Creating a Market Bag...

The material I start with is clean, recycled, white bedsheets.  I cut it up into pieces the size of the market bag I want...
I use plain acrylic paint on my fabric.  It works.  When it dries, it's set permanently, it's washable, and it softens over time.
I draw my design...

The beginning of the painting process.

Almost finished the painting.  Now it goes in the "pile" - ready for transformation into a market bag.

Tomorrow is sewing day.  The bags are quite easy to make.  The finished bag will be lined and all seams finished, inside and out.
You'll see...

April Projects...

I am currently living in a paint, fabric, yarn chaos.  My living room ceased to exist.  It's my workroom now.

And this is why...

Knitting piled on ottoman, working on painting a kitchen cabinet lime green, working on market bags, etc...

Market bags on the go.  First step is to hand-paint the front of the bag.

Fabrics for market bags, wooden bowl that's 3/4 painted...

This, That, and The Other Thing...

So, I'm busy making stuff.  Muddling through my chaos.
My living room is a disaster (as a living room, but great, for a workroom).
I'll keep this short.  Too many things to do today...

I've traded a few craft things on whoopdwhoop.  Great website.  You exchange merchandise for "whoops" - no cash involved (except the high cost of shipping).

I'm also getting more market bags ready, for consignment at a local shop.

An old flame has popped back in, but I'm simply going to appreciate the contact with him, for now.  At one time, I thought he was the love of my life (and he could be...just saying), but he's spent the past few years, going from one woman to the next.  Getting into common-law relationships...
It's like he's desperate to find THE ONE.
And, at one time, I was that person.  But it blew up in our faces.  So we touch base, from time to time, but I'd be a liar, if I didn't say that he also broke my heart.  More than once...
So, I appreciate hearing from him.  Maybe even seeing him again.  But I won't wish on any stars...

Okay.  Pictures of what I've been up to lately.  Market bags, but the green fabric with the doily is a future decorative pillow for a bed...

Almost April...Where DOES The Time Go?

You'll have to forgive me...or not...for slacking off so badly.
My old Dell computer died a slow and painful death.  First it got very, very slow.  It took me about 10 minutes to get into my e-mail, and then it dragged its feet, once we'd arrived. 
Next, one of the ports went.  If, like me, you don't (didn't) have a clue about what a port is, it's one of those thingies where you can plug things into.  Like the cable for your camera???
One wasn't bad, but when the second port went, that was it for posting pictures online.
But still, I persevered.  Kept on using Old Lady Dell.
Finally, the fan went.  The fan is the gadget that cools everything down, so the computer will keep on running.
I could still use my computer, but now it was taking a half hour to get on, I could only stay for about 10 minutes before it overheated, and then I would have to (manually) shut it off.
Anyway...new computer.
And now I have pictures!
I'm working on (or recently finished) a number of projects...

New salad bowls.  Found plain, battered wooden ones at a Second-Hand store.  And in the background, you'll see my "recycled" single-door wardrobe.  It's a pantry now.

Hand-painted (on an old white sheet, using acrylics) market bag.  The quilted pieces are actually all one piece, painted in an attempt to resemble a quilt.

Nothing fancy, but I loved the fabric (scrounged from yet another Thrift Store).  This is going to be a floor cushion.   It's stuffed with old scraps and clean, but discarded clothing items.

Soon-to-be cushion...or market bag.  Lovely find in a Thrift Store.  How could anyone part with this lovely piece of needlework?  No matter.  It's mine now...and I WILL appreciate it.

New posts...Coming Soon to a City Near You!

This week, I plan to take the time to post a few more projects.  I have thousands...

Okay.  Maybe not that many, but quite a few.  Mostly related to recycling, painting, old bed sheets...

Anyway, I'll go through my pictures this week, and then post instructions and patterns.  Ideas...

But right now, I've got to get ready to go out shopping, and then for dinner.
Who knows?  Maybe I'll find a brand new project.

A month already???

My last post, in all honesty, was over a month ago.  But that was the Christmas season.  My only excuse.

Since then, I've been working on "inventory" that I hope to sell, when I move to the city this summer.

And, as usual, I promise I'll post pictures...soon.

For now, I'm enjoying "multi-tasking" with the knitting.  Socks, mittens, two sweaters, a hat, a cowl, and a bunch of mini bags...
I'm likely forgetting something.

Chow!

Wrap It Up!

Today, I hope to "wrap it up," and by that, I don't mean gift wrapping.  A few years ago, I realized that I really did like gift wrapping...if I didn't leave it until the last minute.  So now, I wrap things as soon as they're finished...or bought...

No...For a change, I'd like to be ready for Christmas a few days early.  The shopping (which I'm not overly fond of).  I'm heading out to buy groceries and stocking stuffers later, and I have one more gift to purchase.  Hopefully (though no promises), that's it!

And then I can devote the rest of my time to a few last-minute crafts...and Christmas baking.

Eight days left, people!