Up for Adoption

 Just a reminder that I will have two new wee fuzzies available for adoption January 1st on the TDIPT Mercantile site. I wanted to finish a 3rd piece but that doesn't look like it is going to happen...my brother is visiting...& as usual he wants to be the center of attention...as most brothers do...so I have no time to work in my studio...
Tdipt Mercantile 

 Mortimer & Willard need a forever home...

Wee Mortimer Mouse
Adopted

Wee Willard Mouse

Adopted

You can go to the last few posts below to read about the two new pieces that will be available on TDIPT January 1st. 

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Thanks for coming by & all the best for a wonderful New Year...

Merry Christmas ~ News & Views

 ~~~ Exciting News ~~~
Thought I would let you in on a little secret...
I am honored & thankful to have had my work accepted for publication in a brand new semi-annual art magazine by Stampington titled "Prims". It will be filled with articles on Primitive Folk Art of all types...dolls, paintings, mixed media, traditional & contemporary. This is a very exciting time for me & I wanted to share my feelings with you!
This premier issue will be on stands in the United States as of April 1st...in Canada probably a bit later. I have included a link for you to pre-order this magazine & receive free shipping(U.S. only); in Canada you will receive discounted shipping. This offer will end on February  25th.
"Prims" Magazine Link
I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude & appreciation to all of you who have supported my creative endeavors...Thank-You!
But most of all I to want to wish each & every one of you a Christmas filled with Good Cheer, Family & Friends...& a New Year filled with hope & possibilities...
~~~ Many Blessings ~~~
Warmly, Susan

Note - New wee fuzzy to share with you.

Mortimer Mouse

 

 

 

Mortimer, his pincushion & the glass salt shaker are 8 1/2 inches tall. The pincushion is attached to a vintage heavy glass salt shaker filled with genuine ivory, pearl, old wood & vegetable ivory buttons as well as a few other interesting smalls.

Hand-stitched wool circles are sewn to the top of the pin cushion as Mortimer requested that he needed more padding for his wee furry behind. Little Mortimer also asked that I find him a new home in a place with no cats...but that has lots of cheese...aged chedder preferably.

He will be available for adoption January 1st on the TDIPT Mercantile. He is will be priced at $110.00 US plus $12.00 US for shipping & insurance to anywhere in the US or Canada. Please contact me if you have any questions as I would love to hear from you.

Bear Making 101

I can't seem to get my mind off Teddies...I have been obsessed with learning all I can about how to make them, where to buy supplies, the proper tools, designing. I sit in my big old Morris chair...glasses at the end of my nose...reading all the books, magazines & articles I can find...Below are photos of a couple of miniature bears I recently finished...practice...practice...practice...they are not my own design...I give credit to Vivianne Galli of Galli Bears...I just love her patterns, you can scoot on over to her Etsy store to buy her bear kits or visit her blog called Hug Me Again...if you are a newbie like me then her kits would be a perfect place to start learning...It was interesting to watch their little characters emerge...

Warmly, Susan

Go on over to to Sassafras Stuff & enter her Blog Giveaway...beautiful gift basket of goodies to be won...

My Jan. 1st TDIPT Offering - News & Views

Found this gals blog...Quill Cottage...she has great tutorials for paper shoes, & how to create a fibre bird's nest  & other interesting mixed media projects. Love her ephemera shoe kits, her writing & photography...a inspiring place visit!

A little reminder that I will be listing some new pieces on the TDIPT Mercantile site January 1st. Please feel free to join my mailing list so that you can receive notices of impending web-sales. Below are some photos of one of the pieces that will be available for purchase.  

Willard Wee Mouse Pin-Keep

Aged Onasburg fabric pin-cushion, cross stitched details, old buttons, rusty pins, needles & sewing bobbin.

 

Cherish

Hanging wool strawberry with stitched details. Glass candlestick stand.

 

Williard is hand-painted & stands 4"  tall. He is a wool felt fabric mouse with glass bead eyes, bead buttons, suede tail & chenille stem feet. This piece is 10"  inches tall & will come signed & dated with a primitive tag.

Willard is $115.00 US plus $12.00 US for shipping to anywhere in the US or Canada. Price includes insurance. He will be available for purchase January 1st on TDIPT. This is an adult collectors piece & is not suitable for children.
Note ~ Your questions answered: If you are interested in this piece or any other ones that will be available please go to my TDIPT page the evening of Dec 31st at about 9 pm EDT. This is the time my listing will begin...you can email me that evening if you want to purchase a piece or email me the morning of January 1st.

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Paypal is preferred but I will accept International Registered Bank or Postal Money orders. Sorry, but I do not accept personal cheques. All pieces will be shipped by airmail with insurance.
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Commissions

Sorry, but at this time I am not accepting any commissions...My goal right now is to focus all my time & energy on designing new pieces, taking classes to improve my skills & finishing up previous commissions. Plus, I am trying to sell my home & am in the middle of helping my parents to clear out their home...just way to much on my plate right now...I do apologize as I love to create for you. Please email me with your requests later in the new year...summer is slower & I will have more time then. Thanks for your support of my work...it is much appreciated!

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 Last but not least...I have also been working pretty hard at learning the art of bear making & want to eventually design some of my own mohair critters...I have so much I want to learn & not enough time in the day to learn it...also, make sure you become a follower & stay tuned for my blog giveaway that will take place in the middle of January...January Blues is the theme & there will be three wee wonderful groups of goodies & one wee fuzzy to give away...

Stay Warm, Susan

Christmas Cuddles

Loving This felted Ball Wreath

Pickles Norwegian Blog

http://www.pickles.no/wonderful-wreath/

You can go to the Pickles Blog & get directions on how to create this wreath with Ornamentea's felt balls. Thinking I would like to make one of these to hang up all year round. You could also make one with Ornamentea's felted flowers...how cool would that be...

Notes & News
I decided I am going to have my blog give-away towards the middle of January...it is going to be a January Blues Theme...already collecting things with a blue/silver/winter theme...having a lot of fun putting it together...Whatcha think....should I have 2nd & 3rd place goodies to giveaway??? One of the things you will have to do to participate will be to become a follower...also thinking up something fun that will be required...not sure what yet...stay tuned for more info & pics...

***WonderfulWarmWinterWishesFor You***

Wee Woolly Rabbit Commission

Fresh from my studio & still smelling of antiquing glaze...another Wee Woolly Rabbit for my dear friend who has been waiting FOREVER...since early fall...sorry, sorry...my life the last few months has been nothing short of...of....can't even find the words to describe it...don't want to go into details...just have to get on with things...anyways...I am happy, content & back creating!

...& my studio looks like a tornado went through it...

wee creation here...wee creations there...

all are going to be finished & up for adoption in the next little while...

Got something else to share...I am going to have a Blog Give-away...I will be posting pics of all the give-away goodies next week...& in amongst all those goodies will be a wee fuzzy...

till then...have a warm wonderful day...

Susan

 Back to work...

I have been busy in my studio & am happy to report that I will again be listing my creations on TDIPT starting January 1st 2010.Till then I will be posting pics of available work here on my blog. Join my mailing list to receive news about up & coming pieces that will be available for purchase.

Wishing you all the best this winter season!

Warmly, Susan

COOL...

I found just found this artist who does the most amazing things with hair...

won't tell you anymore...you have to go & see it for yourself...

He is a Japanese artist who also creates bears with what looks like split animal personalities...

...INTERESTING... 

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...Click on the individual hair models to get a larger view...

Hair Hats

 Split personality Pandas

 http://www.naginoda.com/work_en.html

Part 1 Vacation Cruise

What I did on my Vacation in less then 400 words...


kissed a stingray...hugged a dolphin...got stung by a jellyfish...rode some awesome waves...flew through the everglades on an air-boat...saw lots of gators up close & personal...went zip lining through an ancient Mayan cave...saw a barracuda...swam with a 25lb grouper...managed not to get a sun burn...repelled down a cliff...drank mojitos...gained two pounds...toured around the houses of the rich & famous...toured a cruise ship...there BIG!!! tried to sleep while experiencing 15 foot ocean swells 
experienced a jungle downpour...drank more mojitos...saw extreme third world living conditions...realized how blessed we are to live the life we have...
wanted to take home all the stray jungle puppies...saw what lots of money can buy...saw what no money can buy...had my first Cuban sandwich...met lots & lots of really awesome people...went to Hell...

Part One - Miami

To much work to post all my vacation photos at once so I will share them with you over the next few weeks. We took a one week Carvival Western Caribbean Cruise starting from the Port of Miami with stops in Grand Cayman,  Isla Roatan in the Honduras, Belize, Cozumel & then back to Miami. My first impression of Miami is that I really didn't care for it...didn't get good vibes at all...I did however find the history of the area very interesting. We took a city tour, an Everglades & Gator farm air-boat excursion, went to South Beach, took a boat tour of the Port of Miami & the coastal homes of the rich & famous...lots of tacky tourist outings.We then hopped on our Cruise ship where we joined my brother & his family for a week of frivolity & adventure...hope you enjoy the pics. 

Miami luxury apartments & yacht...cue the Miami Vice soundtrack...

Miami Ink Tattoo Studio...one of my favorite TV shows...

 

Miami skylines

Blustery day on South Beach...edge of the Hurricane...

Houses of the rich & famous...

Tacky Tourist Outing

Come here my little pretty...

To close for comfort...

 

The Florida Everglades

 

Our Everglades Tour Guy leaning on the back of our air boat...

Chow for Now...

stay tuned for more tacky tourist photos...

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I am slowly getting back to work...created my first miniature bear & I am completely enamored of him...will post photos of this piece soon. We finally listed our home this week...hate this part as we have to keep the house so spotless...wish us luck for a quick & successful sale. Thanks to everyone who has stuck by me through this trying time & who sent my family well wishes after the passing of my father in law...you are all so amazing & thoughtful!!! 

Wishing you all a cozy winter full of creativity, warmth & well being!

& One Big Happy Thanksgiving to all my U.S. Friends...

Back in the Nest

Home Sweet Home

Will post vacation pics soon

Will be getting back to creating soon

Am feeling refreshed & excited about life!

Missed you all!!!

Ugly Cat Rug

Thought I would show you some photos of the hooked rug that I designed while attending the Prairie Harvest Rug Hooking School which took place in September...I just pulled the last loop this week & have to say that I am pleased with how it turned out. It is a 24 inch by 19 inch mat & was hooked with hand-cut strips of as is wool & hand-dyed wool. I prefer hand-cutting my strips as it gives my rugs that old worn look. Last but not least, I bound the rug with rusty red wool strips...

 

The design of the cat changed a bit...in the beginning he didn't have a back leg, just a tail & his paws looked more like fingers...I pulled out quite a few strips & redid these areas so that I could give him a back leg & larger less finger-like front paws.

 

Over all I am happy with how this rug turned out but I would really welcome your thoughts & critiques.

I have been nursing a cold & rug hooking is such a warm cozy activity to do when you are feeling out of sorts...I find the repetition & the feel of the wool very comforting...just perfect for those down & out days.

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During the summer my husband & I booked a cruise & tomorrow we are leaving to fly down to Miami to meet up with my brother & his family...from there we are all boarding a biggg boat which will make its way down to Jamaica with stops in Mexico & Belize. My husband especially needs this trip as it will give him some time to recover from his dad's passing...a chance to unwind & get his smile back. I will have lots of pics & adventures to share with you upon our return.

Till then...

Susan

Feeling Blue

 

Feeling Blue

I have to say that life has overwhelmed me of late...I just feel the need to share...& maybe airing my thoughts will lighten the load that I feel.

My Father in-law passed away last week...he was a real character & his family will miss him terribly. He was married to Mary for 52 years & I can only imagine what it must be like to have someone disappear from your life after spending that much time together...

I love you Luigi...I will think of you often...& don't worry...we will look after Mary...promise!!!

A Note to my friends...thats you

I want thank everyone for all the kind words you have sent my way! 

It warms my heart to hear from you & I am truly blessed to have you all in my life!

I am also in the process of listing our home & am coming to grips that I will be moving again. My husband & I...after visiting Jasper National Park decided that we just can't live without the mountains we love...so we are relocating to the coastal town of Gibsons British Columbia...you might recall this name as it is the place where the old TV series the "Beach Combers was filmed. It is a bittersweet move as my parents live close by & I have made some very dear friends here in Saskatoon! 

Gibson's B.C. was recently voted as the best place to live in the world with a population under 20 000 people, it has a large artist's community with numerous festivals & art related businesses.

As for my current work...I am taking some time to myself & will be withdrawing from listing on the TDIPT Mercantile for a while. If I do have new pieces available for purchase they will be listed here on my blog, Etsy or EBay. I feel a real need to play a bit...explore some new mediums...time to spread my creative wings & grow a little bit.
Take care...I shall be back soon!
Warmly, Susan