shirt dress placket for the new year

I wanted a new dress/shirt for the new year and since I didn't get anything from Anthropology for Christmas I was inspired to just make my own.
At Target yesterday I saw this shirt dress ( pj's!) & grabbed it, vowing to figure it out as I went.















I looked in my stash & found I had a remnant of this amazing Japanese fabric. I cut a rectangle of fabric & cut it in half. Placed it on either side of the opening & turned under edges. I shaped the top angle, nearest the collar using iron, it's not very precise because I knew the collar would cover it. Top stitched around each piece. I wanted to soften the edges so I added this antique trim & top stitched it.





This is about as sassy as I get at 3 in the afternoon.

wait...I take it back

so.....I seemed to have gone through the finding inspiration process pretty fast by the looks of it. But maybe I'm just loosening up. Here are some shots from the studio today. The thing I noticed today, that I still have objects that I collected in college ( 10 years ago) that inspire me. Hmm, stuck in the mud or just good taste?

final lap

I'm in the home stretch for the show. The paintings are finished, but a few more up my sleeve so stay tuned! Here's most of the source material for the ball jar series. I am so excited, this is the first concrete series that I've done, from conception & sketches all the way to the gallery wall. I suppose that I could insert a part about my kids into that last sentence but this rite here is about me. I can finally say without a shrug of the shoulders that I'm an artist ( which used to mean, I have a degree in something that I can't make money at nor do I have the time or inspiration ) but now I can. sigh.
so now that I can see the light at the end of this tunnel here's what I'm thinking about next.

Sewing some clothes. I reorganized the sewing area a little bit, I hope it's easier to use & clean up now.
I need to spend more time with him, playing music.
and get out of this cold & dirty basement and out into the sunshine. It's summer !

working

I'm trying to work in my studio as much as I can these days. I took a leap and have a show coming up in June at a local gallery & gift shop. I'm thrilled, with Oscar turning 1 at the end of the month I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel. While having a small baby is endlessly rewarding, it will be nice to get a little of me back. So, with help from family and friends I plan on being in my studio a lot these next few months. My first project is of course not for the show but a long overdue print for my husbands family. It's good to get my press working. Here are a few shots of the works in progress. Have more soon.

what a mess

In what seems to be a post-baby nesting phase I decided to rearrange my studio last weekend. 1/2 my family was out of town, perfect timing rite?!?! Well, I'll say it's better than this ( which happened in the first hour after they left town ) . The after photo's to follow, someday.