Scribbled Crochet

I have been carrying around this idea in my head for months, I wanted to make crocheted critters that look like they had been scribbled upon. Random, meandering swirls and twists and spirals. Doodle type designs.

After thinking about it for way too long, I finally embarked on creating a dark blue textured yarn cat. I crocheted, stuffed and sewed her up to point where I usually add the facial features. Instead, I crocheted a couple of very long chains with a contrasting color, burnt orange, cotton yarn. I then straight pinned the chains in a scribbled design. When I was satisfied with my scribbling, I hand sewed the chain to the kitty.

Fans

I’ve been playing around on Facebook for several months now, finding old friends, keeping up with what everyone is doing and admit that I find it kind of fun. So I set up a fan page there. For my critter creations. If you’re a member of Facebook, come on by and become a fan if you’d like another way to keep up with my comings and goings. See you there.

Stuffed

Stuffed is a very cool magazine available at most booksellers. Imagine an entire high quality magazine with page after page of fabulous plush creations and you have imagined Stuffed. Volume 2, available now, has not only an article about the Etsy Plush Street Team, but there are also many photos and stories featuring Plush Team members. On page 59 of the article about the Plush Team, my photo of Pablo, my crocheted creation, is included. For that alone you should run out and pick up a copy. Pablo is famous in Italy, you know. Enjoy.

Huichol Beaded Necklace

image by kreimermusic

Back in March, Mike and I went to the Dallas Guitar Show. I’ve been to the show many times before, even worked a booth there a few years ago. Mike not only plays guitar, he sells them. He’s a manufacturer’s representative for Godin Guitars. So we basically live in guitar world. Therefore, a trip to a guitar show is not usual for us. Discovering fabulous Huichol art at a guitar show, well, that is very unusual.

There was a booth set up for the Hermes Music Foundation. They had on display several guitars that were beaded by Huichols, some beaded guitar straps and some fabulous beaded necklaces. A television was playing the story of the Huichol people and explaining how the foundation was helping with aid of food, supplies and musical instruments.

There was a photo of a wonderful beaded guitar that was given to Carlos Santana. It was spectacular. The guitars on display were available for purchase/a donation. But, unfortunately, it was well beyond our financial comfort zone. Although we both agreed a Huichol beaded guitar was just what our Huichol collection needed, we also acknowleged the money thing. We didn’t have enough to splurge on a beaded guitar.

But we did have enough to purchase this wonderful necklace and it not only hangs on display in my bedroom, I get to wear my Huichol art out into the world. The skill and talent of the Huichol people always amazes me.

FREE RUG

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Thanks to everyone who entered, I loved reading where you would use this fabulous rug. Very inspirational. I should have thought about hanging it up so the cats couldn’t get to it.

The winner was picked using the list randomizer from random.org. And the lucky future owner of this very cool rug is:

jenny s-g

Congratulations jenny s-g, I hope your new rug looks marvelous in your craft room and chases all the beige blah-ness away.

Yarn Car

I love Art Cars. Someday I plan on going to the Art Car Museum in Houston. So I could just scream when I realized that there were Art Cars in downtown Dallas over the past weekend and I missed seeing them. I was busy with the White Rock Local Market, cooking and various household tasks and the weekend just got away from me and here it is Monday and I was reading the Dallas Observer blog and I saw photos of Art Cars downtown. The one that really caught my eye was the Yarn Car. Of course. The photos look like a big Huichol yarn painting, don’t you think?  I read on his website that he lives in the Dallas area. I’m keeping my eyes open. Enjoy the photos, I sure do. And do visit his website.

White Rock Local Market

If you live in Dallas, or are lucky enough to be here this Saturday, come by the White Rock Local Market. I’ll be selling my critter creations along with other vendors of handmade. The main attraction will be the local produce, meats, cheese, bread and chocolate sellers. I can’t wait. Yummm.

The market is from 8am to 1pm. Obviously, it is located by White Rock Lake, check the link to get the specifics. Hope to see you there. Come by and say hi!

Book of Critters

Here’s a little 8″ x 8″ book I made and forgot all about until fellow Plush Team member Zazu blogged about her little book. If you click on the book, you should be whisked away to the Shutterfly site where you can flip through the pages and even order a copy if your heart so desires. Or go to Shutterfly and make your own book. They look really great and its fun to see your photos all bound and printed on nice paper. Enjoy.

Mirror Crusted Crocheted Fish

I love being a member of the Etsy Plush Street Team. We have the coolest projects and challenges. Here’s my contribution to the latest. I’ve copied the text from my Etsy listing, it pretty much says it all.

“The Etsy Plush Street Team is one creative bunch of artists and our May/June challenge is in honor of Food Network’s Iron Chef program, hence the name Iron Plush. We were arranged into teams. Each team was assigned an “ingredient” and we were challenged to create a food item using that ingredient and present our creation plated. I am on team mirrors.

I decided to crochet a fish of multi strands and crust his topside with mirrors and sequins and glass beads. He is very shiny. I also sewed a little ring on the back so he could hang on the wall.

The fish was crocheted using three different acrylic chenille yarns. The mirrors are plastic and are held on by crocheted rings. The sequins are vintage and the glass beads are new-ish. The tail fins are embroidered with vintage thread my Polish grandmother gave me many years ago.”

Hungry?

Pomegranates & Passionflowers

Blooming in my yard right now, lots of lovely, trippy, passionflowers on the vine and bright, large blossoms on the pomegranate bush, along with teeny, tiny pomegranates to be. I love spring. Enjoy.