Felty ornaments

I've been busy getting stuff done and just as busy avoiding doing anything productive (such is the life of procrastinating perfectionist). I was looking at this Matryoshka fabric and just decided I needed to make some ornaments. Like right now. I really have no idea what I will do with them (try to sell them? give them away?) but I just like the way they look. That's reason enough to take the time to make them, right?

Squeal!

Ek! I love this cute little bunny vase from pretty random objects! Seriously, could this be any more adorable?

self portrait thursday

I thought of this last night just before going to sleep. I am always amazed at my ability to act and feel like a different person from day to day. So me the book nerd, me the dreamer, me the hyper-crazy-fun girl.

felt & fabric bunny pins

My newest creations, intended to add some color to any outfit. I do want to make other animals, but of course the first ones were bunnies since - well - let's face the music on my bunny fixation. Some of the fabric came from my newest obsession: Art Scraps in St. Paul. I &hearts that place. I have some more too but they are awaiting pinbacks to be sewn to them sometime this weekend.

swaptree + sunday afternoon = new skirt

I could do without the world financial crisis. Couldn't we all? But if it were to have a silver lining, it does make me more apt to be economical myself. When you are paying so much more for food, gas, and well, everything - it obviously cuts down on your budget in other areas.

So on this note of trying to be more squirrel-like with saving money - I must confess my crush on swaptree.com. It is a site where you can swap any un-loved media you have lying around (books, DVDs, CDs, and even video games!) for stuff you do want. So not only are you recycling your old junk but helping another do the same! I basically raid my shelves every month just to make sure I didn't skip some forgotten college lit book that I will never crack open again.

My most recent trade was for the book Sew What! Skirts which I was able to utilize today during the Ame Bean's nap to make this:

The fabric is from a Joann remnant bin that was 75% off. And I got the book to help me for about $1.75 (cost of shipping). Plus the notions are all from a local scrap art store that sells things for nickles and pennies. So I figure I spent $4 on this skirt. You can barely thrift clothes this cheap! &hearts

new aceos

"quiet thursday night" - because the best thursday nights are spent drinking cocoa and reading.

"sketch + cafe" - are we sensing a hot drink related theme?

"go fly a kite" - really, go fly one if you can, it always looks like a lot of fun

self portrait thursday

I had to mark this cold, rainy, cloudy November day with royal blue tights and bright yellow shoes. Colors are the cure for the blahs! The skirt is also one of my new favorites, thrifted for only a $1.5o :)

To take a moment...

And express my happiness that this election is finally over. Well almost, we still have a very tight race here in Minnesota for Senate between the incumbent Norm Coleman and Al Franken which right now has Coleman ahead by 500 votes. 500 votes?!?! And people still say that their vote doesn't matter! So this is considered a case for an automatic recount. Additionally, it is reported that some shady things went on in Minneapolis with places running out of voter registration paperwork so this might not be settled for some time.

But I am proud to stand behind our new President-Elect, Barack Obama. I feel confident that we as a country will finally be heading in the right direction. And I finally feel like the rest of the world doesn't look at us like we are complete idiots.

If I had been a bail-out benefactor...

Then I would make this ensemble mine!!! Still undecided what I would do with the rest of the $27 billion though...

I cannot express my love for this tank. Antifactory probably makes the cutest, most original clothes I have seen on etsy and I would much much rather spend $78 on this than on food. Now if I could only convince hubby on that...

And what would go more beautifully with my new tank than a precious hair clip from RedaretheRoses who makes some of the loveliest little plastic charmed clips and jewelry (clip above is only $12 to boot!)

No outfit is complete without darling shoes and this vintage blue ones are basically perfect - from Solanah, $22

I am so charmed by this little apple clutch and it doesn't require you take out a second mortgage to own it - from kateisgreat80 $35.

Final spinning class

And here is my creation! It's 36 yards of 50/50 merino and tencel. It is super luminous and super soft. I decided to go with this over the bamboo since I am still a bit scared of the slipperiness of it. The merino/tencel seemed to be a good meeting point between a plant based fiber and a wool. But I really like how this came out, I can obviously tell I have gotten better but still have a long way to go. I was really excited too because we were shown how to Navajo ply. It always looked so complicated when I saw it online but really it so easy! I can't wait to try it the next time I spin!

I highly suggest anyone in the metro area interested in spinning or plant dying to take a class with Virginia Parent. She is a staple in the MN Weaver's Guild and offers classes both through them and The Fiber Studio. Not only is she a extremely patient teacher, she knows her stuff so backward and forward - she is a walking dictionary of fiber.