Mad Bunny Baskets!*!

Inspired by a crochet newsletter I made these little 

Mad Bunny Baskets.  

Why are they mad you ask?

 Well you would be too if you had to carry around an Easter Egg as Big as You! 

I crocheted the baskets with 100% cotton yarn and a size g hook 

so they would be a little stiff and stand up.

The little mad eyes, nose, whiskers and mouth are embroidered on. 

The eggs are crocheted in the round over plastic hollow eggs 

(only 50 cents a bag at Walmart) 

using variegated pink and green sock yarns 

and lots of fun little bobbles and flower shapes to make them perfect for Spring!  

 

They have little hangers so that they can be displayed on those ever popular Easter trees 

or any other place you would like to display them. 

These were gifts for some of my lady friends,

 with a few chocolate kisses tucked in the baskets of course. 

If I get my act together maybe I will make some more 

to sell in my Etsy shop next year. 

It's a little too late now. 

Happy Easter and Spring to you all!!  

Leave a comment and I will enter you into 

A GIVEAWAY

You could win 

these little spring flower beads!

There are 6 of them left.

I will randomly choose a winner 

next Saturday, April 14th. 

My Fiber Art Accesories, gearing up for fall and winter

Did I mention my addiction to fiber?

As I secretly work on my Bead Soup I also have been very busy with fiber 

so today it's all about Fiber!!

I am creating more patterns and classes for my crochet students at Gail Knits here in town.

In the last week I completed a crocheted pillow,

Made with Cascade "Duo" which is an undyed yarn 70% Baby Alpaca and 30% Merino Wool
It is so soft you just can't resist putting your face down on it for a little nap. 
The pillow overlaps and is closed with my handmade polymer clay buttons. 

Another Hairpin Lace Scarf, 

Hairpin Lace Scarf made with Trendsetter "Segue"
a hand dyed polyamide ribbon yarn. 

A Felted Purse

Felted Purse made with Cascade "Pastaza"- 50% Llama and 50% wool
and a novelty yarn by Trendsetter called "Joy"
All it needs now is a wonderful polymer clay button closure and 
a lining with lots of pockets. 

Here is the bottom where you start with an oval shape and increase to the width you want the purse to be.
The purse is crocheted with a size N crochet hook, 
when felted it shrinks about 30% and all
the lacy holes mesh to form a boucle-like texture.
Last of all I made a recycled leather cuff from an old purse, 

My thank you gift to my daughter Jessie for her help at my last craft show.

She wears her white cowboy boots to Stoney's
(She is an avid Country Western fan; line and swing dancer)
This cuff matches her boots perfectly!!

Yesterday Jessie had a day off and  graciously modeled some of my accesories

for a photo shoot in our front yard. 
I think she even had fun doing it! 

These pictures are now on my first IDVD Slideshow -

"Aquariart Portfolio" 

completed late last night (yawn).  

Thanks are due to my wonderful friend Barbara too

for her help teaching me the IDVD program.  

 Here are a few of the pictures we took:

It makes such a difference to see your items on an actual person. 

 I am so fortunate to have two gorgeous daughters,

one of which is right here and available to photograph.  

For all my jewelry fans we took a couple of jewelry shots:
then we were both tired so more another day. 

My Kokopeli Set made with an enamel focal (the kokopeli figure) 

from EB Bead and Metal Works.

Yes that is a tiny handmade native american flute hanging from the pendant.
I made all the beads out of polymer clay. 

and My "Fairy Garden" Bib Necklace

This one has lots of my hand made flowers, lucite flower beads, seed beads and organza leaves.
Th-th-th-that's all folks,
now you know what I mean when I say:
"I have been busy this week!" 
Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend Everyone!! 

A little Fiber Fun

I have a whole part of my life wrapped around fiber that I don't always share here 

due to all the art bead and polymer clay challenges I have been participating in lately. 

I teach crochet classes at Gail Knits here in town. 

She has a fabulous selection of gorgeous yarns and 

I love to see all the ones Gail gets in that are new to the market.   

This morning I finished a scarf  using two brand new yarns from Trendsetter Yarns:  

Flamenco (the ruffly green) and Minestrone(the gold, brown beige multi textured one).  

Here is my lovely daughter Jessie modeling it. 

This is an extra long crocheted scarf.  

I will be listing patterns in my Etsy Shop- Aquariart this fall 

for all the designs I have created for my classes. 

If you would like to be notified leave a comment below-

I will contact you when they are listed. 

Here is this month's challenge piece for my Art Quilt ect. Circle.

We had to use a shoebox to create something. 

The first thing you see is the top which is a small quilt 

I free motion stitched and then painted

of water dripping and rippling. 

This one inspired my to do a larger water quilt which I have started using the same technique.

I love how the paints bring out the liines in the quilting. 

Next you notice there is a quote around the side and front of the box:

"If there is magic on this planet then it is contained in water."

It's all about water.
Zentangled waves, bubbles... 

The bottom and back of the box - Zentangles all over! 

My very relaxed bathing lady.  Her legs flip out of the box and hang over .

She is free motion stitched and then painted with Shiva Oil Sticks.

Don't ask me where I get these ideas, I really don't know sometimes.
I apologize for the photos- I didn't take them early enough in the day so there are lots of shadows.

Okay now back to Bead Stuff-
I have to go raid my stash and put together a wonderful set of beads for my Bead Soup Partner -Beth Bricker.
You can find out more about her on her blog here.
This is a wonderful party for jewelry designers hosted by Lori Anderson at Pretty Things.
Check back for more about that and
the Big Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal which will be Sept 17th!

Best Mother's Day Ever!!

I know I missed a week and didn't post but I have a really good reason.

On Mother's Day my daughter Jessie said: 

"Mom, I have to go pick up your present, I will be back in a half hour."

My imagination was going wild 

trying to decide what she would be picking up on a Sunday, Mother's Day. 

She left and shortly after that 

my other daughter, Corrie, who lives in Seattle, WA 

called to wish me a happy mother's day.  

While we were talking I suddenly noticed her voice sounded like it was in stereo.  

I told her something weird was going on with my phone.  

She told me to turn around and I wish I had a picture of the look on my face. 

 There she was standing in my entry with her phone, suit case and sister!! 

They both kept this secret so well 

that even my husband had no idea she was coming down for a visit. 

I started to cry and had the best hug with my two girls we have had in a very long time. 

Jessie hadn't seen Corrie for 2 years and a half years. 

What a joy to see them so happy to be together.  

We had a fabulous week t and that was the best mother's day gift ever! 

So I did not take the time to post last week,

I was busy having a wonderful time with the whole family here together.

Here are a few things I did have to finish though.

I teach crochet classes at Gailknits here in Las Vegas 

and the owner got a phone call asking for someone to do 

a special crochet commission. 

Well, she recommended me so the fun began. 

I would never have come up with this on my own. 

A young gentleman and his best friend 

who are both fathers expecting their first baby boys,

and both went to college at Florida State,

 wanted two little baby hats with the school logo on them. 

Here is the almost finished product:

I had to make four of these tiny logos- only 4 inches across!

Machine stitch the really tiny details onto them adding stabilizer  

and then hand sew them onto the two crochet helmets.

Too Cute!! 

I forgot to take pictures of them completed so

I hope to get a picture of the babies in these hats later this year. 

I have also been madly making samples for my classes;

crocheted roses, pansies, double petaled flowers, daisies, loopy flowers ect. 

and various leaves to go with them. 

Then projects in which my students can use these flowers, 

a flowered granny square purse, headbands with flowers, a box hat pattern...

and writing up the directions for these projects.

Writing the patterns has been very time consuming 

so I will soon be adding more of my original patterns to my Aquariart Shop on Etsy 

and hopefully submitting them to some magazines too. 

Like beading I enjoy crochet because I can be sitting with my husband 

while he watches TV his favorite hobby, 

and feed voracious creative appetite and keep my itchy fingers busy. 

I also made a cuff for my sister, Bonnie who lives on the East Coast for her birthday.

Organza flower and needle felted wool leaves.

Coffee dyed lace and linen and the key to my heart

The entire cuff for Bonnie, my sister.

My head is still spinning!!

Dreams do come true!!! Woohoo!! 

And sometimes things happen you haven't even dreamed of yet. 

I am amazed at the snow ball effect that is happening to me this year 

and I am working very hard to keep my heart and head from exploding with joy and excitement 

and I must admit just a little tiny bit of fear I just keep pushing aside. 

I just had a photo shoot yesterday for the http://www.944.com/lasvegas !! 

It is a free publication distributed in the city at places like 

the Neiman Marcus Cafe in Fashion Show Mall downtown!! 

Yes, I am still shaking because I can't believe this is happening.
I will be in the March 2011 issue! 

The photographer, Michael and his loft mates were young and hip and their studio was amazing.

They all loved the suitcase full of my goodies I brought for the shoot. 

As soon as I arrived I felt more relaxed and they made the shoot really fun.  

I had to lay down on the floor under a really large sheet of glass 

and my items were laid on top of the glass all around my face.  

A very creative way to photograph me and my art work. 

It was thrilling to finally meet the wonderful "Ida" who said: 

"I am an etsy addict and when I found your Glam Wrist Pin Cushions

 and 

Felted Scarves

I was in love."

She writes the articles and chooses artists and 

then presents them to her editor for the magazine. 

I let her choose one of the Glam Cuffs as a thank you for choosing me.  

My friend Barbara drove and helped fix my hair and arranged the items 

because when you are propped up on your elbows you can't do any of that yourself 

and then...

drum roll...............

I, who was so high on adrenalin and joy was completely oblivious to my friends crafty ways.  

Barbara whisked me off to a surprise celebration hosted by another 

wonderful, kind and awesome friend Teresa, 

who graciously hosted a surprise celebration for me!  

She had decked out the table in white lace, a vase of roses,

crystal champagne glasses complete with champagne and sliced strawberries, 

popcorn and some of the nicest people I have ever met here in Las Vegas. 

They insisted I drag in my suitcase of goodies 

so they could ooh, aah and touch all of them 

and it looks like I have sold my most recent items before I can even list them in my shop. 

What a fun day!! I am still feeling the effects today!  

The future will tell how this will effect my little Etsy Shop business so 

I plan on being very busy creating.  

Still awaiting my bead soup ingredients so I will post about that when they come!! 

Happy Weekend Everyone!! 

What have I been doing.... creating and more creating...

All this week I have been slaving over my McElligut's Pool quilt 

to prepare for entering it in the Road to California Quilt Show.  

The deadline is looming and I decided to take the binding apart and redo it. 

Lots of stitch pulling and trimming and hopefully the binding over all the curved edges 

will lay smoothly. 

I cannot post pictures of it until after the show so I am sorry you can't see it.  

It will be worth the wait, I promise.

Earlier this month I finally made it to my Polymer Clay Guild Meeting

 and my wonderful teacher, mentor and friend Karin 

gave a demo on how to make Worry Dolls.  

This doll idea is thought to have originated in Mayan culture. 

Click here to read the story of their creation and magic. 

I have some of the little cloth dolls that are still made in Guatemala in my stash

but Karin taught us how to make hollow bodied dolls from clay. 

The reason they are hollow and the head can be removed

 is so that you can write down your worries and put them inside. 

The magic your worries are gone!  

Here is my first attempt.

Her 50"s hairdo makes me laugh, more good medicine for worriers. 

Her head is formed on a  toothpick which is completely covered with clay 

and inserts into the open neck.

I am planning on making a lot of these for the Holidays.  

My first batch will have wings.  "Worry Angels".

I am working in my head on designs 

so that they can be worn as jewelry 

or hung on the wall or even a Christmas tree. 

Come back for more about these in October. 

In the meantime I have more Tarot Bags and they will be in my Etsy Shop this weekend.  

The name Tarot because the first one I made I use to carry my Tarot Deck and book in. 
Of course you can use them for any purpose.

These are so fun and relaxing for me to make.  

I love just playing with the different colors and textures of the yarns. 

I am completely spontaneous when creating them 

so each one has it's own shape, size, fringe and color combination. 

 I have added beads and my handmade polymer clay pieces to many of the bags.

Here is a little indian summer piece. 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

  

Autumn is almost here in Las Vegas...

Fall in Las Vegas is a breath of fresh air.  

We have just finished enduring anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks of triple digits 

and although the occasional 103 or 4 may be reached the night time cools everything down.  Unfortunately the pool cools too and our blood is so thin now 

that 69 degrees feels like the glacier waterfalls we would jump into 

up in Washington State because we were young and crazy. 

I love when we can open the windows at night and feel the cool fresh air.  

So 

 I am switching my color palette to those warm autumn hues. 

This art quilt, "Autumn Dreams"  has been in my Etsy shop for awhile

but I just redid the pictures and it looks so much better photographed outside. 

 

I love all the texture I was able to achieve with the yo-yos, halloween burn out fabric, free-motion quilting

and silk leaves and flowers. 

The gold and variegated threads really show up in sunlight and the angle makes a difference.

  I took a Tarot class a few years back and still use my two decks. 

I have been making Tarot bags like my own with fall colors. 

 I have a very dear friend who has a September birthday who received one 

and here is another with lighter shades added. 

Football season has commenced and so my husband, 

a avid Patriots Fan watches all the shows 

so I  have been pretending to watch while I stitch up 

lots of crocheted fingerless gloves 

(in my "Tom Brady Shirt" for good luck).  

They will be ready for 

The Mt. Charleston Fair #2 

on November 21st from 10-4 pm 

for my local friends. 

Hope to see you all there we might even have a little snow!!

I handmade the buttons from polymer clay and used alcohol inks to make them look like ceramic buttons.

I added my own twist to a very fun and feminine version 

of a pattern from Crochet Magazine Sept 09 issue.

There is a lot more I have been doing but I am going to save some for my next post!  

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Raggedy Bags!!!

My latest stash busting project has been making what I have named: 

"Raggedy Bags". 

 

I have seen bags and rugs made from braided fabric strips. 

But I haven't seen my technique out there yet.

I crochet 1" strips of fabric that are tied together with square knots. 

This one has an adjustable fabric handle and one of my polymer clay buttons.

Here I added one of my resin faces. 

The bags are also reversible.  

The side in the picture has all the knots 

and the inside is knot free!

They are very sturdy, colorful, machine washable

 and meant to fray and distress a little so 

DO put them in the dryer they just get better and better. 

I use mine to carry things like my wet bathing suit home from pool parties,

 produce from the market, 

anything that needs a soft and washable bag to cushion it.  

I plan on making zippered pouches with a coordinating fabric 

so valuables will not sneak out the natural holes in the crocheted cloth.