Free Handmade Baby Bibs in Portland Oregon

I've done it! I've made my first set of free handmade baby bibs (though there may be a cup of coffee exchanged at some point). That's right - they're free. I'm experimenting with a "happy accidents" style of embroidery design. My guess (having had a baby myself almost 7 years ago) is that most babies only wear bibs for a year or so, so if the embroidery designs can withstand a year's worth of frequent encounters with the washing machine plus normal wear and tear (I'll spare any descriptions), everyone should be happy - mom, baby and me (the designer)!

Like the last set of bibs, these are traditional baby boy blue with alternating off-white. Both fabrics are super soft corduroy and the center thread designs are done in medium blue heavy cotton canvas.

Here are the design details of the sailboat and "big heart" designs...

My next project is an art clock for the children's hospital in Boston, MA. Hope to have a post about it later this week. If not, Justin & I will be in Hawaii May 6 - 13 for a belated honeymoon...sans Jonah (Justin and I's 7-year-old)....so it'll be after that before I post again....yes, I'm excited!!!

Cheers!

Contemporary Handmade Baby Bibs - Second Set

I completed another set of handmade baby bibs last week. This time, they are in traditional baby boy blue with alternating off-white. Both fabrics are super soft corduroy and the center thread designs are done in medium blue heavy cotton canvas. I tweaked the pattern a bit this time to bring the velcro closure around to the side instead of in the back where little hairs can be pulled. As for the designs, with these bibs I put a new twist on the "I Love My Mommy" / "I Love My Daddy" baby bibs - the father of this little guy is a drummer and his mother is, well, a "love"!

drummer detail

hearts detail

I also finally have a taker on a set of baby bibs. I'll be making a set for a friend of a friend - for free! That's right, I'm obsessed. So, I'll put it out there again. If you live in the PDX area and know someone who is having a baby soon, send me an e-mail and I'll send you a pair of baby bibs!

Also, if you love independent artists/designers like I do, check out my friend Linda Johnson of Little Flower Designs on HGTV/That's Clever! today at 1 pm eastern time!

Happy Friday!

Custom Art Clock Design

NUMBER 46 by Mary Preiser Potts

I am currently working on a custom version of a large wall clock that I designed and made the prototype of almost 3 years ago. The original art clock was 22" wide (at the widest point) and 54" long (including the pendulum). The custom version is smaller than the original and, as such, is posing some interesting challenges for me. In the original art clock, the center gold area with the small circles running down it, including the little bit coming out from the bottom of the clock was the pendulum. It was huge! In order to perform this feat, I had to use a heavy-duty pendulum drive, which sticks out from the back of the clock 2.5 inches. In order to hide this pendulum-driving beast from the side view of the clock, I built a frame around it so that only the frame would be visible from the side...

Well, this time around, because the clock is much narrower, and because my client foresees that much of the time the clock will be seen from the side, the idea of the frame being exposed from the sides is just too much for either of us to bear! So, the center gold area between the violet-mauve bars will be stationary - no movement. The pendulum will just consist of the large gold circle at the bottom. I think it is a great variation on the design and I really don't think the lack of movement down that center strip will take anything away from the overall look of the art clock.

Custom NUMBER 46 in progress

So, this is what I have been up to for the last few weeks....well, that and working on Justin's new album cover with him. If you're a fan of indie rock and experimental music, then click on over to Justin Potts' myspace page!

I have some new block clocks laid out and hope to post some new designs next week!

Quilted Purses at Mish Mosh Art - Hubbardsville, New York

If you like artsy one-of-a-kind clocks, then you may well like artsy one-of-a-kind purses...at irrationally affordable prices.

Fiber, Textile and Art Doll Artist, Suzanne Lappan of Mish Mosh Art, sent me these images of her latest spring designs. The funky bowl-shaped Quilted Purses are handmade from stylish, spring-inspired fabric and retro handles.

DREAMING OF SPRING by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 11" x 12" / $45 / purchase info

IN FLIGHT (reversible) by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 11" x 12" / $45 / purchase info

I can't help it - here is just one more...different design, but same amazing appeal!

OCHRE POD Highbag by Suzanne Lappan / approx. 10" x 22" / $40 / purchase info

Oh how I love spring!

Please check out the rest of Suzanne's fiber arts and art dolls!

New ART CLOCKS Hatch in Time for Easter!

I am more and more in love with spring this year, watching everything in my yard, neighborhood and city burst into color and new life. The Pacific Northwest boasts one of the most beautiful springs I've ever experienced and I am grateful to have such a fabulous view from my studio windows. My new art clock designs are named in honor of the great printemps emergence - ENJOY 5 new sidebar designs and 1 new BLOCK CLOCK - all in the scrumptous blooming colors of spring and some rich "approaching-pastel" palettes as well!

REBIRTH by Mary Preiser Potts / 8½" x 28½" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

AWAKENING by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 28½" / INTRO Price: $190 / sold

RENEWAL by Mary Preiser Potts / 7" x 24" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

MOXIE by Mary Preiser Potts / 7½" x 25½" / INTRO Price: $190 / purchase

VERVE by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 19½" / Price: $90 / sold

Block Clock - AMPERSAND by Mary Preiser Potts / 8½" x 30"/ INTRO Price: $225 / purchase