Meet Cindy and Mindy

I met the most wonderful etsy artist in the forums recently and I just can't resist sharing her work with you. I absolutely fell in love with her characters Cindy and Mindy. I hope you will too!



Cindy and Mindy are good friends that just seem to be curious, fun and sometimes get into a bit of trouble. But they always bring a smile to your face! This is a must see etsy shop. They are featured on Birthday Cards, Note Cards and Wall Art.

Who can resist?

She just has too much fun going to a birthday party.


or making faces in the mirror... is that me?


or making new friends


Of course, there is that bit of trouble she gets into once in a while!


And never telling a soul about it!



You can visit Mindy and Cindy at cindyandmindy.etsy.com and say hello to Jean - the creator who is one of the sweetest etsians!

Meet Lester the Lion

Lester is the third animal to join my zoo series. Bunny Fo Fo and Monkey See Monkey Do have welcomed him and are happy to have a new friend.

Lester tries to be ferocious, but he can't fool his new friends for long. He's just a little softie!!


Crocheted and felted with 100% wool, this pair of booties keep babies feet snug and warm... and hey, bringing a smile to their face doesn't hurt either!



To view more felted goodness, stop my my etsy shop or artfire studio ♥

Sunday Morning ~ Memorial Day Weekend

Well, by the looks of my poll, lilacs are in the lead! My tree is just about in full bloom now and the entire yard smells of lilacs. I keep a big vase full of them in the house, so it smells just as good inside as out.

This week I am working on several different projects and I have some ready to add to my shops, so be on the look out for some great new things - including Lion Baby Booties, a new set of Felted Nesting Bowls, another square bowl (too cool) and a new knit purse.

Here is my newest that is already available for sale and was inspired by the lovely lilacs!

Hoping that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Visit me on etsy or artfire

Monkeys!

I had so much fun making those bunny booties, that I have moved on to other animals as well. Here is the second in a series of lovable animals for baby!

Keep checking in to see what other creatures are added to the zoo in the future ♥



If this pair is not the size you need just contact me through etsy or artfire and I will be happy to make a pair to fit.

Spring, Spring, Spring ♫ ♪

I'm just singing today! It is sunny, dry and warm and I think it may be here stay.

I snapped a couple pictures this evening ~

Now, I am not a photographer, but I thought it would be fun to open up voting on which is your favorite. This poll is just for fun to see which is more popular - lilacs, violets or apple blossoms ♥♥♥

Sunday Morning

Another Sunday!

I spent the morning putting the finishing touches on my entry for the EtsyHookers Creative Challenge # 6. The rules are that the item has to be crocheted and has to do with animals - either for or about them.

As with all challenges, I usually spend about a week or two just thinking about what I will do. But for this one, the idea came to me very quickly with our recent visit to my daughters house. Seeing Warren playing with the baby rabbits, I knew I had to make a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers.

So here they are, but watch out... once you have two bunnies together, you know what happens!



Visit my etsy shop and artfire studio for more felted wool goodness!

And here is my inspiration:

TGIF ~~

This little birdie was singing to me this morning and it just feels like it is going to be a great day!


I listed a new set of nesting bowls today and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. The color combination is just right!






To see more felted bowls, stop in my etsy shop or artfire studio.

Hope you have a great weekend!

What's New

Yesterday I participated in an Artisian Showcase that was sponsored by my employer and it turned out very nice! I found out that we have a very talented work force and it was a wonderful opportunity to talk to people on a more personal level. It was set up like a gallery and refreshements were served ~ Lemonade, Iced Tea, Brownies and Strawberries with chocolate sauce... Mmmmmm. I was able to hand out alot of business cards and talk about my passion. I think it could have been my best day at work yet after 20 years there! I only wish I had remembered to bring my camera.

I've only added a couple new items this week as I was preparing for the showcase and mowing the lawn in between rain drops.

But here is what's new in my shops:

I love the color combination in this bowl titled Sunny Days. It just reminds me of summer:



And the colors in this bowl are so vivid!



To see more felted bowls please stop by my etsy shop and my artfire studio.

Sunday Morning

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

I am going to enjoy my day by taking Mom out shopping for flowers and then to lunch.

As some of you know, we are about midway through a 10 year complete renovation of our home. The only thing left on the outside is the side porch. We ordered the clapboard last week and I can't wait until it is done! But we have run into a small problem. Daryl had left his ladder there and Mrs. Robin has decided to make her nest right on the top rung!


So here she sits all day while Mr. Robin squaks at me from afar everytime I go out the door. I don't think she realized that it would be a heavy traffic area when she picked her new home!


I spent last week experimenting again. This bowl has a crocheted bottom and knit sides. I thought that alternating colors in a cable pattern would produce a striking result, and I was right! But I am keeping this one for myself as I need to recalulate the stitches needed for the inner lining. This one came out a bit bumpy. It is a whopper... measuring 8 inches wide and 4.5 inches high. The sides are so thick and sturdy!




If you would like to see more felted bowls please visit my etsy or artfire shops.
Anyone who purchases something on Mother's Day will receive a 20% refund if they say Happy Mothers Day in note to seller!

Green

It has been a long, long winter here in Central NY and after a few days of rain, we woke up this morning to find the world transformed from a grey, dull world to a beautiful green! Things are starting to bloom and I am just feeling very good today.

I snapped a few photos just to celebrate that spring has finally made it's way to us. Enjoy!!

White Lily ~ Felted Wool Bowl

I just love how this bowl turned out!

The base is a beautiful blue with a shaped lip. The lily is 3 dementional with a yellow center and has green leaves and stem.




Visit my etsy shop and artfire studio to see more!

Visiting Warren

We went to visit our grandson in Vermont this past weekend and celebrated his 3rd birthday. We had so much fun and I can't believe how much he has grown since Chistmas!

Here are some of my favorite photos from our trip:

Waking up from a nap:


Chasing bubbles:


Riding his tractor:


Birthday candles:


Chasing the sheep:


Racing his truck:


Hugging the bunny:



He is just too cute!!

The Humble Beginnings of a Felted Bowl

Felted bowls are my thing... I love making them and my head is constantly swirling with new ideas.

One area that I have been focused on is making larger and sturdier bowls. I have found that the larger the bowl, the more flimsy it is. But by doubling the sides strength is added.

The example below shows the bowl before and after the felting process and I have used the same pine cone in each picture to indicate scale and the amount of shrinkage to be expected.

Before - with double knit sides tacked down with matching yarn:



After - the sides are thick and strong!



This bowl is drying right now, but will be available for sale early next week in both my etsy and my artfire studios

My next project - bigger and better yet!