New work

Tommorrow you can find new collaborative work in Anna's shop LilaRubyKing. As usual, I like to tease you a little... don't forget to check it out on monday! :)

And I have listed the bunnies that I have been working on recently in my shop.
You can find 'em in the Bunny Art - section. Aren't they cute?

Ripple dreams... part 5

Original colors extra colors

Haha, have not much to show you this week. Didn't have any time to get any crocheting done but my wool arrived. Yeah! I didn't have much choice of colors anymore since I already had 25 different ones but I want all different stripes so I added some browns to it. I hope this won't make it too dark but we'll see...

Merry go round

I have been invited to join the 'Merry go round' group. What is the Merry go round exactly? Each month, a group of craftswomen from around the world join together and give their reponses to the same question. At first I thought 'No, no, not another thing that has to be done' but then when reading a bit further I thought 'Hm, this could be interesting as it will make you reflect on things'.
We jump on the Merry go round every last friday of the month and hopefully you'll enjoy that ride. Feel free to check out the responses from the other artists to this month's question: (links after my answer to the question)

What do we hope to learn/achieve this year?
I'm not a person that usually makes resolutions for the new year. I do make a little wish when the champagne pops and the new year begins. But I can't tell what I wished for as then it won't come through of course...
My ceramics has become such part of my life that I hope to learn to balance it with all that has to be done too: a job, a house to keep clean, social life, virtual life,...
I try to live day by day and enjoy life's virtues as they come.
I do dream a lot but I don't strive for them to come true all the time. When it happens, it happens and when it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be. Pretty simple, huh?
So perhaps the answer to the question is: no complicated goals, no ambitious plans, no pressure but feel good, live conciously and be mindful.
Want to read what the other peeps on the Merry go round want to learn/achieve this year? Check out their blogs:
Alison at Tweed Delights - http://idreamoftweed.blogspot.com

Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.blogspot.com

Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com

Fabienne at Easterya Jewellery Creations - http://easterya.blogspot.com

Mariana at Florcita - http:/www./florcita.eu/

Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com

Lily at Lily Pang Art and Design - http://lilypangart.blogspot.com

Wendren at Wren Design - http://thewrendesign.com

Ruth at Birdland Creations - http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com

And on another note, the winner of last weeks give away was commenter number 28. This comment was from Jenya.
Congrats girl, I'll make sure these birdies will fly off to you soon! :)

My creative space

Look at the mess! I'm doing a test run on my fair table today. Since I don't live in a showroom, all my stock is packed away in boxes. When I sell something online, I take it out of the boxes and that's it. The only thing I keep track off stock is my mini-art.
I don't want to have any surprises when I'm at the fair and see half empty baskets or boxes so that's why I quickly check to see what has to be made still.
I ordered a large table (3,60m) but I'll gladly share it with my friend Mariana who we convinced to join too.

Want to show you creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

Bunny butcher

I love bunnies so you can imagine I was kind of sad when this happened...
Not surprised though 'cause the ear was kind of vulnerable because it came off earlier and I 'glued' it back together with vinegar and slib before firing. So while sanding, this happened.
Oh well, will make a new one to complete my series of 10 bunnies...
The other 9 will be listed later this week. They are jippety jappety happy to meet you.

Flickr Favorites

1. rain on my window., 2. Bobbins, 3. strange fruit.., 4. cleaning up

It's raining outside which is a good thing. No more snow for me, I'll take rain 'cause that means it's also warming up a bit. I've been working hard to fill my kiln and now it's running and I have time to clean and sew. Sewing is not my favorite pasttime but I need to make tokens for my greeting cards. I'm glad that the bobbins are colorful as that makes me happy. What are your plans today?

Don't forget to look at my favorite mosaic from last week. I can see why this person made 2 mosaics! ;)

If you like to play this week, make your mosaic and add a link to your blogpost (NOT your blog please) or Flickr in Mister Linky (click on the button below and fill in your name with the link to your blogpost or Flickr picture).

Evanement - international women's day

In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. It wasn't until International Women's Year in 1975, that the 'International Women's Day' was given official recognition by the United Nations and was taken up by many governments.
So, 8th of March, women will come together to celebrate solidarity, equal rights and freedom.
The city I live in organises an event the day before called 'Evanement' with a market where women's organisations are presented, workshops are being held and where lots of female artists get a chance to present their work.
I'm one of those artists and it's in exactly 2 weeks on the 7th of March. Eeeks, I still have lots to do in preparation so I might be a bit absent on the blog in the coming 2 weeks.

Apart from the market, a few of the activities that you can do there are:

• Tango for starters: fun to try out if you never have before.
• vestiare populaire gives you the opportunity to dive into a dressing room with more then 600 outfits which you can fit on and then be photographed in a studio
• 'de koekjesfee' or the cupcake-fairy is there to make and bake fabulous cookies and cakes
  (kids older then 4 and accompagnied by an adult)
  
• Chocolate, bittersweet a workshop from Fair Trade about the production process of chocolate and in insight in the cacao market.
• A 'how to raise my child' game to get an insight on how other parents look upon issues with their children. Fun and humor garantueed.
  
• An exhibition about breast cancer and how to prevent it
• A workshop with Michaël Verheyden about handbags & fashion accesoiries
• Iris Mondelaers who is a jewellery designer will show how an item is born from start to finish.

For some of these activities, you can sign up before hand but only on the day itself at the info desk of the event from 12u. The info desk is located in the hallway of the Cultural center.

In the fashion museum there is a workshop organised by Knitting guru Stephane Martello.
If you want to take part in the workshop, you will have to sign up. The cost is 10 euro's which includes a visit to the Fashion museum. You can get more info here: modemuseum@hasselt.be



And last but not least, in the evening, Axelle Red will give a show in the cultural center.
She's a Belgian artist that is well know internationally too. She's actually from this city but now lives in Paris. If you want to hear what kind of music she brings, go here.
Tickets for this (15euro) also have to be bought upfront. You can do that via e-mail: plaatsbespreking@ccha.be




If you plan to visit and need more info, feel free to contact me: mitsy@artmind.eu

Ripple dreams... part 4

Waves?

No, ripples!

And still lazy about sewing in the ends...

But it looks good already I think.

After last weeks progress on the blanket, I measured the rows and counted the colors of yarn I had bought for my ripple blanket. Well, what I suspected was right: not enough yarn for a decent sized blanket.
So I hopped over to Texere yarns to purchase some more colors. Hard choice because I already have so many. I'm using the King Cole Merino blend for my ripple. It doesn't feel as soft as Debbie Bliss cashmerino or Cashsoft from Rowan Yarns but for 100% merino wool, it feels soft enough. It doesn't tickle as some wool does, and it comes in a nice variety of colors although I'm sad there is no real lime amongst their choices. It will be warm to snuggle under... can't wait!Anyway, I really want to wait for the colors to arrive before making a big progress on my blanket. The way I choose my colors is by putting the balls of yarn next to each other and see how it looks. I do that in ripples of 7, one for each day of the week. :)
I didn't make it this week because of the reason mentioned above. I will wait for the yarn first because I feel I lack some colors now, especially yellow. But I managed to ripple 4 rows.
Everytime I start a row and do a few stitches, I see how it looks and I usually exclaim to myself: 'Oh, that color is just perfect here'! LOL
Do you talk to & encourage yourself when you are working too?

Tutorial on Poppytalk handmade

Today, one of my tutorials is published on Poppytalk Handmade. It's all about how to make a moss terrarium. I know there are plenty of moss terrarium tuto's out there but let's say that this is an ArtMind-style tutorial. LOL :)
Hop over here to find it. Enjoy!
If you leave a comment here, you'll have a chance to win a set of singing birds for your own moss terrarium. :)

Oh, and when I was editing the pics, I saw there was a little snail on top of the glass jar - waaahhh - that made me scream as I really really really dislike snails... brrr, they make me shiver! Any animals you dislike?

My creative space

There is always a list of feelings that I still have to make so I planned some time in the feeling factory this week. But oh, I do get easily distracted and suddenly I was making bunnies instead of feelings. Cute bunnies. Hopefully in my shop next week. Can you wait? :)

Want to show you creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

Collaboration news

Have you ever seen these beautiful earrings in Anna's shop?
I love the shape of the vines and the silk red thread that connects them.
Anna launched the idea to make porcelain vines and then combine them with the silver ones.
I loved the idea so I got to work last August. It looks good in the picture but in real, these vines are very thin and fragile. Porcelain clay is super stubborn and dries really quick so adding a hole can mean that when the clay is too dry, it causes breakage.
Porcelain clay is really strong when fired so then it's nearly impossible to drill the hole afterwards. But after many tries and failures, I was sad to see this idea go...
So, I pondered on the idea and then thought that making them in 3D could be a way to make it work. They would not be able to be combined with Anna's vines but I'm sure that Anna would find a way to make it look pretty whichever way they are used. I made 3D vines in several sizes:
And perhaps it will look a bit like this? Only Anna knows that right now.
Keep your eyes peeled on her shop for the day when she uploads them...

Flickr Favorites

1. Untitled, 2. Balancing Act, 3. cups made by Mr Husband..., 4. Comfort Food

Just some random beautiful pictures that bring me comfort. Since spring is being awaited anxiously, I need some comfort and all of these make that happen.
And don't you just love Danbo from Bunnyrel! Look at the whole set, it's just gorgeous! :)

Don't forget to look at my last week's favorite! Lots of pretty mosaics about Valentine were made...

If you like to play this week, make your mosaic and add a link to your blogpost (NOT your blog please) or Flickr in Mister Linky (click on the button below and fill in your name with the link to your blogpost or Flickr picture).

One of those days again...

*SIGH*

I heart you

image by restlessthings on Etsy

We don't celebrate Valentine around here but I couldn't resist to let you know that I heart you!
There are so many things to thank you for and it's a reason for me to create, live, love, give...
I love seeing you stop by my blog, read my ramblings, follow my processes, leave comments or perhaps be an invisible support.
I wish you a lovely day whatever you are planning to do... :)
Happy Valentines day!

Ripple dreams... part 3

Have you been looking forward to see the progress on my ripple blanket ?
I have been eager to show you.
Rippling is so much fun, I have been really enjoying myself.
Although I did have to unripple a few times because I didn't count carefully enough but I also found a way to cheat when I didn't feel like unrippling it all. :)
I just added a double crochet together (dctog) or did an extra double crochet when neccesary. And the fun part is, you can't see it - I love it.
Are you ready?
Right now, it looks like one, big long scarf...
Do you like the colors together?
Bad bad me, I still haven't sewed in the ends...
Each row takes me about 1,5 hour to finish and I did one every day this week. Not sure if I can keep up with this pace but we'll see.

I also think I have not ordered enough yarn & I don't have any yellow which I regret. I need to find some more yarn before I complete all first rows. Might do some shopping today.
Have you been rippling yet? Get inspired at Lucy's Attic! :)

Winner give-away

Remember the wax decoration tutorial on Poppytalk last week?
Well, this morning I drew a winner so I can send off the wax decorations today.
I bijoux dello Stregatto is the person to keep an eye on her mailbox next week.
Big congrats Priscilla, no need to send me your address since I have it from our secret swaps on the team. :)

And don't dispair, my next tutorial is up on Poppytalk next friday & again I'll be giving away the result so stay tuned! :)

Happy weekend eveyone!

My creative space

Remember I was making cards last week? While making them, I came up with a new design...

I cut out the pieces.They look a bit weird like this.

This looks better already.

No party without happy people.

Today, I will take pictures of this card and put it in the shop.

These designs are Dutch and I will take 'em to the fairs with me.

Want to show you creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

Wall paper love

I love wall paper books.Can't have enough of themBeautiful colors

Amazing textures

Flowers

Trees

Plants

I'm up to something with these...

Jip, I love wall paper books.

And you?

Flickr Favorites

1. it's spring, look to the skies, 2. flip flop, 3. swinging creases, 4. sit with me...

I'm ready! REALLY ready!
I am already wearing shortsleeved shirts inside the house and wear my wintercoat over them when I go out. A bit silly perhaps but I protest against this long, cold winter now. It's been enough!
Can't wait for the first rays of sunshine to come, so I can wear my flipflops, hang the washing out, plan a picnic and watch everything bloom and grow!
Are you ready too?

Last weeks favorite mosaic was all about Shibui. Go find out what that is here! :)

If you like to play this week, make your mosaic and add a link to your blogpost (NOT your blog please) or Flickr in Mister Linky (click on the button below and fill in your name with the link to your blogpost or Flickr picture).