Latest Obsession- Felted Mini Horses

I have been enjoying making these lovely little ponies. I am finally getting the hang of making them, so a tutorial will be coming soon.

Anyway, here are the little equines that I have made so far. They are for sale, so if your interested, send me an e-mail at kaotickrafter@hotmail.com.

*all names are courtesy of my 7 year old daughter*

All mini horses are about 1/4 of a hand high (if your not a giant dork like me, that's 1" measured to the back, about 2" from hoof to ear tip) and about 2 1/4" long. Some of the horses are made from recycled wool sweaters, others are made from a mix of wool/rayon felt. When possible, I stuff these little guys (and girls) with wool roving. Others are stuffed with poly-fill. I hope to find a source of local wool roving, but until then, I'll be using the poly-fill.

Witchcraft 

Coco Swirl

Carrot Swirl

Mints

The Roundup (photo by Emma)

I can also custom make them in just about any color, so let me know if you want one (or an entire herd!). To see the color selection I am working with, check this out. 

Have a great day!

Saturday's Artist

Yesterday I was reading one of my most favoritest blogs, one that incorperates unschooling and crafting, Ordinary Life Magic. Stephanie mentioned that she wanted to start doing a link party so that her readers could link to the past weeks favorite creative moment. She has titled it Saturday's Artist.

I don't normal do link parties because, well, they tend to be pretty specific and I have to think ahead about it and stuff.

I am not so great at the thinking ahead/ planning thing.

What I like about Saturday's Artist is that I can link to a post about any creative thing Emma and/or I have done during the past week.

Well yesterday, when I was reading Stephanie's post about Saturday's Artist, I knew immediately what I wanted to blog about.

It was this:

I was attempting to make a little felted wool pillow with a flower (both from recycled wool sweaters). The sweater had other plans though. After sewing up the three sides, I turned it right-side-out so that I could get ready to stuff it. I tossed the flower on the not-yet-stuffed pillow to make sure it would still fit and stopped. I could almost hear the sweater telling me, "I want to be a purse, not a boring old pillow, a PURSE!!"

I aim to please. 

I lined it with purple jersey fabric (that I kinda did backwards), tossed in a little pocket, added some store bought handles that I covered with more recycled wool, stitched on the flower and added a magnetic button closure. 

I aim to please, and boy was I pleased. This purse is my new favorite :)

Anyway, like I said, yesterday I knew exactly what I wanted to link to for the Saturday's Artist. Then today, I made this:

The above purse was made using the sleeves of a wool sweater. After I cut the bottom portion of the sleeves, I had two somewhat "V" shaped pieces left. I kept glancing at them yesterday, thinking I would like to make a hat out of them, but not really sure how it would turn out. 

Today I mustered up the courage to give it a try. I am so glad I did. I tried the hat on myself and loved how it fit (how it looked was all together a different story, but living in a cold region has made me care less about how a hat looks, and more about how warm it is). The sides came down nice and low so my ears would be covered, while the front curved up a bit so that I could still see. Jared and I decided it needed some dangling pom-pom things. I wanted to continue to use wool if possible, but I didn't really have any scraps that would work, and I didn't want to cut up a new sweater just to make pom-poms and strings. 

I also realized I was a little tired of the white color scheme. I needed more color. 

Enter some beautiful Autumn colored roving from Prarieland Herbs. It seemed like just the thing, so I grabbed my needle felting tools and the roving and got busy making some abstract art on a felt hat. 

It turned out so awesome, that Emma decided she wanted it. 

I was ok with that, it looks way better on her anyway.

(Emma wanted everyone to know she is 5)

(in this picture, Emma, wanted everyone to see what the hat looked liked with the pom-poms behind her shoulders)

I decided to make a scarf that would go with the hat, but realized doing abstract on the scarf would be difficult because there was already a pattern on that part of the sweater. 

Oh well, you win some, you loose some. 

 Emma and I created a lot of fun things this week, but this hat is my favorite. 

(edited 13Feb11- I am not sure if I added it correctly, but I wanted to have the fun little Saturday's Artist logo.) 

Field of Flowers

I have finished up my latest batch of flowers for Lisa who owns the wonderful shop, Kaza, in Concord, NH.

I love making flowers. They are so simple and relaxing. The more I make them, the better they become. Isn't it amazing how that works?

So, onto the flowers for Lisa. All the flowers are made from recycled wool sweaters in a white color scheme.

1" Rolled Flower Hair Clips

2" Petal Flower Barrett

2" Petal Flower Pins

2" Swirly Petal Flower Pin and 2" Rolled Flower Pin

3" Petal Flower Pins

4" Petal Flower Headbands

4" Petal Flower Pins

5" Swirly Petal Flower Pins

6" Petal Flower Pins

6" Swirly Petal Flower Purse. 

I am thinking about doing a felt flower tutorial. If anyone would be interested, just leave me a comment!

Back to Crafting

Man, where does the time go? It has been a while since I have posted an actual, useful post, I may not know how to do it any more.

Hopefully it is like riding a bike.

It is cold in Iowa. Very cold. Cold enough to make me want to play with wool again. In fact, I just got a shipment of sweaters in today. I have to say, when it is this cold and yucky out, I love that I can visit Resweater to order thrifted sweaters. Yes, the shipping does take away a little from the recycling aspect of my chosen 'sport', but man is it so much easier! Besides that, the three closest thrift stores are still about 30 minutes/ 40 minutes away. The closest one is only open 2 days a week for a total of 8 hours.

Instead of taking my chances with the weather, and the possibility of not finding anything after all that driving, I just visit Kris and order what I want. (Resweater is having a giveaway!! Just stop by her site, Resweater, and enter for a chance to win!)

Anyway, the order of sweaters I just got was full of lovely sweaters in shades of white. White because my friend Lisa, who owns a beautiful shop in NH called Kaza likes my felted flowers so much she has ordered more. In a white color scheme.

I have a few made up, so here is a picture.

4-4" white felted flowers, 2 sets of 2-1" felted rolled flowers on clips, 1-1" felted rolled flower on a headband.

I then remembered that Lisa had mentioned that she wanted some pillows. I don't think the one I had is what she has in mind, but I thought the flowers looked gorgeous against the pillow.

Here are some close-ups of the three I added to the pillow.

Emma and I have been up to some other things here and there, but until 2 days ago, I didn't have a camera so I have no photos to prove it. 

When I get back from AZ (I know, I need to just stay home for a while), I will get caught back up on photos. 

Oh, I can leave you with this fun little creature that just had to be born the other day. I was busy making flowers and for whatever reason, I started goofing around with my fabric, and I created this:

We both hope you have a great weekend!

Changes and Excitement!

I should be in bed right now. But what fun is sleep when I have all kinds of exciting things to share?

Well, not really all kinds of exciting things, more like just one super exciting thing.

I NOW SELL SOME OF MY FLOWERS AT Kaza Designs IN CONCORD, NH!!!

Lisa, the owner, is a super great lady. I have known her since I was a kid (she use to babysit me), but we fell out of touch along the way. Thanks to the awesomeness of facebook, we have become reacquainted and it turns out we have a lot in common such as she has a super cute shop specializing it recycled/handmade/local items, and I sell super cute handmade recycled crafts.

Technically I am not local (unless I am visiting family), but I was born and raised in NH, so I think that should count for something.

Would you like to see the cute stuff I sold to Lisa (and she has turned around and sold 5 of the flowers I sold her!)?

Here is a picture of one of my flowers in her shop.


So much fun to work with and sell to such an awesome lady!

As far as changes go, you may have already noticed that I have changed the layout and look of the blog a bit. I plan to make more changes as I go. Feel free to let me know what you like and don't like, or if there is something you would really like to see added.

I appreciate you stopping by and I hope you have/had a wonderful day!

Whining and Blabbing

I am feeling really tired and my ankle is hurting today (can't wait for my surgery on Monday), so I don't really have the energy for crafting. I am still feeling craft obsessed, so I have been surfing some favorite blogs. I am happy to say that I have found a new one to follow.

Ok, I was just over visiting Crafty Maima Jama, catching up on some of her past blogs when I found myself relating completely to this particular post.

Well, I started to leave a comment, then realized I was writing a book. So, I decided to just write about my kaoticness, kinda let you know some of the crafts and projects I have tried in the past, and some that I am looking forward to trying in the near future.

I did sort of blog about this earlier, and you can read that here. But I hope to make this one a little different. As I mentioned, I am tired and hurting today, so it may just end up being a repeat.

Some current favorite materials to work with and projects to do:
paper making, wool sweater, needle felting, weaving, t-shirts, fabric flowers, little wool creatures, paper mache, and more then I can't think of.

So, if you read my post from last night (well, this morning actually), you would see that I have lately become obsessed with weaving. Not really sure why. I learned a long time ago it is just easier to go with my odd obsessions then to fight them.

Anyway, this morning Emma and I where coloring on newspaper (it is what she wanted to do) with some pastel chalks that Aunty Sara had given us. At first I stared to draw a tree (that and stick figures are about all I can do). Then I just stared scribbling and blending the colors together. I really like the green and the pink together, and decided to "weave" them.


As I got up to take pictures of the weaving, I found this project that I had started and plan to finish some day.

I am not entirely sure where I found this project... Basically what you do is roll up strips of magazines and then stack them together to make a container. I got some of them rolled and ready, then for some reason I lost interested, or got distracted by something shinny.

I also got super excited about freeform crochet, gave it a try for a while, then ended up moving onto something else. I do like it, and plan to do some more in the future, but for now, this is all I have managed.


My kaoticness is not limited to inside the house (or to crafting for that matter, check this out). Yesterday I started building Emma a play house. I would never claim to be a carpenter or an engineer, but I figure I can swing a hammer, work a tape measure, manage the power drill, and use my cordless saw to cut some wood (which we have had sitting around for almost 2 years now because I just knew I would be able to use if for something!). I have gotten some of the frame work done, but now I have to wait for the batteries to charge.


And like all things in my life (since this past October anyway), I don't strive for perfection. Life is too short and I hate the stress of trying to make things perfect. As long as what I make is safe, fun, and functional, I am more then happy!

After the batteries for the power drill died today (I managed to get one board added), Emma and I decided to make an addition to her "playground" as she calls it.


She had a blast, but I learned something very important, something that I kinda had an inkling on before, but I now know for sure. Emma hates to fail.

For some odd reason she thinks that she should be able to do something new perfectly the first time. I see us working on this in the future. How? I will make sure she sees that I sometimes get frustrated and struggle with the things I am trying (new or not), and also make sure she sees me trying over and over to get better at it.

Ok, so last night I decided to try out rug hooking. I saw it in a book, and I thought it looked cool. The directions called for t-shirt strips, and I just happened to have a bunch of those, so I sat down to give it a try. I really think it will be cool, but I don't think it will be something that I become obsessed with.


Ha! I was just now thinking about some of the other things I have tried from this particular book, "Craftcycle" by Heidi Boyd,, and I remembered that I used Jared's mountain dew boxes to weave a new box. I just realized that I can use the same technique from the box, to weave the t-shirt strips into a bag!! Might have to give that a try today (if I ever end up with any energy).

I did also manage to make Emma her own snuggle buddy this morning. She picked the colors and shape. Took me all of 30 minutes I think. Now our snuggle buddies have buddies :)


Let's see, some other craft/art projects I have tried in the past and didn't particularly like:
Soap Making
Candle Making
Scrapbooking (I do like to scrapbook, but it requires to much surface area and a lot of time per session)
Painting (I really don't have much of that type of artistic ability)
Knitting (I prefer crochet)
Jewelry Making

That is about all I can think of right now. I know there are more but I can't remember them (that's how much I liked them).

I do remember some of the crafts I did as a kid that I really liked; friend ship bracelets, beaded pins, gimp bracelets, drawing on clothes (he he).

Almost forgot to let you know about the things I am looking forward to try in the future:
freezer paper stencils, quilting, wet felting, rug braiding, more freeform crocheting, weaving a bag/ basket with t-shirts, and more that I can't remember.

I don't really have any witty or cool closing comments, so I will just leave you with a question. Can you see the squirrel that is watching me? (just click on the picture to make it bigger)

An Odd Creation, All For Me, and Awesome Photos!

So, once again, I am up WAY past my bedtime. Although lately it seems that between 1 and 2 a.m. are the norm, so I guess I am getting ready for bed early.

Anyway, before I get distracted by shinny things, I want to tell you real quick about this... well, thing, I made. I will give you a little back ground.

I love to recycle (kinda a duh if you have ever read any of my post, however, if this is your first, WELCOME!). Lately my obsession has been t-shirts. I like to cut them up in to strips, then stare at them forever before I finally decide what to do with them.

Tonight's creation came about because I had been trying to get my studio straightened back out (oh, and Emma was starting to hint tonight that she would like some company at bed time, i.e. she wants to sleep in our bed again ). I was trying to find a home for some of the strips of t-shirt that I had cut up when I decided to try making myself a makeshift loom.

-I just bought one of those little loom kits for kids for Emma to try out. She loved it and so did I. I wanted to try the loom with my t-shirt loops, but, well, the t-shirt loops are about 50 times bigger (maybe a little less)-

So, enter a cork board, some jumbo push pins, and my t-shirt loops. Another obsession I have had lately are the Iowa State colors (cardinal and gold). Yes, Jared is going to school at ISU, but we are not really all that involved in anything other then ROTC.

To continue (this is not turning out to be very quick, sorry). I had about 14 strips already cut up. So I started weaving. Thought it was looking cool. Then I ran out of loops.

"Huh, wonder what will happen if I just flip these guys up from the bottom and then start to weave back?"

So, that is what I did. I have no idea the actually steps involved, all I know is this is what I ended up with.



Didn't turn out anything like I expected. Well actually, seeing as I didn't really expect anything, I would have to say it turned out fine :)

Onto a few other items that I am happy to say turned out better then I expected.
All For ME!!

Meet my new best snuggling buddy. I have not thought of a name for her yet, but she is all for me. I got this incredibly, ridiculously, exquisitely soft black sweater from a place called Harmony's Closet, right down the street from my house. All of the clothes there are free. I like to get clothes to wear from there, as well as check for any wool. I am not very comfortable getting stuff from there then turning around and selling it so I have decided anything I make from the stuff I get will be either given away or donated.

Or kept, as is the case with my new square friend. She fits perfectly under my arm when I am sitting and typing away. She is so incredible soft. I love to snuggle her up against my cheek :)

I there are a few other things that I have made over the last few days, but they are unavailable at the moment. The are getting ready for there 15 minutes of fame, which brings me to...

The Awesome Photos!

Paula, at This Day Photography is an awesome lady. She happens to be an awesome dental hygienist (that is how we met), as well as an excellent photographer. She contacted me a little while ago asking if she could use Emma as a model. She had been asked to take some specific pictures for a book being made for kids, and wanted to know if she could use Emma for some of the photos.

I didn't have a problem with it, but then she mentioned she would do our family photos for free! There was no way I was saying no!

We drove out to Paula's brand new studio. Emma picked out her own clothes and she looked great. I even let Jared pick out his clothes and he looked great as well:)

To kind of ease Emma into the picture taking mood, Paula started by taking pictures of some of the things I had made. Then we asked Emma if she could hold some of the stuff and she was more then happy to play with and wear my creations.

I have no idea how long we where there, but I do know we got a lot of great photos and we are excited about our next session which will be outside!

Anyway, because I was too lazy and tired to upload each picture individually, I created a collage. If you do want to see them individually, you can go here.



I think that is about all for tonight (well, this morning). I am headed to bed. Hope you all have a crafty and creative day!

Moving is No Fun, but Reusing Is!

So, I had to move my studio this past week. It had been located in Emma's bedroom (we had decided to co-sleep a few months ago, so we had a room that needed a new purpose). This past Wednesday, Emma decided she wanted to have her own bedroom back. I was sad, for a bunch of reasons.

The two biggest being that I slept better with her next to me (she has nightmares and with her next to me, I can sooth her instantly and she goes right back to sleep), and I had to give up my studio.

Now that I have had a taste of the good life, I can't live without a crafting space. The only available space we had left was our family room. It took us 2 days to get most of the stuff moved around.

Two torturous days of no crafting. Two days of having all my fabric laid out all nice and pretty on open shelves... Where I saw it every time I walked by... Where I could ogle all the cool patterns and textures... Where I could run my fingers over all the different textures...

Two days was my limit. I shoveled off my desk, dug out my sewing machine, and whipped up this fun little bag.

This bag started out as a wool sweater that I felted. It is almost like a raspberry color. The pocket on the front is from when I cut the neck of the sweater out. I liked the shape that I was left with so I used it for the pocket, tags and all :)

After that I made 2 baby blankets (that I have not taken pictures of), and this fun little pink and purple purse.


I actually remembered to take a before picture:

Sort of. I have plans to use the hood in a zipper hoodie sweater I want to make for Emma from bits and pieces of felted sweaters.

Anyway, I really had fun with this little bag. I even put Velcro in for a closure. I have to say though, I don't particularly care for the iron on Velcro. Maybe the felt was just to thick for it, but it didn't seem to want to stick the way I expected it to. Live and learn.

I do love how the buttons came out. I realized I needed to add something after taking this photo:


The stitching I used to secure the straps was screaming to be covered. Enter some buttons...


And a little repositioning...


And I love it :0)

Saturday's are typically my "day off". I get to get out of the house, all by myself. Sometimes I do family chores (Walmart run, groceries, etc.). Most Saturday's I do my own chores. You know, Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, thrift stores, books stores, and the library.

Today was just Joann Fabrics and the library. One of the books I borrowed is called "Crafty Chica's Guide To Artful Sewing" by Kathy Cano-Murillo. Fun stuff!

Once I got home, I sat down and bored Jared (the hubby) with all the cool pictures of things I want to try. I marked pages with Post-it notes so I could easily find the projects that I want to try.

Then I picked one to start with. This one.


I first saw this while flipping through the book at the library and instantly thought about how cute that would look on Emma. And lucky for me, I already had a few shirts to choose from.

So, I set to work. It really didn't take very long, and you know, I didn't really follow the directions.

The first "finished" project came out a little too short, and I realized that the shirt was pretty much see through. So, I went back to my new studio, dug through my pile of cast off clothes, and found an adult tank top that we had already pilfered the collar from. It worked out perfectly as a liner and added the few inches that we needed.

But then I wasn't so happy with the amount of plain white that was showing.


So back to the studio. I just added some left over scraps to the bottom, stitched a few horizontal lines around the bottom, then cut between the stitches.


I like the little bit of white that peaks out now. Totally cute:) Oh, and Emma was so busy dancing while I was trying to take these photos, that they didn't come out so great for showing off the dress, but I can live with that.

I did eventually swap out the buttons for red ones, but that was after Emma was in bed, so I don't have a live model to work with, and this is definitely one of those clothing items that looks better on a person then on a hanger. But, here you go. Red buttons!

We like how the dress came out, and we think Boppa will get a kick out of seeing his old shirt in a new way :)

Well, that is about all for today. I am excited to see what tomorrow brings!

Oh, if you would like to see more pictures of what I have crafted in the last few days, you can check out my fan page on FB, here KaoticKrafter Fan Page

Hope you are having a great weekend!