Pooka Monster

Drowned Geisha

2010-09-08T12:06:00.001-05:00

Goodness gracious! It's been a couple of weeks since I posted last. It's okay though, because now I'm going to bombard you with progressing photos of the embroidery I've been working on! I *think* she's all done, but knowing me I'll probably go back and add even more later. She ended up being less creepy than I intended, and I added some creepiness by accident too! Her kimono is wrapped from left to right, which means she is diseased. I didn't realize this until a fellow Flickrian (it's a word, I just said it, so it's a word!) informed me, and my friend Ai confirmed that to be the case. I intended for her to be in the sea, but I don't think that's apparent yet. I will see what she looks like after I add the border.

She started with a little mouth and a nom. There are lines on the teeth here, and I may re-add them again.

My hope is that someday I can make my stitches look exactly as I draw them, but I have a tendency to make lots of changes as I go.

The color on this photo can out a little psychedelic.

Added some color with fabric ink.

Her hair ornament~ I made the flowers with colonial knots. I tried a French knot first, but I find the colonial easier. The leaves are made with bullion knots. I'm not sure what kind of stitch the tassels are, if there is a name for them at all. She has lines for her lids here, which I may add back.

Added a neck and kimono, and some more ink. The fabric ink can be tricky because the longer you leave it on, the darker it gets. The spots came out a bit darker than I wanted. I also started on flowers for the collar.

Finished flowers~ I used a fern stitch and more colonial and bullion knots. I think I'm going to end up outlining the suction cups in brown thread.

Little octopus~ I think I'm going to go back in and line the inside stitches with brown thread here too.

And here she is! All done (pretty much)!

I plan on adding some of this Heather Ross fabric for the border today.

Hopefully I'll have a true finished picture to post soon!

Betty Sue ~ Reworked

2010-08-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

I gave this one a new face, and the monstery touch it needed. Hope you like it!

Before:

After:

My Little Red Riding Hood

2010-08-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

For years now I have been increasingly fascinated by the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. I've loved the story since I was little, but this near obsession really took off after seeing Jin-Roh, one of my favorite Japanese animated films (another obsession of mine). The plot is a complex story about an elite soldier living in a city on the brink of anarchy. Jin-Roh is thick with symbolism paralleling the original tale of Little Red Riding Hood, Rotkappchen. The art and depth of this film warrants it's own post, so I wont trail off too much about it here.

Maybe I fell in love with the fairy tale because of the anime, or maybe I fell in love with the anime because of the fairy tale, who knows? Either way it has inspired some crafty needlework. You wouldn't guess that my cute little creatures were born from such a dark tale.

Here are a few of my Rotkappchen inspired softies.

Big Bad Wolf Lovey

This one was a variation of the pattern by Nest Studio, "Polly".

Girly t-shirt (in my Etsy)

Ulf the Wolf. His new owner is the one who gave him his wonderful new name!

And finally, my newest softy, Little Red Herself! I'm keeping this one, but I'm making an even better one for my shop. I <3 her.

I put lots of detail into this one. Even little panties! Haha

Each of these were made with my favorite kokka fabric.

Such whimsy brings me joy.

End of Summer Hooplaws

2010-08-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

It's mid-August now, and summer is drawing closer to it's end every day. I think that I was just as disappointed about Jonas going back to school as he was. There's still so much that I want to do before I go back to school myself. I've always hated school, but my participation in school is the one thing I would really change if I could go back in time. Oh well, it's spilled milk at this point. I have to put my big girl panties on and stop crying over it. It's time to clean up my mess. At least I'll have my memories to tide me over until next summer.

Geisha Kokeshi Reworked (Before and After)

2010-08-13T19:37:00.003-05:00

Awhile back I made a geisha/kokeshi softy that I thought was cute enough, even if my sister did say she was creepy. There was something not quite right about her though... She was top heavy and wouldn't stand on her own, something that kokeshi should really be able to do by standard measure.

So I decided to open her up and fix the problem. My solution: Beans!

Before:

Ready to go.

Tied up nice and tight.

That took care of the standing issue, but then I noticed that some of the stitches on her kimono didn't line up right.

So, out came the embroidery thread and curved needle. I never had a curved needle until recently. I knew that one would come in handy, but I had no idea just how much easier it would make things like this. After I had her lines looking better, I noticed her obi was starting to fray. *sigh*

I pulled out a thick satin ribbon, sat down at my sewing machine and sewed two strips of rick rack along each side of it. I used to dislike rick rack quite a bit. I found it to be tacky, but now I seem attracted to anything it adorns~ aprons, shirts, skirts, softies, everything!

Anyway, after I got a new obi made...you guessed it, I found another imperfection that I couldn't live with. Her mouth was crooked.

Unfortunately for me, my oldest monster had lost my good seam ripper somewhere, so I had to use an old dull one. It took what felt like an eternity, but I finally got all of the thread out. I ended up removing her entire face and redoing it twice before I was happy with it. That curved needle saved me here too.

New face!

Now I'm done picking at her...hopefully. What do you think?

After:

Back to the drawing board...er, embroidery hoop.

2010-08-11T11:15:00.001-05:00

Well, my dear Toshiro didn't turn out as great as I had hoped. I believe the problem was the size in which I tried to make him. The more detail I tried to add, the more detail was lost. His face was only about an inch tall, so every stitch made a huge impact.

Here's how he looked when I finally threw in the needle:

He was so tiny that I decided to turn him into a new pin back button for my cork board. Here he is with another fabric button I made for my friend, Kerri. She loved this material after she saw it on Driscall, so I thought I'd give her a bit she could wear.

Oh, and here's Driscall, the Precarious Pup.

Inspired by my favorite snack, Driscall's strawberries and my homemade whipped cream cheese, this lil guy was reworked several times before he looked exactly as I pictured him in my mind. The first time I finished him he looked like a deranged cartoon bunny! I had tried cat eyes from the doll making supplies at Hobby Lobby (my favorite place right now), but I prefer the old school buttons eyes. He also had thinner, pointier ears, and a flat nose. I really like the way he turned out. Hopefully someone else does to!

Patiently awaiting his forever home.<3

...Now I need to make a trip to my favorite place for a larger embroidery hoop. I wont let you down again Mr. Mifune!

Oh Mifune, how I love thee..

2010-08-08T20:37:00.003-05:00

Let me count the ways:
I love you as a ronin
I love you as a detective
I love you as a samurai lord
I love your bushy eye brows
I love your hair when it disheveled
I love your hair when it's slick and smooth
I love your deep voice
I love the way you crinkle your nose in disgust
I love the wisdom in your eyes
I LOVE YOU, MIFUNE!

So, I hope your spirit will be with me as I embark on my latest embroidery project. I hope it does you justice. If I can not do a good job, may I commit seppuku with my never-used knitting needles!

Once again I'm going pattern free. Instead I drew directly onto my fabric with a fabric pencil while looking at this photo:

I hope this ends well. O_o

Here Kitschy Kitschy....

2010-07-31T15:29:00.002-05:00

I wonder if anyone is reading my blog these days...

I'm sharing some of my kitschy goodness, just in case you're out there. All of these came from Linger Longer in Dewey, OK. It's my absolute favorite place to go treasure hunting.

Pussy Cat Figurine

Sparrow Wall Hanging

Deer Figurine

*Sigh* Today has been tough. I'm completely on edge and a little bitchy. I think I'll be able to get through it without completely biting anyone's head off though. Jonas came along and left this posted here...

love you mom!

Thank God I have these kids in my life. I am so blessed.

Sly Little Stinker

2010-07-26T19:51:00.004-05:00

I really think I'm getting better at this embroidery stuff, especially considering that I have yet to use a pattern. It's definitely a new love! Here are my latest projects~

Sly Fox

This little devil was based on an illustration of a fox in this book:

Japanese Fairy Tales Vol. 1

If your kids are fans of fairy tales and mythology, I highly recommend looking into this short but sweet series! I searched online but couldn't find another photo from the book, so I may take one of my own later. The fox, or kitsune in Japanese, is known for being a trouble maker and a trickster. Much like the raccoons in Japanese fairy tales, the fox often shape shifts to fool unsuspecting humans.

Being modeled by my own sly little fox..

Stinky Love

My own design, and favorite piece so far. I think this sums up my feelings about romantic love quite nicely.

Putting this top on an ornery little boy adds a different feel to it. A bit mischievous, I think.

And that's it so far. Now that I've pretty much used up all of my tie-dye t-shirts I'm going to start creating my own embroidery designs on softies. We'll see how they turn out!

Panda-monium

2010-07-24T11:14:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the cheesy pun of a title, I just couldn't help myself. Yesterday evening we had a birthday party for my middle monster, Eli. I can't believe he's already three! Here are a few pics...I wasn't super happy with how they came out, but what can ya do? Everyone had lots of fun, and that's what counts!

My cake wreck attempt at making cupcakes look like a panda face.

They tasted better than they looked.

The Birthday Boy

Jonas getting his nom on.

Cole stuffing his face...literally.

The boys' cousins McKenzie and Ainsley.

Our panda party favors. I helped Jonas and Elijah make these, and Cole even helped stuff a couple! All of the kiddos went home with one of these little guys tied to a paw print balloon.

The stuffed panda that I made for Eli's birthday.

I think Jonas likes it more than Eli does. Eli wouldn't even touch it after I gave him a box of matchbox cars. And, with all of the good stuff he got, his favorite toy was a cheap magnetized fishing pole. After cake and ice cream he even brought it out to the pool for a little deep sea fishing.

The boys made a new friend as well. After we got home Eli wouldn't stop asking about "Wuby". That little girl is going to be one tough chick!

Monsters, Robots, and Rocket Ships!

2010-07-17T15:45:00.001-05:00

I've been keeping myself very busy trying to get my Etsy shop stocked up. Here are just a few things I've completed~~

Emota Con Kitty Monster

This fellow was inspired by the kitty cat emoticon. =^_^= I found him to be rather whimsical.

Lovely spots

The happy lil guy

His booty. I made his tail fat enough balance him so that he can sit freely.

A long, long, long time ago I tie dyed some little t-shirts. I'm just now getting around to embellishing them with some embroidery. I love retro children's themes, so I went with a rocket ship and a robot. I used mostly a back stitch, which I love. Although I cover the back of the embroidery, I hate seeing all that "wasted" thread. *sigh*

Retro Robot

Getting the framework started

Rocket to the Moon

I did the flames in an unkempt split stitch hoping it would look like it was roaring away. What do you think?

And away we go!

Etsy Finds Friday

2010-07-16T09:36:00.003-05:00

Sharing a little Mid-Century Modern love this beautiful Friday morning~

thevintagesupplyco

Mid Century Modern Vintage 1960s Sofa with Rosewood Legs

dirtybirdiesvintage

MidCentury Gold SunBurst Electric Clock by Sessions

Addy

Mid Century Mermaid Bar Glasses

fabulousmess

Mid Century Modern Lamps

MidCentric

Mid Century Coffee Tin

Through the snakey woods...

2010-07-06T20:29:00.005-05:00

Jonas made a pair of snakes for Eli and Cole (with a little sewing help from mom).

Well, it's been more than a day, but....

2010-07-03T15:25:00.002-05:00

The phenomenal Audry Kawasaki!

Still Kickin

2010-06-30T10:40:00.003-05:00

I have been posting in a painfully sporadic manner lately, so I'm going to try to post at least a couple of my favorite pieces of art a day. Hopefully I'll have time to get back to the craftier posts, but this will have to do for now. Enjoy the eye candy!

Junko Mizuno

Local Artists

2010-05-20T13:26:00.003-05:00

Today I am sharing some beautiful artwork from my Northeast Oklahoma friends. Unfortunately, I am limited to the work that they have uploaded at the moment, but I assure you, they have so much more. I hope you enjoy the lovely eye candy!

First up is the beautiful and talented Dom Washington. Dom is also a novice tattoo artist who does amazing work.

Next up is Joe Koscelny. This is one of his portraits, The Man in Black.

He also does a lot of comic book type stuff. He's been working on his own comic for a while now. I can't wait to see it's completion.

Rudy Dean~ Rudy has some amazing drawings uploaded in various styles. These are just a couple.

And finally, Tony Cary aka Shotgun Tony. Tony is a tattoo artist as well.

Keep an eye out for these artists. I see great things in their futures!

Etsy Friends

2010-05-10T10:36:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I intended to post about my artist friends today, but it turns out that visual artists are huge procrastinators. Hopefully they'll have some work picked out soon. In the mean time, I'm showing off some of my friends' Etsy shops!

First up is Sweetheartville

Holly does a variety of kitschy crafts from pins to pin cushions. Right now she has one of my all time favorite items stocked, The Saint Tammy Prayer Candle.

The back says, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the hair I cannot change, courage to backcomb the hair I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

Got milk? Then you may need a hot nursing necklace! Neenbeans' Lactivities necklaces aren't just toys on a string, they actually look like grown up jewelry. They're pretty enough to wear even without the baby attachment.

And, in the interest of being green, LoneStarMama's C & E Creations has reusable crocheted cleaning cloths and wool dryer balls. No nasty bacterial sponges or chemical ridden dryer sheets here!

Etsy Artists

2010-05-03T11:57:00.003-05:00

I'm still very busy these days, but I wanted to take some time to share a few wonderful artists on Etsy. I have placed a link to their shops in each name so that you can see more of their work.

Paola Zakimi.

Not only are this artists paintings soothingly sweet, she is a talented doll maker as well.

Marisol Spoon

Dan Bob Thompson

I love this painting, but I also love the retro modern feel of his others too.

This artist seems to be quite versatile.

Poor Dog Farm

Whimsical animals

Hidden Eloise

Eloise is one of my all time favorite artists. I have a couple of her paintings hanging up at home. They are beautifully endearing.

These are only a few of the incredible artists on Etsy. If you like art at all, I suggest you explore the site for yourself! Next time I'll be showing some of my friends' artwork.

Tickers and Blogs

2009-11-10T10:10:00.014-06:00

It's been a very long time since I've blogged anything here. Life has kept me pretty busy the last couple of months. I wanted to share a couple of things while I had a moment.

Pooka Monster Tickers!

Alternatickers has added some of my softies to their tickers! Alternatickers has the absolute best tickers out there. Their designs range from traditional to punk to retro rockabilly. I really love them, and I'm so flattered to be included. You can find them here ~Guest Ticker Designer~ ~Alternatickers Home~

Blogged!

My shop was blogged here ~Autumn is in the air!~ By Just Nibbles, shop owner of Justine's Originals on Etsy. You can find her shop here ~Justine's Originals~ She has beautiful handmade jewelry and greeting cards!

And, a few random photos from the last two months.....

September

October

Mama is a four letter word.

2009-09-22T10:39:00.001-05:00

    In the last few centuries the face of motherhood has changed dramatically. What was once a respectable life path is now seen as a social stigma. In the past a mom could stay home and raise her children, instilling the values with which she believed. She could nurture and love her children to her own preferences. When her baby cried she could comfort him. When her kids were hungry she could feed them the foods she chose for them. When her children came home from school she could make them a snack and help them with homework. A mother could tell her peers what she was proudly, because she had one of the most important jobs there were.

   Now "mom" seems to be a dirty word. Sure, you can still be a mother in this day and age, but the word has lost the dignity it once held. Now children tend to be an accessory to the rest of a woman's life. A woman's career is to take priority. She is expected to work right along side her male counter part to be seen as an equal. As dirty of a word "mom" has become, it pales in comparison to the vulgarity that is added when you put the words "stay at home" in front of it. The stay at home mom is looked at as a pariah in our new, equal society. The hard working June Cleaver has been replaced with an image of the bon bon eating Peggy Bundy.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against working mothers. My own mother worked 12 hours a day, and sometimes nights as well. It was the only way she could give us the life she felt we deserved. The fact is that I have more respect for her than any other person on the face of the Earth.

My problem is with the stigma attached to being "just a mom" as many put it. I myself am a stay at home mom. Those around me have tried to tell me that I need to "do something with my life". That alone should give you a little insight into how the stay at home mom is seen in our society. On the upside, there have been more mothers choosing to stay at home with their kids recently. I only hope that the negative view of this choice will start to disappear.

Cloth Diaper Obsession ~ Part 2

2009-09-04T10:30:00.007-05:00

I only had time to cover a few different types of cloth diapers in the last CD post. I didn't even scratch the surface. There are so many options out there. If one doesn't work for you, there are thousands more to choose from. You can get most cloth diapers with either snap or velcro closures. I prefer snaps because the velcro tends to come undone too easily.

Pockets

Pocket diapers are waterproof on the outside, so there's no need for a cover. They are the best for going out and about because they're good and trim, so they fit under most baby clothes. There is a "pocket" inside of the diaper itself for absorbent inserts. The most common inserts are made of microfiber or hemp.

Fuzzi Bunz (my go to diaper)

Diaper Change (fabulous prints)

AIOs (all in ones)

AIOs are just that. There is no need for stuffing inserts or adding covers. I haven't had great luck with them myself, but I know a lot of mamas who love them. There are a lot of different kinds, but here's one example~

Bum Genius

These come in regular, organic, or even pockets.

Storing until laundry day~

There aren't alot of stink issues with cloth diapering. I personally think sposies (disposable diapers) smell much worse. You can use any trash can or hamper with a lid. There are also waterproof pail liners and wetbags for keeping in the stink.

Wetbags

Waterproof bags for keeping the dirties in. There are a plethora of prints, from plain to posh.

Petunias

MonkeyFootDesigns

Cleaning cloth diapers is no big deal either. That's the part that scares most away from trying cds. You just plop the solids into the toilet and toss the diaper into the wash.

Find more information here: The Diaper Pin

Happy Diapering!

The Ever Changing Life

2009-08-29T10:42:00.004-05:00

Each new day brings changes to my life. New heartaches, new hopes, new goals. I'm trying my best to stay positive. One of my favorite quotes says, " Learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future." I can not change the past, or the hearts and actions of others, but I can be the best version of myself.

The Hedge Monster
by Margo Fallis

There’s a monster in our hedges that comes out only at night.

I’ve seen it and can tell you it gives me an awful fright.

The leaves begin to rustle and the branches sway about

And then the worst thing happens, the hedge monster jumps right out.

Its toes are made of hawthorn and are long and bent and brown.

They’re thorny and have prickly leaves that hang and droop way down.

It’s legs and arms are holly with red berries in the fall

And the monster’s head is squished up branches of boxwood four feet tall.

It wanders through our garden and chases the snowy owls

And then into the chicken coop stealing feathers from the fowl.

When the moon is full and the shadows dance and swirl

The hedge monster’s appetite is for a little girl.

I stay in the house at night and never go outside

Because the hedge monster will get me, so in my bed I hide.

I'm not one to put stock into anything horoscopes say, but today's was strangely accurate.

Aquarius

Don't base your love on credit, or when you try to get you-know-who to pay up, the check could just come back marked insufficient funds. In other words, if someone has repeatedly proved untrustworthy and unreliable, why are you keeping them around in your life? Do you still secretly believe that somehow it's your fault that they can't be counted upon? What a load of hooey. You deserve better, and you know it.

Geisha Kokeshi Softy

2009-08-26T00:48:00.002-05:00

I just finished this little lady earlier today.

Little Bunny Roadkill {A softy for Cole}

2009-08-22T10:43:00.006-05:00

I Reupholstered a Chair...

2009-08-19T12:07:00.009-05:00

Yay me.

This chair was in my grandparent's bookstore forever. The back "X" piece has been broken off, and it has a few scuff marks and chips as well, but I felt those war wounds were better left as they were. I really love this chair.

Captain Wolfy likes it.

I've Been Blogged!

2009-08-18T00:47:00.004-05:00

I was quite surprised to log in to Etsy today and find a message informing me that I had been featured in SonoSono's Newbie Monday blogpost. You can see it at Solilquies from SonoSono's Studio. I am truely honored, ecspecially since SonoSono does such amazing work! She has her own Etsy shop HERE. It's full of really beautiful jewelry like this~

She also features Japanese Friday in her blog which I love! She talks a bit about Japanese food as well as when she lived there. I've always found Japan to have the most increadible culture. It's my dream to be able to go there one day, so these blogposts are a special treat.

A Woven Kind of Love

2009-08-13T16:22:00.019-05:00

I'm in love. It's not an exclusive love, but it's pure all the same. Michael Miller, Heather Ross, and just about every Kokka fabric ever made holds a special place in my heart. These are some of the fabrics living on my bedroom desk at the moment.

Homemade Sushi...in Oklahoma?

2009-08-11T10:55:00.018-05:00

Let me first say that this is not the melt-in-your-mouth salmon nigiri that you get at Fuji. We just aren't quite brave enough for raw fish from the local Wal-Mart. Call us yellow if you want, it just doesn't sound appetizing. We use shrimp tempura, and not even home made. Nope, this stuff comes frozen out of a box...but hey, it works!

Tempura

Rice

Nori (the seaweed wrap)
The brand they have at Wally World is Sushi Party. You've gotta love that Japanese packaging!

Spread the rice onto the nori.
You can be rough with the rice while spreading it on, but be gentle with
the nori because it will be very fragile until it's been warmed by the rice. Leave a small strip on the end without rice so that the nori has a place to stick together, closing the roll.

Wasabi
A lot of people don't like this stuff. It's not really spicy, but it has sinus clearing qualities. It's not something that I can describe with words. I love it.

Rice vinegar. (very important)
You need to dip your knife blade in rice vinegar every time you cut a slice of the sushi roll, otherwise the rice will just stick to your blade, making it dull and crushing the roll.

Here is our sushi! Ours were very simple this time, but we usually add avocado and hot house cucumber. You can add anything you want to them. Get creative!

Cloth Diaper Obsession

2009-08-10T22:18:00.032-05:00

Really, there are worse things to be addicted to. There are a lot of cheaper things to be addicted to as well....sigh. I just keep telling myself it's okay because; we need diapers, they're better for our environment, no nasty chemicals, they're easier on our finances, and the babies look so darn cute in them.

Everyone thinks they're so much work, but they're so easy! Diapers have come a long way since prefolds and pins.

Prefolds and Pins
(what our mamas used)
These are what people usually think of when they hear "cloth diaper". I've used them myself a few times, but they aren't my favorite (I'm simply not that good at pinning them).

Enchanted Dandelions

Diaper Pins
Primrose Design

Tiny Tush

Snappies

Fitted Diapers
I love fitteds. They're like prefolds for dumbies.

Heartland Dreams

Mutt

Covers
Both prefolds and fitteds require covers. Back in Mom's day it was all rubber pants, but (thankfully) now you can get PUL or Wool covers.

PUL (polyurethane laminate)
I have several of these. They come in tons of different prints.

Gen-Y

Wool
Or woolies as us cloth diaper mamas call them. I love woolies more than any of my other cloth diaper paraphernalia. They are natural, breathable, antibacterial, and altogether beautiful. You can get them in either longies or shorties (self explanatory).

Crankypants

Babyology

I could go on and on about my cloth diaper obsession...and I'm sure I will too.

You better ask my mama how to make a monsterrrrr

2009-08-09T14:36:00.004-05:00

A friend asked me to post some pics of shirt/softie making.
Here are just a few!

Mr. PiddleyWompus
I found this great material in the scrap bin at Hobby Lobby. I always check scrap bins because there are some real treasures there!

His arms legs and horns are on...

He's almost finished...

Making a tag.

My mom knows how to make this part look good with a machine, but I'm not there yet.

Done!

Kara's daughter wanted a girly version of the Little Socky Tee.

Pinning on the pieces...looks like a little monkey voodoo doll...