Quick Kitschy Kitchen Curtain~

We have a window in our kitchen that needs replaced.  It is functional, but u.g.l.y.

Since we are still deciding the design of the kitchen (before remodeling), this window is in ugly limbo land, hanging there and irritating me daily. 

It is west facing, so in the evening, the sun blinds us during our evening meal. 

My solution? A tacky, kitschy curtain.... to hide the window, and block the sun.

The floral fabric is from a thrifted, vintage twin fitted sheet.

The bird fabric was about a foot short of the needed length, so I decided to add a panel at the top. 

It extended my length and added some whimsey (whimsey is a classier word for tacky. grin)

  The bird fabric I scored at Ikea several years ago because I loved it.

  I made the curtain short so it easily cleared the shelf below it.

  The panels are minimally sewed and hemmed so I can repurpose the fabric in the future if I choose.

The ring clips eliminate the need for a rod pocket and make the curtain easier to open and close.

  I am in love. Tacky, thrifted, colorful and whimsical. 

Perfection.

Rockwell's Baby Sweater 2012

My first baby sweater!

Knit for Rockwell Santino Potts~

I do not have a photo of him wearing it yet because he is still in here...

until May. This is the lovely Katie.

Pattern is "Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan" by Lindsay Pekny.

Size 12 months, since Rockwell is due to join our world in spring.

I made it a size larger so it fits him once the weather is colder.

Yarn is, of course, Miss Babs Yowza, Whatta Skein! worsted 

in Light Clematis, Moss and Starling.

I added my hand here for scale...

Fun to knit. I wanted to use non-traditional baby colors, 

since momma and papa are non-traditional themselves... Love that.

Anxious to meet sweet Rockwell, and I will add photos of him wearing his sweater once he arrives.

xo

Ravelry Link

Monday Morning Studio Pics~

I give up. Actually I gave up years ago...

It's impossible to have the studio clean and tidy... there is always something dug out and spewn all over.

And I LOVE IT. 

It means that creative energy is alive and active and zippity-zapping all over.

So here are shots of my studio this lovely morning in November... in all it's cluttery glory! 

 The light is a bit dim. We are having a typical PNW overcast sky...

  New Japanese tapes and paper, dizzying fabric and new yarns...

 Henrietta is our escape-artist chicken. (see her outside the window?) 

She has mastered jumping out over the fence. She is one wiley girl.

and a total pain... bad chicken!

  Flannels all washed and ready to be sewn into new jammie pants~!

  Paintings in progress waiting their turn...

  Book shelves crammed with yarn and fabric...

  Journal supply shelves...

  Great- Grandma Hanlin's quilt (that she made) awaiting repairs...

 Painting/sewing end of the studio... see my new inspiration board on the easel?

  Felted sweater bin spewed about... who did this?!

 My mom is here visiting from PA... here she is with the girls in my messy, messy kitchen.

Magical Feather Garland~

The past few days, my creative time was spent printing out 8x10 copies of my art.

I traced four sizes of chicken feathers and made templates.

(click images to see larger versions)

I traced them on to the art prints, along with some sheets of funky scrapbook paper

 & some painted papers in my stash.

Doodled on them with paint makers and added some magical words of prayers and intentions.

Stapled the tips to an amazing pink neon nylon cord I found at the hardware store and

 I hung them in my studio window, sorry for the bad photos of them hanging, the shot was back lit by the sun.

 I LOVE them!

Have another few garlands to make to hang all over, and a few for gifts.

Painted Tool Bags

I finally finished a project that I can share with you!

yay me.

Introducing... my painted tool bags!

TOTAL COLOR CONTAMINATION.

I went all the way with the reenie palette on these,
because since they are for ME to use.

Materials:

~ Tool totes or bags from your local home improvement store.

(I chose more of a tote since they will live in my studio most of the time)

~ Heavy bodied gesso-- meaning a thicker brand.

~ Acrylic paints and brushes
~ Sharpie water based paint markers

~ Oil pastels

~ Clear coat spray paint

Here is what they looked like before....
They were a divine red and black.
Came with removable shoulder straps...
and have pockets all around the front and all around the inside edges (not shown here).

I gave them both two coats of gesso-- they really drank it up!

At first I gessoed them to give myself a white ground to work on, to make the colors pop!

I did not think they needed the gesso, but once I started applying it I realized they really did. 

The vinyl fabric would have devoured my precious paints.

It's taken me a month-ish to get them finished, been dabbling at them when I get some time.

Close ups of the "Tool Bag",  the one I will keep my hand tools in.

MORE close ups in my flickr album HERE or see slide show below.

Close ups of the "Painting & Travel Bag"~

MORE close ups in my flickr album HERE or see slide show below.

Inspired by my friend Michelle and her bag painting ventures.

Many more images of my bags here in my Flickr Album...

Kapow!

reenieout