Needle Felted Birds...

A batch of wool songbirds to share with you~

We have had very mild weather...

I was walking my pup yesterday morning and a bird

perched in our hedgerow and sang a large song to me!

It actually hurt my ears!

I took visual notes... had never seen this beautifully LOUD friend!

She turned to the left for the perfect profile...

Tilted her tail up...

Flew up high so I could check out her tummy colors...

My new friend is a female Orchard Oriole!

I wonder what she was telling me all about...

A male & female Cardinal perched nearby to hear her story~

She chased them off and then came forward in the tree

to share more with my pup and I!

Perhaps she likes the new suet flavor?

I keep notes of my feathered friends visits...

Especially new birds!

How fun it would be to translate her story!

Such a beautiful girl~

I'm off to list my new felted birds in my Etsy store~

Hope your holiday was wonderful and that your

new week is off to a great start!

Vintage Enamelware ...

 Children's enamelware set...

Treasured, weathered and worn!

I collect pieces with character to use as snowman hats...

...vintage treasures and wool compliment each other nicely~

Blue will look so hip on my felted friends heads!

These are very heavy...

My wool friends will need a shore stone in their bottoms!

Hope your Friday is wonderful~

Needle Felted Crow...

Sugarplum danced in my head!

I made her hat and collar out of wool felt...

Then tacked her tail feather to the vintage letter!

S is for SugarPLUM...

Our daughter has wanted me to paint our front door

or fireplace deep plum~ She is amazing at selecting colors...

I was able to get my plum fix from this felt stitching!

No purple for me~

Look at these fun colors!!!

"They're so FLUFFY!!!" (love that movie....)

Wool felt sews so neatly...

It also "feathers" nicely...

Sugarplum's collar has a soft edge~ just a few easy steps!

Snip the edge...

Stretch it out a little... pull, push... but not too hard~

Little by little pull the the loose snips off...

TaDa! Feathered edge... 

Some of these needle felts will be in my Etsy store soon~

For now they're my studio friends...

Hope you have a wonderful evening!

Teacher gifts...

This sweet little wren is from a collection of 12!

I could paint wrens all day~

They're so very chipper and have a colorful song!

Fabric transfer from one of my original watercolors...

on a very old piece of sage colored linen~

Fun cotton fabric...

Wool felt...

Plain muslin...

Before I started my super skilled stitch work

my tool of choice was the hot glue gun!

(giggle)

One dress-up day I took a mint green bridesmaid gown...

Cut it into several pieces (with an evil laugh and joy!)

Then hot glued it to Alaina!

Well... she had a footie-pajama on~

I didn't want it to be toooo permanent! ha! ha!

Back to our project...

Wool felt is so much fun! I love to make little outfits for

my needle felted friends. I felt them together~ or a few stitches.

It is a nice way to add a bit of strength to these patches.

I hand sign each treasure~

Stitch a pin back, so they can be easily removed.

I stitched one of these to a blue jean tote bag...

It looked so sweet!

These make wonderful teacher gifts~

A friend stitched one to her laptop case!

Another gal shared that she stitched it to a blazer pocket!

Hope  you have a wonderful evening~

Thank you for so many fun comments, Friends!

Christmas gift ideas...

My daughter and I have started our Christmas projects~

Handmade guarantees one of a kind for us...

Some have shared that they love my little Etsy treasures,
but are never quite sure what to do with them.
Over the next several posts I will share what we do!

The color transfers that I began making from my original

watercolor paintings have so many possibilities!
You can make transfers from your own art or photos
by purchasing the transfer materials from sewing & quilting stores.

I've made several framed pieces for a local gift store~

They sell very quickly... which is perfect, but I can't keep up!

I purchase empty (glass-free) frames from a local frame shop.

They often make tiny frames~ sometimes in odd sizes,

from left over moldings. Most of these frames were $5. or less.

My primitive stitch-ability! (eh-em... or lack of...)

Thankfully, my simple sewing talent adds character!

(giggle!)

I keep little totes of fabric scraps...

They make perfect backgrounds~

After I size them to fit a frame

I add buttons to dress up the empty areas.
We have also added vintage keys, charms, pieces of
worn, fabric measuring tape... feathers, shells etc.~
That way your frame doesn't have to be the perfect fit.

Alaina and I LOVED this chunky little frame~

Have had it in our stock for a few years...

This little owl is a perfect fit!
He's stitched to an upholstery fabric sample~

Made some new tags yesterday~

I love to add a little thank you tag to my Etsy orders!

Red and pale blue are so fun together... touch of vintage.

Hope your weekend is wonderful and filled with creative things!

Thank you, Veteran's!

No matter where I see~ Red, White & Blue...

I ALWAYS think of you!

THANK YOU!

 I've been working on new art!

I've dusted off the shelves filled with my sketch books...

They've waited patiently for my return~

Discovered fun tidbits inside that will lead to exciting programs!

A small addiction to antique & vintage pens...

I began collecting these pointy treasures while in college.

Everything looks MUCH "arty-er" when I draw with them...

Perhaps like a man driving a vintage car.

The landscape changes from skyscrapers to small towns...

High tech fades to simple and relaxed...

A step back in time~

Hope your Friday is wonderful, Sweet Friends!

Original Fabric Sketches...

Little friends getting all ready for holiday parties!

Little winter caps...

Party mice!

Adding these to my Etsy store... more to come soon!

Hope your day is sunny~

Quilt Labels...

Our feathered friends have winter hats for these

chilly, chilly nights...

They dug out their winter woolens to prepare

for the fall snow storm...

We dug ours out, too!

Wondering what kind of winter we will have...

The lake is ready to serve up a few extra inches!

I have not started my Christmas shopping...

Summer road trips are typically good for a few treasures...

This year we found more scenic trips to take.

I added these quilt labels to my Etsy store~

I have mounds of original gift ideas/treasures to share...

Hope to add a few new pieces to my shop each day!

Hope your day is wonderful~

Harvest Sketches...

I hope your day has been filled with sweet treats!

I thought I would share a Harvest image from my portfolio...

Ideas come to me on walks, while watching TV...

In restaurants, in the shower, in church~

Everywhere! All the time!

I make quick illustrations so I don't forget.

Sometimes my sketches sit for years...

Other ideas are so fresh and fun I paint them immediately!

These little kitty sketches...

We have three cats.

When we bring ANYTHING into our home they

immediately believe in their hearts... it is for them to sit on,

climb on, sleep on... rub, scratch etc. etc.

They find their way into many of my originals~

Hope your evening is safe and happy~

Time heals...

Thank you, Sweet Friends~

For sharing your hearts with me.

I know time will ease the pain of missing my mom.

Your comments are part of a journal I started.

When I write, I sketch...

When I sketch, I am filled with joy~

My heart is happy to be dabbling in art again...

I have collected old watches, time pieces, alarm clocks...

Both the front and back of the enamel faces are beautiful!

I like the graphic numbers for my Steam Punk designs.

So many many graphic elements & gears!

Ooodles of possibilities waiting inside

each of these tiny treasures!

Art pieces as they are~ 

I LOVE how they add dimension and fun to my birds...

As soon as I finish painting my 2014 calendars

I will share some of my latest Steam Punk friends.

Wishing you joy and peace~

My mom...

Rose Marie Newtown    May 29, 1929- October 4, 2011

My mom and dad are together again~

We said goodbye to mom on Tuesday.

An amazing woman... an amazing life.

Her obituary

I will write more soon, Sweet Friends~

His gifts...

"...it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty

of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Peter 3:4

I was working in the garden and saw this little snail friend...

I trotted up to the house for my camera~

To capture a simple beauty...

When a  friendly guest stopped by...

The bee stayed on one side of the blossom...

The snail was quite cozy in its sunny nest~

Shared space in the late summer sun.

We have soggy, rain-soaked days~

I hope your Sunday is sunny & bright!