Little Kimono Jacket

 My sister Amanda gave me a beautiful skein of bamboo and wool blend yarn. I used my new yarn swift and baller to wind it up into a ball, then proceeded to design and make this little jacket. I used blanket binding on the diagonal edges.

As you can see it could be worn open or crossed. I haven't added any ties, frogs, or buttons because I'm not sure which to chose. I think when I see a little body in there it will make more sense what to do. Meanwhile, I'm happy with it as is. It's very soft and I've already washed and dried it. I'm hoping it should fit her at about 6 mo. It's also very airy, so it doesn't have to be more than slightly cool for this to be comfortable.

Outfitting the Closet

The closet in the baby's room has built in shelves that aren't quite triangular or square. They are 16 x 16 x 14 x 6 inches--a very awkward trapezoidal shape. Using upholstery fabric given to me by Laura of Butter along with some scraps I already had, I made custom fabric bins. The bins are different heights depending on the shelf. Each is lined and has a cardboard reinforced bottom.

I thought the fabrics were all very pretty and extremely sturdy. All of the bottoms, interior and exterior are a chocolate brown velvet. While the walls aren't reinforced, once the bins are in place and being used they should stand up just fine. I'm very pleased with how these came out. Now, I won't have any wasted space because of the odd size and despite my being a very poor seamstress and mathematician these actually came out looking good!

Preparing the Layette

When January arrived I had finished making items for the fall shows and just barely finished my Christmas present projects. Finally, it was time to start making things for the baby. She's due in just four weeks now. The layette sleeper is my most accomplished item so far. I based the pattern on a sleeper I had received as a gift for her. It took a bit of thinking, but I figured out how to put an elastic in hem binding and weave that through the bottom so it stays stretchy. The top has an envelope opening at the shoulders. Designing just the right shape for the bodice pieces so it would fold correctly was a bit of a challenge too. I added a top stitch to the sleeves so they wouldn't be so plain and the body, below the bodice, is worked in a stitch that stretches both directions - more like a knit garment. (Go here to see Lena in her outfit!)

Prior to starting the sleeper, I made this little set. I needed to feel like I was making progress, so I whipped up a little hat and matching booties. Having never made booties before and designing as I went the first one was a little slow, but the second was done in a flash. These are all made from a super soft bamboo/wool blend that's very silky feeling. The mary-jane style booties have a loop closure over the button. 

Then, I made a little blanket. It's just the right size to fit over an infant carrier, a perfect little square with two ruffled edges. I ran the stripes in random combinations of four colors: pink, cream, mint blue, and light teal blue. It's very soft and light, completely breathable. 

I have more to do. I'm working on a little bonnet to go with the sleeper and I have many more ideas. More hats and booties are needed for sure. Meanwhile, my husband has been working on the baby's room. Here's a peak at the color we picked out. It probably won't show up correctly here, so I'll just tell you it's called beeswax and it's a soft yellow, not too brown or green or too pale. It's sunny and happy.

"NEST" featuring Michael Mazurek and Jesse Morgan Barnett, Curated by Anne Lawrence

“Nest”

Featuring Michael Mazurek and Jesse Morgan Barnett
at Bows and Arrows

February 19-March 23, 2011

Dallas, TX, February 2, 2011 -- Bows and Arrows presents “Nest” featuring Michael Mazurek and Jesse Morgan Barnett, curated by Anne Lawrence, opening Saturday, February 19, 2011, 6-9 p.m. The exhibition will include site-specific installations by each artist.

“Nest” centers on the question how do artists respond to having a child? While feminist and conceptual artist Mary Kelly’s seminal “Post-Partum Documents” tracked the evidence of the child with forensic precision creating a subtle narrative of the mother’s relationship with the growing child, Mazurek and Barnett, both fathers, are each known for their elaborate constructions and installations; thus turning away from the processes of the body towards the process of making and building.

By changing the physical space of the room, they are reordering the spatial experience. New parents, like other animals, are hit with a powerful urge to create a safe place for the birth and infancy of their offspring. This need to “nest” goes beyond cleaning clutter and nursery decorating often giving way to a process of self-reflection and evaluation of the pre-child state. There is a need to put the house in order, literally and metaphorically.

After the birth of his first child, Mazurek was motivated to make a dramatic change. Quitting his full-time job he enrolled in graduate school, first in architecture, then fine arts. Mazurek’s work has shown a strong inclination toward building and construction evolving into complex, even chaotic, structures of ever increasing size, with strong references to architecture and theatrical stage-setting. Mazurek stated, “I returned to art and chose this path very specifically due to the birth of my daughter. The clarity of that moment still amazes me. She put everything in perspective, practically immediately.”

Barnett’s work bridges photography, video, installation, and performance. In this exhibition he will present a video and sound-piece laced with a fetal heartbeat along with a site-specific installation. As he explained just a few days before the birth of his son in mid-January, “Coping with both biological and artistic creativity occurring at the same time is challenging and stimulating.”

Mazurek and Barnett will both receive their Master of Fine Arts from University of Texas at Arlington in 2011. Lawrence is expecting her first child sometime in early March. The image on the postcard is of her sonogram taken January 25. Bows and Arrows is located at 1925 Greenville Avenue, Dallas Texas 75206. Open Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The exhibition will be on view February 19-March 23, 2011.

### 

Bows and Arrows is part floral emporium, part art gallery, and part craft bazaar run by Alicia and Adam Rico. Voted Best Florist for 2011 by D Home Magazine, they are currently using the space next to the shop as an alternative art annex.

Bows and Arrows
1925 Greenville Avenue, Dallas Texas 75206
Open Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-828-2697

info@bowsandarrowsdeluxe.com

www.bowsandarrowsdeluxe.com

www.bowsandarrowsdeluxe.blogspot.com

P.S. That's me! This is my last curatorial project before our baby is due in early March.

Post-Holiday Showoff

This Christmas I made some ambitious crochet projects in advance of the little one I having coming later this Spring. I thought I'd try out my toy ideas on my nephews. The Octosweaterpus was a collaboration with my husband Todd. He drew the picture and I made the plushie based on it. I think that was one of the most complicated color switching projects I've ever done! I'm very proud of how this one turned out and our nephew Ryan surprised us all by loving it! He twirled it around by the head and even came back to it later despite all the other toys.

The arms are a very satisfying size for little hands to grip onto. By the way, Todd did the drawing on his iPhone.

 

For my twin nephews I made matching elephants. I wasn't up to 16 more octo-arms. I designed the pattern myself. I'm particularly happy with the stubby legs and solid feet pads. I think they came out pretty cute!

Creating the Gift-giving “WOW” Factor

(This article was first published in the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash booklet given out free at the Jingle Bash on November 20. Written by me!)

Most of us have re-gifted a fancy holiday gift bag or two, but what are some other creative, and eco-friendly, ways to present your gifts?

•  Stash your present inside another gift, such as a pretty pouch, petite purse, or bold reusable shopping bag. Personalize the bag with embroidery or iron-on letters to add a, well, personal touch.

•  Decorate a reusable box with decoupaged images, stickers, and letters spelling the recipient’s name or initials. I prefer boxes with plastic lids like instant breakfast, oatmeal, or some cereal boxes. Put a big ribbon on top. After the holiday it can be used to store other treasures.

•  Use a scarf or scrap of fabric to tie up a fancy bundle or bottle. Add a gift tag and you’re ready to go.

•  Fashion a stack of fabric pouches from a variety of old colored t-shirts. Create an envelope fold pouch that only requires stitching on two sides (like a pillow slipcover), tuck your goodies inside, make a stack of different colored pouches, and then bundle together with a ribbon. Viola!

•  Fold a paper box and lid. Find instructions for an origami box. Use print outs of your favorite digital pictures, magazine images, or pages from an old book. If the paper isn’t stiff enough, mount the images on cardstock first.

•  Create a gift terrarium with your present nestled under a glass dome among moss and tiny plants. You could rest a glimmering necklace on a rock or situate a tiny gift box among flowers.

Other ideas to make gifts fabulous? Sew, crochet or knit a pouch. Embellish with buttons and embroidery. Add a homemade tree ornament as the gift tag.

Just in Time for the Holidays

If you saw me at the Jingle Bash in Dallas this last weekend or Funky Find's The Experience in Fort Worth earlier this month you might have noticed that I'm now 6 months pregnant! Things are going well and we're so excited about our new baby coming in March. While I won't be doing any shows in the Spring, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to do such amazing shows this Fall.


I had a blast at the Jingle Bash yesterday and even though it was completely exhausting, it was totally worth it. Same for The Experience in Fort Worth, but the Jingle Bash holds a special place in my indie-craft-heart. I've done that show every year for all of its three year history. Every year I am blown away by the crowds, the enthusiasm of the shoppers, and the quality of the Bash. The Etsy Dallas team does an amazing (all-volunteer) job of organizing a fun, creative, and high quality shopping experience.


Once again, I'm in awe. I'm exhausted, but still kind of giddy from the success of the day.