Making Some New Friends

These are a work in progress......I am taking a break from Discovery Totes right now for some reason? I love making them and coming up with the ideas, I just really enjoy sitting quietly and doing handwork. I never thought after so many years of banging on metal and loving it, that here I would be sitting and hand stitching. I have become interested in making some small items, and of course having ADD or so it seams.....I like to move around and keep it fresh. I haven't come up with a name for these guys and gals, they remind me of little aliens of sort... any suggestions?

A Day in the City

I have been wanting to upcycle some old sweaters in my work and finally found a way to do just that. I made the skyscrapers on this Discovery Tote out of a 100% merino wool sweater, I added some stitching and some embroidery to embellish them. The roads are cut out of wool felt and the tote is trimmed with red bias tape. I had to change the design in order to accommodate the tall buildings. The buildings lay on their sides and the tote has a snap that holds the tote closed. The strap pulls the rest of it together.

Playland Pillow

Before I went to graduate school, I worked for two years at an architecture firm where I built scale models. We did huge models for large timeshare properties and hotels like Hilton and Ritz Carlton. I loved the work I did there and have found that it creeps into the work I do now. I thought I would do some topography pillows for children to play on. They are multifunctional to be used as an accessory and a playland--- I came up with the title----Playland Pillow.

My New ETSY shop---Heilo Studios

This piece is a small sterling silver vessel that is about 1x1x1 inches. It is hollow and holds a strip of archival handmade paper that attaches to the inside of the lid. When the view opens the lid, out comes the paper. The idea here is that you can write an message or sentiment to whomever it is intended for and when they open it they can read your thought. I give them to my children for birthdays.

So, I bounce back-and-fourth between metalworking and stitching. I have had some of these pieces on hand and decided to open up a second etsy store. I am calling it Heilostudios, I wanted to put the two together somehow. In my mind they should be in the same store but, I felt business wise this was a smarter decision. Please, check it out!!!!

Yeah!!! Front Page

So excited this morning to see one of my Discovery Totes on the front page of ETSY!!!

Beautiful inside and out!

I just love the way these Discovery Totes look hanging against a wall in a child's room or playroom.

Discovery Tote - My First Jewelry

This is a new Discovery Tote I just designed...My First Jewelry. So sweet, it really is a little work of art, something to treasure for years to come. The tote opens for the child to discover a little cone form with handmade felt "flowers" on it. The cone is completely magnetic along with the "flowers" so they can be moved around on the cone. The cone is stuffed with polyfil and will hold the "flowers" when the tote is in route. The child can choose a "flower" from the four and wear it for the day! It comes with a magnetic back that will allow the "flower" to attach to a shirt or dress.

Discovery Tote - Fish

Discovery Tote Fish has three beautifully detailed wool felt fish with bead work covering the top surface. It comes with an all natural wooden fishing pole that is magnetic and can pick up each of the fish. This tote has a lavender and orange outer fabric with a lavender ribbon to close the tote. Matching covered button slides down the ribbon and cinches it closed for travel or when not in use.

New Bunny House Discovery Tote

I took these images so you can see how the tote opens up so the child can discover what in on the inside. This Discovery Tote opens up to a hollow tree with a little bunny living inside. The bunny is completely removable for imaginary play.

New Discovery Totes!!

Wow, I finally finished some more work! I have had a difficult time getting "time". Hot summers are not the best for my husbands job, so he has been putting in extra long hours. So, have been burning the midnight oil in order to get these totes made. This first one is a new design, I call it "A day at the beach". The three houses are machine stitched with some hand stitching, and they can move around inside of the tote.