Painting Bliss

Love thy Home in a Thrifted Way

 

All this newly found happiness has me putting energy into all sorts of places I didn't realize I had checked out of. Like decorating our home! It has been so long since I took pride in decorating our love nest, and I missed it so much! The other day I did some antique/vintage shopping, found some lovely things I wanted to share with you today!

 

(Bright yellow Pineapple motif crocheted doily in a large size, now a front door curtain - Thrifted  $6)

 

(Hand embroidered pillow cover $1!!! All ready to slip a pillow in)

 

I think some folks (not all of course), hold back on how they want to decorate. Perhaps they feel that homes are supposed to be decorated a "certain way", or that they must be nice, neat, and presentable. Well... yes, and no! If you want to hang something from the ceiling or put twinkle lights across the bookcase, then why not!? Right? Right! And that's how I'm decorating. If I think something makes me happy, then I'm going to do it. Like... for instance... the top of our book case is a place where I keep candles and our incense... it's also where I let vintage dinosaurs roam! They have to be kept up high because when they get down they chase people and try and bite their ankles! Naughty reptiles!

 

 

 

 

Trippin' at the thrift shop (cue the song) found me with an armful of vintage scarves. A little hum hum on  my sewing machine and suddenly I have a curtain that would make Peir 1 Imports wet their pants! A pleasant reward was when I hung it up, the heat ran, and the curtain undulated in beautiful and flowing ways.

Or perhaps their is a ghost in the house and it's trying to put on the curtain as a dress?

 

 

(These two scarves - Thrifted - $5)

 

 

I have always admired crochet buntings, knew I could make them, but never did. Why? Laziness... hectic day to day living... I don't know... but I made one last weekend and it is one of the newest additions to our home that brings me the most joy. It brings me the most joy because it's something I didn't allow myself to make... or rather depression didn't. Well screw you depression, I have an army of pills and a good therapist now that trump your efforts ten fold!

 

 

 

 

Some of my left over silk scarves became pillow covers. With just turning them around into the diamond shape position, laying the pillow on top, and meeting the corners together in a knot... it's a no sew improvement that needs little effort for achievement! Not to mention they are silky soft and extremely lush to lay with.

 

 

 

(Thrifted scarf $3 - Pillow form $10 - Final Cost $13 for custom pillow! Plus it only took 2 minutes to make)

 

Next I'm thinking about hanging things from the ceiling in spots that just seem to scream for it. Like above our bookcase... it's caddy corner and so space is a lost. When I look at it I see that it needs pretty things on string I think... Here is an idea that I found on Pinterest. You can click on the picture and make some for yourself if you like. They are made of post it notes!

 

 

 

 

Love yourself, love the things that make you happy, love the space you live in!

 

 

Related articles

Thrift Your Soul Out!

Clean Thy Mess and Get to Work

My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 12/9-12/16

 

"Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unnatainable become atainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing" ~ Stacey Charter

 

If you enjoy my photography on Instagram and would like to follow me, you may do so...

@Paintingbliss

Related articles

My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 10/13-10/20

My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 11/18-11/26

My Week Through The Eyes of Instagram 12/2-12/8

My Week Through the Eyes of Instagram 11/26 -12/2

A Creative Afternoon and Lots in the Making

 

Happy Friday!!

 

My favorite way of spending an afternoon lately is on my little porch sitting right on the floor painting and stitching the hours away. The kids play in the yard, hunt for frogs, and stop by to lean on me/watch what I'm up to. They like to watch me paint and I hope whoever picks up my talent is taking mental notes ;)

 

 

I had a lot of sewn goods backing up, but not getting gesso'd in preparation for painting so yesterday afternoon's mission was to get everything ready for acrylic. Thankfully it all panned out and I now have a hoard of goodies awaiting color and whimsical character.

 

 

There is a elephant in the works and he?she (not sure yet) is begging to be zen. Hindu face paint, bells, and eye makeup are in the plans for my floppy eared friend. There is a half moon headed man and his star twin friends. Tiny little wooden figures that resemble the fischer price toys of old, all have white faces and are ready for love. Who knows what they might turn into! As you can see I am very much into day of the dead skulls lately!

 

 

If you haven't checked it out yet, Paintingbliss on Etsy is stocking up. Slowly each day I am adding more and more items. I would love for you to stop by, check it out, maybe even give a softie a home. I haven't moved my actual paintings over, but will be soon!

Enjoy your browsing :)

 

 

Felix the Fox

 

 

Felix the Fox is a frisky fellow who enjoys frolicking throught the forest... WOAH!

Now that was a lot of illiteration, but it's all true! See?

 

 

 

Felix is super friendly, completely designed by me, sewn by me, painted by me, and loved by me! He is the perfect fall forest burnt orange and if you take a look see his eyes shine with life! Thanks to 2 coats of gloss that is :)

I hope you love Felix as much as I do, he will joining the new Etsy shop hopefully in the next few weeks. Hubby built me a proper light box for taking pictures of my creations. Eeeek excited!

Happy Tuesday! enjoy this mild weather.

 

 

 

A Creative Fire Burns

 

I've have had a really stupid little grey cloud over my head for some time now that has rained down the thoughts that if I'm gonna be an artist well then I better do it just so - I better do it just right -I better be in a gallery -  I better make sales- and all kinds of other bullsh@t. And isn't that some Sh@t!?

Yup, a whole pile of it!

I don't know what made the little cloud go away, maybe it was that I started walking between the raindrops instead of standing directly beneath the onslaught of driving rain. Whatever it may be, the creative fires are burning, and burning bright... I'm finding myself less and less on the computer and blogging into the evening because the activity is keeping me in the studio! The past 5 days I have been sneaking extra creative time everywhere... on the way to the bathroom, on the way back from the bathroom, while making dinner, during kids cartoons and empty moments... every little chance I get! literally ;) I feel more alive, I feel so AWAKE! and that's a big thing as I am one to feel constantly tired. I feel good... I feel happy.

And suddenly I'm ok with not being on top, I'm ok with being where I am, I am content with the level I have achieved. After all, there is so much more story left to be written in my life, who knows what will come!

 

 

And so I have been making all sorts of things! I've been finishing up my fantastic fox, adding little details to his fur and paying close attention to his aqua eyes. Aqua sets off orange in such a passionate way, doesn't it? I think so! There is a turtle in the works, whom will be sandwiched inside an actual fabric shell. Then there's the frog which is starting to show me it wants to be a "frogtographer", so a little camera is in order. Besides those, there are fabric birds nest brooches nestled on real twigs as well as glass earrings backed with vintage sheet music. Oh let's see what else, what else!? There are some glass pins with vintage paper backings, glass paper weights with positive and motivational words inside... a crocheted blossom pillow and, and, and, um... *deep breath*...

 

 

I think that's it. HA! (for now) And where will all of this go you ask? Well I'll tell you... to my old Etsy shop... yes you heard me... cause I think this stuff is really Etsy kind of stuff and I'm used to Etsy and no sales have come from Storenvy. That's ok though! all that artwork will stay there until someone wants one for their very own. For now I'm not curbing myself anymore. I'm not saying "I can't make that, cause I only make this". Enough of that!

This week I learned that pressuring yourself is stupid. If you take anything from me this week, take that pressuring yourself into doing more (or less) than you need too... being more than your ready for... or telling yourself you can't do,  is just plain dumb. Yup, I said it... dumb. Get smart! I did!

For the Love of 3 Things

 

 

I am constantly torn between three different creative interests.

 

Painting ~ Sewing ~ & Crochet

 

These three things I love more than any other creative medium and I am constantly and creatively frustrated that I don't have time for each... that I hop back and forth... and that I want to do them all at once. So I got to thinking, and it was blatantly obvious! Why not combine all 3 into something that is still art but can make me paint, sew, and crochet at the same time.

So out came the paper, the fabric, and a pencil... feeling foxy I sketched out the basic shape of a fox... including arms, legs, and a tail... then began tracing them onto the fabric and from there cutting them out. Next was pins to keep pieces together and a hop and a skip to the sewing machine for a little buzz buzz.

 

 

Although I don't like stuffing limbs much, maybe it's something I will get used to and better at as time progresses.

I really have a need for an art form that can give me some freedom where I can be in any room at a time. The kids aren't happy for too long in the studio, so studio time will be kept for evenings when the hubby is home and I can sneak away to my paints and headphones. That is the time I can paint my creations, but also work on my regular paintings :) Then daytime can be spent sewing, embroidering, and crocheting... time with the kids! This also gives me a chance to turn some of my painting characters into 3dimensional forms. Huggable ones!

 

 

I am excited to add this to my repertoire! Of course the sneak peeks you have seen today are only unfinished glimpses, so more to come!  I hope you all will like it and I hope they do well :)

Little Doll Look A likes

 

It's been a sewing kind of week and I have been inspired to set my machine a hum... as well as get my boys involved. Usually they just let me buzz away as I go about my fabric, my scissors, and sewing supplies in general. Of course they pester a bit, but they're kids! Well, this week they got in on the action and I was eager to have them involved.

A month back I saw a super cute pattern on Craftsy from Shiny Happy World,  a little rag doll plush that I thought had the cutest face and clever design.  So I put it on my wishlist, to come back to another time. Well it was another time this week, and decided each of my young sons needed a boy rag doll of their own designed to look just like them!

Here they are! all made at once, and all made in one day. Pretty much :) I can't take credit for the design, but I can take credit for the hard work. I forgot how much I love to embroider. It brought back memories of cross stitching as a child and my mom trying to teach me a french knot.

 

 

It helped move things along when my oldest asked to help! I quickly put him to work inside outing the tiny arms, ears, and legs. I wasn't sure he would be able to do it but he did, and came up with his own way of accomplishing the task...  which I thought was pretty clever!

Here is how he did it...

 

 

He was so happy to help, and bonding with him in the moments surrounding my sewing machine really made an impact on him. I can see now, how very much he is just like me.  How sitting still isn't an option for him, and also how sitting still is the reason he gets himself into mischief. I can see further,  that giving him things he can make with his own two hands,  will help him in great ways.

It warmed my heart to come to the finishing stitches and hand each doll to each boy who had so patiently watched and waited for them all day! it warmed me even more to see them cuddled up with them, taking them to bed, and carrying their mini me's under one arm.

This was a super pattern, easy to follow with lots of visuals! It was a pattern I was able to learn from, and take techniques from that I didn't know before. I definitely want to try making some more softies! who knows what I may come up with :)

 

 

 

A Little Froggy Told Me...

 

My 2 year has a huge affection for frogs. In fact Suki from The Owl Club made and sent him an adorable froggy coin purse complete with a zipper on his undercarriage!! Isn't it the sweetest thing? I think so, and so does my 2 year old!

 

In quite a short time he has acquired his own little frog collection... and liking to hear his giggle and adorable ribbit impression I can't help but add to his stash. Yesterday, I spent the later half of the afternoon creating this minky (super soft bumpy fabric) and felt, froggy friend!

It's big, and it's soft, and it's cute!

 

 

He seemed to like the garden. He and the garden frog had a staring contest... I'm not sure who won.

 

 

And I thought he just looked extra cute with these vintage sparkly, and multi-faceted button eyes. Don't you?

 

 

What have you created for a child lately? or your own child? This happy hopper will be gracing the edge of my little one's first big boy bed! Oh, and of course getting hugged and thrown around!

 

 

For the Love of Magazines

 

 

I really love Crochet Magazines. In fact, I buy them even if I know I won't be able to look at them right away because they are such a nice cheap alternative to buying a crochet book. You get a wonderful full color magazine loaded with current crochet news articles, tips, and of course all the awesome patterns! there are a few magazines that I like the best and I am sharing them with you today. For most of us crocheters it's always a slight challenge finding patterns that aren't ancient, and thankfully with this growing obsession with crochet and knitting again it has become extremely easy to find good modern patterns.

 

My first and current favorite magazine right now is Vogue Crochet. I have no idea if this is a one time shot or if it is a regular magazine, but I am hooked - line - and sinker! the patterns are out of this world modern and beautiful. A real out of the box look at the art of crochet, and the true magic you can create with it. This magazine features beautiful Vogue models wearing these creative patterns and the way they are photographed is just candy for the eyes. This is my first choice from this magazine to make, but who knows if I will get to it. I really want to, and it's really adaptable. Of course I would make it in different colors and paired with a pair of tights come fall/winter I think it will just be the sweetest thing! and cozy, cause it will be like wearing a blanket!

 

This magazine is also wonderful because it has really current articles about crochet. It talks about group projects, new ergonomic hooks, and techniques you always question and hope your doing right but aren't really sure that you are... if your self taught that is, and most of us crocheters are.

 

The next magazine I enjoy is Interweave Crochet. Another modern adventure of really wearable patterns for us hipster girls who aren't ready to buy into the mom isle (even though most of us are moms). I love the idea that I can wear what I made and it's different than anything else out there. I like that it's artsy, unique, and fashionable.

 

 

This magazine had a great article this month of different ways of holding your hook. Which I have learned is truly unique to eat of us hookers (LOL) hookers, get it? yeah... hardy har har. Anyways... I hold mine one way but you may hold yours another... in fact one of my friends holds their hook like a pencil!

 

Lastly I enjoy Crochet Today which is a lighter more everyone like it kind of magazine. It has a little bit of everything but also always can be depended on for it's child patterns and whimsical jewelry. There are always interesting afghans with squares you haven't seen or tried before, and I like that!

 

 

You just can't beat 26 patterns for the price of $6.99! I've bought one pattern for that price, so a whole magazine of wonderful reading and exciting maybe someday I will do them all patterns makes me giddy! yup, literally giddy! like a little boy in a comic book shop getting the latest copy of The Avengers.

 

 

Creativity Explodes - Literally

 

I'm in so many projects right now I should really tell myself to stop taking on more... but I can't help it! If I don't have a dozen things going on at the same time that I can pick and choose from, it's just not normal. My poor house I literally have projects everywhere! what an understanding family I have...

There's paint, jewelry makings, and sculpey clay on the kitchen counter.

 

A healing canvas on the washer. I'm learning to buy better canvases, because even mid-line canvases are crooked as a broken castle. Good thing I have a hubby that can create with wood and fix the warp.

 

 

There is a stack of fabric on the kitchen table waiting to be turned into a frog blanket for my youngest's birthday.

 

 

And my studio table? don't even go there...

 

 

There are fabric necklaces and a cowl on my studio armoire.

 

 

And the beginnings of my heirloom painting hanging on the the kitchen corner cabinet.

 

I find myself hopping between creative mediums. I paint for a day, then I crochet for day, then I paint more, then I crochet more. You know, in between boys and naps - school and getting ready for the bus and mealtimes - bathes and bed then so much more. Do I sit? yeah... to blog and crochet and CRASH! :)  There is just so much to make and so many things to be inspired by right now. I had the great luck this past friday of purchasing gallery wrapped canvases (cream of the crop) which are normally quite pricey,  for only $2.79!!! must have been a glitche but hey, I took it and two others as that's all that was left on the shelf that was ringing up wrong. Otherwise I would of bought the shelf out! on that very same day I also had someone tell me how much they love my blog and thanked me for doing it. Thanked me!? really? no, thank YOU!  for caring, and reading, and being inspired by what I have to say and share. Somedays, just go right... now I need to clean my studio and get some of these projects completed before I pile more on top... of the couch, and the dining room table, and I become classified as a creative hoarder!

Happy Sunday and if you don't hear from me you know the yarn got me first!