Junction

Life is a map of crossroads, and my map over the past couple of years looks like graph paper.

We'll catch up in spurts as I resurface. Here's a list of what's on my blog horizon, followed by what Junction is (in my book):

➱ When Thread West items will be for sale again
     (and whether they'll be on etsy, or somewhere else).
➱ Studio makeover!
➱ My best friend, her departure from this world, and the handbags she left behind....
➱ Transparent Tuesday. Or, Technique Tuesday. Decisions, decisions....
➱ Permission to quilt
➱ Singer Featherweight in the house!

Once upon a time, I mentioned that I'd share news of my writing, trips out west, and glimpses of life beyond my handbag designs. It's about time I started.

My short story collection, titled Junction, includes both western and mystery stories. Two never-before-published stories are included, and I'm honored that the western, "Tinsel Town," was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award in Short Fiction. I was presented with the award during the WWA annual convention, held last June in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The collection is available in print edition, as well as several e-book formats. Publisher: Crossroad Press.

Think Spring

It took hours this weekend to figure out how to make a clipping mask template in my ancient Photoshop Elements program for grouping photos. I think I finally have it. It was snowing again and I needed something bright to remind me that spring will be here. Eventually.

What's what:

• Top photo is a sweet tote I made for my granddaughter out of a dress she'd outgrown. Such a fun madras plaid. See the cute pockets on the sides? Even though the dress was a child's size, it was gathered--too wide for a bag, unless I wanted to remove and re-stitch those pockets. Perfect time to incorporate Mexican pleating, a technique I discovered years ago. I seriously want to use it on more items!
• Middle left is interior of the tote, with a pocket and four pencil slips. So exciting to take a scrap of fabric to the store and find the perfect coordinate. If you're a seamstress, you know the feeling. Since it's a busy little print, I added a slice of lime to the pocket top so Miss Lydi could find it more easily.
• Middle right is a flower I made from organza and glitter netting using the singe technique. Have you tried those? Amazing fun. (BTW, netting doesn't singe. Trust me on this.) Love, love that vintage button I was auditioning in the center, but ended up using Swarovski crystals instead, because I wanted to see how they'd work on sheers. Gave the flower to my daughter, who loves green. Her neck of the woods is experiencing yet another blizzard today, so I'm thinkin' she--along with much of the country--needs this booster shot stat.
• Bottom left--another for granddaughter, who shares my love for ballcaps and bling. I made this a couple of years ago by combining two clipart images to create an iron-on sheet with Swarovski crystals. As I say in my Thread West shop: They wink at the cowboys so much better than imitations. ;-) Miss Lydi still wears the cap and totes the tote. I never thought about the colors in the bag and the bling matching till I put this photo collage together. Will ask the girl if she's worn them at the same time....
• Bottom right. In keeping with Spring and butterflies, a Mother's Day card I made for my daughter a few years ago. It got lost in the mail between MI and MO, finally arrived a month later. I'd like to know where those butterflies flitted to in between....

Stay safe and warm....

Red Hot

They say we're breaking temp records today, and I don't doubt it. Even with the central AC unit fighting for all its worth, my upstairs studio is red hot. In keeping, here's a look at some of the red hot fabrics I recently bought out West:

The one on the left has been seen in two other colorways in my shop, made into Card Corrals.
Those will be back soon.

This is just about the most gorgeous faux leather I've ever seen!
(Here's hoping my sewing machine can handle it.)

Paisley...I'm always drawn to it. I'm anxious to see what other fabrics in my stash go with that small red print.
Candy Moulton (dear friend and the new executive director for Western Writers of America) once told me that she loves bear fetishes. Ever since, they make me think of Candy.
I'm thinking of pairing this wonderful print with the brown tooled-leather cotton....

A fabulous Navajo print in four different colorways!

If I had a six-shooter concho...

Some of my handbag designs include conchos: A skull wearing a cowboy hat, rope-edged circles with Spanish Crosses or awareness ribbons or western stars, ovals with Southwestern designs.... I guess it's a good thing I haven't sourced and used a concho depicting a six-shooter.


Check out this article about a Florida teen who was detained by TSA because of the six-shooter design on her western purse:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/florida-teen-detained-tsa-design-her-purse-221835034.html

I don't know where to begin re: this incident, but Mr. E. and I experienced the same thing several years ago. We were flying from Detroit Metro to attend a Western Writers of America convention, so Mr. E. was wearing on his lapel a tiny pin of a silver Old West pistol with turquoise inlay grip. The threatening weapon pin was 1.5 inches long and thinner than a credit card.

After the agent made him remove it, she actually pinched the grip between the tips of her thumb and index finger, held it up, and said, "You could use this to hold up the plane."

We had two options: go back and put it in our checked luggage (resulting in missing our flight), or it would be confiscated.

It wasn't a pricey item, but it held fond memories for Mr. E. He had purchased it in the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum gift shop while attending the Oklahoma City WWA convention in 1991. Allowing it to be confiscated wasn't an easy decision, based on principle. In the end, it was confiscated, relinquished to avoid missing our flight and all the headaches that entails.

Sometimes, I wonder who's enjoying that little silver and turquoise six-shooter....

Stampede!

Sure, to some Etsy shop owners, this isn't much, but to me it feels like a stampede. Another Treasury, this time it's my Wild Horses Wristlet. Second row, item #4. Thanks, Genevieve, of Turquoise & Bone!

Wednesday's West--hunting down the goods

It's challenging, living in Michigan and locating fabrics with appealing western design. Granted, it's much easier with the Internet (except that I'm Connection Challenged here in the sticks). Although it's easier, ordering online also means that I'm not always sure what the exact color will be, or the scale of the pattern.... It took awhile to round up The Sierra Trail collection from Windham Fabrics, but it was worth it for these fabulous Navajo designs and wild horses. Here are a few items I've made from part of the collection. You can find them in my etsy shop:

 

Navajo Handbag with Spanish Cross concho and lots of details!

Two-Step (Wristlet/Clutch) with 6 Credit Card Slots

The Card Corral in Navajo blanket print and lined with clay pottery print

The Card Corral in Navajo blanket print and lined with horseshoe print

"Round Up Your Gear" in this large makeup (or gadget) pouch.

Featured in Etsy Treasury!

How about that? My "Round Up Your Gear" zip pouch made from Buffalo Bill fabric was featured in an etsy treasury. Check it out:

'wild wild west' by kokodiablo

Pendleton? Or, Pendelton?

Here's one of my latest creations, and it's going in my etsy shop today. With its 3" gusset, I've named it Fat Bottom (think Fat Baby boots....)

Last year, while using this retro rodeo fabric--along with Pendleton wool and Swarovski crystals--to make a commissioned handbag for friend and fellow writer Ann Terry Hill (Pendleton Round-Up at 100: Oregon's Legendary Rodeo), I noticed that Pendleton was spelled differently on this designer fabric (Alexander Henry). Being a writer and former editor, I had to get to the bottom of it: Was it a mistake on the part of the fabric manufacturer, or an early spelling? I asked Terry, and she assured me that Pendleton had never been spelled with "el" instead of "le."

Next, I e-mailed the manufacturer directly, just in case they were making plans to re-issue this fabric. I received a response (doesn't always happen), and had a lovely exchange with an Australian woman. I mention this because she pointed out her problems with the spelling of color (American) vs. colour (Australian)--a word used often in the fabric industry.

And, so that you know, no current plans for a re-issue of this fabric. More items from this great rodeo  fabric will post soon--grab 'em while you can!

DE: Dale Evans and Debi Estleman

This morning, as I was writing content for a Facebook Fan Page (it'll go public when my shop is stocked), I realized that I share initials with the most powerful female presence in 20th century cowboy culture--Dale Evans! We also share the same birth month, we've both written books, and we've always loved all things western.

However, her western wardrobe leaves mine in the dust.

Many women live by these words from Dale Evans--whether they know it or not:
"Cowgirl is an attitude, really. A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she's just as likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut."

My handbag designs are meant for that cowgirl, whether she's headed to town for supplies or heading up a board meeting. Whether she's putting on her glad rags for a fandango or the Oscars.


Long live the cowgirl attitude.

Easter Memories...

I'm fortunate to have many good Easter memories, from my ranch upbringing to raising my children in a small Oklahoma town. The days leading up to Easter were filled with sewing outfits (and shopping for the perfect hats, handbags, and patent leather shoes to go with those outfits), attending choir practice, coloring eggs, and planning menus around my mom's Southern recipes. I miss all of it--even the Sunrise Service, and I am not a morning person!

Now that I have grandchildren, it's even more difficult not being down home to participate in hiding eggs, attending church, and eating too much afterward. But, with a fifteen-hour drive separating us, I must accept the fact that I can't be there for everything.

I'm making a trip soon, though, which will include Mother's Day get-togethers (there'll be four generations of us "girls" at my daughter's church brunch--Mom, Kym, Lydia, and me), time with my son and his wife, soccer and baseball with the grandkids, Silver Dollar City, and visits with friends--both old and new. Lots to do between now and then!

Here's wishing you good memories....
(The lovely vintage postcard is from The Graphics Fairy.)