The V-neck cashmere sweater paired with a leather skirt is a marriage made in fashion heaven! Worn with a bootie and one of my handmade bracelets, this look was my uniform last week. It was a theme I will revisit again and again. <3
Students are working on papier-mache sculptures (donuts, owls) and colored pencil drawings. The Studio in Art students just finished glazing their clay projects and now they are about to do still life paintings with acrylics. We are having a lot of fun making art!
In my attempt to do a theme week, I selected short dresses with pockets. I love deep pockets! Clearly, I need a fifth dress with pockets to finish off the week. I had to insert a skirt on Thursday – but in its defense, OMG, the pockets are enormous. <3
In other news, my school picture was in my mailbox yesterday. I stood in a long line that day on the cafetorium stage, waiting my turn after a group of fifth graders had theirs. Is it all airbrushed? Because it is one of the best school pictures I have ever taken in twenty-five years of teaching. I think it was a new company or something, I’m not sure but, regardless, I am delighted with the results.
Here are my outfits of the day for the month of March 2020. No more school for a while. I just discovered a show on ABC called Schooled to help with my school withdrawal. It is almost as funny as the silly things kids say at real school. It’s set in the ’90s, which is when I started working at my job. Back then I think my fashion look was sort of Monica from Friends.
More bracelets. My dining room table is the bracelet factory. These are from the ethnic series, meme series and horses! All are leather with fur (rabbit and sherpa). Rebecca from Tandy Leather taught me how to add snaps. Bracelets fit 5 1/2″ to about 6 1/2″ wrists. The ones that tie have eighteen inches of suede string attached, so they can fit a larger wrist.
Mine is 5 1/2″. I took a poll of wrist sizes via texting a bunch of friends to get a sense for what was standard. Bracelets really need to be tried on. They are infused with positive energy – you kind of need to feel the vibe. It will be so cool when they find permanent homes. They are like foster kittens. Kind of hard to let go…but I think I am ready to be ready (to be ready) to sell them. <3
These Tashkovski collection bracelets are part of the War & Peace series. They are made with vintage US Army patches and pins. There is a Girl Scout patch in the mix (it is from the ’50s!) and a peace pin that was originally designed to protest war. The idea with these pieces is to respect everyone’s position. I truly admire those who serve our country.
Ultimately, peace is the goal. Find peace within yourself first and your world will change. I promise you that. <3
I have been working on photographing, pricing, labeling and cataloging the Tashkovski collection bracelets. Here is the group I just finished – a combination of cameos, vintage pieces and St. Christopher medals. Each is one-of-a-kind. Handmade bracelets created with pins in leather, rabbit fur and sherpa.
I have a bit more organization to do this weekend before the launch. Once I get it all sorted, I will free up time to make more (and start the process all over again). <3
Dominoes have become my bread and butter – I have been collecting them for many years, using them in my oil and collage paintings since the ’90s. I think they look amazing in these bracelets.
The idea is to create a domino effect. You pick numbers that have meaning for you. You run into others wearing domino bracelets. You find you have a number/numbers in common. You strike up a conversation. Friendships are born.
It is an idea, a dream, a deep wish, a desire that people can find an element of common ground through fashion and accessories, if that is the way. There are no coincidences.
They are priced at $20 or $25 depending on style. I love the vintage flavor to these pieces. That they have survived for so many years and have such delicious patina. And the smell of leather is intoxicating. <3
Tandy Leather is my new favorite place on Earth. It is only five minutes away from my house by car (6700 Thompson Rd., Syracuse, NY 13211).
I have been there twice in the last two days (I’m working on a leather project that is consuming me – so excited about it!).
I can’t believe the store has been here this whole time and I had no idea. I just love, love, LOVE this place! The smell of leather hits you full-on as you enter. It is intoxicatingly provocative. OMG!
There are all sorts of hides and also smaller pieces in different colors and textures depending on the scope of one’s project.
There are dyes, as well, and tools, and accessories to purchase, like rivets, eyelets and snaps. Also hardware for keychains, wallets, purses and such. The prices are incredibly reasonable too.
Tandy sells various crafting kits – to make wallets, moccasins and purses. Regularly scheduled leathercraft classes are usually free with the purchase of a kit. See the website for more details.
Tandy Leather is a hidden gem. <3
Here are pictures from my art exhibit last week!
I sell the 5″ x 7″ cards for $5 each. They can be framed or used as greeting cards and mailed. (They are blank inside).
They take hours to make so in terms of being paid what I’m worth? Lol. People seem to equate time with money. Non-artists frequently ask me how long it takes me to make an abstract painting, as though it should cost a lot less than realism even though there are a million Bob Ross types who sell “realistic” landscape paintings made without reference materials.
The answer, naturally, is it took me my whole life. My whole life to figure out that I had a style, a body of work that represents me as an artist and as a person.
The cards contain stitched fabric and paper – some watercolors, some oils, and all of my favorite collage items – coins, stamps, sea shells, sea glass, playing cards, leather bits. I love the smell of leather or as my colleague at work and I call it, leathaaaaaaaaaaa!
They are among my favorites of my body of work because they engage all the senses.
These types of art shows are mainly for the experience, the social aspect, the putting yourself out there business of being an artist and rarely about sales. My mother generously spent the day with me so it was more about hanging out with her and laughing and eating roast beef sandwiches.
