I have always valued a good bucket. Opportunity for creativity never strays far from a good bucket. I mean, when there is a bucket near by, you can rinse brushes, soak stamps, do low water immersion dyeing. And that’s not all! When I was a kid, my dad upholstered a lid that fit perfectly onContinue reading “Busking! Two buckets, an apron, freedom.”
Category Archives: Blog
Selfies in Stitch
We currently live in the era of the ‘selfie’. Participating in social media is almost akin to sharing a life in photographs. ‘Selfies’, photos taken of the self, by the self, are the go to method of getting images out there. As a young artist going through school to obtain a degree in textile design,Continue reading “Selfies in Stitch”
An Exciting Reveal: Crafting a Life LLC, Carol Soderlund and Melly Testa
It has been pretty quiet here and today is the day to break that silence. A project I have been working on, with my good friend Carol Soderlund, is coming to fruition. And better still, we can now reveal, we are working with Pokey Bolton and Crafting a Life, LLC to bring this project to life!Continue reading “An Exciting Reveal: Crafting a Life LLC, Carol Soderlund and Melly Testa”
Base Layer!
This is a sample for my upcoming online class called Stitch Journal, which I will present through my teaching site, The Clever Guild. In this class, we will create a stitch-able sample, using the techniques you see here, reverse machine appliqué, fusing, raw edge hand appliqué and Mistyfuse and more. And then, we will handContinue reading “Base Layer!”
Stitching, embroidery and telling stories with thread
Stitch is a gentle and impactful manner to tell stories, create imagery, and spend time. Take, for instance this graffiti, a snapshot taken while in Barcelona, Spain, just over five years ago. I love birds, and am smitten with the quick, illegal stroke of the graffiti artists’ hand. Combine the two, and I definitely feelContinue reading “Stitching, embroidery and telling stories with thread”
Jazzy Paper Dolls! (Make Art that Sells BootCamp 2016)
Recently, I joined the Lilla Rogers, Make Art That Sells, MATS Bootcamp 2016. This is a self directed 6 month class with deadlines, design ideas, many dedicated participants and lots of fun. (For the next 48 hours, you too can sign up for the class, if you would like to join in the fun). PleaseContinue reading “Jazzy Paper Dolls! (Make Art that Sells BootCamp 2016)”
LESS, a documentary and help with funding it
Hello Good People, Friends and Family. Many of you know that just over 5 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I chose to forego reconstruction and to embrace my body as it is, without wearing breast forms or presenting a shape that is not my own. Since my diagnosis and much toContinue reading “LESS, a documentary and help with funding it”
Gathering my color.
The Gather your Sew-plies!! purse is just the right size to stitch, explore and complete. It is 6″ wide and 14″ long and given how it folds to make the purse, that can mean that you can stitch just the front area, making the stitchable area 6×7″ or so. Of course, I like to stitch theContinue reading “Gathering my color.”
Gathering my wits.
I think I may have started this Gather your Sew-plies purse in 2012. This purse was made using this pattern (I call this Pattern #1), it is constructed differently than the pattern that was published in Quilting Arts Holiday 2014, (which I call Pattern #2). There will be an updated pattern coming out soon (Pattern #3), andContinue reading “Gathering my wits.”
Gather your Sew-plies!! Part 3 and beyond!
The Gather your Sew-plies series continues with this video start, part 3. Above. Intro, Click Here. Youtube VIDEO Content. Part 1, Click Here. Youtube VIDEO Content. Part 2, Click Here. Youtube VIDEO Content. Pattern found in Quilting Arts Holiday 2014 Above links embedded in similar order: and also: and then, Part 1: Part 2 Phew. Are youContinue reading “Gather your Sew-plies!! Part 3 and beyond!”
Melanie Testa 