Welcome to my blog

If you enjoy finding a lot of different outlets for your creativity, then we may just be kindred spirits.
This blog is an outlet for my interest in miniatures, crochet, plastic canvas, and many other various arts and crafts.

I also love walking, taking digital photos, and most recently, have rediscovered an old love...bike riding! I purchased an amazing new bike, a comfy Townie by Electra this summer, and have been having a grand time exploring the area as though for the first time. It's like being a kid again!

If you enjoy any of these things too, pour a cup of coffee and tea, sit down, and join me.


Take care!
Kat

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Needle felted kittens

I've been busy organizing and packing things up to sell or give away before I move, but I was having crafting withdrawals so I made this needle felted black and white kitten to go with my yellow kitten.  The new kitten isn't quite finished but I wanted to share.
needle felted kittens

needle felted kittens and dog

Kitty in tree

kitten s playing in crocheted tree

needle felted kittens

needle felted kittens

Needle felted pets

needle felted pets

needle felted pets

needle felted kittens with 8 inch Paulinette doll

Tuxedo kitten in progress

I love needle felting; it's so cool to watch a clump of wool turn into a critter.  I want to order some eyes in a variety of sizes.  I have some pretty cat eyes here, but they're way too big . These ones are too small.

I was up early, at 6:30 AM because my body aches from packing and moving heavy items, plus painting the shed.  It was fun, painting, but I'm not used to having to bend down to floor level then reach up over my head, repeatedly.  I have fibromyalgia and my whole body is complaining.

My almost 73 year old father rebuilt one wall of the shed, so I can only imagine how he must feel today...sore, I imagine.  He's a hard worker, always building things, but I felt guilty when he came over yesterday with wood to fix my shed.  The people who built the shed built it right on the ground, with no concrete foundation, so the wood was really rotten.  

My Dad's birthday is on the 23rd of this month; we're taking him out to dinner. He doesn't want a gift.  I'm not sure what to get him....he's hard to buy for.  I'll ask my Mom what he needs.

Well, I'm going to go pour a nice cup of coffee now. I have to list more items for sale.  
Take care!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Needle felting a kitty

I am so happy with my first needle felted kitty!  I've always wanted a little yellow cat but my allergies prevent it...now I can have all of the cat's I want, lol.


Needle felted kitten
I made the kitty without any armature, but she can still do a few poses.  She can sit down, or sit up, with her paws up.

Needle felted kitten
I hope one day I'll be able to make realistic animals, but for now I'm happy to be able to make these little guys.

Needle felted kitten
Here's the kitty looking at the ebook that I used for inspiration... mine is not modeled after any of the cat's in the book, but I did use the pictures for inspiration regarding shapes needed for ears and paws and tails, etc.  I also looked at pictures of real cats to get the slope of the back right.

Needle felted kitten looking at other felted kittens
From behind the kitty doesn't look kitty like but I think she's cute anyway.

Needle felted kitty looking at computer screeen
Needle felted kitty
She's tiny, only 2.5 inches long, but too big to be dollhouse miniature size.  She's the perfect size for my 8 inch dolls though.  I'll have to get a picture later.

I'm really enjoying needle felting and love that I can do it while watching TV!  It's so much fun to watch a lump of wool turn into a little critter.

I still have to glue the kitty's eyes in, and I may add whiskers; I'm not sure.  

Now, what should I name this kitty?  Any suggestions.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Needle felted kitty and catching up

Hi!  I've been really lazy about blogging but I'm going to make an effort to start up again.
I've been working on a new book, which takes up a lot of my time, but I love it.  When I'm not writing I'm crafting...I just love needle crafts and painting.


Here's the little kitty I've been working on today.  She's not done yet...I had to stop after poking my finger badly enough to bleed, lol.  I'll add more details tomorrow.  I should be organizing my house and packing for my move...I have to move home soon...unless I win the lottery, or unless my book starts selling.


Needle felted kitty in progress

Needle felted kitty by Haunted dollhouse
I wish I had a friend who needle felts too, because i'd love some tips.  It's really hard to add details without changing the shape of the critters.  I have an especially hard time doing the noses without squishing the faces.  I enjoy it anyway, and they don't have to be perfect.  Maybe one day I'll be able to do those super realistic felties, but for now I'll stick with my cartoony animals and people, lol.

Here's the feltie gang, so far. 
All of my needle felted critters so far, with plastic canvas houses and a crocheted tree.
 The purple bear was my first try; I had a kit with nice instructions. Then I did the white bear, on my own, based on a photo I found online.  He's supposed to be lying down.  I did the dog, baby, and bunny next, and have been wanting to try a cat for quite some time. I finally started the cat today. 

The felties.

 I bought the coolest books for needle felting, from Crafterica at Etsy.  I bought needle felted cats, and dogs.  I already had the wild animal book, but I lost it when my computer crashed.  The seller was wonderful; she sent it for me again, so now I can try some wild animals. The book has everything, from zebras to chipmunks.  I want to do a chipmunk, lol.
Here's the link to the cat book that I used to work on my kitty:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79697032/needle-felt-cute-cats-pdf-patterns


My Mom made an amazing meal for Thanksgiving.  Here are a few photos of us.  My Mom is the one with the towel over her shoulder.  
Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's...pie and icecream!
My Dad is at the head of the table.  He and my cousin Lyle were holding their forks (or a spatula) here, waiting for desert, lol.


Mom serving desert.
 Here's my little dog Ben.  He's been staying with my parents for most of the summer. I had him for a week but then my parents took him back again.
I forgot to take a picture of Mac, and it was his first outing since the spring.  He was so happy to go see Grandma and Grampa.  He was so good about being lifted into the back of the Blazer, and he lay down in his pop up crate all the way there.  I was worried he might stand up and fall, and hurt himself, but he was really good, thank God.  He's heavy to lift, but it's worth it. I don't want the other disc in his neck to blow.
Benji relaxing after dinner.
I finally got around to working on furniture for the Haunted dollhouse I stitched up last Fall.

Furniture for haunted dollhouse.
I think this is my favorite out of all 3 of the dollhouses I made so far.The crocheted tree is perfect for it.

Haunted dollhouse in plastic canvas, with crocheted spooky hollow tree.

Kitchen cabinets.

Living room chairs.
WEll, that's about it.  I'll try to be better about blogging from now on.  Take care!