Today I found...

a Finished Sampler (and a FREE pattern to share)

2012-01-15T13:20:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to have finished stitching my Cat Sampler!

This is one of my original patterns, and stitches up to about 4"x 6".

This is my 2nd finish this year - I also finished stitching the front side of the Quaker Heart Sampler. (photo on my updates page - link above).

I am offering this Cat Sampler pattern as a freebie on my website here: http://hobbyloco.com/patterns/cat_sampler.html

If you stitch it up, I would love to see a photo! I can't wait to see how it works up in alternate colors & on different fabrics.

Happy Stitching!

the First Full Moon of the WIPocalypse

2012-01-09T16:43:00.000-05:00

Time for my full Moon WIPocalypse check-up.

I started a new project every day for the Crazy January Challenge, so most of the WIPs that have been worked on so far this month are new starts. I did make a bit of progress on some of my old UFOs, though.

I don't have any "finishes" to report yet ... but I did stitch every single day this month and updated my progress here: http://chaosatlanta.blogspot.com/p/crazy-challenge-2012-wipocalpyse.html - which is quite an accomplishment for me.

Happy Stitching!

a Crazy Week of Stitching

2012-01-06T22:27:00.000-05:00

I'm having a blast with the Crazy January Challenge!

I have started a new project each day this week, and have posted daily updates on a separate page. Click the Crazy Challenge link above to see my progress on them all.

Today I worked on a special project. It is a simple cat sampler that I designed a few weeks ago & I have been dying to start. This is the first time it has been stitched.

Once I have completed stitching it, I will post it as a free pattern on my hobby site.

holiday happenings

2011-12-22T07:32:00.000-05:00

at Piedmont Park in Atlanta you will find horse drawn carriages,

and a carousel.

Pretty lights at the Botanical Gardens.

And to all a good night.

UFOs and WIPs for the WIPocalypse & Crazy January Challenge

2011-12-18T16:08:00.000-05:00

My first 15 projects for the Crazy January Challenge are listed in my previous post here: http://chaosatlanta.blogspot.com/2011/12/crazy-january-challenge-2012.html

Since I am doing the Modified challenge, I will be working on 16 UFOs or WIPs on days 16-31. All of the projects will be worked into the rotation for the WIPocalypse.

Here are projects 16-31: (a mix of different types of projects)
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cross stitch:

16) Santa Claus (Holiday Pick-Ups) 4"x 9" (75% done) - This was a stocking stuffer kit last year. This project became a UFO because it is crazy. The pattern and floss do not match the picture on the front of the package - I have worked on it a bit this year & am making it work.

17) Carousel Zebra (Just Cross-Stitch) 8-1/4"x 9-1/4" (45% done) This project became a UFO because I ran out of the gold blending filament needed to complete it. I'm stocked up & have started working on this again.

18) Her Majesty's Carousel (Dimensions) 16"x 18" (80% done). I don't remember why I stopped working on this one. It is pretty close to being finished.

19) Summer Carousel Horse (Just Cross-Stitch) 14-3/4"x 18" (40% done) This was my first project worked on linen. Lots of color blending. Progress felt so slow that I just set it aside.

20) Ride to Dreamland 1993 JanLynn kit 14-1/4"x 10-3/4" on 14 ct Aida (20%) This project had been tucked away in storage for at least 10 years. When I found it last week, it had some bad spots on it (no idea how that happened). Anyhow, I did a good soak and cleaning on it. It looks much better & is back in rotation!
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needlepoint:

21) Butterflies in Blue (Creative Accents) 5"x 5" (98% done) This only needs outlining done.

22) Nighttime Moon (Creative Accents) 5"x 5" (80% done)

23) Gathering at the Ark (Bucilla) 12"x 16" (75% done)

24) Friends of the Library (Bucilla) 12"x 16" (5% done)
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crewel/embroidery/misc:

25) Creative Cats (Dimensions) 5"x 7" (25% done) This was a gift. I am just not a huge fan of "printed" kits. It is cute and I will finish it.

26) An Angels Touch (Sunset) - printed 14"x 16" (10% done) This one was also a gift & a printed kit. It is pretty and I will finish it.

27) Tiger Lilies and Roses Pillow (25% done) This kit was a gift. I actually like doing the candlewicking embroidery & have finished a couple of these pillow kits in past years. I didn't even remember having this kit or working on it.

28) Carousel - printed embroidery/crewel (10% done) Another gift. Another printed kit. I hate stitching with the wool threads, but it is a lovely picture and I will finish it.
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felt kits:

29) Xmas Tree Skirt (30% done) This was a Christmas gift from the year 2000 (just prior to my moving). I found it in storage & will finish it before next Christmas.

30) Advent Calendar (30% done) This was also a Christmas gift from the year 2000 (just prior to my moving). I found it in storage & will finish it before next Christmas.
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quilting:

31) Halloween Quilt (pieced and about 33% quilted by hand) I started making my first quilt in October 2008. I thought it was a fun idea to do all of the quilting by hand. (ha-ha) So now it is 3 years later and I only have about 1/3 quilted. I am a very slow quilter. I can't figure out how to get several stitches on the needle like you are supposed to - so I just put it in a Q-snap frame & go up and down, up & down. Uugh! It is taking me forever!! (That is an old photo from when I was piecing it together.)
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Whew! That is my list. I sure hope that I will be able to cross many projects off as the year progresses.

a Quick Blick Deal!

2011-12-16T08:56:00.000-05:00

Today only at DickBlick.com you can get free shipping when you spend $16 or more - use code CCXN in the coupon box at checkout. They have great deals on all kinds of art & craft supplies! (1 pound of craft buttons are $2.99!) There is still time to receive items before Christmas & art supplies make terrific stocking stuffers.

Affiliate of Blick Art Materials:

the Crazy January Challenge 2012

2011-12-15T07:59:00.004-05:00

Crazy loves company! I decided to join in on the Crazy January Challenge 2012. (There are over 130 similarly crazy folks taking the challenge.) I will be starting a new project each day for the first 15 days of January, and a different WIP project for each of the last 16 days of January. 31 projects that I will attempt to finish during 2012.

Many of my cross stitch kits have been locked away in storage & I just decided that it was time to pull out the box and get to work on them.

My list won't be complete until after Christmas, but here is what I plan to include so far:

1) Linen Sampler 14"x 18" on 25ct linen - design by Nancy Rossi - 1988 Dimensions Kit - Love this sampler! This was a great recent buy on ebay.

2) Hang in There - 5"x 7" on 14ct blue Aida - design by Katherine Neprud - 2003 Creative Accents Kit. This was a gift that I never got around to starting.

3) Lost My Mind Sampler - 5"x 7" on 14 ct cream Aida - Designs for the Needle Kit

4) Native Wolf - 5"x 7" on beige Aida - design by Patrick Coddington 2003 Creative Accents Kit. Another gift that I never started.

5) Spring Sampler - 12"x 16" on 14 ct beige Aida - design by Sandy Orton 2007 JanLynn Kit. This kit is among my Christmas gifts (along with the other seasons in the set). I'm sure that this kit will take the longest time to complete.

6) Cat Sampler - 4-1/4"x 5-1/2" on 14ct Aida - my original design. I designed this simple sampler last week. It has never been stitched, so I look forward to working it up.

7) Christmas Sampler Peace Ornament by Homespun Elegance - 3"x 4" on linen. Another fun ebay find!

8) Reindeer - 4"x 9" on 14ct Aida - Holiday Pick-Ups Kit - I received this one in my Christmas stocking last year, along with a matching Santa kit. These kits are a challemge as the photo on the package does not match the chart or floss inside the package (thank you China). Anyhow, I am going to pull a Tim Gunn & "make it work".

9) Carousel Tiger - (Just Cross Stitch) 8-1/4"x 9-1/4" 14 ct Aida. I have completed the matching Carousel Lion, and have the Carousel Zebra in progress. These kits use the gold blending filament (which is hard to stitch with), but adds a lovely sparkle.

10 & 11) I am planning to work a modified version of the Quaker Heart pattern found here: http://www.interweave.com/needle/projects/cross-stitch.asp
I modified the pattern, altered the alphabet and added the saying "I count life's greatest riches as my friends who count their stitches" to the reverse side. I will be making this as a giftie for a friend.

12) I also plan to work a *wildcard* free-form sampler. I will incorporate motifs from old-time sampler designs, as well as some of my own original designs.

13) Poinsettia Mini Stocking - 3"x 4" 14 ct Aida. Stocking stuffer kit. I needed to include a few smaller projects in my list

14) Cardinal Mini Stocking - 3"x 4" 14 ct Aida. Stocking stuffer kit. I needed to include a few smaller projects in my list

15) Autumn Sampler (Janlynn) 14" x 18"on 14 ct Aida. I also have the Winter and Summer kits. If I happen to complete all of my projects this year, I will work those into the mix as well.

a finished project and the WIPocalypse!

2011-12-05T18:16:00.000-05:00

I just finished stitching up this 5" x 7" piece called "Forever Wild".

Now I just need to finish up my 999 other projects (ha-ha!).

Which brings me to the WIPocalypse...

The WIPocalypse is a stitch-along for those wonderful WIPs (Works In Progress) that seem to accumulate over time.

The WIPocalypse is not a contest - it's just for fun and encouragement between stitchers around the globe. Click the link for more info -or- sign up and play along!

I am still rounding up my projects ... but will post my list soon!

one of my cupcakes in Stitch!

2011-11-22T18:21:00.000-05:00

A happy surprise! Last week I received a copy of "Stitch Gifts Special Issue" with my little cupcake inside.

I sent a few cupcakes off to be photographed last June & never heard back ... so I was thinking sad thoughts. (I had a bad experience last year with a different publisher.)

My neighbors probably think I'm crazy with all the hooting & hollering I did. (happy dance!)

a turkey to share

2011-11-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

While working on an overhaul to the free pattern section of my hobby site, I noticed that I didn't have any Thanksgiving cross stitch patterns posted.

To remedy this, I stitched up a nice little turkey.

This turkey would make a wonderful embellishment to Thanksgiving projects such as cloth napkins, table placecards or greeting cards.

I stitched this turkey with variegated floss, but I have also included a pattern to stitch a turkey silhouette in a single color.

Finished size when stitched on 14-count aida is approximately 2-1/4" x 2-1/4".

FREE patterns for this turkey can be found here:
http://hobbyloco.com/patterns/turkey.html

Happy Stitching!

Halloween Fun!

2011-10-29T14:12:00.001-04:00

I've made several visits to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens this month, as the weather has been so wonderful here. There have been lots of Halloween festivities going on!

The multitude of scarecrows is in place along the walks ... so much fun to see them all.

This "button skeleton" scarecrow is one of my favorites this year. It is life sized & wonderful! I especially love that every here & there appears a colored button ... hmmm.

This year I was able to attend the "Fest of Ale" and see the pumpkin carving contest (between Atlanta area chefs). It was very crowded that evening and hard to get a good look while the actual carving was going on, but I was able to view the pumpkins up close after the event.

The winning pumpkin is pretty cute ... but I can't help but wonder how amazing the pumpkins would've been if the general public was allowed to enter the contest.

Halloween Art

2011-10-18T09:54:00.001-04:00

Time to make Halloween art and decorate!

I received my completed Halloween banner from I swap in which I participated. It is so colorful, and looks great hanging on my wall!

Over the weekend I participated in an "inchie-a-thon" with my friends at ATCsForAll.com.

I made over 60 Halloween inchies! It was a fun whirlwind of creating and trading ... and next week I will start receiving all those great miniature works of art in the mail.

What fun!

a Happy Day!

2011-10-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

My happiest days are spent ripping and glue-ing, splattering paint, stamping and doodling, and making a BIG MESS!

I made these crazy happy postcards to send out to a couple folks in the IUOMA (International Union of Mail Artists) group - who happen to be crazy happy people.

Summer's End

2011-09-10T06:28:00.001-04:00

I found this Monarch having a lazy summer Sunday, sipping nectar in Piedmont Park last week.

My end of summer has been anything but lazy.

There has been a lot of rushing around to get things done, and my busy season seems to have started a few weeks early!

A Shrinky Dink Pattern to Share

2011-08-20T21:05:00.001-04:00

I was recently asked about a pattern I created to make a shrink art doll several years ago. I was unable to locate the pattern, so I created a new one and made another art doll with shrink plastic. This art doll measures about 7" tall when assembled.

I used a regular black sharpie marker and colored pencils to decorate the shrink plastic. I punched holes with a 1/4" hole punch before shrinking and later joined the pieces with silver jump rings. I punched a row of holes across the top of her head before shrinking, and later attached colorful fibers to create her hair.

I have decided to post the pattern for this doll as a FREE printable download on my hobby site, along with more info and tips:
http://hobbyloco.com/shrinkydink.html

Enjoy!

Sundews!

2011-07-15T12:56:00.001-04:00

I have been a bit obsessed with sundews for the last 6 months or so ... I had never even heard of them before last winter. Sundews are carnivorous plants (they eat bugs), of which there are nearly 200 known species. Sundews secrete a sweet nectar-like substance on their tentacles, which glistens in the sun and attracts insects.

Below are photos of my new sundews. They traveled through the postal system in near 100 degree heat from Wellspring Gardens
in Lakeland, Florida (which caused them to lose their dew). However, they all look like strong little plants and I expect them to rebound and put on some healthy new dewy growth in the coming weeks.

Drosera adelae: leaves are about 1-1/2" long,
plus baby plant alongside

Drosera spatulata: just over 1-1/4" diameter,
plus baby plant alongside

Drosera spatulata Fraser Island: 2-1/4" x 1-1/2"
colony of 6 or 7 plants

Sundew Grow Guides: http://www.growsundews.com/
Everything you need to know to grow healthy sundews. Great photos!

Spotlight Artist at ATCsforAll

2011-06-05T08:08:00.000-04:00

I was selected as the Spotlight Artist at ATCsforAll for the month of June.

ATCsforAll is a wonderful site with a great group of artists who participate in art swaps of all types.

Whatever projects you are working on (inchies, ATCs, chunky pages, art journals, art dolls, jewelry, etc...), you can usually find a swap in which to play.

The weekend art marathons that happen often are pure fun! Artists from around the world, arting it up around the clock for 3 or 4 days and trading with each other. Fun! Fun! Fun!

See more of my art & journal pages in my other blog here:
http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

a button egg

2011-04-23T10:18:00.000-04:00

I always love to decorate eggs at Easter time! I just finished making this egg last night.

I used a wooden egg that I had on hand, but these could be made with any egg form (styrofoam, plastic, or a hollowed real egg).

I glued pastel buttons onto the egg using white tacky glue. I then filled in the spaces with pastel beads and microbeads.

Hello Sunshine!

2011-04-03T17:23:00.000-04:00

Sunny and in the upper 70's, it was a wonderful day for a long walk in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

This month is all about the tulips. Tulips of all colors and sizes are filling the gardens right now. The gardens are looking quite beautiful.

Valentine Button Fairy

2011-02-13T19:12:00.000-05:00

I recently made this Valentine button fairy for a swap.

I found some lovely clip art for her face/head, printed on cardstock and colored with Indian ink pens and a clear glitter gel pen. I then coated her head with clear polyurethane.

I used a red chenille stem with a loop at the top and a set of square sparkly buttons to form her body. I added red fibers along the length to add a bit of interest. I then glued the head between the chenille stem loop and the top button.

I made 2 hearts, crocheted with red thread, to use as her wings. I then glued them behind her upper body.

I think she turned out quite well. Happy Valentine's Day!

Inchie Palooza!

2011-01-06T19:58:00.000-05:00

Here are some inchies I made and swapped last month:

Crows: top row is colored pencil drawings, bottom row has colorful paper backgrounds with crows cut out of a flocked material.

Fruit labels: digital graphic backgrounds with tiny shrinky dink fruit charms added.

Steampunk: What do cats in aviator hats & goggles have to do with steampunk? I would tell you, but it is top secret! I collaged images and printed papers. I didn't have any real gears, so I made "faux gears" from card stock, using various sized round hole punches and metallic paint.

Snowflakes: Printed snowflake images with big sequins and shrinky dink snowflake charms. Also, stitched snowflakes on aida cloth.

More inchies on the way ... I seem to be making them like crazy lately.

Button Photos

2010-12-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

Here are photos of the buttons I received from the Dick Blick one pound assortments: (click to view larger)

I finally had a chance to go through the buttons. Each bag weighed slightly more than 1 pound. One bag contained nearly 850 buttons, and the other contained nearly 900 buttons! There were only 5 or 6 chipped or broken buttons in each bag. Some of the buttons did feel slightly dirty, but for $2.99 - I am not complaining.

I recieved a good variety of colors and sizes, a few shaped buttons (hearts, flowers, squares, triangle, etc..). Most of the buttons are the flat variety and perfect for crafting! Several buttons have brand names imprinted on one side, but that actually doesn't bother me. The buttons ranged from 1/4" up to 1-1/2" in size.

Also, on the topic of buttons ... I have run across some beautiful "button tree" projects online:

Makin' Projiks - This beautiful button tree is made by pinning buttons to a styrofoam cone. You don't need to glue the buttons & can reuse them later for another project if you choose

Balzer Designs - Create a lovely piece of heirloom art with a framed button tree. Tutorial by Diane Payne.

Winter Button Fairies

2010-12-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

These mixed media button fairy art dolls were created for a swap in one of my art groups last month.

I used public domain images and edited them in a graphics program. I printed the images in black & white on heavy cardstock and embellished them with blue glitter glue. I coated the images with several layers of clear polyurethane, and added iridescent snowflakes.

I threaded white buttons and beads onto white chenille stems, bending hanging loops at the top. I then glued the heads to the top of the button bodies, and added white tulle netting for wings.

I made these before I purchased the big bags of buttons... but now I have plenty of buttons for my next project!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Stuff

2010-12-07T19:28:00.000-05:00

I was just taking a break from my endless stitching (no joke) ... and happened across Totally Tutorials and their vast collection of fabulous tutorials. Lots of fun Christmas projects and links to Christmas printables. Things usually start to slow down for me around Dec 21st ... I sure hope I have some time before Christmas for crafting.

I have to give a shout out to Parent Map Magazine for placing my puppets at the top of their wonderful Etsy Holiday Gift Guide, which features a wonderful selection of handmade items for children.

Holiday Fun at the Botanical Gardens

2010-12-02T08:10:00.000-05:00

I took another trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens last weekend to see the holiday displays.

The G-scale model trains are set up for the annual display, and they have arranged poinsettias into an 18 foot tall tree.

There are special events running for the next couple of weekends, including visits with Saint Nick, a puppet show, and the annual "reindog" parade Dec. 11th.

Bonus: I found a sweet little glass frog ornament for my tree in the gift shop!

birds & buttons!

2010-11-25T19:17:00.001-05:00

I found a little time for art today ... so I whipped up some bird themed inchies.

Now let me tell you about the buttons ... I stumbled across a sale item at Dick Blick that I couldn't pass up: one pound bags of buttons for $2.99!

Wow! That is pretty cheap and I use lots of buttons! I bought a couple of bags, which arrived the other day. I'm pretty happy with them (however they do need to be washed off a bit). Each assortment is potluck. My assortment has a nice range of sizes and colors, there are lots of little buttons, a few shaped buttons (hearts, flowers, etc..), some glittery buttons. They are mostly flat buttons like the photo sample they show:

My assortment has more darker colored buttons than the photo - but there are lots of colors mixed in. Very few chipped or broken. When I get a chance to sort through them some more, I'll snap a photo.

a Shout Out

2010-11-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

My little gnome puppet is being featured at gnomeangel today as part of the "gnovember" celebration. Gnomeangel is a big supporter of small business, handmade, and gnomes! Look for giveaways and coupon codes sprinkled throughout the site.
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My puppets were also recently featured on The Shopping Mama (the source for all the unique and fabulous things mamas want for little ones but don't have time to find themselves). Giveaways and coupon codes are posted in the sidebar.
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Have a wonderful week!

Beautiful Glass Pumpkins!

2010-10-30T18:45:00.000-04:00

I spent the day at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where they are featuring an amazing selection of hand-blown glass pumpkins (as well as apples, pears, waterlilies, etc...) by Michael Cohn and Molly Stone (www.cohnstone.com).

Truly amazing! The pumpkins were my favorite things to see ... however I also enjoyed the over 100 scarecrows (in all sizes and shapes) that were lining the many paths and walkways throughout the gardens.

A very busy Halloween weekend for me ... but lots of fun!

Halloween Inchies

2010-10-24T12:45:00.000-04:00

I made some Halloween inchies for a personal trade this weekend. The metallic sequins didn't scan very well ... the stars are metallic yellow and orange, and the moon behind the bat is bright gold.

I used a mix of techniques including stamping and emboss resist, serendipity, and textured colored pencil rubbings.

I used pen work, catalog images, aida trimmings, embroidery thread, shaped sequins and glitter gel to finish them.

Happy Halloween!

Another 100 inchies in a frame!

2010-10-20T11:46:00.000-04:00

I finally found some time to frame up another 100 inchies.
I mixed a few of my own inchies with those I received in swaps and private trades this year. Another wonderful mix of themes and styles!

I have filled 5 frames now & they look really great hanging on my wall.

more info about inchies: http://www.hobbyloco.com/inchies.html

the Little Five Points Halloween Festival & Parade

2010-10-16T20:34:00.000-04:00

Hopped over to the Little Five Points Halloween Festival & Parade this afternoon.

As always, there were lots of cool costumes worn by adults, children and pets.

We had perfect weather & I took lots of pictures.

I was hoping to see some artists selling Halloween goodies, but this festival is more about partying.

We stayed for the parade & grabbed some ice cream, then bid a hasty retreat.

Tomorrow, I think I will do some blog hopping down the Halloween Party list at Vanessa Valencia's blog "A Fanciful Twist".

a handmade holiday home

2010-10-03T18:01:00.002-04:00

I made this little house ornament yesterday from felt, embroidery floss, a few sequins, beads, and buttons.

Did you know that American Craft Week is being celebrated Oct 1-10? If you love American craft, you may join the celebration - find events in your area here: Participants & Events, or support handcrafted goods and small businesses by buying handmade, or just go make something!

Speaking of handmade, the indie tot has put together a Holiday Toy Guide for 2010, which is filled with handmade and eco-friendly toys. I am so delighted to be included this year! You may download a free copy here: http://www.theindietot.com/Holiday-Toy-Guide-2010.pdf

FREE tickets!

2010-09-23T17:20:00.000-04:00

What are you doing on Saturday? If you live in the US, you may want to take advantage of Smithsonian magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day, when more than 1,500 museum and cultural venues across the United States will honor Smithsonian.com’s special get-in-free ticket for two.

Head over to Smithsonian.com to find out what venues are participating in your area.

In Atlanta you can visit the High Museum of Art or Center for Puppetry Arts (or choose from many other venues)!

Museum Day just happens to coincide with the First Annual "Midtown Festival of the Arts", so I will be artin' around all weekend.

Ghosts in the Graveyard

2010-09-14T10:14:00.002-04:00

I've been stitching like crazy to get ready for the upcoming holiday season ...

I've had inquiries about "bulk packs" of puppets for handouts in classrooms, so I created a "simplified" zombie puppet to include in the new "bulk pack" that I'm putting together for Halloween.

The pack will include 20 puppets (10 zombies and 10 ghosts) for $45 - which is the lowest price I have ever offered. I will having the listing up this afternoon in my Etsy shop.

a wonderful weekend

2010-09-06T11:13:00.006-04:00

We had the best weather this weekend. I think I spent more time outside this weekend than I did all summer! Here are some of the photos I snapped while I was out & about:

The world's largest fantasy/Sci-Fi convention, Dragon*Con is running all weekend. I managed to make it to the parade ~ but it was so crowded that my pictures aren't too hot. It was a pretty good parade, anyhow.

The "Monsters" exhibit is wrapping up at the Kai Lin Art Gallery. I just had to take a quick shot of the window, before it was redone.

High Museum is hosting work by Dali through January 9th. (That was the actual color of the sky this morning, BTW.)

Lots to see and do around Atlanta!

a touch of Halloween

2010-08-29T13:14:00.003-04:00

Here is a Halloween "ribbon fairy" that I made for a swap in one of my art groups.

I made four of these (one to keep and three to trade). I used public domain images and edited them in a graphics program. I printed the images in black & white on heavy cardstock and hand colored them with Indian ink pens and black shimmer paint. I coated the images with several layers of clear polyurethane, and added embellishments.

I then attached several lengths of ribbons and glued everything together, adding a small ribbon loop on the back for hanging.

The project was pretty easy & I think the Halloween ribbon fairies are quite bewitching.

a Couple of Nosy Neighbors

2010-08-21T10:28:00.003-04:00

Aww, it's just George and Tiger, a couple of the wild kitties that live near the alley that runs behind our apartment building. They make the rounds and visit all of their neighbors to say "Hi" and sponge some treats.

I've known this pair (they're brothers) for about a year. George warmed up to me after watching me for a couple of weeks. Tiger only recently started letting me pet him, and only if he approaches me. They are both sweet kitties and follow my car when they see me drive up the alley. (ha-ha! too cute!)

a little doodley-hoo

2010-08-15T14:41:00.013-04:00

I doodled this cute little owl on a wooden egg that I picked up at Michael's.

I coated the egg with white gesso first and doodled the owl with Indian ink pens.

I used Faber Castell pens in black fine point tip and shades of brown with brush tips.

I envision a few more egg creatures hatching in the days to come.

a Bevy of Bears

2010-08-05T16:36:00.003-04:00

This is what has been keeping me busy this week. A large order of nothin' but little brown bears. I should have them finished tomorrow, and then off they go on an adventure to Australia.

I find myself surprised, that after stitching 5,000+ puppets, I have not tired of stitching. I never dreamed that I would have stitched & sold so many!

a Carla Sonheim tutorial

2010-07-30T21:17:00.005-04:00

This is my result from following Carla Sonheim's tutorial. My lion measures about 6" x 8". I had to make a few substitutions ... I used sketchbook paper instead of watercolor paper, and white acrylic paint & the back end of a paintbrush to make the dots, instead of using a paint pen ... but I am really happy with my results.

Here are my step-by-step photos:

I will be headed back to Carla's blog real soon to try out some of the assignments from her newly published book: Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists (which is on my wishlist).

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*update: I got my copy of Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists and started working on the assignments. I will be posting my progress through the book in my Journals & Sketchbooks blog.

Halloween Party Birds

2010-07-27T09:51:00.004-04:00

I finished these wonderful Halloween party birds, yesterday. I made them to sell in my Etsy shop - but I like them so much, that I don't really care if they sell or not. I would be just as happy to keep them around here for Halloween this year.

I have been busy as a bee with all of my art projects - I just finished up a number of Summertime swaps and am gearing up for all of the great Halloween projects coming my way!

a button fairy

2010-07-07T09:03:00.004-04:00

I made a button fairy for a swap in one of my art groups. This was
the first button fairy I ever made & think she turned out rather well!

Here are the details:
Her face and wings were created from public domain vintage art, which I resized and edited before printing. I hand colored both with Indian Ink art pens and added glitter glue to the wings, which I then coated with Diamond Glaze to give them a hard clear coat for stability.

I strung an assortment of buttons (the birdhouse is a button, too!) on a green chenille stem for the body, and bent it into a gentle curve leaving a loop at the top for hanging. I then stiched blue glass beads to the fronts of the buttons to cover the chenille and add some sparkle.

I added fibers to the back of the body and attached the head & wings. I added a tiny ribbon rose to complete the little garden fairy.

I enjoyed the project - I always love trying new things!

Crazy Busy!

2010-06-23T07:09:00.008-04:00

Usually this time of year is slow for me ... but not this year!

On the stitching front ... I stitched my 5,000th puppet! Wow! I can hardly believe it. I've had a string of large orders (hooray!) I just sent off a batch of mummy puppets to be photographed for a Halloween spread in a nationally sold magazine (double hooray!) and I have a small giveaway being hosted over at Bees Go Buzz.

On the art front ... I just finished making "Dotee type" art dolls for a swap at ATCsForAll.com.

I have several other swaps coming up as well (fun, fun, fun!)

And this weekend is the big Art-a-thon weekend at ATCsForAll.com, where I am hosting a crazy art making Scavenger Hunt!

Poe

2010-06-08T09:48:00.004-04:00

I had so much fun making this little guy! (He is now in my Etsy shop.) I have had so many ideas about things to make lately ... I have a very long to-do list in front of me.

I thought Poe would make a fun character puppet. I am just finishing the one-eyed black cat to go with him. (I already have a raven.) I don't want to scare the kiddies, so I am still pondering the idea of posting the one-eyed cat. He is cute & has a red X in place of his right eye. Hmmm. I guess I will think about it for awhile.

More to come!

My Mojo

2010-05-18T09:41:00.006-04:00

Finally I am starting to feel like my old self. My hands are almost completely healed and I am getting my mojo back! I have a lot of catching up to do and am working double time to do so. I had an inspired day yesterday and created this fun Octopus Pirate set for my Etsy shop.

I am enjoying a new button maker (fun, fun, fun!) and the notebook was a bit of a whim. I even made little lined pages with a tiny Octopus Pirate in each corner to fill it.

I love this little set & hope that others will love it, too.

Heart Patterns for Cross Stitch / Evenweave Fabric

2010-01-14T08:51:00.004-05:00

I had some time to work up some new patterns and post them on my hobby site: http://hobbyloco.com/Xpatt01.html

The pattern shows a basic heart outline, lace border and 4 different fills. When stitched on 11ct aida, each heart measures about 1-1/4" wide by 1" tall.

I have created quite a few patterns over the years & posted many of them on my hobby site to print and stitch for FREE. There are over 50 patterns right now & I try to add new ones on a regular basis. They are all small patterns - perfect to use on bookmarks, ATCs, greeting cards, etc...

Puffy Hearts

2010-01-04T10:06:00.003-05:00

I made these puffy hearts for a swap. I had originally envisioned myself creating a wild, bright, funky, colorful assortment of hearts ... in reality I ended up making a more traditional, somewhat Victorian style assortment of hearts.

You have to follow the path that your muse lays out for you & that is where my muse went this weekend.

The hearts were made from cotton and velvet fabrics with lace, ribbon, ric-rack, machine stitching, hand embroidery, glass and plastic beads, and buttons. They measure about 4" across and just under 5" tall.

I hope they are enjoyed by the swappers who receive them. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

a handy way to clean silver

2009-12-29T09:37:00.004-05:00

I have always hated silver because of the tarnishing. I was so upset to find that my favorite necklace had tarnished! However, thanks to the wonderful info on the internet ... I was able to get the tarnish off in just a few minutes with no polishing!

Here are my before and after photos - taken with my scanner:

It is very simple to do. You only need water, baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil.

I found the info here:
http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/clean-tarnished-silver-jewelry.html

The one thing that they don't mention on the website ... when the sulfur atoms come out ~ Pee-Yew! Stinky like rotten eggs (only not as strong). It is totally worth it, though. I swished my necklace around for a minute or two, rinsed it off & dried it - and it is good as new!

a Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:18:00.002-05:00

Things have been busy over here in puppetland, lately. I will be working a few hours today ... but will take some time to relax a bit and enjoy the holiday. I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving, as well.

some of my creations around the web

2009-10-21T11:13:00.007-04:00

Here is a little shout out to some of the websites & blogs who have recently featured my creations:

The Experts Agree: I dare you not to love the incredibly adorable Halloween items they have featured today!

Lucky Kitty: More handmade Halloween goodness.

Sketch Customs: Siamese cat lovers rejoice!

I truly appreciate each and every one of the sites that mentions my creations!

More Inchies

2009-10-14T09:38:00.002-04:00

As I continue to catch up on my projects ... I spent the weekend making inchies (1 inch X 1 inch mini works of art). These include my usual mix of mediums: pen & ink, markers, paint, glitter glue, punches, cutouts, string art and a generous assortment of shrinky dinks! I am at the half-way point for the "Fun 51" inchie swap.

More of my inchie art & info about inchies can be found here:
http://hobbyloco.com/inchies.html

Fun with Embellishment!

2009-09-30T11:04:00.004-04:00

I created this 5" x 5" Under the Sea themed fabric page for a wonderful friend in one of my swap groups. Many of the stitches were "first time" learning experiences, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

For details: I posted this in my Flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaosatlanta/3968472777/), so I could tag each embellishment with a stitch name or description.

For some more eye candy along this same theme, please visit http://dontcallmecrafty.blogspot.com/. I was truly inspired by Lauri's quilt! There are tons of photos - so be prepared.

My Strength Returning

2009-09-15T10:10:00.002-04:00

September has been cruel to me this year. At the beginning of the month, I came down with the nasty H1N1 virus and have only recently gotten back into the swing of things.

Last week, some tree cutters knocked out power to my building and caused a huge power surge that fried most of my electronics. Ouch! I spent the weekend trying to replace items & have been getting whacked over the head with technology.

At least I am getting my strength back, and along with it my urge to create.

I have been getting caught up with my art projects and swaps. Above is my little Halloween sticker project. I dusted off my Xyron sticker maker and I made sets of Halloween faux postage (sticker stamps) for the participants in my Halloween postcard swap. They turned out really cute!

I have more projects nearing completion & will post photos soon!

a surprise!

2009-08-21T08:24:00.005-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I received an email inquiring about the bride and groom finger puppets featured in the August '09 edition of "Wedding Ideas" magazine (United Kingdom).

What? When did this happen? How could I be featured in a magazine & not even know about it? Wow!

The person was kind enough to send me a scan of the pages where I was mentioned. The article profiled a wedding for which I had stitched puppets as favors. There was a nice little photo of one of my puppets and mention of my website and a plug for Etsy.

Here is my photo of the bride and groom puppets that I made for the wedding couple.

What a nice surprise!

Paul McCartney is coming to town

2009-08-14T11:39:00.004-04:00

I don't actually have tickets to the Paul McCartney Green Concert at Piedmont Park tomorrow, but I live right down the street.

I will probably be out walking with my sweetheart thereabouts during the concert.

I think around 30,000 tickets have been sold, so things should get interesting in the neighborhood tomorrow evening.

The stage is HUGE! Those little black rectangles in front of the stage are garbage cans (maybe 3-1/2 foot tall or so) to give you an idea of scale.

bloggy goodness

2009-08-05T11:59:00.006-04:00

Busy, busy, busy! I have been all over the place lately.

I'm hosting a Halloween postcard swap over at ATCsforALL.com. There's still room for a few more sign-ups!

I'm working on puzzle creation for my 6th puzzle book. I am hoping to have it done this Fall, but it is a struggle.

I'm also trying to build up stock for my Etsy shop. Last year I sold most of my puppets by December 1st & spent the following 3 weeks stitching at a frenzied pace to keep up. wheee! Just trying to be better prepared this year.

Be sure to stop by BlueSkySunburn's Great Blog Giveaway! This is a weekly giveaway running all month, with lots of fabulous goodies to be won!

Zombies!!!

2009-07-30T06:18:00.008-04:00

Lately I have found myself surrounded by zombies!

It all started about a week ago when I found myself in a conversation with someone who's 4 year old had become obsessed with the game "Plants vs. Zombies" and was seeking out some zombies for off-computer playtime. I obliged with some sweet custom zombie puppets.

Then ... I started to notice zombies popping up in one of my art trading groups: Zombies, Vampires & other Horrors ATC Swap, and Zombies On the Loose Chunky Page Swap.

And then ... I received notice that my zombie finger puppets were being included in a zombie blog feature at "Creepy Queen Magazine", where there are plenty of zombies and zombie related items to be found.

So be on the look out, and guard your big juicy brain just in case...

Hedgehog Makeover

2009-07-17T08:44:00.006-04:00

I really do listen to my customers ... I had a request for a "spikier" hedgehog & so my hedgehog makeover began.

The top photo shows my original style hedgehog, and the bottom photo shows my new and improved design.

Which hedgehog design do you prefer? Please comment and let me know. Should I discontinue the old version -or- maybe keep both?

*On another note, I have just been featured in "Uptown Baby Couture" blog. Dedicated to what's Chic, Trendy, Luxe, and all the must-haves for Baby and Mom. Check it out!

Fabric Beads & Charms

2009-06-20T12:26:00.002-04:00

I have been having a "charming" weekend.

I made a batch of fabric beads: felt and fabric rolled around toothpicks and sealed with Diamond Glaze, then the ends were coated with gold embossing powder, and fibers were added for a bit of sass.

Then I decided to make charms out of several of the fabric beads. The charms were made from fabric beads, random plastic beads and shrink plastic charms strung along on black coated copper wire.

I think these little charms would be great for an altered book or charm bracelet.

I am participating in a big Art-a-thon weekend at ATCsForAll.com, and trading the charms along with inchies and other artsy goodness. Lots of fun!

some fine feathered friends

2009-06-12T08:19:00.002-04:00

Bird puppets have always been popular in my Etsy shop, so I finally found time to pull some designs off my doodle pad and create two new birdies.

The BlueJay has been in my head for awhile, gently pecking at my brain. He was getting quite restless, so I had to finally let him out.

The Green Parrot was a whim. I looked through several photos of parrots - there are so many different kinds and colors! I opted for a green parrot as I was sorely lacking in green birds. I'm sure I will be creating more styles of parrot puppets in the future.

My current line up of bird puppets now totals 11: blackbird, bluebird, bluejay, cardinal, chick, chicken, duck, green parrot, owl, penguin, and robin.

A Day at the Beach

2009-05-30T09:03:00.004-04:00

I created this matchbox shrine for a birthday RAK, and have been waiting to post about it until it arrived safely at its destination. It was created from a standard 1-1/2" x 2" matchbox. Most of the interior detail was painted, with a few embellishments added.

I posted a larger image and "how-to" info at my hobby site: http://hobbyloco.com/shrines.html. There are more shrine photos over there as well.

Enjoy!

May Giveaway Day!

2009-05-27T08:53:00.008-04:00

I just stumbled onto the Sew, Mama, Sew! May Giveaway Day!

The list of participants has just been posted. There are hundreds of giveaways going on from now through May 31st!
Good Luck!

I have been keeping a list of crafty giveaways on my hobby site: Big List of Crafty Giveaways and Contests. If you have a crafty giveaway to add, simply post your link here with a comment & I will add you to the list!

Have a fun & crafty day!

Don't forget to enter my humble giveaway for a hand stitched finger puppet.

a promotion and a giveaway!

2009-05-26T12:00:00.008-04:00

Things have been a bit slow around the old Etsy shop ... so how about a little promotion and a GIVEAWAY?

Here's the promotion: Mention my Etsy shop (or something from my shop) on your website or blog - with a link to the shop/item and receive 10% OFF your total order (excluding shipping)! Tell me where you posted the link in the comment box when you order & I will refund the 10% back to you! Offer good NOW through June 10th!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the giveaway: Win your choice of any individual finger puppet from my Etsy shop. There are tons to choose from (take a look).

To enter, simply leave a comment for this post by June 30, 2009.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus: Mention my Etsy shop (or something from my shop) on your website or blog - with a link to my shop/item and receive 1 extra entry into the drawing.

Be sure that I can contact you. If you don't have a blog, please include your e-mail address. Entries from individuals with a blog who don't provide an e-mail and who don't have an e-mail link on their blog will be notified if they win by a comment on their blog. I will wait 48 hours for a response and then select another winner.

I will be selecting a winner on July 1,09 by placing a slip for each entry in a bowl and drawing a winner. Good Luck!

handmade charms

2009-05-11T10:51:00.003-04:00

I took the weekend off from stitching and made some charms for a handmade charm swap.

I happened to have quite a bit of polymer clay sitting around that I hadn't touched in ages ... so I thought I would put it to use making charms.

They weren't very difficult to make. The hardest part was conditioning the clay for use. After the clay was ready to use, I rolled it into small ball shapes. I flattened the balls into disc shapes, and used some buttons and rubber stamps to press images into the clay. After baking, I used acrylic paints to accent the embossed images and sanded them for an aged appearance.

I finished them with a glossy coat of varnish and added jump rings for attaching to a charm bracelet.

I can't wait to see all of the charm returns from the swap!

a fun and easy bird pattern

2009-04-20T10:58:00.003-04:00

I used a 2-piece bird pattern (free to download at Spool) to make this tiny bird.

I printed the pattern at one-third the normal size and hand stitched the bird in felt. It is about 2-1/2" long and sits about 1 inch tall. I used a printed tie-dye felt for the top and a solid blue for the belly.

The eggs are made from paperclay (very easy), painted with acrylic paints and coated with shiny varnish.

I made the little nest from brown paper. I cut the paper into strips about 1/8" wide and 6-7" long. I then crumpled them and twisted them as much as I could, and shaped them into the nest shape. I cut a small circle (1-1/4" diameter) from brown paper for the bottom. I glued the shaped nest to the circle and glued bits of the paper down as needed to to stabilize the nest shape.

Super simple!

a mini cupcake marathon

2009-03-16T18:43:00.002-04:00

Cupcakes have been very popular lately. I just finished stitching up this batch of 20 mini cupcakes (bite size) for a birthday party. Whew! I'm thinking of offering "party packs" of mini cupcake assortments in my Etsy shop ... if I could ever get ahead of my inventory.

Snow in Atlanta

2009-03-01T18:08:00.003-05:00

Not just a few flakes, either ... We had a wonderful full day of snow!

another completed project

2009-02-26T18:47:00.002-05:00

It may not be as elaborate as the "Alice in Wonderland" set, but this "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" set is just as sweet. This was part of a custom order I finished today.

I feel so lucky to be able to stitch for my income. I truly enjoy my work and am appreciative for each and every sale - especially in these economic times.

a new love for HP

2009-02-21T15:41:00.002-05:00

I have been mourning the loss of my computer the past few days. This was one of my favorites, a trusty HP that I had since '02. Seven years with no major problems or issues & then it died quietly in its sleep.

This morning I went out and picked up a new HP, a slim model running Windows Vista. My nightmare of software installation and getting all of my goodies up and running has begun. Most of my software is old. Really old. I hate change & I hate buying software upgrades. Anyhow, one thing I do need is my digital camera (HP Photosmart 715). I ran into trouble getting the photos to transfer (camera is old & not Vista supported) ... and when I emailed HP for help, they responded to me and had a solution within 24 minutes! Wow! This is why I love HP. So now I am able to use my camera again (yay!) and I'm off to see what other glitches Vista is gonna throw at me.

I will be posting more crafty goodness soon.

The Winner

2009-02-12T07:56:00.009-05:00

And the winner of my One World One Heart giveaway is ....

Lucky poster number 74!
***Bibi from Perth, Australia***
Congratulations, Bibi! I will be contacting you soon.

a happy CPSC news release!

2009-02-07T08:36:00.004-05:00

Have you seen this?

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009
Release #09-120 CPSC

Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC Spells Out Enforcement Policy For New Lead Limits In Children's Products Effective February 10

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting on February 10, 2009, consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. This new safety requirement is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) aimed at further reducing children's exposure to lead.

In an effort to provide clear and reasonable guidance to those impacted by this important law, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing its enforcement policy on the lead limits established by the CPSIA.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should also be aware that CPSC will:

*Not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling

**a children's product to the extent that it is made of certain natural materials, such as wood, cotton, wool, or certain metals and alloys which the Commission has recognized rarely, if ever, contain lead;

**an ordinary children's book printed after 1985; or

**dyed or undyed textiles (not including leather, vinyl or PVC) and non-metallic thread and trim used in children's apparel and other fabric products, such as baby blankets.

(The Commission generally will not prosecute someone for making, selling or distributing items in these categories even if it turns out that such an item actually contains more than 600 ppm lead.)
Sellers will not be immune from prosecution if CPSC's Office of Compliance finds that someone had actual knowledge that one of these children's products contained more than 600 ppm lead or continued to make, import, distribute or sell such a product after being put on notice. Agency staff will seek recalls of violative children's products or other corrective actions, where appropriate.

*Issue an interim final rule effective February 10, 2009, which establishes alternative lead limits for certain electronic devices, in order to prevent unnecessary removal of certain children's products from store shelves.

*Accept a manufacturer's determination that a lead-containing part on their product is inaccessible to a child and not subject to the new lead limits, if it is consistent with the Commission's proposed guidance or is based on a reasonable reading of the inaccessibility requirement. Paint and other coatings or electroplating are not considered barriers that make a component inaccessible.

This enforcement policy will remain in effect until superseded by action of the Commission.

CPSC still expects companies to meet their reporting obligation under federal law and immediately tell the Commission if they learn of a children's product that exceeds the new lead limits starting on February 10, 2009. Companies also should know that the CPSIA generally prohibits the export for sale of children's products that exceed the new lead limits.

As announced on January 30, 2009, the Commission approved a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers. Significant to makers of children's products, the 'stay' provides limited relief from the testing and certification for total lead content limits, phthalates limits for certain products and mandatory toy standards. Manufacturers and importers - large and small - of children's products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will still need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements. Certification based on testing by an accredited laboratory is still required for painted children's products and soon will be required for children's metal jewelry, as well as certain other products for non-lead issues.

=================================================
Can I get a big "WOO-HOO!"?

Remnants of Olde

2009-01-30T09:24:00.002-05:00

On my travels through blogland, I have discovered so many wonderful places. Remnants of Olde is one of those mysterious wonderful places. It feels like one of those old hidden curiosity shops found down that dark and seldom traveled street.

Unique and incredible works of art are tucked away inside - take a look at one of my favorites: Learning to Fly. This piece is not just lovely to look at, but is a mechanical work of art.

Be sure to visit soon and enter their OWOH blog giveaway!

Hope you enjoy your visit.

One World One Heart

2009-01-29T11:32:00.011-05:00

I just discovered the One World-One Heart Blog Giveaway & decided to join the fun!

There are ~~over 700~~ 911 participants this year - all of which are posted at the site.

The prize for my giveaway is this sweet little hand stitched brown owl pin. This little brown owl is about 2 inches (5 cm) tall and 1-1/4 inches (3 cm) wide. Stitched from 100% wool felt, he has little flower shaped button eyes. There is a 3/4 inch pin back on the reverse side.

To enter, simply leave a comment for this post by February 11, 2009. *Please only 1 entry per person! Additional entries from the same person will be disqualified.

Be sure that I can contact you. If you don't have a blog, please include your e-mail address Entries from individuals with a blog who don't provide an e-mail and who don't have an e-mail link on their blog will be notified if they win by a comment on their blog. I will wait 48 hours for a response and then draw another name.

I will be selecting a winner on February 12 using a random number generator.

Good Luck!
===================================================
ENTRIES NOW CLOSED!!

I will be selecting and posting the winner today!
Thank you all for your nice comments and good luck!
===================================================
UPDATE:

I have selected the winner by random number generator,
and posted the winner here:

http://chaosatlanta.blogspot.com/2009/02/winner.html

Wonderland

2009-01-27T12:10:00.003-05:00

I started stitching this set of puppets over a year ago and had tucked them away with plans to expand the set to include more characters. With CPSIA looming, I figured I had better photograph and list them for sale before they became illegal to sell!

They are listed in my Etsy shop here:
Alice in Wonderland Set of 5 Finger Puppets

I added a few extra details like a gold chain & trim on the White Rabbit's pocket watch, a pink embroidered flower in Alice's hair, crazy eyes on the Mad Hatter, and of course, a big ear-to-ear grin on the Cheshire Cat!

I am crossing my fingers for textile and thread exemptions in the CPSIA law, so I can continue to earn a living doing something that I love.

Special Delivery: Show Us Your Love Valentines

2009-01-25T12:45:00.006-05:00

A few of my handmade Valentine's Day greeting cards that will be donated to Citymeals-on-Wheels, to be distributed to homebound seniors in New York City on Valentine's Day, 2009.

These Valentines feature red felt hearts embellished with hand stitching and appliqued to colorful greeting cards.

They are trying to collect 18,000 cards this year. If you would like to participate, you can find more info by clicking the button.

View more handmade Valentines here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/980812@N20/

Panda Love

2009-01-24T16:13:00.004-05:00

I stitched up a bit of Panda Love today.

I added the pattern for this little cutie to my hobby site. I have built up a nice collection of free cross stitch patterns to print and stitch - so go grab a few and stitch a bit.

The patterns are mostly small, simple, and quick to stitch, so they are great for making greeting cards, ornaments, bookmarks, or embellishing clothing.

http://hobbyloco.com/Xpatt01.html

A Little Art to Soothe My Soul

2009-01-19T11:37:00.003-05:00

I took a little time this weekend to escape into art.

I received a wonderful little goodie pack from a friend in one of my art groups (Thanks again, Lisa!). The goodie pack included some really beautiful papers ~ which I simply had to use to make these inchies.

I have to say that I really do feel much better after making them. The bright colors and little birdies have worked wonders to lift my spirits!

Help Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA

2008-12-13T17:48:00.007-05:00

How truly sad that my little hand stitched finger puppets will be ILLEGAL to sell come February 10th. It is not because they are unsafe, but because I am not able to afford the costs of the expensive 3rd party testing required by the new CPSIA law.

This affects not only children's toys, but ALL items made for children under age 12! If you crochet baby booties to sell on Etsy - you are affected! If you make hand bound journals for pre-teens, you are affected!

Read more about it here: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

=====Voting Has Closed! === Thanks for your help!=====
Please vote here to make a change: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

the long thread

2008-12-09T16:03:00.004-05:00

Today one of my plush cupcakes is being featured in the long thread, a wonderful blog that showcases handmade toys and decor. There are many fabulous projects with patterns and photos throughout, so if you are looking for a few handmade holiday ideas - be sure to check it out.

Amy's Stocking Stuffers

2008-11-29T16:13:00.003-05:00

Looking for some great ideas for stocking stuffers? Pop by Amy's Stocking Stuffers, where you will find tons of great ideas. Scroll down to the labels in the left column, and you can search by price, giftee, and interests.

While there, take a peek at the fabulous feature Amy did on my little finger puppets: Creative Play / Finger Puppets by Cheryl.

A Journal to Wreck

2008-11-25T18:49:00.007-05:00

I love crazy little things ... and here's one of them: Wreck This Journal. It looks like a fun thing to do when I am having a creative block -or- just to help me loosen up with my art.

There are a few Flicker groups documenting others' progress through this book.

Here is the largest group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/how_to_wreck_a_journal/

I am trying (very hard) not to look at the photos so that I won't be influenced by what other folks have done, but I must admit ... I occasionally sneak a peek or two & find it fascinating to see the different takes on each concept.

I think I will branch off this blog into a journal blog, to document my journey of destruction: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

WIN your own SPRIGHTLY MOUSE!

2008-11-20T12:37:00.003-05:00

OK. So, please excuse the lack of posting lately. I have been getting swamped with orders and sales lately (yay!), so I am working about 12-16 hours a day to keep up. anyhow ...

Here is a fun contest for someone with a large family
OR a lot of friends:

Steve Worthington is offering up one of his fabulous sculptures to the person who is able to photograph the most people (in one shot) holding up a computer printout of the "Wanted Poster" from his blog. All the details are posted here: http://steveworthingtonart.blogspot.com/ Good Luck!

Junk Mail Journal Page

2008-11-07T14:21:00.004-05:00

I finished a page in my Junk Mail Journal. I didn't plan anything in advance. I just let the page evolve on its own, which is always a fun and surprising journey.

a Junk Mail Art Journal

2008-11-06T12:33:00.002-05:00

I am always doodling, drawing or jotting down random thoughts in a variety of notebooks and journals. I have never completely filled a notebook or journal ... I just seem to start new ones and keep going. In that spirit, I have decided to start yet another art journal.

This one will be different, though. This art journal will be finished (I swear!). It is small - about 4-1/2" x 6" and just 11 pages (22 if your count fronts and backs). I made this little art journal from my junk mail. I gathered all the little postcards and cardstock weight ads that collected near my computer, cut the larger ones down to size, and punched and bound them into this little book.

Currently I have begun gesso-ing random pages. I will continue to work in random fashion and just start gluing, painting, drawing, and adding to it as I feel the urge. I will post updates here as I progress.

Care to start journaling along with me? Grab some of your junk mail and punch & bind, stitch or staple it into a little book and get started. It's just stuff you were going to throw away anyhow - so you can't mess it up. Send me a link or photo or comment about it (I really would love to see it.).

somebody's watching me!

2008-10-30T10:17:00.003-04:00

I was trying to come up with some ideas for interesting inchie effects and remembered an old trick where you could make a portrait where the eyes would seem to follow you around the room. I just had to find out if I could make it work on a small scale & "voila", here is the result:
(You cannot see the effect from the still photo, however these inchies do have eyes that seem to follow you!)

I posted a little "how-to" on my hobby site: click here! This is a very simple technique that gives a wonderful "animated" effect to your art!

*If you make some of these, feel free to share a link to your site or blog!

a Quilt Update and a Halloween Giveaway

2008-10-17T08:14:00.002-04:00

My Halloween quilt is coming along nicely. I finished piecing the top and have started the quilting. The quilt is 63" x 75" and will likely take me all Fall (and maybe Winter) to quilt. I will post photos when it is finished.

Doing a bit of random surfing, I stumbled upon Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe, where I found out about Brenda's Halloween Giveaway! It is a surprise giveaway ... so enter if you dare.

The drawing is being held next Thursday.

a black cat and halloween quilt

2008-10-01T08:45:00.003-04:00

My latest project is a Halloween quilt. It is my first "big" quilt, so I am keeping it simple - squares of Halloween prints, machine joined and then quilted by hand. I have just about finished joining the squares into strips. As you can see, I had the strips laid out over the top of the sofa, when they were "sleep tested" by a friendly neighborhood black cat. She really isn't my cat ... she just pops in for a visit now & then. Anyhow, what is a Halloween quilt without a black cat on it?

Little Peanut

2008-09-27T10:17:00.003-04:00

The fabulous blog, Little Peanut, has posted a featured article about my little finger puppets.

Check it out, here: http://littlepeanutshop.blogspot.com/

a crazy busy Halloween art weekend!

2008-09-07T18:10:00.008-04:00

I have spent this entire weekend making art. (Which is just the way I like to spend my weekends.)

I just finished making a postcard for a Halloween Postcard swap at ATCsforAll.com. The swap is open until October 10th (postcards may be any media: digital, collage, drawn, fabric, etc..).

This postcard features a mechanical element. The door opens and a witch with candy pops out. This 4" x 6" postcard was drawn with Indian ink and colored with markers and colored pencils. I added a little bit of glitz with gel pens and glitter glue.

Hmmm... maybe I will make more mechanical postcards.

The other Halloween project I worked on this weekend was chunky pages for another swap at ATCsforALL.com.

The main characters have a mechanical element: move the lever and the message changes from "Trick or Treat" to "Smell My Feet", and a foot pops out from under the costume.

Other elements include printed and handpainted papers, ribbons, fibers and shrink plastic charms. Larger photos can be seen at my hobby site: hobbyloco.com.

More Halloween Fun

2008-08-26T09:25:00.003-04:00

I just finished making pages for a Vintage Halloween swap at ATCsForAll.com. For the backgrounds I collaged printed and hand painted papers, which I then stamped, painted and spattered. I trimmed them to 4" x 4" and edged them with black acrylic paint.

I adapted a vintage image to use for my main focal point. Printed on cardstock and hand colored, I created jointed ghosties. The masks swing down to reveal the little girls behind them.

The page backs feature Vintage "Kitties in Pumpkins", which I printed on cardstock and then stained to create an aged appearance. The pages also feature ribbons, fibers and handmade beads.

I really enjoyed making these and have several other chunky page projects in the works.

Halloween Inchies

2008-08-10T19:27:00.003-04:00

These Halloween inchies are for a swap at ATCsforAll.com. I made the backgrounds in "Serendipity Square" style ... collaging handpainted papers and Halloween print scrapbook papers, adding some painting, doodling, stickers, etc.. and then chopping it into 1" x 1" squares. I then edged each square in black paint and added a little hand drawn skeleton as a focal point. I just love the way the Serendipity Square backgrounds set off the skeletons - and each one has its own personality.

Halloween Fun

2008-07-26T14:25:00.004-04:00

I am already in the Halloween mood! I decided to play with Shrinky Dinks today and I made a few Halloween charms to use on some chunky book pages.

I also made some little Jack O'Lantern buttons using a 1" circle punch. The buttons shrank down to just under 1/2" and are really cute! The buttons are for decorative use on my art projects ~ not for use on clothing.

Wii Fit Update

2008-07-26T14:09:00.005-04:00

OK. It's been 19 days now ... I've been using the Wii fit for about 30 minutes a day ~ 6 days a week. Without dieting, I have lost 2.6 lbs and brought my BMI from 24.06 to 23.62. Nothing drastic, but I do feel a little stronger and steadier.

When I am dieting, I usually lose about 2 lbs. per week - but I really have to monitor everything I eat and am usually hungry all day long. The past 19 days, I ate what I wanted. I didn't go overboard, but I did not count calories either.

The crazy thing is that my BF decided to start using the Wii Fit too, and has lost nearly 5 lbs. in about 2 weeks.

Over 3,000 Puppets Stitched!

2008-07-12T08:50:00.004-04:00

Passing the 3,000 puppet mark is quite a milestone for me. My stitching has come a long way since I started making puppets in 2005.

I never thought that I would still be stitching away my days 3 years later. I feel so fortunate that I can do something that I enjoy every day ... and almost earn a living from it.

Wii Fit

2008-07-07T09:58:00.002-04:00

OK ... so uncrafty of me. However I do spend so much time stitching, crafting and ARTing around that I don't get quite enough exercise. I do walk 3-4 miles most days, but that's about it. So, I am jumping on the Wii Fit bandwagon. I picked one up at BestBuy yesterday. I am going to give it a try and see if I can knock off the 15-20 lbs. I have picked up over the years since I stopped smoking (2001). I'll post updates on my progress every once in awhile.

time to frame my inchies

2008-06-23T19:04:00.005-04:00

I recently received my returns from the "Grand 100" swap in my 1x1inchies group. The inchies I received are just terrific - so many different techniques, styles, and mediums were used.

I think they look fabulous in this simple 12x12 black frame. The photo doesn't do the art justice - the inchies look so colorful and amazing together!

PS. There are lots of ongoing themed inchie swaps and another big inchie swap planned for the Fall ... so if you enjoy inchies, stop by and join the group.

Bird Inchies

2008-06-15T12:56:00.005-04:00

Pictured are some bird themed inchies I made for a swap at ATCsforAll.com

I started with Serendipity square bases (paper collage, acrylic paint, metallic marker, stamping) and then added some hand drawn birds. I edged each square with metallic gold paint to give them a more finished appearance.

Serendipity squares are made by taking paper scraps and adhering them to a base piece of cardstock or paper. You can use your decorative paper scraps or even junk mail. After covering your base with scraps, feel free to doodle or scribble, sponge or splatter paint, stamp or emboss, add fibers or fabric or ribbon if you like. Once you are satisfied - cut the piece up into smaller pieces (1" x 1" in my case), and use for your other projects as a base or accent. There are several Serendipity square tutorials posted online for inspiration.

Good vs Evil

2008-05-06T17:53:00.009-04:00

I have been selling little devil finger puppets in my Etsy shop for awhile now ... but I had a special request for an angel puppet, so now a little angel is joining the rest of the gang.

So far, the interest in devil puppets is far greater than angel puppets (about 7 to 1).
Hmmm... very interesting.

Maybe folks are looking for a little devil to blame for their little evils. (I know for a fact that the little devil sitting on my shoulder convinced me to partake in a rootbeer float last weekend.)

Interactive Inchies

2008-04-27T12:53:00.007-04:00

I finally finished my "interactive inchies"!
I animated this one (hope it works in blogger). It is just a simple slider.

I experimented with several techniques and had some fun results. Below are photos of the different types I made for the swap.

Hope they give you some ideas!

Inchies !

2008-04-06T09:26:00.007-04:00

OK, so here is what I have been up to lately... Inchies! I finally was bitten by the inchie bug. I have always loved tiny things, so this seems like a good match for me. I joined an inchie group to swap and learn/share new techniques and ideas. Here are some pictures of my creations.

------------------ Tape Transfer ------------------

These inchies were made with packing tape transfers over watercolor painted backgrounds. Here is a great packing tape transfer tutorial.

------------------ Let's Party! ------------------

I made a whole set of these inchies from decorative paper (printed paper, corrugated paper, and punches), my doodles, metallic ribbon and sequins.

------------------ Origami ------------------

I folded tiny little origami shapes (heart, tree and bat) to create these inchies.

Next up ... Interactive inchies with pop-ups, fold outs and moveable elements!