Meet the Future Tim Burton

My pal and partner in crime Miss Barbara has a very creative 6-year-old son named Sam. Sam made a Cat in the Hat calendar at school and Barbara shared it with me. As a big Tim Burton fan, I love his amazing creation. I think it's so awesome...OK, maybe a little scary...but creative none the less. And as for scary, at least Sam isn't three and drawing snowmen with blood-dripping fangs, like my husband. (It's still amazing that his parents didn't seek out help...kidding, Shane!).

This is not a far cry from...

... this. We all have to start somewhere.

Yay for Yellena!

I've been a longtime fan of Yellena James' art. And just recently I learned that she's expanded her medium to the home and to feet!

This is the piece of artwork that I've always found stunning. You can get it here.

Schoolhouse Electric Co. is carrying her light fixtures. So lovely!

And sconces!

She's paired up with Keds to make these cute pairs!

They scream "spring," something I need a little of right now!

15 Days Til Thanksgiving!

Is it too soon to start a countdown? It's true, after Halloween, Thanksgiving is my next favorite holiday. I like it even better than Christmas (actually, I'm not a huge Christmas fan overall). For me, Thanksgiving is drama-free, mainly because Shane and I have claimed it as our own. We live about 2 hours away from our families (we grew up in the same area), and every year we struggled to squeeze everyone in. After only a short time of that, we threw in the towel and decided we're no longer traveling for Thanksgiving and eating 2-4 turkey meals in 1-2 days. For the past 8 years (9?), we've had Thanksgiving at our place. Sometimes it was just the two of us, but usually Shane's mom, sister, and sister's now fiance come up. We eat, watch movies, play games, and laugh uncontrollably. I usually have no voice by the end of the weekend, but it's so worth it.

So...let the countdown begin with vintage turkey day postcards that I found on Flickr. I love vintage postcards and even used to collect them when I was a kid. I think it started because it was the only thing in the antique shops my mom would frequent that I could afford to buy on my allowance. All of the postcards are now with my mom, so maybe I need to start a new collection of my own.

I love this one! It looks like Halloween, but is really Thanksgiving. And the creepy little elfy guy cracks me up!

Poor turkey. I apologize now to my vegetarian friends/readers. This one is a tad offensive.

This one reminds me of the kinds that I used to collect. I love this style.

Come on...how can you NOT love two turkeys in a corn car?

Another Bully

Remember all my big ideas for what to put over the bed? Decals? Painted hoops? Others that I can't even recall? Well, let's just say I never got around to those. I had the day off last Thursday, so I decided it was finally time to do something with big plain white wall. Come hell or high water, I was bound and determined. I spent hours scouring resale shops looking for something "blah" that I could turn into something "wow." And just when I was about to give up, I found a 3-foot square frame in white, just sitting hidden in the corner of this huge resale warehouse. I had no idea what I would put into it, but for $2.50, I couldn't pass it up.

When I got it home, I considered framing a piece of fabric or even just a cool piece of scrapbook paper. But really, I had no clue.

I was surprised to find all these messages on the matte when I opened up the frame. From what I can gather from the little notes, a teacher was leaving and the students were saying good-bye.

Shane said we should put a picture of a bulldog in there, and then it dawned on me. I had ripped out the above picture from W magazine months ago for the very reason of one day framing it. However, it had completely slipped my mind. The picture, which is of Angelina Jolie's legs and her bulldog and was taken by Brad Pitt, fit perfectly. I framed the outside of the picture with some scrapbook paper I bought months ago (also for use in the bedroom).

I wasn't planning on painting the frame at all, but the white on white on white, was too much, well, white. So I spray painted it orange to match the quilt. I threw yesterday's bully pillow on the bed and called it a day.

I Want to Watercolor!

I've never been big on painting, but I did win 2nd prize at the County Fair when I was 6 for a pair of watercolor butterflies that I painted. Still, despite my love (and obvious natural gift) for watercolor painting, it's not something I do. Then I was Stumbling through the Web and came across a watercolor tutorial that just screams, "Try me!" And I will...as soon as I get my pictures out of storage and get moved into our house and get remodeling underway. So basically, it may be a while. In the meantime, enjoy what Craftster.org did. Way cool!

Carrie is Knitting...Back Soon!

I seriously had a few things to show you--a couple of cute cards I made and a little knit top for my friend's daughter. But then, like a moron, I edited the photos, saved them (to my CAMERA, not my computer) and then deleted them. Nice. I'm a moron. I am knitting something right now. It will never be done since it's lace, but I promise to take pics soon and share my progress. For now, enjoy this cute picture from Ashleyg's Etsy shop. Too cute!

Art Auction: Let's Put This Baby to Bed

OK, technically, the art auction ended at 5pm on Thursday, but I had more pictures than I knew what to do with. Add that to the fact that I'm low on the crafting due to numb hands and a pain in my back. Instead I've just been doing a lot of lying around. Lame, I know. Yes, I'll admit it, the art auction was a cop out. But it was better than nothing.

Here are the last two crafts that just didn't seem to fit in with anything.

Record bowls and chart topping coasters. So creative!

Teensy weensy baskets. I mean teeny! Someone handmade these. Amazing.

Auction Day 6: Cubicle Quilts

I don't really use quilts as art since I love cuddling up in quilts more. But I know how beautiful they can look in a room. And in a cubicle...genius! This mini-quilts are called Cubicle Quilts, and they're just the right size. The details are amazing...but yeah, the camera. Whatever. I'm over it.

Art Auction Day 5: Jewelry

I never really make jewelry, so I'm always blown away but people who can. Here are a few pieces on the auction block.

Art Auction Day 4: Actual Wall Art!

Hanging leaves. The colors are really vibrant.

Beautiful butterfly photo

And another

Trees in sepia tones. So serene. Sorry my camera f-ed up the beauty of these!

Auction Day 3: Let It Sew

Here are some sewn treats from the Art Auction.

I can't believe how detailed this fairy and tree house are. I just wish my camera would've captured it better.

Another one my camera fails to show detail. In real life, this bag has so much texture.

Rubber ducky, you're the one. You make sleeping on the couch when it's cold so much fun!

Auction Day 2: No Foolin'

I'd like to say that I have some great April's Fools Day joke planned, but I don't. Boo. Instead I bring you knitted items from the UW Art Auction!

Lots of itty hats for the wee ones. I love the strawberry hat.

Felted bags

I think these are knitted, but they might be crocheted. Teeny easter baskets with candy. Yum.

Live...from the Art Auction

Well...let me correct myself, the United Way Art Auction lost it's "Art" from the title this year. So while it's still an auction filled with great arts and craft made by co-workers (as it was in the past), it now has the added...and dare I say "dreaded" bonus of "stuff." I'm talking world record number of theme baskets. But the best: "crap" from people's attics. No kidding. Don't get me started.

On a brighter note, I'm dedicating this week's posts (well, as many days as I can) to the ART in UW Auction. First up: arts and crafts from my peeps. I have such talented pals! Way to go, girls (and guy)!

Jess's sock monkeys really need no introduction! Here's Janine.

Annie and Justin made this. Justin drew the design and Annie (a coworker friend) brought it to life.

Shelley's beautiful beret and matching mittens.

A triple bunny quilt from Miss Mandy. Gorgeous!

And last...but not least...are pet portraits from Shelley. The auction is for a portrait of your pet. She auctioned twolast year, and then was commissioned to make more from the "losers."

Carrie Inspired Artwork

Remember the skull hat and vest I made for wee Ronan? Well, after Ronan's papa Justin received it, he was inspired to draw up this wonderful little picture. (He's an artist, if you couldn't already tell!) And he just recently got around to sharing it with me. I just love it and now think I need to knit up a set that looks like this. Hmm...

Paper and Stitch Artwork Giveaway

Brittni over at the fine Paper and Stitch blog is celebrating her 200th post and upcoming launch of the Paper and Stitch Web site. Go over and leave a comment on this post before October 5 at 6pm, and you'll have a chance to win a package with 2 small, signed and numbered etchings, 1 medium sized, signed and numbered etchings on handmade paper, and 1 handmade/ hand-painted notepad. Very cool!

Animal Friendly Taxidermy

Come on, fess up. You've always wanted a deer head trophy to mount on your wall, but you've just never been one for hunting wabbits....er, I mean Bambi. Me neither! But now you don't have to! You can have all the benefits of a large animal hanging above your mantle, without all the fuss of blood and guts. Yay!

I kid...I kid (on wanting an animal carcass on my wall, not the hunting). But I do think these resin trophies are pretty dang cute. They're by Jennifer Khoshbin. Go to her site and check out her other art as well. Very cool stuff.