Tomato Art Fest

I forgot to post about the fun and artsy fartsy Nashville Tomato Art Fest last month! I found the photos today when I was searching for something else, and thought I may as well put them on my blog because they are so darn cute. Scott and I bought a poster that looks like the front of this t-shirt, and framed it to hang above our piano. Love that. The artist is Sheila B. and her website is a hoot! You HAVE to check it out at SheilaBware.com to see what a crazy and amazing artist she is from the Nashville scene.

There was so much art to see, and the crafty art caught my eye, like this big paper bowl made from a roll of tickets. I would love to make one of these myself.

This wall of bottle caps was outrageous, with a different image in every single cap. Think of the work!

I can remember eating at Big Boy restaurants when I was a little girl, so the big guy brought back a few memories for me. Waffles, burgers, grilled cheese sammies, yummmmmers.

A gang of Wrights buds met there, including Chant and Robyn who are graphic artists. We hung out in the art gallery soaking in all the tomatoey vibes.

I'm crazy for collage, and this art doll collage is fabulous! Check out the sassy little bottle cap used for a hat!

This graphic artist decided to use an itty bitty tomato as the priceless setting for an amazing tomato ring. That's a little saucy I'd say. wink-wink

Ah, collage. This wooden box was the best collage ever. The clock is real, and the metal items are real, but the rest is paper.

The artist couldn't stop with decoupaging the outside of the box. The inside was just as fun, with a mirror inside and a felt lining to make it complete.

Oh the drama. It's not every day that we have the opportunity to spend an evening looking at tomato art. Big thanks to Teresa (the greatest APM in the world) for taking the pics and sending them to me. I'll be back next year for the continuing saga of the life of tomatoes turned into art.

Winners and Losers on Project Runway

You win some, and you lose some no matter what, and tonight's losers got a double whammy with two designers knocked off the runway. Terri lost it with this ho-hum design that was bad fabric, bad lines, and a bad partner.

Blayne lost too, with this horrific rendition of a Libra costume that reaked with disjointed design and nothing that says haute couture.


I thought for sure that Kenley would be packing up her scissors with this insane idea that she is the designer goddess. Her arrogance and annoying voice coupled with a talk-back attitude was so grating, it was hard to watch.

Joe did a safe design with some gorgeous fabrics that kept him from being thrown off the runway, but not good enough to win.

But the winner was Jerrell with a heavy houndstooth fabric and jacket with rows of trim on the sleeves. Tim Gunn was worried about the fabric, but it proved to be just the ticket for a big win. The designers are going to have to kick it up a notch for me next week, because so far I'm not too excited. How about less drama and more attention to good design?

N.E.E.T. Magazine

N.E.E.T. Magazine has the latest issue up on their site, and it's great to view every page for free without having to make the trip to the local book store to pick it up.

Check out the adorable covered button bracelet by Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary fame, on page 139. It's been YEars since I made a covered button. This made me go through my sewing stash and look for my little rubber mold and metal buttons to cover with fun fabric. What a great idea for making something memorable with a piece of fabric that you just can't part with, but it's too small to really make anything with.

Thanks Jennifer!

Felt Rings and Purses

Reform School has the most adorable felt purse kits that are meant for kids, but I need one!

The little sparrow purse looks very sweet and fairly simple to do. After I saw these, I thought how cute it would be to make them in other shapes like a daisy or a giant leaf.

They also have gorgeous felt rings in every color of the rainbow. I keep thinking that I need to get busy and make some cute things for Christmas office gifts, and this is a great idea.
My sister-in-law Gail makes beautiful felted purses and it's time to get out the one she made for me last year to go with my fall sweaters. I'm loving the cooler weather here in Tennessee.

Diane Von Furstenberg on Project Runway!

The designers played the big time tonight when Diane Von Furstenberg judged their designs that they created with her fabulous printed and tweed fabrics.

Here's the winner! Love the color, the style and the fit. Leanne did it again with well fitting and tasteful garments.

Kenley did a fabulous chic dress, although I think she could have done more...how about a bolero or a hooded cape?


Blayne's outfit was both cute, flirty and tailored. I would love that in MY closet!

But really, Korto's elegant and wonderfully wearable couture won it for me. She is constant in her design statements as one of the contestants to watch out for!

Sewing Art

Faythe Levine is documenting the rise of DIY and the new wave of art, craft and design. Handmade Nation the book will be released by Princeton Architectural Press in November 2008 and the documentary with the same title will be released in 2009. The art being used to promote the release is fabulous! Check out the zipper, the spools of thread, a box knife, needles, buttons, scissors, thread, and beads.



Speaking of sewing notions, when I saw these on West Elm, I went crazy! We can make these! They are simply wooden boxes painted white, with stenciled icons of scissors, rulers, and a needle and thread. I'm a nut for organizing, and it's almost impossible to walk down the aisle at the discount stores without buying tubs and plastic boxes to hold all my craft stashes. Now I will have the perfect way to cram my sewing stuff into cute boxes that can sit anywhere. Who needs plastic when they can have cute?