Have You Seen The Queen Button Bee...

So where have I been????????????

I have been up to my button balls in BUTTONS on Etsy!!

Okay so yes I love, love, love buttons and dyeing them is even better!! I am dyeing buttons in every color you can imagine....check them out...Of coarse I have un-dyed buttons too, lol.
Who would of thought first dyeing wool and now buttons, I am a lucky girl. See you again soon, maybe I'll dye the cat next, hahahahahaha.

PS, has anyone else noticed my new gassy Sheep Banner, did I say that out load, lmao.

Happy Over the Hump Day!!

Brenda

Wednesday Woes Equals Thursday Thankfuls

Today I am thankful...that Wednesday is over!! Wednesday was not such a great day. It started right off with a virus on my computer and Internet failure. Yep at the same time, errrrr. I spent over an hour on the phone with the cable company to re-establish my Internet connection but than I had to get the virus on my computer fixed so another four hours on the phone with Microsoft and tada, I'm back. Of coarse there were also three appointments yesterday that also didn't go so well. I discovered I had two appointments scheduled for the same time, good grief I don't mind multi tasking but I can't be in places at once so I cancel one. Okay now I only have one in the morning and one in the afternoon work them in between Internet issues, computer virus issue and be sure to pick up hubby from work on time, I can do this. Errrr both appointments the other parties involved with these appointments are no shows, you have got to be kidding me, especially since the morning one was a doctor appointment, huh.....So to say the least I totally missed Wool Wednesday, so sorry. Thank goodness it's Thursday!!

So here we are and I am so ready to PLAY!! Quick recap, we've sorted, we've washed, we've done some dyeing. So next I promised we would do some kettle / pot dyeing.
We're still using food coloring and / or kool aid for this technique. I did use both for these batches. First you will need to let your wool soak in your vinegar water solution for about 30 minutes or more is okay. Pick out the colors you would like to use and as before mix each with your water and vinegar solution. You may need to pour off a bit of the liquid in your pan before you add your colors. To much liquid everything can turn to mud as to much liquid will cause your colors to bleed into one another too much. Don't panic, you will be fine. Heat up your wool so that it is hot but not boiling. Now your ready to pour your colors into the kettle / pan. Let it simmer uncovered, remembering not to let it boil for about 30 minutes. This technique gives you the ability to dye more wool at once than our previous techniques.

I really love this technique!! This technique is a dyeing surprise or as I call it pot luck as you really won't know how it is going to look until you take it out of the pan.

Okay we simmered, now we will need to let it cool once cooled you are ready to rinse in cool water. Just look at all of the beautiful colors that you created with this technique and all in just one batch. I usually rinse mine about 2 to 3 times in the same pot I cooked in and changing the water for each rinse. Remember to remove your wool from the pan, squeezing is okay to remove excess water but no twisting. You will need to do this for each rinse until the water runs clear. Now your ready to dry. It will dry the fastest outside on a nice sunny day but I have dried mine on top of the dryer on wash day and on my registers when the heat is on remembering to rotate several times during the process. You can also set it in an area and blow dry it with a fan. We northerners have to improvise during the Winter months, hehehehe.

TaDa, you did it!! Just look at all those luscious colors!!

Easy again huh!! Now your ready to do some more creating, enjoy and have fun!!

So where should we go next. Well, are you ready to tease your wool???

I hope you enjoyed kettle dyeing as much as I did.

See you soon and happy Thursday everyone!!

Brenda

Wool Wednesday Update Finally and 4 Weeks of What???

Whewwwwww, I've been teasing wool for the last three days for a special order in my Etsy Shop and my poor fingers are beginning to look a bit like hamburger and I have a nasty blister too!! Thanks goodness I'm almost done!! Okay so finally the cooler weather is here which with that comes Fall and Halloween yippeeeeee!! So that means it is time to dive back in to Wool Wednesday, whooo hooo. Mark those calendars as we are back on track starting Next Wednesday, October 13th!! I can't wait!! PS, wait to see my surprise, hummmm I may be feeling a new challenge coming your way.....

I can't believe it has been 4 weeks since I posted last, where does the time go!!!!

Well, some of it went here. I've been crocheting lots of these little Basket Bowls.

Oh and something new for me...
I totally fell in love with this!!

"Jazzy Blues"

I have been Hand Dyeing my own buttons for my Etsy Shop!!

"Purple Passion"

Oh yeah, did I mention buttons!!
Buttons, buttons and more BUTTONS, lol!!!

Believe it or not, hanging my head in shame here....





All of these buttons are from my own PERSONAL STASH, yes....

and of coarse I have more, ummmm, a few food storage bags full, a small sandwich bag, a canning jar and two 5 gallon ice cream buckets full, well you never know what one your gonna need when your making crocheted decorative pot holders... I love buttons, I have since I was a kid. I loved to play with Grandma's Button Tin, ooooooooo...My grand kids take right after their grammy, they have a great big bowl of buttons sitting on the coffee table here that they love to play with.

Okay, can we say I have a real crafting problem..

So yes, I have begun DE STASHING and listing my over abundance stash in my shop.

I hope it is good therapy for my CCD (crafting compulsive disorder, hehehehe).

Okay, now one of my little secrets is out of the bag, believe me when I say you haven't seen nothing yet, hahahahahaha. Did I mention my surprise, ummmm all 44 pounds of it, hahahahahaha, bet your scared now huh, hahahahahahaha.

See ya here again soon or at least by next Wednesday!!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Brenda

Whooo hoooo, It's The Grand Re-opening of HalloweenArtists.com!!!

We're new and improved!!

A New Magazine / Market Place!!

A new look, new columns!!

Just a Sneak Peak

We have
You must check out the Artist in the Spotlight, a wonderful and super talented artist!!




Have you guessed who the writer is for the Collectors Corner??? I would recognize that illustration anywhere!!



Yepper Heather of Witch Hollow Primitives is there too, with this fab column!!
Have I inticed your Courious Juices yet???

and my big news that has been killing me to keep a secret
written by
who, yes ME!! Whooo hooo!!
Yes, yes, yes, I am selling there too, I'm over the moon with excitement!! I'm doing the biggest happy dance!!


A New Look, Great Columns of Interest for you our viewers and Amazing Halloween Art!!
It doesn't get any better!!
So what are you waiting for?
Grab your broom and fly on over to HalloweenArtists.com and enjoy the ride!!



Happy September 1st Everyone!!
Brenda

I'm So Dizzy My Head Is Spinning, Your Making Me Dizzy...

Okay, yes, I do feel a bit like this these days, lol. Tis the season to be a bit over whelmed creating with the feeling of being unfocused and not so centered. Although I so love the whole process of prepping and creating for the Holidays it gets a bit blurry sometimes and takes you so out of the loop!! I want to apologize for not popping around to visit all of you, I love our visits and miss them terribly!!

So what have I been doing....



Lots of Crocheted Spiders, Mummy's, Black Cats, Witches and Scarecrows oh my....
Waiting for faces...





A gazillion Crocheted Angels, Knitted Lipstick / Chap Stick Slipper Holders, Crocheted Dish Cloths, Crocheted Christmas Stockings.....
Must sew, add ribbons, pull ends, add decorative touches, make pom poms did I mention I absolutely hate to make pom poms, ewwwwww, lol...






Crocheted Petite Sachets and Small Doily Sets made with crochet thread...
I haven't made doilies in years, had to cure a sudden craving, lol...

and

These little foil armatures are awaiting their skin, lol.
Whewwwww, I wish I could say this was all I had in progress but ohhhhhh noooooo where would the fun and stress be in that!!




So

this year I am taking a vow. Come December 1st this Grammy Bear is going to take a Family Winter Hibernation Break all the way through January 1st 2011!! Every year it feels like the Holidays come and I missed them, ughhhhhh, I can do this....

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

So back to work I go, sure hope I get that vacation December 1st, lol.

Happy Creating Everyone

Enjoy the process

and

Remember to stop and smell the Holidays!!

((Hugs))
Brenda

This Summer Slacker Is Finally Busy with Handmade Treats and some Halloween Art, yipppeeee...

Coming Soon Some Yummy Cat Nip Treats

No not for you, for your kitty of course, hahaha.

Laundry Sets

Now in my Etsy Shop

I love these!!

Oh yeah and some Art too, whoooo hoooo
Hows about some Magic!!

This was my entry for our current MHA Cat Challenge, lol, I know my cat picked up some strays, hehehehe.

Did you know that you can find MHA (The Magical Holiday Artists) on Etsy and NOW ON EBAY TOO, whooo hooooo!!! We are MHAE on Ebay, be sure to look us up!!

The Cat, Moon and Pumpkin were sculpted and applied to the glass.
I love how this piece came out!!

and one Candy Corn Ornament, my entry for this months SEHA challenge.

There is a lot of great entries this month, be sure to check them out on Ebay by placing SEHA in the search bar!!

This little cutie is currently listed on Ebay

and so many more things in progress...

So back to work.

PS, Wool Wednesday will be returning this Fall!!

Hope your having a wonderful week!!

Brenda

The Wool Wednesday Challenge Comes To An End.....

A beautiful Mixed Media Piece by Maggie of Just Add Glitter and Stir. Be sure to check out Maggie's blog and all of the details she included in this up cycled treasure trove piece!! Check out her amazing Pink Wool Bouffant Hair Doo, loving it!!

Lori of Flossie Kat's Korner, this is the most beautiful hat and your needle felted Rose takes it from casual to elegant!! There is nothing more classic than Earth Tones and your creation just proves it!! I love it!!

So there you have it!! Each and every creation was amazing, beautiful, unique and created by some of the most talented people!! I had so much fun offering this Challenge to each of you!! Thank you for joining me!!

Hats off to each of you!!

Keep creating, have fun and remember wool isn't just for blankets and socks!!

Brenda