profile: elena volkova!

this is third in a series of profiles of the artisans that will be at the holiday trunk show december 9th in baltimore.

elena volkova had me at hello. it was love at first click. just pay a visit to her website and you'll understand what i mean. her peaceful photographs take your breath away...quickly and quietly before you even know what has happened. then they leave you to contemplate what lies beneath the obvious.

somehow elena is able to balance work, school, motherhood, fine art and freelance photography. (check out some of her freelance work here) born in kiev, ukraine she is now a part of the vibrant charm city art scene and exhibits her work across the country.

flawless technique coupled with extraordinary vision yields fantastic results. but don't just take my word for it, come see for yourself. elena will be showing her seascape collection at -- you know where -- the trunk show on december 9th.

who rocks the house? the owls rock the house

please welcome our new addition, the cuter than pie sweet little baby owl tote!

measuring 16" x 12", this bag can hold a lot of feathers! there are six complementary pockets (three outside and three in)...one with a zip. the fabric is cotton dobby so it has great texture and stability. it was so much fun to work with that i didn't know when to stop. the consequence is an adorable snap pouch that can nest comfortably in any pocket it choses.

this bag is not available for sale. it was a special order made especially for someone very special. everyone can be special! email me with your custom design inquiries.

thischickadee@gmail.com

profile: dandelion blu!

this is second in a series of profiles of the artisans that will be at the holiday trunk show december 9th in baltimore.

dandelion blu has achieved great success in a short period of time. most recently, her jewelry design has been recognized by representatives from the american craft council and american craft magazine! (click here to see the article) she is the brains behind this event and the creative genius behind these beautiful pieces of flair:

honestly, this is some beautiful stuff. it looks great in the photographs but you should come see it in person. dandelion blu has some of the most unique and creative jewelry design out there. check out her blog for news from the world of indie crafts or shop for one of a kind creations at her etsy store.

who? who?

what? what are you working on today? you ask... well, take a look.

one day soon these little owls will be nesting under someone's arm...

fantastic fall tote!

all of the squirrels rejoice as autumn decides to stick around a little longer this year! happily, there has been a transition to winter and we've been able to soak up the autumnal hues just a little while longer. this tote is a celebration of those colors and the crisp feeling of fall. squirrels and humans alike have plenty of room for their stash in this comfortable 14" x 12" parcel, decked out inside with three complementary pockets and a special mini-pouch for treasures picked up along the path.

check out the pouch in action. this one has a specially designed closure.

get up close and personal at the holiday trunk show december 9th!

profile: cara ober!

this is the first in a series of profiles of the artisans that will be at the holiday trunk show december 9th in baltimore.

cara ober is my friend from grade one. this is enough success for most people, but cara has also distinguished herself in the art world. she's an amazing painter who exhibits her work to great acclaim all over the country. you can check out what she is up to by visiting her eponymously named blog, caraober.blogspot.com. even though she is world wide live, she manages to keep it real in her city of residence -- baltimore, maryland. there, cara shares her knowledge in the classrooms of several local colleges and keeps inquiring minds in the know about the charm city art scene with her second blog-baby, bmore art. and if all of this isn't enough, cara is co-curator (along with dana reifler) of the new baltimore art gallery paperwork.

you can check out her works on paper at the trunk show december 9th. here's a teaser:

green bay baby

my cousin sarah writes a blog called bringing up baby bilingual, a site she started to share the experience of teaching her one year old nephew to speak french. she's also expecting her own bilingual-to-be bundle of joy in january. her mother and my father hail from the great state of wisconsin. (her parents live in green bay, about five solid baseball throws from lambeau field) that makes us and any of our progeny packer fans. to welcome her baby boy, her petite croissant, i knit some packer pride into this ensemble.

clockwise from top left:

• baby blanket knit with sierra quattro yarn (find it @ helloknitty)
• detail of blanket
• bucky bundles up in hat and bib atop blanket
• hat and bib set

fabric friends

sometimes you happen upon a fabric that sings to you a sweet little song. such is the case with this darling cut of cotton delight.

i've had this for such a long time and have been hesitant to make the slightest snip because i like it so much. i couldn't think of a project worthy of its greatness. but to everything there is a season...and when these autumnal hues met a corresponding stripe, well, turn turn turn went the wheels in my head.

stay tuned to find out what happens next!

vive la difference!

happy thanksgiving
eat your veggies

lovely little librarian

i harbor dreams of one day becoming a librarian. until then, i content myself with lazy visits to the local library, emptying and refilling my tote with glee. this pretty baby would be a great companion for a romp through the dewey decimal system. she's 12" x 14" which means that there is ample room for everything from fiction to non, periodicals to photocopies. pockets on the front mean that writing utensils are always well organized and easy to find. and there is a special treat! a 5" x 6" wallet to hold your library card and reading list that can nestle in the front pocket or reside around your wrist.

check her out at the trunk show december 9th.