Classic Inez

I'm a Craftster.org Best of 2011 Winner

2012-01-23T17:45:00.002-05:00

I'm a Craftster Best of 2011 Winner!
My octopus amigurumi was chosen as one of the most popular projects on Craftster.org for 2011! Thanks to all of the people who commented on and 'Rocked' my project!

WIP: More Baby Quilt

2012-01-18T14:46:00.000-05:00

The top is finished! Yay!

I added the wide panels of blue to each side, then, the narrow purple border. It measures 64.25"x49.25". It should be perfect for snuggling and then for a toddler bed when our peanut gets a little older.

I need to get batting before I can start on the quilting. I plan on doing the free-motion quilting myself. I hope I don't screw it up...I have a lot of hours into this top. I've quilted large panels of fabric on my machine before, though. When I do large panels, I like to set my machine up on my living room floor. That way, the weight of the fabric doesn't pull it away from the needle (if I quilt at my desk, the fabric slips over the sides and can screw up my stitching).

WIP: Quilt For Baby

2012-01-14T12:59:00.001-05:00

When I found out that I was expecting, I decided I wanted to make something special for the baby. To me, a quilt says 'I Love You' better than almost anything else. It's warm, cuddly, and a butt-load of work. I went to the fabric store and picked out a bunch of fabrics that I thought would go well together - batiks, all. I love batiks, and I've wanted to make an all-batik quilt ever since I finished my mostly-batik quilt. Here are all of the fabrics:

I was chatting with the lady cutting my fabrics about my intended project, and I mentioned that I'd probably just be doing a simple layout as I'd never before done anything intricate for a quilt top. She said that she thought I'd manage just fine if I decided to do something elaborate. I thought to myself, 'maybe I could use a good challenge.' I went to the library and checked out a few books with quilting patterns. I decided to go with a less-than-traditional pattern by Karla Alexander (from this book: http://www.amazon.com/New-Cuts-Quilts-More-Stack/dp/1564776778). I fell in love with the quilt on the cover, and, luckily, Ms. Alexander shares my love of batiks. The pattern was a near-perfect fit for the fabrics that I had already purchased.

I learned a lot about cutting and piecing through making this pattern (mostly that I'm rubbish at cutting). I also found out how expensive acrylic rulers are...wow! But, they are almost indispensable.

After many, many hours of cutting, shuffling, cutting, sewing, did I mention cutting, and more sewing, I have the quilt top mostly finished. All it's missing is a border to make it a bit wider. I wanted a twin-size quilt...babies outgrow baby-size quilts so quickly, and I had a ton of fabric. Our nursery is blue, and I was going for a water theme for the quilt.

Bonus: I went to another fabric store to get batting and a backing fabric... Well, the store is moving, and while they didn't have any batting left on the shelves, they did have their (limited selection) batiks on sale for half-off! I scored a beautiful print for the back of the quilt at the price of a solid cotton! It's not the same color-way as the front, it's blue and brown and green...more 'river and lakes' than 'tropical beaches.' But, I think that's awesome as it'll be unique from each side. I'll be quilting in royal blue thread with a bubble motif...appropriate for both sides!

Ultrasound Day!

2011-12-09T12:34:00.001-05:00

This beautiful December day started out, well, beautifully! There was snow on the ground when I woke up, but not enough to make driving impossible. It was just enough to make my backyard look like a scene in a snow globe. My husband drove me to my newest favorite shop - Wealthy Street Bakery - to buy pastries and bread for the weekend. Yum! Then, we headed to my doctor's office for a check-up and an ultrasound. Well, the baby is healthy and growing fast...and, it's a boy!

It'll Be A Tentacular Christmas

2011-12-03T20:38:00.001-05:00

My sweet little nephew saw me making a crocheted octopus this Summer, and he decided that he would really like to have it. He also decided that his little brother would like one, too. And, like most little kids, he has a great memory. He asked me in late October if I had finished his and his brother's octopuses. Now, questions like this, coming from adults, tick me off. Coming from my nephew, who adores the toys that I make, it's plain adorable. The octopus I made originally was too cute for me to part with, so I decided to make them their own. And because their birthdays weren't anytime soon, I had to figure out a good time to gift them the toys. Our family draws names for gifts at Christmas, and I had no way of assuring that my husband and I would draw their two names (and we didn't). To give them the octopuses at Christmas would involve leaving out the other kids. I couldn't do that! I made Christmas toys for everyone. Well, the little ones, anyway. The three older kids (too old for toys) are getting hats, which you can never have enough of when you live in Michigan. The little boys are getting octopuses, and the little girls are getting bunny rabbits. (I dyed all but the purple yarn myself.)

So, that's what I've been up to for the past five weeks!

Gift Ideas on Sale

2011-11-18T10:54:00.001-05:00

The holidays are upon us! They always seem to sneak up on me. I have all of three gifts ready to go, but, at least I have most of the rest planned out. If you're still looking for unique gifts for the special people in your life, check out the one-of-a-kind journals and dolls in my shop. Today through New Year's, use the coupon code HOLIDAY to receive 10% off of your purchase.

Knitted-Look Flowered Headband Pattern (Free)

2011-10-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

I was recently commissioned to make a flowered headband to imitate a knitted version. I couldn't find a suitable pattern, so I made one up. My first attempt didn't yield the shape that I wanted - I was going for the shape of the popular calorimetry - and I didn't want to frog it for fear of ruining the yarn. I made a second attempt that was more successful, and I actually took the time to write down what I did. I can't post the pattern for the flower as it's from a book (100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet), but you can use any flower pattern that you want. There is no button on the headband in the pictures because I'm waiting to find out what color the recipient wants. I hope my instructions are clear - I've never written a pattern for anyone else's use.

Finished dimensions: 22”x6” (with overlap for button closure). Size can be adjusted by increasing or reducing the number of rows in the middle.
Materials needed:
-H hook (5.00mm)
-approx. 210 yards (190m, 100g) worsted weight wool (I used Patons Classic Wool)
-yarn needle
-button(s)

Gauge is approximately 21 stitches x 14 rows (alternating fpdc and bpdc rows) to 4"x4"

Ch. 11
Row 1. dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in nxt 7 ch
Row 2. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 7 sts, dc in 3rd ch
Row 3. turn, ch 2, bpdc in nxt 7 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 4. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, 2 fpdc in nxt st, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 5. turn, ch 2, bpdc across, dc in turning ch
Row 6. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 7. turn, ch 2, bpdc across, dc in turning ch (all odd rows will follow this pattern until you get to the buttonhole – will be noted as ‘bpdc row’)
Row 8. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 4 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 4 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 9. bpdc row
Row 10. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 5 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 5 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 11. bpdc row
Row 12. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 6 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 6 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 13. bpdc rowRow 14. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 7 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 7 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 15. bpdc row
Row 16. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 8 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 8 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 17. bpdc row
Row 18. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 9 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 9 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 19. bpdc row
Row 20. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 10 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 10 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 21. bpdc row
Row 22. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 11 sts, 2 fpdc in each of nxt 2 sts, fpdc in nxt 11 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 23. bpdc row
Row 24. fpdc across, dc in turning ch (no increase)
Row 25. bpdc across, dc in turning chRepeat rows 24 and 25 for a total of 16 rows of no increases (rows 24-39).
Row 40. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 11 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 11 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 41. bpdc row
Row 42. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 10 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 10 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 43. bpdc row
Row 44. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 9 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 9 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 45. bpdc row
Row 46. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 8 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 8 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 47. bpdc row
Row 48. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 7 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 7 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 49. bpdc row
Row 50. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 6 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 6 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 51. bpdc row
Row 52. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 5 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 5 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 53. bpdc row
Row 54. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 4 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 4 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 55. bpdc row
Row 56. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, fpdc2tog twice, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 57. bpdc row
Row 58. turn, ch 2, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, fpdc2tog once, fpdc in nxt 3 sts, dc in turning ch
Row 59. bpdc row
Row 60. turn, ch 2, fpdc in each st across, dc in turning ch
Row 61. turn, ch 1, sc in each st across, sc in turning ch
Row 62. turn, ch 1, sc in nxt 2 sts, ch 3 and skip nxt 3 sts, sc in nxt 2 sts, sc in turning ch
Row 63. turn, ch 1, sc in each st and each ch across, sc in turning ch
Finish off.
Block.
Join yarn along edge, sc a border around headband.
Add a button, or two if you want some adjustability to your headband.
Decorate with a crocheted/knitted flower or buttons.

My view on free patterns: This is just a pattern. If you make anything using it, the finished item is yours to do with as you please. Keep it, sell it, give it away...none of my business. It took me one afternoon to make this pattern, and that work is my little gift to my readers and anyone else who stumbles across this blog. If I didn't want people to use the pattern, I wouldn't share it. =)

EDIT: Just a note on this pattern... I crochet rather tightly, so your gauge is likely to be different from mine. If you get done with the increase rows, and your headband is wider than you like, frog an increase-row (or two), and work from there. Also, keep track of where your half-way point is...if that length is more than half of what your desired finished length is, don't work as many even rows as the pattern calls for. This pattern is so simple to alter to your preferences. Personally, I wanted a very wide headband in the style of a knitted calorimetry. I made the headband just a little longer than necessary to make it adjustable (two buttons) because I didn't have the head circumference of the recipient. Also, the yarn can make a difference in your gauge. I made three headbands in the same brand/weight of yarn, and each was slightly different in size! So, there is variation even within the same brand of commercial mill-spun yarn. My overall point is this: tweak the pattern as you go to get exactly what you want out of it.

Cheshire Cat-o-Lantern

2011-10-29T20:09:00.001-04:00

My hubby and I carved pumpkins today. I know, a little last-minute, but, we still managed to do it before the holiday. I usually do the average jack-o-lantern face. This year, I chose a more ambitious design. I printed off a screen shot of the Cheshire cat from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland to use as inspiration, and drew it onto my pumpkin. And, I spent the next couple of hours carving. Now, my pumpkin initially had a bit of lean to it, and, after carving away so much of the front...it tips over backward if it isn't propped up! I didn't think it would be a problem before I started carving - I thought it would be cool to see the Cheshire cat's grin bobbing with the wind. No such luck. My hubby's pumpkin turned out really cool, too - it's the grim reaper. Our front porch is definitely a creepy place tonight!

A Book to Doodle In

2011-10-24T17:50:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I feel the need to mix it up with my journals. I love the clean look of a textured leather cover, but, a pretty floral design is just as welcome. The journal I carry everywhere was the inspiration for this one. The designs on both were inspired by silk embroidery designs from a book I have on 18th century embroidery. Drawing on leather is both a joy and a challenge. There is no room for error and the design has to be properly centered and fill the whole space. I ink the design on the leather before I stitch in the pages to make it easy on myself, and I use a Faber-Castell permanent pen. The design will 'soften' with time and use, giving it more of a tattoo feel.

This journal is filled with mixed-media paper and stitched with waxed Irish linen thread. The signatures are covered with beautiful decorative papers. A leather belt with a brass buckle keeps it closed and the finished measurements are 5.5"x3.75"x1.625" (14cm x 9.5cm x 4cm).No longer available in my Etsy shop.

Another Octopus

2011-10-08T16:17:00.001-04:00

I started out making this cutie for my shop. Then, I realized that I liked it too much to let go of it. So, I decided to keep it for my munchkin...for when he or she joins the outside world.

Like the previous octopus, it was all freeform. I can't bring myself to take the time to write down anything as I go, so, still no pattern. The yarn is dyed with Wilton's food coloring...blue and brown. I made the eyes a little differently, so that they didn't look quite so angry. Jacques just looks like he's contemplating something nasty. I didn't want my kid to be scared of his/her toys.

Extreme Crafting

2011-10-01T22:36:00.002-04:00

Well, the rumor mill has been churning at full speed. When we told our immediate family that we were expecting, we also told them that we weren't telling everyone until after I was safely through my first trimester. But, the temptation to gossip was apparently too strong for some of them to resist. I found out this afternoon that people I barely know are fully aware of my delicate condition. So, now that the gossips have stolen my ability to make the joyous announcement on my own time, here I am, telling everyone else before I was really ready to. I'm really not happy that strangers got to hear my good news before most of my FAMILY knew. In fact, I'm pissed. Anyway, I'm busy crafting a little one and trying to refrain from throwing things. ETA is in April.

It's such a little cutie! It kind of waved to us during our first ultrasound.

Finally! A Quilt!

2011-09-22T14:32:00.000-04:00

This quilt has been over three years in the making. And, it's finally finished. It was originally intended to be an anniversary present for my husband - our fifth anniversary. We just celebrated our seventh anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Well, it took longer than I had anticipated, but I'm so happy with the results. I still have to wash it - I'm crossing my fingers that that goes well (I'm open to tips on the best way of doing that, if you've got any). In the two years that it took me to hand-quilt this epic project, my cat took every opportunity she found to curl up in it. I have a little bit of de-furring to do, too. The finished size is 82 inches by 83 inches. That's over 6800 square inches...hand-quilted! My only previous quilting experience, when I started this project, was a baby quilt that I tie-quilted.

I chose to create a quilting motif of concentric circles radiating out from a center of two inter-locked hearts...like ripples on the surface of water. Some of the water-soluble ink is still visible on the back (needs a wash). Our bedroom has a West Indies theme, so I chose fabrics that reminded me of our Jamaican honeymoon - the rich colors of the tropical forests and flowers, the blues and greens of the ocean, the brightness of the sun and sand. This quilt is a little better than the honeymoon in one regard, though - no hurricane Ivan!

It wouldn't have been complete without a little love note!

Another Seraphina Shawl

2011-09-13T15:50:00.000-04:00

I made another Seraphina shawl! I really love this pattern. Not only does it look good, but, after the first few rows, it's the same four rows over and over and over. It's a great couch potato project. I used two balls of Cascade Heritage Silk (have I mentioned that I really like this yarn?) to get a blocked width of 59 inches and depth of about 28 inches. This is going to be a belated birthday present for a friend. I wanted to make her something special for her 18th birthday. And, I think this qualifies. It's the type of accessory that dresses up a t-shirt and still compliments a cocktail dress.

Silk = Love

2011-09-08T18:36:00.001-04:00

My niece turned 18 last month, so I wanted to make her something special. I also wanted to avoid anything that might be less-than-cool. Fingerless gloves seemed an obvious choice...not too difficult or time-consuming, but still very chic. To make them even more special, I went to my local, slightly over-priced yarn shop to get nice yarn. I picked up a skein of Cascade Heritage Silk in a deep purple color. I also bought some in silvery gray for another project. This is a truly lovely yarn - the blend of superwash wool and silk is so soft with a beautiful sheen. I was very pleased with how the gloves turned out - soft, with just enough stretch. My niece liked them and I hope they'll keep her little hands warm during those harsh UP winters. This yarn is also great for teenagers because you can basically just rinse it off, press the water out in a towel, and lay flat to dry. Easy peasy. The pattern for the gloves is free, and can be found here. (You have to sign into Lion Brand Yarn's site, but it's free.)

A Day of Productivity

2011-09-06T18:27:00.000-04:00

I sat down at my desk today, plugged in an audio book, and finished up those journals. It felt so good to get something done! They're all sketchbooks; one that is 5.25 inches by 3.75 inches, the other two are 7.25 inches by 5.5 inches. All have 100 sheets of mixed-media paper and are stitched with waxed linen thread (black, yellow or purple). Little leather belts - with brass buckles - keep the books closed. I carry one of the 5.25x3.75 sketchbooks with me everywhere to doodle in.

My Crazy Life

2011-09-05T21:02:00.001-04:00

I know I've been absent for a while. I just didn't feel like writing. Nor did I feel like sharing. I can't even begin to explain how my life has been turned up-side-down this last month. I'll probably share some details after a while, though. Some things will still be off-limits for this blog. Suffice it to say, life can get ugly, or, it can be beautiful. Don't mix those two things if you can help it. Love the good and forget the rest.I've still managed to get some work done. I'm in the middle of a Doctor Who-inspired dress for myself and a wool/silk shawl for a friend. There are three journals sitting, half-completed, on my desk. I made a pair of fingerless mitts for my niece who is headed off to college in the upper peninsula of Michigan (read: cold). I wanted to make a cute toy for my newest nephew, but, his parents will be bringing him home (all the way from China!) at the end of this month - I'm not sure I'll be able to start and finish anything before then.My husband was clever and kind enough to get my computer up and running after the hard drive took a nose dive. I went to turn it on one morning and it wouldn't even boot-up. Boo! Amazingly, he was able to save all of my important files before replacing the faulty drive. Even without his fabulous techy-skills, he's the best husband a woman could ask for, but, when you figure in all that...Superman! Oh, yeah...my computer is faster now, too!

Garlic Croutons

2011-07-27T21:17:00.008-04:00

I was craving these today. Not that I got any...I don't have any bread made up. Boo! I thought that I'd share the recipe, though, in case some one else can enjoy them in my place. =)

Ingredients:
-day-old crusty yeast bread (baguette, French bread, etc.), I like to use home made yeast rolls; one large roll makes enough croutons to top about 6 salads
-two cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
-two to three tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
Mince garlic and, in a large bowl, stir it into the olive oil for several minutes. Remove the garlic from the oil and swirl the oil in the bowl to coat the sides. Set aside.

Slice the bread 1/4" thick; cut into bite-sized pieces. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated, 325 degree oven for 5-8 minutes.

Transfer the toasted bread to the bowl of oil and toss. When the bread is lightly coated with oil, take it back to the baking sheet. Toast an additional 5 or so minutes, or until golden brown.

...nomnomnomnom...

In Process...and NSFW

2011-07-27T11:19:00.004-04:00

I haven't been finishing off many projects lately, but I haven't been totally idle. I started six more journals and finished half (so far). The quilt I started years ago, as a gift for my husband, is almost finished. I have another octopus amigurumi well on its way to being finished, half a ball of roving spun up, and an embroidery project started.

The embroidery is, by far, the most interesting project I have going right now. I'd post an in-process picture, but, my photo hosting site doesn't allow naughty language. I'll have to do some clever editing to get it up when it's finished. All I can do, for now, is tell you that it's a naughty word (obviously) surrounded by a pretty, 18th century-style floral scene. One of a series I designed and plan on embroidering. I have some florals that aren't naughty at all, but where's the fun in that? I'm attempting to simulate the techniques of silk embroidery, though I'm just using DMC cotton floss. I've used three plies to do the lettering and border design, and I'm doing the filled areas with two plies and satin stitch. It took me about an hour to do one of the larger flower petals, but the results are so cool!

Totally off-topic, but, I love Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure! I just saw Napoleon throw a gutter-ball and get kicked out of a bowling alley. Classic.

Driven to Distraction

2011-07-15T13:23:00.008-04:00

I've been horribly distracted for the last three weeks...well, more so than I usually am. My mother is staying with us, trying to get back on her feet in this terrible economy. Having been mostly without her in my life for the last ten years, the adjustment is a large one.

The worst of it is that I have had little time and less motivation to do the things I find most relaxing and rewarding...crafting, cooking... However, I've been pretty insistent about getting out on the trail with my husband and our rollerblades. I even went out, by myself, for a walk, and ended up jogging...and liking it! If you know me, you know that this is just plain odd behavior. I've lost three pounds so far.

I did manage to get this sketchbook finished, though.

This big sketchbook is about 7.25 inches tall, 5.75 inches wide, and 1.5 inches thick. It's filled with mixed media paper that'll stand up to nearly any medium you'd like to throw at it. I used waxed Irish linen thread to do the stitching as it holds up well to humidity changes and the inevitable wear on exposed stitches. Using suede in the same shade as the thread, I appliqued a crescent moon and star on the cover. I guess it's a little early for Halloween-ish stuff, but it's my favorite holiday and the purple-black combo begged to be well-explored.

Octo-gurumi

2011-07-04T22:52:00.003-04:00

I had a ball of hand-dyed wool languishing in my stash that turned into this little guy over the course of a few evenings. I couldn't find a pattern that gave a realistic enough result, so I just made it up as I went along, working off of my sketches and some photographs. His eyes are needle-felted, so he's really soft and cuddly. Now, he just needs a name.

Edit: He has a name! Waterbaby (of Craftster.org) hit upon a great one. The octopus shall be known as Jacques!

Back Home

2011-06-26T09:28:00.004-04:00

The hubby and I are settled back in after our fabulous trip to Philadelphia. What a beautiful city! We were only there for a few days, so we tried to pack in as much activity as we could.

A lot of our tour was on foot - the weather was beautiful and it's more convenient for stopping into shops when you see something you have to have. One night, we splurged for the delectable fare of The Pub and Kitchen where we had a culinary experience with the cheeses. Oh.My.Word. The things they do with cheese! We also did a lot of shopping. There are great shopping districts in Philly, and though we didn't make it through them all, I think we hit the highlights. I picked up some cooking tools and comic books (at the Wizard World Comicon...more on that later). I found a great artist supply shop and some handmade paper. My favorite stop, though, was Nangellini's Art Gallery. It's mostly a fiber arts gallery, with beautiful hand knits and art yarns. I bought more than half a kilo of yarn. =) Yay!

Of course, we visited most of the historical sites. It was beyond moving. I have ancestors that were very active in American politics from the very beginnings of this nation, and, to hear their words repeated in a place with such significance to the birth of our country...

The comicon was really cool. We found a pretty rare Doctor Who figure (the Face of Boe), and I bought my first comic books. I'm more of a sci-fi girl than a comic book fan, but, the ones I bought were more political than superhero. Well, I suppose they're a mix of the two. =) The costume contest was great. The MC was hilarious, and his rapport with the judges and the contestants was what really kept the contest from getting boring (it took a long time to get through all of the awesome characters). Seriously, a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man made out of duct tape (suit had cooling and hydration systems)!?! It was beautifully made. Another pair made Spaceball soldiers' uniforms from garbage cans...the pair with the giant hair pick, combing the desert..."We ain't found sh*t." Beautiful.

It was a great trip, but it's good to be home. I have a garden to finish planting and a cute ami to wrap up (hopefully, I'll be sharing him soon). My mom is going to be staying with us for a while, so I have that going on, too. I'll be a busy bee this Summer for sure!

Lace Shrug (in detail)

2011-06-10T11:22:00.009-04:00

I picked up this gorgeous yarn while I was visiting Salem, Mass. last Summer. I began several projects with it, just to end up frogging them. The yarn was begging me to find a project worthy of it.

While browsing patterns I came across a few shrugs and boleros that were okay, but were either too heavy for Summer wear, or used too much yarn, or both. It was easy enough to figure out how they were all constructed. A shrug is basically a rectangle that is as wide as you are from shoulder to shoulder, and as deep as the measurement from the nape of your neck down to the top of your bra strap (after blocking!). For me, this was 15" by 10". Then, you edge that rectangle with a row of sc stitches. Add a loop to each of the short ends that will fit around your arms (40 stitches with this yarn and hook, but I could have gotten away with 35 as it did stretch), then add a border that goes around the neckline, under the arms and around the back. Add a border around each arm hole, and, voile, a shrug. It was so easy, I could have cried! Of course, not using a pattern, I somehow ended up with one arm hole being exactly 5 stitches larger than the other. I swear that I counted! It screwed up my border a bit, but, I'm guessing no one will be examining my garment for flaws, and it will go unnoticed by everyone but me. And, I really don't care as it didn't make a difference in how it fits me.

I did learn a little lesson about dye transfer, though. I made the mistake of wearing this before I washed it, and the combination of sweat, deodorant and fiber dye left me with funny-looking armpits. Like the time I went to an Aerosmith concert in Chicago and wore a pair of new jeans. It was much hotter than I had expected it to be, so I stopped and bought a skirt. When I went to change, my legs were blue! Luckily, a bit of soap saved me from too much embarrassment (on both occasions).

More Than 50 Projects in 2011

2011-06-09T10:55:00.012-04:00

Since I started another list, I left off all of the old completed projects. I even shelved some of the ideas that hadn't been brought to life. I change my mind a lot. What sounds like great fun on one day can quickly lose its luster. Anyway, when you include finished objects from the previous list, I hit 50 as of this morning. Yay!!!

1. Spin silk/bamboo/merino roving
2. Green Day Heart Grenade Embroidery
3. Political Embroidery
4. Octopus Embroidery
5. Decorate Light Switch/Cover for Bedroom
6. Corduroy Pencil Case
7. Peace Embroidery
8. Atlas Shrugged Embroidery
9. Batik Quilt
10. Water Spirit Doll
11. Steampunk Elf
12. 'Gibbous' Dress
13. Grilling Apron for DH
14. Corduroy Skirt
15. Victorian Corset
16. 'Gibbous' Top Hat
17. Vest
18. Tenth Doctor Doll
19. Fabric Cuff Bracelet
20. Mini Journal Pendant
21. Green Fairy Doll
22. Inked Leather Sketchbook
23. Rag Quilt for the Kitty
24-28. Small Leather Journals for Shop
29. Ribbed Headband (crochet)
30-33. Scrappy Yarn Hats
34-35. Journal Pendants
36-38. Journal Keychains
39. Steampunk Magpie Necklace
40. Spin 'pink toffee' roving
41. Spin 'coffee and cream' roving
42. Large Leather Sketchbook
43-45. TARDIS Journals
46. Artist Book for the DH
47. Spin Variegated Blue Roving
48. Spin 'Coffee' roving
49. Lil gets a new look
50. Alter Dress (so it actually fits)
51. Travel Journal for MIL

52. Crochet Market Bag
53. Stencil Over Stain on Gray Tee
54. Lace Bolero

55. Leather Bookmarks

Doctor Who?

2011-05-31T19:14:00.004-04:00

Sadly, I was asking that question just a few months ago. My mom was saying how much she loved the show and I had no idea what she was talking about. Considering what a huge sci-fi geek I am, I can't believe I didn't hear of it sooner. I caught an episode on the BBC America (one with David Tennant), and I was instantly hooked. I love the Doctor!

I'm really intrigued by the character of River Song (like most of the rest of you fans) and, being a bookbinder, also by that journal of hers. I didn't want to recreate the journal exactly... I wanted to make it in my own style. I love making leather journals with a soft, wrap-style cover...it really lets the paper shine, and you are always aware of the block of pages, rather than just the cover. I've made a few pieces of free-motion, machine-quilted fabric (for various applications), and I figured it should work just as well for a book cover as a strip of leather does. It does. Though, fabric covers offer their own unique challenges. I'll be expanding on this concept in the very near future. But, what's simpler than stitching in straight lines? You'd be surprised. Maybe it's fitting that my lines are a bit wibbly-wobbly.

I found the most perfect fabric for the lining...it's like a view from inside the TARDIS! I had a few other ideas, but couldn't find the right fabrics to pull them off.

This is probably the biggest journal I have ever made at 8 inches tall, 6 wide and 2 deep. I stuffed it full of paper. =)

The Elf Rhianon

2011-05-27T17:49:00.010-04:00

Oh, my...where do I start? This doll had been in-progress for about six months as a I pieced together her clothes. It's a bit of a relief to be finished with her.

Her costume took shape around the jacket. It's cut from fabric that I pieced together from vintage lace, silk, satin and chiffon. The fabric is covered with a pebble motif in free-motion machine embroidery. Cut to have tails, like an antique tuxedo, the fitted jacket is trimmed in more vintage lace.

The leather belt laces up the back through brass rings that are stamped with a floral design. The belt pouch is fully functional, closing with a mother-of-pearl button, and cut from the edge of the leather hide to preserve natural texture.

The dress that Rhianon wears under the jacket was created using the draping method. The bodice is constructed mainly of silk and lace; the full-circle skirt is wool tweed in a herringbone pattern, trimmed in vintage laces. She wears eyelet lace bloomers under the skirt.

Her little leather slippers match her belt and pouch and are laced with linen thread.

I dyed the wool for her hair to match her eyes. She stands 17.75 inches (45 cm) tall and has pose-able arms, legs and fingers.

I lost track of how many hours I worked on her, but I remember that the shoes took an entire afternoon. I always remember the shoes. Those tricky little things with no margin for error. It has to fit perfectly or it will just fall off. =P So frustrating, but SO rewarding!

On another note: I have a cute little crochet shrug to block and photograph and share. =)

Saving Grays

2011-05-25T15:48:00.007-04:00

My favorite long-sleeved tee was ruined, recently, in a cooking incident. Boo! It got splashed by a bit of grease and the stain really stood out. Of course, it didn't help that it was positioned over my chest.

I'm getting better about wearing an apron, now. I decided to disguise the spot with a stencil. (Liked it so much I did the back, too.) This doodle had been hiding in my sketchbook, unloved for weeks, until it found a purpose in saving my gray tee. There are six flowers because that's my lucky number.

This is such an easy fix for clothes that have been made unwearable by little spots or stains. Once you have your design, transfer it onto freezer paper (paper backed with a bit of plastic) and use a craft blade to cut it out. My shirt was a cotton-modal blend, so I wasn't sure how much heat it could take...I set my iron to low and pressed the freezer paper stencil to my shirt...go over the little edges until they're well sealed to the fabric. Slide some cardboard into the garment to prevent the paint from seeping through to the other side. Mix your paint (if you're using acrylic with fabric medium) or not (if you're using paint just for fabrics), then dab it over your stencil with a sponge...dab, don't wipe...wiping can cause your paint to squish under the edges of your stencil. When the paint is dry, peel off the stencil. (If you used acrylic paint with fabric medium, use your iron to heat-set the paint.) Wash garment as usual. Wear. =)

Something Old Gets Something New

2011-05-10T17:25:00.003-04:00

Lilwen was originally a brunette. But, turquoise hair is cooler. =)

The Pink and Fuzzy

2011-04-01T09:54:00.003-04:00

I had just over an ounce of this wool-mohair blend from my order from Sheep Shed Studio. It was hiding in my white mill ends. =)

I dyed it with Wilton's food coloring, and even though it turned out nothing like what I was hoping for, I like the color it decided to be. Unfortunately, it got a little felty during the dye job. Now, usually the mohair blends from SSS are something like 10-15% mohair. This was more like 50/50. It was like spinning hair through some sections of the roving...I'm thinking I should have just pre-drafted without splitting the roving to get things to come out more evenly blended. It has a really interesting halo, though. And, boy, is it silky! It spun up thick and thin because of my felting issues and I ended up with about 89 yards of sport weight (average). Not sure what I'll do with this yarn...it would be gorgeous as doll hair, though, it would make for a super-cuddly amigurumi, too.

Destash Necklace

2011-03-30T10:32:00.004-04:00

I've been trying to reduce the clutter in our house. What does that have to do with this necklace? you might be wondering. Well, I was looking at my craft room the other day, thinking that I had a ton of supplies for crafts that I rarely do anymore. Wouldn't it be nice to try to reduce my stash by making items that I'd actually use. I used up a lot of my charms and chains on this piece. Nowhere near all of them, but, a significant dent in the bunch, none the less.

I used washers, nuts, fossils, shells, pearls, gears, keys, crystals, beads, brass stampings, a locket, a cameo, and anything else that caught my eye. The theme of this necklace is light and dark...hence, the color separation. I have a feeling it will be a perpetual work-in-progress as I change the charms around and add new ones.

Veggies!

2011-03-28T16:49:00.003-04:00

The blueberry and raspberry bushes that I ordered came in the other day! Yay! But, it's a bit early to plant anything. We had snow just a few days back! Now I'm really getting impatient for the warm weather to show up. The seeds we planted are starting to sprout, and I'm having to cut back the seedlings. I didn't expect some of my old seeds to be so prolific, but I'm definitely not disappointed that they all seem to be sprouting.

So, I'll go back to studying my cookbooks until I can do more with my garden, in the sincere hope that I'll know what to do with my bounty by time it arrives. =)

Tiny Tomes

2011-03-28T16:33:00.003-04:00

With all that's been happening this last week, I'm surprised that I got anything done. But, I did. A handful (literally) of new, tiny journals. Well, two tiny journals and three really tiny journals. =)

Time For Planting

2011-03-20T13:30:00.002-04:00

We're having another go at a vegetable and flower garden. This will be our third, and, hopefully our most successful, year of gardening. Growing up, I only had ornamental plants, so this is an adventure that I've only recently embarked upon...growing food. It's so rewarding!

Anyway...we planted all of the plants that will need transplanting...peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant, etc. Some of them will go into our garden plot, others will be part of a container garden on the patio. I figure I'll be better inclined to take care of plants that aren't that far of a walk...so, at least some have to be close. I sincerely hope my desire to have a crop to harvest will outweigh my tendencies to procrastinate my plants to death. =)

We've also ordered raspberry bushes and a small blueberry plant from Gurney's. Even when it's in season, I can never seem to find fruit in the grocery stores around here that isn't hours away from rotting (or rotting already), so this will be ideal.

Busy Hands

2011-03-16T14:16:00.006-04:00

I've been trying really hard to not begin any new projects without finishing the ones that are already in-process. Yeah. I haven't been succeeding at that. Now, I only have three projects going right now...a queen-sized quilt and two dolls...but, I've completed no fewer than twenty-seven items since the first of the year. Since last Friday, I have made four hats and finished off some yarn.

The hats vary in size, depending on how many scraps I had that were similar. I tried to keep all the yarn in each hat of the same weight. Overall, I'm really happy with them as an exercise in stash-busting. I'm hoping to do a craft show in the next year, so they're contributing to my stock. Of course, they may just end up as gifts.

I picked up the fiber for this yarn at the Michigan Fiber Festival last August. It's about 4 ounces of a merino-silk-bamboo blend. It's about 330 yards and averages 13-14 wpi. I'm sending it to my mom as an early Mother's Day gift. It was such a dream to spin and it'll be difficult to part with. Guess I'll have to get more this summer. =)

American Idiot

2011-03-11T08:57:00.003-05:00

I'm a huge Green Day fan. One of the first CDs I bought with my allowance, much to my mother's chagrin, was Dookie. I made sure never to play that when she could hear it because, somehow, I had gotten my young hands on an unedited copy (I was 11 when it was released). I had a falling out with my boys when their music took on a more political tone...but, only because I was so apathetic to the topic. Over the past few years, I've caught back up with them, ideologically speaking. And, wouldn't you know it, I love them more than ever! Well, like any good punk rocker, I needed a band patch for my bag or jacket. Like any good crafter, I made one for myself.

I used variegated cotton thread to give a camouflage appearance, and I made it pink so it matches my jacket. Of course, right now, it's pinned to my bag.

New Journals

2011-02-28T14:30:00.004-05:00

I spent all weekend working on some new journals, and I have to say that I'm quite happy with the results. Normally, I make two, maybe three, at a time...but, I decided to make five at once. Quantity really draws out the whole process! I'm exhausted after my marathon of folding, tearing, cutting, sewing, photographing, editing...*sigh* It's such an amazing feeling to get it done like that! =)

I used a new kind of paper for the bulk of the book blocks (say that 5 times, fast). I ordered it from thepapermillstore.com, and even over a holiday, it took about 48 hours for my order to arrive. Awesome service. Awesome paper. It's 30% post-consumer content, FSC certified, and, wait for it...made in the USA. It's 70 lb. weight, and has a lovely natural color. Each signature has decorative endpapers...either vintage maps or brightly colored, travel-themed scrapbooking paper.

Available for purchase: Here.

50 Projects in 2011: Revisited

2011-02-25T09:47:00.004-05:00

So...
I filled up my old sketchbook...
I bought a new one...
I needed to start a new list because I didn't want to carry both books around...
I made a new list (added and removed a few things, too):

1. Spin silk/bamboo/merino roving
2. Green Day Heart Grenade Embroidery
3. Political Embroidery
4. Octopus Embroidery
5. Decorate Light Switch/Cover for Bedroom
6. Corduroy Pencil Case
7. Peace Embroidery
8. Atlas Shrugged Embroidery
9. Batik Quilt
10. Water Spirit Doll
11. Steampunk Elf
12. 'Gibbous' Dress
13. Grilling Apron for DH
14. Corduroy Skirt
15. Victorian Corset
16. 'Gibbous' Top Hat
17. Vest
18. Tenth Doctor Doll (I'm newly in love with Doctor Who... and David Tennant)
19. Fabric Cuff Bracelet
20. Mini Journal Pendant
21. Green Fairy Doll
22. Inked Leather Sketchbook
23. Rag Quilt for the Kitty
24-28. Small Leather Journals for Shop

La Fee Verte

2011-02-23T15:57:00.002-05:00

Absinthe. The Green Fairy. A source of inspiration (or, at least, libation) for countless creative minds. And, now, she'll be sitting in my craft room to inspire me.

Doodle Book

2011-02-17T18:31:00.003-05:00

Inspired by pieces I found in a book on 18th Century embroidery, I've been creating my own designs. Though I intend to use some of them for embroidery, I have also put them to good use in disguising imperfections in the leather cover of this journal. I needed a little book for my doodles, anyway. (My normal sketchbook is (gah!) store-bought. Can you blame me for liking the large sheets of spiral-bound paper and sturdy, hard covers? I make small journals. =) ) I digress...I just didn't want to clog up my normal 'idea' book with pages of little doodles. That book is for BIG doodles.

#16: Straps and Lace - Obi Belt

2011-02-12T18:22:00.005-05:00

I've been wanting to make this belt for months. I finally got around to doing it, and I'm okay with the results. I got a little lazy with the free-motion stitching...it's mostly just doodles of flowers and swirls and circles. But, it looks cute over a long-sleeved tee. =)

I used gray corduroy left over from my jacket, chantilly lace, grosgrain ribbon, a scrap of quilted fabric, stray buttons and strips of eyelets. I only broke one needle! Yay!

That's 11 out of 50.

Is This Goodbye? No Way!

2011-02-11T08:32:00.005-05:00

Today did not start out well...at all. I was awakened quite early by an inconsiderate phone call. Then, I received some feedback from one of my peers that made me cry. Can I please go back to bed and start the day over?

Craftster.org used to be my go-to place to share my creations and receive constructive feedback. But, in the last year, I have noticed more and more negativity. It's just crappy little comments and backhanded compliments, but it hurts. I feel unwelcome. I mean, why, if you don't have something nice to say, can you not just zip your lips? Why do you feel the need to tell me that you would never have dressed my doll in the clothes I dressed her in? Why do you feel the need to tell me that you didn't like the yarn I spun, but that you suppose the finished item is alright? What is wrong with you?!? Who took a dump in your cornflakes this morning?!?

So...
I'm going to be keeping my distance. I can't handle all of the negative people. It feels like high school all over again. This just sucks...I used to love Craftster.

Edited to add:
Screw it. I'm not staying away from a community that I love just because a couple individuals choose to be a bit sour. My desire to leave positive feedback for my fellow Craftster-members has been renewed. Boosting the egos of other artists and encouraging them to do what they love is just me being the change I want to see in the world.

Leather!

2011-02-06T11:16:00.003-05:00

Yay! More leather for journals! I picked up 8 shades of gorgeous upholstery leather yesterday. Most of the pieces are only large enough for the pocket-sized journals, but the black (dark charcoal?) is large enough to make pair of pillows...I'll probably just make books with it, though. I'm totally in love with all of the different textures. And colors. I even managed to find a piece of that crimson leather that I adore!

Naughty Words

2011-02-04T11:27:00.005-05:00

I love naughty words. When you're feeling strong emotions, sometimes they are the only way to truly express just what you need to. I also like embroidery. I began doodling some floral designs based on 18th century motifs because I wanted to have some nice wall hangings for my new craft room. On a particularly frustrating day, I started modifying those designs to include some choice swear words. What resulted was a series of six naughty words, surrounded, in contrast, by delicate leaves and flowers. I have been having a great time draining my ink pen and giggling like a schoolgirl all the while.

That takes care of #33. Six down, 44 to go.

50 Projects in 2011

2011-02-03T08:50:00.003-05:00

Over on Craftster.org, there is a group of artists who attempt to complete 50 projects each year (or more). I thought that I'd take a page from their book and try it for myself. It didn't take very long for me to nearly fill my list with things that I would like to make. Most of the projects are for me, the hubby, the cat, or the house. I'm pretty much through with crafting for other people...only the kids seem to appreciate it. Most of the adults in my life are less than supportive. In more than two years of having a shop, only one family member has ever purchased anything from me (thank you, D!!!). Enough of feeling sorry for myself. It doesn't matter if they believe in me or not.

Here's my list (so far), the bolded items are done, italics are started:

1. leather drawing journal
2. leather drawing journal
3. spin silk/bamboo/merino roving
4. Green Day heart grenade embroidered patch
5. anarchy embroidery
6. octopus embroidery
7. modify switchplate for bedroom light
8. pencil case in gray corduroy
9. peace embroidery
10. john galt embroidery
11. finish batik quilt
12. water sprite
13. steampunk elf
14. 2 ships embroidery
15. gibbous dress
16. gibbous obi belt
17. grilling apron for hubby
18. corduroy skirt
19. slouchy newsboy hat
20. victorian corset
21. gibbous top hat
22. capri pants
23. vest
24. Doctor Who poppet
25. authentic fish 'n' chips
26. yarn scrap flower shawl
27. Halloween costume
28. kitty embroidery
29. fabric cuff bracelet
30. 18th-cent.-inspired embroidered wall art
31. 18th-cent.-inspired embroidered wall art
32. 18th-cent.-inspired embroidered wall art
33. series of 18th-cent.-inspired embroidery patterns (naughty)
34. series of 18th-cent.-inspired embroidery patterns (nice)
35. large leather artist's book
36. leather artist's book
37. crochet baktus from handspun (roving received from Superhooker)
38. catnip wool ball for kitty
.
.
.
5 down, 45 to go.

Craftster's Best of 2010

2011-01-21T20:19:00.002-05:00

This year, for Christmas, I made my husband a pair of t-shirts with the Woodstock logo on them. It was my first time stenciling images onto fabric, but I was happy with how they turned out. That project was just named one of Craftster's Best of 2010 (they choose the five most popular projects from each category)! This is an incredible honor, for me, to be included among such talented artists. Thank you, Craftster!

I'm a Craftster Best of 2010 Winner!

Moving Into Focus

2011-01-05T14:09:00.004-05:00

With a whole new year ahead of me, I'm trying to develop better habits and routines in every aspect of my life. I have a cold right now, so I'm off to a crappy start...

I decided that my Etsy store needed to be simplified. I removed everything that wasn't a journal, a doll, or made from handspun yarn. By paring it down to three types of very unique items, I think I'm finally finding a focus. That doesn't mean that I won't be doing crafts other than these three - I have dozens of embroidery and sewing projects planned for myself. =)

New Directions

2010-10-27T10:32:00.002-04:00

I love so many different crafts that I have a hard time focusing my energies in any one direction. I've come to the conclusion that if I don't know who I am, then no one else really knows, either. The last couple of weeks have been hard for me because I feel lost (creatively speaking).

I feel spread too thin with the things that I want to do. Not really surprising when you consider all the crafts that I do on a regular basis: spinning, dyeing, needle-felting, crochet, sewing, jewelery-making, doll-making, book-binding, quilting, embroidery... I need to decide what crafts are for me, and which ones I'd like to share (via my Etsy shop). I get such positive feedback on all of my crafts that it makes me happy to share them all, but...I feel scattered...uninspired. Like a Jane-of-all-trades, master of none.

I'm currently working on two new dolls for my Etsy shop. They are tall, slender elves from the same pattern that I made for the Peacock Elf, and, like that doll, they will be clothed with considerable detail. I love creating dolls, though I'm often strapped for inspiration, and I find that dressing them is fairly frustrating. This is really the direction that I would love to take with my shop. I think. =)

Good Things Come

2010-10-17T23:02:00.002-04:00

Most of my crafting is on hold right now as I rearrange my space. I asked my husband for a very big birthday gift this year - dedicate an entire room to my crafting. He is so wonderful, and is working very hard to get this completed.

He inherited a lot of furniture when he bought the house from his parents, and I added even more when I moved in. We could have opened a B&B with so many extra beds... So, we are trying to find room to store the furniture until we can get rid of it. There's just the two of us, anyway.

Ah! I'm so excited to have my own crafting space! I've been using my living room floor and I'm really sick of seeing the clutter (I suspect that my wonderful, patient husband is, too). With a clean living room, I'll also be more motivated to 'Push Play' with Tony Horton. I do love me some banana rolls! I have high hopes that this will be a veritable cascade of Awesome as the tidiness begets more tidiness and motivation for other Good Things (cooking, exercise...).

Tiny Is Cute

2010-09-10T18:40:00.002-04:00

Like so many other people, I think tiny things are cute. Downright adorable, even. And, the smaller the object is, the higher its potential for producing squees of joy. I like books, therefore, tiny books cause me to make that embarrassing sound. Thank heavens no one was around to hear me this afternoon as I finished seven of these tiny treasures (not all are pictured, of course). These are for my Etsy shop, but I'll be making another for myself after having such a hard time keeping my hands off this batch (especially the one with the crystal!).

It was a great way to use up some scraps of leather (I knew I saved them for a good reason) and findings from my stash. There are 40 pages of hand-torn, white linen paper in each journal. Each measures approximately 1.5"x1.25"x0.5".

Comfortably Numb

2010-08-17T11:43:00.004-04:00

Shortly after I received half a pound of beautiful, hand-painted wool from Superhooker in a swap, I nearly cut off my finger with a steak knife. Of course, it had to be one of my index fingers. *sigh* Needless to say, I wasn't spinning anything for a while.

I'm 3.5 months healed, but I still have some loss of sensation in the finger...and a wicked scar. The doctors said that the ~1 cm wide, ~2 cm deep wound hadn't severed the nerves (WOW!), so I've got that going for me. I may, eventually, regain all of the feeling in that finger. I'm so used to it now, though, that I rarely notice the numbness anymore.

Yesterday, I decided to end the stand-off with my spindle, and started pre-drafting some of that gorgeous fiber. Yay! My finger still remembers how to draft! Back to spinning just in time for the Michigan Fiber Festival this weekend in Allegan.

Pretty As A Peacock

2010-08-15T10:00:00.003-04:00

Beth8144 and I danced together in the Invite Your Partner 16: Summertime Swing swap on Craftster.org, and we agreed to swap dolls. She loves peacocks, so, naturally, she received an elf with a peacock-inspired costume.

The doll was from my own hand-drawn pattern, similar to Ghilie's poppet, but much taller and thinner. I try to mix up pattern pieces so that no two dolls are exactly the same shape. Similarly, the patterns for the clothes are tailored to each doll individually. Her outfit consists of an under-robe, a skirt, a bustle, a corset and slippers.

The under-robe is black lace and has a ribbon belt. That same lace is used on the lower edge of the corset and is covered with free-motion stitching in a stylized feather motif (that is repeated throughout the costume). The corset is two layers of royal blue and white satin. Blue ribbon is laced through satin loops at the back, and tied above the bustle. The skirt is also royal blue satin, but overlaid with emerald chiffon and quilted in the feather motif and trimmed in vintage lace. Snap closure at the left hip. The bustle is where I went overboard with the Gibbous-styling. A champagne satin base is drowned in chiffon, Chantilly and vintage lace, organza, more satin and peacock feathers. The 'eye feathers' are circles of fabric with burnt edges. The fabric for the slippers was quilted with lace, ribbon, chiffon and organza before being cut and sewn into slippers.

I don't usually like making doll clothes because the seams are so tiny and there is so little room for error. However, I really enjoyed creating the clothes for this doll. I can only attribute it to the freedom of the style I chose to work with. When there are no rules, there are no real mistakes, just artistic decisions. =)

So Very Unimportant...

2010-07-13T11:08:00.002-04:00

I was just trying out new templates and fonts for my blog page, and I figured I 'd try the one you're now seeing. Cute? I like maps, and I was getting tired of the same old font...I like it. Anyway, when I saw that I had the option of a font named 'Trebuchet,' I totally squeeed. Shameful. The reason is this PC game that my husband occasionally plays with the sound on. During certain 'ages,' I hear his little soldiers (it's a game of world domination, of course) shout out 'TREBUCHET!!!' and a city collapses into rubble. It always makes me giggle. It's like that Snickers commercial, with the football player who thinks he's Batman...when I'm feeling sassy, I turn to Gary and tell him that "I'm Batman!" Some things just tickle my funny bone. So...enjoy my newest favorite font: Trebuchet! Fight on, my friends!

On a crafty note: I'm working on new doll for a swap. I'll be posting her when she's in her new home, as my partner knows very few details about her.

I have also been very inspired by Gibbous, recently. I love the character that these designers impart into their clothing and I have so much respect and admiration for their art. A few weeks ago, I received the free-motion foot I had ordered for my sewing machine. I attempted a Gibbous-inspired hat the next day. It was done in just a few days...leaving me with a gigantic sense of accomplishment, an even greater respect for Gibbous House than I had previously possessed (hard to believe, since I'm madly in love with them!), and a desire to do more, dare more and achieve more.

Have I mentioned that I like hats? It's a weird obsession I inherited from my grandfather who would bring me hats from every corner of the globe (he used to call me 'Ahab' after I took a liking to the keffiyeh he brought back from Egypt). My hat came together from scraps of blue herringbone wool, silk neck ties left-over from a bag, vintage trim, hand-cut vintage shell buttons, vintage plastic buttons, antiqued brass chains, a pearl, a sprocket, an Uzbekistani eye-bead, and lots of stitching. The colors imbue the piece with a subtle, patriotic vibe (made it just in time to wear on Independence Day).

A Different Sort of Canvas

2010-05-18T19:06:00.002-04:00

I've been making journals for a while, now, and I'm always looking for new techniques to incorporate into my books. I noticed, on a swap partner's Wist, a journal that had been illustrated. Ink on suede. It reminded me of a tattoo. There is something intriguing and seductive in an inked hide. I wanted to try it.

A very good friend had recently donated a few pounds of beautiful suede sides to my crafting stash - the perfect canvas for this endeavor! I cut a bit off to test a few different pens to see how they looked and for color-fastness. I decided that a super-fine tip Sharpie would be suitable. It was! But, it also dried out a brand new pen. I'm going to try an India-ink pen next time around. I hope that it will go a little further than just one journal. Side note: a traditional Sharpie may bleed all the way through the hide.

I'm really happy with the flowing vine-like drawing that I covered this journal (and others) with. I'm really not much for doodling or sketching, unless it's chemical structures and such...there's an idea....

Beginnings

2010-04-25T22:37:00.003-04:00

I was reading a thread on Craftster.org recently that made me think about the origins of my craftiness. It took a lot of thinking, and I realized that I would have to go back a long way to define a beginning. A long way...

...all the way back to my some of my very first memories...4 years old and attending a very unique preschool. Curious how the earliest memories are of the things that we created, the things that we puzzled out and presented proudly for all of the world to see. These are the things that grace our parents mantles and adorn their walls as badges of honor. My earliest pieces of childhood art included paintings using straw, egg-carton-flower bouquets, and coiled clay pots. My mom still treasures these things - she saved it all.

I learned how to use hand-tools about the same time that I learned to sew clothes for my dolls. There were so many home improvement projects that my mom had me help her with...we papered, paneled and painted the walls...laid a solid oak floor...made cabinets and tables and a fence and a brick patio...electrical, plumbing, gardening, etc. I learned how to do all of those things before I was 11! I tried cross stitch when I was about 7, but it never held my attention. I made my first stuffed animal, a bunny from a kit, when I was 8. Mostly, it was re-purposing old clothes into clothes for my massive stuffie collection and Barbie dolls.

Not much has really changed. =)

The Elvish Poet - Teaghan

2010-04-14T11:56:00.005-04:00

My newest doll is finally finished! Let me introduce you to Teaghan. She is an aspiring poet still searching for her inspiration. Her journals are empty, and she has set off to find the words that will fill them.

Teaghan the Elf is a one-of-a-kind cloth doll from head to toe (I drafted new patterns for her body and clothing). Her hair and shawl are made from my hand-painted, hand-spun yarn. Her bag, books (the smaller one is just 2.25" tall!), shoes, and corset are hand-stitched leather. I gave her several earrings and lots of other brass, pearl and glass adornments. Her sun dress is batik cotton, and she's wearing a pink and white lace petticoat.

I'm so pleased with how she turned out. It just feels good to have made a doll that is so unique and lovely. It was actually difficult to stop adding details to her costume! Teaghan, at 19 inches tall, is the largest (and most time-consuming) doll that I have ever made. I would love to share her with my peers on Craftster.org, but I won't - she's for sale, and I don't want anyone to think that I'm fishing for sales - though they would probably appreciate the amount of work that went into her. However, I have no compunctions about sharing the link to my store in this forum: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44726474

Cobwebs and Lace

2010-03-10T10:01:00.003-05:00

Up until now, my spinning has produced lovely, fluffy yarns. They were also really thick and uneven. I love those qualities, but it takes a lot of roving to make thick yarns and it's hard to fit more than a few dozen yards on my spindle.

For the last couple yarns I've spun up, I pre-drafted the crap out of the fiber. The result: yarns that turned out fingering weight and smaller! Success! My pride and joy is this skein of cobweb weight wool. I hand-painted the black and white mill end roving in shades of blue, and got all 240 yards (47 grams) to fit on my spindle.

This yarn is being turned into a lacy crocheted scarf. But, it's only halfway done (hence, no pictures at this time).

New Adventures in Bookbinding

2010-03-09T17:32:00.009-05:00

I’ve been a bibliophile for as long as I can remember, and this love extends to blank journals, too. I learned how to do some more traditional bindings a while ago, but I always admired the leather-bound journals I saw on Etsy and in the bookstores. Who doesn’t like the look, feel and smell of leather, right? I just never knew where I could get some nicely textured leather, or how to go about using it if I did find some.

Recently, I joined Round 2 of the Quick and Easy Swap, and my partner (superhooker) had this great suede journal on her wist. Yay! A ready-made excuse to hunt down leather and a tutorial! (I quickly found both.) It was so much easier than I thought it would be, and has quickly become my binding method of choice.

I made a mini ‘practice’ journal (something I always do is make a prototype) out of some gorgeous, dark red leather and banana peel paper. I stitched on the metal gear for a little ornamentation (tried gluing it on…no such luck). It measures 4.5”high x 3”wide.

The journals I made for my swap partner are made from a rich, coffee-colored leather. The large one is filled with straw paper and each signature is covered with double-sided scrapbooking paper (lots of sea life, maps, partner’s favorite colors, damask prints, etc.). The small journal is filled with ‘Stardust’ drawing paper (white with flecks of colored fibers thrown in). Both are stitched with linen thread, waxed with beeswax, and have metal gears attached to the leather straps. The large journal is about 6.75”x5.75” and the little one is the same size as the red journal. (And, based on the swap guidelines...the big journal really is a medium! I swear.)

I’m having a hard time putting that little red journal down. I take it out occasionally, just to ‘pet’ it and turn it over in my hands, open it and wrap it back up. Haven’t written anything in it, yet…waiting for a really good reason. I’m such a dork. It really is a great style, though. It lays flat when it’s open, so you can write into the margins…it’s practically water-proof…it’s okay if you bend it a little, ‘cause it’s flexible…it’s really, really easy to get the stitching tight and secure…you can attach stuff to the pages and the cover will still expand to contain it…and, you can add more signatures if you need to!

An Elf By Any Other Word

2010-02-01T13:17:00.003-05:00

Months ago, I decided that I was going to create a truly original doll. I finally got around to drafting the patterns - no small feat for some one who can't draw - and, after three days of sewing, gluing and crocheting, the elf was created and clothed.

She's an elf of some sort (she isn't telling me anything, yet)...most likely associated with the winter weather that we've been experiencing. Her frosty, violet eyes sparkle with mischief, and her white skin and chestnut hair reflect perfectly the snow-covered trees of our woods. She's dressed in a relaxed, Victorian-inspired skirt and blouse. Her underbust corset is quilted wool herringbone and lace. The necklace and rings are brass, crystal and coral.

Her actual form was inspired by an MTV cartoon that, when I was 12 or 13, I would stay up late to watch...Aeon Flux. The characters were not of human proportions - their bodies more like caricatures with narrow waists, wide hips, and long arms and legs. Her chest, unlike the cartoon, is mostly flat, though. She stands 16.5" tall.

Update:
I know her name! *jumps up and down with joy* She is Lilwen (it means 'white lily' in Welsh). Her cousins (still in progress) will be in my Etsy store beginning late March to early April.

Where Does the Time Go?

2009-10-31T15:12:00.003-04:00

So, I spent most of September and October working on presents for other people. I did find the time to try out some new recipes and make a couple Halloween costumes. To sum it up, Over the last 8 weeks or so, I've made:
-an A-line skirt for myself in Alexander Henry's 'Koto' printed cotton
-bag to match the skirt
-four pairs of beaded earrings
-red/gold wool handspun hat for my 4 year old niece
-red wool handspun hat for my 3 year old nephew
-baby blue organic cotton hat and washcloth for my friend's newborn boy
-fulled sweater teddy bear for my 1 year old niece
-brown wool hat with earflaps for my husband
-embroidered wall hanging of a Chuck Palahniuk quote
-Jedi robe for a friend's Halloween costume
-silk dress with chiffon wrap and matching clutch for a friend's Halloween costume

I've also been sporadically working on other stuff, like:
-a pair of red bamboo wristwarmers for my Nana
-dyeing a skirt for my Halloween costume
-my anniversary quilt

I've also taught myself the basics of knitting. I'm going to be exploring some more intricate patterns in the near future. But, I have a dozen projects to finish before I cast on anything else...several dolls are sitting around without body parts, an un-quilted quilt is languishing in my sewing room, and several scarves are on needles or wrapped around their respective balls of yarn and taking up my stitch-markers.

The teddy bear that I made was loads of fun. I drafted a pattern and used up an old sweater that I had shrunk in the wash. I had such a difficult time with the eyes, but I finally ended up needle-felting them on along with the nose. It was very well received by its tiny new owner.

A Student of My Very Own

2009-08-30T11:21:00.003-04:00

In keeping with my usual habit of learning several new crafts every year, I've taken up needle felting. It's a great way to use up the scraps of wool that are left over from spinning. I had seen a tutorial on needle felted hats, and, being a lover of hats...you get the idea. I made a miniature top hat for a doll that I'm working on. Most fun ever. I also felted up a couple of balls for the cat...she's always munching on my wool.

I also decided to teach myself to knit. When my mom moved, she left me her knitting needles. The collection amounted to just about everything a knitter could ask for...in duplicate! I borrowed half a dozen books from the library on the subject, and several days later, I can cast on three different ways, knit, purl, bind off and even manage the stockinette stitch. Admittedly, I thought it would be harder than it has been so far. Not to imply that my stitches are very uniform...

My sister-in-law's family is hosting a Chinese foreign exchange student for the school year who has, in the past, been a guest and then, a hostess of theirs in China. She just turned 16, and is a fascinating young lady with a sharp mind and easy manner. Not having much to do before the school year starts, she had been somewhat bored. I'm never bored, so I offered to teach her one of the crafts that I know in an attempt to occupy those empty minutes in a stimulating way. I showed her samples of everything, and she chose crochet...she wanted to be able to make something that would keep her warm in the coming months. Michigan winters can be extremely cold, with wind chills dropping into the negative 10s and 20s for weeks at a time. I would be intimidated at my first Midwest winter, that is, if I hadn't experienced them for my entire life. I digress. She is a fast learner and a delight to talk to. I'm looking forward to teaching her more, and seeing her progress. And, I'm quite happy to say that she is a fiber 'snob,' just like me! =)

Summer is Here!

2009-08-11T11:20:00.003-04:00

Finally, it really feels like summer here in West Michigan. It's been so chilly lately when you consider we've only had a few days where the temperature climbed above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, while the weather hasn't been conducive to a dip in the pool, it has been wonderful for my sweet peas and green beans! Every week for the past three weeks, I have harvested pounds of fresh greens...and there is still so much left on the plants in all stages of ripeness. Amazing. And the corn is developing faster that I knew it could. Most of the plants, even the ones that are less than four feet tall, have ears on them. Yay! for organic gardening!

Aside from the garden, I've been quilting clandestinely. My 5-year wedding anniversary is not too far down the road, and I decided to spoil my hubby with a quilt. I've been amassing fabric since last Fall...slowly, but surely gathering up fabulous batiks and quilting cottons. If my mother-in-law has electricity, I'm going over to her house to borrow the use of her banquet tables to get my quilt pinned today. Eh, even if she doesn't, I'm going to find a sunny room in her house to do it in. I'm quilting by hand, so, the sooner I get to it, the more likely it will be done by my deadline! (The quilt top is pictured.)

Patrick Henry is my Hero

2009-07-17T09:57:00.002-04:00

I'm posting this historical speech for two reasons: First of all, this is a statement that changed the world and continues to inspire American patriots more than 234 years later, and; secondly, because I'm one of his descendants.

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

New Horizons

2009-07-01T10:52:00.002-04:00

I've spent the last couple weeks just grinding away at some WIPs...most notably, my vegetable garden. But, I've been expanding my horizons as well.

The garden (everything is grown from heirloom seeds!) is doing better than I expected. This is my first attempt, you know. We'll be hoping for a bumper crop of sweet corn - it's already well above knee-high. The peas and beans are growing like weeds and the cucumber and broccoli are sprouted. We've already had some lettuce for our sandwiches that I had to thin out anyway. And I'm really looking forward to lots and lots of pumpkins this Halloween! I have something like 25 vines!

I just finished up a batch of 8 handbound journals. I tried out decoupage for the first time and up-cycled an old paper-back copy of a great novel - Frank Herbert's Heretics of Dune - into book covers. I also used some premium papers for the signatures - papers made from straw and from banana peels! They're in my Etsy store (ClassicInez.etsy.com*), as of last night.
*shameless plug

As for the new stuff...
Already tired of using other people's patterns for dolls, cute as they may be, I've been determined to make my own patterns. Well, I'm in the process of trying out my designs. I had to reconstruct my hands and arms once already as they were entirely too tiny to turn even with a pair of hemostats.
I have also been a bit more daring with my crochet. I dared a pattern, recently, for a shrug. I was mildly pleased with it, even though it was rather simple. The other day, I attempted a beanie and I loved it! So, I used up my first handspun in a similar manner and then used up some more handspun to make a fabulously variegated and super soft hat! I used three coordinating blues to create a dip-dyed effect. I'll be using the few yards of my yarn that I have left to make a flower for this one. I made a pair of apple cozies, too!

Dreams of Pirates and Dragons

2009-06-09T09:13:00.003-04:00

Boy did I get side-tracked...I meant to post pictures of these pillowcases weeks ago! I have no idea how long it took me to do all of this stitching, but I worked on it for a month straight. The ship is roughly 10.5" square, and the dragon scene is about 9"x 12".I used Google Images to find inspiration for the designs. The dragon was from a sketch that some one had done of a very hairy Oriental-style dragon, that is, serpentine and wingless. The scenery is taken from a Japanese monochrome painting, with the substitutions of a cherry tree and waves. The clouds were free-handed using a tutorial for drawing Akatsuki clouds and stitched using variegated thread and small satin stitching. I used a vintage tattoo flash image for the pirate ship and waves. Creating these designs and transferring that into stitching was so rewarding for my inner perfectionist. I'm already planning to do two framed ships...one for each side of my bed.

Stitches used: satin, long-short, back stitch, split.

Fin

2009-05-13T18:55:00.002-04:00

Last night at 11:30, I finished up the embroidery for my pillowcase swap. I sent the package this afternoon...it took two tries! The post office branch that I went to was closed for lunch the first time I stopped by. But, I'll post pictures this weekend after my partner receives her box of goodies.

On another note, I've been working on a doll using patterns by Patti Medaris Culea. Her body is sewn and stuffed and her eyes and head are all in place. I hand-painted with food coloring and spun up some wool for her hair, too. I intend her to be a water spirit in the form of a mermaid. Her arms and fingers are wired and she's constructed with batik-dyed cotton fabric. Her eyes are satin buttons that I colored with fabric markers and sealed with acrylic spray, and with real hair eyelashes. I still have to lightly needle-sculpt her face and add a sh*t-load of beading to her...from flukes to hairline. I think that she will be therapeutic, and I know that she'll be time-consuming.

Feeling Better

2009-04-27T17:47:00.003-04:00

I'm finally feeling better after being sick as a dog for the last week. Oh, how I hate being sick.

The laundry didn't get done, but a lot of stitching and spinning did. I'm almost done with one of the pillowcases for the swap and I ran through all of the wool I had dyed. It was strange, for the first time all week, my fingers hurt after a day of embroidery. Somehow, I managed a few hours every day of steady stitching last week...no finger pain. But, I'm making great progress.

I dyed some more wool yesterday...green, sky blue and a Blue Jay-colored blotchy mess. Well, not a mess...I really like the colors. My acid levels were too high again, apparently.

I Dyed This Week

2009-04-17T18:04:00.004-04:00

I spent a lot of time this week dyeing and spinning. So much fun! I mixed up every color of Wilton's food coloring that I had and even combined a couple. I learned an important lesson about acidity and food dyes...and now I can experiment with fractured colors! In fact, the 'purple' that I dyed ended up looking like a Blue Jay's feathers. So pretty! I can't wait to see how that spins up. I had to re-dye the red. It was neon pink after the first dye, and far too difficult to look at. I added some blue to soften up the red a bit the second time around. I'm intending the roving I dyed green/blue/purple for doll hair on a mermaid that I'm working on... It matches my fabric almost perfectly. =)
And, I spun up the extra yarn that SSS threw in my order. Some awesome black wool with turquoise and white mohair accents.

(I'll post pictures once I make them smaller... =/ )

Self-Doubt

2009-04-13T08:30:00.003-04:00

I spent my long weekend coming up with ideas, tracing, sketching and finally transferring embroidery designs onto a pair of pillowcases. (Can't share, 'cause it's for a swap.) I use my coffee table as a light-box and I'm a Catholic, so I did a lot of kneeling this weekend! Well, I needed everyone's opinions on my designs before stitching...I asked my Aunt, my mother-in-law and my niece - they all loved it. I asked my mom and she loved it. However, my mom also asks me if I really think I can get it done in less than four weeks. Am I too ambitious? I think not. But, now she has me second-guessing my ability to get things done. It's kind of a downer. I think I'll just try to ignore her and start busting my butt to get done early. =/

On a separate note: I hope my wool gets here today! and that I have vinegar in my cupboard...

Update: I got my wool (^-^) and bought some vinegar. I also got stitching on the pillowcases...love how it's looking.

The First Word

2009-04-10T19:49:00.002-04:00

I've been wanting to start my own blog for a while now...I tried using MySpace, but I didn't want my profile to be public just so that my blog could be...so many creepy people on MySpace...and, I just wanted to be able to chronicle my craft-room adventures without posting it all to Craftster.org...taking up all of their bandwidth...boring them to death... =)

So, here I am. I'll be sharing some ideas, works-in-progress, finished objects and whatever else I see fit to talk about...'cause, it's my blog and I'll do what I want. haha