Kiss Me, I'm Almost Irish

I'm actually Scottish, which is close enough right? I grew up in a town, Rolla MO, where St. Pats Day was the most important holiday of the year, for the college kids anyway. It was a week long celebration with quit epic drunken debauchery. It has been toned down a bit in the last decade after a few tragic deaths and a bit too much attention. There was a year when Rolla was in the Guinness Book of World Records for most beer drunk in a weekend per capita. I haven't been home for the festivities in a number of years but I still remember a few truly carefree and amazing St. Pats celebrations from my youth.


Here are a few favorites in the Kelly green color that is so important today. The Irish Valley Scarf at the top is in a really soft mohair yarn. I used a traditional lace pattern that I love. The panties above are Handdyed Batik from Potomacrivergoods and make quite a statement.

I absolutely adore this Asymmetrical one sleeve cape from Sandmaiden. It comes in sizes all the way up to XXL and is made in a Hand dyed and felted wool jersey.


This gorgeous handdyed 100% extra fine merino wool is from Dyeabolical Yarns. I actually sat right next to her at the Strange Folks festival last year and was tempted by her yarns all weekend long. She is a very friendly seller and fellow St. Louisian.
















I love this shot from earthandsunfolk. It is a handdyed bamboo woven twill tote. I have a hemp bag from her that I absolutely loved carrying last summer.

StL Handmade

I'm really happy for my sister in law of Gray Eyed Scorpio on Etsy, for the great feature on StL Handmade. She is married to my husband's twin and actually introduced me to my husband. Her blog is called Fabric Addict. She sells everything from fabric headbands, purses, key fobs and her newest creations are her upcycled appliqued jackets and shirts. She is reclaiming thrift store items and giving them a new life with her designs. You can find lots of different sizes and patterns in her etsy shop now and she's adding more and more all the time.

St Louis Handmade is a fairly new website devoted to getting the word out about handmade in this area. They do features of local artisans every week. It is a very professional and well designed site that has tons of useful information for St. Louis folks. I will probably try to get a feature set up for early next fall at the start of my season. I want to work on my pictures to make sure I get the most out of the exposure.

Debi and I have different approaches to crafting and life in general but I think this interview really captured her well. She is super organized and practical. I'm pretty chaotic and whatever the opposite of practical is! Here are some of her answers that express her creative approach:

How would you describe your art or your style?
I’m a practical person, and I think that people can better justify spending their money on arts that are practical. My work reflects that perspective. I sew everything from headbands, bags, and purses to clothing embellishments. “Practical” does not have to mean “bland”.

What is your artistic background?

Although my parents taught me sewing and building skills, my artistic side emerged first in writing. The imaginative aspects of writing translate well to tangible arts…and it’s much quicker and easier to share and sell sewing projects than to publish writing!

.What inspires you?

If I’m looking for a spark, I’ll browse photos on Flickr. It’s remarkable to see the range of possibilities that stem from one similar idea. Looking at art quilts, for example, motivates me to try more complicated or risky ideas.

.When do you feel your most creative?

Paradoxically, I have the most ideas when I have the least time to create!

.How does creating make you feel?
Creating makes me feel simultaneously calm and revved up.

What is your studio or work space like?

My husband calls our basement “Debi’s World” because it’s where I spend so much time. My space is not remotely fancy, but I’ve got ample tables, shelving, and storage, as well as my music library, fitness equipment, and photography area. There are some pictures of it on my Flickr account.

.When you aren’t creating, how do you like to spend your time?
I enjoy yard work, home improvement projects, cooking, thrift shopping, and reading. I also try to spend as much time as possible out of doors–especially hiking, running, and cycling.