Artist: Katwise

Just thought you should know my birthday is coming up.

Oh, and if you miss my birthday,

CHRISTMAS is just around the corner.

Kat O'Sullivan aka: Katwise

FYI

Her next posting of coats will be on Sunday, December 21st at 2pm New York time.

Changing things up

I learned to sew right around the time I leaned to walk.
My mom taught me, NOT while wearing an apron...it was more like instead of wearing one!

My first sewing machine was a Singer 401, new on the market the same year that I was born.
I still have it today.
It has seen many miles of thread pass through it.
I've sewn professionally for what seems like forever. From swimsuits to wedding dresses, costumes to cushions, I have sewn it all.

I have now come to the time in life that I realized grace and dignity are lacking when I attempt to stand upright after marking a hem.
Groaning on the way down, then the attempted roll to the side, to the knees then slowly up just does not have that, "I'm a professional" look to it.

So I'm changing things up. The last wedding has been completed.
My apron is coming off....

and I am passing the pin cushion and seam ripper to the next generation.

Sewing will no longer be creating stress.
It will only be for releasing it.

Show what you create blog party

I collect and combine fibers, colors and textures all together.

My tools of choice are a sewing machine
and a pair of scissors.

I call myself a designer/artist.
The designer part seems to always win out.
When I create I seem to always have an end product in mind.

When I am in a practical mood it becomes clothing items.

Sometimes it becomes fashion accessories.

At times it becomes goofy gift stuff.



And sometimes it becomes goofy home stuff.

But in the end it is always stuff on stuff, color on color and texture on texture.
A little paint, thread, glue, fabric, yarn and glitter, all done while running with scissors.
Thank you, Vintage Bella Studio for hosting a fun blog party.

National Apron Day

Well, here is another great button and I have to admit...I am doing this only because I have too, to be entered in this drawing.
Keeping this a secret would have been a great way to increase my odds,
but no, the Ol' Calamity is too smart for that one!
You have to spread the word to be entered. I WANT TO WIN therefore, here it is and if you win because you saw it here, you must share the winning apron with me.

A Hatter

Long, long ago....

I designed and made hats.

Yep, I was a "hatter".

Not quite "mad" yet.

That came later, after I raised 5 kids!

Photography by: Robert Buhl Photography

Model: Sami

Tutu's in Texas

It was a Tutu week in Texas!

Flew into San Antonio, Texas and met up with a good friend,

the Queen of Tartz.

Met a like minded soul, Ruth.

This is her sewing room.

Began and completed sewing drapes, table coverings, runners, Euro shams and couch pillows and that was just the first day!

Day two began with too many tutu's!

They arrived in three pieces and incomplete.

All of them had to be altered to fit like a glove, then stitched altogether.

Many long hours and three days later.

Finished.

Just in time for my very first pedicure.

And the first time I've ever had red toes tu!

My super hero daughter refers to them as,

"Sexy mama puma toes"!

Shoes

Calamity Kim ,who I think is just too stinkin' talented for words, came up with this adorable bootie pattern.
I tested the pattern out of old levi's and a hankie.

The pattern goes together perfectly.

You can find the pattern in Kim's etsy store.

Here is the one she did out of recycled sweater wool and quilting cotton.

Very sweet.

Rose parade update: ahh Da Bomb!

Photos are being uploaded now so I'll have something to share.

It was the best way to begin the new Year!

Christmas gifts

Pillows for gifts done from prints of hubbies work....Dave the famous artist.

The transfers onto cotton worked great. This time I used Ink Jet Printing by Jacquard.

The Rat warrior came out rather dull though, so I beefed up the colors with Prisma colored pencils.

The venetian mask was with made with plaster gauze and paper clay. The fabric for the headpiece was an old rayon velvet piece I had in my stash and the rose is a fabric "Calamity Kim" design.

Aprons

What I did on the 12th day of Christmas.

The kind of commission work I love.

3 whimsical, colorful, fussy cut aprons.