Epic Purse Journey

This is going to be a multi-post tale.  I have started working on yet another purse.  I am going to finish this one.  I am notorious for half finished projects (all over the house).  But, I have decided to set a goal to finish one project a week.  It's doable.  We'll see.

In any case, I am not a seamstress for sure.  I still haven't figured out how to sew a straight seam.  Doesn't seem like it should be hard, but alas, mine are meandering rivers of thread.  So this purse is a nice, functional rectangle (with wavy sides).  But, its not about the form, but rather the dazzling, sparkly beads.  Oh yes, everything needs beads, or paint, or both. 

After I cut out my nice, simple rectangles, I worked some metallic acrylic paint into the fabric.  I was aiming for a muted blend for a cloud-like effect.  I kept the paint thin enough so it didn't coat the fabric, but it still added a little stiffness to it.  Copper and teal is one of my favorite color combinations and alot of my projects seem to gravitate towards that scheme.

I love quilts because the chaos comes together to make a finished piece that works and is complete.  I don't think I will ever aspire to quilting, but stitching bead patterns appeases the quilt appreciation and is also something I can do.  I am alot further along than this pic (hence the multi-posted nature), but I need to upload the photos from work tomorrow.

Take care and wish me luck in completing this one...

R

From Toasters to Batteries

One of my favorite stories "about me" has to do with why I left art school.  In retrospect, I know I shouldn't have thought I could find balance between the practicality of providing a living and a steady job with the freedom of artistic expression.  With me, the creative aspect was compromised.  But we live and learn. 

So in any case, the story is how, after a particularly tedious assignment that focused on an advertising campaign, I determined I wasn't going to "prostitute my talent".  We were given three random items (product, slogan, and celebrity endorser).  My luck of the draw resulted in a toaster, Bill Cosby and a slogan to uninspiring to remember. 

(side note: the dog is getting too old to leave out at night.  The cold bothers him and he is just miserable the next morning.  He forgets this by the next evening, and whines incessantly to go outside.  Never mind the fact that I have taken him out 3 times in the last hour and also tried leaving him on the tie-out for 20 minutes.... He still needs to go out.  In fact, the way he is staring, wimpering and panting, I think his bladder may explode at any minute.  It is quite urgent, I am sure.)

I digress, sorry and back to the story;  There were numerous other reasons why I left (poverty, lack of family support, a cold environment, no heater in a drafty lonesome apartment, etc), but the main one I came back to was there was no passion for what I was learning.... and again, I wasn't going to "prostitute my talent" to sell toasters.  The moral of my story is.... last week, I spent two days setting up trade show displays for automobile batteries.  go figure.  I have learned alot in my career.  One of them is that once you have a trade, even if you don't have the degree, it is darn hard to leave the security of it.  But I can honestly say, I have never done a sign for a toaster company.  If that day ever comes, I believe I will dash into traffic. 

(side note: The dog finally laid down and is being quiet.)

Good night, hopefully more to come.

Rochelle

A First Post

The Green Velveteen... The idea behind it comes from the story of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.  It was a favorite of mine when I was younger.  I still remember watching the slide show version when I was in elementary school.  The tape would beep when it was time to advance to the next slide.  For some reason, I never received the honor of being the "Slide Controller".... Yep, I'm still pretty upset about it.  In anycase, the story is pretty meaningful in several ways.   I think there is a magic to it that tells us there is life in everything around us.  Then it goes on to say that there is always a chance for a new beginning.

This is going to be a short first post because I have a grand adventure planned for the day.  Autumn and I are taking a road trip to Eureka Springs.  We are pretty excited about it and ready to get started on the journey.  Although her hair looks like a bird's nest, complete with tinsel, she already has her shoes on and is ready to go.  I think we will get dressed and dry our clothes first though.

Hopefully more to come,

Rochelle