Little Cowpoke

Love this fabric from Michael Miller.

This is a little baby blanket I stitched up last weekend for a very special boy.

The April Waggle Scene

Meet Waggle and April. I hesitated to show them off to the general public due to this family's goldfish death rate. Instead of spending twelve dollars trying to have a 5 yr old toss a dented ping pong ball into bacteria infested bowls at the overpriced mob-like carnival, we opted for the 'free fish for 12 yrs and under' at the local pet store. The boys picked out their fish in the tank and with a free Starbucks coffee with real cream and a couple black and white cookie parts for the boys, we were off. Little Man demanded to hold the fish in the car. Out of the water. Fish on hand. Poor guy.

As you can see Waggle and April are doing well, enjoying their Chicago sized dwelling. Hey, we are all downsizing these days, why shouldn't the fish?

Big Boy thought they needed company, so grabbed every frame within his grasp an made a bit of a gallery of people for the fish. They never get lonely. And yes, Lisa, that is you and me at our high school graduation a mere 19.6 yrs ago.


And this here is Pinky Dinky Doo What?

This is a take on all the $70 fabric purses on Etsy these days, which I believe to be a knock off of an Amy Butler pattern. Cute, but does it need more? I am thinking a little something at the top center where the pleat is...any thoughts?

I got the yarn wound and on the loom. I started the pattern last night after a couple transcribing issues and really like it. The warp (up and down yarn) is cadet blueish and the weft (yarn that makes the pattern horizontally) is chocolate brown softball cotton. It looks warm and yummy. I chose the colors in hopes of having some type of man-type scarf.

I was telling Tom this morning that it is "a man's scarf" and he looked at me as if I had a nose behind my ear (Hi Twitter friends).

"Well, maybe a "metro-sexual" man."

Tom looked at me as if I now had an ear on my nose.

"You mean a man that has sex while driving?"

~~~~~~

Blogger's Note: I have rearranged the specifics of this story, Tom didn't really ask the question that way, but that is what he thought after I told him the definition. Don't be mad, honey!

Das Polka Series

Is it possible to have too many polka dots?

I am loving this unintended outcome of the long leaf green purse in the background. I was hoping to have a flat circle of color embedded into the purse. Fortunately, I didn't think it through all the way and this is what I found at the bottom of my washing machine.

Doing the happy dance in my basement, while holding a wet purse. Mama said there'd be days like this!

So now...I might keep going on the dots, bumps, balls, you can call them whatever you want, but I call them fun!

My pal over at hooRAy gave me a blog award. My first award in almost a year, which I'll do when I get the yarn out of my brain. You can read about it on her blog, which is very honest and real. She is doing the 30 posts in 30 days this month, so keep her honest and check in daily.

Working on:
~Two scarves for loom, wound the warp, now need to thread the reed and the harnesses (all to be on and woven no later than December 9th).
~Two little custom orders for trades that I am doing...I LOVE trades.
~Winter white purse to be dotted and felted and enough wool to make at least 4 more purses.
~Winding a warp for the coasters that will be part of my weaving workshop at the Buffalo Indie Market
~My interview and pics for the Featured Artist Profile on the Buffalo Indie Market Web page.

Okay, off to hyperventilate.

Do you think it is rude to take my crochet to a candle party at a neighbors tomorrow??? I'm going to do it. Bad? pa-char

A special welcome to Magnus Victor Carlson, a little viking in NYC with some totally awesome parents and aunts and uncles! Welcome to the Spinning World, Magnus.

When He Gets Older

I probably shouldn't show this to his friends, but for now, it is making my day!

Let's Call Him Joey

I moved out of my parents' house somewhere between 1995 and 1996 (I have a feeling someone will correct me on that, my memory isn't so tight lately).

I stopped playing with dolls somewhere before that, lets just say 1984.

My mom just opened a box for my boys of my old stuffed animals, and this little guy, Joey. I have no idea what or if he had a name. What I do know is that I made him. I am going to guess that I was in middle school. We don't really recall.

This little fella is all hand sewn. What you can't see is the hat is alternating fabric of the stripe and solid red. The brim was made with a piece of corrugated box. The body and hands are made from pantyhose, suntan color, I presume.

What impressed me was the hand stitching, although not the cleanest, it has lasted and was fairly even. I also believe I made this without a pattern (you'll see as you scroll down). I was talking with my mom about it and thought for an instant that I could have seen a pattern on the web...no. At this time I was excited to make a formula on the computer to repeat my boyfriend's name on the first Apple computer ever made.

This is where the lack of pattern was confirmed. The cavity for the head/neck...toilet paper roll. Did I tell you this was a puppet?

This was about the time we started laughing, the knotted neck, the toilet paper. But what really got us giggling like we were crying...the body.


Although I don't think I will keep Joey, he sure was fun for a laugh and to see that I had been inspired long ago and that urge to create and not follow patterns is still strong.



Coming up...new purses. The Polka Series.

Excuses

I have tried.

It's almost like we are living in two different worlds.

When I'm ready, other things aren't.

When one is ready, I'm too lazy. Maybe lazy isn't quite the right word.

I just need a push. Once I get going, I remember how much fun I can have.

My camera and my things and me are having a hard time meeting, hence, no picture today. I have lots of things I could photograph. New items, new business card design by this amazingly talented gal, an old found doll that I made when I was in middle school (I think) that my mom had saved. Plenty of things to have a pretty photo of. But, no.

We just didn't get together.

Maybe tomorrow. I'll freshen him up with new batteries and a really pretty subject.

Meet me back here tomorrow...

Ideas from a Five Year Old

Blogtoberfest really wore me out! Sorry about that.

Really ready to focus on my craft these days and preparing for my show in just over a month. Nervous and excited. Time for lists and manila folders and gathering of product.

I am debating on whether or not to add two new purses to Etsy, or to hang on to them until my show. After the show, I will put them in Etsy, but that leaves only three days for purchasing until I would have to get them in the mail in time for Christmas. Not sure what to do. Thoughts from my sellers crowd?

Anyway, I have one pink purse that has a strap that fits comfortably on the shoulder and a cadet blue long envelope like purse (minus the flap/add a zipper). I think I have come up with a little beading for the pink, but the blue is eluding me. It is almost too 'blank canvas'. I could really do anything and am considering embroidery, needle felting and beading.

Sam had an idea, though. A lightning bolt. All the way across the purse. In orange.

Oh, with a little thunder in the corner with three more little bolts.

Do I have any buyers?

This is HUGE (not Fuccilo)

GIVEAWAYS from Indie Fixx!

Click Here to enter for this amazing giveaway!

I love the custom made handbags from Becky OH! She makes all one of a kinds...just like us all - one of a kind'ers!

This is open until November 14th and open to International entrants (big yay!)

Why not? Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat, please put more than a feather in my hat!

***Please note: You must follow the link (above) through to the Indie Fixx website and leave a comment there***

Deep Breath

Ahhh.

The stock market is shifting upwards (spoke too soon?), gas prices are shifting down, the elections are over, and a Black man is to be our 44th President.

All amazing things.

But what astounds me most, is the celebrations we see of other countries celebrating with us.

Brazil, Australia, France, Japan, Kenya, India, Germany.

I understand what our country had become in the past eight years, but I did not realize the joy that Barack Obama would bring to the world over.

p.s. We missed you last night, Mr. Russert.

November Fourth

The previously "Naked Bag" is complete and ready to make it's way to Etsy tonight, I hope. This bag makes me smile, I have a couple naming options I am still playing around with, you know how I love my names. Just a simple bag in an odd shape, fits in the hand so naturally.

I hope, because business is slow (what else is new, right?). I made a sort of deal with my husband, Tom. It was that all Etsy revenue would go to Christmas presents and it is my intention that all gifts this year, come from fellow Etsians (aside from the much requested race cars and Lego spaceships). Feel free to help me out with this!

I hope because I might be to engrossed in the Presidential counts to tear myself away from that cute fox, Anderson Cooper. Fingers crossed for some good leadership to come. CNN just had a hologram lady on...Star Trek Meets Wolf Blitzer. Or Wolf in Space.............

I hope because Tom has to print out renal slides on this computer. Renal slides. Hmmph.

Earlier this afternoon I was Instant Messaging with my pal, Meredith. I wrote something witty and she commented on my humor. I am really hoping my humor comes back, soon. I was reading my past posts and I almost fell asleep. So boring! And you are still here...reading this one! Either you are my relative or just keep hoping my writing will get better. Thanks.

On my manila folder to do list:
1. Finish 'rose' felted bag. It's bigger than my usual purses, and much stiffer. New yarn, different hook, not sure I am digging it, but it is still wet, so hard to tell.
2. Make more wash towels in smaller sizes with lower prices to be competitive with my arch nemeses on Etsy...coffee anyone?
3. Get yarn on the loom. Just over one month until the Buffalo Indie Market and I need stock!
4. Have a Woodchuck Cider.

(and not in this order, necessarily)

A Picture is Not Always Worth...

I had a great dinner last night, followed by an even better breakfast...Chicken Wing Dip.

Not sure where this recipe originated, but my sister in law gave it to me and I have since passed it on to many.

It originally called for additional blue cheese dressing, but since I am Celiac, the blue cheese is not always gluten free, so I leave it out, as do most people. It isn't a missed ingredient at all.

2 bars cream cheese
4 celery stalks (I go about 3 stalks)
4-6 oz. Frank's Hot Sauce (go all 6, it will clean out your sinuses)
1-2 cups shredded chicken (I use 3 breasts - yes, that leaves one chicken running around with only one breast)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Microwave cream cheese on high in large bowl for one minute. Stir. Add celery and hot sauce. Microwave 3 minutes. Add chicken and cheese, stir. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Couple things: I sprinkle a little extra cheddar on top. After I add the chicken and cheese, I put it in a baking dish. I like lots of brown on top...which also means, I cook it more than 20 minutes - and I raise the temp a bit to achieve the brown. Excellent for parties, you can make it the day ahead and stick it in the fridge. We serve with (gluten free) Tositos Yellow Corn tortilla chips.

Get a spoon, you'll enjoy!