Style: Christine Vasan

I first met Chris about two and a half months ago at a PTA fundraising meeting. We were both new to these meetings, and when it was over, we both expressed interest in helping out with the school's Holiday Shop. Little did we know that we would end up meeting once a week from then until now to discuss all the details of the event! Over the course of all of those meetings Chris and I became friends. One of the first things I noticed at one of our early meetings was the beautiful necklace that Chris was wearing...I discovered that she is a wonderful jewelry designer and eventually I asked if I could go visit her studio. 

I love seeing where artist friends work and this did not disappoint. Chris's work is very delicate and largely inspired by nature. She uses gold, silver, a variety of gems, and even delicately crocheted cords. Seeing all her tools and the various bits and pieces that will one day become a finished piece of jewelry was fascinating. Chris shares her space with a group of women artists who are all also mothers of small children. Every where I looked there were interesting projects taking shape. I am sure they all inspire each other daily!

Not only did Chris dedicate a huge amount of time to organizing the PS 321 Holiday Shop, she will also be a vendor. If you want to buy a very special piece of jewely for yourself or someone dear, please come and visit her table. She has also just launched her own shopping website so you may buy from her directly if you are not in the New York area.  

 

happy accident: oilcloth storage containers

Way back in June 2009 the Purl Bee posted this oilcloth bag pattern and I fell instantly in love. I immediately ordered a few yards of the oilcloth, thinking that I could make the bags as gifts. Well, for some reason, that project fell to the bottom of the list and the oilcloth has sat in its shipping tube under a table for all this time. 

Fast forward to now. One of the projects I have been working on lately is helping with the PS 321 Holiday Shop called STUFF YOU SHOULD BUY. My focus has been reaching out to all the talented people I can think of and asking them to be part of the sale. Then, at one of our planning meetings it occurred to me that there are a lot of people like me who make things, but would never think of themself as a possible vendor. I decided to put together a table of things made by parents (or friends and family) of children at the school. I am gathering donations and will donate the proceeds to the school. 

Of course, this means I need to make some stuff to contribute to the table too! As I was brainstorming I rememebered the gorgeous oilcoth bags. As I set out to make one, I was not paying close enough attention, and cut the fabric in the wrong direction. The last thing I wanted to do was waste the precious oilcloth so I had to figure out how to correct the problem. As I pieced together another strip to compensate for the mistake it changed the proportion of the bag, but somehow I loved it. I decided not to add the handles either. I love it as a storage bin for Bea's doll clothes and stuffed toys. I am not sure I will part with this one...it may have to live here. But I still have lots more oilcloth...so, more bins, and maybe some actual tote bags will be made soon!