wednesday thoughts

I've been sewing these past two days!  I'm working on having more patience with my projects.  I usually get so fixated that everything else goes to the wayside.  If I don't finish a project within 24 hours the worst kind of anxiety can occur.  So, I took on the project of making 4 stuffies over the next week or two.  I'll admit I haven't done the dishes in two days so that I could devote time to the stuffies legs & arms...but I did do some laundry so I guess I'm getting there~ 

I took HG to get his hair cut today.  He cried on the way there (what kind of 6 year old cries when the get their bi-annual hair cut anyway)?  Afterwards, he was okay with it.  He wants to grow it out 'long to my chin'.  OK.  How did he even get that idea?  I try to encourage individualism in my children so I'm going to see how long this phase lasts before I buzz cut his head. 

School is beginning to wind down and I've gotten a couple commissions for some painting and sewing pieces.  Everyone likes to wait until the first of December to decide they want a watercolor portrait for a Christmas gift.  I can't blame them, I'm the worst kind of procrastinator. 

What kind of projects do you have lined up for December?  I'd love to hear!

starting somewhere

I'm sewing a doll.  I made my own pattern and to my surprise it's turning out as expected.  I cannot tell you how many times I've set out to do this to only end up in wasted hours and disappointment.  The body is finished and next it's time to add some painted details and 'whip up' a small wardrobe.  It's good to be starting somewhere!

la petite poupée de maison - WEEKEND GIVEAWAY !!!

Happy Friday!  I'm so excited to have the weekend to spend with my family.  May is such a busy month for many families and I'm ready to just stay home and relax. 

Little Bella has been extremely 'needy' of me lately and usually I'm happy to oblige.  However, sometimes at night, way after bedtime, she is still up and asking me to "sit mamma" - So I've been taking my sketch book into her room and I'll draw while she tries to settle down.  Of course, she wants me to draw pictures of babies for her so I started drawing 'house babies'.  She loves them!  I love them too...so much that I'm trying to make some house doll stuffies. 

I made this one this week as a prototype.  You know, to test the water...to see how paint, fabric, quilting and all would fit together.  I'll be making a few changes and trying again until I get it 'just right'.  However, I simply can't chunk this little cutie.  I think it turned out well for a first try and she is just strange enough to be sweet!  She measures approximately 13" x 7" and is plumply stuffed.  Materials are nubby cotton fabric, acrylics, batting, stuffing and love - (I'm so cheezy sometimes)!

If you would like a chance to win 'la petite poupée de maison' (small house doll) then please leave a comment below.  Please include your e-mail or a url so I can contact you if you win~ I will choose a winner this Sunday evening! 

Update on Sunday, May 16, 2010 by art nest

Winner chosen through random.org number generator:

#4 - Holly P - Congrats!

seahorse stuffie

I discovered the most adorable seahorse pattern several days ago and have been itching to try my hand at it.  The creator of this pattern, Lia, allows for selling ones seahorse creations as long as you give her credit for the design.  So, I'll be putting this little guy in the shop sometime today. 

I've been trying to use up the 3 yards of mustard colored quilters cotton I've had around so I thought this would be a perfect project as the seahorse is quite large.  He measures approximately 13.5" long x 9.5" wide (tip of nose to tip of fin) x 2.75" thick.  His fin is quilted and features a lace detail.  The eyes are wool felt scraps and plastic 'doll eyes' that are snap locked in place. 

The tail, as Lia mentions in her instructions, was the most challenging.  It was extremely trying to pull that tail inside-out and then to stuff it...well, let's just say that I would not like to make 100's of these anytime soon.  Not from lack of total cuteness but for the sheer patience that the tail requires~  Also, I forgot to keep my batting for the fin on the outside when I stitched it and had to sit for 10 minutes pulling out stitches and starting over again.  With everything one makes, you always learn (or remember) something that you can use on the next project! 

hello, again

I truly hope that you had a wonderful holiday season!  There were plenty of gift exchanges, dinner parties and visiting family to keep us going all week.  Now that we are trying to 'get back to normal' I found some time to sew again. 

I've been waiting patiently to make a cloud mobile ever since I saw one in a magazine several weeks ago (while waiting at the doctors office with one of my children).  Pictured above is the first go around...I want to make several adjustments, particularly with the raindrops, so most likely I'll have more cloud plushies to show you - who knows...maybe there will be a Cloud 9. Plushie project coming up soon!