I've Put Down my Glue Stick!

 Art by Molly Meng

Don't worry -- it is only temporary!
But I've discovered slow stitching thanks to the delightful Molly Meng, LA artist extraordinaire . I'm telling you, if you ever get a chance to take a workshop with Molly Meng, do not hesitate.
I had a wonderful time on Sunday slow stitching away and getting inspired......
check it out..

It was all about the slow stitching but I kinda felt like it was also collage using fabric. I am primarily a collage artist and I felt right at home with this.

Molly provided everything we needed including things like this -- beautiful, vintage tags from Basque Country for berets. 

All kinds of fabrics, included avocado dyed pink like this! Yes, you can use avocado pits to dye fabric and paper -- just google it.

Lace and trims and more dyed fabric, this time it was tea dyed.

Art by Molly Meng
She also brought some of her own work to inspire...

Art by Molly Meng

Art by Molly Meng

Art by Molly Meng
I think I liked this one the most....just lovely shades of whites and ivories with that red initial and a small patch of blue...

Fabric Book by Molly Meng
I am absolutely kicking myself for not taking the Fabric Book Workshop the day before the Slow Stitching. I was afraid it would be too advanced for me but I was wrong. I sure hope she comes back to San Francisco and does it again.
Are you listening, Molly?

Art Work by Molly Meng
I mean...just LOOK at this. This is the book unfolded with slow-stitched collages on six pages. It is really an inspiration.

Art work by Molly Meng

Art work by Molly Meng

Art Work by Molly Meng
One of my favorite pages...

Art work by Molly Meng
Another favorite
By now you are all ready to sign up, right? You can find Molly on Instagram at molly_c_meng.
She is on Facebook too and going to have her new website up and running soon. She gives workshops at French General (check the French General web site). If you're in Los Angeles, you're in luck. And, lucky SF, she is coming back to San Francisco in May to do a collage workshop at SF Center for the Book which is FULL.
BUT
here is her paper weaving SFCB workshop which is still open.
Better hurry....

I want to give a little shout out to San Francisco School of Needlework and Design where I took the slow stitching class. I just discovered it and I am so happy I did. Located downtown right between Saks and Tiffany -- can you have a more swank address? A delightful place to learn embroidery and all kinds of stitching.

Here is a link to the Fabric Book class where you can see what you -- and I -- missed. Get on their mailing list in case it is offered again.

SF School of NeedleWork and Design
Charming, oui? 
Ok, now are you in the mood to stitch? Or collage? Or both? Let's get busy!
I am totally inspired and have lots of ideas. A birthday trip to SCRAP SF helped too. I picked up some fabric to play with and some vintage sewing supplies. I even got my sewing machine working again and I can't wait to sew on paper. When I'm in I"m all in!
So, what do you think? You in too?

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Yes I Do Use Them ALL.........

A tiny break from PDX posts (but they'll be back).....today I thought I'd show you some of my favorite postal pouches.....
(and since so many people asked me on Instagram where I got these, I'll tell you the secret -- Belle & Union -- look online).

I am the lucky person who has a number of lovely friends who actually  MAKE me these zippered pouches -- just because they know I love them so much.
The fabulous Dori Singh made me all these and when I say they are in constant rotation, believe it.

Another mail art pal, CeCe in NYC, made me these three beauties years ago and they too are well used and well loved.
The nice thing about getting gifts like these from friends is that you think of the friends every time you use them.

Even with all the beautiful handmade pouches I have, I still buy them occasionally ...I am pretty sure you ALL have that Blue Q pouch (bottom).
And, even though i live in SF, I couldn't resist a SF skyline pouch I found ages ago in some toursit shop...since it's plastic it is good for leaky things.

Then we have the Tyvek pouches I made in my pal Monica's workshop....these are fun to make and fun to use too....
and with zippers from Scrap and re-purposing tyvek envelopes you receive in the mail they are practically free!

Collected and gifted from various sources....the two at the bottom are from Japantown....and that cool one at upper right I found on Amazon. It is quite a lot larger than any of the others and very handy.....

And, when in Paris......

My pal Patti ( pmarti5 on IG) made me the cool case up top....

You KNOW I have plenty of stuff to put in them...like this little notebook I covered with cool paper and carry with me because you just never know when you need to jot a note or make a list or get an idea...
I put my altered Altoid tins in some and mail art supplies in others....

....and rolls of washi tape fit perfectly in that kitty pencil case from Diaso....

OK -- and here are two for you!!
The Kitty pencil holder (no washi included) and the air mail pouch are up for grabs. Just leave me a comment about which one you'd like and I will randomly pick two people to send them to.
It's the least I can do after torturing you with these beauties.
BUT--remember--you can get out your sewing machine and make a pouch too -- or call a friend. Or, make a Tyvek pouch or two.
You can do it.
And, yes -- I really do use them all and I love every one.

Special thanks to my my very special friends who have made me pouches.
I love and use each and every one of them.

(Give-away Over -- winners on the next blog post. Thanks to all who commented.)

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Another Studio Sunday

I collect vintage French postal people....

Portrait of the wonderful photographer Imogen Cunningham (by Judy Dater) and two of Imogen's photos....

Deyrolle posters from Paris...

The little traveling typewriter
(thank you again, Kelly P!)

A friend sent me this very cool Stamp Craft (vintage) book and....

...the following week I found these little cards in an antique shop -- all made from stamps!
So charming -- and only $5.00.
Maybe I will try some stamp crafting....
(or, maybe not)

I can't help myself.....I love a messy work table....

One of my (four) beloved typewriters... 

I find art supplies so photogenic....

Some ribbons to tie up stacks of letters and wind around books .....


Sunday is Studio Day around here so I'm inviting you all over and take a look -- open drawers, look on shelves, move things around.....
Just had a great visit with an art pal and photographed her lovely studio so that's coming up soon.
I don't know about you, but I love seeing artist workspaces.
All kinds of fun around SF -- Vintage Paper Fair next weekend if you are local. Look for me there.
SF Correspondence Co-op meeting next weekend too -- open to the pubic.

Now I have to go make things -- it is Studio Sunday, after all...

What are you making today?

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