stitch markers, et cetera

You know, there is nothing that make some happier than something fun to get me through a chore.  Whether it's a fun fur handmade floor duster in funky colors, a pretty flower-shaped dish scrubby, or a dishtowel covered with sunflowers, if its fun, it makes getting the job done more fun too.  I need as much fun and pretty as I can get with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 2 birds.  Trust me here, if it can be embellished, I have embellishments.

Anyone know where I can get a cool elephant peculator?  You see one, let me know.
Anyway, in an effort to spread the joy, I made up some pretty knitty stitch makers and put them in my shop.  I also managed to find some jumbo lobster claws so I can hook up my crochet peeps as well.  I went the small/standard/tiny lobster-claw route with my crochet markers, but after using them myself, I thought they were way too hard to use, not really ergonomic, and just kind of a pain in the poop shooter.   I went on a quest for bigger claws and managed to score some with a reasonable enough price tag to pull off some great marker-bling action.  Stay tuned crafty fans--I am working on it.

Until then, check out the knitter markers I have going on!

lastly, because I've been away from my blog so long, I want to thank you all for your patience and for still being here.  As a reward for staying awesome, I'll allow you a private viewing of my accidental porno bread that managed to evolve in my Pyrex bread tube the other day.  Behold!  Yep.  It's perfectly okay to laugh.  Go for it.  

To bead or not to bead, that is the question.

I am stagnant. I honestly don't feel creative. I always saw an artist as this beautiful, free spirited, wild haired tree hugger with paint stained, gluten free bib overalls and a cool tribal tattoo around her upper arm. Someone who hugged a lot, stood up for the little guy and smoked the occasional clove cigarette after sex and a good long day of art stuff. It might be the weather and the fact that I don't own any bib overalls any more that I have lost my mojo...I'm pretty sure I have a cool tribal tattoo left in me somewhere under my pajamas and saggy boobs. Sigh.



So it's winter in Wisconsin and the long cold days are dragging. I have cabin fever and my studio is too cold to venture. And...I have 4 kids, meaning, there will be no creativity in this house outside the realm of pipe cleaners and dollar store felt. Of course, there is the occasional googly eye...



Anyway, I have taken to indoor things. Amigurumi, hats, I painted some safety eyes to add a little life to said amigurumi--they make safety eyes so plain you know. Last night I found some sunflower spacer beads (sunflowers being my favorite flower ever) and decided as a midwinter blues present, to make myself some stitch markers. They are pretty friggin adorable.



I then decided to visit my old haunt Swap Bot. I soooo needed something...different to occupy my spare time. I have so little of it, why waste it you know? So, I signed up for a couple swaps and for fun, made up a few more stitch markers as extras, should I get paired up with a fellow crocheter. I'm starting to worry though, that I may have made them too big and bulky. Not heavy, just...in the way?

I can't wait to see the snow gone. I need my scroll saw and my kiln and my welder and my drill press. I miss my table vice. I want to open the double doors of the loft and let the sun in. I couldn't be more ready for summer...