Needle Felting is FUN

Tuesdays are my crafty mornings. I always create new things! I finally took my needle felting machine out of the box and decided to have some fun! I wanted to create another Yesterday and Today scarf/cuff combo. OMG! let me just tell you this is the coolest, funest present ever!! (Thank you Mr S!!!!!) you are the best husband ever :) This is too much fun for one person to have! I used some ozark handspun for the top border, and some hannah hand dyed silk for the bottom and side borders. I had the funky czech glass button from a trip to the bead shop in Manasaquan. And some vintage lace and swarovksi crystals. It is going to be difficult to part with this beautiful piece. Speaking of beautiful, I sold my Peace bag to a lovely gal in the UK. I was just about to unlist it and keep it for myself!! So much time and work went into that bag. I'm sure she will enjoy it :)

I was featured!

I was featured today on Cinnamon and Honey's blog. Robin was kind enough to give me an interview and posted it on her super cool blog check it out here. I loved her blog so much that I hired Darcy (she is the person who created Robin's blog) to redo my blog! I can't wait!!!

Busy day today, I finished another custom Incognito cowl. I knit this one in 3 different colors; grey, chartreuse and blue. I love the way it came out. Very funky indeed. I also finished another covert knit cowl. I used the new pink color that came out in TNQ. Very pretty. I wanted to use the needlefelting machine to embelish the brooch but when I took it out of the box there was no foot pedal or cord and the machine had fibers on it----it had been used!!!! So I took it back today and exchanged it for another. Soooo tommorrow hopefully I will get a chance to play with it a bit!

Quiet Christmas

It was a quiet holiday this year! Usually I have a house full on Christmas Eve. I make a huge pot (ok, usually it winds up being 2 pots) of marinara sauce. This tradition was passed on from my Aunt Retta, who, physically transferred the wooden spoon to me in a "ceremony" my first year in my own home. It was a small little bungalow in Lavallette, but I managed to do Christmas in a BIG way! So, this year it was just 9 of us. Down from 30 last year. It was a good thing though because I have been, not well. Respiratory issues. Going for a CAT scan of the chest tommorrow. But I digress. So I learned a great deal this holiday season. I cannot do everything all the time. Ha! I have to laugh at the way that looks in writing. I used my Yogi skills to just Let It Go... Not an easy thing for the Queen of attatchment. Not a cookie baked, less decorations up in the house, not all the cards got sent out, I didn't even have fresh flowers on my "tablescape". You know what, no one even noticed that. It was a lovely, quiet night.

On another note, I finally opened my present today! An E10 Huskystar embelishment machine (aka needle felter) and...no foot pedal and the thing has fiber on the plate---It's been used!!!! All this time I've been waiting to open that baby up and use it, the time comes and....ugh..it's going back. but, not tonight.. nope going to Let It Go... and have myself a nice glass of wine and finish a custom order for the Incognito cowl... and hopefully finish a brooch for a pink covert knit cowl :) I'm also including a pic of my new scarflette. I ordered this yarn from England, oh my goodness.. I am in love... The colors are GORGEOUS!!! I actually have 2 scarfs that I made for me out of it! But for this one I used one of those funky hand made wooden buttons that I bought on Etsy, groovy!!

The Whimsical Tree

I had an idea this year to do a "second" tree. I wanted something a bit on the whimsical, "girlie" side. I had it orginally in the foyer when you walk in the house, but I have since moved it to the dining room. You can see it in the window from the street. It looks perfect there. I had fun collecting perfect ornaments for this tree. I started with some fairies and collected birds, angels wings, butterflys. I also added some funky "pom pom" garland in a white with pinkish tinsel, some fushia and cream christmas ball and voila....I am just finishing up on 2 custom Incognito cowl orders.. They have been so popular! I finally have one for myself too- in a cabernet color :) I am still working on new designs. I am excited to use my Christmas present--- A huskystar needlefelting machine. I have been buying roving and of course hearting all kinds of roving on Etsy. I actually did a wee bit of felting the other night. I am going crazy to take the machine out of the box, BUT... I can wait for Santa :)

I guess I should include a pitcure of THE tree,,,hehe. It took me awhile to get everything done this year. I have been very sick with this respiratory/cough thing. So I had to practice "letting go" of my usual holiday self. aka..Miss I can do EVERYTHING...So, not a cookie baked (sorry grandmom).. I left that up to my sister this year. I had high hopes of getting to it, but not enough energy. I will be cooking my sauce (aka "gravy") on monday night for Christmas eve. I did all the food shopping today...

Oh and a big thank you to Mr. S....aka the Man cowl model. You are a hit on Etsy. Thank you for so graciously modeling for me.you are THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!!....Santa has a BIG suprise for you ;)

Featured Etsy Artist- LiciaBeads

I haven't done this in awhile, so here is the Featured Etsy artist, December version. LiciaBeads. her lovely Etsy shop can be found here.

These lovely Honeysuckle vine earrings can be found here. They are so unique and I love pink and green.

How did you start your craft?

My background in beading.... started in 1990 when I butted in on what my sister and her friend were doing with those beads. I started out with simple seed beaded single strand jewelry in school, selling them to students (usually with names of girlfriends or boyfriends). I was able to use more semi precious stones when the teachers asked for custom work. It was always fun to put real stones in jewelry, and I still enjoy the chance to use something more "elaborate" than my standard items that I tend to work with.

Off and on for the past 18 years I have collected, some would say amassed several thousand dollars worth of beads. I say that, but they are so small and innocent looking. Leaving the bead store with the smallest bag ob beads and findings can still amount to several hundred dollars. They really are amazing how they add up!

These stunning teal and glass lampwork earrings can be found here.

When did you start sharing your wonderful talent with people on Etsy?

I had been selling off and on and giving plenty of gifts but only this year got serious (or as serious as my budget would afford) about selling my jewelry. I found Etsy via the various fiber blogs that I had been reading over the winter (as I knit as well) and decided to toss my small hat into the oceanic sized ring that are the Etsy beaded jewelry makers.

This super pretty necklace is perfect for the Happiknits color palette! Aptly named April necklace is reminds me of spring...I LOVE it!! check it out here

I am still gathering useful information from the wonderfully generous community that is Etsy, and enjoy being a part of it. I think it is fantastic that individual artists are able to sell to people around the world and be in direct contact with each other.

Licia's shop is lovely and full of awesome jewels, I see a stunning display of her craftmanship in her Textural Atmosphere necklace. A challenge piece for the Etsy Beadweaver's challenge~ I love good team challenge! It is gorgeous! check out some additional photos here . Also you can visit her blog at http://www.liciapots.blogspot.com/