Do Not Leave Unattended...

This is my entry in a traveling journal started by Jude from Run4istRun. After Erin from Design for Mankind added her bit, she passed it on to me. From around the globe, each participant is encouraged to impart wisdom, create laughter, touch hearts, leave footprints. You can view other fabulous entries as they are added on the Do Not Leave Unattended site.

mixed media...

Messing around with my new (used) sewing machine has me in the mood to mix fabric and thread into my collage. This little gal (who reminds me Erin Featherston) is collaged onto recycled brown kraft paper (like paper bag material) using coloring pencil, paper doiley, thread, clear glass beads, cut paper, and scrap muslin fabric. Stitched and written in the lower left are the words bloom. grow. love.

And don't you love the frame? Plucked from a garage sale and spruced up with some simple craft paint. Very pretty I think. She'll be in my etsy shop I soon as I get around to scanning her :) Have a great weekend!

polyvore obsession...

I found Polyvore via Creature Comforts blog...I could waste alot of time on this site. It allows you to create a digital collage using tons of web images. I need to put something together for our hallway now that it's freshly painted...and while this look I put together would be ideal, it's out of my price range. I'll be hitting thift stores, ebay, and garage sales to see what I can come up with. But it's great inspiration :)

Sew cool....

Last week my I received the most fantastic gift in the mail... A vintage sewing machine! My husband's step-mom found one at garage sale, cleaned it up, and shipped it straight to my doorstep. After watching her stitch up two sweatshirts for the girls in under 5 minutes, I knew this was the lady to talk to about learning to sew. I've hand-sewn things before, but sheesh that takes forever. Anyhow, I decided to look through some fabric scraps I had stuffed away, and this is what I came up with... I made each of girls a very basic little tote. I used some old purple corduroy curtains that used to be in our first nursery, and an ikea bedsheet for the lining ( I had bought it to make a custom toddler bed duvet), then I embellished pieces of cotton canvas with embroidery thread, wool felt, and vintage buttons. They turned out quite sturdy and the girls love them. There's also plenty of room left on the bags to add more badges, buttons, pins, or whatever they like....I used this free pattern for the construction of the tote. Hooray for learning to sew :)

Tennessee trip...

Our trip to Dutchtown Farms.
Tennessee Walking Horses
Potbelly Piglet who loves cheetos!
Avery lassos a bull.

Boo...

"The Good Witch" on Etsy.

I haven't done holiday themed pieces in a while, but with the sewing of costumes & readying of spooky treats, I just couldn't help myself. Rylee wants to be a witch this year! Hooray for a non-princess costume :) But she is a "good, happy witch" which she points out everytime she puts on her little black dress and pointy hat. Ava is going to be Loonette from the Big Comfy Couch. Does anyone remember that show? It was around when I was little too. Most of the episodes she watches are from the mid-80's...she LOVES it. The painted boxes are something the girls and I worked on for their cousins. We plan to fill them with sugary treats and spooky things and deliver them this weekend while we're in Tennessee. We're making a long weekend road trip to the south to visit my family...bring on the campfires and hayrides! See you when I get back...

meow , purr

"Meow" on Etsy. -SOLD Prints available in my Etsy shop!

I finished this piece over the weekend. (The top scan shows a few grayish shadows that do not really exist, the piece is crisp and bright.) I grabbed a new set of papercutting blades at the art supply last week, so I think I will be in the mood for more modern collage. Can you see the croc embossed texture on her little chocolate colored boots? She's quite the fashion-forward gal :)

Work in Progress...

untitled...

Sheesh, I try to update, but alas I get distracted! I would've attached a photo to this post, to let you know what I've been up to, but unless you favor piles of laundry, it wouldn't be that interesting. Tis' the season to reach into the depths of the closet and pull out the jackets, cozy quilts, and my personal favorites, hand-me-downs. I'm so thankful our little one doesn't seem to care most of her clothes used to belong to her big sister. She seems to like them just the same. I think she actually likes wearing Rylee's clothes, it makes her feel like she's catching up, becoming a big girl too! I started prowling on Ebay to replace the snowsuits that were stolen from our car last year... I just scored the perfect Obermeyer snow bib/coat set for 9$. I love a bargain :)

Anyway- thanks for listening to me ramble on about the Mommy stuff. I hope to have new work posted on Friday!