Celtic Angel Mixed Media

This isn't my first go at mixed media. I do it on a small scale all the time with my ATC's, but this is my first large scale go at it and boy am I happy! A great Aunt of mine had a room added to her house and I helped her paint it. I just knew she needed some art to go in the space. I had a wonderful idea to enlist the help of my crafty partner in crime Digital Misfit. With her drawing and eye for design and my excitement and can do attitude we make the best crafty team ever. She drew/designed this beautiful Celtic angel for me and I adapted it into a piece of mixed media art. This is the Celtic Angel in her new home. I'm so happy with how I matched her to the room. She looks great and my Aunt was over the moon excited that she has an original by me!

I used a ton of different medias including papers, inks, paints, pencils, embossing powder and anything else I had handy. Don't forget the baby wipes! How did I ever craft without them? If you don't use them in your crafting go out and get some!

Her face was done after watching several tutes on you tube about face shading and mixed media art inspirations. I'm so happy with how it came out. Especially since I've never used so many different products on one piece to get the look I wanted. Her face was painting with colored pencils, watercolor paint, watercolor pencils, acrylic paint, and graphite pencil! Whew! What an awesome technique!

Anyway, I'm so happy with her and can't wait to make more! I have a few ideas already for some more gifts. Who doesn't want to get an original piece of art work as a gift? I also have a super special one in the works for myself. Just waiting on a supply from etsy!

whimsy House

whimsy House
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I'm done with the whimsy house for the hoop up and send swap! It is my first finished piece! I'm so excited about it since it is my drawing and my stitching. I used lots of different stitches on this. Satin, running, backstitch, french knots, split stitch, long stitch, stem stitch, and wave stitch! Whew! I did the lollipop flowers in a bit of Amy Butler fat quarter I had laying around. I thought they looked great with the color scheme. They are just raw edged circles cut and added with french knot centers. Now on to the next hoop up block!

Fantastic Giveaway!

So my friend Heidi is hosting a great giveaway over on her blog.

http://myhidingplaceincyberspace.blogspot.com/

Everyone should go check it out. You get the chance to win some beautiful jewelry from a great artist named Andrea. Her shops totally rock.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SwanRiverStone

So go enter the giveaway!

Two Feathers, Little Sioux Indian Girl

She's finished! I'm so proud! I thought this doll was going to be the end of me! Okay, correction, I thought the outfit for this doll was going to be the end of me. The doll itself is very simplistic. Almost too simple for my tastes, but after working on the costume for so long I understand why the doll is so easy. I'm not a beader. I've never done large scale beading like this before. Let me tell you I don't think I will be doing it again. She's a OOAK!

The Hubby assisted in making the great doll stand. He cut a slice from a log and drilled a hole in. I bent a wire clothes hanger into the doll stand form and it fits inside her dress so she looks like she is just standing on a piece of log. I love the effect and hope we can make more doll stands like this.

Here are her wee moccasins. I hand beaded them and had to hand stitch them together as well. They turned out so cute! You can also see some of the jingle cones I made from tin sheet and attached to her leather leggings. They really do jingle.

A close up of her bird beaded dress top and her two feathers. One feather is from a blue jay the other from a black bird.

I'm so happy with her and can't wait for the auction on the 18th of September. I'll update after she is sold to let everyone know what she goes for. I hope she goes for a ton, because the money benefits the art center!

Two Feathers Work In Progress2

Two Feathers
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

So I am about blind and crazy, but Two Feathers dress is done! She also has leggings with hand made jingle cones on them. If you'd like to see a pic of those hop on over to flickr. All that is left is her moccasins! I have to bead them as well and Friday is coming fast! I don't think I can do any more beading tonight, but I may have to to get them done. The dress top took about 8 hours total. I barely stopped for breaks. I also think I need to add a little something to her hair. Maybe a couple of feathers to fit with her name! Another update when she is finished!

Two Feathers Work In Progress

Two Feathers
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

So I have a project due by Friday for the art center's annual art auction. I started off with one idea and was totally not happy with how it was taking shape. I just couldn't bring my ideas together in a way that would make a project that wasn't disjointed. So I switched gears and went to something I'm always comfortable with, making a doll. I remembered that I had a vintage doll making book with some wonderful Native American patterns in them. I had been wanting to make one for my little sister. I dug out the book and got started. Sioux Indians are the main type that we have around here. All things Native American are pretty popular. It just so happens the book had a great Sioux girl in it. I'm working on the clothing now and I'm afraid I may run out of a certain color of seed beads. If that happens I'm screwed! I'm beading the yolk of the dress, moccasins, and leggings. I hope she turns out great. Her little face is pretty cute so far. She is pretty simplistic, but I think it works with the theme. I'm naming her Two Feathers, which is what we call my little sister.

New Shoes

Kicks
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Aren't new shoes the greatest? We went on our little mini vacation and had lots of fun. I saw these high tops within the first few minutes of being in the mall. They stayed in my mind until yesterday when I finally went back and tried them on. The felt so good! Just like the high tops I used to wear as a kid. They made me smile. So I broke down and bought them. Silly as they may be, and the Hubby thinks they are totally ridiculous, they make me happy. So I'll just wear my silly purple high tops with chrome accents and smile until my face hurts.

Whimsy House

Whimsy House
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I'm doing the 2nd round of the hoop up and send swap over on flickr. It was so much fun last round I decided to jump on board and get some more gnome themed blocks for my quilt I dream of making someday.
I received my fabric for the first piece and started right away. I drew up a cute little whimsy house just for lethargic lass. This is the first time I've ever stitched something I've drawn myself. It really is lots of fun to bring my line drawing to life. This is a little sneak preview. I hope to work on it some more tonight if I'm not too freakin' tired. I've been working A LOT more than I'm used to working at this time of year. I have tons of things I'd rather be doing, but we can use the money for the kitchen remodel so I won't complain..... to much.

North Dakota Represent!

I was emailed this vid this morning and am in total fits of giggles! It is absolutely perfect! Totally describes the state I live in and love.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

White Gladiola
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

It is our 5th wedding anniversary today! It just so happened this beautiful white gladiola started to bloom yesterday in our front yard, so I cut it and brought it in to enjoy. I carried a group of white glads for my bouquet. Glads are one of my favorite flowers, but don't tell the other flowers that or they might get hurt feelings!
Five wonderful years of marriage and 11 wonderful years of being with my super fantastic husband. What more could I ask for. He's my knight in shining armor and the butt head of my dreams.
Hehehehehe, that last one is an affectionate term, honest!

Gnome Poop

Gnome Poop
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Life dumps on us all at once and gnomes poop glitter.
I took this photo a while back and just now got around to playing with it in photoscape. I wanted to make it look stark and sort of vintage at the same time. Right now I feel like life has taken a big glitter dump on me. Things aren't bad persay, but I am getting bogged down in the everyday. Spreading myself a bit to thin and trying to snap back when needed. I need a break before I break. I want to create! I want to sleep better because I've let out my creativeness. I don't want to be pulled in a 100 directions. I want people to forget about me for just a little while so I can remember myself. Sunday, that is the day I will hide in my little crafty cave and not come out until I'm satisfied.

Walt Disney

Walt Disney
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

This was the other portion of the package for Alexz. She requested a Walt Disney poppet. I had such fun making him come to life. I was also slightly nervous I wouldn't make him recognizable, but I'm very happy with the outcome. I needle felted the ear hat and made him a lined suit jacket and suit pants. His shirt has a working collar (which I'm totally proud of) and a real tie! If you'd like to see some detailed pics of Walt visit my flickr stream. I hate to put too many pics in my blog posts and they are always on flickr.

Happy Couple Pillow

Happy Couple Pillow
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Remember that teaser I posted ages ago for SpookyPooky? Well here is the actual item! She received her package so now I can share the crafty goodies with everyone! Alexz had this image on her wist and I knew it was just begging to be an embroidery. I drew out the image and embroidered it on black cotton twill in two strand backstitch. I added some vintage sequins and beads to dress up the bride. I just so happened to have satin in the colors of Alexz wedding so I made long strips and burned the edges, then gathered and made ruffles for around the pillow. The check fabric is decor weight fabric so it really gives the pillow a nice feel. I made the back envelope style so she can take the pillow out if need be. I wouldn't wash this as the sequins may not hold up well, but maybe a gentle hand wash wouldn't hurt.
If you'd like to see a close up of the embroidery hit up my flickr.

A Gift For A Fellow Blogger

Faster KittyKill Blog Header
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I read the amazing KittyKill's blog on a regular basis. In fact she was just the reason I started my own little blog. We swapped and she encouraged me to start blogging. Digital Misfit and I were talking about how much we adore Pam and decided to make her a blog header! Heidi designed it and drew it up for me. I then put it to fabric and stitched it up. I used a ton of different stitches, some pearl like seed beads, and a wonderful vintage flower bead. Heidi will take my picture of it and turn it into a header for Pam and I'll send her the original for framing. If you'd like to see some close ups of the embroidery you can visit my flickr. I can't wait until she starts rocking it on the blog! Enjoy Pam!

The Next Quilt and the Struggles of the Other

The Next Quilt
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I'm working away on Mom's quilt in between working at two different jobs. I wanted to have Mom's quilt at least back from the quilter by her Birthday on August 18th, but with that quickly approaching and me stumbling over the pieced boarders I'm thinking it isn't going to happen. The boarders of this thing are giving me fits! The quilt top itself was so fun, these boarders are just a pain! I thought I had them done only to realize after looking at my friends quilt of the same pattern that I didn't have enough pieces made! UHG! So back to the boarders to rip off the ends and add a new piece and then put the ends back on. I haven't had much crafty time with working in the office at the art center until we get a new administrative assistant, and helping out at the high school getting ready for school to start. I have a swap I need to finish up (Zombie Queen) and also my piece for the charity auction in September to do.
The bright funky fun fabric is going to be a triple rail quilt for myself. It is the quilt I should have done as a beginner, but missed the class for it and went right on to the one I'm doing for Mom. With the knowledge that I've gained from Mom's quilt this one will be a piece of cake. No pieced boarders!

The Winner is......

Comment # 10 by Alexz!

He is soooooo cute! He would match my decor perfectly! I love him so much!

July 25, 2010 10:08 PM

Congrats Alexz! I'll be getting a hold of you shortly.

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaway. Now on to new crafty things!

I used the random number generator this morning to pick a number for the winning comment. I wanted to show a screen shot of the little widget, but sadly couldn't figure out how to do that. Sometimes I'm computer challenged.