Still Spinning

After I let the fibers settle for a few days I took it off the back of my chair (because I don't have a Knitty Knoddy yet):

And for anyone wondering what a Knitty Knoddy is:  (images taken from Google images)

I was so excited to start knitting I decided not to wash it because then I would have to wait for it to dry!

I just did a straight knit stitch because, again, I was excited to see how it was going to turn out.

I love how some parts of the yarn is skinnier than other parts, it gives it a very handmade look.  But after knitting a few rows I think I've decided to take it apart and knit on larger needles.  I used size 10 US but I think I want to go up to 14 US.  And since I've seen what it is going to look like I may wash it and then knit/purl this time.

Learning and practicing, learning and practicing, that's what art is all about and I love it!

Whimsical Painting

Last year I painted two chairs for a silent auction that was held at Warwick Memorial United Methodist church.

This year I will be painting a little child's hutch (the same style) for this year's silent auction. 

After I took this photo (and took all the hinges off) I base coated it.  The silent auction isn't until  December so stay tuned for photo updates!

Shearing and spinning

In 2009 while at the Kutztown Folk Festival in PA I watched lady shear her beautiful angora rabbit.  I was fascinated to say the least!  Her booth was dedicated to all things fiber.  At that time I knew how to knit but was not interested in spinning my own yarn.

Can't you almost feel how soft he is!

 

Look how fluffy her angora rabbit is!

A lot of children that were watching were scared that she was hurting the rabbit. She explained that in no way was she hurting the animal and as a matter-of-fact he loved getting sheared because it was so hot outside that it was like taking off his winter coat. 

 

He was so still you would have thought he was dead!

 

 I realize as I post this that it may look kind of scary if you didn't know

she was just SHEARING her rabbit.



As some of you know I try to go to Lancaster, PA once a year because I am fascinated with the Amish lifestyle.  (I also write an Amish blog called My Fascination with The Amish Culture). I plan my trip around two Amish auctions (called mud sales) AND The Kutztown Folk Festival. 

 

This year when I attended The Kutztown Festival I looked for the "angora rabbit lady" because just recently I've become interested in spinning and I knew she would have wool, angora and alpaca fiber for me to buy and start practicing.  She wasn't in her usual location and it had been four years so I wasn't sure she was even going to be there.  I noticed a vendor selling wool so I went over to her tent.  To make a long story short it was the same women!  I was thrilled!  They were super nice and I got a quick lesson in spinning.  I bought lots of fiber and went back to my hotel happy as a lark.

 

This book came highly recommended by another fiber artist and this is what I spun last night:

 

 

And this was taken outside today for natural lighting so you can see

how rich these colors are:

 

 

Now I need to let the fibers rest before I take it off the spindle

and start again, I can't wait!



Creating more art dolls for the NN Fall Festival

I think about Halloween year round which is good because the Newport News Fall Festival is the first weekend in October and there will be lots of Halloween themed booths (by the way I received my official acceptance letter a few days ago).  So my latest creation will fit in with my Halloween themed art dolls.  Let me first show you the "before" photo:

 

From the photo you can't tell that the moon (and on the other side the sun) are both raised.  So I first needed to sand them down a bit.

After I sanded it it was still raised a bit so I covered it in a texture medium then painted it orange

I then painted a spider web on it, drilled four holes then reattached it with fun yarn.  Next was to create the rug for the cat.  For the rug I used the same technique as my fabric bowls then I added a decorative trim around the perimeter.

 

 

The fabric I used is black with candy corn on it but because the sun is shining on it it makes it look grayish.

 

And another "before" and "almost after" photo of one of my other art dolls:

 





 

(More on her later)

52,000 Buttons

The number 52,000 is an inside joke between my mom and me.  When I was a little girl I used the number 52,000 to describe something very large.  It didn't matter what it was, 52,000 years, 52,000 steps, 52,000 feet (you see where I'm going with this) so this is what I decided to call my new shop on Etsy.  52,000 buttons because that is about how many of these little jewels I have. 

I started buying buttons about five years ago for my arts and crafts and what I realized was that they were too pretty to use, I just wanted to put them on display.  I love all buttons!  From celluloid to glass, from bakelite to fabric covered I love them all.  The older the better.  What I have found is that there are other button lovers as obsessed as me!  So I have decided to sell them on Etsy.   

I will have a number of categories such as vintage yellow, vintage metal, celluloid and my favorite category will be my hand painted buttons.  Here is a picture of some of my hand painted lovelies:

These things are virtually indestructible because of the special topcoat I use.  I have run them through the washer and dryer to see if they could withstand a good beating and they all survived!

 

 



I will be closing up shop for a few weeks because I'll be on vacation (buying more buttons up North) but please bookmark it and stop back by!
The address is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/52000Buttons

Auctions and Estate Sales

Last August my next door neighbor died.  He was a very nice elderly man who lived by himself.  I didn't get to know him too well because I only moved here two years ago but we spoke on occasion.  This past weekend his family had an estate sale at his house.  I had mixed feelings about going over there because I knew Mr. Marshall.  I have thought about him a lot since his passing because when I work at my art table my window faces his house.  But I decided to go.   Super nice family.  I talked with his niece for quite a while and I'm sorry I didn't get her name, her name tag read "Doll Lady".  As soon as I read that I knew we would connect.

I have been working on a mixed media art doll made out of nuts and bolts and screws with a clay head for a few weeks now.  But, as with all of my dolls, I get to a certain point and then I need to let them sit for a while.  At Mr. Marshall's estate sale I had a ball in his garage!  He was very organized and kept everything separated and labeled.  This is what I ended up getting:

I LOVE all of the different size springs!  I went to the hardware store two weeks ago looking for springs but couldn't find the size I needed and now JACKPOT!

Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures at the end of the week of Metal Girl.

Great news!

First I want to apologize for being so negligent in posting but I have great news!   One of my dreams is finally coming true!  Secretly I have always wanted to be in the Newport News Fall Festival.  Here is a link to last year's show at Newport News Fall Festival 2012 My mom has been in this show for years and I thought if I could just get in I would feel like my art was validated.  I love what I do but it's a little on the "whimsical" side (I haven't posted a picture yet of my cat/pig or my bat/fish).  A few months ago my mom, in passing, said that I should apply to the Newport News Fall Festival.  She planted the seed but might not have known how much it meant to me.  My mom, an artist, was validating me!  Yesterday I found out that I had been accepted into the juried side of the Fall Festival! So if you're in the area please come out and see me this October in Newport News Park.

Next, I bought a dry erase board for my work area because I have so many projects going on that when I sit down to work on one I don't know which one to pick up first!  So here is a look at my list:

 

Here is a look at some of the dolls (and a bat like creature) I'm currently working on:

 



And last but not least I'm still working on my Hoffman Challenge doll.  I LOVE the way her skirt is turning out but I always have trouble painting faces so this is usually done last on my dolls.  Last night I sat down and painted her face.  I'm pleased with the way it turned out:

The green eye shadow isn't as bright in person as it is in the picture; and her gold blush is a lot more translucent too. I haven't attached her hair yet, I just layed her head in the hair so you could get the full effect.  She will probably be wearing earrings too.  I just went back to the only store in the area that carries the Hoffman fabric today so I can get started on her peacock this weekend.

So I think that's about it from My Art Room in Portsmouth, VA.  Thanks for stopping by!

Update on my Hoffman Doll challenge

Well I'm coming right along!  Because I have two young boys I'm not able to devote as much time to working on her as I would like but "where there's a will there's a way!"

As you remember these are the Hoffman Fabrics for the 2013 Challenge (except for the teal one):

Step 1  Body finished
After sewing her body I decided to add lace around the bust line to give her more curves.  Her necklace is made out of seed beads and an old earring.

 

Step 2 Legs and shoes finished
The legs are made out of one of the Hoffman challenge fabrics then I painted the shoes and laced them up with gold ribbon.  The soles and heals are painted brown.  Later I may add more embellishments to the top of her boots.



The most fun I've had with this challenge is creating the skirt. I first thing I did was to create a crazy quilt with the challenge fabrics. I then started embellishing the seams and creating decorative designs within the blocks.

 

 

And just today I finished her arms, hands and shrug around her shoulders. I have taken these photos because I'm so excited about her but her skirt isn't finished and not even attached yet! And of course she needs a head (which is still waiting to be stuffed). But this is a first look at what I've been working on these past few weeks.

 

 

Her left hand is "palm open" because she will be feeding an animal but I'm not going to tell you what it is yet incase it doesn't turn out.