Scrappy IPad Mini Case

I recently purchased an IPad Mini, and I didn't want to pay another $40-$50 for a nice commercial made case for it--but I did want it better protected when I took it with me---so I created this case from fabric scraps. Hence : THE SCRAPPY IPAD MINI CASE. The case has a velcro closure, and has a padded lining.

 front of case (with flap closed)

 front of case--with flap open

back of case

Now I can take my IPad Mini with me anywhere, and it is stylishly protected. Oh, and yes--I do like this device--especially for the portability.

Owl-ly Baby's Room Decor

I recently painted this tree on the wall in baby Finn's room. Quite a fun project and Mommy and Daddy were pleased also. I love the notion of Finn growing up in this room with a magical tree to keep him company...

Finn's Mom wanted to use owl's as a theme--and I was so pleased that FINALLY I had a home for these two embroidered owls I created about 2 years ago. Now they grace a wall in Finn's room, along with the tree...may he be blessed with both owl wisdom and the love of nature.

Re-purposed wool sweater = new handbag

When I saw the lovely cabled and embroidered wool sweater at the Goodwill I knew I had to felt it and make it into something--plus it was 1/2 off! So of course I bought it, felted it--and wow! did it shrink....and then decided this sweater would make a very nice new purse. I used a thrifted pillow case to line the purse and made the shoulder strap out of the sweater's arms...really happy with this one because it is roomy and I added some pockets to the lining for my cell phone, pens and other small objects.

I needed some way to close the purse--so I added a crocheted edge with button loops and used some nice vintage mother-of-pearl buttons.

and now I have a "new" handbag for spring! so far I'm liking it...and it took me one afternoon to make! Once I felted the sweater, the sewing went pretty fast. I sewed the lining in by hand around the top edge.

Aunt Esther's Motto (one of them) : "A stitch in time, saves nine." I guess this is more about mending--which she was an expert at doing---but this recycled sweater purse made me think of her. She would have like this concept, as she was very thrifty. She was my Great Aunt (grandmother's sister) and I learned alot about life from her--so I'm calling this Aunt Esther's Handbag ;-)

Tea anyone???

Time for a Mug up....

My favorite holiday gift this year came to me from my two wonderful grown-up daughters! I mentioned I wanted a nice stainless steel thermos to take hot tea to my art studio--and they did better! They bought me a very nice electric teakeattle--the kind that shuts off once the water boils. Daughter  Kesia also made me this wonderful "tea bag wreathe" to hang at my studio. I love this useful but clever and creative gift!! thanks Girls!! ;-) you are the best daughters ever.

tea bags and clothes pins! so cute and clever....

Thank YOU : Out with old & In with the new

I want to thank all my readers for a great year! I now have online friends I would never have "met" without this blog. I am wishing all my readers a joyful and happy 2012!

I am determined to "make a living" this year with my creativity. This may mean some anxious times as I patch together my monthly income (and I live on very little) via selling my art, crafts, & designs, working as an "on-call" Nanny, and (hopefully)  teaching crafts. So far, so good and it is only the 2nd day of this year!

Last year --like life usually goes--had its ups and downs. Looking back I realized I was only employed (at a regular job with set hours)  about 7 months this year... yet somehow I survived. 

The best thing I did all year was to rent myself art studio space. Not only do I now have a great place to go and create, but (at least in my mind) somehow having an art studio legitimizes me as an artist. To me--- having the studio means I am taking my art and design work seriously. And guess what happened once I committed to taking myself more seriously???

ah, Yes!! my productivity and SALES went up since I created more items AND I actively marketed them, which of course resulted in more sales. And since I consider writing this blog part of my creative endeavors, I also plan to explore ways to make some income ($$$$) blogging.

So, please repeat after me : WAY WILL OPEN, WAY WILL OPEN......(and thanks for all your support!)

do what you love and the $$$$ will follow...

addendum: oh, and  this year I plan to do one special thing each week only because I want to!!! putting myself on the list of "to dos"

The Elves are Busy....Knittng away!

When not playing in the snow--the elves helped me create this soft and aqua colored keyhole bow tie scarflette...with a crocheted flower for an accent--the flower has a blue vintage button in the center. I love these bow tie scarfs--or scarflettes--because they keep my neck warm and cozy without all the bulk of a longer scarf.

and this fuzzy heather beige hat and scarflette matching set...knit with wool and mohair, with a pretty ruby colored crocheted flower for some pizzaz! another vintage button on the center...all for sale at my Etsy Shop---hats and scarves make great holiday gifts!! and keep your or your loved one warm.

 

The yarn (and elves) made me do it......

Holiday Elf Invasion

Well, it seems that holiday elves have invaded our house...and my art studio, so holiday fun and creativity is bursting out all over...

with  a little help from my friends (er..I mean the elves..)....I have created these Brooches...now for sale at my Etsy store here! Brooches make great holiday gifts for that special person in your life...

Each one is unique and all handsewn---with beadwork and embroidery.

 quite bit of variety since I just start with a vintage button or postage stamp and let that lead me...I sure had a good time creating these. Of course I have a few more at my shop that I am not showing here--so do go and check them all out!

Go to your studio and make stuff

so --I have been bookmarking nice handknit patterns I have found here online to make someday and thought I would share a few of them with you all....


1) I just love this knit tea cozy at the blog TEA BY THE SEA

2) and how about these lovely DAISY STITCH HANDWARMERS  at the Purlbee.com?

3) and these ZIGZAG MITTENS at Just Crafty Enough.....

Three projects...should be enough to fullfill the STRATEGIC PLAN--at least for now. I just am compelled to keep my hands busy--especially at this time of year....feel those holidaze coming on!

Flower Power ! crocheted flowers...

Hello Dear readers... so, I have certainly been absent from my blog for awhile--4 months in fact! I guess I needed a break, but now I am back  and will be posting regularly. I thank you for your patience.

 Yesterday, in a fit of creativity, I created these crocheted flowers. I crocheted these from scraps of wool I had on hand and finished them with nice vintage buttons.

What possessed me? I have committed to 2--yes 2!! craft fairs for the Holidaze and so need crafted items to sell. This is just a few of the items I will sell...I also have hand knit hats, some sewn "inchy" pins, some beadwork, and of course, some linocut prints.

these are quick and fun to make---here is a blue posey....

this one is made from re-purposed angora yarn---I unraveled a thrifted angora sweater for the yarn...

lovely sunny flower~

rainbow flower with vintage button

will you be my star? I love this star vintage button...

I had thought I would make these into pins or brooches but have decided to make them into hair clips....

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. "----Scott Adams

Postcard Sketches

Here are a couple of small sketches I did recently---I like to doodle on to postcards, then I can send them to someone...

these two will probably go to a friend who is recovering from an illness...I like the idea of sending my art out into the world for free...and who knows where it ends up?  maybe it graces someone's fridge for awhile? or it is used as a bookmark? once sent out into the wide world, the art then has a life of its own....

"I am an artist who, for forty years
Has stood at the lake edge
Throwing stones in the lake,
Sometimes, very faintly,
I hear a splash."  ---Maxwell Bates

Storytelling

Officially Spring

Hey it is now SPRING so......

Creative Every Day: Create Your Own Font

http://www.yourfonts.com

Textile Design School

As some of you readers may know (and some may not...) I am a student at the California School of Professional Fabric Design in Berkeley, Ca. I am finishing up a design portfoilio that includes, among the many original designs, traditional textile designs--like this one...a traditional Jacquard design. This one is designed to be printed on fabric, rather than woven as Jacquards frequently are produced. This is the color rough for the handpainted design which is 18" x 24"---I am currently painting this in gouache; a lovely monotone in creams.

At the school we are learning many techniques for hand painted designs, as well as computer aided designing. The designs are surface pattern designs, and can be used on textiles, wallpaper, stationary, wrapping paper, rugs, dishes--any object that has an illustration or design on it.

In completing this school program I am following a dream I have had since I was in my teens----I have always wanted to design surface patterns for fabrics and paper goods, but never knew where to go to learn the process. Then, I discovered through a friend — this school right where I live---here in North Berkeley!

I plan to find work as a designer when I finish. I would love to work full time for a company who prefers me to create handpainted designs. I enjoy creating on the computer, but I love painting — it’s my ambition to get paid to design and paint all day

ah! and I also believe that ...way will open...when the time is right. Meanwhile, back to painting...

For my family Holiday gift this past December I created a calendar...for each month I lettered and illustrated a favorite quote...so I will be featuring some of my fave calendar illustrations from that calendar here throughout the year...
These are all painted with gouache paints, and each month used a different font for the hand lettering.

I is for Ingenuity

ingenuity, noun, pl. -ties.
1. skill in planning or inventing; cleverness.
(SYN) inventiveness.
2. skillfulness of contrivance or design.

This letter ("I") had me stumped ....(hence my lack of posting here); however this morning the topic of inventiveness or ingenuity popped into my head. We are all blessed with ingenuity---I think my ability to tap into my ingenuity was honed by living in the Alaskan "bush"--with no stores (except a very small grocery store)--so one saved everything, and recycled most items---and became very inventive when one needed something not readily at hand.

Everyone in town had some area of expertise, so we also traded goods and knowledge--rarely did money change hands, but I might trade a handwoven scarf for an outboard motor repair job. Ingenuity was the key to a comfortable survival.

I think living in a larger city--with all the services readily available for money---stamps out ingenuity---unless one is seriously dedicated to recycling or buying nothing new, it is much to easy to just buy what you need (or want---there is a big diff between needs and wants, but that is another topic).

Here are some wonderful examples of ingenuity that I have recently found online:

mini paper wreaths from the blog Scrumdilly-do!



Sweater Balls
from The Sweeter Sweater
A Button Bracelet from Creative Kismet

Recycled Slippers from SEW GREEN
I am currently working on my own inventive holiday project--one that I can gift to everyone on my gift list (and that is ingenuity!)---but I can't show you it yet--that would be a gift surprise spoiler...but I will be sharing this project once the gifts are in the mail...meanwhile here are my hands clapping to making your holiday gifts or at least buying handmade. For buying handmade may I suggest HERE....and do have fun either creating or shopping.