I first painted the black spacechick box when I did a review of an adult toy for my blog sponsor.  The toy was sparkly and had a futuristic style, so I wanted to make a special storage box for it.  The box is lined in black satin.





The orange box (text reads "I have yet to meet a man I couldn't live without) I just painted last night as a gift for my best friend/niece. It has a gloss finish, so it is hard to photograph.  The artwork is painted in a very sparkly metallic teal.



 Her birthday is coming up in a week, and she is in the midst of a divorce.  I thought it would be a fun present for her.  The fabric inside the box will be sewn into a drawstring pouch to stash her favorite toys.



Both boxes have a compartment at the top to stash batteries, lubricants, condoms, etc.
The divider between the top and bottom areas has a notch cut out, which makes it perfect to fit longer rabbit vibes . 

Box base is actually an unfinished wooden wine gift box.  The space chick and woman negative space portrait are adapted from embroidery patterns on Urban Threads.  I found the quote online.

After making the deer pincushion for Always Inspired, I wanted to make one for myself.  I love combining my love of embroidery with hand sewing felt.
This lil gal was made in one day (now that I know what I am doing!). I made up the pattern as I went along.



The trunk has split stitch rings and bark lines, and French knot moss.  Everything is sewn together with a blanket stitch in most places. Body fur is accented with a few open chain stitch Vs. The tail is a fake fur scrap I had, with a trash bag twistie tie inserted for structure.


posing on backyard tree


on neighbor's woodpile


I will be sculpting a polymer clay acorn for a pin topper, but in the meantime he has red pearl head pins as "berries"

When I found this pencil sketch by Eric Domholt, I KNEW I had to stitch it up for my friend, AlwaysInspired.  She has a love for both pirates and ninjas, so it was perfect!
I used satin stitching on a cotton base.  Small changes were made to the original illustration to adapt it for embroidery.  Note to self: satin stitching over large areas is a pain in the arse! Must learn smaller fill stitches pronto!
The 8x10  frame is a fabulous vintage one that AlwaysInspired thrifted, and the photos were taken by her since I forgot to snap a few before I mailed it 

I know there are a couple of other places I could post a felt pincushion, but I decided to go with the needlework board because this pincushion showcases some truly spectacular(ly bad) lazy daisies and French knots 



I started this pincushion last year, and these were my first lazy daisies and French knots, so I do beg consideration for that fact.  I can now rock a French knot, though my lazy daisies are still gawky and pointy. ugh. 


The pattern is my own design, the deer I adapted from a regular size plushie I made awhile back for a swap. I used a (thoroughly cleaned) tuna can for the base.



Oddly, the main green color used is called "pirate green".  What in pirate culture is green?  I don't get it 

ok...I will go first.
Let me preface this by saying I do NOT make jewelry.  My clumsy fingers are not suited to tiny beads and headpins.
That said, I have been in love with rolled rose bib necklaces since I first set eyes on them.  When I saw this challenge, I decided to try my hand at making one in a summery beach wedding theme.  I stabbed my fingers a few times, but I enjoyed making it.  I will probably make a simpler one for more regular wear.



I misplaced my roll of precut muslin strips, so the rolled roses are made from a 100% cotton white bedsheet, torn into strips & dyed with tea (regular black, and lemon dream which is a red rooibos and marigold flower blend).  I wanted it to have a beach sand color.  By some miracle, it dyed to the exact shade as the tulle I had on hand.
The flowers are accented with peridot stone chips and freshwater pearls (birthstones for June & August!), and the "chain" is a double strand of creamy glass pearls which just slips over the head.  The seashells are hand sculpted from polymer clay and painted in acrylics.


modeled by my lovely (if bald and armless) assistant, Lola, in a chocolate brown Nine West dress

An atc trade partner sent me a handful of gothic arch blanks to play with.

They are slightly wider, and about 2cm taller than an ATC.  The size isnt much different, but that extra bit allows me to use images that would otherwise not fit or be too crowded on an atc.  I likey!


Sister Steampunk
collage on arch with tissue, mixed papers, images, gold paint, ink, awesome nun wearing gas mask


Beautiful Beyond Description
collage on arch with tissue, inks, printed images

I have an obsession with insanely long scarves - the kind that hang below my knees.
I do not knit or crochet (oh how I wish I could), but I wanted to add to my beloved collection.
I decided to whip one up with my Wonderland by Momo for Moda charm pack.  I used 20 charms (5" each), and backed it with 2 super cozy brown polar fleece scarves that I sewed end to end (thank you Dollarama!).

Here it is modeled by my lovely new assistant, Lola.



Lola is much taller than me at 6 feet tall.

I was excited to try a new ATC style, so I ordered some black cardstock on Etsy (cannot find any around here!)).
Most silhouettes are based on free clipart found online.  I drew the images on regular paper, then traced it onto the cardstock using a white carbon transfer paper.
Some clumsy scissoring and voila! Mini papercut shapes!
Backgrounds include scrapbook paper and inks. Some have tiny jewels for embellishment.



clockwise from top left:
Steampunk Standoff
Crane (on Japanese washi paper with 9 "jewels")
Wind Me Up
Breeze



clockwise from top left
Goodbye
Reflect
Pensive Owl
Imagine (personal collection)

I already have 8 more designs cut from the black cardstock.  I just need to cut more ATC backs  

**more cards in this silhouette series on pages 2 and 3

I have wanted to make a shadowbox shrine forever.  I bought this adorable unfinished wooden house on Etsy last year and it sat untouched until a couple of nights ago.
I was surprised at how each room seemed to decorate itself as I went along.
I figured my first shrine should be on a subject I know a lot about...and I know more than ANYBODY about me!
Each room represents a different personality trait or internal struggle.
It is a liberating experience to be able to put my darkest feelings into an art piece and put them "out there" for the world to see.


This is my favorite "room".  It shows my struggle with agoraphobia and anxiety disorder and the medications I have to endure to cope with it (the monkey on my back).  I sculpted the pills from polymer clay and painted them to look like my real meds.


This room represents my "unnatural" childless state at the age of 34, and the pressures put on a woman to reproduce.  The text on the side wall reads "this may be your last chance!". 


I am an Atheist, and this room shows the scorn I often receive/perceive from theists, that I am somehow immoral and shall be barred from getting a ticket to their heaven.


At the center of it all is peace and joy, and self-acceptance. 


I was not able to get a good closeup of the "attic", but it shows a prisoner without walls, my procrastination and worries that I will never get around to it (round tuit!) and a couple of loose screws (lol!).  This is my agoraphobia.
It is not the most complex shrine, but I enjoyed making it very much.

I have made a couple of ATCs in the past - but mostly stamps and doodles.

I played with several techniques today including gesso texturing, wax collage, packing tape transfers, etc.

I NEED to get a new printer! I am attempting to papercraft with my limted ephemera on hand!

For my wax, I used the melted remains of a scented wax tart in the burner.

Once Upon A Time


Explore the World


Everyone Loves a Balloon


sorry about the flash - I will get around to making a lightbox someday