Bloomsbury Dreaming...

Two new winter hats in my Etsy shop, with more from this collection to be added soon, as photos become ready. Pictured above are Bloomsbury and Charleston, inspired by the Bohemian circle of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.

This group is made of warm wool, in a charcoal grey menswear weave, with embellishments of black in various fabrics and textures.

Shades of Summer...

I just HAD to buy this perfectly beautiful organic peach at the market last week. I couldn't bear to cut into it, so it perched on this little pedestal, to be admired as long as possible...and then I decided to photograph it, and share it with you.

To somehow fit this image into my "textile" blog, I went through the kitchen linens and found a French cotton jacquard towel in summer shades of blues and greens. The vintage Chianti bottle and old Florentine tray sit on the top shelf of a baker's rack in my kitchen, and are the perfect backdrop for my homage to summer's end, while evoking the sharing of harvests.

I hope you have all had an abundantly fruitful, creative, lovely summer...I've had a very busy one, with many things to show you soon... and now, we can enjoy the fruit!

Creative Solace...

Taped on a wall in my workroom is the following quote by the great dancer, Martha Graham.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly."

I found this quote years ago, and wherever I've lived and set up my workroom I've always made sure the quote was in a visible place. There are just times when it's a comforting reminder, of why we may feel so driven to create, and the purpose is greater than we may realize at that moment.

So, for all my creative friends and readers, I hope you will find inspiration in these wise words by a great artist and pioneer in dance. May she continue to inspire us with our own stream(s) of creative work.

( I'm so entrenched in work production right now that I'm feeling a bit like the emotions expressed in this photo! Anyone else with me in this stage of creating?:))

Photo credits: Style.com/Barbara Morgan Archive

"Bloom Where You're Planted"

I was featured this week on a lovely style and design blog, Jeanie & Jewell. To view the complete article, with photos, click here

Here's another of my handmade flower designs from my Corsage Collection. Summer poppies...these are an intensely vibrant red, made of recycled silk dupioni and vintage fabrics.

A Hint of Spring...

Here are two corsages from my Spring collection, to be worn on the shoulder or hip...perfect for a wedding dress, tea in the afternoon, or any occasion to evoke drama and elegance. I made these flowers and leaves from recycled silks and vintage fabrics.

Farewell, Winter...

Although Spring is on the way, we could have another month of cold weather here in the Northeast. These hats are a preview of some I've just finished, to still keep us warm and stylish as we ease into Spring.