Yep, First Thursday has rolled around again quite quickly! Our studio will be open this evening from 6:30 to 9:30. Enjoy!

I picked up a decent sized stash of buttons (vintage and new) from an estate sale a while back where the majority of them were white. Since I usually gravitate towards the bright and bold colors, I was at a loss for a while on how to best use all of the white buttons. Then I read an article on how to connect similarly sized buttons together for watchbands, and it occurred to me that I could fashion a lattice-style panel of buttons that would be a lot of fun on a purse.

Several handfuls of white buttons, yards of carpet thread and half a season of Arrested Development later, I had a panel of joined buttons. The rest of the bag went together pretty easily.

Don’t forget that First Thursday open studio is this evening! We’ll be open from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Please stop by if you’re in the neighborhood! I’ll be displaying a new inventory of handbags and other fun creations from reclaimed materials. Also showing in our studio are sketches from Catherine, photography from Vanished Twin, and jewelry by Klea.

The intersection near my studio is rapidly becoming an arts magnet between the terrific artists in my building and the gallery shows at Backspace, Just Be, and Upper Playground, so it is definitely worth checking out.

Geek in the City Studios in the Goldsmith Building
20 NW 5th Avenue (Corner of NW 5th and Couch)
Suite 412
Downtown Portland - Old Town/Chinatown

This is the supposed cause of controversy during Aaron’s visit to The Rick Emerson Show today. (Aaron asked me to make him one.) It’s not quite as refined as the official utilitkilts, but it is comfortable and practical according to Aaron.

I am making more, and expect they should be available soon.

I am super proud of this piece. Happened across this terrific purse during a recent outing for source material, and was so excited I got started on it as soon as I got back to the studio.

I cleaned up all of the leather with leather conditioner before delicately decontructing it. Sewed in window appliques of Alexander Henry tattoo fabric and a few sparkly stars. Repainted the gold purse clasp and whipped up new lining for the bag in a rich chocolate color. A few of the windows were embellished with gold beads.

I’ve been keeping an eye out for more vintage purses that would be good candidates for this type of makeover, but haven’t found any as pristine as this one yet.

I’ve been working in the studio at least five days a week, and keeping up a steady pace has been very good for my work. I have many new pieces ready for June’s First Thursday. The studio will be open from 6:30 - 9:30 on June 5th. The studio is located in Suite 412 of the Goldsmith Building, situated at 20 NW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland. Please stop by!

Transformed my greyhound into a bat hound with a bit of ingenuity. Indy needed a rain slicker for our lovely Portland weather, and I’d never sewn a dog jacket before, so I figured it was time to try. The gold bats are reflective to aid in visibility. We went for a walk near the studio so I could check out how he walks and does his business with it on, and it passed with flying colors. Got some good feedback from other pedestrians on his “cape.”

Making a push this weekend to finally get some items up on Etsy, and try to get good traction on studio projects. I seem to have more motivation when I know where the item will wind up, and I need to work on being less precious with my supplies. I have a terrific stash (bordering on horde) of materials to create stuff with, but when I start sifting through it for project ideas, I find stuff I would like to use, but have trouble justifying the use of the item because I think, “What if I come up with a better idea to use this item later?”

Yes, this is a risk I run with utilizing limited quantities of a variety of recycled materials, but I need to get better at just diving in and using the stuff. Need to adapt a “no time like the present” mentality. It’s tougher than you would think.

Since it is spring (and I am getting out of my winter hibernation) I am playing with felted flower creations these days. It’s been a terrific way to use up small scraps of sweater felt and the plethora of vintage buttons I have in my stash.

I haven’t gotten pictures of it yet, but I recently created a melded pillow and stuffed animal creation. It’s tentatively titled “the bear that wanted to be a leopard skin rug.” I also made a Mexican El Dia De Los Muertos key rack for our new home.

Been knitting like crazy lately. Working on a pair of argyle bat socks for Aaron (black and yellow, baby!) and a set of colorful skull curtains for our Day of the Dead kitchen. Attended this year’s Loop and Hoop, but it was a disappointment since the Blazers lost and there were no goodie bags.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I am participating in the Goldsmith Building Artist Collective First Thursday event. Live music, too! Our gallery will be open from 6 - 10 pm on Thursday 4/3 and Friday 4/4. Please stop by and say hi!

I’m back from vacation! I made some cool items as holiday gifts, and I hope to get pictures up of them soon. The SCRAP bazaar went very well, and I met a number of very cool sister artists. I also made lots of notes so I will be better prepared for future shows. It had been two years since I had done a show, so I was a bit rusty.

I spent yesterday afternoon in the studio cleaning and organizing. I got a wet/dry vacuum for the studio and spent a good hour using it to suck up gunk from inside the serger and the sewing machine.

I also sewed a fun wallet together for myself. It is bright shocking purple, and made from upholstery fabric samples. I had a lot of fun making it. I had looked for a new wallet at some of the holiday bazaars. I didn’t see any that really worked for me, so I did what I always do when I can’t find what I want: I make it myself!

One of my goals for this year is getting an Etsy shop up and running. I would like to sell patterns as well as finished items, and I think the wallet will be one I make a pattern of..

Come see for yourself what makes Illusionaire Design crafts so wonderful and special at the open studio event on Thursday December 6 from 6 pm to 9 pm .  Illusionaire Design is also participating in the sixth Annual SCRAP (School and Community Recycling Action Program) Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale on December 8, from 11am to 6pm. Highlighting the work of 15 talented local artists, the SCRAP Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale proves that gold can be spun from old twine.  Jenn’s work can be found at the Union Rose boutique all year round.

Geek in the City Studios (in the Goldsmith Building)
20 NW 5^th Avenue Suite 412
Portland , Oregon

SCRAP
3901A N Williams (Williams & Failing)
Portland , OR 97227
Phone: (503) 294-0769
http://www.scrapaction.org

Union Rose
2023 NE MLK Jr. Boulevard
Portland, Oregon
503-287-4242
http://www.unionrosepdx.com   

Very practical little errand bag I whipped up last night. Perfect for small runs to the drugstore or the grocery store. It has a drawstring enclosure, a mini hanging pocket, and a leather shoulder pad. All found, recycled, or scrap materials.

Bag body is an upholstery fabric sample. Drawstrings are shoelaces. Pocket and shoulder pad are remnants from my materials stash.

I have been playing with all of the stitches available to me on my new sewing machine - fun!

This week’s library books include a children’s book on making stuff with felt and an adult book on sewing your own travel bags. This travel board game prototype merges the two concepts. The game board itself is made of woven felted sweater strips, and it is complemented by a dry erase score sheet from a shiny upholstery fabric sample. Works, too! The letters are courtesy of a vintage children’s Scrabble set found at the Catlin Gabel annual rummage sale a couple of weeks ago. With hook and loop backs, the letter stick easily to the board. The pouch is made from screen door netting scraps, and zips in to form the base of the pouch. The two sides zip to close, and a drawstring closes the bag. I am excited about the concept, and want to get make more. There are never enough hours in the day!