Holiday Art Market

It's -2 (celsius) here today. Some people find this cold here. But it also means it's -28 in Saskatchewan. I'm terribly sorry to my fellow prairie people. I think cold weather gets me thinking more and more about Christmasy things and Christmas gifts. And I'm excited to announce that I will be taking part in an art market, which just happens to be a fantastic place to get a Christmas gift! If you are in the Vancouver area (or want to travel a distance for a great show...) come on out to the China Cloud Gallery on Saturday, December 14 for a fantastic holiday event featuring some great local artists (including myself!). And with free entry, door prizes, hot chai & cookies, you really can't go wrong!

Create the Perfect Winter Garland

Look at my lovely pinecone garland. I was inspired in the midst of watching The Holiday on a Christmas whim other day. I looked over at my autumn pinecone decor sitting in a dish on my coffee table and knew they needed to be transformed into the beginnings of my wintery wonderland that is being created in our home! And while this is an easy little craft to do while watching a movie, I think it adds the perfect touch to our "mantle", so to speak. 

I used the tutorial from The Sweetest Occasion though I didn't apply gold leaf. I had some antique gold paint on hand and it worked just fine. Since then, the hubby and I went on a Christmas shopping excursion and came home with an abundance of greenery- this register/mantle has since been added to and changed. More pictures of that to come later...but I hope that with these pictures, you are also inspired to create a simple winter delight. 

Feeling Crafty

I finally have the desire to craft again. It is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. I haven't even thought about it since the semester heated up, but it is on my mind now and I'm feeling inspired by all of these lovely crafts for spring! Hope it inspires you as well! Time to get the scissors, glue, and paint out...

Birds Nest Necklace:

Sincerely, Kinsey

Scarf Flats:

Stars For Streetlights

Painted Wooden Chairs:

Design*Sponge

Fabric Peonies:

Creature Comforts

Mason Jar Vases:

Please Note

Thrifty Tuesday: Hang It Up

Yes. I realize that the majority of these are wool, appliqued and embroidered ornaments. But I also realize that they are incredibly cute and easy(er) to make than some out there. Somehow, the folklore theme seems to be attractive to me, as well. Once I have time to do crafty things again, I will definitely be whipping some of these up! Is that owl not the cutest little guy?

1. Dala Horse Christmas Ornament

2. Camel Ornament

3. Wooden Bells

4. Christmas Owl

It's Christmas Decor Time!

Yea, it's not Thrifty Tuesday, but I'm too excited to share my Christmas decor with you! It's only a little bit, but my sister and I went shopping at our local MCC thrift store and found an abundance of Christmas craft ideas. I followed the idea of this post and created a little garland for my window. You might notice in the picture, that we had a bit of a snowfall last night!

I also found this lovely wreath filled with ugly little pieces of wreath decorations which I promptly ripped off and put on my own decorations! That ribbon could probably use trimming (again, I was too eager to post!)

Thrifty Tuesday: Christmas Edition

Yes, I realize I have never had a Thrifty Tuesday and therefore have no reason to have a special edition of it, but that's the way it goes around here. Every new idea is a special edition because it usually only stays for so long! I get bored easily, what can I say? But in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I would love to spread a bit of curated inspiration for a handmade Christmas! I am on a tighter than tight budget, so I'll take all the help I can get when it comes to decorating! To start it all off, why not try your hand on one of these fabulous Christmas garlands? They make me think of pretty vintage-y decor and then I start dreaming of Little Women, my favourite Christmas movie, and wish I was one of those girls... I sometimes catch myself living another life in my head. Don't judge me, please.

1. Pinecone Garland

2. Candy Cane Garland

3. Cinnamon Stick Garland

Something From Nothing

I would like to take this time to promote a business and Etsy shop owner very dear to me. She is the own who bestowed me with all genes creative, my mother! She is an artisan working from home to create warm, woolly mittens out of recycled felted sweaters! This is a fantastic way to reuse discarded clothing to produce something functional and cute (especially for those frigid prairie winters!) I have to say, I've received a new pair every winter and they kept my hands toasty all 6 months of winter long- they are the most comfortable pair you will ever own! Take it from a prairie girl who knows (and loves her mom).

Visit the shop here and support a hard-working mother and, of course, the environment.

Do-It-Yourself!

Yes. I realize I have been M.I.A. for quite some time now and no, I don't have a good excuse...I have not been too busy with school or work or fun. I just have been uninspired in the blog world. I guess I've been thinking so much on upcoming projects for school that it's taking up most of my brain space. But other people seem to be inspired and I'm inspired by their drive to finish projects! Maybe someday I will do these, but these are my recent Pinterest finds that I fill inclined to create.

Chevron Stripe Art

Vintage Crate Shelving (from Ebay, but the listing was taken down)

Spray Painted Lace Lamp

Yarn Flowers (these I actually did get around to making!)

Vintage Handkerchief Bow

Fair and Lemon Square Dress

Fishtail Braid with Yarn

Hope this inspires you as well in your daily adventures!

A Crown of Flowers

Recently, I have been inspired by flower crowns- they are sooo beautiful! This one involves a more complicated process, but is gorgeous:

This one is the wildflower, spontaneous approach to creating a crown:

I decided to go with the latter, because of my spontaneous mood and I love the wild look of it. It was harder than I thought and didn't come about just as I thought it would, but still looks beautiful...

...as a Ukrainian dance crown! Or so my mother liked to believe. We ended up putting it in a dish with water and used it as a decoration for the table.

And along with the adventures of my flower crown making, we (me and two of my sisters) went on a bike adventure with our old fashioned bikes and ended up having a mini photo shoot. So fun.

Crafting Galore!

Lately, with a bit more time on my hands, now that I am done working, I have taken up some of my favourite hobbies- sewing, crocheting, painting, crafting. I find it so enjoyable and thought I'd share some of my recent projects with you! But before I do, check out my new "Grab a Button" link on the side! Yay! I have a button (after long hours into the night trying to figure out how to do it....) Please, feel free to advertise my blog on your page by picking up that link! I would feel honoured. Now. To the projects!

1. I have wanted to become more advanced in my sewing skills and the only way to do that is to keep sewing! So I decided to make something practical and pretty-a paintbrush holder! It's great for the on-the-go artist and it was SO easy. I picked up the pattern from a book I gave my sister for Christmas called, One Yard Wonders.

It holds quite a few paintbrushes and organizes them so nicely!

2. I haven't crocheted in a while- in summer, I tend to gravitate towards other projects. But my nanny family recently adopted a 20-month boy from China and I knew I had to make something special for him. I came across this cute project in Crochet Today, which is a fabulous magazine. It really has a whole lot of nice patterns and I encourage all you crocheters out there to subscribe!

He's sitting on a granny square blanket that I have been working on from the same magazine. Doesn't he look so sweet?

3. Yes, you've seen these before, but these lace flowers are so pretty, they deserve a second look! They are incredibly easy and just require a bit of lace and a small bit of felt along with hot glue.

5. I wish I had some better pictures of these last two, but I was finding it hard to get a clear picture with the corners curling up on me...oh well, you get an idea. These are two watercolour cards I've been doing and it's been so fun. I love exploring new mediums and I will definitely be painting with more watercolour in the future. I love the bright, vivid colours and the imaginative quality it creates.

Well, there you have it. Be inspired and go create!

Etsy. Sister. Love

Just taking a moment in my sick day to promote my sister and her new creative efforts of professional crafting. She's recently set up her shop on Etsy called Felicity Designs and I for one, am proud of her recent success. You should definitely check out her stock of baby blankets and reconstructed decorative pillow cases! And while you're at it check out her blog here.

As an afterthought, I've once again updated my art blog- I love printmaking! Please do check it out, as it is finally my more recent work!

These Old Things

So today I feel compelled to bring something to the front of your memories. I once upon a time spent hour upon hour creating crocheted pieces for a craft show, proceeded to sell next to nothing and was left with a stash of crocheted bonnets, hats and one sweater which I didn't know what to do with. Upon cleaning my room the other day, I came across these precious items and would like to remind you of their worth right now! If you should want a cute little bonnet for your child or someone you know, I am selling these heirloom bonnets at $20.00 (Down from $25!), and the sweater at a new low price of $35.00 (Down from $40!). Please let me know if you are interested and I will be sure to get back to you!

The bonnets come in sizes small and large in most colours

Also, as a side note, I think I will start posting about the books I am reading or have read, maybe do a little review here and there! I just barely finished (before I had to return it to the library so I wouldn't get more fines than I already have...) the book, Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki. It's a very interesting autobiographical read. I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture and Geisha lifestyle, so I picked this up one day thinking it might just be a story with information that I already have gathered about the lifestyle. But it is much more than that, I found. I really couldn't even put it down some times! Her story is fascinating and the conviction and determination she displays is inspiring. And any misconceptions you have about Meiko and Geisha, she will be sure to set you straight! The word "geiko" (another name for Geisha) means "artist" and I've discovered that is exactly what they are and maybe that is why I am so drawn toward it. Although, they are much more disciplined artists than I. I think I could learn a lot from the way they discipline themselves to learn and study their art forms. I'm so lazy about it...

Crafty Inspiration

I just came across a blog that I think will come in very handy being a nanny for a very crafty little girl... Craft Projects has tons of neat ideas for crafting with kids that are not junky and ugly but very creative and beautiful, indeed! You can check it out by clicking here.

Here are some of the crafty kid projects like a sticker canvas drawing, fabric collage, or monoprint painting:




These last two are more so fun adult crafts- an embroidered applique toddler shirt, or a wood veneer piece of art!