It's Black Friday!

It is the biggest shopping day of the year or whatever! Huzzah! I'm celebrating by working from home in my pajamas and updating my Etsy shop. You can now find all my holiday ornaments there, as well as the Girl Scout Totes aaaannnndddd....

A new mounted mustache! That's right - it's Santa's mustache! 

To celebrate this festive holiday weekend - all new items in the shop have free shipping. And especially for my blog readers - if you enter the code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout, you'll get an extra 10% off everything. Whoohoo!

the weekend in numbers

Number of:

hats knit - 4

ornaments cut out - 53

ornaments sewn - 10

ornaments still to be sewn - 43

shows done - 5

glasses of opening night champagne drunk - 2

(photo by www.ryanwardthompson.com)

windows broken - 1

bricks used - 1

hours slept - not enough!

It's the Holiday Season!

First and foremost, I want to show you the ornaments I've been sewing for local shops. My very favorite ornament is the white heart with the blue and red stitching. After a little brainstorming session with my bff, I've come up with 5 or 6 other designs that I plan to make up in the next day or two.

I'm not sure why I'm drawn to felt again and again. I think it was one of the very first materials I ever worked with around age 8. Although I've explored a lot of other fabrics and fibers and techniques - it usually comes back to this. And things like this are what people respond to, which has always surprised me. Maybe it's the simplicity? I'm not sure, but I'm happy to keep at it.

Secondly - I wanted to confess that it's always been hard for me to focus on just one art. I have always wanted to do it all, and because of this sometimes I think I've missed out on perfecting a skill. In the past week I've made about 50 felt things - ornaments, brooches, magnets - and it's been interesting. Interesting and exhausting. I'm not used to working like this and it's wearing me down. But it's also given me a new perspective, which I think is a good thing. 

Thirdly - I'm going to do a big holiday Etsy update next week in time for ye olde Black Friday, in which these felt things will be included, as well as my tote bags. December, here we come!

Countdown to Opening

My play, And He Flew Over the Forest, opens in two days, and I couldn't be more excited. 

I created this map of the fantasy world for the program, and I think I missed my calling. I should have been fantasy cartographer. I was on a deadline for this map, so it's not perfect, but I can see many fantastical maps in my future. Creating each little detail was too much fun! 

If you're in the Chicago area, I would love for you to come see my show. Information here or leave a comment and I'll email you. 

Ok, regular crafty business will resume tomorrow. I've been busy with rehearsal, but I've got a few things up my sleeve, including some holiday updates!

felt inspiration

While clicking around in Flickr-land, I came across this work in progress by Olivia, who blogs at Young Captive.

She titles it "Dresses I Didn't Buy," and I love it. I mean - serious love happening over here. 

busy weekend...

This weekend I:

Made a toadstool & his little buddies.

Began the Christmas crafting in earnest. From top to bottom: Owl ornaments, brooches, magnets & holly brooches. How gross is my ironing board cover? Time to put this tutorial to good use!

Got a new head of hair. It's for the show and it is much darker than I anticipated. Luckily, it makes my eyes look supernaturally blue, and Holly just posted this guide to keeping your very red hair very red!

What I've been up to...

Please excuse this break from your regularly scheduled (crafty) program:

Taken for a show I was in last fall - I'm on the left.

For those of you who don't know, I'm also an actor. For the past three months, I've been writing and rehearsing a completely original new show, "And He Flew Over the Forest." The show opens next Thursday, so the past week has been a bit crazy. All of this is part of my theater company, Brain Surgeon Theater (Click on that, because I also made our website! See, that counts as making something, right?). 

If you're in the Chicago area, you should come out and see me. Heck, it's for people of all ages, so you can even bring your kiddos! Comment on this post if you want more info and I'll send you an email.  

I promise it will be good - I get a sword, so c'mon, that's a recipe for success!

Ps. Shout out to MafiosaGrrl, who correctly guessed that Chris and I dressed up as the Oregon Trail! You're the best!

More Halloween - The Movies

If you didn't notice, I love Halloween. And part of this is Halloween movies - I'm not talking about horror movies, here. I'm talking about silly Halloween/creepy/witch-themed works of cinematic genius.

1. Hocus Pocus. A childhood favorite that I must watch every year. When the three main witches are played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, you cannot go wrong. The dialog is priceless - 90's cultural references spoken in "ye olde English" - and the historical elements always intrigued me as a child. This movie is funny, smart, and still enjoyable 17 years later.

2. Teen Witch. Before there was Sabrina the Teenage Witch, there was Teen Witch. My sister and I used to watch this movie on the Disney channel (where it was vigorously edited) and it is completely ridiculous. Quick run down for those of you who >gasp!< haven't seen it - A nerdy girl named Louise turns 16 and becomes a witch. She uses her powers to become popular, but then discovers she just wants to read a book! The cliches are endless, the songs are so terrible, but somehow it all adds up to something awesome. Extra memorable: at one point Louise uses her powers to give her friend sweet rap skills, which Kenneth paid homage to on 30 Rock:

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas. If you haven't seen this brilliant movie, get thee to a movie store! One of Tim Burton's most famous, TNBC is suitable to watch any time from October til Christmas. It's truly creepy ("I am the clown with the tear-away face" is a lyric in the opening song), but strangely vulnerable. And the songs are great. Did you notice I love a good song?

Do you have a favorite Halloween movie? I would love to know about it - I have Netflix, people! 

It is Halloween! (halloween! halloween!)

Oh, man, it's hit me hard: Halloween. I get so excited - the costumes, the decorations, the candy!

Luckily, I am not the only one:

Elsie from A Beautiful Mess is having a Halloween blog celebration (with guests!) - including crafts, recipies & giveaways! A lot of giveaways! My favorites so far are these cute ghosties:

And these yummy looking Spiced Caramel Buttons:

More yummy treats - Pumpkin Bread Pudding from Emma at From Scratch.

And Meringue Bones made by Amy of Angry Chicken.

Adorable costumes are popping up already, including this Ever After giveaway from Kathleen at Grosgrain:

Yes, she is giving this away!

Dogs in costumes at Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, via Gala Darling. 

Mena from Sew Weekly turned her daughther, Penelope, into a miniature Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice. 

And Emily Martin of The Black Apple has been working on some awesome costume-inspired prints. I like this one - "Arrow Head." 

We are having a party on Saturday, and there is much to do before then: finish costumes, make delicious treats & carve pumpkins!

(all photos linked to original owners, please visit them and tell them how lovely they are)

My Crafty Wares - Now Available in Stores!

Exciting news!

My work will now be sold at Sacred Art here in Chicago. Sacred Art is a shop that carries art from local, emerging artists. I'm in good company - Ork Posters & Spinal Fusion are two of my favorites. 

I spent Sunday afternoon tagging & pricing - very professional!

I made two sets of stacking Felt & Fabric Boxes especially for Sacred Art. Let me tell you - I had a hard time letting those yellow ones go. 

So if you're local or visiting - stop by Sacred Art at 4619 N Lincoln Ave and check it out.

Ps. I've been tweaking the blog layout a bit, so you can also click on the "Shop" link above for this info.