Back In The Studio Finally!!!

As most of you know, I am an artist at heart and love to be creative. Since I have spent most of the summer either traveling or moving, no time has been spend doing what I love most: drawing or sewing. My tables for the studio arrived last week (in pieces, in boxes) and my daughter-in-law and my son came over and put them together for me. Then my daughter brought over her sewing machine (an older model Singer) so I would have something to use until my sewing machine arrives from Alaska. So I finally got things set up and started working in there over the past couple of days. 

My first project was back to the Zentangle stuff I love so much. I wanted to make a card for each apartment in my unit to thank them for coming to my aid when I fell down some steps here on the 15th of September. So Here are the cards:

 

My second larger project is making purses out of old jeans. I went to the Value Village store and bought huge men's jeans for $4.99 a pair minus a Senior Discount. (Don't you just LOVE being a Senior???). So the cost of the jeans for a purse is about $3.50 each. Then a trip to Joann's  - which about blew my mind. The store and selection of cotton fabrics is monumental!!!!! I was in that store for 3 hours just looking at and matching cotton fabrics!!! I came away with enough for about 8 purses. I plan on putting two purse patterns together to get the look I want. 

The bags will be this pattern and they will have the pocket styling with the buttons as is shown on the next pattern. I hope to make a bunch to put up on Artfire.com and maybe sell them at an outdoor market around here in the spring/summer.

This is the purse pattern.

This pattern has the cute pocket details on the front

Another project that is simmering in the back of my mind is to make these cute Steampunk dolls. They have a materials list a whole page long and items that are very difficult to find and make. However, I'm very motivated to these so if you see any of these strange materials laying around, let me know. 

I have come to realize that without a place to be creative I feel lost and anxious. Living here in Seattle means I have easy access to the right tables and equipment at a reduced cost. My art table even has a built-in light table! My sewing table is wide enough that I can cut out patterns on 45" wide fabric without a problem. I am very fortunate!!!

I hope your day is filled with the things that make you happy and fulfilled.

Janie