My New (to Me) Bernina Record 730

Since I have gotten back into sewing the past couple years I have lusted over a Bernina.  I have several (ahem, 8) sewing machines but none of them a Bernina.  Bernina's can be sooooo expensive (but I know they are worth every penny).
The past months I have done research on some of the older models (which I LOVE) and decided this was the one I  was going to go for.  I have been watching them on Ebay a lot, and most recently on Shopgoodwill . On Shopgoodwill, Bernina's aren't on there very often. Imagine my surprise when I searched and saw exactly the model I have wanted!
I had my mind set on a price range, and low and behold, I won the auction. I haven't been this excited in a looooooooooooong time (thanks to the "D" word).  I just got "Bernie" on Friday. She is so perfect. I was worried, although the auction said she had been tested and worked , you just never know.  She came with a bunch of presser feet, and the original case which is in near mint condition.  Other than a few cosmetic blemishes, she is in near perfect shape.  She functions beautifully!  The only thing that was wrong was one of the lever's were stuck.  All I had to do was apply a little heat with a hairdryer and apply a little Triflow oil  and it was fine. She is as good as new :)  She sews so smooth and is everything I was hoping for. According to what I found out online based on her serial number, she was built in 1970.

Another Bucket Bag

So I have been getting requests for bags from ALOT of people.  I am a huge perfectionist and have been nervous about  making some to sell. So I have taken the plunge. This is the first bag I have made.....and I LOVE it.  I am in love with  Lotta Jansdotter anything........I think I want to buy a bolt or more of each of her fabrics.  When my friend said she liked the color gray, This was the first fabric I thought of.  She loved it when I showed it to her.  Now I think I need to make myself a bag out of this looooooovely fabric :)

I even had my own labels made with one of my own face drawings. I love how they turned out :)

This is the Bucket Bag from Michelle Patterns.

The Seafarer Top

I have been eyeing this pattern for months..............I recently purchased some gorgeous knits from Girl Charlee and originally had another pattern I was going to use..... but I kept thinking of that Seafarer top over at Sew Much Ado.
So I went with that. I have not sewn with knits in quite a while, and for some reason I was nervous.  But this pattern made it simple, even including tips for sewing with knits.  After sewing this one, I want to sew a dozen more :) The top pattern itself has several options. I only had one yard of fabric and was able to include the neckband and waistband.

Bucket Bag using French Bull Fabric

I LOVE this fabric. I had to have some in my stash............but once I saw this Bucket Bag pattern from Michelle Patterns I knew that was what I wanted to use it for.  Easy to follow pattern ........I had this done in a few hours :)  The text fabric is from IKEA.

Staple Dress #3

This is my THIRD Staple Dress. I adore this pattern soooooooooo much. 
I was just crazy about this "Collage" fabric and have been waiting for it to come out for months. I knew it would
be perfect for this dress.  I whipped this up today.  These dresses are fun to make and just as fun to wear.  They are flattering on most anyone :)

It has been like.........forever

It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I blogged.  Its been a rough year, but I am back on track. I have actually done a lot, but have not blogged.  I have done some art, and have rediscovered my love of sewing. I have also done some quilting.   I hope to get back to blogging more regularly :)  Here are some of the sewing projects I have done the past several months.

Trois Personnages

New Assemblage I just completed! This one is for an art show at a local gallery that I am participating in soon

More Art Done

Did two more pieces today.........one very emotionally charged one and one fun whimsical one :)

I poured alot of emotion into the one, and after that felt sooooooo much better that I had to do a more fun  one :)
These are both around 12x16 in size
Mixed Media:
Charcoal , Acrylics, Spray Paint, Pastels, Caran D'ache crayons and ink.

Cat Lady

For some reason I have been into painting cats (at least yesterday). Here is another piece I completed, about 12x16 in size.

Happy Cats

Another new piece :)

Butch

I cannot think of anything other than "Butch" when I look at this dog.  I have been doing some painting today, and in a new style for me.  I am still learning along the way, but I am enjoying this!  Being a dog lover, I had to do one of a dog today.

This measures approx 11x14 and is mixed media

Hand In Hand

Just finished this small Assemblage-it is 4" by 6" in size and is Hangable :)

Untitled Assemblage

Finished this one last month, but with all that took place in the last month I forgot to upload this one !

Timpani Collage

The past week I have been so busy-helping my mom with my brother's affairs out of state.  I couldn't believe there was so much to do.  I have been mentally and emotionally spent.  Once I got home, I pretty much fell apart.  Today I have actually felt more at peace, and felt up to doing a little art. So, i decided to do a collage and since I have had percussion on my mind, I decided to use an image of a Timpani, which my brother played for the Symphony.  I dusted off my Gocco printer and made a screen of Timpani to use as the focal image. In addition to the Gocco print, I used vintage papers, gesso, watercolor, pencil, tissue and a dry transfer letter. I know its not the straightest photo, but you get the idea :)

Rest in Peace, Dear Brother

It has been a horrible few days. My oldest brother had a major stroke on wednesday evening. At first things seemed okay but it went into a bleeding stroke, and it was inoperable.  He died today, at 56 years old.  It has been traumatizing for my family, as this came out of nowhere. 
Today I have reflected upon some memories I have of him.  For one, he was a brilliant musician.  He was a Percussionist Extraordinaire. He was a Professor of Music. Music was the love of his life.
I grew up being around symphonies, and was always so bored by them. But it was because of that, that ultimately instilled in me a love of music.  It was because of him, that I had an amazing piano teacher for so many years. He never settled for anything other than the best. 
He was writing and illustrating a book all about drumming, and it was in the final editing stage. He was co-authoring the book with one of his good friends.  That book will now be dedicated to him.
We had such a large age difference that I didn't know him too well. By the time I was a toddler, he was off at college.  I wish I could have known him better.  But I know I will see him again someday.



Kirk Sharp
1956-2012

Back to my Collage roots :)

So I know I mentioned in a previous post that I was trying to get away from collage. sigh. Trying was the key word.  Truth is, I just can't. Its kinda where I began, and it runs thick in my blood. I have ALWAYS adored Randel Plowman's work and I recently picked up his book and it just inspired me to do it. After all, I have LOADS of ephemera and collage supplies. So I gotta use them, right? 
So in an effort to do art today I was drawn to collage.  Actually most stuff I do, even if its a miniscule piece, always has a collage twist.  I have not dug through my tub of ephemera and it was fun to pull it out and explore it once again. I was drawn to the flamingos-they screamed at me to be used today. I love pink flamingos and they have been on my mind alot lately as I have been seeing those pink plastic ones lately-you know, the ones you stick in your yard? My grandfather used to have some and I always as really crazy about them. In fact over the weekend I told my husband I wanted some :) LOL!!!!

5x7

Vintage papers, gouache, tissue, graphite and gesso on watercolor paper

Washi Tape to the rescue!

I have quite a bit of Washi tape-got it to use in my art journals. But lately I just haven't been doing any art journaling.  I made a couple of Dry Erase Boards out of picture frames, for my daughter's teacher and aide as thank you's. They just needed more-the black frame just wasn't cutting it for me! Then I remembered my Washi tape! Soooooo glad I have it on hand! It fit just right into the grooves of the frame to add the finishing touch! These are 5x7 in size and will just sit on a desk top. I hope they like them :)

Climbing Mount Everest

So for the past 4-6 weeks I have felt like I am climbing Mount Everest.  Some things in life have just taken their toll and I have landed flat on my back.  I hate dealing with the "D" word. Its something I have even avoided talking about until the last few days. Reality has hit.  I suffer from the D word. sigh. It runs in my family so its pretty inevitable anyway. I have been in denial about it for some time. But its time to face it.  I am facing this head on and I am going to fight it to the death.  Each day may be small victories, but I will fight this.  The only thing I really REALLY miss right now is my artistic muse. She has gone, and has been replaced by a fog. I sit and have loads of great ideas. Once I stand in front of paper or canvas, it goes blank.  Its the WORST! But I still "show up", draw some stuff in my Moleskine, and collect art supplies, so when the "sun" returns I will be ready to go. I try to rejoice in each day's small victories. I look back at my day and count all the things I accomplished (even though they aren't really art related at all).  As if its not lonely enough with the "D" word, I tend to isolate myself. And it sucks not having any family nearby. So I do this...........alone.

Basquiat style in my Moleskine journal

As mentioned in a previous blog post,  I have become pretty obsessed with all things Basquiat.

I have lost count of how many times I have watched his movie and documentary (I know them inside and out). Being i have studied his work so much, I thought I would try my hand at doing something his style today-except for using Gouache paints which I had forgot I had.
Gouache, paint pen, and wax crayon in Moleskine Journal

Accepted into California State Fair!

I just learned that one of my pieces  (Le Soleil) was accepted into the California State Fair Fine Art Exhibit! They only accepted 3 assemblage pieces, and mine was one of them! There were 1326 entries into this show and they accepted approx 181 pieces. I feel very lucky, and very honored, to be a part of California's most prestigious show!


My Statement for this piece:
When I began this piece, I just started with a few found objects, not really knowing where this would end up. I chose the "sun" object simply because it spoke to me that particular day. As the piece progressed, and I chose the photo as the focal point, the mood of the piece seemed to emerge. Smiling women & the sun, plus my use of color are reminiscent of a beautiful, sunny California day, which I wanted to convey.