The Artful Dodger

Bunny Christmas Ornaments

Here are two little Christmas ornaments I made from a wonderful craft book I got years ago.  The one on the right is at least 15 years old and the one on the left I made last year.  I'm searching my bookshelves for the original book, though I think I could probably make one without a pattern, I want to make a few new ones for some upcoming swap-bot swaps.  There are patterns for cats, dogs, angels, bears, chickens, blackbirds and more, all with wings.  Many years ago I made one for everyone in the family.  I wonder if they still hang them in their trees?

Wild or Crazy Dotee Doll

This is my latest dotee doll 'Wildfire'.  I made her for a swap-bot swap.  She's only the third dotee I've ever made.  I'm not sure about all the requirements.  There's supposed to be a hanger and a tailand she certainly has those.  In many of the pictures I see, dotees have embroidered faces, but I've see ones made of mostly buttons on wire and old images cut out for faces and no real stuffed bodies, so I assume a wide range of interpretation is allowed.  I've only ever gotten one dotee before, the first trade I was in I never got anything in exchange, but I was matched up with someone whose profile had almost noinfo and had only been on swap-bot once - the day they signed up.  The coordinator shouldn't have allowed that person in, but I was never able to get in contact with the coordinator or the person who flaked on me.  It's the only bad experience I've ever had on swap-bot.  It made me shy of participating again in a swap that took so much effort and I waited several months before I tried again.  Most of the people on swap-bot are lovely, kind and considerate and do their best.  Here's a closeup of the doll's face:

 

 
 

1st Prize Pig

Here's a doll I made based on a pattern I found in Sew a Circle of Friends by Anne McKinney.  It's a wonderful book with great dolls in it and I've made many of them but given most away.  This one I named 'Eva Dee'  and she's just won the blue ribbon for her pet pig.  The pitcher on her left arm has a label that says 'Hog Wash".  She has a squared off bottom instead of legs and with a little weight added, she's free standing.  She's about 13" tall and sports dark green roses on her straw hat.  Of all the dolls I've made over the years, she's one of my favorites.

No Paper Fabric ATC Swap

I received 2 fabric ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) for different partners in a swap-bot swap.  The first I received was from Anita Sewell who lives in England.  It's all white and has many beads and is called Low Tide and it does remind me of waves and the beach.

The one on the right I received from Mindy of Eugene, Oregon.  It's made of jewel tone wool felt scraps.  Both of them are much lovelier than the scans I did of them show.  I want to thank both of them for the wonderful works of art they sent me.

Fabric ATC Swap

I signed up for a Fabric Only ATC Swap on www.swap-bot.com.  ATC stands for Artist Trading Card.  They are 2.5 by 3.5 inch creations, usually made of paper, that artists exchange.  I don't particularly consider myself an artist but I enjoyed making these.  They are little quilts.  The backgrounds were cut from an old piece of quilt top and the trimmings I sewed on top are at least 25 years old.  I did a bit of primitive quilting around the top motifs and folded the back over to the front to make binding.  All in all, everything was done by hand.  I hope the recipients enjoy them.

Chicken Scratch Butterfly Pillow

Does anyone remember the great Chicken Scratch rage of the late 70's, early 80's?  I was pulling out something from the top of my closet when this pillow fell on my head.  My initials are on the back with the year '84.  And I think it's been sitting up in the closet for the past 25 years because it doesn't look like it's ever been used.  This is one of the simplest embroideries to do.  It's just a star stitch worked over gingham squares - you can't go wrong.  I looked up Chicken Scratch under Google Images and found hundreds, so I suppose there are those out there reviving this simple craft.

Crazy Patchwork Pillow

Here's a crazy patchwork pillow I made.  I used silk ribbon and floss embroidery, beading, cross stitch, lace insertion and applique.  I love this pillow all in pastels and have started on a companion one that is square.

Moonface Dotee Doll

I finally got my crazy quilt dotee doll finished and hopefully I will get her shipped out in a day or two.  Above are pictures of her shown full length and then close-ups of the front and the back.  I've made many dolls over the years but this is only the second dotee doll.  I'm not sure if she's supposed to have arms, but since the moon has none I'm not too worried about it.  I hope the recipient likes it.

Crazy Quilt Dolls and Other Diversions

 

I'm working on a new fetish doll and this is her in her beginning state.  I'm supposed to be working on a crazy quilted dotee doll for a swap-bot.com swap I entered.  I hope to get both of them finished this weekend.  But, last week I got a few new books:

1 - Softies Only a Mother Could Love -Edited by Jess Redman and Meg Leder

2 - Quilts, BABY!- edited by Linda Kopp

3 - Very Easy Crazy Patchwork- by Betty Barnden

4 - Simple Serger Sewing - edited by Julie Johnson

And, of course,  all of them have something in them I want to make.  After all, if they didn't have something that appealed to me, I won't have bought them.  You can see my comments on them on my bookshelf list.  So my dilemma now is what to work on next.

New Eyeglass Case

 

I paper pieced this eyeglass case by randomly dipping into my box of yellow scraps.  Now that I've got the front made I can't decide if I should paper piece a back or just use a solid piece of fabric.  I made a button and loop closure on the last one I made and the glasses kept getting caught in the loop.  This one's going to have a flap closed with Velcro.

Free Form Embroidery

 

I always like to try out different techniques I haven't used before, so I thought I would try my hand at free motion embroidery.  This sun may not look like much to you, but I like the way it came out.  It's about 8 or 9 inches across and is destined to become the center of a small quilt or the focal point of a purse or tote bag, maybe.  For now it will hang on my design wall while I await the final project's manifestation in my brain.

More Purses

 

Here are three of the purses I made.  The one on the left is reversible with a batik on one side and a bright lime green print on the other.  It's fun and I use it with my bright summer clothes.  The striped one on the top right goes great with jeans and is big enough to carry small purchases.  The bottom right one, make of upholstery fabric, is waiting for a closure of some kind, probably just a weighted piece to hang over from back to front.  I'm waiting for inspiration, maybe a large donut bead or a cluster of grapes.  Too kitschy?

Crazy Quilt Dotee Doll Swap

 

I joined the Crazy Quilted Dotee Doll swap at www.swap-bot.com.  I received this wonderful doll from Courtney Short-Prudhomme.  I love the face and the ribbon roses embroidered all over her skirt.  I feel bad that I haven't even started mine yet, though I have decided on the color and theme.  You can see more of the cute dolls Courtney has made on her blog http://mommasgoodies.blogspot.com.

Cathedral Window Mini Quilt

 

I love cathedral window quilt patches.  I made this mini 10 inch square quilt of cream colored polished cotton and different flower motifs all cut from the same fabric scrap.  It isn't really quilted, but the flower pieces are sewn in by hand.  To finish it I just added a little bit of lace.  The buttons were sewn on to cover any corners that were less than perfect.  I saw a draw string purse made of cathedral windows with a background fabric of gray.  I think I'd like to make a purse of some kind with black as the background and black, white and primary color inserts.

Nostalgic Rice Sack Pig

 

While looking for some muslin in my fabric stash closet, I came across this pig made from a rice sack.  Mother and I used to make them years ago to sell at craft shows.  I believe Mom used to get the sacks from a rice packing plant near Crowley, LA, the Rice Capitol of the World.  I think he'd look better with a red or navy bow.