What's been happening...

well to say the least, a lot! We had our 1st child January 2013. He is a wonderful handful and bundle of joy. We waited on the Lord and He answered our prayers and then some.... He is our hearts for sure!

Just recently moved and I have to admit, I wish I had of scaled down long ago... it's crazy how much you can collect over 11 years of arting. Also having a space that could fit all of your madness and now trying to fit your madness into a space... even more crazy! The topper is trying to entertain a 7 month  old + while you're in the midst of all of your... junk (for a lack of a better term, I chose what sounded honest).

Praise God though, lately all I have been able to do are to make shrugs! It allows me time to be with my lil man whereas painting and sewing are a little too involving to take my eyes off of him for long periods of time. Not to worry though, I will be getting back into the groove just as soon as he gets a bit more independent... that will be a whole other story (hehehe).


Nonetheless, here are some of latest pieces...

You can click to the right to see them all or go to http://knitsleeves.etsy.com

The joy of my days!

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

Fluorescent Pink Hand Painted Scallop Denim Clutch - $60.00

Hand painted denim handmade clutch with sturdy chain strap. One makes two interior zippered pocket. Used ice blue thread for satin stitch finish.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Silver Blue Tribal Art Tattoo Bag - $60.00

Hand Painted Faux Finished Denim with silk screened tribal art image. Sturdy metal chain cover at the shoulder with a part of the painting. The interior is all denim with part of the painting turned into a zippered pocket. This pocket is one made into two.



Measures 13" x 14" finished with a satin stitch. Chain strap 13" drop.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Yellow Water Moon n Black Sky Hand Painted Tribal Art Bag - $68.00

Hand Painted Faux Finished Denim with silk screened tribal art image. Sturdy metal chain cover at the shoulder with a part of the painting. The interior is all denim with part of the painting turned into a zippered pocket. This pocket is one made into two.



Measures 13" x 14" finished with a satin stitch. Chain strap 13" drop.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Blonde Wood Hand Painted Large Denim Shoulder Bag - $180.00

Hand painted large denim bag. This one is a favorite mainly because I love the wood grain pattern. It's so chic to me! I can see this paired with a pair of stove pipe slacks, breezy blouse and some bad a** shoes!

This is the first but will not be the last! More colors to come!



Measures 18.75" x 11" x 4.75" Strap drop 11.75"

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Big Girl Color Block Bag - $180.00

I love doing color! I no longer have a favorite color so that I can gravitate to as much color as possible. Color block paintings are always very fun for me and I love the fact that the bag can go with anything.



This bag is of my larger part of the collection measuring in at 21"W x 10"H x 5"D with 4 interior pockets one with a snap closure and one large pocket/divider with a zipper. Thi...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Spring Greens and Daisies Hand Painted Denim Cell Phone Cover - $18.00

This cell cozy is padded with very heavy duty interfacing. It fit's the new Windows 7 or Blackberry phones. (Galaxy SII, Iphone cover not shown.) You can custom this cozy to feature your area code.

I use metallic inks for all numbering embellishments.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

I Quit My Day Job!

Well there has been a lot of changes since I last posted. To get to the point, I left my day job and am taking on my art as a full time gig! Yea, that's right! I QUIT MY DAY JOB!!!! Honestly it didn't happen nearly as glamorously as I imagined nor did it happen when I wanted it to but the bottom line is... it finally happened and everything feels new.
I had a great power talk about business and being an artist in business with my husband and what I learned is that we have both grown a lot since our beginnings which is fabulous news! I now understand that I no longer want to be a big time manufacturer or necessarily a big time designer. What I want to be is a Designer working in her field happily making a decent living. Simple really. I can't believe it's taken 10 years for me to find that out but I am so glad that I did. I am more focuded and see the big picture.

Anyways... that's whats been going on lately. I will have lots of posts coming soon just trying to acclimate myself to my new surroundings, area and opportunities. Thank you for your prayers, support and following. It has meant so much to me.

Chat with y'all soon!

Marion Renee

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com or at http://marionrenee.etsy.com

Burning the midnight oil...

As some of you know, I have a show on Feb. 5th in San Diego at the old Naval Training Center now known as Liberty Station. It is my 1st show in almost 2 years and I want my come back to be strong. With that being said, I have taken on my biz literally as a second job.

Lavender and Chocolate Sauce

I work my day job from 9am to 3pm. I take a 3 hour break to decompress, cook something and veg in front of the t.v. even if just for an 1/2 hour then hit the paint table around 6ish and work until 12am or 1am. I find that I am pooped but able to press through because I feel like more then ever my passion has a direction and I am clear about where I want this to go.

 Well here are a few bags that I have been working on and I have hope to post more this week but I don't think I will have time to do anymore posting until after the show.


Peace and Love~

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

Tablets and cell phones...

I have been busy getting my line together for the " Big for me" Talmadge Art Show on Feb. 5, 2012 at NTC Promenade in Pt. Loma. I know that I have bitten off more then I can chew by adding all of these extras to my collection but I just have to do it! I feel like I'm tormented daily if I don't get a design idea out of me... it's really like labor. Well, should I say a TRUE labor of love.

Here's  little something that I will be showing at the show. I love mine so much and people have asked me for a couple years to do a little something for their toys... here you have it!  A 10.1 " tablet cover with matching smartphone cozy! It's just a taste of what's to come.

 http://www.marionrenee.com

And for the ladies primarily...

I had a pretty busy day... down to the head office 1st thing this morning, back to my office then down to The French Cowgirl and onto Art n Soul on the 101 in Encinitas.
I can't say it has been exciting but it has definitely been busy. One store took a few bags and another wants me to come back to check out a style that she thinks will work in her shop... she wants me to copy it. Uh, really all I want to be is original! So boo to you Miss lady!!!

Anyways, not getting much sleep last night and running all day, you'd think all I would want to do is sit in front of the t.v. with a big bowl of organic popcorn watching Wipeout! but no!!, I wanted to sew... and that's exactly what I did!

Here's what I've been up to this evening:

It's my very 1st ladies wallet! I never paid much attention to making these in the past... I don't like to sew little corners but this was surprisingly easy to do once I got started. The art is some freehand tribal art I did with permanent markers.
I rather like the design overall... it's my kinda style.

Something that happens often to designers is there is always someone who will come along and want to give you their 2 cents about what you should be doing instead of accepting what you've done and working with that. I know people mean well... they are not intentionally pissing on your artistic works. I think that they are sometimes so excited about their own ideas that forget to appreciate others ideas. I know I've been guilty of it a time or two in life. Having it happen to me has made me a lot more sensitive about others work.
Taking something for just what it is, with no judgments and no add ons is hard! Everyone has an opinion and we all think ours matters and it does, just not all the time.

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

Wallets anyone???

As you know, I have been very busy doing the thing and just recently decided to try out a wallet design I came across last year. I got stuck doing some boring a** colors trying to appeal to my very small but ever present male audience. It just wasn't me! So I decided to do the same design but change up the paint.... it's suppose to be a bit out the box anyways, so why not?!!

 I am rocking them as Unisex only because sometimes you just want to carry something simple and a little chic... like wearing a big male watch is very vogue... why not carry a painted wallet on t-shirt and jeans day??!

What a statement that would make! Well anyways, these are my ideas. I know what I am showing is more on the masculine side but I have some paintings that would totally smoke as a wallet! Don't worry my dear sweet traditionals... I will making feminine wallets too! I know how hard it can be to break the mold, but you gotta  know that that is what this is all about for me... breaking the wall of tradition down to add a difference to our ordinary and mostly monitored for the same day to day lives. I need difference all the time... it's like singing is for me, if I can't sing or art.. I can't breathe.






    Here's a red painting I did several years ago. I have bee feeling like I have been up-cycling all of my old paintings lately. I think I just want to clear the slate and make a fresh clean start but also show you what I have been holding on to and now letting go of. It's liberating!
I totally recommend it to everyone!

This flower pattern is so very random on a silk screen I did. The pattern lined up perfectly to capture this flower right at the perfect spot. I love it when that happens!

!

See what's for sale at http://www.marionrenee.etsy.com

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome 2012!!! there's a change coming my way!

I think I spent my New Year's Eve the most different then any other year in the past. I entertained some dear friends of mine up until 10p and before that gave them the oppty to shop my studio for 1 bag each. It was a really good night!
Throughout the day, I had been working on and fretting about a new for me bag design... sometimes having to go outside of your own box can be nerve racking (even when you box is skewed like mine).

This is the bag that brought me so much anxiety... I actually brought the New Year in, re-gluing and stabilizing it... it did give me some trouble. I think mainly because it was so foreign to me.
I learned a lot working with this frame... mostly what not to do. There are some back to the drawing board moments to still have but for the most part... I really like it! It will be a nice addition to my new developing collection and I am looking forward to running with this new idea for MrWA! I like the soft edge it lends to my grunge style.

The Chinese symbol is suppose to represent LOVE but I have a really sweet friend who is fluent in Chinese who gently gave me the actual symbol for LOVE in Chinese... honestly, I no idea what this says... I do like the symbol but God knows I don't want to representing something that doesn't represent Him so know that I will be changing this in the very near future!

This pic is a close up on my new tag! Yeah, that's right... I got a TAG! (HA!) It took me most of the summer to develop it and really have it mean something to me. Let tell you where I am going with it.

• It does say MrWA or Marion Renee Wearable Art
• The M is capital and the R is lower case because I go by Marion, not so much Renee
• The W has a long last leg reaching up and over with an arrow.. it's pointing to the cross! Yeah baby!!! I think of the W not only representing the wearable in my biz name but also work.. for all of my work has to reflect back to Him who has made this all possible.... Jesus1st in my work at all times.
• I like the A... it has a lot of attitude and is bold... offering a hard and a soft line.
• The dots to the left of the M (which would be my right..) represents the Trinity; the 2 dots at the end represent the 2 in my family
• The line below is the ending... like a period at the end of a sentence.

I really don't know if anyone will ever ask about it but I wanted you to know that it does have more then the typical acronym but it symbolic for me. A reminder to task on path and task you can say.

Happy New Year people!

See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

Introducing... My Pillow Bag

Well, I got an idea about a simple bag. That's really all I want to do... simple yet beautiful bags. I want them to be all different but all be from the same collection.

Here's my simple yet beautiful bag debut:

You have got to see this on the shoulder! It is fabulous! I was in a hurry to post (since it's been so long) and just wanted to share. As soon as I get a better dimension pic, I will post it. It measures 14x11.5 and puffs to 4" wide (more then less).
I have been fighting myself not to keep it for my own ( that is an awful problem I have, every bag I make I want to carry... guess that's a good thing really!)

Here's another Pillow Bag... a tiny bit smaller at 12.5 x 10.5:

I got the idea when thinking about how hot music is coming from an acoustic guitar. It's one of my favorite instruments. I love to sing along when one's playing..... fabulous!

Have you noticed my new tag??! Yeah, it took my a good part of the summer to figure out how I wanted it to look and I am so very pleased with this layout. The arrow points to the cross! Displaying my faith on every piece! Jesus is Lord and whole reason for me being able to do this! It's all been because of His grace and favor towards me.

                                                                    

 Gotta tell you... I love the back of this painting! I was actually gonna do a clutch with it but I felt like the design would have gotten lost if I did that... enter pillow bag to the scene.
I think this is going to be something special. I can hardly wait to start painting and designing more of these. Gonna be my fav of the whole season for me!

  Here's an inside shot. It comes with a deep cavity interior and 2 pockets. One zippered and one open face. It's a great way to keep organized my housing your phone in the open face and make up or change in the zippered pocket.
I install a chain on all bags that has the shoulder area covered for extra comfort.

 Comment back on what you see and ask questions. I would love to get your feedback! M~



See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.etsy.com

Looking forward...

I have been busy sewing lately and am looking forward to doing some serious painting soon. I have been so busy with someone else's vision I actually forgot my own..... until recently. This bag has the Chinese symbol for Long Life in metallic gold ink. I want to really learn more about Chinese Symbols. The shapes and characters have always fascinated me. ( I think secretly that I have always wanted to learn the Chinese language! 1. to order Chinese food like a professional and 2. so I can know how to write the language. I love Chinese symbols and Hebrew characters.)

I received the bulk of the bags back from Hot Pink Style this month. Not really making the sales that I hoped but I am very happy to report that I am not discouraged from this. I know the work is good, it's just not the time for that market but I will keep plucking and picking at it... it will ripen and then I will harvest!

                                                                           Decided to add a little something to a bag I made last year. I really like this direction and am looking forward to producing a lot more of the painted flower clutch bag. I will post more pics as soon as I have more bags completed.

This bag is an upcycle from a bag I made back in 2008. I really love this painting! So much that I had to salvage what I could to remake the bag... smaller but definitely smarter.
I do love my compact bag ladies! It's ergonomically a sound design as I know so many of you like to carry large bags with your entire life in them which reeks havoc on your shoulders, back and neck. It is so much better to carry something smaller in size and only what you need.
I know, I know... we think there are things that we just can't do without but if you are not carrying a diaper bag I think your purse should be a carefree transport of the essentials; something that reflects style, class and flair and something that can make a plain outfit POP!

Be on the look out for more on this topic in the coming posts. I would love to hear from you on this! Chime in with your opinion and what about size matters to you.


See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com

I know, I know.... it's been awhile, but...

So much has happened since last year. Where to begin? Well as some of you know, I decided to hang up my paint brushes for awhile and see what it was like to be a regular working Jane... you know a real 9 to 5. Ugh, the money's nice but that is about all! As the days go on I realize that I really missed designing and creating.. it is a wonderful stress reliever.

To the right is a piece I did a year ago or so... it is now my everyday bag! I love this bag!!!

I have been exploring my hand at graffiti. Though I am developing my own style, I am not ready to show my new hand yet, but don't worry I will! (To the right is a piece I did a year ago or so... it is now my everyday bag! I love this bag!!!)

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Hot Pink Style of Deerfield Beach Florida. They asked to place a few of my bags in their showroom with the possibility of be showcased in ICON Magazine. Honestly, I was flattered that they wanted my work to use as they stylized reality TV stars, up and coming singers and the trendy alike. This is a really cool oppty!

The bags arrived yesterday and here's the email I received:

  

Just wanted to let you know we received the bags today. We absolutely love them! They are a great size, a great quality and feel so comfortable on the shoulder. I can’t wait for our clients to see them on Monday, I think they will really do great!!...

I underlined the a few key descriptive phrases:  great size, a great quality and comfortable on the shoulder! These are the very qualities of my line I have been promoting for years. I am just so glad that someone else feels about them the very thing I strive for in making my handbags. This has pleased me so much that I just had to blog about it! These are the attributes I want to be known for and Marion Renee Wearable Art or MRWA to always be remembered for. Strength, Durability, Comfortability, Style.... this what I want you to think of when you hear MRWA.

Thanks for reading!



See my whole collection at http://www.marionrenee.com