I am going to have to discipline myself to post updates more often.  I've let too much build up again--even though it's been only 3 weeks since my last post.

This week I am heading into my second busy show time for the year with events each of the next three weekends.  This Saturday, September 28 I'll be at  "Williamsburg Celebrates Contemporary Artisans" from 8 am to 3 pm on Duke of Gloucester Street right on the edge of the historic area.  This show is particularly fun because all the participating artisans  are required to demonstrate their processes, not only sell their wares.  I'll be working on fabric collage and meditative stitching.  If Sonja's schedule permits she will join me too.  That  will make it extra special.

The next weekend, October 5-6, I'll be back at nearly the same spot for Williamsburg's Occasion for the Arts.  This is the area's biggest event of the year and it's my first time to participate.  I'll have my jackets and scarves for this one.

The weekend of October 12-13, I'll be in Newport News for the Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival.  It is my second time to participate in this one.

With these big shows coming up I've been working hard to add to my inventory of unlined jackets.  I've three more for you to preview.  The details are really hard to capture in photographs.  I hope you'll be able to come by my booth at Occasion or Port Warwick to see them for yourself.  (They'll also be available on Etsy soon.)

This morning before starting on this post I went through my stash to find fabric possibilities for another one.  This is a pretty crazy set, but I think I can make them work.  I love a challenge.

These jackets have been just about pure fun.  There have been some technical challenges in the seaming (I use all French or flat-felled seams), but mainly it's the pure joy of working with all the colors and patterns.  On the other hand, my mind has been fully engaged in my most recently completed artwork--"Seek Truth."

I have been so bothered by the full frontal assault on truth telling by the current administration that I had to create my own bit of protest art.  It is filled with quotes and sayings about the importance of truth to not only personal integrity but also to democracy.  We need to remind ourselves of this every day right now.  We cannot take it for granted.  Finding and sharing the truth takes hard work and diligence.

Well it has been a long time coming, but we have finally finished putting together a document describing workshops that Sonja and I could teach.  For a quick look at the possibilities, click here.  If you want all the details including pricing, supplies and room requirements use this link.  Don't hesitate to contact us if you have other ideas or questions. 

Apart from getting the word out there about our workshop offerings, I was also anxious to give an update on the jacket project I was working on the last time I posted.  The jacket is now finished and I am quite pleased with it.  I learned a great deal in the process of making it.  Not only did I learn more about putting together patterned fabrics, but I also learned more about using French seams.

As I mentioned in my last post, this jacket started with pieced strips that I'd created when I couldn't decide what to do next for a big project.  In trying to put the pieced strips together with other fabrics to make enough for a jacket, I discovered that a patterned fabric worked better than a solid to create a pleasing overall look.  I'm still surprised when I look at it finished.

After finishing this, I am now hooked on using French seams in places I'd never expected to use them.  I even tried out using them for attaching the collar and cuffs on this one.  Attaching the collar that way was a little tricky, but worth the trouble.  I love the additional bit of subtle pizazz added by the tucks down the front and on the sleeves.  I'm definitely going to use them again on my next one.

Here are the fabrics I'm planning to use next.  We'll see how it goes.  This time I'll try pairing the pieced strips with hand-dyes.   One is fabric from an old damask tablecloth that we dyed, the other I believe is a piece from Helene Davis.