October, 2010 ....

Wow ... the warm weather just won't quit! It's beautiful here but I'm ready to wear sweaters and go crazy, creating with WOOL!!!! Lately, I had to get an idea out of my head and it turned out pretty well .... faux boots - or, leg warmers in felted wool. This photo was taken as soon as they came out of the felting process ... sorry about the toes ...

Although no pictures are available at this time, I did try them on with a pair of open toe brown sandals and they looked cool!!! I'll be wearing them this fall with clogs and other shoes with or without heels ...

'Com on Fall!!!! I'm ready

September, 2010

So, it's September, 2010. Here's a bag that I worked on slowly , along with a few others, throughout the summer.

Regarding craft, this year has been more about commitment and dedication than any other ... if you still have the passion, hang on.

Those who care will still be there to appreciate your work and hope that you don't give up. So, don't give up!

But, you need to be wise about purchasing supplies and inventory. Plan wisely and use your down time to strategize and market wisely. You won't regret it because you will maintain an outlet for your passion - which truly is the priority!!!

Ok, so it's June ....

it's a bit hot and sticky; and, yes, Summer did hit us early... I still love to work with wool and felt it to make my bags.

Today I finished this petite green and fuschia rosette sack. It is soft and sweet with a detachable rosette that you can pin to your shirt, pants, jacket or even your hair. The center porcelain button was handmade by me too - it's pit-fired! And, there is a green and fuschia tipped interior pocket for a cell phone. All of these things, especially, the colors screams flirty summer action.

I'm ready for summer and I hope that you are too. Be sure to plan. Don't wait for fun to happen to you - it won't! Make it happen yourself!!!

Donation to Support Art Education Programs for Children

I just donated the green X Mark's the Spot bag to the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, New Jersey. They are planning their Spring fundraiser/auction to support their art education programs designed for children which run throughout the year.

I also donated a colorful striped sack to the auction of the Barn Studio for the Arts held at their recent Spring fundraiser for the same purpose.

It feels good to help promote the arts in our community and that there is interest in My Bag.

Guitar & Wine Bag Update ....

So far, so good! The most important thing I learned starting lessons again is .... if the instructor is wrong, it's not you - go find another instructor!

I lost all hope after my first lessons 8 years ago. I thought that this was one thing that I could never master (understand this though ... I don't think that there is anything that I can't master, it may take me time and I may not be the best but I will surely give it my best!).

Anyway, things got busy in life back then and I wrote myself off as hopeless, at first. In the back of my mind I knew that I would try it again but still believed that something was wrong with my ability to understand.

The only thing difficult about guitar lessons now is building up the strength in my hands and getting them to go where I want them to go. I am back on track and ready to play a few songs this summer on my back porch ... even if it will only be for the birds, our 3 dogs or my husband to hear ....

While I'm at it ... here are more wine bags ... making them should help with strength training in my hands .... right?

Wine Bags

A necessity and more popular than anticipated. Yes, I'm working on wine bags ...

My husband makes wine; and, ironically, racked his this weekend when I released my first planned wine bag, embellished with one of my ceramic buttons of course.

A few people have ordered theirs and I started production last night.

I love the feel of them and they are very strong, providing a nice bumper/buffer for the bottle - not like some of the whimpier wine bags on the market. They are a great accessory too! I feel a little more pulled together carrying it into a BYOB restaurant ... knowing it's one of a kind puts a spring in my step.

Guitar lessons ...

OK - so the first lesson was great ... but the responsibility lies with me to practice. I practiced tonight and beat myself up for being such a goof ... my brain and my fingers are not working in concert. Funny, I can sculpt, create with my hands and experience such difficulty keeping my fingers on the right string ... grrrrr! Maybe my frustration will be short lived if I keep at it ...

Oh my aching wrists ....

Last night I was working on more buttons (applying terrasigilata treatment to greenware - this involves applying the clay mixture and buffing to the highest shine I could get) while watching the Oscars. I worked the entire show .... yikes! This morning I had a hard time driving because my wrists and arms were hurting. Didn't expect that ....

Here are some finished buttons and I'm ready to pit fire a bunch more along with some beads. The weather is getting warmer and for me not condusive to working with fire ...

I have others which I will photograph in groups soon that are grey/blue. Those photographed here came out brown/black/gold with some of the white stoneware showing through. I think that they are AWESOME!!! Little sculptures ....

Ceramic, Pit Fired Buttons & Embellishments ...

Well, shut my mouth ....

Another color lesson for moi.

My bags are on display at the bookstore where I work (Bogart's Bookstore & Cafe, Millville, NJ). I took down the brightly colored selections to display my neutrals because the neutrals seemed to be in demand this winter season and I wanted to give them full attention before I decided to switch things up for Spring. Well, my hanging display became invisible and lost it's vibrancy ... all because of color, and the fact that they are in a funky little bookstore with soooo many other things to look at.

I learned that the color differences actually complimented rather than detracted from the display in this particular environment. I had to view it for a few days in this state before I (and others) got it. Interesting! The outcome probably broke some marketing/display rules spouted by the experts in some classroom somewhere but that's just what we found with this unplanned experiment. But, I think that the thing to remember here is the environment in which they are being sold - highly competative visually, so the display had to be equally attention grabbing.

And, you might think that the differences make it difficult for the consumer to shop or make choices ... it seemed to actually help and focus their thoughts on their own unique style and that of friends or family who may also be interested in the product - it made them think and realize that maybe I could satisfy different tastes and they should keep checking in ...

2009/2010 Gallery Photos