Crocheted Rag Rug Number 3

Well these rugs are so cute, making them kind of smallish for my daughters who both live in apartments while going to college. They are the perfect size to put in front of the sink in the kitchen to stand on while doing the dishes. this one is about two feet across. So cute!

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2nd Crochet Rug Done

Finished rug is 2 foot 4 inches across.....!!!

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Working on Crochet Rug Number Two

This time using cotton knit, which is so much heavier than the saris used for the first one, and it's making a big diffference in how well it's laying flat. I love this one! So far, so good.....it's about half way done.

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Symphony of Science - 'We Are All Connected' (ft. Sagan, Feynman, deGras...

Finished My First Crocheted Rug!

I learned so much making this. (See previous post about the workshop.)

Next time I'll cut strips and join them as I go along, for a more integrated look, instead of the defined blocks of color.

Next time I will use all the same kind of fabric, for consistency.

Next time the rug will be round, with colors growing like a mandala.
Overall this one turned out pretty well for the first crack out of the gate. As it turns out it just happens to match our kitchen and fits right in front of the sink for a cozy place to stand while washing the dishes.

 I love to crochet! It IS easy :) afterall.

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Finally Learned How to Crochet!

Yesterday's Crochet Rag Rug Workshop at Cloth and Bobbin in Narberth PA was fantastic. We worked under the capable guidance of Cathy Hetznecker who showed us how to take fabric strips, a size Q crochet hook and make rugs!

Cutting 1 1/2" fabric strips

Cut and Ready to Join Together

Here's Cathy!

Cathy is a hands on teacher!

Proud Rug Makers

This was about how big our rugs were after three hours of instruction.

I used some old saris found at a thrift shop, tearing them into strips and rolling them into balls beforehand.

Beginning stitches of my rug

close up of my crochet hook in action, (photo by Cathy)

It's a miracle. I'm actually crocheting! (photo by Cathy)

 It was a big thrill to finally learn how to crochet, after many failed attempts. For some reason it all clicked together. Many thanks to a good teacher, Cathy Hetznecker.

Kind of an earth and sky theme going here for my rug with blues and browns.........I'll post a picture when it's finished. My classmates are going to send me pictures of their finished rugs and I will be sharing them too. Here is a picture of one of Cathy's rugs, finished and up close.

one of Cathy's rugs

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Making Valentines with Little Matchboxes

The idea to create and post activities for parents, teachers and librarians on ArtyPantz.com was a good one. But I've really only managed to put about five of them up since last year. I'm hoping to make that once a month from here on out. Check out this month's project. Matchbox Valentines!

I've made this really easy with printable directions and templates

Have fun!

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Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Crochet Rug Making Workshop

My mother taught me how to sew in the third grade, and many thanks to her, I can really make just about anything that involves a sewing needle, sewing machine, etc. Most of my fiber art experiences have been extremely positive, including cloth dolls, toys, clothes, mobiles, costumes, puppets, curtains, flags, quilts, hats, upholstered furniture, and sew on and sew forth. I just finished making a big stuffed ball out of old sweaters for my grandson for his birthday today!


But in spite of my best efforts, all attempts have failed with crochet. Got a CD. Failed. Took a class. Failed. I’m so sick and tired of hearing people say how easy it is to crochet. I HAVE CROCHLEXIA, but am bound and determined to overcome this learning disability.

I’ve always wanted to make one of those crochet rag rugs, so was delighted to find out about the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s Crochet Rug Class coming up in February. It's in Narberth, a sweet town to spend an afternoon in. I signed right up for it.



Hoping for the best! It appears to be just one stitch and you just keep on doing it, creating a long rope which you sew together! Easy! We’ll see.

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Handmade Snowflakes

We had fun making big 3 dimensional paper snowflakes with our grandsons and grandnephews last week. They are so easy to make. All you need is paper, tape and staples.

I learned how to make these several years ago after stopping by an elementary school classroom to marvel at a flurry of them hanging from the ceiling. The kids had made them! The teacher graciously offered one of the students to show me how.

Snowflakes can be made with all kinds of paper. I've seen some beautiful ones created with junk mail,scrapbook paper and magazines. You can easily make the white ones with regular copy paper, but my favorite is 65 lb cover stock. It's stiffer and holds its shape really well, for a truly everlasting snowflake.

Here’s a tutorial! Go ahead and create a snowstorm.

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Love That Smeill

Ahh….My Christmas morning was spent curled up in a nice hot bathtub with a new book and a fresh bar of handmade goat’s milk soap, from the hearts and hands of 13th Moon Creations

I discovered them in their booth at the Phoenixville Firebird Festival this year, and was lucky enough to leave that evening with an assortment of six bars of heavenly soap.

 When I smell something good I just can’t get enough of it. My whole studio is infused with the combined scents of those soap bars! They are tucked into a basket right next to my sewing machine, intoxicating in the purest sense of the word.

I’m really sensitive to smells and when someone smells good I just have to get closer and inhale with my eyes closed. It’s such a simple pleasure! I kept thinking that certain people in my booth at the Firebird Festival smelled so good and kept commenting on it, until I realized it was my next door neighbors’ booth permeating the air with their heavenly scents.

So, I just had to pop over there and meet the sweetest couple behind 13th Moon Creations Luxury Handmade Artisan Soaps and other fragrant wares, including Purse Sprays, Air Freshener/Linen Sprays & Sachets, Whipped Body Butters, Propriety Blend Perfume Oils, Solid Sugar Scrubs and more.

13 Moon Creations, LLC is the collaboration between the husband and wife team, Selena and Dan. Fueled by their love of all things from the 1940’s & 1950’s, fantasy, and mythology, they decided to combine their skills to create something they could share with the public.

Selena makes the goods and Dan designs the colorful and inviting packaging, ALL HANDMADE IN PENNSYLVANIA! Luckily you can order right off their website, and there is a list of PA stores on their website that carry their products., and they have their own brick and mortar store now too.

Jim and Selena just opened a store in Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania called Venus & the Moon at 31 Race Street in Jim Thorpe PA 18229. In addition to their merchandise, they also feature the work of local artisans. They are open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 267-884-5583. Email to VenusNtheMoon@gmail.com





You can find Venus and the Moon and 13th Moon Creations on FaceBook

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handmade Holiday Cards

Designing and making your own holiday cards goes hand in hand with being an artist. I’ve been making mine forever, in one form or another. I did a few silkscreen ones over the years, and some block prints. Among others, I’ve made some birds out of sheet music and salt dough mermaids. It’s nice to make your card serve double duty as an ornament, which can be easily achieved by simply tying a piece of ribbon on it, or inserting an ornament hook.


A memorable card one year was a painstakingly carved linoleum print cut with a picture of Santa and what was planned to be Ho! Ho! Ho! Uh Oh! The entire thing had to be carved all over again when the first print out of the gate shouted !oH !oH !oH. That was a hard way to learn to carve words in reverse. Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

Here is the beginning of my card for this year. Technology has made things a little easier. If I knew how to use Photoshop it would be real easy, but I don’t. Instead I drew this birdie with my own real hands and a pen, and colored with Prisma markers and used a rubber stamp to make the words. The words were stamped on a piece of paper, then cut out and glued into place. The bird was scanned into my computer, and copied and pasted to put three on a page. Then printed!



All those pencil and eraser lines don’t matter because each one will be cut out. I’ll be punching a hole in the tail and tying on a piece of ribbon or raffia. These will be going into the envelopes along with my annual winter brouchure mailing next week. Anybody out there making cards this year?

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