Poppytalk Giveaway!

In honor of their 3rd Anniversary Poppytalk is giving away a $100 gift certificate to be used in the Poppytalk Handmade Marketplace!


For details and to enter visit Poppytalk

connection

connection no. 1

Lately I've been thinking about my relationship with my daughter and the changes that are just around the corner. I think this has been brought on by the letters of interest she's been receiving from universities. So far this week it's been Columbia/Barnard, Cornell, and Jacksonville University. She's on crew and it's safe to say she's awesome at it. She's spending next summer in France. She's growing up. I have never been more proud or more happy or more sad.

here come the pugs

Sammy and Lola are the two adorable pug models for these pieces. Their mom commissioned their portraits and I think I've fallen in love with pugs. Don't tell Cuckoo my Frenchie...he may get jealous.

my arms dealer

I wanted to tell you about Pam, my supplier for the little arms I use in my embroideries. I just ordered another batch to use for a piece that will be published in a book later this year. I received them today in the mail. I found she wrapped each arm with a little message asking to be the one chosen for the book. Opening the package was so much fun! She is such a pleasure to do business with. You can visit her Etsy shop, a little piece of my art, by clicking here.

a few new

the girl, her goose and her goat

among the daisies

head in the clouds

the key holder

I love psarokokalo

I was contacted by the lovely Maria of psarokokalo about trading work. It was my first time trading and it was so much fun! Here's what I received:


Aren't they fabulous? Check out her shop here to see more of her wares. (she still has a shirt like the one above in black) And click here for her Flickr acount to see even more of work.

my little girl's turning 16

Tessa came into this world September 10, 1993 at 7:31 AM. She is the funniest, strongest and most beautiful person I know. Happy birthday baby girl!

meet penelope and will

These two are sketched, painted, embroidered and embellished with vintage trim.

a sweet sweet giveaway

Visit Amy's blog Sweet Sweet Life for a chance to win one of her beautiful handmade puppets!

"Mlle. Matilde, who dreams in her night-dress of becoming a tree... so much

so that she has allowed a mama bird to take up residence on her head and

Mlle. Collette, a wee birdy puppet."
While you're there check out the rest of her blog. It's one of my very favorites!

it's tme to destash

My stash has gotten out of hand. It has poured out of my studio, taken up an entire hall closet, a bookshelf in my bedroom and is starting to creep it's way into the storage room. It's time for some of my treasures to be passed on to those who'll use them so I opened Happy Steiler's Destash on Etsy. I'll be carrying craft books, patterns, fabric and sewing supplies, spinning supplies and yarn. If you'd like to check it out click on the spool. If you're looking for something in particular feel free to contact me.

vintage linen and doll arms

I have been having such a great time playing with the homespun linen and little arms I recently acquired. The porcelain doll arms are from Germany and were dug from the earth from the grounds of an old doll factory that operated between 1890-1920. The linen is somewhere between 80 and 120 years old. You can read the story behind the linen here. I believe the sweet lady I bought it from still has some available. Anyway I've been busy with more ideas than time to bring what's in my head to life. Here are a few of my latest pieces...

the quilters

detail of the quilters

emma

detail of emma

she holds the key

one more...

A few new pieces...

Get out your needles and hooks

I was just visiting one of my very favorite blogs Sweet Sweet Life and learned about a great way to use up my yarn scraps and help keep children orphaned by AIDS warm. The Soweto Comfort Club is asking for 8 inch squares either crocheted or knitted, fancy or plain, one or many to be used to make blankets to keep babies and toddlers orphaned by AIDS warm. You can get all the information you need for this awesome project by clicking here. Join us and busy your hands for a great cause this summer! Off to dig out my scraps of yarn!

I am currently on vacation...

in Georgia at my ma's house on a small but beautiful spring-fed lake. I've been relaxing, playing with the dogs, cooking and eating. Last night I was treated by my ma to a lovely dinner and evening at the theatre and today a much needed massage. In between all of that I've managed to get a bit of work done. Here's a peek...