I’ve been making new pouches–here are a few. I find this size so handy for storing all the tech cords and chargers I seem to need. But I am also looking at some new sizes–longer and thinner for art supplies and tiny for ipod or camera. I had lots of fun painting the images and matching the lining and leather tab. I’ll be putting some on Etsy soon.
Here are my new images which will end up on totes and bags. These boot-wearing birds are inspired by the trivet I got in France. And boots seemed fitting with the winter season coming on. I had lots of fun painting them and have visions of matching the boots to the leather trim on the totes.
In addition I got some new pottery at Clay Design, one of my favourite Toronto shops. The beautiful bowl and mug are by Denise Buckley–her colours and whimsical images are so appealing.
Yesterday my great friend and I spent the day at our favourite places in Prince Edward County. We ate our lunch on a picnic table at a deserted Sandbanks Provincial Park watching the gulls dive bomb West Lake,
saw some outstanding photography, ate our last Kawartha dairy cone of the summer and finished off with the best cappucino for miles.
Below are some new things to come out of the studio. The first mittens of the season–they are made from recycled 100% wool sweaters and lined with recycled woollen scarves. As well, the first zippered tote. I’ve been wanting to make one for a while–and I think this is perfect. I’ve stacked up some fuschia and bright blue leather for the next ones! Meanwhile this tote and several pairs of mittens are available at Bookhou–and I will be there tomorrow hooking on my giant rug from 2:00-5:00.
I have made two sizes of totes for the show beginning this week. The mid-size totes shown in the first two pictures are approximately 13″ x 14″ x 5″, the large ones are 17″ x 16″ x 6″.
These are made of heavy-duty canoe canvas and trimmed in leather. Inside they each have a zippered pocket. Most have leather handles that are long enough to go over your shoulder, but the red one seemed like a good everyday bag, so I put on a long adjustable strap and snap closure.
Last weekend I bought a half-bushel of tomatoes from our local market. In three batches, I turned it into tomato butter. I have been making this delicious sweet and spicy preserve every fall for ever. I first learned the recipe when we lived in rural Hastings County and had our own tomatoes in the garden. I still use our neighbour’s hand-written, tomato-spattered card for reference, even though I long ago memorized the simple list. The aroma, the hand-writing, the satisfying sound of the lids ‘snapping’ are all an essential part of September for us.
TOMATO BUTTER
10 lbs tomatoes, 2 cups cider vinegar, 5 cups brown sugar
3 T salt, 2 T cinnamon, 1 T allspice, 1 T cloves
Scald tomatoes, remove skins and chop. Add vinegar, salt, sugar and spices and boil for 3 hours or until the mixture is quite thick. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Seal in sterilized jars.
I am thrilled to have my work in Arounna and John’s lovely shop for a month. There will be hooked pieces as well as canvas totes and pouches, recycled woollen mittens and a little leather. I hope that you will drop in to see the work. I will be there hooking Saturday October 1st.
The red mid satchel was such a good size that I decided to use the cobalt skirt for a second one. Here it is–lined with more bird fabric from Benin, Africa–and a bird zip and open pocket.
Speaking of Africa, we started making our travel plans for 3 weeks of aid work in Kenya next February. More on that later.
If you signed up for the hooking workshop I will be giving at Bookhou, please look for an email from me today. I am really looking forward to spending the day, October 15, with you. We will be making a small trivet, but also learning about colour and values. I hope that when you leave you will be ready to rip up your old woollies and make your own creations! Above is one version of the trivet and a small exercise in colour and value.
My show at Bookhou starts next week! More on that and some of the things I’ve been making for the show soon.
Here are three versions of my canvas pouches. They are all screen-printed on various weights of canoe canvas with non-toxic inks. The middle ones are lined with polka dot cotton, the top and bottom have finished seams but are unlined. Some of these will make an appearance at the show in TO at the end of the month, others are bound for Etsy. Let me know if you like them!
Today I am making tomato butter and cleaning up the debris in the yard from the four flowering crab trees (long past their best) which we finally parted with this week. Beautiful day to do anything outside! Hope you enjoy it.
This is the last of the beautiful skirt I found in the spring. I was able to make the wendie pouch and a clutch and now this one. The first two have gone to cobalt blue lovers–this is the last one. It is a little bigger (6 x 8.5 x 1.5″) and has a zip and open pocket and a detachable wrist strap.
Fortunately I did find a second skirt and I am currently making a larger bag with shoulder strap, much like yesterday’s red mid satchel. We will see how it goes. It’s not as vibrant as this cobalt, but beautiful nonetheless. Recycled leather has its own story and has a way of letting you know what will work. This leather seemed bound for small hand-held bags for evening or jeans–for those occasions when you don’t need a huge bag of stuff. Your phone, cards, cash, keys and glasses will fit in here nicely with room to spare.
And Wendie, there was enough for your strap. It’s on its way to you!
