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| Dust, Hoppy, Tiny, and Oatmeal felted wool bunnies. |
Springtime = bunnies, right?
Felted Wool Bunnies
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Springtime = bunnies, right?
Photos Around Boston
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
"Boston Harbor" - The idle boats in the fog was otherworldly. While eating lunch at the Boston Aquarium I looked out the window and snapped this picture. A little digital manipulation boosted the color, and added the clouds.
"No Parking" - The texture and urban decay of this scene caught my eye - I just had to stop, but was only able to get a quick shot. The worn signage only added to the eeriness of it, and as I drove off I thought "This looks like the cover of a horror novel."
Easy Unisex Crochet Project
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
My coat sleeves are always too short so the idea was easy to come up with - customizable cuffs that can bridge the gap between sleeve and glove, and I created my first Instructable with this "Unisex Wrist Warmers Quick Crochet Project".
Turkey Cut Out Cookies
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Just going to jump in and start blogging again, so here we go ...
It's been a while since I've made decorated cookies, and it's kind of obvious that I need to practice my rusty icing skills but I thought the idea for these was a good one so am sharing how I put these together.
It's been a while since I've made decorated cookies, and it's kind of obvious that I need to practice my rusty icing skills but I thought the idea for these was a good one so am sharing how I put these together.
Mixed Media Motivational Cards
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Back before my oldest started college I created a set of cards with motivational messages with the intention to send her at least one a month while she was away. At the time I had planned on blogging about them... but that was over four years ago and I can't find the original pictures now. What I do have are some pictures of the completed/sent motivational cards and a brief how-to:
Make It Your Own - Wall Art Do Over
Thursday, February 23, 2017
I had some pictures on my kitchen wall that I didn't care for anymore, and frankly, they'd been there way too long.
Taking Control
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Working my way back to creativity after a little rut and taking control of my news consumption.
TV news has become overwhelming; Twitter has been a time-suck; and Facebook is too opinionated, in my opinion. Simplifying & taking control now. Keeping informed, and staying in-touch with issues quickly each morning and afternoon via news aggregates, links below. Of course I'll still be on social media, but not letting it suck me down into hours of lost-time anymore:
TV news has become overwhelming; Twitter has been a time-suck; and Facebook is too opinionated, in my opinion. Simplifying & taking control now. Keeping informed, and staying in-touch with issues quickly each morning and afternoon via news aggregates, links below. Of course I'll still be on social media, but not letting it suck me down into hours of lost-time anymore:
Holiday Gifts 2016
Saturday, November 26, 2016
I can't make all the holiday gifts that I want to give this season. Well, maybe I could if I didn't wait until the last minute... and I can't talk about or share pictures of gifts I'm working on during this time either, so what to do? Well, at the bottom of the post I'll add some links to sites with great sales going on this week since I love to shop online. Of course I solicit local businesses, craft fairs and etsy.com - but traveling to the mall this time of year is out of the question for me.
In the meantime, I can still share my "other" projects here since I usually have a knit or crochet project that I carry around in my purse. These are always quick, repetitive patterns to keep me busy during long waits/car rides since the gift knitting that I'm working on is too complicated to carry around.
Crafting Cycles
Thursday, November 17, 2016
I'm not talking about trends, but personal crafting cycles: switching from projects and mediums as passions arise, working on some during stressful times, and working on others just for fun. Does anyone else jump from craft to craft throughout the year? For over a month now I've been working with yarn, and I have a number of knit and crochet projects going at once.
One of these projects included figuring out how to get this Pink Camo yarn to form an argyle pattern that I'd seen on Instagram. I'm used to sock yarns working into intricate patterns, but not Red Heart Super Saver multi-colored yarn, this was really surprising! I finally got it to work after many, many, evenings of crochet:
Teach and Learn Something New
Friday, September 9, 2016
When you teach any subject, it can open your eyes to new perspectives and experiences. For years I taught knit and crochet classes at my local yarn shop, meeting hundreds of wonderful people of all ages, teaching them the basics and exploring lots of yarn projects. Sadly, the yarn shop closed earlier this summer ... things haven't been the same since then. It's made me think a lot about the experience of teaching and what I've learned along the way.
A Good Teacher is Always Learning
Postcard Swap
Monday, May 16, 2016
Art Trades, Giveaways, Swaps
Monday, April 18, 2016
Just one more post about my Artfest Rising experience... this one is about the art trades that many of us brought along. As soon as I heard about the idea of trades, I searched all over the internet for inspiration - here I'll share some ideas for anyone needing help with what to trade, giveaway, or swap at events.
Ideas for Art Trades, Giveaways, Swaps:
- Zines
- Photos, Postcards
- ATCs
- Business cards, Business card holders
- Stickers
- Mini books - handmade in various sizes & shapes
- Mini journals
- Pens, pencils
- Handmade 3D pieces - mini dolls & carvings
- Mini 2D art - drawings, paintings, collages
- Lollipops
- Coloring pages
- Supplies like washi tape, beads, yarn, punchinella
- Handmade Pins, Buttons, Charms
- Ephemera - I received many envelopes filled with things like:
- magazine cutouts
- wrapping paper
- ledger book papers
- library cards
- labels
- paint chips
- scrapbook papers
- paper die-cuts
- hand-painted papers
- stamps
- fabric
- playing cards
- old book pages
- tissue paper
- tags
- maps
- old photos
Don't forget to label your item with your name, contact info and/or website.
What I brought along to swap/giveaway - recycled map business card wallets, along with a business card inside of each.
Video that also appeared on my Facebook Page (too big for blogger site, please click to see it hosted on Flickr):
It was fun during the event to swap, an experience in itself as we all approached folks we'd never met before, offering our handmade items. At home, as I took the time to look over everything I'd unpacked, I really got to appreciate everyone's generosity of talent, materials and time - each piece was special and unique.
I hope this gives you some good ideas about what you can put together for art trades.
Have any other ideas to share? Please leave a comment and link to your pictures if they're online.
Artfest Rising 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
After years of wanting to attend an Artfest event, I finally had the opportunity this past week to go to Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA for Artfest Rising. I spent the time learning, experimenting, and having a great time with amazing teachers, and meeting new friends. The things I've learned have inspired me and will be carried into the work I do in the coming year.
I didn't finish everything that I started here, am definitely looking at these pages as lessons in a workbook - not finished art - but instead something that I'm learning from.
Class with Teesha Moore:
Class with Orly Avineri:
Class with Michael deMeng & Andrea Matus deMeng:
But I didn't get a photo with them :(
Class with Jesse Reno:
Class with Tracy Moore:
The dining table ladies:
With more friends eating out in Port Townsend (sorry about the big head picture, it was the best I could do!):
New supplies (amazon.com affiliate links included):
- We all came across supplies that had been previously unfamiliar, or used in a new way - one was using white transfer paper
in Orly's class for mark-making on a black painted surface. That's something I'd only used before on fabric when sewing. Here's a link for a transfer paper sampler pack at Amazon.com.
- Another item I'd never thought to use was a smoother/spreader like the one used in Andrea's class when gluing down collage. It especially helped get large pieces down firmly, push out air bubbles, and squeeze out excess adhesive.
What I Learned (a very short summary):
- Play. Practice. Take a journal with you and use it.
- Think, or don't think. There are no rules, only the ones you make for yourself.
- Layer. Keep going. Add depth and work till you get what you want.
- Be engaged with your technique, forget about other decisions like color, paper or brush choice.
- "Little ideas are bigger than you think." - Jesse Reno
- Work & rework. Start - knowing it will need to be fixed - that's Jesse Reno again.
- Don't be so serious.
- Get some power words to remind you of purpose and focus - from Tracy Moore.
- You don't need to create "art". Just create.
Next blog post I'll share the trades that I came home with - swapping the wallets I folded with all the creative folks who attended. I have yet to unpack it all, will be doing that soon.
Have you ever attended an art retreat or group art classes?
Recycled Paper Card Wallets DIY
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Next week I'm going on a trip, cross-country to Washington state for Artfest Rising. Really excited, and slightly nervous at the same time... (have never done anything like this before) will post pictures online during the event when I can (probably Instagram or Facebook).
Wanted to bring something to swap, so I made these recycled paper card wallets. Since I'm passionate about recycling, I rescued an old atlas of Massachusetts as a craft supply. How-to comes from Monica at www.artfulrecrafter.com. I cut my pages 9.5 x 10" to make sure the finished wallets fit the MOO cards I just got.
Recycled Paper Card Wallets DIY
I have many reasons to be happy with these: they were easy to make, will be light to pack in my luggage, I creatively reused materials, and made something useful.
Have you ever been on an art retreat? Brought along swaps or trades?
Creative Business Cards
Thursday, March 17, 2016
This new business card ended up very differently than how I imagined it would be when I started.
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| First time users save $% at MOO.com with this referral link: . |
Evolution of an Idea
Since I spend a lot of time teaching knitting classes, I initially thought a knitted logo would be clever. Creating a graph of the text I wanted with stitchboard.com was easy; knitting the letters in the round was a little tedious. When it was done, I carefully cut a steek and blocked the piece:
Well, this wasn't going to work for me. First of all, my strands of red were showing from the back side and all the photo editing in the world wasn't going to make me happy with it. Also, knitting isn't the only thing I do... so this wasn't going to be a true representation for tamdoll.com.
I set the project aside for a few days until one afternoon, inspiration struck:
Now THIS made me happy! After some digital editing, I ended up with my new business cards. My goal was to keep these as simple and memorable as possible - since tamdoll.com is the hub for all my online content and I can be reached via comments or email at the site, I decided that was enough. And I'm hoping the various elements of my name tell a story about the different crafts I dabble in. I even left off my full name because, after years on the internet, a lot of friends simply call me "Tamdoll".
MOO cards have a great feature where one side of your business cards can be an assortment of images - so I chose some pictures of dolls I'd made, photographs I'd taken, and drawings and collages that I've created. They arrived in the mail very quickly and I couldn't be happier with the quality and results.
I definitely splurged on these, and that's giving me an incentive to keep blogging, sharing the creative things I'm working on so I have something to be proud of when someone comes to the site.
Fun, Creative Business Cards
Thanks to Teesha Moore of the Artstronauts Club for the MOO card reminder, I'd used them years ago to create stickers and was happy to return as a customer.
If you've never used MOO before, when you place your first order with this link: https://refer.moo.com/s/tamdoll, you'll get a $% off (and I'll get a credit for the referral).
Sewists may also like my Business Card Holder Tutorial.
How do you share your website or online business with the world?
Instagram Pictures Poster Display
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Before leaving for her first year of college, my oldest daughter made a poster of Instagram pictures to frame and hang in her dorm room. After her first year, she made a new one and left the old poster lying around at home.
The problem: I didn't want to leave it out where it would get wrinkled and end up in the trash, or roll it up and put it into storage where it would just gather dust and take up space.
The solution: I laid it on her desk, covered it with the plastic insert from an inexpensive poster frame & now she has something nostalgic to look at when she comes back home.
Instagram Pictures Poster + Plastic Insert = Desk Art!
I labeled this project "recycling" because this was a creative reuse of two items I had around. Actually, any number of pictures, art, or papers could have been used here under the plastic.
Poster created at socialprintstudio.com. My daughter said she's very happy with their printing and has gotten many posters and prints from them.
Have any creative reuse stories to share?
Bead Weaving Bracelets
Thursday, January 21, 2016
When I start a project, there's usually left-over materials; and since I do such a variety of crafts, I have a well-stocked craft room. One of these supplies I have a lot of are beads - I used to embellish my cloth dolls with them, and I'd usually end up with more than I'd ever need for a single project. Over the years I've incorporated beads into embroidery, crochet and other jewelry - this winter, I've been weaving bracelets to give as gifts.
The two bracelets with black beads in the center row were made with a Trendsetter pattern "Just Rollin' Along", and the red bracelet pattern was called "Parisian Lace". It looks like the patterns are only available at bead shops, I picked mine up locally.
The first time I made one, it took about 4 hours. After that, each bracelet took about 2.5 hours to complete.
Beading and Books
Once I got the rhythm of the pattern down, I was able to listen to an audio book while weaving. While I made the red bracelet I listened to The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin (amazon affiliate link) - about a bookseller who experiences grief, a theft, and a mysterious delivery to his business that turns his life around. It was a good, slow paced book that I could listen to while working - but a little more sappy and contrived than I prefer in a story.
It's main character reminded me of another recent book that I LOVED - A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman (amazon affiliate link) - a story about a curmudgeon whose "...world is turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door." A Man Called Ove made me laugh out loud, and cry - it was fantastic. Audio books can be downloaded free through many libraries - visit yours to see what's available.
It's main character reminded me of another recent book that I LOVED - A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman (amazon affiliate link) - a story about a curmudgeon whose "...world is turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door." A Man Called Ove made me laugh out loud, and cry - it was fantastic. Audio books can be downloaded free through many libraries - visit yours to see what's available.
Some online beading weaving project how-tos:
- Aroundthebeadingtable.com - Right-Angle Weave stitch.
- Bead & Button magazine - Search Bracelet Projects.
- Inspirationalbeading.blogspot.com - Potawatomi Daisy Chain.
- Instructables.com - Beaded Loops Bracelet is a nice one.
Most of my friends and family prefer traditional books, and multitask crafting with music or tv in the background.
Do you love a good book? Multitask when crafting?
Creativity and Books
Monday, January 11, 2016
Over the years I've blogged about books, but maybe not as much as I should have. I love to read. LOVE. There are shelves of books in my workroom, piles on my nightstand, always an audiobook downloaded onto my phone, and dozens on my Kindle. I work part-time at a library, for goodness sake (3+ years now!) - so it's probably about time I include more books in my blog. For me, creativity and books go hand-in-hand.
Books have always played an important part in my creative life: I taught myself to knit on 4-needles by studying a library book when I was a kid (wish I remembered the name of it!); and I learned basic computer programming from books back when I was in high school, which led to my college major and subsequent computer-related jobs. Recently I've read a few motivational art/craft books that I wanted to share.
Creativity and Books, 2015:
The Confident Creative: Drawing to Free the Hand and Mind by Cat Bennett. Don't be put off by the "drawing" in the title - it was motivational, and such an easy read, that I believe anyone can grow by jumping into the exercises she describes. Any type of creative work can benefit by looking at things with a different perspective, and being confident. This book was really clear, to the point, with short, easy-to-digest chapters; it was really encouraging, with practical how-to's. If you need a push, feel negative, or stuck - this is a good book to take a look at.
Art Saves: Stories, Inspiration and Prompts Sharing the Power of Art by Jenny Doh. When I first glanced at the book, I didn't find the projects inspiring. But then I started reading.... and changed my mind. I got so much out of what each artist had to say about their journey, what they learned, their advice, and how they found the courage to do what they loved. This book made me think and realize that the only restrictions that I have, are self-imposed ones. This book will reassure you that you're not alone in your ruts, or doubts, and can help you to focus on your goals.
55 Christmas Balls to Knit: Colorful Festive Ornaments, Tree Decorations, Centerpieces, Wreaths, Window Dressings by Arne Nerjordet. This book was like a cookbook that has more than just recipes - I always like the ones that have stories to go along with each dish - they draw you in and make you feel that it's much more than just an instruction manual. The descriptions and facts that accompanied the patterns were very interesting. There weren't just knitting patterns in here - but poems, holiday stories, and traditions. Creativity of all kinds and really charming. And a shout-out to Pam of gingerbreadsnowflakes.com for introducing me to this.
On my to-read list: Make It Mighty Ugly : exercises & advice for getting creative even when it ain't pretty by Kim Werker. Her blog is also really great.
(Book titles link to amazon.com affiliate links.)
(Book titles link to amazon.com affiliate links.)
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| Journal page from notes & thoughts while reading Art Saves. |
"We each have our own art journey and life journey. The important thing is to be ourselves and to be happy to be ourselves" - Cat Bennett.
Books + Creativity: Have any recommendations?
Smartphone Photography
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
We hold them, and look at them all day long. Besides keeping us in touch with the digital world, smartphones can be a creative tool.
Nothing fancy necessary - just take a photo. Look through the screen and see your object framed in that rectangle - with just a click, you've created something. From there you can simply enjoy your picture. Next, you can share, crop, filter, colorize, doodle, twist, frame, stamp, and on and on. There are countless photo editing apps out there that you can use to tweak and alter your images. Enjoy the creative process, with the flexibility to "undo" at the touch of a button. There's no mess to clean up, you can take it in your pocket and go.
I have six apps on my phone for photo editing, but I always go back to Pixlr - it's intuitive, their blog is always informative, and they are constantly adding new features. Give it a try, it's free.
As for the photo, I love those Yogi Teas & their tags - Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy is my favorite right now (affiliate link). For more, see Yogi Inspirations.
How are you using smartphone photography to be creative? Have a favorite app to share?
Quick and Easy Halloween Wreath
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
If you can hold a glue gun, you can make this Halloween wreath.
I was inspired to make one of these when I saw ilovetocreate's neon version. Here's the one I made, hanging in my daughter's dorm lounge:
Step 1: Wrap a wreath frame in fabric. I used a 10" straw wreath & strips of fabric I ripped from a 45" long piece. I used 4 strips, and each was about 2.5" wide. Accuracy isn't very important, this base will be mostly covered up in the next step. The strips were held down with dabs of low-temp hot glue. Once it's all wrapped up, tie a string around the wreath to use for hanging.
Step 2: Start gluing on balls. I used beer pong balls for this project because they were cheap and light-weight. Laying the wreath on a table, and gluing the balls down as it lay flat ensured that it wouldn't jut out from the wall when it was done. Spacing and accuracy isn't very important - not taking this too seriously.
Red fabric showing through? Strands of glue everywhere? = Creepy.
Step 3: Keep adding rows of balls, filling in holes and spaces as you go along. Work your way around and into the center of the wreath. Step back and look at it once in a while to cover any gaps you may want to fill.
Step 4: Glue on googly eyes. Angle some sideways, adjusting for where the eyeballs are placed (on the sides of the wreath, put the eyeballs a little more sideways.)
That's it. When I was all done, I thought I should have used red glue sticks... maybe next time.
I have low expectations that this project will last very long hanging in a dorm room, and who knows what will happen to it after Halloween. But it was fun to do, and took less than an hour to make. Using a glue gun kept this project low-stress - everything dried within seconds of putting it in place.
I often hesitate to make Halloween costumes or decorations, the event comes and goes so quickly, the effort often seems more work than it's worth. But this project was a breeze, I've already made two for my girls and have enough balls to make a third... maybe I'll be hanging one outside my door this year.
Will you make decorations for Halloween?
One more picture, because I love the Pixlr.com apps and they just put out some Halloween borders and layers:
