Zippity-Doo-Dah

I do love making little zippered things, they make me smile. 

 A couple of days ago I got a special request for a pencil case made from Amy Butler's Imperial Fans print (from her Nigella collection).  I love the way it turned out, and it's now in transit, on it's way to her new owner.  Hope she loves it!

Hold Gently

Yesterday Bronwyn had a terrible day with seizures and we spent the majority of the day cuddling on the couch.  It was very windy and rainy outside and our couch is situated in such a way that we have a nice view of our front yard.  We've positioned bird feeders strategically so that we can see lots of little birdie activity while we snuggle. 

As we sat there, I thought about how challenging it is to be a Mom.  We want to hold our little ones tightly, so that we keep them safe, but our job is to help our babies become independent and not need us so much.  

I pulled out my sketchbook as Bronwyn snoozed and I doodled this little bird in the hand.  This is what I hope: I am always there for my girl to love and support her, but my hand is open for her to fly free when she can.  That way, we both feel loved and needed! 

Today is blustery still, but we are well rested and ready for what the day brings.  I hope the same for you.

Dyed in the Wool

I have been perfecting my hand-dyeing techniques for my clothing business, Mercy Me Designs.  Check out my blog post here to see what's happening!

New Blog!

I feel like I have a million and one things going on right now, and I guess maybe that's the way I function best; I started a new blog for my new business, Mercy Me Designs; Check out our new blog here!

I'm so excited about my new venture, but I'm still passionate about my first love; BCharmer.  Right now I'm working on a full set of pillow covers for a customer's two couches.  They are coming out SO beautifully!  I'll make sure to take pictures when they're all done to share with you.

The Art of Journaling

I have to confess that I am a terrible journal keeper.  But since I've started this blog, I've really come to love the process of writing down my thoughts and sharing my activities. 

Recently, I made internet friends with a lovely woman from Brazil, who is a talented bookbinder.  Last week she suprised me by sending a beautiful handbound journal just because!  WOW!  And can I say that I adore my journal?  The paper that she uses is thick and nice; it makes me want to doodle, write, and mark it up.  And the fabric that she used for the covers is right up my alley.  Also, I love the way the pages lie flat; it makes it easier for me to think freely because I'm not fighting the book to stay open.  The binding thread is a waxed linen in aqua blue.  YUM!  Gabi has a shop on Etsy called vivamadiera.  You should check it out if you're in the market for a nice gift for yourself or an artsy friend.  Her prices are very reasonable, and she's one of the nicest people.  And if you want to see more examples of her work, you can look at her photos on Flickr here.

Little Funnel Neck

I'm so excited to reveal to you one of Mercy Me's newest designs: a funnel neck sweatshirt!  This one is sized for a child, but we plan to offer the same style for adults as well.   This design is very kid friendly because it's easy to get on and off, but at the same time I think it offers a touch of sophistication that appeals to adults, too.  The neck can be worn down or buttoned up, depending on the weather and your mood.

The sweatshirt pictured  is made from cotton knit, but we plan to make this out of organic wool and other yummy fabrics.  Stay tuned!

It feels great to have our designs coming along, although I'm impatient for lots of inventory!  To help with this feeling, we recently purchased an industrial Singer Serger from the '4o's, and it's beautiful!!  And talk about fast; the thing is finished sewing before our fingers can move the fabric.  Suzanne has pretty much mastered the thing, while I remain terrified of it.  For now, I'll stick with the home serger...



Industrial Singer Serger from the 1940's



For The Love of Indigo

I recently got an order for a custom Tomboy wallet, and I loved the way it came out.  The fabric is distributed by Marcus Brothers and it's been in my stash forever.  Now only scraps remain, and I'm sorry to see it go!

I'm really enjoying the process of dyeing my fabric!  It's like a little mystery.  Most recently I dyed a batch in a color called, "Gunmetal" and I was expecting a grey/blue color.  As I put the wool into the pot, it turned a lilac purple and then gradually became more blue.  When all was said and done, it was a rich and lovely denim/indigo blue; not at all what I was expecting, but gorgeous nonetheless.  Next up: Cayenne Red.  And my other business, "Mercy Me! Designs" now has massage table face cradle covers for sale in the Artfire Shop.  These are great for massage practitioners, chiropractors, or acupuncturists.  Check them out and tell your therapists!