May 5, 2013 · 4:55 pm

Updates and Exciting News!

I really can’t believe it’s already May! I realized today I am nowhere near my goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year and have exhausted my list of excuses for putting things off, so now I’m rushing to get caught up! Today I checked off getting the website updated and uploading all of the pictures that have been waiting in limbo on my camera for way too long. I’m also beginning the massive task of updating the shop, deciding what to add, what needs to go, and getting new items photographed and descriptions written. That will be tackled this week, along with work on a new commissioned painting from one of my favorite clients! This one will be a Little Mermaid themed 22×28  inch acrylic slated to be finished by the beginning of June. I’ll be adding pictures once it’s a bit further along:)

In other news, we are thrilled to announce that the new addition joining our family this summer is a boy! My son is thrilled that he’ll soon have a partner in crime, and my daughter was surprisingly happy about the news, rationalizing that this means the boys will eventually share a room, leaving big sister with a room of her own! ^_^ I’ve been so anxious to find out what the baby would be, and now can’t wait to get started on some new baby projects.

As far as other projects, my newest obsession has been crocheting adorable purses and bags from Ana Paula Rimoli’s newest book, “Amigurumi on the Go.” So far I’ve finished an owl tote and a fishy bag and am currently working on making little lunch bags for the kids, which I’ll post once their done.

Crocheted Fish Purse

Crocheted Owl Purse

And in drawings, here’s the first in a series of commissioned portraits that will include this couple and their nine grown children put together into a collage:

Portrait

That’s it for now, I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and I’ll talk to you soon!!

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February 20, 2013 · 2:04 pm

Bunnies, Sea Creatures and Lots of Antibiotics:)

Well I have been shamefully neglectful of updating the blog the last few months! Part of the problem is that I was sick for several weeks starting around Christmas, and just when I thought I was getting better I came down with bronchitis. The hubby finally got tired of my nasty hacking cough and dragged me to the doctor, who gave me some lovely antibiotics and got me finally feeling better.

Since I haven’t felt much like doing studio work lately I’ve been trying to build up my crochet inventory for some upcoming vendor events and finish up a couple of gifts, like this bunny I did for my niece’s birthday:

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Here’s a couple of my other new additions:

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Now I’m working on a couple of surprise gifts for my soon-to-arrive baby niece, who should be joining us in just a couple of weeks so I should be able to post them soon…..

Things have been fairly slow in the shop since the Christmas rush, which I’m actually kind of grateful for since it’s given me a chance to catch up and work on some ideas for future projects, but I did finish up the Einstein portrait I wrote about in a previous post:

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That’s all the news for now, I’m hoping to get back in the studio to work on some new artwork in the next few days so should have more to share soon:)

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!

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November 15, 2012 · 7:55 pm

More puff stitch gloves!

It’s cold! I love this time of year when I can finally start wearing all the fun accessories I’ve made throughout the year. My favorites are still the puff stitch gloves I shared with you in a previous post, but now I’m working on my own version of the pattern. I wanted something a little warmer and thicker so instead of skipping a stitch between puff stitches as the original pattern called for I added a half double crochet between each puff and modified the thumb opening a bit.

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If you’d like a pair for yourself or to give as a gift, they’re available in my etsy shop here

I also finished the commissioned piece I was working on, just in time to start on another one! Here’s the first:

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The next one will be a black and white portrait of Albert Einstein, it should be really fun!

I’m hoping to find some time next week to try out some of the fun holiday crafts I’m finding on Pinterest (waaay too addicting!). There’s just not enough hours in the day! I hope everyone has a great weekend and if I don’t get a chance to check back in before, super happy Thanksgiving!!

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November 13, 2012 · 10:46 am

RIP Robot, Hello Robot 2.0!

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In Memoriam
..

Some of you may remember this guy from a few months ago. I regret to inform you that Boy Robot, as he was affectionately called by my son, has recently met his untimely end at the hands (or rather, the paws) of Tenaya our German Shepherd. The carnage was just too graphic to post but you can take it from me, it was’t pretty. Fortunately I have gotten much quicker with my crochet hook and was able to whip up version 2.0 before too many tears were shed.

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When A saw him he said “Oh, Boy Robot changed clothes!”:-) In other news, I worked out another new crochet pattern and am almost done writing it out. Here’s the result:

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That’s all I’ve had time for the last few days but am looking forward to starting some new projects I’ve been wanting to work on this week. I’ll keep you posted!

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November 5, 2012 · 10:26 pm

My First Amigurumi Pattern!

We had such a great weekend! With the kids off at grandma’s and grandpa’s house, hubby and I spent Saturday and Sunday selling at the Apple Valley Holiday Craft Fair and had so much fun (despite only getting about 7 hours of sleep in 2 days)! I was sad to part with some of my favorite drawings, but I guess I can’t complain since selling art was the whole point:) We’ll definitely be doing more events in the future!

Another benefit of doing the craft fair was getting the chance to make up my own crochet patterns to add to my inventory. Here’s the result of my first attempt:

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I finally got it written down and will add it to the shop once I retest it. I can’t wait to start on some more pattern ideas that have been bouncing around my head for awhile, including this super girly owl:

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I’m working on a bigger version now, I’ll let you know how it turns out:)

I also finished this little mushroom:

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Did anyone else just hear the Super Mario theme song just now? :)

My main project this week is a commissioned portrait from a lovely woman I met at the Equine Festival of her son and his horse in colored pencil. It’s in the “almost done tweaking it” stage and I’m hoping to be able to ship it by the end of the week. Then onto my looong list of Christmas projects:)

Just a reminder to anyone thinking about custom orders from the shop for Christmas, get your orders in early, especially for portraits to make sure you get them on time!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend:)

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October 31, 2012 · 12:01 pm

Holiday Craft Fairs and lots of Amigurumi!!

Happy Halloween!

I’m afraid I’ve been woefully negligent about updating the blog lately but the good news is I’ve been super busy getting ready for my first high desert holiday craft show season! Our first event was the Equine Festival where I had a chance to showcase my horse drawings, including these new ones done in colored pencil using the same technique I wrote about in my previous post:

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Aside from getting to see some gorgeous horses I also got some commission work out of it so it turned out to be a great day! And of course I had to add an amigurumi horse to my collection, so here it is:

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And here’s the rest of my latest amigurumi adventures:)

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I was also really excited to get an order for a crochet piggy from a lady in Greece! My shop is now international!

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This week I’m working on getting ready for my first two day event, our Apple Valley Holiday Craft Fair! Kind of worried I don’t have enough inventory (always a worry) but we’ll see how it goes. Wish me luck!

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September 28, 2012 · 12:23 pm

Fall/Winter Crochet Collection Preview

I think my biggest problem as an artist is consistency–when I’m feeling inspired I can draw non-stop day and night and turn out 5-6 new works in a matter of days. Then I’ll go weeks where I just can’t get anything done. I’ve been in one of those slumps for awhile now and am really hoping to get out of it soon since I’ve got a long way to go to get my shop stocked with new work for the holiday season! But on a positive note, while I haven’t been very productive in the art department I’ve compensated by crocheting non-stop and have several new pieces from my fall/winter collection to share!

I’ve been trying for awhile to design my own hat patterns and this is the first one to actually turn out! It’s a very quick and simple double crochet pattern that’s worked in the round so there’s no joining. I worked through the back loops to make the spiral design.

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Next I did this cute lacey beanie using Caron Simply Soft yarn. It’s a perfect light-weight hat that works great year-round–

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Next is one of my favorite patterns, the puff stitch slouchie. I’ve done this one before but always come back to it–

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I’ve been wanting to try making this ruffle scarf forever and finally got a chance to. I love how it turned out!

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I also tried a layered one using two colors. At first it turned out way too full so I took out a couple of rows on each color and am much happier with it–

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Next came a lacey slouchie which uses the same basic stitch pattern as the lacey beanie. I tried it first using Red Heart With Love yarn and then again using Caron Simply Soft:

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Finally here’s a chunky beret that goes perfectly with my ruffled wrist warmers. I used the same super soft wool yarn that I just loooove and am so sad because I can’t find it anymore! Good thing I stocked up:)

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I also had the chance to make this sweet monkey for my baby cousin, I love how her dress turned out!

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I’m working on the listings for each of the new items and will let you all know once they’re up. Other than that, happy friday and I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

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