More Presents Finished

Pillows
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I finished these 3 pillows today. They are for my mother in law. The two matching are for the couch and the larger one is for the love seat. Her current throw pillows are molting some strange fuzzy yarn all over the living room and the don't even match her color scheme, so I took it upon myself to right the wrong. I hope she likes them.

Santa is coming to town

Santa
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Tonight was our local parade of lights. As we do every year we bustled down to the tv station parking lot and parked our car and jumped out to watch. It is a very short parade consisting of some lighted floats sponsored by local businesses. At the end of the parade comes Santa a top the big fire truck, waving and sounding merry. I happen to know Santa personally. I've been telling my sister that I know Santa and she never believes me. This year she believes. When I saw Santa approaching I stepped to the curb and waved. He looked right down at me and waved just to me and let out a great big "Ho ho ho" and a little point of the finger. I swear my sister's eyes almost popped out. It is so fun to see that sincere look in a child's face. What a wonderful time to be a kid.

Monster time waster

Monster
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had the inkling to embroider this guy today. Done on a scrap of muslin that I plan on turning into a patch for a onesie. I'm going to give it to a friends grandson. Just a little something that isn't a holiday gift. It only took about a half and hour to whip out and was so instantly gratifiying.

Just some progress

As you can see I've changed the look of my blog page. It may just be temporary for the holidays.
I finally was able to finish 2 more gifts in the last 2 days and I'm making progress on others. Handmade holidays are not easy! I would post pics of the 2 items I've finished, but the people that will be receiving them may just happen to read this! I don't want to ruin surprises. I will however be posting the first of the family tree quilts that I'm making for the Hubby's grandparents this year very soon.
I so feel like just crafting for the sake of crafting, but when gifts are needed I become a crafty machine with no time to really craft things just for the heck of it. I can't wait until the holidays are done and I can swap a few more times. Back to the craft dungeon and another gift!

Art Doll; a Tribute

Frida full body front
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

So a friend suggested I make a Frida Kahlo doll for my soon to open Etsy shop. I took her idea and ran! Techniqually she is still a prim doll, but I chose not to grubby her. So I guess she is more of an art doll. I used many of Frida's self portraits as inspiration. I'm very happy with how she turned out. As always more shots on my flickr. She was such fun to make, I may make others using different self portraits of her as inspiration. I'd love to make one of her dressed as a man. Off to prim #4! If anyone has any other suggestions for prims they'd like to see please comment.

Large Prim doll #2

Large skelly prim
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Here is the 2nd large prim doll. He too will be going on my Etsy shop when I get it open. He's big, something like 19 inches tall. I made him Day of the Dead inspired, because that art has really been inspiring me lately. He turned out great and is now drying next to Witch Hazel.

Prim #3 pattern is drafted and on the fabric ready to be sewn!!! I'm having so much priming fun!

Working Away

I managed to get 1 more holiday gift finished today. A set of Hello Kitty barrettes for my little sister. I also have another large prim doll drying and I drafted the pattern for the next. Tomorrows goal is to get at least 1 more holiday gift done, and maybe another prim on the way.
I'll post photos of the newest prim soon!

Sling Bag worthy of a pirate!

Sling Bag
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

This is what I made today! I know I'm supposed to be holiday crafting, but I just needed a new purse! It is inspired by a bag I've been drooling over on Etsy.com, but soooo can't afford. I'm really happy with how it came out and will be using it a lot now! Not bad for a self made pattern and a couple hours of my day. It fits around you like a messenger bag, but so much more comfortable. You hardly know you're wearing it. The rick rack sticking out of the bottom of the flap is actually 2 pockets that are under there. Now back to holiday crafting! I've been trying to get myself motivated and I just seem to want to make things not related to holiday gifts! I swear I'll get done!

Dead Ted; the last of the creepies!

Dead Ted
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just have to share Dead Ted with the world! He is my newest prim creation made for the mini creepy doll swap round 2 on Craftster. He's already been sent to his home, but dang I miss him. Yes, I must be the only person to ever make a zombie prim! Notice the flesh wounds and brain leakage!
I also realized I didn't blog creepy #1, but he is on my flickr account for those interested. It is a felt stuffie, Day of the Dead bear made from some inspiration on the receivers wist.
I swear I'm done with creepies now! On to blogging new things!

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel laying down
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Here is my latest primitive art doll. She is also the largest one I've made. She was time consuming, but so fun to make. My own pattern entirely. Priming is a wonderful process and so much fun. I would suggest everyone try it at least once. All the ribbon and lace used is vintage and tea stained by me. She has such a wonderful personality. I made her as a prototype of some prims I want to make and sell on Etsy.com. Do you think she is good enough to sell? I have a large skelly cut out and ready to sew and I have a new pattern in mind, I just have to get to work on drawing it out in between Christmas/Yule gift crafting. If you'd like to see more pictures and some close ups, as always, they can be seen on my flickr.

Creepies on the brain

zombie bunny
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

So after having so much fun with creepy doll swap round 1 on Craftster.org I decided to do round 2 as well, only this time doing less dolls. This is creepy #2 that I've made for this swap. Deranged bunny zombie, starving for brains. I've never done much with felt so I had a blast trying it out. He is also fully jointed and has a cute little white puffy tail on his little zombie behind. He'll be going to his new home soon so he can go infect others (with laughter).

Maman Marie's voodoo shop

Maman Marie's voodoo shop
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

This is what I got in return for my Day of the Dead embroidery! My very own voodoo shop mixed media collage! this pic is a closeup of the detail and doesn't show the very cool frame area, which has sheet music painted. The details in this are absolutly amazing. All the wax used in the collage is from her bee hives. The little bottles each contain something different, skulls, lavender flowers, peppercorns, dried moss, and what to me looks like corriander seeds. The little voodoo doll is made from clay and so detailed he even has pins. I'm so in love with it that I'm still trying to figure out the perfect place to hang it! I was going to save it for the library, but it is way to cool to hide away there so it will be going in the living room.
Thanks Acidtrix!

I've been tagged!

The rules of tagging!: 1. Link to tagger & display these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself - some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blog. 4. Let them know they've been tagged by commenting on their blogs!

1. I love the color purple
2. I collect Buddha statues
3. I love watching those terrible reality shows ;)
4. I am a black belt in Hiayshi Ha Shito Ryu Karate
5. I love monkeys
6. I'm addicted to craft swapping
7. I always look forward to coffee with my friends

Yea off to tag some people back!

Until Death Do Us Part

Until Death Do Us Part
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had to share this piece that I did for a personal swap on Craftster.org. I found the calveras image online and redrew it to make it embroidery appropriate. The flowers are a vintage transfer from the flickr group hoop love. I used so many different stitches that I've never done before. I just love how it turned out. My father in law made the frame from reclaimed wood. It has the best texture ever. I painted the banner on the bottom that says "until death do us part" in Spanish. If you'd like to see close ups of my stitching check out my flickr. Tomorrow I'll show you all the wonderful piece of art I got in return from Acidtrix!

The great kilt caper!

Man in a kilt pose 2
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I finally got the kilt finished and given to the Hubby! Last night at his Birthday party, never mind that his Birthday was last Thursday. Hahaha. It doesn't have the belt loops or cargo pockets on it yet, because we wanted his input on the placement and amount. He was really happy. He can't wait to wear it out, but he isn't sure when or were to wear it. Trust me our town isn't very open when it comes to things like that and I really don't want a fight on my hands. Anyway, me and my sewing sidekick worked extra hard on it and are very pleased with the outcome. I don't see us making another any time soon though! I'll post more pics when the belt loops and pockets are done and I can get some better action shots.
One happy man in a kilt!

Gypsy Quilt Block For a Great Cause

gypsy quilt block
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I was asked to make a quilt block for a wonderful charity called strive for life. They work with homless children in Romania. The quilt blocks will be collected from various artists and made into a quilt that will be auctioned off with the money going towards the charity. The theme is gypsy since the children they work with often are gypsy. The person putting it all together has a blog here.
http://myhidingplaceincyberspace.blogspot.com/
If you'd like to make a block post on her blog and let her know.
I found a block similar to this in a image search on google. I just drew it out a bit differently and cut away, but I have done away with the crystal ball, because it won't fit on the block size I'm doing. Now I just have to applique it on to the blue fabric and I can send it off and watch it get made into an awesome quilt.