recent work

Do you know your stars?

I've been collecting lots of images and not posting. I've gotten out of the habit, and am trying to get back into it. I think part of it is that I used to diligently upload images to flickr and then post here, but the new flickr sucks. I hate how it looks and it's difficult to navigate, so I totally stopped using it. I'm wondering what you guys do- collect images on hard drives, print them out?

Here's some work I've made as weddings gifts and the VI is a baby piece. The stars were gifted to a wedding party in France! Each one got a custom note typed out by hand. The hearts are wedding presents too. I love seeing my work all done, but damn my arm is hurting. No joke!

Mollie Makes Outtakes

In the last issue of Mollie Makes #37 I contributed a constellation banner project. When I got the contributors copy I was so happy to see that they also included and feature story about me too! The headline, "Small yet mighty" makes me so happy. The issue is full of creative projects, and features my friend Jessica Pigza's new book Bibliocraft, and it even comes with a full kit(!) to make a hot pink argyle mug cozy.

I thought it would nice to share some of the images that didn't make it into the the magazine. I always try to sneak in a picture of my cats. It's a not so secret goal to make them internet famous. That's Bullet up there with a kitty fu manchu.

This is my favorite image from the bunch. I love this little collection of art and books from our living room.

You can purchase the Mollie Makes #37 with the full project instructions, and pattern here.  

Cats in Space...

and other thoughts on making...

Today Design*Sponge is sharing the fourth :) and final :( post in my Embroidery 101 series. I really wanted to go all out for this last project, so I made an epic constellation table runner piece. It's really not hard to make at all, just large in scale. It's almost funny how I always underestimate the amount of time making something really takes, especially when I'm simultaneously creating a pattern, instructions and documenting images for others to follow. My aim is to enjoy the making process & I really did with this starry piece (even though I cried out of maddening frustration when my sewing machine just would not to work anymore. Why machine, why?).

Here are some behind the scenes of creating the pattern and working on the piece. Bastian was really into rolling around on the paper pattern. I squealed with so much delight on seeing his goomby* face in space, his little furry paws amongst the stars...

Head on over to D*S for the full project, pattern & instructions. Woo woo!

* I always refer to Bastian as goomby. I've no idea where this came from, or exactly what it means, but he's so damn goomby & cute! 

Goomby: goo-m-bie adj. of or pertaining to the gooniest of goons. (© 2013 Jessica Marquez) ;)

06.22.09

i was request to make larger constellations. done and did here it is. usually its such a labor of love to document pieces, but tonight i really enjoyed photographing. maybe it's because i didn't have a plan and maybe i'm just excited to have a new piece in the shop...

hello 5" Orion constellations....

a thousand thank yous Update...

remember i did a give away for my 1,000th heart on etsy...well, the winner was Tracy all the way from HONG KONG! so excited to send something so far. I sent her one of my new little pieces called, Reading the Stars, a series of delicately stitched constellations.

I sent her Andromeda...

she also order a book and this image is from her blog. thank you so much Tracy!!
and...
i'm kicking myself for not bidding on this crazy great book/ lockets on the ebays.
damn you ebays- for introducing me to all the things i never knew i needed so bad.