Patches for Strangefolk

I'm getting ready to travel to St. Louis this coming weekend for the Strangefolk Festival!  I am taking many new creations.  Hat and Mitten sets are some of my favorites.  As you will see, the colors and textures and patterns on the wool sweaters I find to recycle are so inspiring.  But, this past weekend, I had fun creating a group of patches.  I dredged the idea from the back of my brain.  Several years ago, my husband needed me to cover up an area on a shirt he loved to wear. I searched the internet and did eventually find something  that would work as a patch, expensive though!......but now, I have some IDEAS for making unique, original patches, even custom designed patched if requested!

This elephant is one of a series of patches.  The elephants were originally part of a piece of fabric made in India.  The garment made of the fabric was no longer serviceable.  I stitched the elephants onto pieces of heavy, woven wool from a blanket.  The Patch can be sewn onto a garment, messenger bag or used as a decoration on a pillow or.....use your imagination.  It can sewn on by hand using contrasting or matching yarn and a blanket stitch or sewn on by machine.

The piece of wool used in this hat and mitten set has lots of texture especially in the raised dots.

The heathery green wool used for this hat and mitten set is very unusual.  It is very Limey!

If you are near St. Louis, Saturday or Sunday, you culd come see the 150 vendors of indie art, the great food booths and the super  bands.  Check it out on their website:   Strangefolk 

Repurposed Rabbits

It is lots of fun to hunt for wool sweaters. In some areas they are quite rare, such as a hunting spree in the U.P. of Michigan, which was presumed to be a good source for items to keep one warm.


 Garage sale hunting is so/so. Some days are good, some aren't.


 Like any good fisherman, I'm not going to tell you my exact locations for best fishing (or hunting in this case), but the challenges add to the excitement. Finding cashmere sweaters in bright colors, happens on only the best days.

A few cashmere sweaters found over the summer

Some of the sweaters have already been repurposed into scarves, c'mon cooler weather!

Rabbits don't hibernate......so these little guys are anticipating falling leaves.

Wool is Warm!!

During this month, working with wool is especially nice! Its warming properties are quite an advantage. Take this warm looking wool wrap around skirt. It provides a lot of fabric without sleeves or collars, etc. to work around or incorporate! I will be designing a uniquely styled messenger bag from this piece.

January is a great time to take stock of my inventory. These tubs contain cotton pieces that I use for linings mostly.
This cabinet has lots of unique cottons that could be turned into bags or whatever I dream up.
I have a new cedar lined closet for my wool sweaters. I probably have 150 wool sweaters and jackets and skirts.

January is also the time to start re-evaluating methods of marketing. I will look for new art shows, choose some old favorites, and find some new ways to share my creations.

Since most of my creations are from repurposed textiles, shows like Green With Indie and Strangefolk in the St. Louis area are perfect. Everyone gets so excited when you tell them an item is 100% recycled! Everyday I strive to use less, reuse more, buy more wisely and REPURPOSE. It's fun.