Patch love!

Many of you who have visited me at craft shows have seen my piles of colorful block printed patches, adorned with monster or kitty doodles. I carve them on soft rubbery blocks and print them with block printing ink on old sheets or fabric remnants and sell them with unfinished edges.



Some people see them and say, "what in the world would I do with this?" and I run through a list of ideas, my usual explanation being to use one to cover up a corporate logo on a freebee tote bag or baseball hat or jazz up an old book-bag or t-shirt...or just to sew it on anything! And some people who come to my table have that look in their eye like they know exactly where their new patches are going to go and spend a long time picking out just the right ones. I think Alyson fits in that second category!

I just came across Alyson's Blog, "The Hasty Quilter" and was pleased as punch to see what she had in the works with the patches she bought at last years Crafty Bastards! She is making Monster Baby Quilts for a couple of friends! Here is a photo of one in the works:


Quilt & Photo by Alyson Olander

If you have an interest in things sewn, definitely check out her blog! Its really quite lovely and her photos are simply gorgeous!

I love knowing that some of these little patches with my artwork on them have worked their way into other craft projects and are truly serving their function as an inspiration for folks to sew! If you've made or adorned/beautified something with your own Cotton Monster patch/es, I'd love to see!

New Cotton Monsters up in the Shop!

Tons of new beasties now up in the Shop!

Mark Your Calendars! Oct. 1st Crafty Bastards!

Saturday, October 1, 2011 • 10am - 5pm • Adams Morgan

Wahoo! So excited to be part of the Crafty Bastard crew once again this year! Its always my best show of the year, and I'm pleased as punch to be among these other awesome vendors! You can search them alphabetically or by state ('cause they come from all over the place!).

Even if you are not in a shopping mood, Crafty Bastards always offers tons of other fun things, craft making tents, break dance competitions, and yummy food vendors! This year there will also be a Young&Crafty section for young kiddo selling their wares AND a Food Craft section. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and ingesting some extra caffeine that day so you don't miss a thing!

Just returned home from a camping trip, a few nights at a old-time string band festival in WV and one in Shenandoah National Park, VA. I was out that way last weekend too, and am already excited to go back again! There is something really magical about those mountains. And I'm not sure if its the heat, the rainstorms, or that compost tea I fed the plants, but our backyard garden was looking mighty happy upon our return! I posted some more pics of my weekend and garden here!


(can't help but think of cabbage patch kids when I water these little guys!)