come to Troy, NY to partake in their monthly art festivities called Troy Night Out. Since I'm always looking for somewhere cooler to live, I took a wee jaunt to Troy over the weekend to see what was up and this is what I found:

Firstly, friendly people. I know people who couldn't give a flip if people are friendly or not but this is number one on my list of things to look for when considering an environment in which to live. The folks of Troy didn't disappoint.

The architecture also had the wow factor for me. I'm talking old, brick brownstones (which I love, love, love) and these cool rowhouses (that's what I call them). I've seen the inside of some of these places on Craigslist and they were just incredible. High ceilings, tin ceilings, moldings, charming character beyond belief AND exposed brick... exposed brick! I'll be posting some pics I took of these beautiful buildings soon.

I also found this wicked cool, indie gallery called Kismet Art Gallery (www.kismetartgallery.com/) and the shop proprietors, Michael + Christina are super friendly and should be very proud to filling a need in the community for an indie gallery and shop. The space is huge and they've got a diverse, happening selection of handcrafted goods that range from art to plush dolls. The gallery space is large also. Thanks guys for the info on Troy and the stickers (seen above).

Troy also has a large farmer's market (www.troymarket.org) that doesn't close down for the winter. How awesome is that? It goes indoors for the cold months and returns outside in the spring. And the list of participating food, herb and artisans is truly impressive.

I'm told by all I've spoken to that Troy Night Out (www.troynightout.org) which is held the last Friday of every month is HUGE and this month's happenings on February 29th, will mark the one year anniversary of this great event, which will make it even more special. The last thing I'm going to say about my visit is that the art community seems to be rather supportive, which ain't easy to come by folks, so to all the artists and supporters of the arts, keep up the great work! :)

Dame Shirley Bassey

2008-02-15T14:13:00.012-05:00

I have very recently discovered You Tube (I know...I know...I always come late to the party) and, as a result, have rediscovered the immense talent that is Dame Shirley Bassey. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this outrageously talented woman, she is a Welsh singer who has had a career spanning some 50 years. There are still people in the states who don't know her but I can't imagine anyone in Europe not knowing the voice behine three James Bond films that include Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker. Her voice is huge....HUGE and she just turned 71 last month! Take a look at this beautiful woman. She seems to defy age and time and everything we're told we're supposed to be and look like at a certain age. Don't be mistaken, she works out and who knows how many years she's been doing so but the photos speak for themselves. She has remade the Pink song "Get The Party Started" and the whole concept for the video is incredible! The bottom most photo is from that video. Check it out on You Tube and if you don't already know her, introduce your ears to the moving, controlled, immense, intense voice of Dame Shirley Bassey. Happy Friday! :)

New, Updated Look

2008-02-06T00:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a bit due to computer issues. For some reason, I've lost all of my uploaded photos, some of which I've had uploaded for years. While I try to figure out how and where to retrieve them, I will leave you with a new, updated look for Polyester Junction and some fun paintings that are part of a public art project that I'm currently working on. (The only reason I can share these pics is because they were scanned in. I really don't know where all my photos went. Thank goodness for scanners). Enjoy!

New Year, New Projects

2008-01-30T14:03:00.001-05:00

Wow! So much has happened and been accomplished in a mere month. I have a new project in the works - a public art project which is a bit odd because I am not a public artist. It's receiving a positive reaction from folks as far as Northern California. I am both shocked an elated about this but I'll give details as it progresses. I have been painting like crazy because I realized that last year was spent on the crafty side of things and this year I want to do more painting and mixed media pieces. Anyway, here's one of many pencil sketches (on a cereal box) that I did at the family's house while on my long, enjoyable holiday with them. Okay... I'm really obsessed with cereal boxes lately... and the bunny you see below...what can I say?

The Muse

2008-01-11T17:42:00.000-05:00

I guess it's safe to say at this point, that Bucky Bunny Boy is indeed my muse. I've never had a muse and when I think of this word, I usually think of a living human being - that is female - not an illustrated bunny that belongs in a book or cartoon. Anyway, he has become my muse since, I believe, July and as you can see from these handmade business cards I've made from cereal boxes, he isn't going anywhere any time soon. I have bigger plans for ol' Bucky. Oh, and yes, I am extremely intrigued these days with repurposing cereal [and other foodstuff] boxes into whatever my mind can conjure up. Happy Friday. ;)

Sweet Baby Loves His Plush Doll

2008-01-08T00:38:00.000-05:00

How cute is this photo of a two year old clutching the monster doll he received for Christmas? So, sooooo cute. I named the doll Rok when I made him but sweet, baby Logan renamed it Josh, which I found so much more adorable. His mother was so grateful for this doll because it turns out that little Logan has been waking up every night like clockwork, jumping into his mom's bed but since he got "Josh", he's been sleeping all night like a charm. So glad my doll could make him feel better and thanks to Logan's father who emailed me this photo. It made me feel so good to know my work could have such an impact. :)

"Josh" before he got adopted by his best bud.

New Blog Devoted to My Plush Dolls

2007-12-17T18:36:00.000-05:00

These recycled babies - the Carney Creatures - were the inspiration for creating a new blog devoted to my plush dolls. They are part of the Carney series I started in July. Their name comes from the fact that they are reincarnated from jeans, skirts, wool sweaters and other recycled fabrics. Every thing is recycled except the polyfiberfil stuffing.

This is baby "Shii" (below) and "Xuxa" and they have 11 other brothers and sisters up for adoption. They include Rok, Bloo, Oik, Pip, Tib, Bink, Gloob, Luk, Flek, Min, and Joop. You can see the others on the Polyester Junction Plushomat blog at http://www.polyesterjunctionplushomat.blogspot.com/. Enjoy. :)

Funky Christmas Stockings

2007-12-14T00:36:00.000-05:00

Here is my take on the Christmas stocking. Funky indeed. :O

HandMade Pledge

2007-12-12T02:21:00.001-05:00

Pledge to buy handmade this holiday season to support indie artists, crafters and designers. To find out more about this pledge, you can visit http://www.buyhandmade.org/. :)

Even More Sale Items - Bags

2007-12-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

The "Less Than 15 Days, Less Than $15.00 Sale" continues. I'm starting to feel like one of those commercials where the guy says "ok, folks...everything must go" because he has to make room in the store for new inventory. That's about where I am. It's just incredible how much inventory I have. I really had no idea. When you make and make and one day, you go through the boxes and it's like you have a store. I just have to shake my head. :) Anyway, here are a couple of funky bags for the taking - only $10.00. Email me if you want something - polyesterjunction@yahoo.com.

More Sale Items / Funky Pincushions

2007-12-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

The perfect stocking stuffer - handmade, funky, one-of-a-kind pincushions with hand drawn illustrations. Approximately 4" x 4" though some are a wee bit bigger. All are $5.00.

Holiday Sale Starting This Week / Door Hangings Only $5.00

2007-12-10T02:17:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to tell you that I will be having my first sale here at Polyester Junction - the "Less Than 15 Days; Less Than $15.00 Sale". You now have less than 15 shopping days left and I'm giving things away for less than $15.00. I did inventory over the weekend and I have way too many items and not enough studio space to house them in. Plus, there are new items that I have to make room for. Feel free to email me if there is something you'd like to have - polyesterjunction@yahoo.com.

These holiday door hangings are all made from recycled, natural fabrics like cottons and wools. Cute is the word I'd use to describe them but they are also organic and crunchy looking, which is quite unusual for me as I am very meticulous and uptight with my work but this was an exercise for me in learning to be a bit more freeform and less rigid, (hence the unsewn seams). This was the result and they are on sale for only $5.00. Happy Monday! :)

New Dolls On The Way

2007-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

This tattered piece of paper may look like nothing but for me, it was a sight for sore eyes because it's a sketch I did weeks ago of these two characters that I decided would have to become new Carney's.

This was a piece of paper that ended up at the bottom of my bag that I took for yet another "to do" list but when I finally opened it up over the weekend after weeks of being tossed around, I saw the sketches on it and nearly freaked because it had of course become tattered, crumpled and most stunning - pieces were missing...eek! I had a clear enough picture of the guy with the mustache. While parts of his legs and arms were missing I remembered how they looked but the other guy was completely missing and I had no memory of what his face looked like - just his shoes and hands. So I maniacally searched the bottom of my bag for missing pieces and carefully taped them back together. Here's what I found. My boys are beaten up but at least I know what they look like and can bring them to life in plush form. Phew! That was a close one. Stay tuned. :)

New York, New York

2007-11-28T19:22:00.000-05:00

Wow... time really does fly. I can't believe I've been away this long. T'is the season to be a little elf and what do little elves do? Why, make things of course. Hats, gloves, scarves, dolls, dolls, and more dolls to name just a few of the things that have to be made for Santa and holiday shows but I did get in a little time to visit my beloved NYC - the day after Thanksgiving of all days. It was madness ... overwhelming, delicious, madness. I loved every minute of it - hangin' with my cousin, the most fabulous cup of coffee from the Bridgeport Train Station (who would'a thunk it), the lines, the Christmas tree, the holiday windows, the subway, the Union Square Holiday Market, the pastry from Juniors (when did Grand Central station become so fabulous?)and most of all ... the hordes and hordes of people. Loved it. :) I've decided that my New Year's resolution is to figure out how I can live in that city without having a truckload of roommates and without going broke.

Crazy 2 Weeks

2007-10-10T15:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm back...physically, anyway. It's been a rough couple of weeks. Packing, moving, and on top of all that, my mum had surgery. Phew! It's over and thank God she's doing well. The saga continues because now it's time to unpack and find all my stuff. Not complaining though, because mum is great and that's all I care about. Here are some new aprons and product tags. These aprons may look like those from the September 10th post because they are in the same color family but they are different.

In the coming weeks, I will have all new stuff in my etsy shop (as soon as I find it all). I'm gearing up for the holiday season which is wicked busy but my favorite time of year. Can't wait to get started on all of that fun stuff. :)

Think Pink!

2007-09-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

Feeling a bit pinky today. Don't know why. I should be feeling blue considering I'm in the middle of moving. :) I've shown you the green pillows, now here are the pink ones. They're in the etsy shop. I've thrown in a pink painting just because of the pink theme. Happy Thursday!

Thank You Treat!

2007-09-21T19:54:00.000-04:00

I want to thank Derilyn at Treat for highlighting my work on her fabulous blog. It was the first non softie blog to feature my work and I was pretty excited. Check out her great, inspirational, design, artsy, kick-butt blog at http://www.treat.typepad.com/.

Ugly, Yummy Polyester

2007-09-21T00:12:00.000-04:00

look at that tan + white pattern...love it!

also lovin' the cute pink + white floral pattern

Woke up Sunday morning (yes, this post is tardy due to photo upload issues) with one thought pounding at my head ... Polyester! Had to run out to see the "fabric lady" at my local flea market and her stock did not disappoint. Found some things on top but then starting digging through bolt after bolt and found gold. Just what I was looking for, Poly and her sister Ester. I was craving some really ugly polyester. You know ... the kind of polyester you see in the photos of your grampy in his favorite ugly poly pants from way back when. I love that ugly, ugly polyester. To me, it's delicious. I didn't find the ugly stuff but was still happy with my discoveries. Can't wait to dig in. I'm having visions of dolls, christmas stockings, hats, mittens and maybe some bags. Yummy!

Inventory Findings

2007-09-19T12:29:00.000-04:00

hand drawn coasters

patchwork pincushions w/hand drawn appliquesThe ProodinThorpe Family of plush dolls

Here are some of the inventory items I came upon yesterday while packing. Some of these goodies will find their way over to etsy the first week of October. Enjoy.

New Items in Etsy Shop After 10/1

2007-09-18T11:17:00.000-04:00

Over the next 2 weeks I'll be packing and moving, so I will post all new items after October 1st. This whole process has allowed me to see just how much inventory I have. I came across things I'd completely forgotten about that had all been neatly packed away awaiting the day I had an online shop. I found cat dolls, bird dolls, girl dolls, indian inspired dolls, wallets, pillows, eyeglass cases, christmas stockings and ornaments, some funky, textile wall art - all kinds of stuff. If I do any holiday shows this year, I have plenty of inventory to work with. :)

Polyester Junction + Etsy

2007-09-14T00:31:00.000-04:00

Sorry ... So excited to actually have an etsy shop that I had to say it again ... even though I already mentioned it below. Yaaaaaaaaaay!
www.polyesterjunction.etsy.com.

Carneys Are Headin' Over To Etsy

2007-09-12T00:12:00.000-04:00

Celestia : Magda

Myrtle : Gingko

The Carneys are leaving Carneyville for Etsy. Well...some of them are heading over to etsy. I can't let all of my babies go. For those of you who don't know the Carney story, they are my latest series of plush dolls who include Myrtle, Valentino, Gingko, Gumbo, Magda, Doodlebug and Celestia. The Carney name derives from the fact that they were reincarnated them from gently used fabrics like corduroys, t-shirts, skirts, etc. I love recycling and thinking of new ways to turn one thing into another thing. Here are 4 of them. I think Myrtle will stay with moi. I love her. She's an odd looking girl but that's what I love about her. Also, she was my first Carney and, thus, has my heart. Enjoy!

Etsy Shop Up & Running

2007-09-11T00:10:00.001-04:00

Ok...It's 12:08 am and I've spent the better part of the day...oops...I mean yesterday working on an etsy account and now I can say I have an Etsy shop ... finally! :) You'll find coasters and sachets (like those above) and so much more. Feel free to open the door and come on in to http://www.polyesterjunction.etsy.com/.

Aprons

2007-09-10T14:52:00.000-04:00

I've never owned an apron in my life but almost two weeks ago, during an after dinner clean-up, I looked like I'd been in a wicked, water balloon fight with about 20 5 year olds. Lightbulb moment ensued - perhaps I needed an apron. Off to the sewing machine I went and here is the result. Now, I want to make a truckload more - in every color!

New Product Line, Chapter 3, Pillow Talk

2007-09-07T00:49:00.000-04:00

For all of you pillow lovers, have a gander at these green delights. All cotton covers with an envelope back for easy removal of the pillow insert. The above pillow is a mod design in shades of green, blue and off white. The pillow below is done in a patchwork of three different fabrics - the mod green to the right, a green paisley to the left and a solid darker green on the bottom right. Passe un bon weekend. :)

My Art Porfolio

2007-09-06T12:40:00.000-04:00

I just created a portfolio of my work on a wonderful site for artists to showcase their work called Warm Toast Cafe. I felt it necessary to do so since this blog mostly focuses on the crafty side of my work. For those of you who need a portfolio, check it out. You can see my paintings and collages at http://www.warmtoastcafe.com/art/tracyv/.

New Product Line, Chapter 2, Smell This!

2007-09-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

SACHETS: Here are more new goods for the home. These sweet, petite, sachets are filled with the most wonderfully fragrant lavender ever - and it's organic! I've worked with lavender on other projects in the past and was a bit disappointed with the weak scent but this new lavender is really going to make the drawers and closets smell good. I guess organic is better! I was so happy with my herb purchase that I have to share information on this shop with you. It's called Acadia Herbals (http://www.acadiaherbals.com/). The owner is an herbalist (who also makes fabulous soaps), so how great is that for all of you herb lovers out there?

New Product Line, Chapter 1, Roller Coasters

2007-09-02T00:47:00.001-04:00

COASTERS: Here is a wee sample of the new products I've been jawing on about. They include pillows, aprons, coasters, sachets and more. These cotton coasters are 4"x4" and the bottom is done in a contrasting color from the top. Enjoy!

Creative Thursday

2007-08-30T18:16:00.000-04:00

How nice is Marisa at Creative Thursday? Umm...very! Compliments are always good, especially when they're coming from a bigtime artist and blogger. Thanks, Marisa! I'm glad you like my product tags. :) See her fabulous work at http://www.creativethursday.com/ and see the tags she's talking about in my August 22nd post.

Personal Pillows

2007-08-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

Every now and again, I get around to making something for myself. The thing with me though, is I am easily bored with seeing the same contents in my home. But today, I'm liking and having big plans for these pillows.
Next week or next month...who knows? Some very thrilled and appreciative friends will be happy to inherit them. :)

The pillow on top was made out of new and recycled fabric scraps of different lengths and widths that I sewed into an appliqued, patch-work square. The yellow pillow is a cotton, mod fabric that I've loved and had so long. They were scrappy pieces of all shapes that I knew I'd use one day. The backside of both pillows are from a recycled sheet purchased from a thrift store. The green pillow is from new fabric I recently scored from a flea market that I now regularly frequent.

Funky Pincushions

2007-08-27T13:31:00.000-04:00

These are the "baby" pincushions I spoke about earlier. The "mama" pincushions can be seen in the July 30th post. The designs are hand drawn and appliqued to the tops.

Flickr

2007-08-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

I am now on Flickr! Yay! The old school girl who knows nothing about technology is finding her way around the computer folks. Websites, blogs and now flickr...wow! I finally got around to creating a flickr account yesterday and I received a lovely compliment from Carambatack (aka Annette Mangseth) who likes my tags. This, too, is exciting because this woman makes the most fabulous, out of this world tags. They are just beautiful! Check them out at flickr under the name Carambatack. Wish I could show them to you but I'm not quite there yet...don't know how to upload photos from other places. Here are a few more of my handmade tags. Actually, this batch isn't quite done and I think some will be made into business cards. Happy Friday folks!

Recycled Handmade Tags

2007-08-22T00:37:00.000-04:00

I have a new line of products (pillows, coasters, aprons, potholders and sachets) coming out next month and I've been sweating about tags and labels the past couple of weeks. Being a painter and not a graphic designer, I don't know much about the various programs available to make whatever and I don't really want to order labels and tags. Since I'd prefer to keep with the handmade feel of things through and through, I realized I may as well do what I am familiar with - make them myself. Here is the result. Enjoy!

I combined my two favorite elements with these product tags - the handmade element and recycling. I utilized things like brown paper bags, cereal boxes and saltine cracker boxes.

Timely & Free Acquisitions

2007-08-21T17:21:00.000-04:00

I am so psyched! I hit some tag sales over the weekend and hit the jackpot - a guy who didn't want to throw away a huge amount of vintage craft magazines and books. I happened to be there at the right time to skip away with my new collection...and I'm still skipping :) :)

Fabric Acquisitions

2007-08-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

It's 4:51 on Tuesday afternoon and this photo finally uploaded. (whew!) All day I've been caught in a digital-photo-upload-nightmare. I haven't posted because I didn't want to take the time to figure it out but since I have a new line of goods coming out next month, I had to tackle the problem. Anyway, I acquired some new fabrics from a flea market over the weekend - a striped polyester (bottom), a pink polyester (center) and a beautiful green cotton with a soft almost baby blue woven into it. I was so in love with the green that it inspired pillows and other projects that will be available for sale in September.

2 Loves - Pincushions & Dandie In The Underworld

2007-07-30T15:01:00.000-04:00

I'm having a love affair with pincushions right now. Shown are the "mama" (7 1/2"x7 1/2") pincushions but I'm working on some newer pincushions - the "baby" (4"x4") pincushions that are both cute and funky. I love them because I get to draw, sew and make them all so different - love that. I just dropped off seven last night to the one and only Dandie In The Underworld - the coolest, hippest, most unique store ever. Even its location in the alley is cool - or I should say, the owners made it cool with their fabulous flair for the creative and their fierce use of recycled items. I've never been the shop-til-you-drop type of girl but I went in this store once to drop off my first shipment of goods and almost couldn't find my way out. Every corner of the store was enchanting to look at. I love handmade and of course anything recycled because of the unique, one-of-a-kind factor. For me, this is the kind of place where I could forget where money came from and buy, buy, buy! Enjoy!

Arty Potholders

2007-07-24T20:29:00.000-04:00

Here are some arty potholders for the viewing. They've been crocheted and have hand drawn illustrations appliqued to the front.

Giving Thanks

2007-07-13T01:01:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Softies Central for hightlighting The Carneys in their July 9th post. I love that feeling of visiting someone's blog and you don't expect to see you work but there it is. It's a wonderful feeling of shock and excitement. I also received some love from Steven who resides in my beloved London. Of course, I had to visit his blog, Steven's Happy Accidents. I love his colorful, upbeat work.

Enjoy the latest addition to the Carney family - mon petit DoodleBug. Plenty of other Carneys have tried to beg, borrow and steal DoodleBug's hat. Some have even offered to buy it but this dude is not letting it go at any price. He even sleeps in that hat. S'amusez bien!

Myrtle and Valentino

2007-07-06T14:43:00.000-04:00

Myrtle is the first Carney I made and, therefore, she is the matriarch of the clan. I love her ... maybe it's because she was my first born. :) The arrogant Valentino sits next to her. Since they're seated, you can't really see the cool boots they're wearing but trust me, they are pretty darned cool. Enjoy!!

Carney Bios

2007-07-06T13:59:00.000-04:00

I made up some tags for this series of dolls but I wanted to make something a little different... something other than paper, so what did I opt for? Well...fabric of course. I hand drew the doll faces on a petit piece of muslin, hand wrote their bios on the back and topped it off with a fine satin ribbon to go around their necks. The blue photo shows a handmade, muslin label sewn to the backside of each doll...just so you won't forget its name. :)

Welcome to Carneyville

2007-07-06T00:05:00.000-04:00

The story on the Carneys is this: I'm a big recycler ... love turning things that don't work anymore into things that do work. That's where the name came from - the fact that they were reincarnations of fabrics that were once something else. They were not inspired by circus or carnival folks... although some of them do look like circus freaks. There are currently 6 Carneys in the series and all are one of a kind made freehand, not from patterns. The two shown here are Gumbo on the left and Gingko on the right. You may recognize these two from the sketches below - Gumbo sketch posted 6/11 and Gingko sketch posted on 6/23. Enjoy!

A Carney Debut

2007-07-05T22:21:00.000-04:00

Finally. . . Finally I have pictures of the Carney's and finally I bought a digital camera. This is the longest I've gone without posting but I've been making stuff like crazy and I've been procrastinating using the camera since I got it a few days ago because poorly written directions and figuring out how to use new technology are not my favorite things but I've been at it for hours now (it's now 10:27pm) and have had some snags along the way but I'm happy to have figured it out, so here they are making their debut...The Carneys.

Potential Carneys

2007-06-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

I do believe that it's time to invest in digital camera. I promised some real dolls from my "Carney" series on Friday but the photos are just not to my liking. Simply put, they're crud. Crud...Crud ...Crud! So all I have today are more sketches ... sketches that I am turning into dolls at this moment. I was reviewing my sketchbook and came across these from 2005 and thought they'd make perfect "Carneys". This is what I love about sketches, I know that one day I'll be able to use them for something. S'amusez bien.

The Carneys Are Coming...The Carneys Are Coming

2007-06-11T11:38:00.000-04:00

The quirky, goofy, oddball, groovy, funky "Carneys" are on their way. I was waiting for their semi truck to pull up in the driveway, when I remembered that while I can't get any photos until they get here, I do have some rough sketches... and here they are. Stay tuned! Oh yeah...I also have some super, funky, baby quilts on the way, so come back this Friday for those. See ya.

Handpainted Totes

2007-06-04T00:54:00.000-04:00

I haven't shown any bags for a while, so here are some colorful, handpainted totes to brighten your day.... hopefully :)

Unfinished Happiness

2007-05-29T02:17:00.000-04:00

This girl puts a smile on my face every time I look at her. If she was a real girl, I'd definitely want to be her friend because .... well .... she's happy and she doesn't seem to be transporting any negative energy. I love her face and I'm going to love her even more when she's finished. She's hanging out by the sewing machine patiently waiting for that day. Have a delicious Tuesday.

Thanks Andrea!

2007-05-28T00:54:00.000-04:00

I met the wonderful Andrea over the weekend - the creative force behind the www.cre8ivejuice.blogspot.com and www.smallmuse.blogspot.com. She was so sweet to share some much needed information for this new blogger. I can't say how much I appreciate it AND she hooked me up with some linkage. Yay! Thanks, Andrea. :)

Desert Love

2007-05-27T00:43:00.000-04:00

Here are two more of the Mojave Memories series I spoke of below. There are six in the series all measuring approximately 11 1/4"w x 11 3/4"h. They are burlap on wood, mixed media pieces.

For The Love Of Orange

2007-05-24T01:32:00.000-04:00

These are the newest paintings that are part of a series called Mojave Memories which pays homage to my desert upbringing. I just realized that much of my work of late has been rather orangey. Love orange. Hope you do too.

Potholder Art

2007-05-23T12:32:00.000-04:00

The potholders are finished! I have about 16 one of a kind designs but unfortunately the photos were of poor quality and too small to post. I managed to get two designs that were decent enough to show you. These potholders can of course be used as they were intended to be used but if you don't have the desire to use them in the kitchen, they can be hung as is and framing is another option.

Bucky Bunny Boy...Again

2007-05-22T12:33:00.000-04:00

Here's Bucky Bunny Boy from an earlier post. As I mentioned before, this quilt is still being worked on because if you look at this photo of him as compared to the one below, his eyes are straight ahead and in the other photo his eyes are looking at the tree. I'm trying to decide which I like better.

Pincushions-A-Go-Go

2007-05-21T00:34:00.000-04:00

In this larger view of the pincushion, you can see the different types of fabrics used. The handmade appliques on this pincushion include the girl with a striped cap and a blue & brown peace sign in the upper right hand corner.

I'm happy to finally have photos of all the projects I've been working on these past weeks, some of which include these pincushions. They are made from all types of fabric bits sewn together and then I appliqued some hand drawn designs to the fronts. They are all approximately the same generous size (7"x7" or a tad larger) because small pincushions have a way of disappearing in my studio, so I have developed a preference for a nice sized pincushion. Also, I have stuffed them to the brim because the polyfiberfil will settle a bit. This item will soon be posted in my webstore along with details of the product. Have a glorious Monday folks.

Bucky Bunny Boy Paintings & Quilts

2007-05-20T22:47:00.000-04:00

The above mini quilt is still being worked on. The white chalk outlines will soon be replaced with white stitches. The background squares are done in shades of gray with a black and tan border. When it's done, it will either be mounted on wood, framed or sewn to a contrasting backing to be hung as a wall quilt. This will soon be for sale in my webstore.

This little fellow, whom I've named Bucky Bunny Boy, followed me home a few weeks ago and shortly thereafter became my muse. I thought it was he alone who followed me but apparently a female followed his tracks to my abode because a whole family of these cuties have found there way into my work - making appearances in my paintings, quilts and wall hangings.

Oh Happy Day

2007-05-10T23:02:00.000-04:00

Well folks, it was a lovely day in the New England territory. Sunny, very warm and simply glorious. And the night was equally as lovely. Just before 11pm, I took in some air out on the back porch and the sky was soooooooooooo beautiful... indigo and tones of smokey gray with a couple of unexpected lightening bolts skidding through the path where stars normally huddle. Soooooo beautiful. Did I already say that? Some new plush for the viewing. Gotta get back to that sky. See ya. By the way, the bird on the right has a peace sign for an eye because he thinks he's cool.

Flower Girl

2007-05-01T01:47:00.000-04:00

I've been debating whether my next step should be to create an etsy shop. Hmm... website, blog, etsy, flickr... there's so much stuff one must do/have these days to get a business going. Another thing I must get is - dare I say - a digital camera. Ok. Have some pity. I'm the new kid on the block. I didn't even know what a blog was two months ago, so I think I've come pretty far in a short span of time. This is why you haven't seen the progress of the potholders I've been blabbing on about or the quilts or any of the other things my studio if filled to the brim with. It's all comin' 'round the bend. In the meantime, enjoy another soft sculpture. Her name is FlowerChild. Adiosito.

Soft Sculptures

2007-04-26T01:19:00.000-04:00

These are another style of work I do with textiles. I started making them in 2002 (if memory serves me right) and referred to them as soft sculptures for lack of another name to call them. They have been designed to be easily hung on the wall. The girls on the left are called The Princess Sisters (there are two more of them), the next guy is The Artist and the woman is Madame LaFleur. At 1:42am it's time for a wee bit of shut eye. Bonne nuit.

Freaks or Geeks?

2007-04-25T14:06:00.000-04:00

Whatever they are, I like these weird, odd, goofy, lighthearted, fun boys. Well, the clouds are having a jazz fest in the skies of New England - again! Later.

How Many ProodinThorpes Are There?

2007-04-24T02:29:00.000-04:00

Here are some more plush dolls from the series called The ProodinThorpes that I spoke of in a couple of March posts. The burly boy below is Farley. He's the bully who picks on Trixie (who can be seen in the April 5th post with her dog Maila) and all the other neighborhood kids. King Flooba Ha Ha, is the colorful, abstract, fellow who represents the artwork of the character Babette. Enjoy!

The Bee, The Fly, The Bird...and Mr. Mosquito

2007-04-21T19:57:00.000-04:00

Well, the troops are coming out. Yesterday bright and early in the morn, I stepped out on my porch with a delicious cup of coffee (my friend's tia makes for me when she visits from Puerto Rico - coffee on the stove - fabulous and strong - the best coffee ever!) when out of the corner of my eye, I beheld a flying creature coming closer to my left eye. Realizing it was a bee, I jumped up and anxiously got out of its way, interrupting my calm coffee moment. After I gathered myself and slowly dissolved back into my coffee space, a little fly replaced the travelling bee and I peered over to the right and saw the cutest little red breasted bird ever. The sweet little thing came closer and closer as I tried to stay still, so as not to spook it but she soon sped off in another direction. Moments later, yet another creature was buzzing so close to my ear, that it felt as though it was in my head. I recognized this particular buzz but I could not believe he, Mr. Mosquito, had come this early for a visit. Moral of the story - after all the rain and cold, I do believe that spring has finally sprung in MA. Enjoy the sun New Englanders!

Crochet Obsession

2007-04-18T14:06:00.000-04:00

I am so absorbed with the potholders I spoke of a couple of days ago. If I'm being honest, I think I'm a bit obsessed and in love. One of the many thoughts I had while making them is that I wish I had an employer who would allow me to sit in any old corner of any old room and just make stuff all day long and trot on over to his/her office on Fridays and pick up my check. Oh, how lovely that would be... if only...

Anyway, back to reality and the potholders. Ok...the thing is this. Crocheting is one of those crafty activities that sucks you in - completely. I mean you don't want to eat or shower or even get up from the chair. It's like you go into a realm where the only known things that exist for sure are you and crochet and you can't imagine anything other than doing the next stitch and the next until you have finished the project. I haven't crocheted in years and I tried to read the instructions from the book but then I got so anxious to start, that I threw the book aside, decided to read it another time when I wanted to do something more complicated and jumped in armed with the memory of the stitches my mother taught me when I was like 11 years old. I figured I could remember those stitches to, at the very least, complete a square. Much to my surprise, I did remember. Quite frankly, I think it was the obsession to see the result that forced me to remember something from so long ago, or perhaps crochet is like riding a bicycle. In any case, I've completed six so far but now the other fun part begins - to embellish them with something. I'll be sharing soon.

In the meantime, it just occurred to me that my blog title/description reads "a landscape of handmade goods and art" and that I have shown many goods but no art, so whilst I continue to maniacally make potholders, as well as about nine paintings, 2 baby quilts and 1 adult quilt, please enjoy some paintings. The left is acrylic on wood titled DoggyStyle and the right acrylic on canvas painting is called Delirious which is about how I'm feeling right now with all the projects I'm working on. Oh...who am I kidding?...I love it! Love! Love! Enjoy the day.

Colorful Coasters

2007-04-16T00:20:00.000-04:00

I've shown a wide variety of the various dolls I make, so I thought it was time to toss something else into the pot to mix it up. Here are some coasters that are so colorful and bright that they make me think of sunny days even when it's a torrential downpour outside like it is right now. Gotta run. I'm in the middle of a book that's showing me how to crochet some much needed potholders. It looks simple enough....really simple in fact. I should be able to handle this. I've made far scarier looking stuff than these. Wish me luck.

By the way, thanks Vintage Chica for your lovely compliments. I just saw your post. THANKS!

Little Punks

2007-04-09T00:10:00.001-04:00

I am so happy knowing that I started some new paintings today. I mean yesterday. I keep forgetting that I generally post after midnight. Actually, happy doesn't even come close to

describing what I feel when I have a good painting day because my painter self is sooo much more temperamental than my crafting self. I really don't like that word but I guess that would be the appropriate word. It was just a great day for painting. The colors were right. The subjects were right and it was all flowing and...well...right. There's is nothing more aggravating than when you think you've accomplished so much in your day in the studio and you step back, look at your work and are not happy with anything you see. Whew...I got that off my shoulders. Now onto the real purpose of this post.

If you're going only by what you see on the outside, these punk rock girls look pretty mean but you know what they say about judging a book. Look a little closer and you will know that these girls were dipped in honey because they're actually pretty sweet...and funny.

These little characters are unlike any doll I've made in that they are "hard plush", if you will. In fact, they are more like petite statuettes. I accomplished this by painting them after I stuffed them. I made 12 different versions for the 2006 holiday shows.

One other wonderful thing happened yesterday. I met Abby from White Paint and Ribbons who was a sweet'ums sending warm welcomes and great compliments. Who doesn't love that, I ask you? Thanks, Abby! Have a sweet day, folks.

Thanks Schmancy!

2007-04-05T01:37:00.000-04:00

I just went over to visit a couple of plush blogs before signing off tonight - or I should say this morning, as I just glanced over at the clock which read 1:36 am - and I saw my name on the links list at the Schmancy blog (www.plushyou.blogspot.com). I wasn't looking for my name, so it took me by surprise when I saw it. I know it's just the links listing but, still, can I just say how exciting it is to see your name on someone else's blog?! Especially for the first time. Ah... there is no feeling like your first time... THANKS KRISTEN!

Here are a couple of more plush for your perusal. The wide-eyed girl on the left is Trixie and her dog Maila. You can find more info on these two in my March 30th posting. Nighty night.

The Fashionistas

2007-04-03T01:35:00.000-04:00

Let's make a u-turn back to the dolls. I guess it's quite clear by now that though I am a maker of many things, I do so enjoy making a plush doll. It's such a rush to see something go from being just a sketch (this is my process, anyway) to becoming something tangible with the right color combinations of fabric and ultimately a personality all its own. I love that and I love how these girls look.

Christiane is fierce in her pink and brown shin length dress with baubles hanging off the bottom that skim her ankles. And let us not overlook her hot, high heeled, Mary Janes. Mina is clad in a red-orange dress accented with chocolate brown, swirly designs set off by her kick butt combat boots. The baby of the group is little Francoise who sports a green checkered skirt, white blouse with brown dots and her sweet, blue, Mary Jane flats. Marie-France, cousin to the other girls (did I mention that the other three are sisters?) enjoys a mod look in a yellow dress with brown and cream circles, flared sleeves and high heeled, pointed toed boots with swirly accents on the ends. These dolls are hand drawn, hand inked and made with a lot of love. Have a great day!

Other Stuff

2007-03-31T12:35:00.000-04:00

-Recycled Jean, Messenger Bags Embellished w/Hand Drawn
"Patches" -Black Pillows w/Off-White Hand Drawn Designs

I'm on my way out the door to go hunting - no, not little fawn or deer but furniture and other goods. Where I live, people get rid of stuff by leaving it out in front of their property for others to gather up for their own pleasure. After I moved here almost three years ago, I noticed this phenomenon of people scooping up other folks' discards and soon found myself doing the same thing. At first, it was just with one friend of mine and I must say that I was uncomfortable worrying about what people driving by thought of me picking up what many regarded as trash. That lasted about a minute when I realized, why should I start caring now about what others thought of me, especially strangers and especially since other strangers were by my side scrounging for stuff also. So I tossed all my lovely acquisitions into the truck and sped along my merry way to the next hunting ground.

When friends came for a visit they'd ask where I bought this and where I bought that. I'd explained that I didn't buy anything but instead received this and that for free. Now, a group of girls truck along the roads to go what I call "hunting". It's a great time hanging out with people you love and scooping up free stuff that is oftentimes sooooooo valuable. And I'm not talking monetarily, I mean something that has value to you for whatever reasons - because it reminds you of something your grandmother had when you were little or because it's vintage and you love vintage stuff. That's the kind of value I'm talking about. Some of my finds include an old, perfect wood stove, an absolutely, wickedly fabulous, sofa from the 60's. (I only know this because an upholsterer friend told me it was from the 60's and it was fabulous - as if I didn't already know the latter), a beautiful mid-century bureau, and more. I will get around to sharing some of these finds in the near future.

Ok. I went off on a tangent there but what I really meant to do was to show that dolls aren't the only things I make. So here is some other stuff. Have a nice weekend. I'm off.

Request For More

2007-03-30T17:39:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I mentioned that Payaso was from a series. Someone requested to see more from this particular series, so here are three more. From left to right they are Nzinga, Erdelobos, which is an abbreviation of his real name - El Rey De Los Bandidos (King of the Bandits) and Indeeoh.

The abbreviated story of these dolls is that they are from a series called The ProodinThorpes. Now, the ProodinThorpes are a bunch of wealthy sisters (I have like 3 of them made but I'm thinking that there are about 12-16 of them) who live in a huge, old, glorious victorian home that, like the sisters, harbors many secrets and undiscovered treasures. These sisters not only inherited large sums of money between them, they also [unexpectedly] inherited a niece named Trixie and her dog, Maila. The other cast of characters from and/or attached to this illustrious family include Millicent (the matriarch of the family), Babette (the baby sister who is an artist), Farley a neighborhood kid who taunts Trixie - or should I say attempts to taunt Trixie but he will soon find out that this little girl harbors secrets of her own. Farley has a brother and sister who aren't made yet but believe me, they are also bad - big, bad, bullies. All of the abstract plushies like those in this post and Payaso, represent artwork of the character Babette who, as I mentioned, is an artist. Those four are supposed to be her sculptures. Another of her sculptures, which is not shown here, is called King Flooba Ha Ha. Between you and me, I think his name is so cool.

By the way, if you're wondering why these dolls have such an in-depth profile, it's because when they were in the sketching phase, I felt as though they were characters from a children's book so it seemed natural to create bios for each. Enjoy.

Payaso Plush Doll

2007-03-26T01:33:00.000-04:00

Ok. Here's the photo I attempted to upload in my first post but wasn't able to. Sorry, I'm still getting the hang of this. When he was completed, he resembled a clown to me, so I called him Payaso which means clown in Spanish. This particular doll is a bit labor intensive, as are all the plush in this series but I really enjoy making dolls so I don't mind all the details.

Virgin Blogger Welcome

2007-03-24T01:35:00.000-04:00

A month and a half ago, I didn't know what a blog was. Alas! I now have a blog of my own. So on this, my very first post on my very first blog, I wish to say hello and welcome.

My plans for this blog are to share my work since I am an artist and to highlight whatever objects in the art, design, diy world that get my tail wagging. My work includes paintings, collage, and I'm also an indie designer who loves, loves, loves fabrics of all kinds - cotton, linen, wool, and even the most despised (is it the most despised?) and ridiculed of all fabrics - polyester. Yes! I admit it. I love polyester, especially vintage. They make the cutest dolls. You probably thought I made pink polyester suits for myself or something. But really, they do make super cute dolls, pillows and tons of other funky stuff. Most people don't even know it's polyester until you tell them but I keep the poly stuff for myself because many folks don't like it. By the way, I didn't name this site after my love of polyester. I just really like the way the word sounds.

Anyway, I entered a couple of my plush dolls in the Softie Awards Competition. My little baby, "Payaso" can be seen above and at www.softiescentral.typepad.com. If you see some cute, little, doll over there that catches your fancy, you can vote for it. It's unbelievable how many talented designers submitted their dolls and unbelievable how many countries participated! I was shocked because I had no idea this would be so huge. Good luck to all the participants and thanks to all the judges for their hard work.