SALE! SALE! SALE!

In both of my ETSY shops, I'm having a

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

Anything purchased on November 28th--extended through December 1st!!--will recieve FREE SHIPPING!! (wait to pay until I send you an invoice and I'll knock off the shipping as my holiday gift to you!)

It's Nibblefest Time!

The theme this month is Christmas Trees. So here's my entry--another altered frame with a painting inside. This one is 7" x 5.5". It's on e-bay now starting at just $.99!

*SOLD

Inspire Me Thursday - Albert Einstein

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

---Albert Einstein

This painting was a WHOLE series of happy mistakes/accidents that ended in one of my favorite paintings ever.

"Take A Look Around" is available on ETSY now.

IF - Pretend

The theme for Illustration Friday this week is Pretend.

Today in Las Cruces it was in the 70's so we sort of have to pretend that the weather outside is firghtful.

I am not complaining!! I love a put the top down, wear short sleeves, let's BBQ outside type of Christmas. :)

*SOLD

Newest Teacher Sign

I love the look of these faux chalkboard signs. Aren't they just perfect for teachers? This one went in the mail today. Teacher Signs are available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

It's That Time Again!

Jingle Blocks are now available in my bumblebina ETSY shop!! Some have already sold (before they even got to ETSY) to a loyal buyer. But most are there or will be listed soon.

Cottage Christmas (SOLD)

Peppermint Stripe (1 JOY and 2 NOEL still available - rest have SOLD)

Retro

Funky (SOLD)

Cottage Chistmas letters set

Santa Signs

The first one I listed in my bumblebina ETSY shop, sold right away and led to an order from the buyer for 4 more to give as gifts. I'll be shipping these off tomorrow.

While I worked on those I did another one for the ETSY shop. This one is quite large--4" x 11" plus the handle and is just too cute. It's available now on ETSY. And, no, the number isn't correct. It's 42 more days actually. :)

Newest Name Sign

Newest name sign. This one was delivered yesterday. Name signs are now available exclusively in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

IF - Wise

The weather is finally starting to turn a little chilly--for Southern New Mexico. I have to add that because yesterday on a field trip with my daughter I was FREEZING. I had gloves and a scarf on. When I got out to the car, the temperature said 60 degrees. In my defense, it was quite windy. :) I have definately become a weather wimp.

But as it turns colder, thoughts turn towards the holidays. One of my favorite Christmas phrases: Wise Men Still Seek Him


*SOLD*

A Cottage Christmas

It began as a manufactured interlocking frame and ended up this delicious, fun little Christmas piece.

Interlocked, this frame is 8" wide and 6" tall

Each individual tree painting is 3.75" x 2.75"

Top view

*Update: Happy Christmas has SOLD*

New in My ETSY Shop

The last set of these Give Thanks Blocks sold before they even made it to my ETSY shop. So I decided to do one more batch before I move onto my Jingle Blocks. These blocks are now in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

These large JOY Blocks are also available now.

Won't this be a fun countdown sign? The whole sign is a chalkboard so you can change the number with each passing day. Sign is 9" x 4". (Update: Santa Comes sign is SOLD)

I LOVE this sign. The letters say Joy and the frame has "to the world" printed on it. So cute. Joy the World sign is now available.

And 12,176 Stitches Later, You Have a Bag

Really that's how many. I added them all up.

So this is what I've been doing for the past few weeks. I've had this yarn since last year just waiting to make a really cool bag. These colors are delicious together. Ecru and Heather Gray. (Doesn't that sound like some lovely exotic couple you'd love to hang out with? Oh, we can't go, Ecru and Heather Gray are coming over for dinner. Yes, don't you just love them?) :)

For this bag, I almost followed this pattern for a felted market bag, but again had to change some things. I like to make things more my own. I didn't do the stripes and I added some polka dots. I love that they include a picture in the pattern of how the handles came together. WHY can't all knitting patterns have pictures?!? It's so helpful. (I took careful notes and did several diagrams while I was working on this so if you are going to make it and want some tips, feel free to e-mail me! I'd love to help.)

I used 4 skeins of Cascade 220. Two of each color and I have about 1 yard of each color left. Really. One yard. It was dicey as I was seaming the base thinking I may run out of yarn.

Here's the bag before felting. It's about 16" x 14". (The base is all wonky because knitted fabric shrinks more lengthwise).


Here it is after felting being blocked. It's about 12" x 13".

What is felting and blocking? Quick explanation: Basically you knit with 100% wool yarn and then wash it in really hot water (like when you accidentally shrink a wool sweater) and it becomes boiled wool or felt. It becomes a solid textile. You can even cut it up after that and it won't fray or come undone. Blocking is stretching the item out after it's been felted to the shape you want it and letting it dry that way. I'm using my gigantic hardcover The Art Book inside the bag to hold the right size and shape. The book is wrapped in grocery bags since the bag is still quite damp.