First San Diego Etsy Sellers Meetup in Del Mar, California

The San Diego Etsy Sellers Meetup had its first public event yesterday, Saturday, April 30th, a warm and beautiful Del Mar, California day.  My quilts were shown under the name of "Linda's Art Quilts" and two other members also had displays.  The "Enchanted Forest" from Wendy Hannaford showcased absolutely captivating "Fairy Things" including head adornments, "Fairy Houses" and a most gorgeous and intriguing "Magic Mirror:  "Soar Like An Eagle"  from Joanne (Jody) Bolden presented a display of her one of a kind creations including miniature books, tiny pocket dolls, jewel quality magnets, and an array of outstanding greeting cards, along with other creative things that are almost too numerous to list. 

The lively, welcoming and supportive proprietor of the Earth Song Bookstore opened the store to host this event on the main street that runs through Del Mar.  If you have never visited Del Mar, it is one of those things that you might definitely enjoy.  The shops feature many one of a kind items and the eateries are outstanding.  This seaside town is one of the jewels in the Southern California crown. 

Lighting was not conducive to great photography from such a floundering amateur as I, yet a few photos were captured.    I also tried to use a video camera for the first time.  Although two fairly decent clips were gleaned, blogger.com gave messages that there was an error in uploading the videos so, unfortunately, they are not included here. 

Still Shots

Large Poster Outside the Earth Song Bookstore

Joanne Bolden, Linda Friedman and Wendy Hannaford

(from left to right)

Joanne, Claudia and Wendy

(left to right)

Fairy Headress by Wendy Hannaford of "Enchanted Forest"

Fairy House by Wendy Hannaford of "Enchanted Forest"

Handmade foldout book by Joanne Bolden of  "Soar Like An Eagle"

Pocket Dolls and other miature marvels by Joanne Bolden of "Soar Like an Eagle"

Books and magnets by Joanne Bolden of "Soar Like an Eagle"

Partial display by Joanne Bolden of "Soar Like an Eagle"

Joanne Bolden of "Soar Like an Eagle" standing with Wendy Hannaford at her "Enchanted Forest" display

More magnets from Joanne Bolden of "Soar Like an Eagle"

Linda's Art Quilts  from me laid out on a table.

Another view of Linda's Art Quilts from me display

The day was enlivened by the bookstore's "resident" psychic reader who provides her services at the Earth Song Bookstore every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fanciful Pink Boa

This boa was constructed with 1" strips of pale pink cotton fabric and knit on large, $35 needles. The ends of the fabric strips were tied, rather than sewn, to produce an open texture that lends a light, airy feel to the boa. The piece measures 65" in length and approximately 3 1/2" in width and may be worn in any nujber of ways. Its delicate color and whispy texture will punctuate any article of clothing over which it is worn fron elegant winter white woolens to summer tank tops and skinny jeans.

Jacket Photos Complete and Posted on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54108928/jacket-interpretation-of-japanese-boro

Emulating Japanese Boro ("Rag") Art

A few nights ago while perusing YouTube I happened upon a video about old Japanese fabrics and was particulary intrigued by this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9g6y6O-myA

It spoke of Japanese Boro art, the ancient art of salvaging useable pieces of fabric from garments that were otherwise worn out.

The second garment shown captivated me. For as long as I can remember I have kept and recycled and upcycled outworn fabrics and fabric scraps into diverse forms of art. A stack of 4"x4" denim square from my grandaughters' outworn or outgrown jeans remained in my stash from a denim and velvet quilt that I made for my daughter at the holidays last year. Also in my stash was a swath of homespun fabric that I had inherited from my daughter's mother-in-law. The homespun fabric had, heretofore, never found its way into a project.

Here is my completed modern interpretation of the ancient, fine art so skillfully developed in the Far East.

2010 Take on Ancient Boro Art

Jacket Front

Jacket Back

Reversible Jacket Front

Reversible Jacket Back

Jacket with Front Panels Open

Designs Created with Clorox Bleach Pen

Initial Layout of Back Panel

Back Panel Construction

Back Panel on Dress Form

Jacket Front Laid Flat

Connecting Side Tabs