Cactus Monday!

I also signed up with a FB group called Cactus Monday!  We get together and sketch and/or share photos of the beautiful cacti we see!  A pal posted a pic of one that made me think of the minion characters...so I just had to do this sketch as my first sketch!  So nice to do something fun after inktober!  ♥

Happy Spring Equinox!

Here's hoping you all have a beautiful Spring Equinox!

Blessings on you for a fruitful season!

Dream Pillow

May 2013
My dear little sister saw one of these and wanted a Dream Pillow of her own.  She said she'd even pay me to make her one!  Well, I decided to make her one for her birthday.  She liked it, but not sure about her hubby!  LOL!  The herbs are sleepy time herbs & not as "sweet" as some would like!  Here's some pics of the process:

First I readied the materials I'd use.

Then I trimmed the felt to size.

I used a disappearing ink pen to draw in the sun.

You may have to click on the pic to see it.

I stitched the outline of the sun.

Then added yellow rays to the sun.

Added some orange rays to the sun.

Then I sewed up 3 sides of the pillow.

Separated 7 different herbs and spices into wooden bowls.

Used my spoons from Turkmenistan to scoop herbs.

Here's a close up of the 7 herbs and spices I used.

The herbs and spices I used were chamomile flowers, 

lavender, patchouli leaf, cinnamon chunks, 

whole coriander, pink rose buds, and cloves.  

Do you know which is which in the pic?

I added some alpaca batting to the bottom edge & sides.

Then I added the herbs and spices.

Added more alpaca batting after hiding a couple shells

and some beach glass among the herbs & spices.

Sewed the top closed and the pillow was ready to mail

Hope you enjoyed this small tutorial!

Support

This is a mixed media piece I made 

to thank people for the support they've given to me.

I got some Inktense watercolor pencils,

but they weren't acting as I was lead to believe.

So hence, mixed media.

Used some colored pencils, other watercolor pencils,

ink, gouache, etc.

So thanks to all of you who have supported me!

Creation Vacation!!

So, what have I been working on for 3 months?  Besides the other stuff you'll see on my blog, I've been making a book bag for a pal of mine.  (Actually it started as a cover but it morphed into a bag!)  It was her birthday, she retired & is travelling to Artfest in WA state.  So I hope she can use it.  And I hope she likes it!  Here's some pics of the process:

Baste & stuff block

Make a rolled edge around block

Randomly quilt block

Stitch blocks together

Deciding where to put blocks

Stitching on the hemp strap DH made for me

Strap & bag stitched closed

Latch hooking around base of strap

Adding a special shell from Kaua'i

Getting journal & card ready to go in bag

Finished front of bag

Finished back of bag

This bag is special to me & I hope to my pal.  All the blocks are made from fabrics we traded with each other.  So there's a little bit of both of us in this.  Plus the special loomed hemp strap my DH did and one block that another pal wanted to include.  

I had sworn I'd never make another quilted purse or cover, but then I saw this process in various books I have as well as on Teesha Moore's site.  You can see more of her site here.  This is the last year she will be at Artfest.  I also used other ideas from the books I had.  But I think this may be the last one I make!!!!!  They are very time consuming, but this is filled with lots of love!  Even if it's wonky!

Birthday Gift for a pal

I decided to make a mixed media piece for a pal's birthday.  I sent it with an easel, but his DW said she was gonna frame it!  LOL!  Here's some pics:

First I beaded the heart

Then I painted the panel

Added dangles & testing where it should go

Finished piece

Piece on easel

Flaming Muse Workshop

So while our kitchen is being restored to it's beautiful self, I decided to take an online creativity workshop.  It's pretty intensive, deep and fun!  I'm in my last week now, just as the kitchen is getting finished!  We had videos to watch & assignments to do.  I'm just gonna show some of the assignments without explanation.  It would take too long to go over 3 weeks' lessons!  :)

This is my bliss board:

This is my Irrelevant sign

This is my permission slip

This is my MORE page

And this is called The Magic Circle.

It's by John William Waterhouse & really inspired some of my magic work!

Ron's Felted ATC

When my pal came to visit, my DH helped us.  He let us play in the studio while he cooked meals for us.  So I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated him.  I made him this felted ATC.  He said he liked it.  Hope so!

1.  Finish a felted ATC on craft felt

2.  Gather materials

3.  Iron Wonder Under to cardstock & ATC

4.  Trim excess

5.  Button hole stitch ATC to cardstock

6.  Write on cardstock

7.  Finished ATC

Needlefelted egg off to Matilda!

Used my first new business card to send the needlefelted egg

off to Matilda who won the Blogoversary draw.

Hope she likes it!

New Business Card

I've been thinking for awhile now about making new business cards

just for the creations I make as a different side of Huckleberry Hut. 

Something that would showthat I'm a multimedia artist.

  I had a dream about this one so I decided to try it out.

Here's the front with watercolor, ink & fibers.

On the back I can write how much information I want to give out.

I know it seems like too much work, but it's fun!

February Progress on Oneness Project

So with all the other stuff I've been into, I'm kinda behind on the Oneness Project!  I'll catch up eventually.  But here's a little progress I've made on the February focal piece:

CC's Shabby Sachets

Y'all know I just love hearts!  They're my favorite motif!  So I have all these bits of fabrics, vintage laces, beads, painted fabric from pals, etc & just had to do something with them.  So I started making these Shabby Sachets.  They are not seamed, just cut out and sewn together...Shabby Style.  I stuffed them with a little stuffing & some lavender.  I have a ton leftover from Purple Haze I have to use up!  They smell so good, & I really relax as I hand sew each heart with love, of course!

January & February Progress on the Oneness Project

So here's some pics of January's progress:

 And here's a few of February's progress:

 I also have all three panels for January, February & March painted and ready to go!

 It's going to be interesting to find fabric that is metallic gold that I can bead on!