show time!

This installment represents the last of my craft show creations. Even now, having spent most of my holiday weekend in crafty exploits, my mind is still racing with things yet to make. So sad to actually have to cut yourself off from something, but it's for the best. My hubby and my doggy miss me! As does my very hairy house! Regardless of these and other pressing "adult tasks," I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out, just in time for digs & bean's Big Crafty debut. More pics on my flickr page.

I'm really excited to move onto some different kind of projects. It's just a different way of thinking: making stuff to make stuff and making stuff to sell. I like the process though - working on lots of little quick projects - but I'm ready for something slow and involved. Maybe some experiments with image transfer? Maybe some abstract pieces shellaced onto wood? Who knows... but house cleaning first!

my half of the table

I claim this end, bedecked in crafty mess though it may be, in the name of digs & bean! The other end is claimed by my almost-finished-with-nursing-school hubby: he's studying for a take-home test - a novel idea to me, at least. I'm in final preparations for the Big Crafty in July. Once I finish framing these prints up, I'll be officially done. This has been a lot of hard work, but I'm really proud of all the stuff I've made in the last few months. I've been meaning to make a tally... or at least post some photos of my stash. Maybe someday soon...

placemats and other fun adventures

Oh, what a spendid weekend in the mountains. On Saturday, we explored Panther Town Valley and found a new favorite spot: Warden Falls. It was lovely: relaxing in the (chili!) water, "teaching" Baby to swim, and general outdoor frolicking. This morning, we went tubing on the Green River... seriously the most fun $7 can buy.

And in between all that outdoor adventuring, I constructed a placemat for the placemat swap group. My swap partner (thankfully) gave me pretty specific ideas about what she liked, so I pretty much copied those ideas but put a creative twist on it, for her and her kiddos: the placemat turns into a tic tac toe board. My favorite are the fork and spoon: those might have to make an appearance in some future quilties...

felt mystery project

Pardon the silence... I've been busy with, well, a felt mystery project. I can't show the finished project (just yet, anyway), but I will share this mildy intriguing in-process shot (how's that for an opener?). Fun, no? Ah, I love felt: no finishing, no kinks.... no yummy prints either, though. More to come soon.

tat-pplique

Okay, okay... I'll admit it: I do have a fondness for made-up words. And I decided that I wanted a word to describe the process I've been using to make these little birdy mini quilts, using my tattoos as applique patterns. I'm having some major fun with it, but I think I'm going to have to either get more tattoos myself or borrow my friends' tats. I'm in luck, though: I happen to have a fairly inked up group of buddies to borrow from!

And it has happened: I'm actually (officially, finally, unless I crack from withdrawal) done making mini quilts for my craft show in July. On to lino prints and, gosh, you know, I've been thinking about glass again recently. Ahhh.... we'll see how long it lasts.

micro and mini

I finished up another little framed mini, just in time for Mini Quilt Monday. This time, I turned my microscope lino print into an applique design: fun, fun! And I kind of like the two - the microscope and the beetle - as a set. But, of course, I have had thoughts about a third and fourth framed mini... Just can't help myself, it seems.

I spent the better part of the weekend at Devil's Fork State Park in South Carolina with my mom (who loved her pink and green apron) and my neice. Nothing like a little lake swimming to set my world right, except I did have some minor crafting withdrawal. Not to worry though: I'm recovering nicely... with mini quilts, of course.

Oh, and here's a promised sunlit shot of my beetle mini... much better than the previous installment, I think.

beetle mania

Yay for beetles! This one is based on a lino print I did last fall and is made with some of my birthday stash fabric. I've been meaning to make this for a while; I love taking a design from one form or medium to another. And it's a good thing I like beetles: those little legs were a bugger to stitch down. The picture is a little less than thrilling. After dark, I have the hardest time getting a photo that's anywhere close to the actual fabric colors. Any suggestions? Maybe it's time for a new camera... in which case I'm also open to suggestions. And oh, hold the presses: I just realized this is the first thing I made as a 29-year-old!