Thinking of Autumn

Here we are in the middle of summer, so far the weather has been kind of odd, we have had some summer days but also quite a few days thrown in that make it feel like Autumn is almost here.   I was complaining about the late start to the warm weather, but after watching most of the rest of the US suffer through heat waves, fires and now drought, I have quit complaining.
All the fallish weather has put me in the mood to make some fallish embroidery,  today I listed a couple of burnt orange embroidery pieces.

                                        Also, my sweet sweet little boy picked a bouquet for me.

I think it may be time to mow the lawn

Encaustic Goodness!

Way back in December I received this gorgeous little encaustic ornament that I won in a giveaway from Susan Najarian.

 

I was thrilled to get it as I have been coveting her work for a while.  It arrived with a sweet little red bow at the top but I replaced it with a little black velvet and white cotton, that way it's not so much a Christmas ornament but something I can hang over my desk and enjoy year round.  You can find Susan's work on Etsy, where she sells beautiful encaustic painting, and mixed media art.

Old Stock

The other day while reorganizing my art supplies I found a small pile of bases for barrettes and a few pins. 

I'm just finishing up the one with the vines, and hope to get it listed tomorrow.

They are made out of cereal boxes, it's a painstaking process that includes: cutting out the shapes, gluing the layers together, shaping, sanding, sanding some more, then the fun part - painting.  They turned out to be way too labor intensive for the price I can expect to get for them so I'm not planning on making any more when I'm done with these.  Hopefully I will get them all finished and listed in the shop over the next few days (probably longer) 

See, cereal boxes.

Oh, and I've been working on some more embroidered brooches, like this one:

This weekend will be all about getting some of those decorations up and doing some crafts with the kiddo.  I have been finding all sorts of fun crafts on Pinterest, like this one: Cinnamon ornaments

Do you have any fun weekend plans? Do you have a fun holiday craft idea?

Woot!

Yesterday my shop views were WAY above what they normally are, I was confused.  

I found out today that one of my items was included in the Etsy Finds e-mail.  I'm thrilled thrilled thrilled to be included!

This is the item they included,  and it sold! Yay!

Click HERE to see the Etsy Finds list.

More Embroidery

I have been working my poor fingers to the bone. Here are the latest fruits of my labor.

Orange Poppies

I kind of want to keep this one for myself

Midnight Garden

Soon I will have to find some time to enjoy summer vacation.

I hope, whatever season you are in, you are enjoying it.

Keeping Busy

Once again I've been a neglectful blogger. I could say I will try to be better about it but it probably won't change so I won't say it.

I've been busy stitching.

Pale Bouquet Pin

Forget Me Not Pin

Poppies Pin

Barrettes 4 Sale

I've been listing some barrettes in my Etsy shop. I got this idea to make barrettes a couple of years ago and ended up with a pile of them.

They are made from layers of cereal boxes that are glued together, shaped, sanded, topped with watercolor paper, painted, and sealed.

It is a tedious process and I have no desire to make more of them. I had some of them listed in my shop but let them all expire.

I am re-listing my existing supply (except for the ones I want for myself) and have lowered the price to hopefully move them to new homes, then I can concentrate on my current interests....painting and embroidery.

Happy Floss Day!

Happy day after my birthday to me! I had a mellow birthday this year. I prefer it that way, just spending the day with my family and a nice dinner with some cake. So what if I ate 3 pieces it's my birthday and I'll do what I want!

Besides eating cake I stopped at the fabric store to get some more embroidery floss, it was all 50% off because the store is moving and I went a little crazy. I don't think it's all going to fit in my case, it may be time to get another.

Today I plan to finish up the hoop for this little piece so I can get it into my Etsy shop. I should probably do some more too so I can get rid of some of my floss.

Embroidery

Hi!

Black Cross

Red Cross

I posted a couple of new embroidery pieces in my Etsy shop today. They are both simple cross patterns. I know it's been done before, and I'm sure it will be done again, but it's a symbol I've been drawn too for some time.

I purchased this necklace when I was about 19 years old (ahem, some time ago). I wore it almost every day for years. I still wear it, just not as much.
Most people recognize it to be a Swiss Cross, although the symbol has been around much longer than that, also the Swiss Cross is white with a red background, not red or black.


Here is a link to what Wikipedia has to say about the cross.

This month I'm trying to make my Etsy shop a priority as I've been quite neglectful, so... off I go to make more stuff.

Happy Wednesday!

Pencil Sculpture by Dalton Ghetti

Seriously Amazing sculptures made by Dalton Ghetti

Have you seen these before? Apparently his artwork has been in the public eye for sometime.

I came across one of his sculptures on craftgawker this morning, posted by ink&vineleaves

Here is a neat little article about him from the New York Times that was written back in 2007

Orange Koi

a new painting in my Etsy

Remedy for the Grey

The weather here has been grey and dreary and drizzly and bleh. It feels more like fall but without the urge to nest and get ready for winter.

The result of all this dreary grey is that I can't seem to get enough color, and have been looking around on Etsy to fill the color void (usually I'm drawn to black and greys). Here are a few of my favorites.

Heaven Photograph

Butterfly

Portuguese Tile Earrings

Crossover Halter

Luminary Print

Under a Night Sky

Just finished listing a new print in my Etsy shop.

What a neat find!

A few years ago we got a big pile of books from my father, my parents were moving from a house into a condo and needed to get rid of some things. The other day I was looking through some of them trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

I was looking at this one

Hey, my Grandmothers name is on the side



On the inside cover my Great Aunt has written her name. The top one is her handwriting. The second one with the date isn't her handwriting.



But that's not even the best part, check this out!
And notice her initials and the date are in the bottom right hand corner.



My Great Aunt Irma passed away several years ago at the ripe old age of 104. She was a real feisty ol bird with lots of interesting stories of her youth.
Needless to say, I won't be getting rid of this one.

More Needlework

I've been at the needles again. I'm actually to the point where it doesn't make my fingers hurt so much. YAY!

I've just listed it in my shop.

Heart Thief

Things seem to be piling up, lots to do lots to do, and a Halloween Party to get ready for! I did get another piece of embroidery work done and listed in my Etsy shop.



Off I go...so much to do, so little time!

Poop

I have been dabbling in embroidery. I used to do a lot of needlework, but kind of put it aside. Anyhoo, I picked up my needles again and this is what I made....



Just listed it in my Etsy shop.

New Print

I've listed a new print in my Etsy shop.

Dabbling

Busy Busy Busy
My kitchen table is a mess of projects.



I have been playing around with making some earrings. I like the way they turned out, and will list a few on my Etsy in the next couple of days.



Then onto the next idea...to many projects in my head...must get some out.

Chalk and Koi

Sunday was all about relaxing, drinking iced tea and drawing on the sidewalk.

We decided to make our front sidewalk into a pond.
(When I say we, I'm speaking of my husband and I, not the voices in my head.)

Starting with a grey scale outline


My honey made his Koi Green

I went with Orange

Unfortunately it was too dang hot to finish. If we ever do complete our idea there will be photos.