greenbeanbaby art

short updates...

miss quilty for sale $25.00 in my store

a while back ago, i mentioned miss quilty... first off, she took forever to finish... well, i am trying to get rid of some of my older art in my etsy shop, just to make way for more art to make...  i've plenty of fall and christmas ideas swarming in my curly head, so i'm looking forward to the fall weather? why? because i tend to work on art more in the fall and winter, than the summer....

*sale 50% off... $8 each in my store

that's why these babies are for sale... just making way for the new products soon!

   
aside from the store goodies, i've tried to work on arts and crafts despite my lack of energy... this is a knitted washcloth made for a friend... it was a bridal shower gift.... the simplest knitting project and yet, it took nearly a week to complete... ah, but she liked it so it was well worth it...

   
and for the same friend, i also made her thank you cards  for her to give to those who came to her shower... the photos are terrible but the actual cards look decent.... very simple, and each one is a different pattern... i've oodles of paper and ribbon, so it's high time to put it to good use... (besides, i am planning to buy more paper tomorrow since there is a giant sale)... you think these would be good for my etsy shop?


lastly, i received some wonderful goodness from argentina... yael fran sent me some of her very own cut paper art.... it's so beautiful and unique... she also included stickers with her design, as well as the cutest paper doll with tons of outfits to match... we decided to do a cut paper doll swap but my paper dolls are still in the works.... shame, shame.... but her package really put a happy tint on my day! thank you so much, miss yael fran!

*be sure to check out the rest of her work... you will like it :D

it's lovely to rummage...

this past weekend was quite eventful... from friday to sunday, i was steady rummaging with well under $20... on friday, i bought some old records (look here) as diego and i walked around to closer garage sales... but on saturday, my dad picked diego and i up, and we all (including my mom) went rummaging... as my mom and i went to check them out, my dad happily entertained his grandson... anyhow, one of the greatest finds on saturday was the two yard toys for diego... together the picnic table and slide cost only $7... what a great deal, eh?! diego just loves it!! i was so happy to be able to find something so perfect for my extremely active son...

 
but even better, i got a ton of free stuff over the weekend... the first picture is of vinyl decals... they were in the free box! i had a total of 7 assorted pages but i gave my mom 4... they are really neat close up and i believe they are from around the 70's.... the duck in the first set is absolutely the cutest... but regardless, i can't believe these were free! and i found some cute lil books for my collection...

 
wait! you won't believe this! on sunday, ramel took a walk with diego so i could get some artwork done... he calls me up asking me if i want some patterns... of course! he told me to meet him outside and i see him a block away talking to a lady... i walked over there and the lady gave me four boxes filled with patterns and material and magazines for free!!!! i mean, isn't that wild?! four whole boxes fulla retro patterns and some early 90's patterns too... patterns for babies, toddlers, women, pajamas, toys, quilts, even aprons, and purses!! i am so overwhelmed with the possibilities and cannot wait to snag some time so i can get to working on sewing...
 
the boxes were very old so i moved them into newer boxes and a couple bins... here are just a portion of the patterns close up... i cant even tell you how many i received but let's just say that i have enough to fill one big bin, a big box, and a smaller pattern box... like i said, there was also material and that is already in my cupboard of fabric stash... there was also a couple bags of cross stitching kits and needlepoint...

 
there was one full box of crochet and knitting books/magazines... most of them are from the 70's but there is one from 1958 and one from 1963... most of it looks way to complicated for me however, they are so colorful and well, inspiring! and who knows, maybe one day my skills in these areas will be good enough to attempt some of the patterns in these books...

i've enough stuff to keep me busy for a long time... it's beautiful to find such generous people in this world...

was the goal achieved?

it's june 1st...

back in may, i made a goal (the unfinished project) where i would complete most of my works in progress... i accomplished most everything and for that, i am happy... however, one of the biggest projects i needed to complete was my niece's illustration... last night, i tried to work on it however, again, i was interrupted by another wasp... i nearly cried this time... call me a chicken or a baby but wasps do not make life comfortable... so instead of working on anything, i talked on the phone with my moms... but as you can see, this week i finished my niece's purse, yayyy! it's a small knitted green chenille (i think) purse with a felt flower sewn on... it's about 6x6 and should fit my petite ananda... i hope she likes it!

so here's my list of things... yes, i included the swaps because most times i make the card or something handmade for the person... that's a project, ya know?!

•swap package for vintage love buddy, leslie

•swap package with samantha of australia

•swap package with marieke of netherlands

•swap package with agnes of poland

•send package #1

•send package #2

•send package #3

    

•finish ananda's illustration

•finish courtney's illustration and ship it out...

•finish the fairy tale atc swap cards

•finish ananda's purse

•make some stationary

•make thank you card #1

•make thank you card #2

•make thank you card #3

•attempt to make rubber stamps

not so bad, eh?! but june will be a busy month, as there are more swaps... and ananda's illustration... and sewing... and crocheting... but with wasps and getting my wisdom teeth pulled mid-june, i won't make a big commitment... however, i do hope that by the end of 2006, i have some stock of things worth selling... and maybe find some good freelance work...there is time for all that, right?!

more coffee, please...

the bag is done (but the babe is still awake)

well, here ya have it! my over sized  blue flowered bag for the knitted olympics... it's okay, considering its only my 3rd finished project ever knitted! it's still rather large- 12x13 to be exact.... but i was able to shorten the incredibly long strap into something a tad more normal (and manageable)... everything about this bag was pretty much made up... i mean, i looked at patterns for ideas but i still have a hard time working the round needles and understanding  half the stitches... the flower was guesstimated (and any real knitter can no doubt tell!) and i thought the blue edges would make the entire pc cutesy... i don't know if it actually helped or worsened the cause... anyhow, i tried... i finished... and maybe with a different form of yarn i might try to master this bag into an ellia-pattern...

in between adding the final stitches, there was a poopy diaper that stunk up my living room... maybe it was the smell that made diego puke (although it was he who created the stink)... so with cleaning up, putting him to sleep, wiping his snotty nose because he didn't want to go to sleep, i managed to finish the bag early enough to work on more art... february is near done and so much has to be finished still... illustrations, greeting cards, business cards, birthday presents, and whatever else was on my february goals list... i don't think i completed all that i want to, however, much more was added on the list so at least i wasn't a pure bum right?!

well, i will get a gold medal for this bag... if it's based on effort, then surely i deserve it... but skill?! well, one can't deny that i am still one wonderful rookie of a knitter... and yes, diego is fighting his sleep...

well, it aint lookin' the best yet...

i have my knitted bag put together and boy, you can tell i am a rookie... if this was truly the olympics and i was, let's say, an speed skater... i woulda tripped over my own shoelaces at the starting line... or if i was a speed ski person, i woulda crashed into a tree... *sigh* i'm disappointed at the outcome... i was hoping that piecing it together would magically make it look like it came outta a department store... BUT all hope isn't lost... it's currently in the washing machine, taking a beating and hopefully shrinking... if anything, maybe it will fix out the shape (it was looking like a drawing done by a person who is right handed but used their left hand instead)... i HAVE to chuckle at this... if not, i think i will cry... i've yet to knit the flowers...

well, this is only my third thing knitted so far so i shouldn't be frettin' right?! i just need to find out WHAT i am good at knitting... scarves? dolls? purses? camera thingies? am i using the wrong yarn or the wrong needles? is it rod serling making my knitted items warped? will practice really make perfect?! or am i in the wrong league?!

anyhow, so far, i seem to be keeping up with the olympics but my results are looking bleak... alotta yarn used... oh well, i have enough time to try again... (but will i have enough yarn?! 2.5 skeins gone!)... and what is to become of the purse? shall i keep it in hopes that one day, i will look back and say,  "oh my! that is one lousy purse! thank goodness i kept at it..." perhaps, i will make a box titled, "things a rookie makes" and have all my "first" projects in there (although i think i may have tossed my first cut paper pc away)...

maybe the fairy washing machine lady will fix it up... if not, well........................ at least it can't look worse! (or can it?)

a knit-along with rod serling...

here is the beginning of my knitted purse for the olympics... so far, it's not too bad, but it doesn't look like a purse yet, either! the handle took me one whole disc of twilight zones plus another half... (so that is about three hours?)... with rod serling's voice and two purring cats, i knitted away... i was very tired to begin with, but i kept thinking, "just two more rows" and then, "after this episode"... the lights were low, my eyelids heavy, and the needles clicked away... actually, they make more of a "swoosh swoosh" sound... the handle is slightly thick but i figure, if its washed, everything will shrink a tad... and if not, well, it will curl up just like in the picture...

the design is partially from a book and partially guessing... i'm afraid that the flowers will be slightly hard to make... that's why its best that i get the 3pcs of the purse out of the way, so i have time to fiddle with the embellishment (and get more yarn in case i run out)... the handle was made according to my length... it's an over-the-shoulder style of bag... a very artsy, east side look (milwaukee's east side, that is)... it should turn out fairly well, and hopefully it will be suitable to actually use! if it does work out, i may have designed a winner...  but who'd wear it, i wonder?! does the world need another knitted bag?! perhaps not, but who knows, someone may want an "ellia"  bag... (could it be bigger than coach?! coach gone yarny!)

anyhow, the third pc will be done by this weekend... and i hope by saturday night  i will attempting the flowers... hmmm, i still have time, but procrastination and emergencies tend to kick in when least expected so i'd rather be early than late... either way, it's been a delight knitting with the fattest needles!

a side not: you know, some people knit with themes, even books! (like knit the classics for instance... it sounds so awesome! but i've yet to finish one entire book this year!) ellia, however, knits the twilight zones...

and the knitting begins...

well, soon at least!  the knitting olympics is finally here and my yarn and needles are prepared... yes, today had to be carefully planned... the house was vacuumed and swept... dishes cleaned at 3am this morning... legs were shaved and lotioned up.... comfy brown corduroys were slipped on... small reeses peanut butter tee and my infamous itty bitty black hoody  keep me warm and comforted... a headscarf tops the outfit and some lip gloss for shimmer... dinosaur has been placed in the dvd for diego's enjoyment and vanilla coffee brews in  the kitchen... everything is clean, in order, and peaceful enough to begin my first knitted purse... all i am missing is some banana nut muffins to top the event...

yes, i am truly excited... i still have several more things to do this month and when i can't knit, i will sketch... diego likes to be on my lap alot and the cats try to attack my yarn... so sometimes, knitting is harder than it already is... so i'll knit during naps, late at night watching twilight zones... for 16 days... as long as i don't run out of yarn, i should be fine- hahaha...

now, for coffee, and finding out what time i can actually cast-on... i'd like to do that at least, right away! best wishes to all fellow olympians!

participation can be fun

i am so excited! i just joined miss paper princess' gifty swap!!! i am already partnered up with someone and can't wait to ship out her gifts... i better not say what it is just yet but i put alot of time and got to go shopping... i really hope she likes it... i wanna do more swaps now... i want to participate in so much

and I MADE IT IN!!! I MADE THE KNITTING OLYMPICS!!! i'm so darn excited!!! i can't wait until the 10th when i am allowed to cast on... and what am i making?! a blue felted flap bag with knitted flowers in the front... i don't know if it will work out entirely but i really hope to get it done by the 26th... (i am moreso worried about knitting the flower)... i even bought circular needles which i am not sure how to use them, but no doubt, will figure it out... and i loaded up on thick yarn, have my #13 needles stabbed in one skein... and am revved to go... that means, lotsa knitting in 16 nights...

february is jam-packed and i am as excited as a kid getting $30 worth of free candy

a crafty substitute

   
i was tired of getting stabbed with my knitting needles shoved in a bag... so i decided to create a simple needle case... i really wish i could find the site where someone made beautiful knitting cases that were already sold out... they were to drool for! but alas, i cannot find the blog, and cannot give her the credit... anyhoo, i do not have thread, or a sewing machine so i had to figure out how to make something suitable for the time being... (eventually i will make a better version, or maybe buy on)e... in the meantime, i used hot glue, bias tape (i bought a whopping bag of retro tape at the thrift the other day), and the iron... i know, i know, its not the best craftsmanship but for now, it should do the trick... i don't have many knitting needles, and i need a couple crochet hooks as well... but in time, right?! so here it is, something manageable for when i work on my yarny projects... and yes, i said yarny...

miss edna needs clothes

i want miss edna to be a ballerina... as i began to knit her shoes, i realized my needles were too large (yes, checking the gauge would be helpful)... not to mention, i think somewhere i added too many rows because it didn't even look close to what the book showed! so i might try to make my own pattern for now and see if it can turn out well... the same must go for the dress... some retro yarn for the upper... which i will knit it like a tube-top style, then sew in the tulle on the bottom... i have a couple bolts of white tulle i bought at a rummage sale for only $2... everything i use has been pre-owned other than the 3 pairs of needles i bought at wal-mart... now that i moved to a new neighborhood, i am looking forward to hitting the rummage sales around here... hopefully i can find more craft supplies- maybe even a sewing machine!

hopefully, this week i will finish her dress and maybe a few accessories to go with... i'd love to learn how to knit flowers [i've seen the crochet books though] but for now, i might end up using good ol' felt and some beads... stick a flower in her hair, a purse in her hand... and a beaded necklace around her mis-shaped neck