Blue Jean Cuff

I have been going in some new directions with my fabric jewelry... I have to keep exploring & experimenting with different techniques to stay fresh and engaged!

I had a great linen jean jacket that I hadn't worn in years but hung onto because it was so unusual and high quality; made in Italy. I tossed it in the washing machine, probably shrinking it a bit but didn't care; it was the easiest way to clean it!

By using all the neat bits and bobs like the button-holes etc. it carries me in it's own direction... I like that. When given a new texture or color palette to work with I come out with a new look naturally...

This is the one I am most happy with so far. It is around my fifth attempt and my thinking is maybe I will try another color field for the next one.... do a monochromatic series... yes, I will try that.

New Vintage Textile Cuff

I have been busy sewing, getting ready for the up-coming Cabbagetown Arts & Crafts Show. It is held each year in Toronto, Ontario, the weekend after Labour Day. It runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a beautiful park setting. Approximately 160 exhibitors are selling their work in this juried sale. All we need is good weather to ensure thousands of visitors. This year I will expand my line of goods to include greeting cards, wrist cuffs & chokers. The work has been evolving lately; designs are more free-form and by hand dying some of the lace fragments the color has shifted to a more nuanced palette. This cuff is one of many new pieces I will have for sale. I will be adding more posts leading up to the September 5th. event, documenting the ups and downs of preparing, setting up, selling and recovering from a weekend in the 'craft show world'.

Front Page Treasury

It is always a thrill to be in an Etsy Front Page Treasury! Here, my 'Western Cuff' is part of TeaCupElephant's 'Hey, I'm No Square' treasury list.
It is quite a unique narrative piece, depicting a couple of cowboys. If you read an earlier post in this blog, on the history of barkcloth, it mentions how this American West motif was popular in the 1940's.
As of now the cuff has still not sold although it has many hearts on the Etsy site. I guess it is waiting for that perfect buyer to come along... (just click on the photo to see a larger image size).