Spring Fever

I was smitten when I saw this little robin project on a magazine cover.  I knew I had to make it the instant I saw it, even though a purse is something I have never attempted before.  I have embroidered since I was a little kid, so that was a breeze, but I was nervous about sewing something that had to fit a frame.  The instructions were clear and well written with lots of pictures, so I was very happy and kept telling the family " Hey look at me, I'm SEWING!"  Then in the final stretch I ran into a little problem.  I had convinced myself  I had the right frame, but actually it should be gently arched and not U-shaped.  Since this is the only one available in my town, I made it work.  So here is my slightly lumpy but still charming coin purse.  I was told I need to iron (gasp), so maybe I will order the right frame and give sewing another go.  If you would like to make one yourself, this is the magazine

and it has lots of other great projects.  So as it says, "thread your needle" and don't forget to iron!

Baby Shower

Here are the sweet little baby shoes I made to go with the sweater.  I used wool felt instead of the cheap stuff, but I think next time I will go a step further and use felted wool.  Felted wool is just a bit thicker.  I have a pretty fabric, gray with white flowers, it looks old fashioned; the plan was to make a sundress, but that didn't happen in time for the baby shower.  I will try to get it done this month.

So this is the shower gift package.  I painted a watercolor card inspired by Genine.  I would also like to make second dress in a pink vintage floral.  Let's just see when I get the first one done!

PS:  I couldn't get the link to work properly.  Genines' card is in her post on November 21, 2011.

My First Knitted Sweater

This is a huge TA DA moment for me, I have finished knitting an entire sweater!  Okay it's only a baby sweater, but it is done!  I made it for my new niece.  I also made the cutest little matching shoes out of wool felt that I will show you tomorrow. 



The top of this little matinee sweater is done in seed stitch.  The front has three mother of pearl buttons.  I actually knitted tiny buttons holes, and it all turned out!  I am still in shock.  I wasn't sure how long the sweater would take me so I made it in the sixth month size to be sure baby Erin could still wear it by the time I finished.  I'm not sure I quite have the technique right for sewing the pieces together but it isn't bad for my very first one.  Now maybe I will have the courage to finish the much easier sweater I started for myself fifteen years ago!

Must Float like Leaf on River of Life

I had planned a different post entirely, but the day has unfolded completely oblivious to MY plans, and the reoccuring theme seems to be weather.  Both the meterological sort and storms of personality.  I won't go into the storms of conflict that have blown in today, but I will report that it is supposed to snow here this afternoon.  Snow today, and 67 degrees by Thursday!  These photos are in my back log of things that have yet to be posted, so in celebration of today's potential snow, I figured this was my last chance to trot these winter themed pictures out.  February even had an extra day, and I still didn't manage to get these out from our last snow day.

Isn't he the cutest thing?  I'm going to take a page from this little guy,  even if storms blow in and land you in hot water,  I'm going to keep smiling and stay afloat.  Hope you find lots of little reasons to smile in your part of the world.

With gratitude for this day,

Alicia





Better late than never

I saw this idea in the latest issue of Mollie Makes (LOVE this magazine!) a little perpetual calendar to record one short line so your family can remember THIS day.  Each line is a new year.  No one in my family has any inclination to journal, but I think with our combined brain power we can manage to jot down one memory from each day.  And what the heck, we could even use two lines if our little think tank should generate TWO thoughts on the day! Now I need to make illustrated month dividers.  The magazine example had pretty photos, I might use art from the kids.  And look at that cute ceramic berry box... Anthropologie my friends, comes in other colors and sizes too.  It would also look good on a kitchen counter filled with cherry tomatoes.

It even has a pretty texture in the glaze. (Anthropologie is not paying me anything for this ad by the way. Seriously.)  January has slipped by, but the rest of our year shall not get away unrecorded.

From Trash to Art

 My daughter Emily had a big project due recently in which she used "trash" to make art.  I was in charge of photo documenting her at work and her final products.   These are just a few of the things she made.  The school used to send home colorful information flyers before they went "electronic"; Emily sorted the colors and made beautiful paper bowls.

This is Emily painting a sculpture she made from a graham cracker box and plastic grocery bags.

Here is the finished sculpture sitting on her desk.  I like that the paintbrush she used to create "him" became part of the sculpture.

A new tiny sweetpea to love!!

This is my first, slightly lumpy, attempt at animaguri.  It is not very big, but it seems to dwarf my new sweetpea, my little niece born mid-December.  We are all very excited!  That is her chubby cheek and teeny tiny ear, it will have to do for now, a girl needs her privacy.  We had a wonderful visit recently, involving lots of photography exceeded only by the squabbling about whose turn it was to hold baby and for how many nano seconds before the next desperate person was due a turn.

She has definately stolen our hearts!

Lovebirds?

 

I'm working on a new painting.  It is taking a while so I thought I would share a glimpse of it in progress.  The flowers need some more detailing and then I will start painting the cardinal pair in the center.  The birds are drawn but I'm not sure you can make them out; we are having a gray, rainy day here in Dover.  At least I have these cheerful springy flowers from my imagination to brighten the day.  Hope you are having a cheery day in your part of the world!

Hello Sweetness

I have already posted about how much I love my palette and that just looking at it makes me happy, and THEN, I open it to discover this little guy.  A simple gesture, but so full of sweetness I can't stand it! I have three children, but I knew immediately, without a doubt, that Hannah had left this tiny surprise.  That is one of the things that makes having children such a joy, KNOWING them.  This isn't the sort of thing she does routinely, but something about it spoke "Hannah".  I don't think I will ever be able to use this square of real estate in my palette again.

The Little Red Hen

Do you remember this book?  I had another smaller version as a child but I love the illustrations in this Golden Book that I just found at the grocery.  

I love the Hollyhocks and all the hats!  This chicken is Rosie, right down to the expressive yet somehow still blank look in her eyes.  Here is my Rosie:

or as I like to call her "Little Miss Fluffy Butt" as you can see here:

This chicken is so hysterical and full of personality I don't know how I lived chickenless before.  It's hard for me to get a decent picture of her because she follows me around right at my feet.  Rosie has a capacious chicken run by any standards but I still like to let her out for "walkabout" everyday, and she begs for it.  I think if I gave her a little tin cup she would be banging it on the bars.  Jim comes home for his lunch hour and lets her out too, and he forgot about her the other day.  Lucky for him he found her a few houses down scratching in their leaves.  I imagine he was in a full blown panic because he knows he would be in big trouble if he lost my chicken.  As well as being comical Rosie is very creative, we get an egg about 5 days a week.  She is far more productive than I am.

Now if I could just get her to bake bread too...





Quiet Moments

I am usually up before everyone else in our busy house so I like to grab a few precious moments to savor the quiet.  I brew a cup of my favorite coffee and read a tiny bit while I eat breakfast.  I am working on a wool scarf, and I always try to work a few rows before I dash off to work.  These rituals get me calm for the day and I feel lost without them.  How do you start your day?

Welcome winter 2012

I can't believe I haven't posted for 3 months!!  Time flies way too fast.  Working two jobs has taken it's toll.  The end of January should bring some relief as I am resigning one of my positions.  I am excited about the year to come, hopefully the new year will bring more time for making art!  I have really missed participating in crafty blogland.  Rather than lament what I have missed I am just going forge ahead with great anticipation.

It is very cold today (by Delaware standards) and there is even a tiny chance we will see a few snowflakes. In celebration I have decided to turn my deer into a fawn with snowflakes for his spots.