Foxy Art Studio

These pillows started life as a cashmere or angora sweater

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

I really enjoy thrift stores. I think it is about finding that useful bargain---or finding odd stuff I can re-pupose into something useful, or maybe it is the books scout in me that always is looking for the $3.99 book that I know I can sell for $125?

My fave Aunt Esther used to say "A stitch in time saves nine." I like to think she would have loved the notion of re-purposing old discarded sweaters into useful and pretty pillows since she also was all about re-use.

How to make a re-puposed thrifty and cheap but lovely pillow:

Recently I scored at my fave thrift store two nice very soft sweaters--a cream all cashmere man's sweater and a blue wool/angora cabled sweater--at 1/2 off! which was about $3.00 a sweater. I spent another $5.00 on pre-made pillow forms...and then cut the now washed sweaters into the correct size squares ( I used the front and back of each sweater--saving the sleeves for another project) and sewed these pillows. They are oh--so soft! and huggable and now live on our couch for everyone to enjoy.

Paint Chip Art

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:40:00 +0000

I have been seeing quite a bit of art using paint chips on Pinterest.

Ah!...Pinterest...my new online fave. What a great place to post your inspirations and keep all those online tutorials one is interested in. I have 12 "boards" on Pinterest where I have been pinning fun images. If you haven't been to Pinterest, you can look at my boards and check out Pinterest here.

But back to the paint chip art...most of what I have seen online using paint chips was collage or mixed media type of art, but I decided to try painting right on the paint chips, so yesterday I went by a paint store and picked out a variety paint chips.

Here is "doodle" I created yesterday and I am off to my studio to see what else emerges today. This is painted with gouache and outlined with a permanent felt marker.

Tea anyone???

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:10:00 +0000

Time for a Mug up....

My favorite holiday gift this year came to me from my two wonderful grown-up daughters! I mentioned I wanted a nice stainless steel thermos to take hot tea to my art studio--and they did better! They bought me a very nice electric teakeattle--the kind that shuts off once the water boils. Daughter Kesia also made me this wonderful "tea bag wreathe" to hang at my studio. I love this useful but clever and creative gift!! thanks Girls!! ;-) you are the best daughters ever.

tea bags and clothes pins! so cute and clever....

Thank YOU : Out with old & In with the new

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:06:00 +0000

I want to thank all my readers for a great year! I now have online friends I would never have "met" without this blog. I am wishing all my readers a joyful and happy 2012!

I am determined to "make a living" this year with my creativity. This may mean some anxious times as I patch together my monthly income (and I live on very little) via selling my art, crafts, & designs, working as an "on-call" Nanny, and (hopefully) teaching crafts. So far, so good and it is only the 2nd day of this year!

Last year --like life usually goes--had its ups and downs. Looking back I realized I was only employed (at a regular job with set hours) about 7 months this year... yet somehow I survived.

The best thing I did all year was to rent myself art studio space. Not only do I now have a great place to go and create, but (at least in my mind) somehow having an art studio legitimizes me as an artist. To me--- having the studio means I am taking my art and design work seriously. And guess what happened once I committed to taking myself more seriously???

ah, Yes!! my productivity and SALES went up since I created more items AND I actively marketed them, which of course resulted in more sales. And since I consider writing this blog part of my creative endeavors, I also plan to explore ways to make some income ($$$$) blogging.

So, please repeat after me : WAY WILL OPEN, WAY WILL OPEN......(and thanks for all your support!)

do what you love and the $$$$ will follow...

addendum: oh, and this year I plan to do one special thing each week only because I want to!!! putting myself on the list of "to dos"

a NEW YEAR of Surface Pattern Designs!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Below are a few of my original textile or surface pattern designs---the top 2 are hand painted with watercolors, and the bottom left flowers on the black background are hand painted in gouache. The design on the bottom left was completely designed on the computer--in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Can you tell I really love creating floral designs and I love hand painting?

I usually do not create NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS because I have learned over the years that I rarely keep any resolutions I make. How about you? What is your success rate on annual New Year resolutions?

However these designs have been languishing in my portfolio----(stored under my bed!!!!)---for 2 years now and I have decided it is time I make a real effort to sell them and/or the many other surface pattern designs I have in my portfolio. So I am creating a plan for marketing my designs in 2012....is that a resolution? well not exactly. Which is good, as I want to avoid my usual failure---so I am planning for the NEW YEAR--how about you?

Holiday Greetings to Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:53:00 +0000

a Christmas Elf trick : cashmere sweater repurposed into Panda Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:26:00 +0000

The Winter Holidays always make me think of toys! I have 3 wonderful Grandsons so let the toy making commence! here is the first one---a Panda Bear for wee baby Aram.

I am always keeping my eye out at thrift stores for good sweaters to felt --especially if they are marked down---and one day I scored this soft brown cashmere sweater for 1/2 price ;-). After washing and drying I proceeded to cut the sweater up and created ---- Aram's Panda! for his holiday gift from Grandma.

Stuffed toys are so much fun to create! even if they are time consuming....

A Very Merry Vintage Christmas (revisited)

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:29:00 +0000

I have always loved vintage Holiday advertising...who can resist this Slinky ad? still on of the best and most purchased toys ever! so here a few more vintage Christmas images for your enjoyment....

You can see more like these at my last years Vintage Christmas post here ......

The Elves are Busy....Knittng away!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:31:00 +0000

When not playing in the snow--the elves helped me create this soft and aqua colored keyhole bow tie scarflette...with a crocheted flower for an accent--the flower has a blue vintage button in the center. I love these bow tie scarfs--or scarflettes--because they keep my neck warm and cozy without all the bulk of a longer scarf.

and this fuzzy heather beige hat and scarflette matching set...knit with wool and mohair, with a pretty ruby colored crocheted flower for some pizzaz! another vintage button on the center...all for sale at my Etsy Shop---hats and scarves make great holiday gifts!! and keep your or your loved one warm.

The yarn (and elves) made me do it......

Holiday Elf Invasion

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:29:00 +0000

Well, it seems that holiday elves have invaded our house...and my art studio, so holiday fun and creativity is bursting out all over...

with a little help from my friends (er..I mean the elves..)....I have created these Brooches...now for sale at my Etsy store here! Brooches make great holiday gifts for that special person in your life...

Each one is unique and all handsewn---with beadwork and embroidery.

quite bit of variety since I just start with a vintage button or postage stamp and let that lead me...I sure had a good time creating these. Of course I have a few more at my shop that I am not showing here--so do go and check them all out!

Owls for the Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:21:00 +0000

I have a thing for owls; not sure why. Owls are also very trendy right now, go figure. Here are some I created recently. These are all for sale at my Etsy shop Borealis Beads so if you like them, do check out my shop! The one above is a brooch or pin. Created with felt, vintage mother-of-pearl button eyes, and bead embroidery.

These two are embroidered with cotton floss on white cotton --- in wooden embroidery hoop frames. These would be cute in a child's room!

We have a winner! (+ Cranberries!)

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:35:00 +0000

Congrats to Barbicide43 of the blog SweetBee/43!!! you have won the book give-away! I just need your e-mail address so I can have the publisher contact you. THANKS to everyone who participated....

I love to cook the Thanksgiving day meal..and this year I am preparing the turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, fresh baked onion rolls, and 2 kinds of cranberry sauce. I always make plain cranberry sauce---as a child in Alaska we always picked wild lingonberries for our cranberry sauce--so I prefer home made cranberry sauce. In addition to the traditional cranberry sauce I also make my own very own Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce---which is always a hit.

Here is my recipe for:

Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce

4 cups fresh cranberries
1 orange
a handful of crystalized or candied ginger
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar

Chop the candied ginger into small pieces. Grate the orange (make zest) and then peel the orange and chop the pulp. Put all ingredients into a pan and cook until the berries pop and everything is cooked together about 1/2 hour? ---taste and add more sugar if you like your sauce sweeter.

Sauce will still be somewhat runny but that is ok. Pour sauce into serving dish and chill and it will set up nicely. Serve with turkey and trimmings...yum!

optional: you can add raisens, chopped pecans, and spices like cinnamon and cloves, but I prefer the above combo ;-)

Book review & give away!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:22:00 +0000

Kathreen Ricketson, founder of one of my fave websites--WhipUp.net---has written a wonderful quilting book. LITTLE BITS QUILTING BEE : 20 Quilts using Charm Squares, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, and Fat Quarters has a project for every skill level.

As you can see from reading my blog I only dabble at quilting and don't really consider myself a quilter but her book about using pre-cut fabric packs--which is also good for your pocket book---is full of ideas and step-by-step instructions making it a great book for crafters like me. This book appeals to both experienced quilters and novices like myself with 20 projects using your small bundles of quilt fabrics. Plus there is a pocket in the front of the book with ready to use patterns!

She has a nice chapter on creating community quilts from traditional quilting bees, to swaps to quilt- alongs. I am pleased to say that she used my story of creating a Peace Quilt (in the '80's--this story is another blog post) in the community quilts chapter so I received a free copy of her book.

You too can win a free copy of her book--courtesy of her publisher Chronicle Books---just leave a comment here with your e-mail address by Nov 20th, 2011 and I will enter you in the drawing to win your free copy! All quilters and crafters will find this lovely book an indispensable resource.

I am also participating in the book's blog tour--if you want to read what other bloggers have to say about her book, here is the blog tour list:

Monday, November 7 – The Long Thread

Tuesday, November 8 – Craft Nectar & Comfort Stitching

Wednesday, November 9 – luvinthemommyhood & Elsie Marley

Thursday, November 10 – True Up

Friday, November 11 – House on Hill Road & CraftyPod

Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather

Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio

Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece

Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Duo Fiberworks

Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts

Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad

Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home

Such an informative and beautiful addition to the quilting books canon is sure to become a classic. I really love that she includes stories of quilting bees, swaps, and quilt-alongs to remind us of how creating something lovely together really does also create community. Thanks so much Kathreen!

Go to your studio and make stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:35:00 +0000

so --I have been bookmarking nice handknit patterns I have found here online to make someday and thought I would share a few of them with you all....

1) I just love this knit tea cozy at the blog TEA BY THE SEA

2) and how about these lovely DAISY STITCH HANDWARMERS at the Purlbee.com?

3) and these ZIGZAG MITTENS at Just Crafty Enough.....

Three projects...should be enough to fullfill the STRATEGIC PLAN--at least for now. I just am compelled to keep my hands busy--especially at this time of year....feel those holidaze coming on!

Political Art

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:58:00 +0000

In art school they taught that fine art should have "content"--ie some message, concept or tell a story. I think all ART is political---even decorative art reflects the culture it is created in--- so the personal is political becomes a tru-ism.

Last winter I created a linocut print which reflects the city where I live--Seattle. Recently, I decided to use that image for some OCCUPY SEATTLE "art"---so I created these 3" x 3" stickers with my artwork in the background. I love the spray paint font....rather like graffitti. I plan to stick these stickers up around my 'hood and share them with friends....my own bit of subversive "performance art."

I have been going downtown to the Occupy Seattle marches about once a a week and I find them inspiring for several reasons. Of course, I agree with the philospohy--in fact I am one of the 99% of Americans with not much of a safety net and currently one of the millions of US citizens who are unemployed. I also find the Occupy movement's General Assembly style of consensus organizing and the diversity of the folks involved heartening and inspiring.

Already this movement has managed to get our President to change the student loan rules and now greedy Bank of American has "decided to remove the $5 fee it was implementing for debit cards." I firmly believe that if we work and stand together we can influence and change our country.

Of course, coming of age in the 1960's---with the Vietnam War protests---and seeing how they changed US policey (eventually) contributed to this conviction. Our generation changed out culture--but then we dropped the ball...and became complacent. Time for us all to wake up! and step up again. Won't you join us?

p.s. oh yeah--if you want some stickers e-mail me--I am selling them at cost of production...about 82 cents for each one...with a small price cut if you order 20 or more...lets spread them around town!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:42:00 +0000

I recently knit this green and grey sweater for a baby girl--my good friend Tanya---is soon to be a Grandma! so I rummaged around my yarn stash and came up with this yummy wool/cashmere yarn and knit this little sweater. I love this pattern--so quick and easy. I have to admit, the instant gratification of small knitting projects like this is quite satisfactory....because they take so little time to finish. And mostly my life seems to be: "so many projects, so little time..."

THE YARN MADE ME DO IT ;-)

Flower Power ! crocheted flowers...

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Hello Dear readers... so, I have certainly been absent from my blog for awhile--4 months in fact! I guess I needed a break, but now I am back and will be posting regularly. I thank you for your patience.

Yesterday, in a fit of creativity, I created these crocheted flowers. I crocheted these from scraps of wool I had on hand and finished them with nice vintage buttons.

What possessed me? I have committed to 2--yes 2!! craft fairs for the Holidaze and so need crafted items to sell. This is just a few of the items I will sell...I also have hand knit hats, some sewn "inchy" pins, some beadwork, and of course, some linocut prints.

these are quick and fun to make---here is a blue posey....

this one is made from re-purposed angora yarn---I unraveled a thrifted angora sweater for the yarn...

lovely sunny flower~

rainbow flower with vintage button

will you be my star? I love this star vintage button...

I had thought I would make these into pins or brooches but have decided to make them into hair clips....

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. "----Scott Adams

Babie Quilts and Grandbabies

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:53:00 +0000

Here is sneak peek #2 of Arams' quilt-in-progress. I must say--I am not really a quilter--I just end up creating quilts by default because a special occassion requires one and/or a daughter wants me to "make a quilt with her" and I end up sewing it (while she cuts the fabric). I am no seamtress....I like to sew but much the same as with my knitting I mostly don't use patterns--but alter clothing---or if I use a sewing pattern I alter the pattern. I'm not much a linear thinker so complicated quilt patterns just confuse me. I thought a strip quilt would be easy though and it proved to relatively uncomplicated.

This is a true "patchwork" quilt in the sense that I just used green and blue quilt cottons I had already had (thanks to my traveling friend Carol --who gave me a good deal of her green and blue quilt fabric stash before she took off to travel the world...) instead of going out a buying fabrics that were all coordinated. I like designing a quilt buy buying fabrics--but it is a different process than creating a quilt top just using your fabric stash.

At any rate here is Aram's quilt top--minus the border(s) which I have yet to design and sew on....seems a fun start though and his Auntie Serenity and I had fun getting this far along with it...

and here is my new grandbaby Aram with his brother Jasper and his Pappa. Welcome Aram Adrian Micheletti to our family---may he enjoy this quilt....

Our family has been blessed with 2 babies this month...Aram born June 5th and now Caden born June 22nd! yupp! two grandsons in one month! Here is Caden--about an hour old....I watched him arrive since I was invited to be present at his birth. All babies and parents are doing great....

welcome Caden Asher Gray to our family...

(Scroll down to see the blog post about Caden's quilt.....)

After all, Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:35:00 +0000

From my hood tagger t-shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:50:00 +0000

I created this T-shirt for my son-in-law from my IN THE HOOD textile design. I created this design by walking around my (then) Berkeley neighborhood and photographing all the tags (grafitti) on sidwalks, stop sign, walls, garbage cans--once I started this process I began noticing tags all over the 'hood---quite amazing really. I lived in a rather upscale hood in the Berkeley hills--yet here was all this grafitti art everywhere!

Next I took my photos into Photoshop and played around with them until I created this design...

Then I had the t-shirt printed at Zappos.com....if you want one, just e-mail me! the price varies depending on the quality of the t-shirt. My son-in-law says he gets quite few comments on this t-shirt when he wears it.

Sneak Pre-view of Baby Aram's Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:18:00 +0000

Here is a quick sneak pre-view of baby Aram's quilt. Aram is due in about 3 weeks! and his Auntie Serenity and I have been cutting and sewing....

so now we have about 2/3 of the squares sewn and cut (more than I am showing here)...think it will be nice! once it is all sewn together...and has a border. And it is especially nice to work on this project along with a daughter ;-)

of course I will post finished photos here once it is finished! so check back...

Mother's Day Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:15:00 +0000

On this Mother's Day---I want to pay tribute to my Mom---Elizabeth Ellen Nordling Harris, otherwise known as Betty Harris. I was surprised to find the above photo among my Mother's pictures after she passed---partly because I never remember her knitting at all and partly because I do remember my Grandma (her mother) teaching me to knit. Then I realized---it was Gram (my Grandmother) who probably took this picture because it is a polaroid and she was the one who had the polaroid camera....and she isn't in this picture--but my Mom and my (Great) Aunt Esther are...so if course she was behind the camera. I was 8 years old in this picture and I have been knitting every since.

But knitting wasn't all my Mother taught me...I think the most important thing she taught me was to help others...and to volunteer and give back to your community. My Mom's house was the kind of home that took in others in need, that helped the elderly neighbors, and since she had an amazing flower garden--she was always giving away cut flowers and plants.

From my Mom I learned that what you put out into the universe comes back to you--if you have a generous spirit, then the universe is generous with you...if you are a miser--well--then look out! you get what you give. But I also learned that it is good to give to others without expecting anything in return.

And lastly, I learned about gardening and growing food and flowers from my Mom. To this day, I never weed without thinking of her. But learning to garden was also about generously putting energy into the Earth--so she would give back to us yummy veggies and berries to eat. For all this, I give thanks for my Mom today and pay tribute to all the Mothers I know.

If I had a flower for every time I thought of my Mother--I would have acres of flower gardens.....

Off and On the Needles

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:39:00 +0000

Off the needles : a sweater for little grandbaby Aram--due to arrive in less than a month!! Washable wool...this sweater will have a zipper closure(soon;-) This is Elizabeth Zimmerman's TOMTOM sweater pattern from the timeless book KNITTING WITHOUT TEARS. I used the same pattern over 30 years ago to make a sweater for the baby's Mother out of yarn I handspun.

and still on the needles: a baby blanket.....for one of the two grandbabies due soon...

and of course socks on the needles....

and another pair of socks on the needles...

and a lovely blue scrappy afghan...crocheted--for when I'm tired of knitting. I love this ripple pattern and decided to use up all the blue yarn scraps I had...

too darn much yarn and too little time...what is a knitter to do?
Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either."--Elizabeth Zimmerman

Celebrate Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:03:00 +0000

OUR MOTHER

DON'T YOU?

What are we doing to show we love our Earth on this day dedicated to her? How about a bit of gardening? or picking up trash? or just a meditative walk --- where you tell her how much you care for her as you enjoy your walk?

Really the phrase "saving the Earth" isn't about our Earth--Earth will survive no matter what we do to her. Maybe not in a way we will recognize... but the Earth has been here much longer than we have. This phrase really means "saving the humans" or saving the Earth we can survive on...

But I have always believed that we would not be mistreating the Earth if we loved and revered her as she deserves. Ah! Earth worship! yes, I believe in worshiping our Earth, for without her we cannot survive. Plus she is beautiful--don't you agree?

BEAR OVER THE MOUNTAIN baby quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Finally finished this quilt after 30 years! yup---I started this quilt for my youngest daughter 30 years a go--but with a toddler and a baby I was just overwhelmed and never finished it...but I sure did keep all the pieces..for over 30 years. And so now I have finished for the baby she is expecting this June--a little boy!

Now most of these fabrics are considered vintage ;-) The quilt pattern is called BEAR OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I am pleased at how it turned out after so many years a a WIP (= Work-in-progress).