{ artful handbag workshop - sneak preview video}

N E W   W O R K S H O P  R E A D Y   T O   A I R - S N E A K   P E E K   H E R E !

Recycle those old t-shirts here! In this workshop we will create a colorful, roomy ARTFUL HANDBAG full of pockets, including two button pockets, two open top pockets, and two over sized pockets that easily accommodate large supplies due to the nature of the fabric. We will dye, cut, sew and create unique embellishments. We will explore the simple art of tap dyeing, challenge ourselves to create words through "doodled stitching" and put together a mini book for artwork, photos, mementos and more. We will even create a BONUS drawstring sleeve pouch! A bag that will speak to who we are, through color and construction, it can easily be arranged to suit your own personal style! The end result? An ARTFUL HANDBAG. A keeper of art or beach supplies, a carry all for babies things, a new take on the old messenger bag!

Artful Handbag Sneak Preview from Rae Missigman on Vimeo.

remnants to ruffles: bright & beautiful (and a chance to win)

H A V E   I   M E N T I O N E D   I   L O V E   R U F F L E S  ?

These beautiful new bags are being shipped off to an awesome boutique - Vintage Hip in Alabmama ! If you would like to see more of these sweet ruffled beauties in my etsy shoppe just leave a comment for a chance to win one of these sweet treats - and share for even more chances to win !

V I N T A G E   Q U I L T  B L O C K  

R E F I L L A B L E   N O T E B O O K   C O V E R

H A V E   A   B R I G H T   A N D   B E A U T I F U L   D A Y !

Update on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:23AM by Rae Missigman

R E M E M B E R   T H I S ?

{  W E   H A V E   A   W I N N E R  - !  }

{A random generator was used to select a winner}

AND THE WINNER IS SHERRY FROM BLESSINGS FROM OUT NEST

CONGRATULATIONS SHERRY!

live the repurposed life: paper ruffled clutch

My Reclaimed Fabric Ruffled Bags have been such a hit on Etsy and in my Blog Shop, that I decided to share a quick tutorial on how to make a similar recycled version with you! Perfect for a quick gift or sweet as a party favor sack, my "go green" bags are quick, easy and a great way to use up that old newspaper, instead of throwing it away!

You can also find my Reclaimed Fabric Bags at the oh-so-beautiful House of Envy Boutique in Florida and the perfectly Vintage Hip Boutique in Alabama!

remnants to ruffles: macebook pro case

remnants to ruffles: ipad case

As always, this was made with some of my stash of reclaimed fabric scraps. My favorite tidbit? The hot pink sari ribbon that was a gift from a friend!

remnants to ruffles: for the love of reading

Electronic Readers are everywhere today. It seems as if everyone is reading on the go, and lucky for me! I have a new batch of EReader Cases all stitched up and ready to go to Vintage Hip in Alabama, and into my Etsy Shoppe as well!

remnants to ruffles: linen ereader case

New Linen Ruffled Ereader case with giant silky peony embellishment.

{sneak peek}

                          

I am sorry that I have been {out of the loop} lately. I am in

the process of creating an awesome new website and so with

it comes much planning. I am hoping that you will all bear with

me over the next few weeks as I assure you that the end

result will be both beautiful and FUN!For now - here is a sneak

peek of some things I have been working on!

live the repuposed life: beautiful reinventions

{Creativity is allowing yourself tomake mistakes.  Art is knowingwhich ones to keep.  ~Scott Adams}

I have long since learned that this

is the beauty of {ART}. There is

no right or wrong. No proverbial

black or white. We, as creators

of art, are free to claim our

mistakes as much more. We are free to scoop them up, recycle them, re-purpose them,

reinvent them ... make them into something beautiful once more.

... but first let me take you back a bit ... 

I have long since been a lover of the primitive arts. Years ago I bought a simple set of

directions, a rug hooking frame and some scraps of wool. I was literally {hooked} if

you will! Armed with a new cutter and a notebook full of designs I began creating rugs. 

They took hours and hours and hours and hours to make, but they were {real}. They

were going to last a lifetime. A craft of the past. When someone ordered a custom

designed rug they were in fact getting an heirloom.

... fast forward ...

I recently started what was to be a miniature {rug} for a wall hanging. Somewhere

along the way it dissolved into something smaller than miniature. A mistake. {or so I

thought}. So I tucked it away for another day ... after all, the wool had been dyed,

stripped and partially hooked. I could abandon it, but I have never had to heart to

take a rug apart ... and so that day came. Last week, as I rooted through a cupboard

I stumbled across the partially finished {miniature rug}. The colors were wonderful

and since I have been a fanatic crazy woman making bags left and right, around here

I decided then and there it might not be a rug, but it could certainly be a bright and

cheery panel on a bag.

... and so it was ...

I remounted it on the frame and finished the hooking. It was satisfying to be holding

the hook again. Once it was complete I sewed it to one of the panels of a duck cloth

tote bag I was working on ...

... a fresh and funky design. Birds, hearts, arrows, scallops, flowers ...

 ... as I am huge into {re-purposing} these days as well, I gathered up some cool

vintage fabric my sweet, sweet neighbor gave me and used it as a liner for the

tote bag. Some canvas straps, a shabby muslin ruffle and of course, a {great big

huge ruffly silky flower}. I even threw in a hand dyed velvet center for the flower ...

 

...the reverse side of the tote is embellished with a tiny felted heart with wings ...

... and so there are no mistakes.

 Just {beautiful reinventions} ...

 ... and always a reason to {CREATE} !

 

 

{a birthday surprise}

Just when I resign myself to the fact that the days of {birthday woo-hoos!} are a thing of the past, my sweet daughter's surprise me with a very special gift. ...

... there is no end to the nice things that these three {young ladies} have done for me as of late. They have stepped in and taken over the most undesirable chores. They have goofed and joked and hooted until I have no choice but to hoot along. They have gone out of their individual ways to make me {smile} lately and I love them even more deeply for this. ...  

... for a long time now I have wanted this  - {see below}          

... a {kindle fire}. I am doing a major happy dance over here! 

I {LOVE LOVE LOVE}  to read and my {sweet girls} know it.

I decided to make a pretty case for it.

... you know I {LOVE WHITE} and {VINTAGE} anything,

so I dug around my studio and found some fabric

that was perfect for the job.Quilted. Antique white. Perfect.

... I ruffled four layers of antique gold tulle,scrunched silky floral trim, looped vintage pink seam binding, and vintage eyelet ribbon for a tie closure ...

 Super easy...super pretty...and a wonderful birthday surprise!