333 Half Evil Giveaway!

This post is officially my 333 blog post! Huzzah! I must celebrate by giving away a "half evil" creation. I made this one of a kind prim vampire pumpkin, named Vlad, just for the occasion.

Vlad is a bead jointed prim doll made from painted muslin that is also tea dyed. His outfit also includes aged vintage satin, aged cotton, and aged raw muslin.

Vlad doesn't seem to mind the sunshine even though he is a vampire pumpkin. I think it has to do with the fact that he is only half evil. ;)

Vlad is certainly a handsome vampire. If you'd like this half evil minion to come and live with you all you have to do is comment on this post! Leave me a comment between July 25 and August 1st. On August first I will use a random number generator to choose a new home for Vlad. I will contact the winner and they will have 3 days to respond with their info before I will be forced

to choose a new winner.

Thank you to all my wonderful followers and loyal bloggy friends! I enjoy blogging very much and hope to continue for a long time to come! I'll leave you with one more picture of the dashing Vlad.

Oh Look, A Bunny!

Wee Visitor
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had to share my new little visitor! He comes to the yard every morning. This little guy sits quietly enough so that even the dog doesn't see him! Merlin never barks at the bunnies in the neighborhood. I think he has made a pact with them. Unlike him and the squirrels. There will never be peace in that relationship!
I'm working away on the giveaway prize! It will be the next post, so be on the look out! I took some of the advice from the comments on the last post! ;) Some painting today! Off to work on the half evil creeper!

Give Away Idea

In approx. 2 more posts (after this one) it will be my 333 blog post! I've been toying around with the idea of holding a "333 half evil giveaway" to celebrate this momentous event! I want to make a OOAK prim for the occasion, but just can't decide on what to make. I want to go creepy cute, hence the half evil.

Maybe you remember Dead Ted. Perhaps a zombie would do the trick?

The Count is a favorite of mine. A vampire perhaps?

Skeletons are always spooky, and I've worked up a new pattern much different from this little guy.

These are just ideas. The giveaway prim would be different from any of these because it would be OOAK of course! Is there some creepy cute confection I didn't list that you'd like to see metake on?

So what half evil minion would you like to come and live with you?

Love Art

Love Art
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I was working on a project yesterday and looked down at my hands. Aren't they lovely full of paint? Hands mean so much. They can do so many things. I love looking down and seeing my hands covered in paint and ink. It means they are creating. Making something special. I love the term "hand made". I know my hands are abused more than they probably ought to be, but I love them all the same.
This little shot could also be used as a sort of teaser for Zombie Queen! Those paint colors belong to something I'm making for her!

Wee Altered Journals

As a thank you gift and a little memento for the two visiting artists that hosted the stitching workshop at the art center I made them each a tiny altered journal. I used the papers that the art center used as promotional materials, the leaflets of information about the exhibit, maps, and just some fun papers from my stash. I decorated each page, some with stitching, collage, bits of this and that. I tried to incorporate things that would remind them of their time here and the workshop.

The inspiration for these wee works of art was taken from the wonderful Knickertwist! You can find her blog in my blog fave list to the side. Her artwork is so full of whimsy and magic. The journals were well received and each artist was having so much fun looking through the pages and spotting things.
On other crafty news, I'm working my way into dressing an art doll and Walt Disney for a couple of personal swaps. I must say it is odd to have a naked Walt Disney staring you down from your desk! I can't wait to share the swap goodies, but I won't post pics and ruin any surprises. I also have 1 more day of teaching ATC classes at the art center. I'm going to take a pic of some of the cards the classes made and I'll share with the world the art of some wonderful up and coming ATC traders!

It Was Time!

Notice anything different? Why look at there, a gorgeous new header and background too! The header was designed by the fabulously wonderful Digital Misfit! You can visit her blog linked in my fave blog list. Heidi is so talented and such a great friend that she is willing to share her talent! I asked for a creative blog header idea and she drew up that super cute little girl with Always Inspired. I took my love of stitching and embroidered her up in my fave color combo, learning a few new stitches along the way. I then added the paper buntings because I do love my paper crafting too. A combination of some of my crafty loves and a bit of rummaging to find just the right background and TA DA! A new look for my little blog world.
I'm going to frame up the original to add to my crafty space. (Which is of course the same colors!)

A Colorful Day

Thread
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just wanted to share this photo I took at the stitching workshop at the art center. It makes me smile and I'm sure it makes some other stitchers happy as well! I'm still crafting away, but unable to share the things I'm working on as they are for swaps.
I teach a class at the art center the 12th-15th on ATC's. Should be fun! I started on some examples for it. Each day the kids will learn a new technique. Some of the techniques are new for me as well. We're doing image transfers, layering, and some textures I've never tried before.
I'm also stitching up a sampler for a friend. She bought the pattern ages ago and doesn't really like to embroider. It is a very primitive sampler and will be done in no time.
Go out and have a colorful day!

Textile Art Page

Textile Art Page
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Our art center is displaying the embroidery works of artist Anne Greenwood. www.annegreenwood.net/artistsstatement.html
Her art, "Winter Count", is a set of 40 embroideries detailing her life from beginning to present day. She also hosted a 3 day stitching workshop at our art center. Anne is collecting pages for a textile book depicting people, place, and pattern. Anne wanted bits of our local heritage to be reflected in each page. She will assemble the book and it will return to us to be on display in an exhibition at the art center.
For my page I dug through the fabric scraps that were supplied and found this wonderful vintage place mat sized runner with some little coffee stains. The outside area remind me of honey comb. Our area is a huge honey producer. I also clearly remember laying in the grass as my great grandparent's farm and looking for four leaf clovers. I would take them in to Grandma and she would press them in her "big book". I've always had a special place for clover in my heart. I found the quote and thought it fit perfectly. I also identify as a "prairie girl". I tried living in the mountains and couldn't hack it. They are beautiful, but just not for me. I need to see for miles and miles. I wanted a very sampler look for my piece so I did the quote in my hand writing with a single strand of floss and back stitch. The clover and bee are back stitch and split stitch with 3 strands. I then used water colors to paint the clover and bee. I can't wait to see the finished book. We had a wonderful group of stitchers! If you'd like to see close ups of my page you are welcome to check out my flickr.

Being An Artist

I've been thinking about what it means to be an artist. I consider myself an artist. I always have. I've never really cared if other people saw me as an artist. I'm proud of my work. Art isn't a technical thing. Art is from the soul and heart. I may not have attended art school or have my art displayed in galleries around the world, but it is art. Each thing that I create is an expression of my heart. I think that is why swapping is so appealing to me. I'm giving away a bit of my soul in return for a bit of someone else's. I treasure each and every thing made by someone else's hands. I equate love with creation. In a sense I'm giving love with each stitch, brush stroke, or dot of glue. It is so satisfying when I receive a compliment on something I'm wearing or the art in my home and I can explain that someone I've never met adored my art enough to gift me a piece of their art in return for something I created. I'm so proud that things I have made are loved and treasured around the world. That is better than exhibiting in all the galleries in the universe.
We are all artists in our own ways. Appreciate the gifts you create from the soul and enjoy gifting them away in exchange for loving smiles, warm hugs, or little bits of fellow artists' souls

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th!
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Happy 4th of July everyone! A cold beverage (in this case black cherry rum and Mt. Dew), sunshine, and some great friends what more could you ask for! Have a wonderful day and don't blow off any fingers for goodness sakes!