patti haskins

Oaxacan Wood

phaskins — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:04:12 +0000

I haven’t posted about my love of Mexican folk art in a while. I guess I’m still in mourning since my favorite store for Mexican folk art went out of business. Now I lust over the fabulous wood carvings from Oaxaca that my new favorite online shop features. Sandia Folk A rt. Every time their new email pops up in my inbox, I stop what I’m doing to peruse and dream. They offer the best sculptures. I want almost every single one they sell. So far I have been good and resisted the temptation to add a few to my collection. But I feel my strength diminishing. I’m afraid I’ll be clicking and adding to my shopping cart soon. Here’s a couple of pieces from their latest email that are calling my name. Enjoy.

It’s Market Time Again

phaskins — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:36:35 +0000

and I hope the weather is fine for Saturday’s White Rock Local Market. Come on by to pick up some fresh local grown produce and a few wonderful creations offered by the area’s best artisans. I’ll be there with loads of my critter creations including a pile of catnip snakes and bugs and crocheted critters including my latest, Paula the pit bull. Hope to see you there. The market takes place from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm Saturday, May 11 on Buckner Blvd. @ Northcliff Dr. in the Green Spot parking lot.

My Latest Custom Crocheted Critter

phaskins — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:01:54 +0000

Remember how I said I loved custom creations? As soon as I finished my St. Bernard on a ski, I began crocheting a twin for Duncan the dog. His owner wanted him to look like Tony (he’s still waiting for a new home in my shop) but with Duncan’s colors. She sent me a bunch of photos of a really cute dog and I had the best time crocheting him. She promises to send photos of the dogs together. I love that. I can’t wait to see them. Enjoy.

The Smell of Spring

phaskins — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:00:21 +0000

My favorite tree is blooming. It must be spring. I can smell the tiny blossoms’ sweet perfume in the air. I know they’re not a desired tree, but I love the scent of the Chinaberry above all other flowers’ scent. We don’t have a Chinaberry tree on our property, but there is one on a quiet street that I drive on my daily commute. Yesterday, I stopped the car and broke off a couple of the blooming low hanging branches. Don’t tell anyone. Those branches are in a vase here in my studio making every breath I take a delight. Here’s some studio shots of those tiny perfumed blossoms. Enjoy.Click to view slideshow.

I Love Custom Creations

phaskins — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:04:07 +0000

Here’s my latest custom creation, a St. Bernard on a ski. A customer saw my cat on a ski and asked if I’d do a St. Bernard, black line on the same hot pink fabric I’d made some other critter pillows from. Well, I have no more of that particular fabric so the customer said perhaps I could make one of realistic colors and I offered to get out the acrylics and paint onto some nubby ivory fabric and below is the results. I like him. The customer likes him. Do you?

April in Texas

phaskins — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:14:03 +0000

When it’s April in Texas, that means it is festival time and the bluebonnets are blooming. This weekend alone, there’s the Main Street Art Festival in downtown Fort Worth, there’s a Taco Festival in Deep Ellum, it’s Record Store Day and lots of area shops have free stuff happening, the Bath House at White Rock Lake has the Art Mart, there’s a Guitar Show at Market Hall and best of all, the Bluebonnet Festival in Ennis. I’ve been to all of these one time or another except the Taco Festival, this is the first year for it. A few years back when we went to the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival, it was one of those perfect years for blooms, plenty of warmth, sun and rain. I shot a lot of fabulous photos and I’m sharing some those with you now. Get out and have some fun this weekend. Enjoy.

It’s Market Time Again 2013

phaskins — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:42:56 +0000

Hello Dallas. Hello White Rock Local Market. This Saturday, April 13 8am until 1pm will be my first venture out into the public with my critter creations. I have been hibernating for way too long. Come see all my new critter shaped pillows and lots of new catnip snakes and cockroaches. We’ll be at the Green Spot market location on Buckner. I hope to see your smiling faces in my booth.

Working Working Working

phaskins — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:00:43 +0000

I am back to painting on fabric, sewing and stuffing after finishing my crocheted pit bull. I hope he sells today at the Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths show. Snakes, cockroaches and relaxed cats are in various stages all over my work table. They are all headed to the White Rock Local Market next Saturday. Anything left after that will be listed in my Etsy shop. If you see something you want in these photos and don’t want to wait or take a chance on it not selling, let me know. Enjoy the pics.

Pit Bulls

phaskins — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 02:04:23 +0000

I love dogs. All kinds. Even pit bulls. I’ve never lived with one but I’ve liked the ones I’ve met. They’re just like all other dogs, be nice to them and they’re nice to you. And you must know by now I love to crochet dogs as much as I love to crochet cats. When I create my crocheted critters, I usually use bright fun colors, the colors the critters would be if they had a choice I always say.

The reason I bring up pit bulls is that my most recent crocheted critter is a lovable, soft, huggable pit bull. I made him by crocheting with three different shades of brown chenille and white chenille to make him sort of realistic looking. I made this cute critter for a benefit art show, Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths. The show, now in its fifth year, raises funds for A Rotta Love Plus, a Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota pit bull and Rottweiler rehoming, advocacy, and education organization. If you venture into Facebook land, and who doesn’t these days, click h ere for the event page for the show.

My one of a kind pit bull will be available for adoption at the show. I hope he finds a good home.

Trying to be Spring

phaskins — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:20:05 +0000

The weather here in Dallas is just as wacky as the rest of the country: hot one day, chilly the next. But some of the plants and trees in my backyard feel that spring is upon us and are showing their colors just to prove it. Here’s a couple of photos I shot yesterday of my rosemary bush and redbud tree both showing their own shades of purple. Glad to see it. The yard always looks better with some purple blooming. Enjoy.