Monster Mitts

Monster Mitts
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I made these for Knickertwist in the IYP. They were a bugger to make! That fur was everywhere! It also had no stretch so they turned out a bit snug, but Knickertwist said she can wear them so that makes me happy! I took inspiration from a few different monster creators on Craftster. I thought they turned out fun and may make a few more sets if I can find some different colors of fur. Even though it is a messy project the outcome is so great I'll put up with choking on that fur for an hour or two!

Peace Love And Twilight Scarf

Peace Love And Twilight Scarf
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Whew! No more holiday crafting so I had time to whip up this scarf for a special Birthday girl tomorrow. She is big into Twilight. I saw this applique online and thought it was cute, so I drew up my own version and put it on a nice warm fleece scarf. I made the scarf and then decided it needed a key hole like a few other scarves I've seen. It worked out perfect and I think it will be very loved.
I get to start making some fun stuff for Woodland_Faerie now! I have a few items planned for our personal swap. I also get to start embroidering on my quilt block for a flickr swap. Some fun crafting in the new year! If you'd like to see a close up of the applique you can bounce over to flickr!

Marie Laveau Prim and Happy Holidays!

Marie Laveau Prim
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

What you may ask, does a voodoo queen and the Holidays have in common? Nothing really except that I wanted to show off my favorite prim I've ever made and wish you all a Happy Holidays! I made Marie Laveau for Knickertwist in the IYP over on Craftster. She turned out so lovely I just couldn't resist showing her off. Marie is a muslin prim hand painted. Her clothes are coffee dyed fabric as is her headwrap. She has a little mojo bag that contains a wee hand made candle and a penny for good luck. A little voodoo doll is also her companion. I loved her so much it was hard to send her off, but I know Knickertwist loves her just as much as I do! If you'd like to see a close up of her face head on over to my flickr.
I wish all my friends out in blog land, Craftster, and flickr a wonderful holidays and give you each a huge holiday hug!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I created this one of a kind home sweet home embroidery for Knickertwist in the IYP swap. She loves vintage sideshow banners. I scoured the net for inspiration and drew up something I was happy with. The tattooed lady, strong man, and two headed skeleton kid make up a wonderful family. I used watercolors to paint it on muslin and then stitched in the details. My father in law made the frame with reclaimed wood from an old abandoned house. It is the perfect touch to finish it off. I'm so happy it has arrived in it's new home and will hang by the door of Knickertwist's home!

IYP Package From Knickertwist

IYP Package
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I recieved a wonderful Yule gift today, a package from Knickertwist! So much wonderful goodness. A large shadow box shrine entitled "Whimsy" for me to hang above my craft desk, my very first altered book (if you'd like to see pics of the other pages check out my flickr), a decorated matchbox that contained a tiny robot man, a tiny altered tin shrine that says Wish, a tiny tin of whimsies that I'm sure to use in my assemblage art, and the cutest crocheted gnome! He's bald under that hat by the way. Such a wonderful package of art! Thanks Knickertwist!

Happy Holidays!

Family Photo 2009
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I decided it was time for another family photo this year. My father in law snapped some shots of us at the art center. Sadly none turned out good enough to put in cards, but I thought I would share one of the better ones. I made the skirt I'm wearing. I plan on wearing it on Christmas eve! Notice Merlin is wearing his tie as well. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Pepsi Memorial

Pepsi Memorial
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

My Hubby's Aunt lost her dog early this year. He got out of the yard and was killed by a pack of dogs a few blocks away. It was a terrible thing and I thought this would be a great way to keep him in her thoughts. I can't draw animals so I asked the fantastic I Sew Cute to draw the pattern up for me and she did a stellar job! I sent her a reference pic and she nailed it! It looks just like Pepsi! I used 9 different browns, metallic gold for the halo, and metallic silver for the wings. I framed it in a black frame with no glass to precent glare. I'm so happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to give it to the Aunt!

Sacred Heart Shrine

Sacred Heart Shrine
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Yet another holiday gift! I'm cranking them out! I only have 4 more to go! This is a sacred heart shrine for my great aunt. She loves Catholic imagery so I tried my best, even though I'm not Catholic. With some help from Digital Misfit (Heidi) I managed to come up with this wonderful design. The heart is sculpted from paper clay and then painted and sealed with clear spray sealer. The thing inside the heart is a rusty bit of jewelry and a ceramic rose taken from another piece of vintage jewelry. The flames are painted tissue paper with a little glitter. I can't make anything without a tiny bit of glitter. I made the tiny candles by hand and also made the itty bitty rosary that is hanging on two small holy cards. If you'd like to see a close up of the rosary you can check out flickr. I aged some paper for the banner and used my letter stamps for that as well. The shadow box itself was a plain one from the craft store that I painted in layers and sanded for a worn feel. I'm so happy with it and I hope the recipient loves it too!

Portly Little Narwhal

Portly Little Narwhal
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Another holiday gift done! I'm trying to get things finished up before the day arrives! It has been such a rush job this year! I made this sweet little narwhal as a gift for my Auntie. I can't wait until I have time to make myself one as well! I used a wonderful pattern over on Craftster. Off to finish up more gifts and get some grocery shopping done as well.

Christmas Inchie Village

Christmas Inchie Village
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Here is the sweet little inchie village I made for June in the IYP. It turned out so fantastic it was almost swiped by several of my family before it could get in the mail! A house, church, and sweet shoppe, along with 3 decorated trees in different heights. I found the origami tree tute online and ran with it. They are super fun to make! I want to make more inchie villages in the future. So much fun! If you'd like to see close ups visit my flickr.

My IYP Goodies from I Sew Cute

My IYP Goodies from I Sew Cute
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Yesterday I recieved a wonderful package from I Sew Cute (June)! The cutest little jewlery box filled to the brim with fantastic stuff! She also made me some homemade lollipops which are very delicious!
Two rings, a star, and a round one with a skully in it. Five necklaces! A purple glittler heart, candy sprinkle heart, little deer in the snow, one with my name in it, and one with my user name (AlwaysInspired)! I love them all so much! I 'm wearing the one with my user name in it tomorrow and I've already worn the star ring and deer. Thanks June, for making this a wonderful IYP!

For me! Awww, You Shouldn't Have!

I was doing my daily blog browsing when what do my wondering eyes do appear, but a little old blog award for me from KittyKill! I adore Pam's blog and read it almost daily to see what she is up to with her stitching, cocktails, and movie suggestions. Don't forget the scrappy pooches on Sundays! Pam is also the reason I started a blog! She was very encouraging.

You can find her wonderful words of wisdom here:

http://www.fasterkittykill.blogspot.com/

So here are the rules:

1. The the person who nominated me. ( Thanks Pam!)

2. Copy the award and paste it on my blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated me.

4. Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself.

5. Nominate 7 bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs I nominate.

7 interesting things about me:

1. I volunteer at my local art center teaching classes and am an active member on the board of directors.

2. I play darts on a dart league with my Mom, Auntie, and Hubby. Sometimes the Hubby has to work and then we have a friend that subs for him.

3. I can't choose a side in the ninja/pirate debate so my friends and family refer to me as the half ninja, half pirate. Ninja by training, pirate by choice!

4. I love vintage style. I think I should have been born in another era!

5. I have an 8 year old little sister!

6. I love working on my house and doing little things to make it better.

7. I'm a sucker for sweets!

Okay now nominate 7 blogs!

1. www.zuill.us/andreablog/

2. www.craftydame.blogspot.com

3. www.isewcute.blogspot.com

4. www.knickertwists.blogspot.com

5. www.myhidingplaceincyberspace.blogspot.com

6. www.odddollz.blogspot.com

7. www.brookowens.blogspot.com

Tree 2009

Tree 2009
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Here is our wonderful tree! We get a real tree every year. The hubby picked it out this year. I usually fuss over bare spots and needle loss, but this year he walked right to this tree and exclaimed, "this one!" I just couldn't argue, even thought I thought it was going to end up being way to big for the space. It cuts down the walk way, but I can get over that as it is so pretty! If you want to see it more lit up check out flickr.

Celia and Ralph

Celia and Ralph
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I Sew Cute got her package yesterday! I can finally share Celia! Celia is a fun little gnome. I created her with a heavily modified poppet pattern. Her eyes are a new technique I've been evolving after seeing a couple different tutes online. I'm so pleased with them. She has the best little fingers I've ever made and her toes are pretty darn cute too. I hand stitched her tiny little clogs from a ornament pattern. She has linen bloomers with lace under her skirt. Her apron is a gathering apron. If you'd like to see more pics of Celia head on over to flickr. I have a face close up, pics in her underthings, her apron gathered too.

JMAC Tree

JMAC Gallery Tree
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had to share a picture of the tree at the James Memorial Art Center. It was decorated by a fantastic guy that is also an art teacher at the high school. He made all of those tiny bird houses by hand! The theme is "every birdie's welcome". So cute! There are also tiny birds tucked in the tree witht he houses and lights. Even the green room was decorated with 2 smaller trees! You can see pics of those on my flickr if you'd like. The building is beautiful, but even better decorated for the holidays!

Merlin all dressed up!

Merlin in his Tie
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I'm not a fan of dressing up dogs, believe me! If it is necessary because of the weather I am fine with it, but dressing them up just for the sake of dressing them up is terrible in my opinion. I do however love clever little bandana's and such. I decided Merlin needed a tie to wear in our holiday picture this year! With a doll tie pattern as my base I set out with scrap taffeta left over from my skirt I plan to wear in the photo. He doesn't look to happy with me in the pic because I had just woken him up to put his tie on. I promise to have some great pics to share after we've had our holiday pic taken. Hopefully he'll smile pretty for the camer and be happy to wear his new tie!

Happy December 1st!

Still no new pics to share! I'll be sending out my swap packages soon and then I can share all the fun stuff I made, but until then you'll have to be content knowing that I really have been crafting! I finished my skirt for my Christmas outfit! It was definatly a learning process. I did make a practice one out of some fantastic vintage fabric that I love! I just need some fun tights and then I can wear it and share some pics!
Friday is the day for decorating! The Hubby has the day off and will get roped into helping me clean the house before I decorate. The weather is turning winter like here finally so I will be in the mood for some decorations and hot chocolate!
I've also started some of my gifts for the season. My little sister's American Girl doll showed up today so I started making her a few outfits to include in the case we bought for her. I'll have pics of her in some outfits soon!
Happy December!