Studio Mice Stealing Hearts

January went by faster than a startled cat!  It was a month of studio changes, refocus, and wake up calls- but more on that later.  Today is a light and fluffy kind of return to my blogging side.  Today is a day to introduce the studio mice of 2014. 

The new studio mice are made of up-cycled wool and cashmere.

They are simple critters with big hearts.

 

Though they are quiet and relatively unobtrusive, they do tend to multiply quickly.



To see more studio mice, check out where they dwell on Early Work Mercantile,  Etsy, and Hendley Market.

 

LOVE & STUDIO MICE

 





A Good Punch

Nothing beats stress build up like punching the @#*! out of something.  What do I do with nervous energy? Needle punch punch punch punch punch! And I make a living mess while I do it!

My work table is a scattered array of roving, notions, and wool scraps at the ready.  I have fallen in love with Wisteria threads roving!  It adds just the right hues to every project!  I love to use non-traditional backgrounds when needle punching. Old woolens, linen napkins, and painted cotton lend themselves well to my schemes.

Perhaps it is my New England upbringing that has me so thrifty (ahem- "resourceful").  I believe every scrap, every cast-off has value and deserves a chance to shine again before truly hitting the trash.

Bubbles the piggy has become one of my fave de-stress characters.  His bubbles are made from old sweater wool ringed in alpaca roving. I am playing in my dye bins to mimic the color quality of the Wisteria threads- but I am no match.  Not yet anyway (insert evil laugh).  I used a backdrop of wool up-cycled from a thrift store suit atop a layer of cotton batting. The fibers, when condensed through the punch process, give the bubbles dimension.

 

Mini punchers are my latest craze!  Old sweater wool molded into tart tins, sugar bowls, anything kitchen- then embellished with roving for a lasting pin keep treasure!

The old adage is true: when you're looking for something you can never find it.  Even when just last week the item was EVERYWHERE!  This week I received an order for 10 tins, and of course the constant supply has fallen off the earth.  I've been scouring the antique stores, thrift shops and garage sales to no avail!  So back I go to my punching, needling out the stress and keeping the faith that new tins will emerge before the deadline.

 

LOVE  AND  A GOOD PUNCH!

Mohair Easter Peeps

Mohair and camel hair have fast become my spring go-to fabrics.  With fine textures to elate the fingertips and vintage hues that inspire childhood winter memories, mohair and camel hair are as durable as they are pliable.  Of course, I use vintage up-cycled fabrics so each piece wears a history all its own and a once treasured garment gets a chance to delight again!

 

This weekend was all about simple leaping rabbits.  This bunny, adapted from Robyn Pandolph's quilting pattern in Stitched With Love, is a spring fave! 

 

 

I love the fluffiness of the camel hair and mohair on these rabbits! The fibers give them a definition simple linen can not. Much of the vintage mohair I find is blended with additional fibers.  I am pretty picky (just like mohair.. har har har!) and stick to mohair that is blended with wool.  It works best in the felting process to create a tight workable fabric.

 

 

Camel hair also worked well on this pillow interpretation of Robyn's pattern.

 

 

Up-cycled mohair blend sweaters also make the fuzziest wee chicks around! Once all the rabbit forms are cut there is usually enough fabric left to make a cheeky chicky duo.

 

 

As you see I have lots of starts that need finishing. So back to the studio I go! 

Here's to a creative week for all!

 

LOVE  &  EASTER PEEPS!

Pursuing The Dream

A simple thought as I wind down my whirlwind week of crafting.  Many a fine fabric was up-cycled into some characters that have been dancing about my sketchbook and my thoughts.  Though I worked from the moment I woke up until I went back to sleep at night, I have never been happier.  For the past year I have been pursuing my dream of turning my hobby into my career.  The non-stop stitching, promoting, and yes- networking (big gulp for this shy girl) has pushed my boundaries further than I imagined and I am forever changed for the better.

None of this would be possible without one VERY understanding and supportive Hubby. We have always lived our lives in the moment and agree that nothing is worse than a dream that expires into regret. My hope is to one day be self-sufficient in my business and afford him the same opportunity.  The gift of chasing one's dream is priceless. Hubby and I were ghost tripping in Comanche, Texas when we came across this trophy in an abandoned house still full of its cobwebbed contents.  I couldn't help but wonder whose dreams had dwelled here and if those dreams were ever fulfilled.  This little bowler has been my visual cue to keep my dream alive, keep pushing forward, enjoy the journey, and never let my work become just a memory.