New Lanky Friends

I'd like to introduce a couple of new-comers to my Lanky Friends series:

Sir Hare

Lady Duckness



And now, all of this sunshine calls for a Garden Party!

A Wonderful Day

I had a nice time today at the Lewis Elementary School's Garden Fair. For those of you who are visiting my little blog 'cause you picked up a business card, thanks for stopping by! This is my second time vending at a Lewis event, and I have to say that it's one of my favorite venues. The school has a great vibe, and the families and kids are so sweet. I saw plenty of familiar faces, and of course, it's fun for me to see how the kids interact with my toys. The WeeKinnie Nests  were a hit as always! 

I've been expanding the "nest" idea, and've come up with these "Napping Nests":

I brought out a new (and larger-sized) batch of Grin Kins. I think these are a fun toy, with their long, squiggly legs.

The soft Tortoise was popular with the boys. It's hard to tell in this photo, but it's about the size of a Nerf football, and stuffed quite firmly. 

I also saw some old vendor-friends and made some new vendor-friends with my friendly neighbors. That's one of the fun things about doing craft shows.

To top it all off, it was a glorious, summer-ish day, really the first one like this that we've had for many, many months. A perfect day for a Garden Fair. And tomorrow, I'll take a li'l break from sewing and have my own Fair outside in my garden!

This Rainy Morning in My Studio

Despite waking up to sunshine streaming in the window, and having a refreshing walk to the garden to pick some greens, by the time I'd finished with Sunday morning coffee and a giant Green breakfast smoothie, it had started to rain again. I shouldn't have been surprised. We've just wrapped up what seems to have been the wettest March ever recorded here in damp NW Oregon. 

So instead of spending the day puttering in the gardens with Sweetie, I'm back up here in Cutelandia, plugging away at making stuff. Here's a glimpse:

Sweetie's old Lees were worn beyond repair. After chopping them off into cutoffs, I was left with some scraps of gorgeous faded indigo denim. As my gaze fell upon the overflowing numbers of overflowing bags of tiny scraps on my studio floor, I remembered that I'd been wanting to sew myself a tuffet. Tuffets are an excellent way to use all those little bits of scrap you're saving from the landfill. The last tuffet I made was quickly claimed by the cats. This time I wanted to make a firmer, higher cushion to sit on while I work from the floor. This one came together in a flash and I crammed 2 1/2 large bags of scrap into it, making quite a firm perch. In fact, it's so firm that it's rather awkward to grasp. Next one I make will have a handle! I also have just enough of that stunning denim left to make a little zip-pouch.

I'm designing my first Duck Dollie!

This has been on the needles, hidden away for months. I finally finished the knitting part, and felted it up. Now for the fun part, which is stuffing and animating.

Here I'm working on lining this vintage suitcase to use it in my display. I use the sewing machine to laminate scraps of wool together, add some touches of embroidery and applique, cut to size, and glue it to the inside of the case. I'm trying to keep it neutralish, so as not to detract from my products, but it's such a fun technique I have a hard time restraining myself!

For some reason, ponchos are always a hit. I like to make them whenever I score large enough pieces of nice fabric. I'm in the process of composing oak leafs on this plaid wool poncho. With the cowl neck, it is super cozy and I have a hard time taking it off whenever I try it on!

A wool vest embellished with applique and hand-knit trim. As you can see, I've been getting into oak leaves lately.

Greenhouse action. Even when it's rainy outside, it can be warm and cozy, doing greenhouse work. I'll just have to save planting peas, mucking the duck house, mulching, harvesting nettles, and walking in the woods for a slightly less drippy day.

Louie has the right idea for a day like today!

This Morning in My Studio

A new batch of Mitts for Musing waiting to be turned & threads trimmed.

I've started adding a little Green tag to them for that "professional" touch.

A fresh gaggle of WeeKinnies and some Nests. I will be making some little bags to package up little sets of WeeKinnies. I love it when I have a lot at once like this; they are fun to play with and arrange.

        

It's always exciting to develop a new character. This one has four prototypes so far; I'm very close! 

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Winter Solstice Sundown Artisan's Fair

I apologize for the lackluster posts of late. I've been wandering the backroads deep in Cutelandia for the past two months, with no time to spare! I've made some groovy new friends, some of whom  have already gone on their way to have their own adventures.

Others are still with me, giving me good company as my journey continues.

I'll be participating in one more holiday show, Schmidt's Winter Solstice Sundown Artisan's Fair. (see flyer in sidebar to the right). It's this Thursday, Dec 22, at the Elk's Lodge on 50th & SE Hawthorne in Portland. The hours are 4pm to 8pm.

I'll have a new batch of Mitts for Musing (have you gotten yours, yet? Seems like just about everyone in Portland is getting some!) & some cute little-nesses:

After tomorrow I'll take a small break from "making" and put together my new studio (excitement!!) and have some nice long walks in the woods (even more excitement!). 

Looking forward to the return of the light!

Handmade NW's OHSU Holiday Bazaar

Tomorrow I'll be participating in Handmade NW's OHSU Holiday Bazaar. It's located at the Center for Health and Healing at 3303 SW Bond St. near the base of the Tram (in Portland). The event runs from 10am to 5:30pm, Wed. November 30th. 10% of all proceeds will be given to the Heart Research Center, so you can do a little Holiday shopping and contribute to a great cause at the same time!

I've been sewing like crazy to prepare for my upcoming shows. I'll be well stocked with Mitts for Musing handwarmers

Pocket Buns, including some exciting new designs

As well as WeeKinnie Nests and other Green Grin-ness.

See the sidebar or Event tab for more upcoming events!

Green Grin Monster Attack!

I just finished a commission for a couple of monsters. I stretched myself with this project, tried some new things. They are designed to hang on the wall. I like how they turned out. Pretty Goofy!

Samuri Bat Demon

Wormatar

Lewis Elementary Holiday Bazaar

I have my first holiday show of the season this Saturday! It's the Lewis Elementary School Holiday Bazaar. It will be from 10am-4pm, November 5. Located at 4401 SE Evergreen Street in Portland. It's my first year with this show, and I've heard great things about it. A nice plus is that they've made an arrangement to accept credit cards for all of the vendors. You can find out a bit more info. at this website.
Meanwhile, I'm busily sewing away, amidst the moving into my new studio space! Yes, it's hectic, but fun.

Cute Things

I've been filling some custom orders lately. 

There's been a bit of a black & white theme going on.

It's hard to let these cuties go!

September Color

Some reasons why September is my favorite month:

 Cosmos sulphureus solar soaking in the greenhouse

Resulting color on wool and silk

Coriopsis tinctoria

Bundles solar soaking

Resulting flower print on silk and wool

Fermenting indigo vat (yep...in the greenhouse!)

Indigo dyed wool and Cosmos dyed wool

Indigo dyed wool and hemp-silk

Oak galls

Silk dyed with Oak galls and modified with iron

Eucalyptus leaves

Eucalyptus dyed wool and silk

Red Alder bark (currently fermenting in a bucket)

Rudbeckia