My muse may be back

Well it is Sunday the 13th and I finally decided to work in the studio. First I tried to clean up some so I did some re-arranging. Then I decided I wanted to make a pocket pixey belt so I pulled out lots of fabric, ribbon and thread. I worked till the bobbin ran out and I almost have it finished. It is very funky, nothing I would wear but I am sure I can find a kid would will love it. Pictures coming. Next I decided to nuno felt. I am determined to get that process down. I did a bit better today but put some mohair in it with the wool and that stuff must take a ton of elbow grease to felted really well. Any way the piece will be usable esp if I use my embellishing machine.

As you can see from the photo above, I have been playing around with PhotoShop Elements. I got some books to really learn the program so that too is another project.

Leisa Reisler has put out a challenge where you buy a $25 kit from her and try to make something with it using as much of the bag of goodies as you can, you will win some sort of prize. This sounds like a good way to get into making something and not worrying if it will sell. Maybe that is what my muses problem has been, I haven't been making stuff just for the joy of it.

Still looking for that muse...

I just had my first "difficult" person on Etsy. A woman asked if my sale was still on, she wanted to buy a necklace. I had stated in the descriptions that the sale was good until Jan.1 but I had forgotten to take it down so I gave her the 10% off and changed the paypal amount. She sent me the money thru paypal immediately so I sent the necklace off to her. She mentioned she was a fiber artist too. She emailed me when she got it, said it was lovely and sent me good feedback. 2 days later she wore it to work and the beads started to fall off. I couldn't see how this could have happened as the wired beads were crimped to the clasps and the bead caps were glued on and tied on I but told her I would refund her necklace price and pay her return shipping if she would send it back. She said it was a piece of trash so she had thrown it in the trash. I showed her my policy that there was no refund if the item was not returned. She sent it back to me, both clasps were in it but both crimps and the wire was missing. The fibers had been cut and unraveled. I think she took it apart to see how it was made and then threw a minor fit to get her money back. I am so disappointed in this. I trust people but she took a small bite out of that. I returned all her money and her shipping. Then she said she wanted a hand made custom felted scarf. Hmmmm, no way in h*ll!

What would you have done if this had happened to you? Has something similar ever happened to you? Would love to hear your answers.

snow days coming?

Well if you can believe the weather people, looks like we are in for several inches of snow before we have several inches of ice. Now I love a good snow day off work as much as the kids do out of school but the ice worries me. I live at the very end of a dirt road and one of the generators is in my front yard. We are not high priority on having power turned back on and our house is totally electric. We are blessed to have a fireplace and a good bit of wood. Also for Christmas Phil got a solar lamp that runs lots of hours. As you can imagine, I am looking for projects to try. Felting is out of the question as no hot water but I just got in a new bundle of wools that I found on sale. I have never made a cowl but I have knitting directions for a very funky one. I also have a vest that I need to make one more panel for and then crochet the panels together and it will be finished so I have plenty that I can do. Maybe a few days of total quiet and forced knitting will be just the rest I need from the holidays.
If any of you are snowed or iced in, please try to stay warm and catch up on a few of those projects that have just been sitting around. Lots post completed projects when we get power back on, I would love to see what others are doing!

Christmas is over

and things can finally calm down. We have things to return. I got a Nook which I didn't ask for but an delighted to get. It is the black and white one so I am going to return it and pay the extra for a color one but B&N is out of them so we are on a waiting list. I think everyone was happy with their presents.
Am now making turkey soup with the remains. I only made a turkey breast this time but did it in the crockpot and that is definitely the way to go. Less mess, more meat.
I have decided to enter a piece of feltwork in the Hampton Gallery. I haven't sold anything there yet but the owner is so supportive of my work, it is only a matter of time till I enter the right piece. Tomorrow I am going to play with my embellisher and my sewing machine, well, maybe. We have to get JT to his hockey game at noon tomorrow and the game starts at 7pm. This was supposed to be a vacation week but so far, no art has been done.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and got what you wanted. Also hope you will be sharing new artwork with me soon, I could use some inspiration!

Merry Christmas

to all and to all a good night. We will probably be up at 6 tomorrow morning since we have Jonathan tonight. Then off to see all the family at 9:30. Will come home to cook some more, been cooking all night. Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas time

I can hardly believe Christmas is almost here and I am close to being ready. Usually I am still working on the tree on Christmas eve but it is up now and beautiful. I tried a new mantel display this year with my Mark Robert's Santa faeries and it looks great. I love these Santa dolls and add more to my collection each year. I am about to run out of room.

My art work is almost at a standstill but 2 of my friends that I don't get to see very often are setting up play days for the week I have off. I am excited about that. Still too cold to felt but I can always bring bags of stuff and my embellisher. Can make lots of new wall pieces. Everyone loves them but I have to figure a way to come down in my price. Could also make some bodies for wall art fairies. What a joy it will be to just play for no reason.

I have no shows signed up for spring yet and after the first of the year, I will start sending out applications. Still only local shows this year but I am seriously looking at one in Big Hole Wy. That would be a great show but we would have to drive to get the tent and displays out there so it really isn't practical. I can dream big though.

Hope all of you have wonderful holidays with lots of laughter, fun and a few naps thrown in!

Teaching

I had a nice thing happen to me yesterday. I got a call from a lady a couple of towns over who wanted to learn to felt. Someone had referred her to me. She had just returned from Mongolia and wanted to felt like them. Told her I only knew of 2 people in the US who teach that though I am sure there are others. She still wanted to learn so we are starting next week and we are going to make scraves. An easy enough project and enough elbow grease needed to felt well. Will be interesting to see if she wants more lessons LOL.