Stripy

Made these stripy bracelets today. I love combining glow-in-the-dark beads with color beads. I designed these patterns which call for odd numbers of rows; it's trickier than even numbers of rows and requires extra patience and time (bracelets like these two will take you about 2 to 2.5 hours). I followed this great tutorial by Carol Dean which explains how to do odd count peyote stitch really well. Check it out if you want to learn how to do it.

Patterned Bracelets

My beading live action continues! I tackled patterns last night. It was not too difficult but was a little confusing in the beginning. It definitely takes focus to do this (no TV watching at the same time), and it helps to sketch out your complete design on grid paper and laid it out in front of you, then mark off each row as you weave. Also, having a long needle helps big time. Just be careful; this thing is addictive! : )

Beaded Bracelets

Yay! I did it! I figured out how to weave these bracelets by following the instruction on this site. It's not too hard, just takes time and patience. I made 3 in one night while watching TV. I was wearing one of them while visiting my orthodontics this morning, and the nice nurse asked me, "Oh, did one of your kids make that bracelet for you? It's so cute." I couldn't speak as my mouth was filled with green gooey molding compound (it got all over my face, too, a really attractive picture, I am sure), so I shook my head and then pointed to myself; afterward I told her, "Yeah, I am 5 years old!", and she started laughing.

Next time I am going to try to incorporate patterns into them! : )

Having fun with Perler beads

Ever since I saw this last week, I have been itching to play with Perler beads (You can call me a 5-year-old, that's ok!). I love sitting down and playing with them while listening to music; it's very relaxing, and addictive, too! Not to mention it's so much fun to mix and match the colors. I got a big tub of glow-in-the-dark ones and just about every single color that are available in my local store. I'd love to try the mini beads but we don't have those available in the States. Here are some photos of what I've made so far. I think I am going to try to challenge the bracelet next, if I can figure out how. : )

Ceramic Doodle Bowl

It is so much fun drawing on a blank bowl with a ceramic marker. I drew this one Sunday night, waited for 24 hours for the ink to completely dry and then baked it last night. It turned out pretty good (the actual piece looks way better than the photo). My goal is to take a lesson and learn how to build my own ceramic pieces in organic forms, but for now this is a fun thing to do. :)

Hallmarket 2011

Yesterday's Hallmarket was a success, and I had so much fun! Sharing a booth with my best buddy Mimi, we had many visitors and lots of positive feedbacks. Thank you so much if you made to the art fair and even purchased something from me. I now have a little extra money to replace a few drafty windows so hopefully I can stay a little warmer this winter. I am very grateful. Thank you and hugs!

(Mimi's adorable mini paintings and magnets.)

Article on Guioteca

If you can read Spanish, there is a little article about me on Guioteca. :)

All done!

Yay!!! I finally finished all my doodle bowls/trays for next week's Hallmarket, 35 pieces total! Here are some of the last few pieces. I am almost ready for the art fair, but I still need to run the sweatshop a little bit more to make hundreds of buttons for my interchangeable necklaces and also print out bunch of prints. Almost done. Feeling good. : )

If you are in the Kansas City area on 10/1, please come over and check out the art fair. It will be good. I promise.

a big cake stand


a big tray




a giant deep bowl with happy faces

A Few More Pieces

Still in the sweatshop mode, I finished a few more pieces over the weekend and here are some of them. I love these vintage footed bowls; they are really cute and a little harder to find. I am almost done with all my doodle pieces, only 2 big ones left to do (a cake stand and a giant bowl). Also since my good friend's mom bought my previous one, I did another happy faces bowl in yellow. :)

Domain Name

Finally I bought myself the domain name! (Should've done this years ago...) I am taking online Dreamweaver tutorials little by little, and it might take awhile before I learn how to build a simple website. My goal is to have a basic online portfolio, so people can see the highlights of my work in one place. Right now there is only a home page, but at least there is something, and I've put all my links on that page so they all under one roof. Here you go. :)

Many Faces Doodle Bowl

My friend Mimi's mom bought this from me. I will make another similar one for the show. :)

2 Doodle Plates

Did these two plates last night. And also here is one of the doodle bowls I did over the weekend. I am planning to bring 35 doodle bowls/plates to the art fair; hopefully I can finish.

Busy Busy Busy + Hallmarket 2011

(Poster designed by Dick Daniels)

It's the 3-day Labor day weekend and I am in my full blown sweat shop mode! It's officially one month counting down to Hallmarket. Hallmarket is a Hallmark artist art fair and this is the second year (it was so successful last year, our company decides to make it happen again.) Better yet, there will be double the participating artists from last year and it will be so much fun! I am sharing a booth with my good friend and I will have art prints, my improved interchangeable jewelries, and my doodles bowls/plates for sale. I am hoping to make a fun and colorful display and a lot of stuff have to be done, so I probably won't get much rest until the show. If you are in Kansas City during that weekend, please make sure to stop by and check it out. I guarantee it will be a wonderful event!

Here are two of my doodle bowls that will be available at the art fair, and also, my post from last year's Hallmarket.

PS: Since I am making new stuff for the art fair, I now have a few silver color interchangeable necklaces available, and a new simple interchangeable brooch as well.

Have a wonderful weekend! Xx

Magazine feature and new prints

I am so excited that my Yarn Hair print appears in the Fall issue of Vogue Knitting International magazine! A big thank you to the magazine; they did a lovely job with the photo shoot. I am very grateful.

Also, I've added two customizable prints to my shop: Cowboy and Cowgirl Kitty. Like them?

Painted Cats

My friend Donna brought me a "Paint Your Own Postcard" deck from England last year. I finally used it today, painted some kitties just for fun. : )

Eugene

Got this buy at a garage sale this morning on my way to work; it's an old and dirty squeaky toy (I gave him a bath at work). My co-worker named him Eugene. His face cracks me up! :)

July desktop will be posted during this weekend. Thanks for your patience my love! Xx

Weekend Treasure Hunt

This weekend is our annual Crown Center Antique Show. I got lucky and found this big old cement planter (weights a ton!) with not just one, or two, but THREE owlies plus the cute turtle and snail at the bottom! I put it on the coffee table and use it as a candle holder. : )
(Please pardon the messy background; I wish I could take a better photo but I couldn't move the planter to a different spot by myself.)

Sweet Suprise From Paris

Look what I have here! I received a lovely package from Patricia (a.k.a. Memi The Rainbow) about 2 weeks ago. She did a post about me on her blog and hand-carved these really sweet stamps based on my doodles and mailed them to me as a surprise. What a sweetheart! Thank you so much, Patricia! I am so flattered. Xx

You have to head over to Patricia's lovely blog and see what she is making; trust me, they will melt your heart! There is also an open studio interview about her as well on Etsy, please click here to read it.

What I Found Today

Went to our local antique mall today (one of my favorite activity) and brought home this adorable vintage Peter Cottontail wind-up toy. His ears are missing but that doesn't bothers me at all (He looks like a seal without the ears, so funny! I'm planning to find a little hat for him to cover up the holes.) The wind-up part works, too, click the movie to hear it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just something really quick to wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day! Do a little dance and be safe if you go out and party!

PS: I am totally PSYCHED about the corned beef & cabbage offered in our company restaurant today! My yearly treat!