Newest Teacher Name Signs

It's been a while since I've updated pics of the newest name signs. So here they are. Teacher Name Signs are always available in my bumblebina ETSY shop and make a great Christmas gift for teachers!!

Halloween Knitting

Mini Top Hat for Halloween
Pattern: Miniature Top Hat from Darktwist
Needles: US 10.5
Yarn: vintage wool
Notions: singed fabric flower, feathers, lace trim, pearls

Oh this was fun! This was part of my steampunk Halloween costume this year.

Here's the other part...

Halloween Cuffs
Pattern: Antique Alice in Wonderland from VO Knits
Needles: US 8, 10, 11, 15, 17
Yarn: Cascade 220, vintage wool, Caron Simply Soft

Here they are together with the rest of the costume...

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!! :)

Sideways Cloche

Sideways Cloche
Pattern: Personal Pattern adapted from a picture in a book :)
Yarn: Vintage wool held doubled
Needles: US 10 for body of hat, US 9 for crown

This one's for me, but she was my available model. :)

IF - Spooky

Okay, he's not that spooky, but this little cutie is definitely ready for Halloween. This owl will be available on e-bay on October 20th HERE as part of the Nibblefest Art Contest.

*SOLD

Did I Mention I LOVE Candy Corn?

Candy Corn Bag
Pattern: Little Felted Tote by Lucy Robson (FREE)
Needle: US 11
Yarn: Cascade 220 and vintage wool
Finished Size (after felting): 7.5" wide, 6" tall plus handle

This originally started out as a gift, but I love it so much I may keep it for myself. :) The pattern from Lucy Robson is for a basic bag. I just did the color work to make it look like candy corn. The liner is a bright yellow/orange fabric and I added ribbon, tulle and ric rac to the handle for a fun accent. Isn't Fall the best??

Knitting Update

Here are the latest projects. I always have something on the needles. Although I am a person who fully finishes a project before moving onto the next--no half finished projects lying around for me. I'm weird that way. I have a hat I'm working on right now that HAS to be finished soon so I can move onto my Halloween costume knitting. Updates on all that later...

Monster Chunk for Will

Pattern: Monster Chunks (free!) by Rebecca Danger

Needle Size: US 6

Yarn: Cascade 220 for the body, Lily Sugar n' Cream for the feet

I originally planned to knit a little bird for this new baby, but then I went to Target to buy a little outfit for him and you can see from the picture below why I HAD to do a Monster Chunk for him! How perfectly does this go with the shirt?

Coral India Scarf
Pattern: India Scarf by Ilga Leja
Needle: US 11 for CO and BO, body of the scarf was US 9
Yarn: NaturallyCaron.com Spa in Coral Lipstick

My first real lace pattern. The yarn is slippery and splitty and just plain hard to work with, but the finished scarf is amazing! It's soft and so pretty. I love it. It's supposed to be a summer scarf, but you couldn't pay me to wear a scarf in the summer in the Southwest! :) So this one is a Fall/Spring scarf for me.

Halloween Black Bird
Pattern: Lil Birdie by Carina Lee (FREE)
Needle: US 4
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

I will definitely be making more of these little cuties! This pattern is great.

Crochet 3 Strand Headband
Pattern: Simple Crochet Headband (FREE)
Hook: G
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

My crochet skills are very lacking, but this was still super quick and easy.

Newest Painting - Girl in the Yellow Dress

Girl in the Yellow Dress,  8" x 8.25",  acrylics and mixed media on 1/2" wood (SOLD)

She's a bit summery in her little dress isn't she? Well, we were still getting up into the 90's last week so I guess I'm still feeling a bit summery myself. :)

*SOLD

A Re-Make without a Before Picture :(

These used to be a garish orange with green polka dots or stripes--I can't remember. (I didn't take a before picture, but trust me, they were ugly.) I got them from Hobby Lobby years ago. 

Last year I primed them and never got around to finishing them. The other day I pulled them back out and got to work. I am so happy with the result! 

Basically, I painted them black to paint down their original color and to create a good base coat. I then painted them with an uneven coat of white, then distressed them by scraping some of the white paint down to the black and also by hammering some nail holes into the surface of the wood. I also did some image transfer onto them. Then I painted them a soft fall orange and added stamps, stripes, circles and pencil marks. I then added some brown paint to distress the ridges and edges. I also painted the stems brown and twisted some thin wire around them. 

I think I'll keep them out through Thanksgiving.

Newest Name Signs

All personalized Teacher and Child Name Signs are available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

IF - Beneath

How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.

--William Faulkner

Keeler Wedding Painting

IF - Proverb

Dream Trees, 12" x 24", Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas (SOLD)

A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.

William Blake, Proverbs of Hell, 1790

New Paintings!

It's been a while.

I finally got back in the studio and got some work done! And oh did it feel good.

Some good friends came to visit and wanted "Take a Look Around" (the painting on the left) but also wanted a second companion painting. So here they are together. I'm just getting ready to ship them off to their new home.

And these trees (below) are brand new. I seem to always go back to painting trees. These are completely different though. The colors are softer and I've added lots of mixed media elements.

Dream Trees, 12" x 24", Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas (SOLD)

Newest Teacher Name Signs

Teacher Name Signs are always available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

Another Buckeye Sign

This one was an ETSY order. The Buckeye Nation is everywhere, people! I love it!

Child's Name Signs are always available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

Ever Heard of Plarn???

Plarn is plastic yarn you make from recycled grocery bags. And what do you do with it?

You knit with it of course!

Grocery Bag Bag
Pattern: Everyday Grocery Bag Handbag by Trina Brielle
Needle: US 11
Yarn: Handmade Plarn made using only the finest Walmart and Alberston's bags :)

This bag is made entirely from recycled grocery bags. It is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable. How cool is that?

I made the flower accessory using the basic singed fabric technique but I used all grocery bags. (Just be careful because they singe VERY quickly and can burn faster than fabric.)

Sometimes...

I do knit stuff for me. :)

Candy Corn Mittens
Pattern: Candy Corn Mittens (free!)
Needle: US 8
Yarn: Cascade 220

I can't wait to wear these in the fall! We rarely get cold enough for mittens in October, but I'm wearing em! I love Candy Corn and I love fall and Halloween! I'm giddy just thinking about how soon it's coming. :)

Felted Pears
Pattern: Wooly Pears from Nikki Epstein in The Beginner's Guide to Felting
Needle: US 11
Yarn: Vintage wool

I personally liked them better before I felted them. Kinda wish I hadn't felted them.

A Few Knitted Toys

These were all knitted for my nieces or nephews. I need my sisters and sister in law to have babies forever so I'll always have little ones to knit for! :)

Cupcakes for Cam and Haley
Pattern: Swirl Cupcake by Tess Young
Needle Size: US 6, 5 and 4
Yarn: Caron Wintuk and Lily Sugar n' Cream

Jordy's Ice Cream Cone

Pattern: Scooped (free!)

Needle Size: US 6

Yarn: Lily Sugar n' Cream and some random acrylic (pink)

Monster Chunks for the Twins

Pattern: Monster Chunks (free!) by Rebecca Danger--I LOVE her designs!! All of em! Love em!

Needle Size: US 6

Yarn: Bernat Softee for the bodies, Lily Sugar n' Cream for the feet

Blue Bird for Ethan

Pattern: Birds and Birdhouse by Amy Gaines

Needle Size: US 4

Yarn:  Lily Sugar n' Cream