tuxedo smock

Found several tuxedo shirts at the flea—the kind that need button studs (like cufflinks for the front). I’ve always loved these white shirts, so I bought 3 (at $1 each!) and thought I’d play around. On this one the collar and cuffs were horribly big and stiff, and the pleating had come partially undone. I removed the collar and the cuffs, and was inspired by a tiny hot pink button I had to do the stitching and sewing of the rest of the plain buttons. Unfortunately we never had the weather this fall to wear this…maybe in the spring!

 

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jingled!

A felted and needle-felted little winter tree made of vintage sweaters, decked for the holidays with old Czech glass beads, some roving snow and a jingle bell.

Happy holidays and a merry crafty New Year.

showing up…

will be various items of jewelry and cat toys!

Scraps of felted or just recycled sweaters and scarves in cashmere, merino, alpaca, and lambswool plus odd bits and beach finds crafted into various cat toys (with home grown catnip or jingle bells), and all kinds of jewelry.

Show up!

Joining two other artist-crafters for a show Dec. 2. Stop by if you’re in the area!

 

spool stool

I picked up a cable spool from the roadside a while ago and used it over the winter as a plant stand. Sitting on the bench in the screen porch recently I wanted to put my feet up, and realized the spool is the right height.

Some leftover primer and exterior paint, an over-the-top floral fabric sample and leftover upholstery stuffing, and some really fun handwoven band I received as a gift…eh voila! The perfect screen porch footstool.

winged booklet

Long incubation for the cover after inside came together quickly.

 

color blocks pillow

The pillow at its new lake cottage home in Finland!

Felted wool from recycled sweaters hand and machine stitched, with needle-felting and embroidery.

shoreline brooch

Felted wool (from a vintage sweater) framing a found bit of beach art, beaded and stitched.

beach+bits necklace

Playing with beach bits and electronics wire, some silver wire and chains….

 

wool stash home

Found a cheap old trunk at a thrift store and made a new home for my wool stash, getting it out of the paper/jewelry crafting space. Since the trunk really is “cheap” I just cleaned the outside and am going to braid new handles for it (as soon as I learn how!), but the inside had to be redone to get rid of the grime and mustiness. I learned that the smell is usually in the paper and the glue on the inside, so that was remove (fairly easily) with a vinegar-water solution and some scraping with a putty knife. Then it was scrubbed down to remove glue residue and spent a couple more days out on the screen porch getting air and some sun. Spray primer and painting with a mix of (leftover) exterior latex house paint = stash storage!