Sadly, freezing rain might keep me home this evening rather than travel to Fredericton's College of Craft and Design for my number 5 of 7 Mixed Media Art Class. It's double sad because tonight, we're having a guest instructor, Rebecca Sentgeorge. Such is the way of things when AppleTowne Designs stays East for Christmas in … Continue reading Katrina Slade’s Art Class

I still need to talk it out sometimes, that is, a negative emotion or situation that is dragging me down. But ever since I discovered art journaling a few months ago, I find that if I also 'Art it Out' (create an art journal page on whatever is bugging me) the negative emotion, whether sadness … Continue reading Art it Out

Try as I might, I won't be making bags and hats for a time, a couple more months anyhow. The 'rest' is to heal a herniated disk in my neck due to repetitive strain injury. Yes, I am officially on hiatus from Josephine and Big Greta, from the cutting table and the steam press. But … Continue reading Mixed Media Art Journaling

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Sometimes when I see a certain jacket in a thrift store, I instantly know that I must get it, even when it costs more than twice what I would normally pay for such a garnment. There is no way that I can walk away from the thing, knowing it could be transformed into a spectacular … Continue reading How I Work

Introducing... young Josephine, my Big Gretta's little sister! She's modern, equally tough and just as fast, and much like her big sister, she's up to any job in the studio - except floors, she doesn't do those either! Josephine is proud of her professional walking feet, can climb any mountain barefooted and blindfolded, yet she … Continue reading Josephine

I am pleased to announce that AppleTowne Bags, as well as a few sleeveless jackets,  are now available at Meta4 Gallery in Peterborough and Port Perry. What beautiful stores!

Quiet as a mouse and strong like bull, I am thrilled to introduce Ms. Gretta MacJuki, the newest addition to AppleTowne Designs' growing arsenal of sewing tools. And this no-nonsense workhorse is already leading the charge! Following a three-hour romance in her stall at International Sewing Machine Group in Brantford, ON, last month, she willingly … Continue reading Gretta – my right-hand girl

I am so pleased that you want to make espadrilles - imagine making your own shoes! In this one-day workshop, you will use a basic sewing machine to put together the canvas tops for your espadrilles, complete with interfacing and lining. Then, you will learn the mattress stitch using a waxed cotton yarn. You will … Continue reading Sewing Workshop – Making Espadrilles

Making your own espadrilles would be fun, yes? Selecting your canvas upper from my stash or yours, and learning how to make the first pair of flats, then the sky's the limit as to what you might create after... perhaps a pair gets worn as slippers, another for outdoors, and a third as a special … Continue reading Learn to make your own ‘espadrilles’