A Fiber Art Update

A Mantle Clock Made out of Yarn

My Dad turned 75 recently and I’m not going to lie. I was going to do something else, but unfortunately this was supposed to be a Christmas present and I really did not give myself enough time to complete this. So it turned into a birthday present instead. I do think this is a better birthday present now, but I digress.

I found the pattern on Etsy (seller: crossstitchbeautyart) and it is from the pattern called Plastic Canvas Pattern Clocks.

My Dad collects clocks and him and my Mom always want me to make something for them so I thought this was a perfect fit! I did change the colors of the pattern because this thing was supposed to be different shades of brown and how boring is that?

April Tissue Box Topper is inspired by the Diamond! I only have 3 more to make of these and I’ll have made all 12 and that is very exciting.

Pattern is purchased from Etsy seller RaindropsandMemories. The pattern itself is from Leisure Arts and it is the Birthstone Boutiques in Plastic Canvas. They changed their listing now and unfortuanetly if you want to purchase these patterns they are all individual now.

A simple basket for my reusable napkins. I had my napkins in a stand that held them vertically but they kept sticking to each other so I made a basket sized for them and it’s perfect. I designed the chevron pattern myself.

All of these have now been added to the Fiber Art section of the site!

A Digital Art Update, Elliott Gould

I have been on a Movie Journey the past few years of my life. I’ve been watching so many different types of movies that I never really gave a chance before. Horror movies of all kinds, older films, noir, even classics that I believed were not “for me” like The Godfather films or Scarface.

I have to tell you, I’ve been so wrong and I freely admit it. I might put up a fuss at first to watch a film because I have so much internalized “UGH” about it because of society or people who I’ve known and their attitudes when it comes to certain films but so many of these are 5 star films.

I had this image of Elliot Gould in my head ever since I watched The Long Goodbye and Capricorn One. Elliott Gould was JUST SO COOL in the 70’s. I can’t even stand it. I believe that if the anime Cowboy Bebop had a live action adaptation or Lupin the 3rd had one back then, this man would have been cast in both.

It’s funny how much respect I now have for the man that I grew up with on TV as Monica Gellar’s doofus Dad on Friends. The man had some serious drip and can out Noir the best of them.

A Fiber Art Update, Tissue Boxes Part One

I’ve gotten really into crafting with yarn. I don’t know how to knit, I don’t know how to crochet, I only can simply weave but I love my branch weavings and then I found Plastic Canvas Crafts.

I’ve posted about a few of these before and now I’m making a bigger post just so I can do 4 of them at once, haha.

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November Topaz.

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March Aquamarine.

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September Sapphire.

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August Peridot.

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All of these are from I a pdf from the Etsy seller RaindropsAndMemories for a birthstone pattern pamphlet called "Birthstone Boutiques in Plastic Canvas.”

I’m having fun making these and I am definitely going to be making the rest of the birthstones.

A Fiber Art Update

Leafy Glade. May 2023.

I have created a great many tissue box this year. I’m not even close to being done with all of the ones I want to do. They’re very fun and cozy to do and I love giving them to my friends and family. If you know me in real life, you might receive one! Be prepared.

This one is for my sister-in-law. I had created a cross stitch for her full of leaves.

When I saw the pattern in my book “The Ultimate Tissue Topper Collection” for the Leafy Glade and how similar it felt to the cross stitch, I knew I had to make her another gift.

This Tissue Box cover was waaaay easier than the cross stitch. That thing was kind of a nightmare at times, I’m not going to lie. I’m pleased with both and I’m looking forward to doing even more tissue boxes and more cross stiches.

Happy Father's Day! A Fiber Art Update

My Dad in his natural habitat

When I think of my Dad I see him in a blue plaid shirt. All of the time, 100%. In fact I had so many options for the photo to put here at the top, I didn’t know what to pick, for this post because of just how many BLUE PLAID SHIRT photos I have of my dad.

So it goes to say when I found a Tissue Topper titled “Study in Blue” I knew I had to make one for my Dad for Father’s Day. It’s pretty close to the colors from the book but I chose my true blue colors instead of the muted colors in the book.

Study in Blue from “The Ultimate Tissue Topper Collection” by Sara Denny, February 2023.

This tissue box was actually difficult to do because it has many layers of yarn in it and it got difficult to pull the yarn through the holes of the plastic canvas. While the pattern looks deceptively simplistic I assure you it was not.

I’m also very lucky to have another Father in my life that is on the opposite end of the color spectrum of my own father who wears very bright solid colors so…

Tribal Motif from “The Ultimate Tissue Topper Collection” by Sara Denny, March 2023.

This one was a crazy color difference from the book, the book was all browns and greens but I thought some very bright and vibrant colors would look even better and you know…I was right. Haha. This one was fun too with a new type of stitch to add some texture near the edges.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads but more so to my own!

Happy Birthday! A Fiber Art Update.

There is a Lady in my life that is just like a sister to me and her birthday is today. She loves handmade gifts so I asked her what colors she loves and I was able to adapt a very intricate pattern from my book with those colors. It’s actually very close to what the colors are in the book but with a fancy flair for her.

Fun Fact: She was with me when I found this book of Tissue Toppers and encouraged me to buy it, of course I had to make her one!

Happy Mother's Day! A Fiber Art Update.

From awhile ago: My Mom and I at the traveling exhibition of Disney’s Heroes and Villains Costumes

Several months ago I came across a book called “The Ultimate Tissue Topper Collection” at a used bookstore near my house. I was very excited to purchase this book because it seemed like a very good crossover to my burgeoning cross stitch skills. Something I could do in the evenings since cross stitch can be a little intense on the eyeballs at night. I also have 3 million pounds of yarn in my art supplies stash, so something to do with that. Couple this book with the large plastic canvas stash I found at a store, it was kismet. I’m to make these tissue toppers.

So making them I have been.

Design: “New Mexico” from “The Ultimate Tissue Topper Collection” by Sara Denny, January 2023

I will say I’m not a huge fan of many of the color choices from this book, so I’ve been making up my own color schemes to use for these designs. This Tisse Box is for my own mother and she loves a SouthWestern Design.

Peanuts Tissue Box Topper from Vintage Leisure Arts Pattern from Etsy Seller: StarShopPatterns. By Sara Denny, March 2023.

This is another Mother’s Day gift for a special lady in my life who loves the Peanuts Characters, I happened to find this pattern while perusing Etsy. There are 4 more patterns I didn’t use of other characters (namely Snoopy) so I may revisit this pattern in the future.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there! But especially mine!

Happy Baby Shower! A Cross Stitch Update.

One of my good friends is having a baby and she is doing a Woodland Themed nursery. I knew I needed to make her a decoration for the nursery that would fit and I had just received a book called “Cross Stitch for the Earth” that would have a perfect pattern for it!

This was done on an 18ct Linen that is more of an off white cream color. I also have been learning how to frame my finished cross stitches, so I mounted it on foam core with stainless steel flat head pins, found the frame at my local small business frame store (shop small, shop local!) and then finished it off with craft paper, wire and hooks for hanging, and foam padded corners to make it lay straight.

I’m so excited for my friend’s upcoming bundle of excitement. She is gonna be the best mom.

A Sailor Moon Christmas Present

Many Many Many years ago, I looked at this image and drew a picture. It wasn’t very good:

This was my version. Not the full body because I couldn’t fit it, I obviously thought the bow was very important even though in the OG pic it was under her arms partially. It’s also drawn on old Dot Matrix Printer Paper because I had an entire box of that my mom had given me she had got from work when they switched from those types of Printers.

My Dad liked this image enough where he threw it in a little plastic protector and literally stapled it onto the wall of the garage and it has been there ever since. I probably created that picture when I was 10? 11? For Christmas I decided I would revisit this image to gift him (I am currently 37 years old).

The Finished Product

I could have done this digitally but I wanted to keep in with the spirit of the original drawing, so this is primarily watercolor with some acrylic paint and gel pens thrown in. I’m very happy with how it turned out and it was a lot of fun to see how I have changed as an artist with this image. It’s amazing what happens when you learn human anatomy.

I told my Dad he could hang this one up in the garage too, haha.

Handframed by me. I cut the mat and added all the backings to hang it and what not. I’m loving learning this new skill.

Cleaning Up and Cleaning Out

Zoo Lights, 2022

As I straighten up my office I am confronted with SO MANY PROJECTS.

There is a pile of clothing that needs alterations, a box of yarn put aside for a branch weaving, a half painted wood pumpkin for a handmade fall decoration, a half finished weaving on a loom, and a drawer of tiny things I want to try….

Not to mention the plastic aida canvas for the 3D projects I want to try out.

So, I need to make a plan to actually finish these projects and get them out of my closet and my life, haha. The sewing is probably the biggest pain. I have several days off for the holiday so I think that is when I’ll tackle those items.

The loom is large and unwieldly. I would put that up in the attic once I finish the weaving on it, so that and then the branch weaving.

I believe that’s a good start, and that would free up a bunch of space in my closet. Fingers crossed I actually stick to my own plan!

Cross Stitch Backlog...

I am done with four cross stitch projects all together and am furiously working on a fifth because apparently I like to wait until the last minute to make Christmas present decisions. I have to finish the fifth in order to complete the present that is the fourth because I’m doing them on the same fabric and it holds better in the Q-snap with extra fabric. Those fourth and fifth projects will have to be matted and framed first before I can even touch the personal ones because I might not make it to Christmas in time. Aggghh.

I did buy some beautiful frames for two of the earlier projects, no matting neccessary but I will need to mount them on the foamcore. I could do that at the same time I’m doing the mounting and matting on the other two. The last one is getting framed in an embroidery hoop and that is all different materials so that will be last one done.

I really have found joy in cross stitching. I love not looking at a screen all the time and having an object to hold and to touch when I’m finished. Even though I give most of my work to my loved ones. It’s a two for one hobby, I spend hours doing something I enjoy and then I don’t have to go shopping for presents. It’s perfect.