Bee's To Arrive!

Welcome creatures of the Sun!

Pat assembling a box.

This is the year we are finally getting bee's! I'm so excited, it's something I've wanted for a long time now, but we dove in head first and there is no going back now. The past month I have been working on cleaning up an old hive that a friend gave to me (not always recommended due to the chance of disease, it's best not to take old equipment unless you're really sure where it's coming from) assembling frames, making orders, and doing lots of research and reading. I'm so excited to embark on this new endeavor along with Pat.

I am lucky to have a couple of good beekeeping friends who I hope will help us along the way. Here is a link to a "hanging basket hive" at the Melissa Garden. Prepare to be amazed.

Some new supplies that came in the biggest heaviest box I've ever had addressed to me. Some bee supplements, a hat and mask for Pat, hive tool, and two "deep boxes" the main body of the hive where the bee's spend most of their time over winter, and laying brood, before all those extra honey supers ever get put on.

Kraft Paper Lables and Cards

Here is a fun quick last minute craft project (if you have more time to cram another project in)

A little group of Christmas trees cards! Draw out your tree shape on paper, trace onto fabric, and then cut out. I used batting for snow, and free form sewed around in a contrasting thread. Select your favorite fabrics and buttons and use embroidery thread to attach your star/button to the top of the tree.

I've been utilizing some leftover Kraft card stock paper that I used for making labels for my Brown Boot Salvage table a few weeks ago and folding small squares to turn into Christmas cards!

I cut out a template of a kind of funky Dr. Seuss like tree, pinned it to fabric and then cut it out. I then sewed the tree shape to the card stock with my sewing machine.

Then I picked out my favorite color if embroidery thread accenting the tree, chose some leftover wool fabric (you could use an old sweater, or any other textured funky fabric) and embroidered on the trunk of the tree. Then I sewed on a little button for the star! Voila a sweet looking and totally handmade Christmas card.





Now I'm working on some shape cut outs for gift labels!





Just tear or cut squares of the same Kraft paper card stock, cut out shapes from some pretty fabrics ( I used silk, cotton and linen) and sew onto your cards. Mine are still a work in progress right here, but now they are hiding in a closet and adorning gifts.

Christmas in the Sticks

The holiday festivities have kicked into high gear around these parts. I've spent the day today finishing a knit garment for a Christmas gift, baking sugar cookies, and decorating a huge tree that required a ladder to reach the top! We're expecting our first snowy messy weather day tomorrow and it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas out here in the sticks!

I'm excited I've really been getting to do a lot of work on projects that needed doing for presents, and also for Brown Boot Salvage. I had some help in getting a beautiful wooden stand for my bags made, so that I could bring them to a local retail shop that sells things at Christmas time. Though I don't have a picture of it yet, I'm really proud of how my garlands and bags look hanging there on a real rack in a real store.

More on my recent projects soon, one of which includes a pink silk elf hat complete with pom pom and magical bird adornment...

After the Show when the lights go down...

I had such a wonderful time at the Indie Craft Extravaganza yesterday at The Space. I've been working so hard to get all of my products, packaging and display booth ready I haven't had much time to post on my blog. If you're reading this because you took a card or met me at my booth yesterday, welcome, and thanks so much! Drop me a line if you feel like saying hello.

As my first craft show experience as a seller and not just an attendee I was really impressed with the turn out of the crowd and vendors, and also the quality of the workmanship that people put into there goods. I feel like I walked away with some new friends, some good feedback on my products and booth and a bunch of great resources. My neighbor seller, Treasures of the Moon bought a bag from me, and I bartered an amazing fabric cuff with Magaly Ohika.

I worked so hard to get everything done for the fair, but walking away with some products left over, I'm now moving on to the next goal of getting my bags in a local antique shop and

food co-op.

I'll be posting pictures later on of the craft fair and of my booth, and everyone cloaked in pretty lights and christmas music!

Indie Extravaganza!

I recently just entered into my first craft fair! I'm so excited, it's been a goal of mine for a while now, and it's finally happening. It is held at The Space a venue where I have performed a number of times, and they have a constant full calendar of events and music. I am hard at work creating my handmade items for the fair, working on packaging, my display and general production. I am a lover of all things handmade so participating in this event is going to be a great time. Come and say hello, and check out the beginning of my product line for Brown Boot Salvage, handmade bags, garlands, collages and more.

Woodland yarn flowers in the flowing snow

I love this dress from modcloth. I think this site is an oldy but a goody for a lot of people but it's fairly new to me, it's fun to look at.

And here we have another Style School installment. These are little balls of yarn, put in pretty milk glass vases. I acquired the two front little ones at an antique store a couple of weeks ago, and the other two taller ones at the thrift store. I went out in the snow to gather catalpa tree branches for the stems.

This was a relaxing project because earlier I had one of the worst driving experiences I've ever had. White out snow, black ice underneath a slick couple of inches of snow. A twenty minute drive turned into an hour and twenty minute one. I was gripping the wheel even after I'd come in the house and had dinner! So needless to say, I'm happy that's over with.

Here are couple of yesterdays salvation army trip...

I love the color of the green necklace that I found, and this sweet little cardigan. In the right side of the picture you can see a tie (one of 3) that I found for an upcoming style school project.

New Crafts! and the woes of no photos

So I just signed in to flickr and since I don't have the pro account I can no longer add photos (until next month) to any flickr pools, the main one of concern being style school. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm just going to keep creating things and worry about it later. Here are a couple photos of one of the pairs of earrings I've made, and also my stamp. I'm going to use my stamp for music related products to distribute at gigs and what have you. Maybe fabric patches if I could get that to work, or just large business cards.

Guitar stamp and sample prints. I was so excited to use my linoleum that proclaims on the package that it "Cuts like butter!" How could you not chose that brand. I have to tell ya, it really does.

My earrings, on an old book, on top of an even older apron that I was wearing that I got at the flea market this past summer. It was handmade and you there are an incredible amount of pleats in it. I have yet to sew a pleat in something.

Sporting my fabric covered earrings via the Style School ladies. Quick and colorful project.

So I just signed in to flickr and since I don't have the pro account I can no longer add photos (until next month) to any flickr pools, the main one of concern being style school. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm just going to keep creating things and worry about it later. Here are a couple photos of one of the pairs of earrings I've made, and also my stamp. I'm going to use my stamp for music related activities products to distribute at gigs and what have you.

Style School Dog Collar Project.

These photos are from the dog collar project for Style School. Maude is the star of most of these shots, she is a rescued Australian cattle dog, she likes to eat treats, jump onto the refrigerator and rip around the yard at top speed. She's a blast to play with and to have in the family, we're lucky and thankful to have her.

Here she is sporting her new collar. She dosn't usually enjoy collars too much so this is very dressed up for her.

Rolling on the couch...

And the button closeup

Here she is wearing her tissue paper cape, starring as Super Dog Maude in this shot, she's taking off on her brand new flying blue cape to save the injured dogs of the world.

Bye Maude!

Untitled

Here is a picture of my owl sewing bag that I made for Style School. The original project is for a makeup bag but I use sewing supplies or crafty items more than I ever use makeup so thats the purpose for this little one.

Some leftover sewing supplies from this morning's project. I finally got to use some moda swatch pack fabric that my mom had given me as a gift almost a year ago.

This chair should have gone in my Mustard Monday post from the beginning of the week, a new free find.

Last night I went to Real Art Ways an art gallery, movie theater, and performance center in Hartford CT. We went to a movie called "Untitled" which was an absolutely hysterical account of an avante garde sound artist trying to make his way through the art world. as well as following gallery owners, artists and the archetypal people that surround the underground world of art. I'm not really one who loves to give movie plots away but here is a link to the website. I thought it was really good, and very funny. If it's playing in your city you should check it out.

In the gallery afterward we checked out the gallery which has currently a collection of Jamaican Dance Hall posters

and also "Rockstone and Bootheel" a plethora of contemporary West Indian Art. Photography, sculpture, film, music, it was all there. A real neat collection of works by artists of all kinds. If you click the link above and look at the sidebar there are images from the exhibit. I love that all the art was from one region in the world, it really painted an image that represents the culture and people.

In light of the everything going in that region of the world in Haiti right now check out Mutual Aid Disaster Relief for their mission statement and a grassroots place to put your effort or your dollar or both. Just people helping people when they need it most.

Style School Inspiration Boards

Here is tonight's project (that is really yesterday's) from Style School. Studio Inspiration Boards. I have yet to buy some chalk, so I can write down all my ideas, quotes, and inspirations. Any good resources on colorful beautiful chalk colors in store or online?

I made (from top left to bottom right) #1 . 3 Ribbons sewn together, felt, chalk board paint and magazine ticket stub, #2 Chalkboard with ribbon and paper and mini clothes pins (that I added afterward) #3 Painted with green acrylic paint, glued on paper, candy wrapper and book paper and yarn #4 Oil cloth fabric and ribbon sewed on the top with contrasting stitching #5 chalkboard with wrapping paper boarder, fabric, white pom pom #6 Fabric attached with adhesive, green paper and cardboard

I can't wait to start adding my daily inspiration to each one of these.

I'm groovin out to David Bowie's Without You right now. It's a good night song.

Bookcase in Color

I recently came upon a free, beautiful wooden bookshelf, that I feel like just might be waiting to be turned into a receptacle for fabric and other sundry craft items waiting to be displayed. I first saw the idea for decorating a bookshelf in one of my new favorite craft books to look at"One Yard Wonders" by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins . I think I smell a new project coming on.

Here is a picture of what I'm talking about from Apartment Therapy.

And Here are a few inspirational images from www.weheartit.com under the search of "bookshelf". Here are the all mighty tomes that we read every day, the intangible sensations we gather from reading our favorite stories and truths, the stories of ourselves, in books.

The Honeycomb idea is really cool

I think the first one and this tree should go side by side together

I fear that someday my book collection might look like this and that I might have to invest in a ladder to slide myself down the extensive isles, so far that you won't be able to see me when I get to the end. Till that day comes, I'm settling for the growing stacks of colored information.

Style School

So far this past week has been filled with crafts, any moment that I haven't been working or doing other things I've been working on my projects for Style School, it's a great online class being taught mainly by Elsie and Leigh-Anne over at abeautifulmess and frecklednest. I've managed to accomplish almost all of the projects this week ( I hefty task, but a lot of fun) so this morning I may be rewarding myself by going to a local flea market. Here are some pictures from my week

A visit to my friends cabin, brough me to this doorstep, built entirely from materials on the property, and all by hand, the chinks between the logs are stuffed with moss, and there is a teeny tiny little coal stove on the inside. It's inhabitants are currently residing in CA for the winter, which I understand. There's also a beautiful circle of stone sculptures, a fire pit, and a hunting platform just out of view.
My newly thrifted finds. The faux milk glass vases, the lampshade and the fabrics are for Style School projects to come. I also found these totally neat yarn covered hangers, there were probably about 30 of them sold in packs of 4, but I settled for this sat as I liked the colors best.
One of my photo wall art projects, some instrument pictures of mine, an old 45 that I found at a house that I'm working on, sitting in this beautiful old record/stereo cabinet. One of the last remnants of the people living there before.
This was my find of the week, vintage samsonite for 1 dollar! The zipper works, very little wear and tear, original luggage tag, this one is staying in my closet!
My tool belt crafting apron complete with double pockets, a Rising Appalachia patch that I got at a show, ribbon for tying tape or other tools to, another secret little pocket up top, and big pink ties to hold the whole thing up. Another Style School craft, I had the most fun with this one. I also got to use my new vintage button collection on this one.

A silk/ heavy cotton pom pom necklace, another one of our projects. I've really been enjoying experimenting with different colors, new crafty techniques, even from just one week I've learned a bunch of new skills, and my list of project ideas is growing with each craft that we make. I'm working on a list, and I'm hoping to maybe accomplish a handful of them even during the class, so keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground.

Happy New Year!

I love this crochet book cover by the Merry Stitcher on Ravelry.

I want to make this New Years Garland from one of my favorite craft sites the purlbee.com.

I just ordered my first batch of fabric from Purlsoho.com and I got a bunch of wool felt, I'm thinking I might have to use some of it for this project!

I am currently working on some blue yarn pom pom ornaments for what I am deciding will be my year round craft room tree. It's a miniature white fake tree that my grandmother got me about 5 years ago, but I think it would be such a fun thing to decorate along with the seasons and holidays.

Pullin on slippers

this is such a lovely doll by simplyjessi on etsy .com I have come home from work tonight with new car parts for my little VW, and a large bag of donated christmas-y food, stuffing potatoes, chocolate covered popcorn or "coal". Generously given to me by a new co-worker and kindred spirit. There is quite a chill in the air tonight, I think winter finally arrived this week, we don't have nearly as much snow as some other states, but the little bit that we do have has stayed on the ground through rain and sleet for almost a week now.

I have been working on some christmas projects (some secret and some not) of which I'll put pictures up sometime soon once the gifts have been given. I'm taking an online craft class and just last night finished my first ever shadow box, I've made christmas labels, I have sewing to do, knitting to do, and christmas cards to make.

Got the christmas music on the pandora and a big crocheted hat on and the woodstove crankin.

Daffodils and Rain induced Rooftop Trills!

Almost a month since the last post. Oh well the wagon with the band on it has to go a little faster than all of us from time to time and we're bound to fall off when that happens you know?

  Starting farming work this week. Knitting, reading, planning, getting sick, getting better...

    I've been learning to sew, the crafting projects that are possible at this point in my life are a little daunting, knowing that I'm mystically attracted to every single crafting discipline that there is. Maybe it's not so mystical actually and it really makes perfect sense, once shown all the techniques and tricks of different crafts how could you not want to know how to do everything?

   Here is the Etsy find for the day. Or really the hour, as the Etsy addiction is just about as bad as the crafting itself, except that you get more instant gratification from looking at what someone else has made without having to go and make something yourself, you can still look at something beautiful and inspirational.