Thursday, November 29, 2007

Holiday Cards...buy one get one FREE sale!!



I got a little ambitious when I had my holiday cards printed... so I'm having a BIG SALE at http://www.pinkkittydesigns.etsy.com !
Buy one box of holiday cards and I'll send you another set FREE! Buy two, you'll get 4... etc. All original designs, created by me. 8 cards per box, with envelopes. Get 'em while they're goin' cheap! This sale is in effect through Sunday, December 2nd. These designs and more available... check out my shop http://www.pinkkittydesigns.etsy.com for the full selection.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Retro Kitsch for the Kitchen!



Just finished this FUN decoupaged recipe box! It's decoupaged with all sorts of yummy looking foods clipped from cookbooks and recipe cards dating from the 1940's to the 1970's, along with little phrases like "Home Cookin'", "Mmmm....Good!" and "Just like Mom used to make" This delightful addition to the kitchen is one-of-a-kind! Get it for yourself or your favorite Happy Homemaker before it's gone!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Banana Silk



Have you ever experienced banana silk yarn? Yes, it really is made from the fibers of the banana tree. I've just completed a scarf from this beautifully textured yarn, and I'm very happy with it! This yarn was hand-dyed and hand-spun by a women's cooperative in Nepal. As a result, it has wonderful variations in color and texture and the occasional knot which only adds to the charm of this gorgeous golden yarn. It has a beautiful silky sheen, and is softer than you'd think it would be. It is heavier in weight than most yarns, giving it a very nice drape.

This scarf is one-of-a-kind, and available now in my Renegade Stiches Etsy Shop. It is approx. 56 inches long, about 10 or so inches wide (it is narrower in the middle and flares out slightly on the ends). It is not only a wonderful accessory, it's also a great conversation piece ("that's made of BANANA FIBER?!?! Really!?!") Perfect gift for yourself or a loved one!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Ready for "Black Friday"

Well... here we are, the day before Thanksgiving! I'm trying desperately to balance giving as much of my attention as possible to this Day of Thanks,(a much under-appreciated holiday, in my opinion) AND to preparing for the official start of the holiday shopping season!

So tomorrow I will spend the day with Family, feeling grateful (as I do every day) for all the wonderful things Life has thrown my way... beautiful children, a lovely home and family and friends...) enjoying a wonderful meal prepared by many loving hands, which I will be able to relax and enjoy, secure in the knowledge that I am READY for Black Friday!

Yes, both my shops are stocked up with all sorts of goodies, ready to be put under the tree! And I've allotted some time for custom orders (though I am a one-woman operation, so if you'd like a custom order, don't delay or I may be booked!) I've also got more items in stock, ready to be listed in the coming week.

So Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Bamboo Yarn... Yes, Really!


If you've never felt bamboo yarn, you're missing out! Yes, it is really made from Bamboo... and when spun into yarn, bamboo has a gorgeous, silky feel and a most beautiful drape. It also has a slight sheen to it, much like silk. Bamboo yarn is now one of my favorite fibers to work with. This fashion scarf is crocheted in a subtle stripe of 100% bamboo yarn. Look for it at www.renegadestitches.etsy.com
I've been working with a lot of different fibers lately... stay tuned to see my newest creations in alpaca, cashmere, hemp and banana silk. (c'mon, you KNOW you're curious about banana silk!)

Monday, November 19, 2007

journals, scrapbooks, blankbooks... Oh my!






Handmade blank books... These books are all made completely by hand, and are bound so that they lay flat when open for easier writing. check out my Pink Kitty Etsy shop for full details and more selection (link at right... can't for the life of me figure out how to put a link into a post on this thing! Not much of a computer-type) And as always, I LOVE custom orders! Is there a particular design you have in mind but just can't find anywhere? Let me know! I'd love to make your "journal/blank book/scrapbook" dreams come true!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Nekkid Ladies at the Library?!?


I featured these once before on this here blog, but it was one of my first posts, when almost no one was actually reading it... so I thought I'd feature them again!

I LOVE bookmarks! It's so much nicer to mark your place in your book with a pretty bookmark than a scrap of paper or... God Forbid! dog-earring the page (a serious crime, in my opinion... remember this if you borrow books from me **wink**) ANYWAY... Each of these sassy vintage nude lady bookmarks is a one-of-a-kind collage! Tuck one into a gift book or with a bookstore giftcard or into a stocking... the perfect little something for the sexy reader in your life!

These and other bookmarks are available in my Pink Kitty Designs Etsy shop:

http://www.pinkkittydesigns.etsy.com

in the section called, umm... "bookmarks"

Thursday, November 15, 2007

My First Completed Knitting Project...





As a life-long crocheter, knitting did NOT come easily to me, and now that I've finally gotten enough of a handle on knitting to actually finish an actual, usable object, I just wanted to show it off! This one's not for sale... I'm keeping it! :)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Elsa and Gus, a Love Story...


"And thus she would always remember that day, when they first locked eyes across the crowded room.
Their love was so deep that neither time nor distance could dilute the passion they felt for one another. In spite of the miles between them, their love grew deeper with each passing moment, and Elsa longed for the day when they could be together at last. She ached to feel his lips upon hers, her body enveloped in his strong embrace.
She was brought back to the present by the sound of Julia’s footsteps entering the room… “A postcard for you, Madame…”"

Poor Elsa and Gus... Lovers kept apart due to circumstances beyond their control... what ever became of them?

Mixed media collage on canvas board, 8x10.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Do you believe in Fairies?


"She kept watch over the garden..."

If you are very still and you truly believe, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of the fairies that watch over the garden.

5x7 mixed media collage of paint, paper, glitter, ink, etc on canvas board. Hangs from a pretty beaded wire. Available at www.pinkkittydesigns.etsy.com

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Revelations...


I always wanted to be an artist. I've been making stuff since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Throughout my life I've explored all kinds of creative expression... drawing, painting, fiber arts, performing, writing, etc etc. But I never went to art school and I always had a "real job" so I never called myself an "Artist". I created things for me, because it was something I needed to do and I did eventually start selling my stuff at craft fairs. When I had my children, I gave up working "real jobs" and I started listing my occupation on various forms as "homemaker", which always made me cringe just a bit. Now, PLEASE don't email me about how being a homemaker is a real and valid job, and it's the hardest job in the world, blah blah blah. I know all this. I've been a stay-at-home Mom for almost 8 years, and although I LOVE the job of being a mom (I even homeschool my kids, so they're with me 24/7!) there was that little piece inside of me that said, "But I wanted to be an ARTIST when I grew up!" So, yeah, listing my occupation as "homemaker" always felt a little weird to me. Over the past 8 years I've still kept "making stuff" and I've been selling at craft fairs. I eventually went all official by starting Pink Kitty Designs. I began selling through boutiques as well as fairs, and for a little over a year now I've been selling my work directly online. So I had a little revelation recently, when asked my occupation. I make stuff, and people buy it, hence I am being paid to make stuff. Ones occupation is what one is paid to do. I am paid to create art. What is my occupation? I am an ARTIST.

I achieved my childhood dream, but it took me a while to realize it!

I am an artist.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

My "Nanny"

When I was a little girl, I spent lots and lots of time at my beloved grandmother's house. I called her Nanny, and she was one of the most special people in the world to me. One of my favorite childhood memories is of her giving me bits of stale bread, and sending me out into the yard to feed the birds. She had a lovely fenced-in yard, with nothing but woods behind it. I loved being out there, amongst the flowers and grass and trees, and I loved the way the birds would flock around to snip up the bread. Before coming back inside, I would always gather up as many dandelions as I could hold and bring them inside for Nanny. She would smile her big smile, and thank me and find one of her prettiest little vases to put them in, and then place the vase carefully on the kitchen windowsill.




This collage was inspired by my wonderful Nanny. It was created from paint, paper, vintage fabric and stickers on canvas board. The vintage floral fabric in this piece was from my grandmother's own fabric stash, which I inherited after she passed away.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

A Better Way to give Gift Cards...



Every once in a while, there is a person on your gift list for whom it is simply impossible to choose a gift. Whether they are the type of person who has everything, or the type of person who just hates everything... we ALL have been there! The solution for those hard-to-buy-for types is usually a gift card to a favorite store or restaurant... but then the dilemma is, how to personalize such a gift? Here is the answer... handcrafted holiday GIFT CARD HOLDERS! Each one is lovingly handcrafted by me out of fancy card stock (the red has a lovely linen texture!) metallic inks and pretty organza ribbon. Just slip the gift card into the little glassine pocket, write a little message, tie it up and it's ready to give! These are currently available in red linen cardstock with gold stars or in blue with silver snowflakes. As always, custom order are more than welcome!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Holiday Cards, now listed!





I'm the kind of person who hates to think about the winter holidays until after Thanksgiving, but in order to stay competitive in the retail market, it's sort of necessary to start early! So.... Today I finally got started listing some Holiday Cards on Etsy! Just 4 designs, so far... more to come soon!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Wish...


New Collage! It's now up for sale on Etsy! **wink**
Funny Story about this one... (I wrote about this on my personal blog already... so if you read that one, forgive me for repeating myself!) As I was working on this one, my five-year-old son came in to chat. He looked at what I was doing and said, "MOM... the moon is REALLY much bigger than that... and besides... you CANNOT go on the moon ALMOST COMPLETELY NAKED! That would be impossible!!"


My son, the art critic.

In other news, I'm working on a set of notecards from my collages, and I'm STILL working on getting my Holiday stuff together to put up on Etsy. Busy Busy!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Stitchin' news...

I've FINALLY learned to knit! I tried before, last year, but I gave up. then my sister and I took a knitting class together, and this time I've gotten the hang of it! As a lifelong crocheter, I found it hard to adapt to knitting at first, but now I'm really getting into it! I've been knitting like a fiend (in between crocheting and painting and cutting and gluing!) Perhaps one of these days Renegade Stitches will feature some kind of lovely knitted something...


And speaking of Renegade Stitches... This week I listed a NEW item! It's a hooded scarf, made from a beautifully textured handspun hand-dyed Peruvian wool. The color is hard to make out in the photos, but it is a gorgeous purplish brownish burgundy sort of color, with the subtle color variations throughout that are characteristic of hand-dyed yarn. The design is simple and I left it without any kind of fancy edging, to further show off the glorious texture of this yarn.