Crafty finds

Here's a couple more handmade things I found thrifting. They are quite interesting pieces actually. First up--this little stuffed doll with yarn hair. I'm pretty sure I paid fifty cents for it. It was another score from the Hospice Flea Market store.


I just couldn't resist the stripes and little button eyes. Or the fat belly and skinny legs.


How could I turn down that face???

I also found the stellar crocheted mobile at my trusty PTA thrift in Carrboro. I love this store--I always find something in there. I haven't been in a while so it was nice to find a few things.

This thing is huge too--at least three feet long.


It's got these wonderful birds, flowers and vines hanging from it. I just HAD to have it.


Red bird


Blue bird


Little flower. Now to find somewhere to hang it (out of Maggie's reach).

Lastly, these aren't handmade, or course, but I found them at the PTA thrift--a sweet milk glass cup to go with my collection and a sweet egg plate.

'Til next time!

Swirly tree full of birds (and a ladybug and a butterfly and a rabbit)

Wow I've actually finished another (large to me) cross stitch. I'm not sure why I'm on such a cross stitch kick lately but I'm just rolling with it. I think it's the patterns really. This is another fabulous design by Jacqui Pearce published in the February Cross Stitcher magazine. I loved the whimsy of it.


Technically, it's not finished according to the design--it actually says to fill in the entire background with stitches and I'm just not up to that right now. Way too many stitches. I may revisit it later but for now, it's good.


I love the little owl and the pretty peacock. This design is super colorful---which I love.


The texture of the nest is pretty great, too. The ladybug kills me with cuteness.



Swirly-whirly roots and a wee rabbit. I definitely want to get this one into a frame and hang it in the apartment.

Embroidery finds

If you didn't know--I love a good thrift store/flea market find. I found some amazing embroidery work the Hospice Flea Market that has opened a permanent shop for their stuff. I got most of these piece for $1 or $2! It kinda makes me sad to see such a price because I know how much time went into them, and they were made with love by someone. (Picture little old ladies stitching away.....)

Lovely deer doily embroidery with crochet border.


Close-up one of the deer


Little doily with wool flowers. I was thinking I could add something to this one.


This is a pretty large runner with the same image embroidered on the ends. Such a pretty design. This one shows a bit of wear but I love that some stitched it and used it in their home.


Close up of the other side.


This lovely pillow case with a little bird and flowers. I'm using this one right now. It is so pretty.


Detail of the sweet bird


Another pretty pillowcase with flowers and crochet border.


I love the pink crochet border.


This little piece with pink embroidery and crochet. I can add to this one, too.


Detail of one of the corners. Beautiful feather stitch and crochet.


Another little piece with some beautiful crochet work. Another I can add to.

I will definitely go back and see what I can rescue. I love giving these pieces a new place to live where they will appreciated.

Inspirations: Houses

I'm going to start a new segment of this blog and talk about some inspirations of mine for my work. I use houses often in my artwork as a symbol of many things-mostly personal as so much of my work is (as most art is I think).

("Multiplying" detail)

It is such an iconic, familiar shape. I just like the actual shape of a house—there is something so inviting and comfortable about it--the square sides, the pointed roof. I think about the way children draw houses, the simple forms and shapes that actually mean a lot. Then there is, of course, the deeper meaning of houses and the lives led inside them can be so meaningful--both positive and negative. So here are some other images of houses that inspire me.

"White Swan Deluge" by the incomparable Camille Rose Garcia. She will soon get her own inspiration post because she is the most amazing painter working right now. Period.


"Lost and Found" by one of my heroes Miriam Shapiro I discovered her in college and she is so influential to me.


"Hey Courbet, Fresh Produce" by Emily Eibel. She creates these wonderful images with fabric and stitches.

Camilla Engman has the most beautiful blog. Her paper works are fantastic.

"Fever" by lanydevening The simplicity of this piece is what is so beautiful.

Doll House no 364by sushipot. This piece blew me away.

With these works, you can really see how the shape of a house is used in different ways. How they are used hold a different meaning for each piece. The beauty of art is that are always multiple translations.

L-O-V-E

Well I finally finished this cross stitch. I've been working on it for a couple weeks on and off. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the finished piece but decided to make it into a pillow. I'm not the best sewer in the world--I don't really like to measure so I just go with it. So I'm sure it's a little off in places but to me it just adds to the charm. I am actually very pleased with how it turned out--flaws and all. This cross stitch pattern is from the January 2001 issue of Cross Stitcher magazine (#234). It's a Jacqui Pearce design and she always has really hip patterns. I really love this magazine in general because it usually has several designs that I would love to stitch up.

I added a few strips of colorful fabric and some funky fringe that I found at a flea market for $1.

The stitching did take a while--and I messed up several times. I don't know what it is but I always seem to get off count when I work on larger cross stitches. But I just make it work--I don't like to pull out hundreds of stitches so I just roll with it.

L-V

O-E.....spells


So love to you all---flaws and all!

!WAR Trailer

A Loving Wreath

Well--I really want to share the wreath I made for Valentine's Day. I bought this pink tinsel wreath at Target after Christmas sale for 25 cents! I didn't know what I would use it for--possible something for next Christmas but the longer I thought about the color of it--I thought why not make a Valentine's wreath--so that's what I did.


I just took some felt scraps I had in white, pink and fuchsia and made little layered hearts and then added some super cute love bug foam stickers I picked up at Michael's on sale. Super simple but has a big impact.



I can't get over how cute those little stickers are!

It's a gloomy, rainy day here in NC. A perfect day to stay in, watch a little rugby and stitch. I'm currently working on a really cute cross stitch that I want to make into a new pillow for my couch. I really do need to paint again though--I'd really like to submit something for the upcoming Unfettered show at Visual Art Exchange. I've got a week to complete something. Maybe I should paint today instead...hmmm.