A Passel of Babies....

Here's a batch of babies I've been hard at work on. I'm participating in a Etsy team show tomorrow in Huntsville (see previous post for link) and these are some new items I'll have available. Whatever is left after the show will go live in my Etsy shop until a new owners comes to claim them. I've really enjoyed making these to the point of going overboard with them. I have about 4 more to finish, hopefully in time for Saturday.

I grew up with my mom making dolls and generally being crafty around the house...I get a lot of my craftiness/artiness from her. Her father was also an artist and my dad's mother is an artist, so I suppose I can't help being an arty/crafty person myself. I get it from all sides. And I suppose, my little one will probably be artsy too....what with me as a mother and a father who writes and builds instruments. I guess I'll see soon enough!

A Bit of New...

Here's a look at what kept me busy today....well, this and helping my mother-in-law move houses in the rain. But she's a great lady! Hope everybody's having a great weekend!

The little chicken is actually a softie.

P.S. I just found out that I won a Pikaland giveaway! Yeah!

New Obsessions...

So, a chance encounter with a blogger acquaintance made me realize it's been a dreadfully long time since my last post....so here are some recently thrifted goodies and some new dolls which are becoming quite an obsession! My, my, how the days just slip away some times.

Little Beasties....

New things to gander at....Let me know what you all think.....

Have you seen the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man!

New things are on the horizon and here are some things that have been hiding about the house. The first picture is a Luna softie that I made and it's hanging from a hobo statue I scored for Jacob. You can also see in the background one of my Halloween decorations that stay out year round. I having quite a growing collection of Halloween beasties. The next photo is of a bag that I got for a dollar at the World's Longest Yard Sale. It carried all of my treasures for the day, including my half of the two matching Virgin Mary's that my friend and I got. Lastly, these are some things I've been working on...

But now, new things coming. A wonderful storm blew around today, bringing thunder and lightening and a promise of fall. Fall is my absolute-lest favorite time of the year. I feel a twitching and promises and wishes and dreams coming true. I also have delightful books awaiting me. Some of you may remember when I got Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree, well, I've been saving it for now!

Also, in book related news....Last year I attended one of our local library's author night's and met Peter S. Beagle. We had a showing of The Last Unicorn, well I'd been saving a seat for Jacob when it was taken instead by Mr. Beagle. I loved that movie as a child often singing along and reciting the lines, and here I was watching the movie sitting beside the man who created it....oh my, and I had to fight reciting the lines while sitting there. I told him my favorite part was the butterfly and he told me it was supposed to be him! One, Two, Three O'Lairy! Last year, I made the mistake of not getting a photograph with Mr. Beagle well, I intend to remedy that this year because he's coming back to the library on Sept. 3rd!!!! Yeah!

It's you and me moth, hand to hand to hand to hand.........

New Beasties in the workings....

Here's a bit more random for you, dear friends, But, I have a querst-tion? Yes, yes, do say? Well, seeing as how I've posted bits of the old sketching books, my querst-tion is, which do you think would make a nice painting? I have tons of sketch books scattered in various parts of the house and sketching/doodling is something that I absolutely CANNOT stop doing...much to chagrin of dear Jacob. I often look through these treasure tomes to find something new to paint and I'm curious to know if anyone out there has anything particular to say about it. I might add that my sketching/doodling process is rather sporadic in it's inspiration. Since I do it constantly, riding in the car, waiting in restaurants, etc, etc, I'm constantly inspired by the changing world around me...and thus out come the doodles albeit twisted around a bit in my head. People always ask what this or that means and all I can say is.....(?) How do you explain the subconscious? (Hmm, what does that say about my art?)Anyways, some doodles become wee beasties, others screen prints, still others become paintings.

And that's my question, which of these, if any, do think would make a good painting? And well, I might as well ask....what do you think of my new wee beasties?

A Couple of New Beasties!

Here are some more wee beasties for you to gander at. I must tell you, the woods are getting quite full. But I must also say...that first bird is rather pitiful in his ugliness and this little devil right above is rather freakishly devilish!

And if you please, feel free to drop me a line or two in the comments.

Again, for any newbies out there. Jacob and his cigar box guitars are linked on the sidebar there.

Also, be sure to check out Sherry Matthews art as well....

http://www.sherrymatthews.net/

Thanks a bunch!

Pumpkin Head and Billy Goat

So here are some new little guys I've found capering around. I'm telling you the woods are getting a bit full. But you know, Halloween is right around the corner, I've been told these things do happen. Oh, dear.

Pumpkin Head is made with paper clay and felt and painted to look all snazzy. Isn't he handsome?
And Billy Goat is a hand sewn felt doll with his legs attached with buttons. Boy, can he move!

Tell me what you think. And I'll tell them you said hello the next time they come running through.

Newest Creation

Here's my latest creation. This is created by screen printing an original design and sewing it into a small pillow. It's backed with red felt and is absolutely wonderful. I plan on making more of these in the future.

New Dolls and New Swag

The first two pictures are new creations to come from the Black Woods factory and the last two are swag from the World's Longest Yard Sale or as I also like to call it.....World's Greatest Example of
Collective Human Insanity/Barbie Doll Arm Extravaganza. But my friend Nicole made it so much better (even it she didn't find a creepy doll), not to mention we now having matching Virgin Mary's and really how often does that happen. And now that I think of it....two semi matching Hobos from Japan as well. I also scored a plethora of vintage felt, decoupage stickers and paper ephemera, embroidery patches, caravan charms and wooden planks to paint and an excellent craft book. Rock on!

So, tell me what you think of my new little beasties. I told you I had a devil in the workings!

Little Dolls

Here are my latest creations......Have I mentioned before that I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to new hobbies. Well, this seems to be my latest phase. I may try to peddle these guys away tomorrow but after that, if they're still with me, their new home will be on Etsy. Tell me what you think.....

P.S. You know I have a little devil or two like this in the workings!

Diablos!

These little beasties have been prancing around awhile.....I managed to capture a few quick photos to share before they scampered off again.

Well, yes.....but what are they?

One hot summer day two friends decided to go sailing on the deep, blue sea. They saw a mermaid swimming by and they thought to themselves, "What a lucky duo are we!"