Happy Friday!

Welcome to Happy Friday! Please hop over to Jaime Ridler's site and let us know what made you happy this week.

I received two wonderful books in the mail: Little Birds & Drawing Lab by Carla Sondheim. I've completed my second project from Little Birds:And I can't wait to dive into Carla's Drawing Lab book.The back cover beckons: "introduce more creativity and nonsense into your art and life". Who doesn't need more of either? The Artists of the Round Table (ART) community is sponsoring an online workshop featuring this book starting on July 5th. I'm counting the days....Please join us. It's free to anyone who wants to participate. ART offers all kinds of free online workshops- check 'em out if you enjoy artsy pursuits.

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And, the most exciting news ever! I'm going back to NYC after 7 years of being away. It's only for a visit but I couldn't be happier (well, I could be happier if Kelly was going but someone needs to tend to the surly mutts) . Museums and old friends and music and theater and street muscians and....well, I'm hungry. I've been away too long.

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And OK, despite my whining, there are some things to love about summer:

And it hasn't been that hot yet this year. At least here in southern Oregon. It's been a glorious summer so far. And I'm happy about that. Cheers!

More Creatures

These are gifts. I wanted to document them because I will never see them again. I've made several of these things previously and didn't take any pictures. What was I thinking? I often wonder if the recipients truly like these things or do they see them a cheesy craft project? Or both? I have mixed feelings on the matter. They are fun to make but I hate to give people things that are really just bad crafts. I'm afraid these may be the macrame and crocheted poodles of the new millenium.I need to stop reading Homemade Hilarity and Handmade Gone Wrong- I lose all sense of perspective.

Meet the Crew

Here are my various sock creatures with a few felt and wool ones mixed in. I've shown some of these critters on previous posts, but I wanted to show the whole gang together. Here is a list of books that the patterns were adapted from:
Stupid Sock Creatures
Plush O Rama
Stray Sock Sewing
The white one in the middle is a very rough adaptation of Martha Stewart's stuffed dog doll from one of her Holiday crafts magazines. I was recovering from surgery when I made that one. It looks not so much like the original - it's a Percocet interpretation.

Happy Friday!

Welcome to another round of The Happy Book Mail Around. Please join us and post your happy for the week.

I'm currently putting a backing on my first (cheater's)quilt. The top part of the quilt was purchased at a yard sale for one dollar. The seller had scads of beautiful fabric for a dollar per bag. She was obviously over her fabric habit. This was mixed in with the random yards of material: One dollar. Who was I to argue? All the hard work was done (what did I know?). Those of you who have ever quilted will understand that a quilt top does not a quilt make. There are a lot more steps that follow to make a usable item of it. Batting, backing, sewing and then sewing some more. But the whole project is going well and I'm pleased with the results so far. I'll post a picture when it's complete.

Finished Projects

I finally finished up the few projects I've been working on. Trying to clear the slate so I can begin work on my handmade journal. I've been gathering paper scraps and the sewing machine is at the ready.

Another Plushie

Another project from Plush-O-Rama:

This one is called Batty Cat Bubbles. I had fun with free form sewing on the face and I love his dainty wings on the back.

There's one other pattern in Plush-O-Rama called Onimushi that I want to try. I think that may be the only other one I attempt from this book. Since I'm not great at sewing I have to moved by a pattern to put myself through the aggravation of trying to figure it all out. I don't find the bulk of the patterns in Plush-O-Rama inspiring enough to whip out the needles. That's just my take on this book; if you are a plushie lover and a brave stitcher (experienced) you would probably find this book a lot more inviting.

On another craft topic, I received Eco Books by Terry Taylor (Lark publishing) in the mail yesterday. I'm absolutely mad for it. I really want to make books but I've never tried. The projects in this book are based on materials you can pull out of your recycle bin: gift cards, plastic bags, old mouse pads, egg cartons. My brain is spinning with all the possibilities. I can't wait to dive in.