A Thank You and a New, Hot Gallery...

First off, I'd like to say a big Thank You to Sara who was kind enough to mention my shop over on her blog, Saige Wisdom.  Sara included my bunting 'Hello' cards as part of her weekly {Friday Finds} post.  It was great to get her message this morning letting me know Kid & Caboodle was one of her 'finds' - who doesn't love a compliment like that?  Pop on over to her blog (click the banner below) and check it out - you'll be glad you did!

Recently, I managed to hang a few things that have been on the floor,  leaning up against the wall.  We won't talk about the pile that is still waiting.  My intention is to slowly build up a little gallery of prints, original works and other handmade goodies.  Let me tell you a little bit about what I've got so far:

If you click on the photo to the left you'll get a better view.  Top left is a fantastic print that I bought at the last Got Craft? market here in Vancouver.  It's titled 'The Kitten's Guide to Facial Hair' and features numerous kitties with moustaches and beards.  Love.  It was made by Kukubee.  Click over and check out their website.  It's the cutest thing EVER.

Top right is a butterfly I cut out of some sheet music and whacked into an Ikea Ribba frame.  I think it needs something more but for now, it lives on the wall!  As those who really know (and love!) me can attest, I have a deeply irrational fear of moths and sadly, this includes the butterfly family.  I love butterflies but I don't want them touching me.  It took all of my will power to enter the butterfly house at the Melbourne Zoo last month and it was not a long visit.  I put on a brave face for my niece but really I wanted to run shrieking from the building.  So!  Paper butterflies safely locked away behind glass are the bugs for me!

Bottom left we have another creation made by moi.  There's a great little store called Urban Source not far from where I live that sells anything and everything the collage or mix media artist (or bored kids!) could want.  They sell off-cuts of all kinds of materials, papers and other items that would otherwise end up in a recycling bin, discarded photographs, scientific slides, etc.  I got some of the papers from there and I scored the Pi cut out that just happened to fit in a frame I had on hand.  We're a bit geeky at my place so it fits right in :)

And last, but in no way least, is a Star Wars themed cross stitch that I made using a pattern I bought on Etsy.  Bombastitch is the place to go for nerdy, quirky stitching fun (although, I see they are currently on vacation and the store is closed for a bit).  I had bought this pattern to make a birthday gift for CC but it stitched up so quickly there was really no excuse not to make one for myself.  I should probably whip one up and send it to George Lucas as well (hint, hint).

Oh, and before I forget, this weekend I will be posting about my first ever giveaway!  Check back on Sunday for the deets.  Those who love scrapbooking will probably be particularly interested but that's the only clue you get.

Bit of this, bit of that...

As promised, here are a couple of things that I've been working on, have finished or have added to my stash of supplies.  I'll probably add a few things over the next few days, as I pull out some long forgotten works in progress (or WIP).  I'm hoping as I begin to do this, the creative vibe will come back to me in a big way, and that I'll improve my photography skills.

The Granny Square Mountains

 First up is a handful of the one-colour granny squares I've made.  Ultimately, they'll all be joined together in a yet to be determined pattern to form a blanket.  I'm not sure how long this particular project is going to remain unfinished and for once, that's not because I'm lazy!  Every single time I've gone to the store to pick up more of the royal purple wool, there has been nary a skein to be found!  I'm planning a trip to Ikea in the next couple of weeks and that will take me near another store that I can try for the wool.

  

Before I began these squares, it had probably been over a decade since I had done any crocheting.  I had forgotten how much fun it can be.  I need to re-learn how to do a lot of stitches, and how to do many that I'd never tried before.

I've also got a few ideas in mind for some small pieces using fine thread.  I'm thinking accessories and jewelry (minus the jewels).  I dug up an old set of hooks that I forgot I had.  I think my mum might have found it in some relatives old stash.  It's a little red, zippered case and holds some of the tiniest hooks.  I probably should have taken a photo of that.  I'll make a note to do that because it really is quite a neat little tool kit.

This little guy is a paper tree that I made one night when I had nothing to do and there wasn't much on television.  I don't have individual sources for all of the papers I used but I believe that most of it came from either Opus or Island Blueprint.  I cut out each of those leaves and glued them on one at a time.  It didn't really take all that long.  It's hard to tell scale from the photo's but the finished piece is 2x3 inches.  Whack it in a frame from Ikea and voila!  Homemade art.

My most recent addition to my (rather large) collection of materials and tools is a set of Winsor & Newton drawing inks.  I've never used these particular inks before but I have used W&N oil and acrylic paints and have always been happy with those.  I've yet to put these to use but they will be unleashed over the next couple of days.  I don't want to say on what just yet, but I will post pictures when I'm done.  In the meantime, look at how lovely these boxes are.  How could I possibly resist?

Pot of Blood.  Awesome.