WEDNESDAY Giggle

(via Cameron)

BOBBLES, TRINKETS AND BROOCHES... OH MY

Halloween is closing in at lightening speed. There are parties galore and promises of candy commas, and my alter ego, Zinger the Clown, is ready and waiting. Usually I would just throw something together last minute but this year I headed to one of those pop up Halloween stores and got a little lost in all the "what do I want to be?". It's kind of a hoot to brand yourself as some cartoonish stereotype hippie or cowboy with a six inch afro or plastic pistol. I spent the next few hours weighting all my options but then I happened upon the most fantastic thing ever.. a jumbo sized red nose! with a squeaker!.. eureka! and Zinger the Clown was born. From there the rest of the structure of the costume came together, but something was missing...then somewhere between the swirl of candy corn and technicolor wigs, inspiration hit. Felt! Craft meets Kookie.. the perfect combination. Zinger would be encased in big felt flowers.. genius. So for the past week it's been a furry of activity... and like most of my projects, and this letter.. it started out it with a clear goal, to make felt flowers to accent my Halloween costume, but ended on some completely unrelated tangent .. also known as these sweet little needle felted broaches.


Quite a leap in logic I know.. Halloween costume to Felted broaches, but hey... that's how I roll. These two are my current favorites. I'm still not sure what attachment I want. Somewhere between easy - hat pin, and ambitious - handmade ceramic mounting with integrated clasp.


I think even though some of the details are still being worked out, all in all I count these as a success.. thumbs up. More then likely these beauties will end up in the hands of some of my favorite people. In fact each is inspired by someone I know... the colors, scale and lettering working together to create a unique little badge, celebrating them. or maybe it's just a bundle of glass and wool.. I guess it's all in how you look at it. Btw .. I still haven't gotten around to making the felt flowers for my costume.

THE THINGS LEFT BEHIND

There's something about Estate Sales that brings out my voyeuristic tendencies. I spent the morning. rummaging thorough old books, some worn from year of reading, and knick knacks lovingly displayed in glass cabinets. As I move from table to table a picture beginnings to form in my mind... a spunky gal who played bridge on sunday, per three boxes of playing card, and made jewelry on the side and a husband who enjoyed photography/collecting every type of camera under the sun and building grandfather clocks. A mixture of gems and junk turn into a great treasure hunt. I found some tins, trays and some wonderful children's books with fantastic illustrations.

I have grand schemes to use some of these illustrations in my jewelry and art pieces, but that's getting a little ahead of myself. I only just made my way back into the studio, but the breath of creative action is swimming around. Always a good sign.

It's Started...

It happened just a few days ago.. I got my first Christmas card... and today it's snowing.

Winter is making it's presence know and Chrismas is on it's heals.

I've always had mixed feelings about Christmas. I love seeing everyone but at the same time I find it all a little overwhelming. The parties, the presents, the trees, the decoration, the shopping, the food.. it really makes my head spin.

What I need is a project.. humm.. think woman...

ornaments? winter pins? jelly and jam? Christmas cards?? all excellent ideas..