Mindy Bethke

Happy Halloween!

2012-10-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

This illustration is for Illustrationfriday.com's word 'Haunt'. You see the big bad wolf was haunting little red all through the forest! This year for 'All Hallow's Eve' I was Red Riding Hood with a vengeance. I carried a home-made wolf head on a stick, and carried a basket with his non- beating heart. Basically a bad ass version of Little Red.

Me, and my BFF KaTrina. She's a pregnant pumpkin. I stitched up her shirt for her. And Yes, I do need to clean my bathroom mirror. :)

My husband and I, with my wolf head. He was Alex DeLarge for Halloween. I made his eyeball cuff links, and his nose mask. We went to a Halloween party at a local sports bar called 'KIMO'S'. There were a lot of really cool costumes!

Me and my other BFF... we were attached my Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

What were you for Halloween?

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-10-23T19:31:00.001-07:00

Once again I am super late on posting these! This is the last week I will be late! So much is going on around here it's crazy. I actually bought more than this. I bought some cardigans, and a cute top.

I found this and was so happy! I love deer, and fawns. I am not a hunter, but there is alot of hunting around where I live and it makes me so sad!

$.50

"Praise the Lord!" Isn't this adorable! I'm having the best luck finding these sweet little Hallmark plaques. I hope to find more! This is a daily reminder to praise the lord! Sometimes I forget. :)

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-10-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

A Goosebumps 'Haunted Mask' Mask! It's great for my mannequin. Did I mention it's right by my face when I sleep!

Lap Desk for $2! I love it. Bright Pink, I mean come on! It's my favorite.

I found this sweet "Tales from the Crypt" shirt for my husband! I loved watching the shows when I was a kid!

And I found a Jason shirt for me! It's from "Friday the 13th: Jason Lives" and the skelton head we have in front of our faces is actually from the dollar store! It's a pack that has a black cat, huge spider, snake, evil pumpkin, and the skeleton head. The cat looks real so I put it in our kitchen and my pug Charlie wouldn't go near it!!

Charm Bracelet

2012-10-12T00:17:00.004-07:00

Chunky charm bracelets are so much fun. Sometimes I let my paint brushes dry and make jewelry. Charm bracelets are my favorite! Every little open space on my chain is going to get a charm for sure, also chunky beads are great! I use magnetic clasps, so I don't have to get angry trying to close it shut!

I love quater toy machines. I stock up on ninjas! Ebay is an awesome place to find the cutest charms, and cabochons. They are usually really cheap, too! The Hello Kitty charms were from a Hello Kitty toy, I just added little eye screws.

The babes in the corner are actually from Hobby Lobby, they are meant for Baby Shower decorations. The Blue aliens were purchased on the way home from Las Vegas in a town called Rachel at a place called "The Little A'le'inn", but you can find the little green men in toy machines.

I've also recieved great charms in swaps with other people!

Baby Cakes

2012-10-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

Guilt-free cake! I made these for my little dolls. I used scrap fabric, poly-fil, and the frosting is Scribbles paint! It gives it the cutest frosting texture, so tempting not to eat!

A Clockwork Orange DIY

2012-10-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

This DIY came from the pure frustration of not finding what I want. For halloween this year my husband is going as 'Alex DeLarge'. The pre-made costume is kind of horrible, and it doesn't come with the cool eyeball cuffs. So I made them! The entire project only cost me $1.

Materials needed:

Eyeballs, I bought mine from the dollar store.

Canvas fabric, 3"x2"

Hot glue

Scribbles fabric writers

Acrylic paint

The eyes I bought have a center down the side, they separate very easily my just squeezing.

Hot glue them in the center.

Paint one iris blue, and the other iris brown.

Then get crazy with the cheez whiz, actually fabric paint. I used two colors. After it dries you can glue or handstitch them to a white shirt. This is probably not washable.

There you go! It might not be movie-ready, but it works, and $1 is alot better than $50+ on ebay!

What i've been working on

2012-09-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

What i've been working on.

Magnets, and brooches! Maybe i'll turn a few into ornaments for christmas! These are just wooden hearts that i've hand painted cute little characters, the tooth is totally my favorite!

"The Candy Thief" This was originally going to be for Illustration Friday's word 'crooked' but it turned into an actual painting, I love it.

My favorite art technique! Watercolor with alcohol drops, it's so awesome! And simple.

New paintings in process. "The Gardener" and "Feeding my little friends"

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-09-28T21:58:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite thrift stores is called 'Sails Outlet for Safe harbor'. They always have amazing deals, yesterday I bought all this for just $5, everything was 50% off. And it's kind of weird to say this, but I love the way it smells, it has that classic thrift store smell, in a good way. I love the smell of dust as well.

$1.50

Huge bag of scrap fabric.

$1.50

So much fabric, and several yards! It's pretty awesome. I'm a fabric hoarder.

$.30

I bought 7 of these boards, they are great for painting on.

$.25

I thought these would be cute for a fall styled doll.

Pillow Case Dog Bed

2012-09-24T23:17:00.001-07:00

This weekend I made my pug Charlie a new bed, he loves it! It is really super easy, the instructions, and a free pattern is down below.

For the snaps I used this Babyville Boutique tool. It's really simple, and the snaps come in alot of different colors.

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-09-24T22:58:00.003-07:00

Better late than never! I didn't have alot of time last week to go thrifting, I've been crazy busy.

I found 38 bottles of Scribbles paint, they are so much fun to use!

And in other news... I have become a sweat-shop! I'm making dolls like crazy! This round of dolls is for christmas, I found candy cane print fabric and they look so cute!

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-09-14T19:39:00.002-07:00

I found this cat, I can't actually own a cat because of allergies so this is plently good. I love how it's all white.

I found a bag full of thread, seam binding, bias tape, buttons, and lace!

I plan on making my dad a shrine for 'Day of the Dead' this year. I found this and thought it would be perfect! I can't wait, this will be my first year celebrating 'Day of the Dead'. I have a skull mold, and I want to make some edible Sugar Skulls, if anybody has any tips for me it would be awesome!

This was a total impulse buy. It's a Fisherprice VW Beetle, I drive the same car, I'm going to paint this the color of my Beetle which is called 'Lemon Green'. Maybe I should add a little pug and a little figure dressed like me inside! I love that the inside looks exactly the same! I bought a metal toy car Beetle while I was in Las Vegas this year, it was pink and had hearts on it, I'm thinking Beetles will probably start finding their way to me, and I will have something new to collect!

This print is so cute, a little kitty, and puppy, I love this little girls patchwork apron!

A ghost salt shaker, I couldn't find the pepper, but this is still good enought to display! He goes perfect with my black crow with a bow, vampire salt and pepper shakers, and my freddy penny bank!

My crafty area

2012-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love my craft area. It's my favorite spot in my entire house. It's a little space, but it's mine, somewhere I can totally do whatever I want! It's basically a desk, and the wall behind me is full of Martha Stewart organizers, and Jetmax organizers. I built them all myself! My art area is in my bedroom, so with limited space I have to use it well.

Anybody remember Goosebumps?!?! Well I sure do, I grew up reading them! I still love them, even though I'm 25! This is Slappy, he holds my scissors, and other misc. tools that get used alot.

I love mugs, I love them to drink out of, and I also love them because they hold all my pens. I bought the pink and paisly desk organizers at Michaels 2 years ago, and I still love them.

My very pathetic ribbon collections. This ribbon organizer isn't even half way full, now is the time to stock up on halloween ribbon!

Colored pencils, I love them. On day's where I don't feel like dragging out the paint, I turn to these. I also have an eletric pencil sharpener, which kind of makes them more fun!

My pin cushions, and thread. I'm going to half to find somewhere else for my thread, I'm out grown this!

Random stuff. My copic's are all together, a skull cup of BIC markers and Micron ink markers, My drawing manikin, it's a women's body but she needed to be more girly, so I stitched her up a cute little skirt. Next to her is my "Talky Tina" bobble head... anybody watch 'The Twilight Zone', it was my favorite episode! I love that show.

I like to keep things looking cute, cute things bring me inspiration. Pink is my favorite color... So typical, I know! I'm a girly-girl, I guess.

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-09-07T18:29:00.002-07:00

Here are some of my thrift store finds this week. I'm seriously loving all the halloween items they keep putting out! This weekend we are going to the Halloween store, we usually have 3 different stores open, so lots to look at! And buy! I might get one of those zombie babies to freak out my neice this year!

I love these little ghosts! I'm planning a halloween dinner/party this year so it will be so perfect! I love their little faces.

$0.69

"A giggle a day, keeps the glums away" I thought it was so cute! That little bunny looks so happy.

$0.99

This cup is different, but I love the hearts and the unicorn and the creepy little girls with blue and pink eyes. It also has a cover that goes on top, I figured it was a plate for cookies or something?

$0.98

I heart pumpkins! Anything with a jack o' lantern face melts my heart! This guy was so sweet, it's perfect for hiding halloween candy!

End of Summer

2012-09-05T21:48:00.001-07:00

Here are some highlights from my summer. I am not a summer girl. I am more into fall/winter, I'm always glad to see summer leave. I know once I see those pumpkins at the grocery store we are safe! We made it! I did alot this year, took some trips, made a ton of art, and tried to survive!

My husband's mom loves to play BINGO, we played with her a few times, my husband won $100, first time he won in 12 years! I've never won. I guess BINGO isn't my game! But it's still fun, and I love using the pink dauber, I wonder if there is a sparkly dauber? That would make it pretty sweet.

I painted alot this summer. Sometimes I feel like bring all my paint to my floor, and sitting and watching Daria. I haven't done that in awhile.. last time my pug Charlie ran across wet paint, and stepped on the carpet and our sheet, and pillows! It was funny, but I don't like paint all over where I sleep!

We went to Las Vegas this summer, it was awesome. We plan to go back in Febuary! I loved it, it's so hot there! It was 112degrees, talk about a death trap! We gambled $7, and won $14... we didn't have alot of time to actually play, but maybe next we will hit the jackpot! A girl can dream, right?

Our main reason for actually going to Las Vegas.... SUMMERLAND!!! It was one of the best concerts, ever! And i've been to alot of concerts. Everclea, Sugar Ray, Lit, Gin Blossoms, and Marcy Playground, yeah it was awesome. It was at the Mandalay Bay Beach. We stood in a pool while they played! And there was sand, it was like being at a beach. I seriously hope this continues, I will go every year!

We made a detour to Rachel, NV. The Extraterrestrial highway was pretty neat. It's an open range so there was cows all over the place. I wanted to stop and pet one, but they looked wild. There isn't alot around this highway, but the view was so cool. I love the desert!

We had lunch at the "Little A 'le' Inn". If you've seen the movie 'Paul' it's where they have lunch, it's also in an episode of X-files. I bought the coolest alien mug!

In Rachel, NV. It's so awesome. A part of the movie "Independence Day" was filmed here. It's pretty awesome.

I drank alot of coffee this summer.. I guess this isn't that big of a deal, I'm a major coffee drinker, it must be the state I live in. :) I just wanted to show off my sweet alien mug!

Dance party with my neice, I took her to the park a few times this summer, and shopping, and to get ice cream, she's my favorite 4 year old.

A mini trip to Spokane. We had dinner at Dick's, it's a really good hamburger place.

Smash Mouth concert!

Alot of thrift store shopping happend this summer. It's probably my favorite thing to do. This was in Walla Walla. I live an hour away from here.

I bought new shoes. I love mary-jane shoes. These are so comfortable.

Trip to Forks, and La Push. I love being at the beach.

And because my husband and I are kind of geeky we play at the arcade alot. This is my favorite game, I always get so many tickets!

So that's what I did this summer. So, What did you do this summer?

What i'm working on

2012-09-04T22:15:00.002-07:00

Novemeber is going to be busy for me! I have a Craft show, Alice Cooper concert, Breaking Dawn pt. 2, my birthday, new Blythe arrival and Thanksgiving! Here are a few things that i've been working on for my craft show. Little doll's in little dresses, and little snowman that will be glittered and wearing scarfs and hats!

I love snowmen, they are adorable. I love when it snows and I always try to make one.. but then give up because it's FREEZING outside! Well this year, I plan to finish one! Probably... I can't wait untill it get's that cold, it's when I'm at my happiest.

Friday: Thrift store finds

2012-08-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Friday is now dedicated to my thrift store finds. I go thrifting several times a week. I love finding old things that peak my interests.

$2.99

This weekend while in Aberdeen I spoted a Goodwill, and found a Lance Bass doll! I already have Justin! And it was awesome to find him still in the box, never opened, holy awesomeness! Lance was my favorite...But I somehow knew even then that i'd never marry him... nor would any other gal!

This dollface vase is totally cute, I haven't actually put flowers in it yet, but she's still pretty. Doesn't she look great next to my alien straws... My husband put the straws there, they will be moved!

$0.99

This bag is so red, and so awesome. After I bought it I found a quarter in it.

I know this is on VHS, but it's my favorite movie, eva! I kind of just bought it to display the cover. Alex looks great next to my blythes. I'm trying to find an outfit to make one of my blythes into a little droogy. Do you think the clown blythe is a "Malenky bit poogly"?

Getting away....

2012-08-27T22:55:00.001-07:00

Every year we take a little trip to Forks. If you're a Twi-hard you know where it's at! Forks is the town in the Twilight movies. It's also in the same state I live in. Washington, it's the best place in the world! At the end of every August we drive to the beach, and relax. This weekend we had the added pleasure of my neice tagging along.

My neice Kaylea, She is like my mini-me.

In Aberdeen getting ice cream, mine was a coconut cream pie ice cream, so good! I love most things coconut, so this was good.

At the beach, this is at First Beach in La Push. It's my favorite. It's so amazingly beautiful, and I love walking without shoes in the sand.

I really need to learn to use my self-timer... This was on my tri-pod, it looks like chaos!

One day I will buy a beach house, and live there untill i'm dead.

Every time I go to a beach I take a little sand home to keep in a jar. This year i've also made a necklace, it's a fun way to remember being there. I made my neice a little jar of her own, so she can start her own collection, and remember the fun times we all had at the beach!

Martha Stewart Paint Review

2012-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

This painting was painted mostly with Martha Stewart paints. Martha Stewart has always had amazing products, most of them are worth the money, too. I have this serious addiction to buying acrylic paints. I have over 200 bottles/tubes/jars! But then again.. I am a full-time artist, so it's totally okay, right? :)

I have 24 bottles of her paint. I love the colors, most of them are very opaque. So you only need one coat, which is awesome, it dries fast, it goes on very smooth. I'd compare it to a soft-body paint, which is what I prefer. Most of my Martha Stewart paints are in Satin, but I also have Pearl, and you betcha I have her glitter paints! It's the best glitter paint you will ever use! The 'Beetle Black' is a staple in my art supplies. I used to pay $8-20 for a bottle of Golden and Liquitex, but Martha's black paint is seriously just as good, maybe even better, and it's only $2!

If you have any questions about this product, you can comment me a question. Thank's for reading!

Embroidery

2012-08-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've been on a huge embroidery kick as of late. I love all the thread colors, and the wooden hoops remind me of my Grandma Emma. In a way embroidery is like drawing, only with a needle and thread! Here are some that i've been working on for an upcoming craft show.

Thank you for looking! I have new blog post coming soon, so come back and see me!

Vintage Books

2012-08-03T02:30:00.002-07:00

I love old books. Children books are my favorite, I love the images, the photo's amaze me! Sometimes old books have coloring in them from children, But if you can find atleast one good page you can frame it. I have an Alice in Wonderland framed picture, along with a Snow White.

A great place to find these style of books are a thrift store. I have one in my city that sells books for 10cents! That is beyond cheap. I've also found alot of my favorites at rummage sales, and a few yard sales.

When I found this I grabbed it so fast! Bears are my most favorite animal! Well after my Charlie pug.. Bears are amazing animals, and I love them. When I was a child we went to Montana and drove through a bear park, it was amazing.

I love books that have cat images. I don't actually own a cat, and I would never want to own one, but I think they are adorable, and fun to look at. Plus i'm allergic, and I don't think I could ever deal with a liter box!

Mug Collection

2012-07-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite coffe mugs. I love to collect them. It makes drinking coffee more fun, even more so when they are smiling back at you, and giving you a thumbs up! I like vintage mugs the best, thrift stores always have pretty amazing mugs. That's where I find most of mine, also Etsy, and Ebay are great places to find a mug treasure.

This is a Stomach, and a Liver. I actually have two stomach mugs. Somewhere out there is a Kidney. I'm not sure what other body parts exsist. I found the two orange stomach mugs at a thrift store called "Shop C.I." They were each 49cents. I for some reason didn't buy them at that time. I found a pair again at Goodwill a month later... So I bought them. I found the Liver mug at Goodwill in another city. Maybe one day I will find more! Hopefully!

This mug was bought at a thrift store, it was 50cents! And it has the cutest little ghost! I use it all year round, instead of just on Halloween. It reminds me of fall, and halloween, and spooky, happy times. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I hope this fall I find more, with cute ghost!

This was also found at a thrift store. It was $1 and from the 80's, new in the box! I love what it say's. Not fat, just fluffy!

When I saw this at a thrift store, I ran to it! I love it, it's pastel, and adorable! Look that that girls sweet little face, and her pointy blonde hair makes me happy! This one was 50cents!

This mug, was bought in Forks, Wa. We live in Washington, and every year we travel to Forks for a vacation, and to sit at the cold beach, and search for vampires, werewolves, and bigfoot! This was bought at "Dazzled by Twilight". Forks is a Twilight town! This cup was $5. I love it. BITE ME! :)

Thrift Store Shopping

2012-07-16T16:39:00.002-07:00

This weekend my husband and I went to an antique store, and various thrift stores. This darling mermaid is so cute. I wish it came in a bright pink, or minty green color. I would have bought it. Dusty rose pink isn't really my favorite, but she sure was pretty.

I love buying books at thrift stores. They are so cheap! This book was only 50cents! I love reading about criminals, and I love watching the I.D. channel. So when I found this book, I bought it.

These comic book style pencils are really fun. 19cents is a pretty good price. I have alot of these kind of pencils. I guess you can say I collect them?

This is an original 'My little pony' She's from the G1 series, and her name is "Baby Lofty". I've been looking for a 'Baby Sugarberry'.

A vintage scarf. Perfect to tie around your head. I love the blue polkadots. Polkadots make everything fun!

"Dance your cares away! Worries for another day! Let the music play! Down in Fraggle Rock, Down in Fraggle Rock!" I love Fraggle Rock. I watched it all the time when I was a child. And I still watch it today!!!

Every seamstress needs elastic!

Embroidery hoops, you can find these for really cheap at thrift stores. I'll be posting a DIY with one of these, so stay tuned!

Here is a goofy pictre of me and my husband. Whenever we are out antiquing, or thrifting and see a mirror, we always take a picture.

Look at how fabulous this dress is! I think more dresses should be this fun, and bright floral fabrics like this need to make a come back!

Everybody needs a Minolta! I have 2. They are awesome cameras. SLR is fun.

Products I love

2012-07-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Snowy Seasoning Spice Shaker

I Love these spice shakers! They are so whimsical, the little white bunny is my favorite.

Sly and the Family Pillow

This sweet little fox pillow will look so cute on any couch!

Bad Husband Cutting Board

This cutting board might not be for everyone, but I love it! This also comes in a Wife version.

Victorian Mermaid Bookends

How amazing is this?!?! I have a deep love for mermaids, and this is so spectacular! I'd love one in color, but white is very pretty.

Book I love

2012-07-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

Witch Craft

I love this book! Halloween is my most favorite holiday, ever. This has so many projects to get you into the halloween spirit. These projects are great for the entire year as well. I made a pink fuzzy bat, 100's of little potion bottles, and a cute little apple. If you love halloween, and witchy fun, you will LOVE this book.

My Favorite Dolls

2012-07-10T23:16:00.001-07:00

"Sunday"

She's a 'Living Dead Doll'. They are cute little horror dolls. I think she's just so charming. I love her bright orange hair.

"Cassie"

I found this doll at a thrift store for $1.99. She was in a package with a vintage Skipper doll. I didn't know what this doll was, but I thought she was really unique. I found out that she's actually a "Lollipop Girl" by Jan Mclean. She didn't come with her thigh high red boots, or her lollipop, but I love her.

"Coco Butter"

This was actually my very first blythe doll purchase. She's an original petite blythe (not littlest pet shop). She's very sweet.

This doll is a skating doll from the early 90s. She is so funny! I love her face. And her bright blonde hair. She's a bigger doll, and she still works!

"Rosie"

Who doesn't love Rosie O'Donnell? She's so fabulous as a 'Barbie friend'. She came with a microphone! Her red lipstick just makes me smile.

"Kelly"

Sister Kelly looks so cute as a little Frankenstein girl. I love that she's green!

"Barbie and Ken"

I'm in love with my two mod barbies. I think Ken looks just like a young Neil Diamond, and that makes me very happy! I found this Barbie for a $1 at a thrift store, and somebody onlike was selling it for $300. Seriously, great find!

"Peregrine, Lux, Amelia"

These are 3 of my 4 full sized blythes. I love Blythes! They are such an amazing doll. I love how you can change the color of their eyes. And they look cute in anything you put them in! They are like real people! My favorite dolls ever, for sure! I get one every year on my birthday. I can't wait for this year, i'm getting a very special blythe doll!