"Hey, if I had somewhere to go, I certainly wouldn't be in Cleve-Land." -Howard the Duck

Saturday, June 23, 2012

ArtCharms...Tiny People

The latest swap I've played in is called 12 Tiny People.  TINY people...each one can be no more than 1.5" high, which includes the jump ring.  Quite a challenge for me...but one I'm thrilled I took.  I created 14 tiny peeps, actually...2 of them are staying here with me.  The rest have been packed up...along with their name tags...and are on their way to the swap hostess to be swapped out with the others who signed up to play.  Each of my people has a name...that's what finally made it fun for me. 

I would like to introduce the gang...
Sophie

Damien & Nathaniel

Violet & Bertha

Elena, Leona, Simone & Dottie

Xavier, Phoebe & Stuart

Colette & Pierre

So that's the gang.  Sophie & Damien are the two who have remained with me.  I'm pretty sure all the peeps will end up on a beaded garland...made of multi colored Hippie Beads, of course.  They'll probably adorn my studio until the Christmas tree goes up again in December...then I do believe they'll live quite happily there. 

We have awesome weather...and our jalapeƱo & Anaheim chile plants are looking good so far.  Hopefully they will produce lots of yummy chiles for our enjoyment.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Surrounded by Color!


Busy...busy...busy...happily playing with color by dyeing ribbons...lots & lots of ribbons.






These and more are now available in my Etsy shop, KittenCreates.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day, Dad !


Happy Father's Day, Dad...
even after 20 years, I miss you.
Thanks for all you did for me...
you were the best Dad a girl could ever hope to have.
Love always, Debbie

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Catching up on some Art Charm swaps

I just realized that it's been awhile since I've shared any pix of Art Charms.  Guess I've been focusing on other things, but I do have a few new ones to share.  I recently hosted a Frida Kahlo swap in the Art Charms group.  The ones above were my contribution to the swap.  Twenty delightful swappers in this one...it was wonderful hosting a swap again.  I haven't decided what I'll create with the beautiful little works of art I received from the other swappers...but I'll share it when I decide.

I was part of a sewing themed swap, too.  I've been attempting to incorporate more wire wrapping into my Art Charms construction, so I did a lot of it to hang these Mother of Pearl heart shaped buttons from my charms.  The pins are the Tim Holtz Trinket Pins...it's a simple charm, but I like it.  I got a bit better at wire wrapping, too...although my technique seems to be a sloppy wrap instead of a precise one.  Works for me.

The current swaps in production include a Picnic Time swap.  For me, a picnic requires SUN...and I found these wonderful soda bottle caps in Jeanette Janson's Etsy shop, Vintage Supply.  I'm also making some of the charms using beer bottle caps...that's MY idea of a picnic beverage!  The graphics on some bottle caps are just too great to pass by.  The great sun image is from a favorite rubber stamp called Solstice Post, designed by Michelle Ward for Stampington & Company.  The sun from that image works perfectly when cut out with a 1" circle punch.  Glossy Accents seals the suns inside & protects them.  Easy & fun summertime charms.

A big challenge that is my current project is to construct 12 Tiny People.  Tiny people...each no more than 1.5" high, including the jump ring.  TINY being the operative word here.  It's not as easy as it might sound.  So far I have one successful one.  Meet Sophie.
More wire work here.  Had to use 22ga. wire & the one I had is a pretty rose gold color.  I have another one of a different design drying right now.  Of course, each of the tiny people needs to be an individual...and they each will have a name.  And maybe a little story.  We'll see how this all unfolds...it's been a challenge to create charms when the weather has been amazingly nice for NE Ohio...gotta emjoy the warm temps & low humidity while it's here...it's a very rare treat in these parts.

Have a great weekend & Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Let the Destash Begin!

As threatened for years now, I am beginning to destash my studio.  And this house.  You should see the stuff in the basement!  We keep donating to various charities but I think stuff breeds when we're asleep.  Yeah...that's why there's so much stuff!

Here's some of what I have found & put up for sale in my Etsy shop, Kitten Creates.
Rubber stamps...LOTS of rubber stamps...and they have started to sell!

Beading & other art & craft supplies...I simply have TOO MUCH!

Gifts for Dad or Grads...this is a tie bar AND a working wrench...
AND it has SOLD!!!
Vintage jewelry...I have much more of that to add as I go along.

And, of course, I have new sets of my hand dyed ribbons...my hands are rather rainbow colored these days as I play with new ribbon colors.

Now back to the camera & my Etsy shop to add more things that could be your new treasures.  Maybe then I'll have more room to breathe in my studio!