Haven't Heard From You In A While, Michie & Ellen

Post-visit from friends, Ellen and I have jumped back on the stitchin' bandwagon for the Holidays!  Just wrapped up a queen size quilt for a Texas client... made mostly from her dad's clothes!  Not your typical "t-shirt" quilt.  Really thought it turned out well!  Nice, clean lines, can't wait to do two more for her!

But for now, we are working on family Christmas presents... the one time of the year where we are busting our butts for deadlines for ourselves!

But!  We are thinking ahead of the new year.  Out with the old, in with the new.  We are working on a new theme for our newest collection,  which we think is quite possibly the most amazing thing!  And also, new ideas on smaller projects, so everyone

 can enjoy art from Fishy Fishy!  All I can tell you, is that come January, we are going to be working our tails off! I know you are excited, because we are too!

However, for right now-- I'm just going to say Merry Christmas to everyone.  And leave you with this image to be inspired in the next couple of weeks.

Amazing doll by Ravenhill Designs! Click here to see her flickr page!

Piece Out!

Michie

The Big Crafty!

And this is why we choose to live in probably the most amazing place for artists...Today's awesome event: THE BIG CRAFTY!    Ellen and I grabbed our friend Laura, and headed down to Pack Place this afternoon! 

This was my very first Big Crafty event... and I was awe-struck!  There were 

so many amazing artists there, and everyone was in the holiday mood, that although it was way packed (which of course was a good thing), everyone was super nice.  We even ran into a few faces that we recognized, which being fairly new to the whole Asheville world of craft, was pretty spectacular.

A couple of ya'll asked if we actually had a booth at the show this year, and although we didn't, we are already stoked about the next one.  I think I can speak for both Ellen and I, when I say we are really excited to be apart of this community, and look forward to knowing everyone.

But I have to do some mad shout-outs to some new artists that I met/saw today!

Buncombe Belt Buckles!  Visit their etsy account here!  They were rockin' a sewing machine money clip, which or course was a big hit with us sewin' folk.  I was craving a belt buckle, to complete the look of total crafty

 nerdiness, but opted out for the moment... Although I might have to start collecting buckles now, if they are all going to rock like this Beaver one... :)  They also have some vegan belts!

Sweet Mess -- Visit them at etsy.com.... here! They had really amazing Christmas Ornaments... that we don't have to pack away after the Holidays!  A picture of our new ornament on our sweet little tree soon!

And last but not least...

Miss Fitt & Co. - Which make felted hats and other warm accessories.  Didn't get a a chance to purchase myself a hat... but would really dig one for Christmas... hint hint!   www.missfitt.com 

I wish I could throw mad props to everyone there!  I'm sure Ellen will post some of her favorites too!  But for now, I've got some sewing to get to!

Piece Out!

Michie Lee

P.S. - Carrie, this updated post is for you!

Soap!

Yay! I got new soap today! Why so excited, you ask? Because it's Faerie Made! Today I ordered some Gypsy Spice and Yule from her amazing variety of happy, chunky, homemade bars of soap. I'm so excited to unwrap these...the Yule is actually a festive holiday gold (it's flecked with mica!); I wonder if it will make me shimmer? Anyway, this rockin' woman has a great thing going. I think I just met my soap supplier! I eat rice and beans everyday if needed so I can splurge on a good bar of quality, locally made soap.

That's all for now. Soap! Yay! Maybe I can trade a quilt for a two year's supply of soap...? Hmm....

happy showering!

ellen

I can see a lot of life in you

I love being inspired. I really do. I feel like it doesn't happen often enough, not because there are not amazing things around me, but because I get stuck in my own little world and forget to cleanse my pallet so I can experience things in a little purer way. What am I rambling about? Natalie Chanin! Last week I read an article in Stitch Magazine about Natalie Chanin, founder of Alabama Chanin and author of Alabama Stitch Book. Everything Natalie designs and creates is handmade, as in hand-sewn by folks living in Florence, Alabama. Hands. Needle. Thread. Fabric. Simple as that.

Reading this interview made me realize that I'm not connecting enough to my sewing. What a thing to realize right before I begin quilting a queen-sized quilt to go at my parent's house at the beach. Hand-quilting is out of the question--beach things need to be able to go into the washer and dryer without worry. Also, Christmas is only three weeks away--nowhere near enough time to do this thing by hand. So on the machine, it goes.

As I started sewing though, I began noticing the fabrics in the quilt in a way I had not done since piecing the individual blocks. They are such beautiful fabrics (yes, the one you see in focus is an older Amy Butler fabric...I swear I sew with more influence than just hers!) and I had nearly forgotten how much I liked each one.
The result? Probably nothing noticeable. However, I quilted this big queen-sizer with a little more joy than expected. Hopefully my parents will feel that when they curl under the covers.
--ellen

PS--The Post Title comes from a great song called "That Dress Looks Nice on You" by Sufjan Stevens.