Studio Stella

O Happy Day!

The Stella Studio love is flowing here!  (Can it be because Valentine's Day is right around the corner?)  

First, my sweet friend, Lisa, gave me these cuter-than-cute-couldn't-be-more-perfect note cards.  She is famous in these parts for turning out the most creative card crafts.  Lisa is as thoughtful as she is crafty, and I appreciate these beautiful Stella-inspired cards more than I can say!   The photo doesn't show it, but the baby Airstreams are cut from mirror-like silver paper so they look like just like newly polished aluminum!  She even used dark purple card stock because she knows that's the my favorite color and the color of our house.

Just after Lisa gave me the note cards, my blogging friend Gina, of Lily*s of London*ish, let me know about the On the Road Again stamp set from Inkadinkadoo that she, (and obviously Lisa), spotted at Michael's.  Now I can make some Stella note cards of my own, but they certainly won't be as well-done as Miss Lisa's.  If you haven't visited Gina's wonderfully inspired blog, do.  She's the most productive crafter and blogger I know!

Thanks for thinking of Stella and me when you see Airstream goodies, girlfriends!  

My Favorite Magazine Died

R.I.P. Home Companion

Not for soup, though

These felted bowls are a fast felted knit project.  I made them for some of my girlfriends in their colors and while they're divine in their unadorned simplicity, I can't help but consider the possibilities for embellishment.  Maybe a smattering of tiny vintage pearl buttons?  Maybe some chunky beads around the rim?  Ideas, anyone?

The pattern is from One Skein by Leigh Radford, a wonderful book chock full of lovable one-skein projects.  (The knitted cupcakes are irresistably sweet!)   The bowls were a cinch to knit in Lamb's Pride Bulky, and were easily executed while watching Marie Antoinette (for the third time).

Warm Woolen Mittens and Brown Muslin Ornaments Tied Up With String...

Every Christmas I have the overwhelming urge to make a slew of ornaments.  It's part of my getting in the spirit of things, like putting the sparkly paper village on the mantle and baking cut-out cookies.  Some years, I've made them for holiday fairs and craft shows and some years, I've just made them for family and friends.  But I am always inspired by something or someone in the process and this year it was these mittens and rag balls created by Dawn Edmonson at The Feathered Nest.

These beautiful ornaments were featured in the holiday issue of Somerset Life and Dawn offers complete tutorials on her blog.  There's all kinds of good stuff on The Feathered Nest blog and Dawn is the kind of artist who's willing to share her how-to's.  (Lucky for the rest of us.)

The mittens are to-die-for darling and though I made them to sell at a friend's home show, I couldn't bring myself to part with them.  When the time came to price them, I thought, "But they're priceless!"  Maybe it was the fact that I used several buttons from my collection that were my grandmother's.  Maybe it's the fact that they were quite time-consuming.  Or maybe they're just so gorgeous I couldn't bear to have them go to anyone but beloved friends who would treasure them as I do!  They are aged with a coffee spray and frosted with glitter.  The photos don't really do them justice, but when my family saw the mittens on a cooling rack in the kitchen they actually thought they were cookies.  (It was pre-ribbons and buttons step.)

Making the rag ball ornaments was like good therapy.  They were easy and fun and the result leaves me feeling so good inside.  I washed inexpensive muslin and tore it into strips.  Then wrapped it around styrofoam balls, sprayed them with coffee, rolled them in glitter, and added a stained, stamped tag along with some lace and string and an old button or three.  I couldn't part with these beauties either, so they're sparkling away in a big wire tray in the foyer for now.   They would make lovely party favors.  Each guest could choose one on their way out, or from off of a tabletop tree.  Imagine them atop a plain paper package, or, here's a wild idea, hanging on the tree!

Happy Election Day

Craft for your country!

abbeychristine

Isn't this just the cutest little finger puppet?   Check out etsy.com's abbeychristine and her adorable felt crafts.  Be sure to read her item descriptions, too.  They're just as charming as the puppets themselves.  

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Credit

New category: Knitters are Knot Knormal, Kno, Kno

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I have a dream

I dream that one day chickens will be able to cross the road without their motives being questioned.

Knitting Class

My knit witty pal, Annie and I are offering a knit and felt slippers class through community education!  Looks like knitting could be the focus of Studio Stella for a while.