Momtastic Stitchery

Come check out Momtastic's Artfire Store

2012-01-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

Day 251: My husband, family and I revamped our business plan this week with some new goals in mind. So come check out our newly restocked Artfire store for great pillows, aprons and other goodies. There are merely the beginning of a grand new creative direction!

Since we decided to start this business adventure a few years ago we have tried, worked, reinvented and tried again to be on a path that represented us and our family. We love to create. I love to sew. I can't help but get a kick out of being able to work hard on a job I LOVE and that my family can work with me. This joy, I have that, we have that, we are being creative and working hard on a business that is growing.

But one of the things that our family wanted as part of our business plan was to give back to the community although we had never figured out a way to give to ALL of the places we felt needed giving. Now we have. Every month we will be giving 10% of our profits to a different charity, these are the profits before shipping and taxes. Sure we will start small but there are ways where small helps and we hope to grow. These profits will not only include online sales but the seamstressing work I take on here in my home as well.

My family has chosen a handful of charities both locally and worldwide but if you have some suggestions please let us know and we will add them to our list. The charities must be a registered Not-for-Profit and have a website. We will be checking them through a Charity Checker as well.

We are working on the website page this weekend that will link each charity and the amount donated each month so that you can see where the money is going.

Starting February 1st we will be raising money towards a KIVA loan. It is hard to believe as we struggle with bills here in the U.S. that $25 in another part of the world could change someone's life. Before the 1st I will write a little more about it and post reminders. So by shopping at Momtastic Stitchery's Artfire Store and utilizing my sewing services you will be making a difference both around the world and locally.

You, my customers and friends, will also be making a difference in our lives. Supporting local business IS community and my stitching your projects just helps to bind us together.

What will you create today? What will we create together?

The Adventures of Taichi Tabananica #19: A page from Taichi's high school yearbook

2012-01-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

Day 250

What will you create today?

Touch My Stitches #9: Feather Stitch

2012-01-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

Day 249: Week 3 of 52

Here is last week's stitch from the TAST Challenge. I added little schools of fish swimming through my oceanscape scene. I plan on adding some beading for the eyes as well.

The main part of the fish are worked with the Feather Stitch lazily swimming through the water. And then I just filled in the parts that made them into fish with a different color thread.

I am using 2 strand of floss in a variety of colors as I try to use up my thread scraps.

I love that I have a simple vision in mind for something and then it just seems to come together as I add new stitches. I am a week behind in the TAST challenge and have to go work on Week 4 now so will share that this weekend.

What will you create today?

Scenes from my Sketchbook #11: Taichi Reminiscing

2012-01-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

Day 248: Just a couple of pictures of what I am working on for Friday. I am so excited because soon you will see a whole new side of Taichi when the Copic pens and markers I ordered arrive. I think it will make my art hand happier. I have never been so excited about a writing implement in my life but until I really started sketching and drawing Taichi and seeing in my head what I want to get onto paper I just didn't realize how important these tools were.

What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #18: Getting back to Nobody

2012-01-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

Day 247 Is it too much to ask to get sharks with freakin' laser beams? Dr. Evil is my Mad Scientist today. Why? I dunno, because it is funny, has nothing to do with this post and seems so "irrelevant"......cue the music and dance scene...

After nearly a long a wait as Dr. Evil in cold storage I finally got to work on this again. I can't find the post but last you heard about this altered book was that my precious angel cats had scratched the embroidered felt cover, no crying over ripped stitches. It gave me a chance to work the piece differently. This time I went with a duck cloth in grey. I must have ripped out the stitches 20 times trying to get the borders correct but instead I used a bit of recycled wool from men's pants.

This is the fake book cover of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I did temporarily tack down the strips in places just to keep it straight. I just used a simple embroidery straight stitch around the wool.

I even used a hoop for a while but then it got really hard to use because of the bulk of the stitches. I am going to keep this idea for the future but use one of those wooden frames instead of a hoop.

I am fairly happy with how it came out being the first time trying this and really winging it. I consider every project and every stitch to be a learning experience.

It got a little wonky in places but when the center is filled with the picture it will look better.

Unfortunately, I got so obsessed with not letting this border beat me that I didn't work on my weekly TAST so I am going to work on that tonight. But I just had to tackle it to see if what it looked like finished is what I imagined in my head.

Posts on the evolution of this altered book:
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3
Post 4

What will you create today?

I get my thrills thrifting #6: Goodwill Tshirt Hunting

2012-01-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

Day 246 Well I didn't really find them at Goodwill but it just sounded right in the title. These will all be going into my new Artfire Store they are mostly 18" pillows, I am thinking the Twilight one might be a 16" or 14". If you are interested in any of these let me know!

Archetype Tattoo and a Dragon Tattoo

Jacob and 1971 Led Zeppelin World Tour

Korn and Rockband Skulls

Twilight, 'dominant and Thundercats

Aprons, cross stitch plates and fabric collages coming up on the horizon!
What will you create today?

Adventures of Taichi Tabananica #17: Taichi enters the strange and wondrous world of THE CON

2012-01-20T19:08:00.000-08:00

Day 245

Scenes from my Sketchbook #11: My daughter's Anime and Manga

2012-01-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

Day 244 My teen is big into sketching and coloring her favorite Japanese anime and manga characters. These are not traced but freehand drawn and then colored. I am pretty impressed because at 13 all I could draw were horses, yea I was in therapy for years don't judge.

And a sneak peeky at a bunch of Taichi's I am working on, lets just say I got inspired at the Comic Con and had to sit and sketch which people watching, oh yea.

What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #17: Bow ties are downright sexy....Albuquerque Comic Con 2012

2012-01-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

Day 243: Because we seem to have so many Doctor Who fans here in the Albuquerque area our Mad Scientist of the week is The Master AKA Harold Saxon. Here come the drums, Vote Saxon! Just a regular damaged and demented Time Lord, giving better lives to disembodied heads from the future.

The Comic Con here in Albuquerque has come and gone. We only went the one day but next year I have to go a little all 3 days because I missed seeing some of the coolest costumes. I wish I had taken more pictures too but I couldn't stop myself from gawking at everything long enough to remember to take a picture, such a child. Not too many disturbing costumes, lots of nipples, leather and spandex. I don't know whats more disturbing kids getting immune to violence in video games or in your face disproportionate nipples and ass-eh well fanboys sway the market, what can you say.

Here is a link to check out some more pics :

http://www.albuquerquecomiccon.com

or just google images for it or check out their facebook page.

But I got to see Jake Busey, rub shoulders at the chocolate booth with Commander Data, check out some actors from The Walking Dead show, apparently totally nice guy Carey Tagawa and Claudia Christian. No I didn't pay for autographs but it was neat to walk by their tables and see them at least. Not a sexy stormtrooper in sight that day and I was seriously bumming. I was almost in tears that I didn't get to see Sam or Kristen from True Blood but maybe next year fingers crossed, hot werewolf maybe? I might swoon.

My daughter and her friend got a sketch by Gene Ha. He is an amazing comic book artist and just a really nice person.

This girl's Hello Kitty paraphernalia booth was adorably addicting and my youngest daughter was on pink overload.

See a mop, a fez and a bow tie..instant Doctor.

Captain America snuggie, just plain weird

Can't remember who she was supposed to be but her hair was a great shade of green.

Mad Alice (Alice Madness Returns game), Altair (Assassin's Creed game) and she made the costume AND she had a hidden fake dagger that popped out of the thing on her hand AWESOME, Harley Quinn from Batman cartoon fame

These kids were the cutest things...Aang, Sokka and Kitara from the cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender and the little girl's name was even Kitara

This is my oldest daughter in the jacket, shorts and tie I made. She was Ciel from the Black Butler anime and manga.

Link of Zelda games. He even had a jar that lit up and did the little noise like the character in the game makes when he gets something AWESOME.

Dude from the Death Note manga and anime, I think his name was Mr. White.

Another character, Sebastian, from the Black Butler anime and manga....it was cool of her to take a pic with my daughter.

No its not Shaft all you old people...its Nik Fury from The Avengers which was filmed here in New Mexico and is gonna be a freaking awesome movie. I love the word awesome it was so appropriate to the event.

Harley Quinn from the Batman Arkham Asylum game...and yes she made her costume!

I think these were characters from Castlevania....with my daughter and her friend who was a Vocaloid.

Rocking out with a skinny Elvis suit at the Hard Rock Hotel

Another view of the jacket and Ciel outfit.

Personally, I think she totally rocked this jacket and she was recognized at the Con so that means it was a good job!

Hello Kitty ring yummies. She went back a few times it just just too irresistible.

I was bummed I didn't see or take pictures of more costumes. But I have been able to see some from other people's Facebook pages and websites. It is so cool to see all the creativity. Now we are all addicted to Cons so you can be sure to see more pictures of costumes and travels in the near future. Its like Halloween only not just once a year!

Touch My Stitches #8: Buttonhole Stitch

2012-01-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

Day 241: Week 2 of 52

I love this weekly TAST challenge. I worked on this a little last week but needed to get through the costumes for the ComicCon (more on that tomorrow) so had to put it aside. I was able to pick it up again last night so here is my continuation of this Ocean/Underwater piece with the Buttonhole Stitch included.

The first week's Fly Stitch is underneath some Buttonhole Stitches as well as some more Fly Stitches. You can see I am using embroidery thread in 3, 2 and single strands.

I also added these wonderful beads and chips to the underwater scape. In these two pictures I had only added a few longer Buttonhole stitches in the green and the ones that the beads are on. The colored stone chips are on thin Fly Stitches.

I did go out and buy the beads and stone chips but I am trying to use up the scraps of thread and cones that I have found at thrift stores for this project to use up what I have available.

In these last 3 pictures I have added the stones and all the longer Buttonhole and Fly Stitches in green over the smaller stitches to give it some dimension. As I get a new stitch every week I will keep integrating them into this piece in some way until I am satisfied with the look and then I will start another one.

I can't get over the color of some of these stones. As I add stitched living creatures amongst the vegetation of this ocean bottom I think it will really make these stand out.

What will you create today?

Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST)
Week 1 Fly Stitch

The Silence Will Fall #12: What do you do all day? You must get bored just sitting around.

2012-01-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

Day 240

Stitching

Patterns

Sewing

More sewing

Sketching

What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #16: Reinventing, Recycling, Reclaimed...whatever its fun

2012-01-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

Day 239 Today's villain is Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean series...he's bad, he's cursed, he's good, he's a comedian, he's sorta in between quite frankly he enjoys being a Pirate and isn't that whats important in life? That we enjoy what we do and do it with gusto? Oh sure we all love the mock drunken chicanery, hair and makeup that is Captain Jack-the person not the monkey-but I think this might be my 2nd favorite character in the movies.

Today we are all about reinventing things. If Captain Barbossa can do it with such success, so can we. My youngest found this one piece dress at the thrift store recently and it didn't fit on the top part so we took scissors to it, leaving a band of the knit at the waist and voila'....instant cutie plaid skirt. NO SEWING and I believe it only cost 50 cents so BONUS.

Adorableness!

These were picked up via thrifiting or freecycle, still in sealed packages. They had cutesy sayings on them so in order to make them more fun I decided to change the quotes. I have a few more larger ones and I think I am just going to do this from now on it makes life way more interesting and as the Captains always say "the rules are more like guidelines anyway" ? That should be my personal creed me thinks.

Klaatu Barada Nikto

Soylent Green is...

Millicent's Cat (I hope someone can figure this one out, I think its funny) I really changed this entire piece to adapt the cat to a more magical bent.

I love giggling while stitching and finding quotes that I think are funny.

What will you create today?

I get my thrills thrifting #5: Singer Sewing Machine Attachment Love

2012-01-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Day 238 I am totally in love with sewing machines and I mean some serious petting. Its a disease and if you sew you probably know of which I speak. Don't judge. I could barely contain myself as I saw this in the glass case and they were displayed with the box open so it wasn't until I got it home that I could tell how good a condition it was all in. I mean seriously the manual has never even been flipped through.

The sad part of this tale is I got it home and NONE, NOT A ONE of my vintage sewing machines are slant shank, they are all low shank...BOO HISS..so now to decide do I sell these or hold out for a slant shank machine cause you know if I give them away I will see a machine the next day at the thrift store for $5, its the way I roll.

These are labeled Singer Sewing Machine Attachments for class 404 machines. Part No 161277 and it is completely intact with all the original pieces. I think it is from the 50s. It even has the card that the little darning foot came on. Oh to long for the days when sewing machine feet were $2.25.

What will you create today?

The Adventures of Taichi Tabananica #16: There would be no more cover sheets after this...

2012-01-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

Day 237

Touch My Stitches #7: The Fly Stitch

2012-01-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Day 236 TAST Week 1 of 52
This weekly post has been lagging behind the others in terms of fun and posting and while I am stitching nearly every day I just couldn't come up with enough inspiration to get this one day's post together every week. I was reading around the blogs one day and saw the 'Take A Stitch Tuesday' post come up over on Pintangle where she will post a different stitch every week and challenge the participants to learn the stitch or take it further and be creative. So I signed myself up for 2012, thats right 52 weeks of stitching, lets see if I can keep up, it will be a nice challenge and get my creative stitching juices flowing in the right direction. I really have learned a lot already just browsing through her website and blog, which is what drew me to the page in the first place. While the list is closed to join anyone can play along so if you are interested come and join all the fun! There is also a link in the right sidebar of this blog-->

This week was the Fly stitch. Now the way I prefer to embroider is to keep it free flowing and loose. So I dug through my scrap bucket and was immediately drawn to these 3 pieces: Blue lineny type fabric, cream colored handmade? paper and orange tulle. Don't ask me why I just don't want to stress about this project so I went with it.

Using my embroidery scrap thread pile I then loosely stitched them all together in a running stitch.

And then experimented with a loose fly stitch in a turquoise. I see almost a beach, water scene here so I randomly placed the stitches along the bottom.

You can see that I didn't stabilize the tulle and maybe I should have but I despise stabilizer of any kind and I know that I will be putting more sample stitches on it so if that doesn't make it lay better I might add a layer of scrap thin fleece to the back.

Later I decided to add a better example of the fly stitch in a tan color, since I am supposed to be learning the stitch and getting better at it anyway I figured why not do it right at some point. I am just not a fan of directions I prefer to think of them as guidelines anyway because isn't that what they really are, don't you paint yourself into a corner if you always follow the rules?

What will you create today?

The Silence will Fall #11: Love my sample cards from Moo.com

2012-01-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

Day 234

What will you create today?

Scenes from my Sketchbook #11: Prepping for Spring

2012-01-03T22:25:00.001-08:00

Day 233: I don't know about you all but we spent nearly the entire holiday break being creative. My girls are determined to give me sketches to turn into embroidery. Here are some sketches from a couple of our drawing pads...

What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #15; Yippee Kay yay its 2012

2012-01-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Day 232 I decided to add in movie villains to the mad scientists to my Monday posts just to make them more interesting and because they go together like olives on pizza. MMMM olives.

Hans Gruber from the original was one of my favorites, its the voice I think. And lets get honest here I still like to watch Bruce in action, more especially now sans hair. I haven't seen the most recent flick of the Die Hard series but I might see the next one considering they might add another Gruber into the mix. Alan Rickman has that hilarious knack for blending bad guy with humor and well who doesn't think Severus is the best part of Harry Potter?

Since the Die Hards were originally a Christmas day gag thing (can't remember if the other movies are too and I haven't seen 4.0) but I thought I would show you what we made this Christmas.

G2 came up with these adorable stockings to stuff cat toys into for our precious feline spoiled rotten adorable angels. She crafted each one to catch the color and personality of each cat. She really worked hard on these. Its nice to see her picking up more on that Mad Scientist spirit. This one is for Toph AKA Pigweed because well she eats everything in the food bowls and looks slightly stoned pretty much all the time, go figure we need intervention for a cat on the nip.

This one was for our older black cat Sokka who is looking slightly bewildered at the presence of our newest kitten invader.

This is for our newest kitten Fred. Big ole bug eyes in a little face. She did a really good job on these all on her own.

I found this Transformers Tshirt at the thrift store and since G2's list included 'something to do with Bumblebee and Optimus Prime' well there ya go.

G2 asked for me to make her a fleece blanket for Christmas and she wanted to help. I ordered these Hello Kitty fleeces and that is what we did Christmas day.

I think this was the funniest Christmas gift. My hub and I found this uniform shirt from the Milwaukee Public Museum and knowing that G1's favorite movies include the 2 Night at the Museum and one of her favorite sketches from the 2nd movie is the 'Brundon' one I knew I just had to put that on the other side.

I hand embroidered 'Brundon' in gold floss. Its "Buh-rundon" lol lol lol

This one comes with a story. ET is one of my oldest's scary things. Always has been. When we saw this original 80s sheet at the thrift store we knew we had to make something from it for her as a gag gift. I mean look at that full of angsty face, we parents gotta do something to combat that and put a giggle in our day right?! Well she loves it, still won't see the movie, touch an action figure or go to the ride at Universal studios but this scarf can handle. The other side is a minky scrap I had in my scrap box so its super soft when combined with the soft cotton character sheet.

These I didn't even have to sew. I have been getting rid of my old jewelry bits and bobs and found I had some extra chains, extra empty lockets (from my own teenage angsty years) and my husband and I found these cool old keys while out thrifting. Both girls were very happy and have been wearing them.

This old tea set was from the girls' Grandmother from when she was a little girl. My husband cut the legs down on a round side table we had in the house so it is the right height for American Girls dolls or stuffed animals to sit at. Then I made a tablecloth and some napkins for G2 to have her holiday tea party with her dolls.

Here is the oldest's skeleton key and locket. I put it on a long chain and I think it looks really cool.

Its so funny my girls' different personalities. The youngest is more about sentimentality and the oldest loves a good gag, then they switch places for a moment just to keep up parents on their toes. We had a great Christmas and we stayed way, way, way under budget. Sure it took a lot of time and planning but it was time together making memories and those are things you can't put a price on.

What will you create today/

Sunday Best #3: Clean up Christmas, its time for the New Year!

2012-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

Day 231 Its clean up time, the bi-annual purging of stuff, throwing out or recycling what doesn't work and trying new things.

Pillows going into the new store today. I am loving that Navy one, its a cross stitch reverse appliqued on recycled fabric.

My mom had given me these Singer sewing machine feet and attachments and they just came out of their vinegar bath to clean off all the rust. They look just spanking new don't they? Have not had the time to identify what some of them do so if you have any ideas let me know. I know there are a couple of hemmers and a ruffler in there and only one of them actually has a ID number on them so I am assuming they are parts that go to a bigger attachment.

Fred was discovered 'helping' while we were taking down and putting away Christmas decorations. Although eating the Christmas decorations and spitting them out is not really helping the clean up process.

So make a clean sweep, pull up your boot straps, find your artistic mojo and prepare to hit the mute button, its gonna be a year of art, success, hope, the US getting back on its economic feet and political shenanigans. What will you create today?

I get my thrills thrifting #4: All we got for Christmas....

2011-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

Day 230: This Christmas my hub and I were determined to only get things we found within a certain price range (read dollars and change) at local thrift stores and flea markets. So we either were given or gave these things as is or we used them to put together into other gifts (that will be the Mad Scientist Monday post). Here is just some of the awesomeness:

A White sewing machine virtually untouched beneath its cover. I don't think the original owner ever touched this or sewed from it at all because everything was brand spanking new when we lifted off the cover.

My girls found this Sewhandy by Singer for me as a Christmas present.

An adorable machine for kids beginning to sew on.

This wasn't really on Christmas but afterwards because I was searching for buttons for a project. A lovely grab bag, you never know what will be inside.

How mod are these?

Spools of thread dug out of a tool box of all places at a local thrift store. I am surprised at the good condition of the thread. I often use thread from the thrift store in my hand stitchings.

This lot of vintage blue buttons was a gift from my kids. The ravens on top were just gift tags to use for contrast because I couldn't get the color to come out right.

These 2 are among my most favorite gifts, a vintage scale and an electric pencil sharpener!

Some vintage mysteries I found for my girls for Christmas presents. There were also some amazing vintage Sonic the Hedgehog comics as well.

One of the best was a tea set that belonged to my hub's mom that she played with as a kid. My youngest loves tea sets and playing tea with her American Girl dolls and this was a big surprise. You can see some of the vintage cookie cutters that we also put in their stockings too.

All in all it was a great holiday. Great in that we all got things that we will cherish and use and were meaningful to the recipient. This took a lot of planning and luck but I think it will be a tradition that we will continue from now on....one bonus was we only had one bag of recycling because there was very little packaging and we didn't have to wrestle with any unopenable plastic boxes YAY!!

I'm going to go get that new to me White machine up and running today. What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #14: Misfits pfffff let me fix 'em up

2011-12-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

Day 229 This weekend was all about finishing the unfinished. All you crafty types and crafty wannabes that for whatever reason have these incomplete kits and projects you started but for some very legitimate reasons just couldn't finish them so you bring them to me...just call me King Moon Razer. You know you have them in a box, in your closet or garage just waiting for that one day when you will find the inclination and time to finish them. I went through mine this past Summer and whatever I didn't finish was moved on to better homes. It is perfectly ok to admit when you can't finish something, I mean heck I still have my daughter's scrap book from Day 1 of her life and its still not finished after 13 years but one day I tell you one day....

Last week I was given this Santa on a chopper stocking that had seen better days. It needed a good repair shop and it found me. Poor thing his harley's spokes were coming out, his guitar had upped and git, his glue was showing, the chrome on his sequins had nearly disappeared entirely and his leg was about ready to be fall off entirely.

After some wire re-bending, cleaning, glue, stitches and some new sparkly sequins he is ready to be stuffed full of goodies Christmas eve.

One of the most thoughtful and creative stockings I have seen in some time.

Santa is now officially Bad to the Bone and ready to ride.

Next up was this snowy fellow. He had been started but it just turned out those kits take a lot of work and time sewing all the little details. It just couldn't be done before Christmas eve with all the other obligations to a working mom these days. And frankly if you don't enjoy it its just not worth it. Me, I enjoy all those little details, I love it and get into a little sewing groove.

TADA! He looks so happy.

I firmly believe that the number of sparkly sequins is directly proportional to a project's cuteness factor. There has to be some sort of equation somewhere, most likely a horrid fraction.

The third stocking rescue this weekend was this one. Poor Frostina was bald, had barely any sparkle to speak of, her squirrel friend was missing, someone had used glitter glue and regular glue when they got too frustrated to sew some of the details, no ornaments were up and her pet chihuahua just wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit. So like a sewing angel I swooped in just in time to save Christmas...like superhero with a cape and maybe a sequined 'M' on the front (for Momtastic of course) no spandex though *shudder*.

My husband apparently lives in Christmas ignorance not knowing the traditional Christmas chihuahua who runs around on stubby little feet, tail in the air, ears perked spreading holiday cheer and eating candy canes throughout the land...or was that the legend of the doberman pinscher?

These sparkly hanging ornaments and smiling squirrel were my faves.

Ok tons more to sew before Christmas, gotta stitch! What will you create today?

The Adventures of Taichi Tabananica #15: Warning Shiny Objects ahead

2011-12-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

Day 226

What will you create today?

Mad Scientist Monday #13: Hmmm but what is Itt?

2011-12-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Day 228 Ah the TV of my childhood. Hours spent wasted in front of the boob tube. See the creative juices that I am getting from these shows today? So it was all worth itt. The Addams family was among my favorites~yep just another piece of the puzzle from my formative years that explains the whys of my personality today. And yes I am old enough to have watched TV in black and white.

With more of these fabric samples hanging you will be seeing a lot upcycled crafts using them in the coming weeks. This week itt was jewel tones!

I tore apart these too in preparation but inspiration hasn't hit me yet with these. Itt will, itt will.

We also had these laying around. Just simple green fruit basket containers from the Summer months.

Completely flying by the seat of our pants and having absolutely no idea what we were making we started cutting the fabrics into strips.

Then we just started tying the strips into the little individual 'ribs' of the green baskets. My girls are done with school for the semester so they were helping and we just found ourselves chatting and tying. Not really paying any attention to the actual crafting. It's all in the process and not really the product sometimes and I would not have traded that time with my girls for the world. Cara mia!

In the end we produced 3 um uh monster poofy baskets of tyed fabric strips (M.P.B.T.F.S. for short) ...no matter what angle I took pictures of them we still had not a clue what to do with them or even what they were, not even standing on our heads helped the perspective. BUT as soon as my hub came home he said "Who went out and bought bird toys?" so yea my girls aren't ready to give theirs up yet but I am sure our resident Evil lovebird and her parakeet sidekick will love chewing mine to shreds.

What will you create today? Don't forget to stop and view the colors, smell the roses, watch the snow falling (yes it has been falling again in Albuquerque wonders never cease do they?)

Sunday Best #2: Blankets, Pillows and Clothing Samples OH MY!

2011-12-11T21:07:00.001-08:00

Day 227 If you have been to the Momtastic's Fantastic Emporium store lately you will see we are working hard to add items to the store daily...this week we will be adding Tshirt pillows, clothing and costume samples, blankets and linens.

What will you create today?

I get my thrills thrifting #3: Who doesn't love a shoebox full of vintage ornaments?

2011-12-10T12:45:00.001-08:00

Day 225 I was browsing the thrift store this past week and I came across a closed shoe box and I can't resist opening a lid, I ALWAYS am digging in boxes at the thrift store because I figure 1 out of every 20 times you hit upon buried treasure....for example this contained these wonderful gems....

Shiny, my precioussss

Feltie covered Frosty snowman, another Santa, Mrs. Claus and a Flat Stanley Elf

A winking white reindeer

Feltie covered Santa, red Reindeer, Dumbo, a white reindeer and a mouse

A real live vintage Dumbo ornament

This adorable little doll that has a very Disney Its a small world or European feel to it

What will you create today?