An attempt to document my creative pursuits and spew inspiration into the universe.

An attempt to document my creative pursuits and spew inspiration into the universe.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Green Grin Inventory

Lately I've had some requests from folks who've been interested in obtaining some Green Grin wares. I've been so busy crafting and selling at shows that I haven't been able to keep my Etsy shop stocked. This post is to show the Green Grin items I currently have in stock. For those of you who live locally and may be able to attend upcoming holiday shows, think of this as a sneak preview! As always, new items are constantly flowing out of the studio, so I will be updating this posting as I make stuff. This creature started out as a pile of fluffy wool. I spun the yarn, crocheted then felted the body, sewed it all together & stuffed it and added the features.El Torrero Man, the last of my Heads series. Soft sculpture.
Buddy Bear, made from a cashmere sweater.
Another spun, crocheted, felted critter. This one's about the size of a cat.
Fancy Bunny. The moveable legs and arms are attached with buttons.
Another Fancy Bunny. This one's from cashmere.
Hot Water Bottle Cozies.
The Queen who started it all!
Buddha Bunnies
Hot Pot Handle Holders
Pocket Buns (I swear they breed when I'm away from the studio!)
Mitts for Musing fingerless gloves.
Big Bear, spun, crocheted, felted.
Patchwork Hand Bag
Silly Rainbow Guy
Pert Rainbow Gal
GrinKins
Pincushions
Nestie Head
Eyeglass Case
Mr. Stripey
Wobbly Woman
Thanks for looking!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Process

Spinning wool into yarn
Crocheting appendages
Felting them up!
Arrangements New Friends!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Co-Inspirers

I was recently lucky enough to have a fine visit from some good, old friends. Whilst we adults prepared dinner, drank wine, and worked on solving the World's problems, the kids were happily busy sewing and creating in the workroom. I'd given them each a felt ball, and from there their imaginations took off. I wish they were around more often to give me inspiration...check it out: This is Erica's super cute little buzzy creature, complete with holographic wings and striped eye-patches. It has a little string coming out of the top of it's head, and if you hold it by the string, it looks like it's flying.
Ezair made this curiously cute horned creature with a magical flying-squirrel coat. She also left me with a page of cartoony drawings I hope to use as Plush inspiration.
Here's Erica modeling her new pair of Snake Eyes Mitts for Musing. Sorry you didn't get to muse on any real snakes this time, Erica!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Sewin' & Farmin'

Here's what I've been up to these days:
Sewed a new batch of Mitts for Musing (getting ready for Fall/Winter sales).
Sewed a new batch of Pocket Buns.
Tested out a new furry fabric on a bunny...pretty darn cute!
Crocheted and felted; waiting for eyes.
Sewed a new batch of Buddha Bunnies.
Dye experiments with the madder root I grow in a bathtub in the garden. I accidentally boiled the batch on the left; luckily the fiber seems fine, and what a lovely color it turned out! I'm so thrilled to be able to grow a plant in my garden that will yeild such a gorgeous color.
I spun up this yummy yarn from the samples I received in Phat Fiber's May box. The theme was "Blossom and Bark" and there were quite a few samples that were in the pink family. I arranged all the samples in order by color, and just spun them up one after another into a long single. I decided to ply it with another single in green, to balance out all of that pink. This is my first multi-colored barber-pole type of yarn, and I just love it. I'm thinking to use it to make some squares for an afghan. Even though I wish I could spend all the days in the studio, the farm in August requires a bit of attention, mainly in the form of harvesting and food processing. Here's the labor of a recent weekend, left to right: boysenberry-honey jam; super chutney with squash, plums, apples, onions, and dried tomatoes (I know, I know...it's chutney enough for two years!); and sweet & sour Asian plum sauce. Last but not least, August's star....blueberries! (by the bushel!)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Somewhere in the Rainbow....

A recent thrift store find: I couldn't pass up the bright colors! Two skeins of this cheerful brightness, even though it is acrylic yarn....
Luckily, it didn't take long for inspiration to strike (like a bolt of rainbow!)
As it turns out, this acrylic yarn is perfect for this type of work! It's easy to crochet with, and makes a nice, smoothish, firm surface. It's not even yicky to be touching it!
Well, and who would you like to be? Perhaps some ears and a tongue would help.
Time for an adventure...
I love making new friends!