On the Work Table

So this is what I've been working on lately...Lots of commissions and a few other new items for the shop. Can you tell what holiday most people are ordering for?


Now that most of the month's commissions are finished , I'm going to take a break and make at least one art doll...because it has simply been WAY too long. How does one balance commission work, which pays the bills and is certainly therefore very welcome, with the creative need to make something new and wonderful and in my case usually not as marketable.The bigger dolls just don't sell, particularly in this economy. This has really been a struggle for me lately and I'd love to hear how others manage the balance of art and commerce...not afraid to ask the big questions today am I!
Have a wonderful week!

Autumn Treasures

I thought I'd share a few autumn lovelies I found this week on my morning walks...

The fungus have been amazing!







and of course there are the leaves which are just starting to change...





Next time some new dolls... in the meantime, Enjoy!!

Stars

I made up a few star ornaments for the shop. I'm almost out of my collage fabric now so it looks like these might be the last for a bit.

To make the collage fabric: I scatter glitzy yarns, fabric, and other fibers on a piece of satin; place a piece of netting in a matching color on top, pin the cloth and fiber sandwich together, run a few seams over it to hold it in place, take out the pins, and then go crazy sewing all over it with metallic threads using free motion embroidery. The finished material is incredible! But it is very time consuming to make so it may be awhile before I can launch into making more.

And despite the fact that I don't have much free time, I still decided to make a pot scrubber with recycled net bag "yarn" . I saw the idea here and thought "I can do that!" ....Ha! Crocheting the stuff was practically impossible...and the endeavor involved way too much bad language...so I put the project away for awhile to let it "percolate". Finally I realized ...it's the hook that's the problem, it catches in the little square holes! From this realization it was a small step to the idea of knitting the thing instead. Pretty neat way to recycle those bags...

Yeah, it's a little wonky in shape...but it is my first attempt so be kind.:)

Cats and Tags

My new tags came and I've been working on some more wallets...



Aren't those tags great?! I ordered them from a shop on Etsy, Avlor. Amy, the shop owner, was an absolute dream to work with and she developed the perfect tags for me...fairyish of course! New laws here in the US require that all children's items have tags with all this info and Amy's upcycled cotton tags were the perfect fit for my natural toys. (In case you're wondering, DOM stands for "date of manufacture" and I write in the date I finish a piece after that.) And then I liked them so much I started putting them on my other items as well! I guess I went a bit...tag happy?

Calliope was trying to steal the new kitty wallet...

But I wouldn't let her have it and then I wouldn't let her stand in front of the computer monitor either...the nerve of me...so she decided to look peevishly out the window as I typed...

and eventually when I did not give her my undivided attention...a few pets and scratches obviously don't count...she left in a huff. I'm sure I'll be paying for this later.

Now I'm off to make roast duck for dinner. It's the 27th anniversary of my being married to my best friend, who is also a totally amazing guy, and we're celebrating by cooking an amazing dinner together in our lovely new kitchen...roast duck....YUM!

Ah, October

With the coming of October, Autumn seems to really have a arrived at last. I love the crisp feel in the air, the tangy scent of fallen leaves, the bright colors of the trees in contrast to the muted colors of the dying grasses and purple mists. I think this is the time of year I actually feel the most alive...not to mention I look SO much better in cold weather clothes! ;)

"The scarlet of maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
to see the frosty asters like smoke
upon the hills."
- William Bliss Carman

So I've been making autumny things lately. I made a few dolls like this fall berry pixie...


...and then I felt the need to work in my recycled sweater wools so I made a few wallets. I love this leaf one!

Then I made a few non autumn others, like this flower one (which was supposed to be a very simple flower shape but the thread kind of took over and became a vine and then there were leaves and beads and...well...you know how that is....)


but I'm waiting on some new tags before I add any more than these two to the shop. I love my new tags! I'll post some pictures with them next time. And I leave you with this...

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."

- Elizabeth Lawrence

Drum Roll Please......

Today was the day to pick the winner of my birthday gift away, and since it was my youngest son's birthday, it only seemed fitting that I let him do the honors.

The names all ready to be drawn

Some in the family are totally uninterested in the process

Max, blindfolded and ready to draw

The winning ticket!

As you can see the winner is Susie McMahon!! Congratulations Susie! Thank you so much to everyone who participated and all your lovely birthday wishes. I had so much fun doing this that I may have to make it an annual event!