CRAFTOPIA!

This Sunday, April 10th is CRAFTOPIA! It promises to be a great event.
Of course, having a show means making many new things! Here's a peak at what you'll see in the MAKE.GOOD shop at CRAFTOPIA! Did I mention it's in Pawtucket Rhode Island?
You gotta go!

Napkins everywhere!

The title of this post says it all. There are, literally, napkins all over the studio. They make great christmas gifts, so I'm making as many as I can to have at the SOWA Holiday Market in a couple of weeks. Thought I would try some new bold colors to brighten up the collection a bit. They still need the finishing touches, but do you have a favorite?

Little plates, little plates.

It's the season for being home, staying in, and cuddling up to cozy things. Nesting, we call it; the phenomenon that comes when summer ends, bikes get put away and the fire place once again becomes the center of the home.  It's the season for holiday celebrations with family, eating well, and eating plenty.
I love designing and making handbags, but as an architect I have a soft spot for anything home related. And about a month ago I realized the shift in my customers from wanting bags to wanting things to make their nesting time more beautiful. They are no longer wanting to buy hip bags and totes that remind them of how far away next summer is, but instead are searching for pillows and linens in tactile fabrics and warm colors. And so I happily shifted my focus to the HOME COLLECTION. There are pillows and linen napkins. But the latest addition is my favorite, adorable 5" dessert plates, hand painted some with dots others with branches! They are perfect for winter parties and make any food feel extra special. Which color is your favorite?

open.market

Big news! 
MAKE.GOOD studio will be at SOWA Open Market next weekend September 25+26!!! This is a great weekend outdoor market that features many handmade wears, music and food. What makes this weekend even more exciting is that it's also South End Open Studios! You can stop in artist's studios and see their work, meet them and buy art.
I am over the mood about having been chosen to participate. It's a big step for my little operation and a great way to get my handmade bags and home collection to a broader audience.
I'm working extra hard this week to have lots of new bags in great winter colors. I'm also planning a great GIVEAWAY that weekend so don't miss it... I look forward to seeing you there!

seeing.dots

Ah, dots!
My obsession began toward the end of last year with this and this experiment. Simple dots, all in a row. There is something so beautiful about that simple graphic gesture that it surprises me every time.
But, never satisfied, I wanted to see where this simple beginning could go.
I usually find inspiration in the object, tools, scraps around me, just lying there on my work table. I pick something up and see what happens.

In this case, the orange/red dots reminded me of berry branches. I took the edge of my circle template, rolled on a bit of gray paint with my finger, pressed down on the fabric and voila. A branch is made. The plastic template allowed for a natural curve and human "error" made the charming little skip in the paint. You just can't get that from something manufactured.

And the final product! Berry Branch Hemstitch Linen Dinner Napkin