Jessica Flores Design

Scrappy Scarf

One booth in particular really started my wheels turning last weekend.  Michelle Fanfair-Steury's funky jewelry and fashions from the Gift of Gab in Goshen dish up a big twist of "creative funk," as her website attests, and once I was home, I soon found myself at my machine stitching together my first "scrappy scarf," inspired by her patchy junk jackets and T-s.  

It is made from all vintage materials--some sheer dogwood floral fabric and a coordinating orange and green cotton.  The "fringe" came from a ball of some ancient feedsack strips that are just resting on one of my shelves in the sewing room as a knick knack.  I looked up, and they begged to be stitched half-hazardly to the edge of this little ditty.

 

Here is a rare shot of yours truly wearing the new fashion sensation.  Don't expect to see more any time soon, and no, this is not a pit check--just my sad attempt at a self-portrait without the help of a camera with a timer or another responsible adult in the house.

 

Perhaps that last shot was unnecessary on second thought.  Oh well.  These are going to be perfect for over a little sundress or with a light spring cardigan.  I can't wait to make a few more of these and get them in the ol' Etsy shop. I have some beautiful old super-sheer fabrics in a pink floral and a piece in aqua scattered with dandelions.  So sweet!  I'll have to find a decent model in the meantime.  

  

Spring Into Spring

 Once a year I am thrown headlong into a whirlwind of planning and promoting and many extra hours at work--all for the sake of a little event we call "Spring Into Art."  It involves 50 artists, a retired school building-turned Boys & Gils Club, entertainment acts, around a dozen workshops, over 100 volunteers, print and web design up the wazoo, and the biggest promotional campaign of the year. Even though I don't put in a full 40 hours each week in advance of the show, it seems to turn my life upside down.  This year even more so, as Dan has been working many long hours himself.  While I was typing away at my mega-desk in the basement of the library, making calls and sending emails, designing posters, invitations, and ads, my garden was growing

 
 and so was my girl

 

the book on my nightstand went unread 

 

and I tried to make the most of asparagus season on the nights we didn't resort to take out.

 

In the midst of all the craziness last week, I set one day aside for the sale every antique dealer in Northern Indiana has been waiting for for the past 15 years.  It was the first day in a two-day auction from the estate of a man who had amassed a collection of fine antiques and plain junk filling three ramshackle houses in our town.  While the main tent bustled with pottery and glassware collectors, I joined the junk box diggers outside with Nora in tow in her new bike trailer/stroller.  Boxes were going for as much as $50, but I managed to get a couple of interesting-looking ones for $6 each.  I was feeling guilty for spending even that much when I started digging through, but when I made my way to the bottom of one box, I was giddy with what I found

 

a perfect little yellow McCoy flower pot without a chip and an equally-mint Roseville planter, probably worth $50 - $100!  I found out later that one lucky bidder actually found a roll of cash in his box totaling $500!  Don't ever underestimate the possibilities a dirty old cardboard box may hold!

Now that life is back to normal, I'm looking forward to teaching a few classes at the Loft and using some of my other vintage finds for new spring bags and accessories to fill my booth at the Briar Patch Folk Art Gathering in June.  Watch for more on the Briar Patch soon as we work to get a website up and running!  

 

I was so encouraged and inspired by my fellow artists at this year's show.  Thank you to those who came out to support us.  You helped in so many ways--supporting handmade America and one really great library!  For me, this coming week is all about relaxing--watching the clouds roll by in a blue sky, the trees green up in the woods, and the curls wind up on my baby's little auburn head.  

 

For the Birds

 Shame on me.  It's been a month since my last post, and since then I've been spending most of my time working on the Nappanee Library's annual Spring Into Art exhibit and sale--setting up workshops, creating posters, sending invitations, issuing press releases--you name it!  Today I took a jaunt down to my favorite frame shop, Robin's Nest, in Bourbon, to have some paintings prepped for my own booth.  Make sure you put the show on your calendar for April 24 & 25 and let me know if you'd like a personal invitation to the private reception on the Friday evening before!  

In between my trips to the office in the past month, I made another diaper bag with some great upgrades (reinforced magnetic closures, embellished flap, more quilting, and "scrunchie" elastic bottle band inside.)  I'm hoping to get another on my Etsy site before the end of summer.  They are such an undertaking--about 8 hours of work in each one!

I also spent some time on some very special birthday gifts for my mom and sister.  Mom got a little clothes pin apron made from a lovely bit of vintage fabric I've been saving for just the right project.  (Sorry, I didn't take a picture--the lighting was too dim during our birthday soiree.)  The pattern came from an issue of Mary Jane's Farm magazine last year.  If you are not yet acquainted with the person of Mary Jane Butters, I advise that you to go to her site at once and get your organic farmgirl on!  

Regan got a new organizer made from the most beautiful piece of bird-patterned fabric, some vintage scraps, and my favorite natural-colored linen.

   

(Ughhh!  Darn that camera!  Why can't my pictures turn out like all my cool friends.  I feel like such a blog reject.)  I wish I knew who designed this amazing turquoise filigree bird fabric.  Luckily I have a snippet left for myself.  Maybe soon it will turn into yet another birdie accessory in my own house.  

 Have I mentioned how much I love birds?  My house is full of them

well, bird-themed accessories, that is.  I once had a real bird, but that story doesn't end well . . .

The little glass mosaic above was made by Amy Kirbow, who will be at Spring Into Art again this year. She makes beautiful art for a wonderful cause!

I even like using eggs (brown ones are beautiful dyed at Easter time.  Try it next year) . . .

and nests.  

Some of my favorite paintings are of these pretty little creatures, and Nora and I watch them every morning as soon as we get out of bed.   

Growing up, I learned to identify every one that flew into our yard, and Nora is quickly learning to do the same. Several weeks ago I awoke to the song of a bluebird and decided it was time to put up a nesting box for him and his wife.  We bought a post for an old box that Granny had given me, and Dan had it in the ground in no time.  Earlier this week, we discovered that the blue beauties had indeed taken up residence! 

Do you see the dapper little guy atop my arbor there?

  

The daffodils are in full bloom, and life is good! Tomorrow it's back to work after my long weekend.  I think I'll bring a couple of vases of sunshine inside with me!  

Oh!  I almost forgot, if you're in the South Bend area, please be sure to check out my new display of sewn accessories at Urban Lily.  They're located on Washington between BW3's and Ugly Mugs--you'll find all kinds of lovely bohemian fashions and finds inside!  I'll share a website as soon as they have one up and running!  Cheers!