Sew Recent

I haven't listed any new items in my shop for quite some time. That's because I'm focused on embellishing clothing right now. In my experience, clothing doesn't sell well on Etsy. My wearable items get loads of hearts, but it's understandable that people want to try clothing on and see how it feels and looks.

At the StrangeFolk craft fair this fall, the first tree branch jacket I made was my most admired item. It was displayed prominently and drew people to my tent The jacket sold within hours. Before the delighted and adorable shopper who was exactly the right size, a dozen people tried it on and asked if I had more. At the time, I did not. Next time I will.

The first blazer pictured is from Maurice's and has a batik tree skeleton on the back. I chose to leave the front of this one untouched.

Next, is a decade's old menswear corduroy jacket with lapel and back panel embellishments constructed from a log cabin flannel print quilter's fabric.
I'm not sure how well men's jackets will sell, but I plan to have a few ready just in case. I fear the lapel diamond feminizes it, but who knows-- perhaps a fair lady will choose to buy and wear the jacket.
The last pictures are of a ladies J. Crew pant suit with a calico tree and leaf applique.
The pants were too hard to put on the dress form, but they match and prove a slimming combination.
I've got eleven more clothing items to match up with appliques (doves are coming up next) and then I'll have to shop for more. It's a great mix of labor and pleasure, this project!

Tree Hugger Applique Jacket

I embellished this great corduroy jacket with an applique block on the lapel, and a rockin' tree on the back.
This was one of those projects that had me squealing like a giddy child as I worked because it was turning out just as I imagined it would.
It took an hour and a half to draw the design and sew it on, during which time I became convinced of the need to raise my sewing table a few more inches. I have since stuck cans of tomato sauce under each leg of the table to prevent my posture from further stoop-damage.

InkNerd

I've always been intrigued by tattoos. I love art, and see it as natural that I should want to be a canvas. Here is the curated tour of my pieces.

My most delicate: My wrist is circled by a design I found on a "fancy dress pin" in a MOMA catalog. Brad, owner of Iron Age in St. Louis did the work in 1997.

My most ambitious: The tree on my back represents the seasons of life. Its roots are in the power of literature, and truth via Shakespeare's words. The bit with the naked angel was my first tattoo (1994). I wanted it incorporated to avoid a patchwork look, but it doesn't blend as well as I'd like. Cat did a fantastic, painstaking job on this. Find her at the Pain Station in St. Louis.

My most recent: the Celtic knot (originally done by Gary at Goldenlands, 1995) represents an endless continuum. The Koi represents my husband (a pisces) and the water represents my son (an aquarius). Work by Adya at Living Canvas in Columbia, MO (2007). I love it, and if I had a different day job, I might work it into a 3/4 sleeve.