Introducing my photography

I am pleased to share my new venture with you ~ photography!

my girl cat, Sophie

If you've admired my photos over the past year, it's due to my growing interest in photography. I have always taken my own photos for all my Etsy items for sale. And I've greatly enjoyed capturing photos to share with family & friends who live far away. But now my new veture is in selling my works. 

In the past I have offered my skills to animal shelters for their homeless pets. As I have learned, a well done photo (or five) of a homeless pet up's their chances of adoption. I would try to capture them in their most organic forms. Be it playing, sleeping, a funny quirk they have or how affectionate their were. I will continue to offer my photography for shelters at no cost, since it's a passion of mine.

I had the pleasure of photographing my niece's first homecoming this year. And I knew I wanted a nicer camera for the future. So after that I went hunting and picked my first 'nice' one in some years, a Nikon Coolpix. It is considered a 'point and shoot' with 40x zoom and a great first timer camera to work with. 

I will now have a button on my navigation here to go directly to my website just for purchasing my photography. I plan to offer more galleries soon, with animals and nature themes. I hope you go browse what I have up already and help support me, an independent photographer, on my new venture into 2017. 

Seasons Greetings

Warm greetings in this winter holiday season! The snow has arrived and some biting cold temperatures on on their way here. I bundle up my dog in a 'coat' when the temp's get low. The cats have decided to sleep the cold days away and sunbath in the picture window.

My Etsy shop is open again and I highly recommend shopping now and not later. For those who do like to shop handmade, shipping can take 5 days to reach you. So be sure to stick to a tight time schedule if you are shopping online!

I've decorated out little home with a nature theme. My family gifted us a handmade faux tree years ago, so I can't just let it sit in the basement come December. I prefer to make some decorations, such as paper garlands.

I also have these pretty globes that are made with pine cones, dried berries, twigs and twine. I love ribbon so I added some and hung them up with wooden clothes pins. 

I hope 2017 brings you the best of health, bountiful gardens and happiness with friendships. So a very Happy Hanukkah, a very Blessed Yule, A Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings!

image from thiswallpaper.com

Thankful day, Buy handmade!

A very warm & Thankful day to you and yours! My shop is on vacation mode to allow me time to get ready for the holidays. I may offer up a sale or coupons (so stay tuned!). So while I work on that, I hope you have a relaxing holiday and time at home. We have already had our first snowfall of the season.

my cat will be sleeping the cold days away

If you must make purchases this week, please consider buying from artisans & small businesses. When you support the arts you help them maintain a business and income. You also support hand made, sweatshop-free, entrepreneurs.

Happy DIY Halloween

Are you ready for some ghosts and goblins? No, how about at least some DIY Halloween decorations & projects? Yes ~ then read on my friend!
Well it's cold, a chill is in the air and by the weekend it will be Halloween. I finished our dog's costume (cape) with faux fur and  ~ it's adorable! He loves coats since he has short hair. I give you, Chewbacca!

no Wookies were shaved in the making of this costume

It fits and is held on with wide ribbon and large metal snaps. Easy to get on and off and he is nice and toasty when out in the cold. The entire costume cost less then $10 total in supplies.

Now for the DIY for you! I found some lovely pages out there with many projects. This one is devoted to just decorations for your home. It is called Simplymost and has a large selection to review! From cute banners (be it fabric of paper) similar to this one.... (the DIY is here)

photo from Crafthubs.com

To melted wax pumpkins, haunted terrarium and floating witch hat luminaries! Certainly a little something for everyone and all ranges from beginner to mid-level/practiced crafter. Most DIY projects no longer require you to spend a lot to create something. Now you can often find the supplies you need right in your craft stash or closet. 

I wish you all a fun, safe & happy haunting weekend ahead! And don't forget to 

nab that discount candy later. 

H A P P Y  H A L L O W E E N!

Dog costume, DIY handmade

Welcome October! One can only hope we get a break from the intense heat that stayed all summer long. The trees here are just starting to show signs of fall foliage. Pumpkins are showing up on doorsteps as decoration. And a few people have already begun to put out their Halloween decorations.

Well I have been working on a dog costume for our pup, Choji. He loves to wear 'coats' in chilly or wet weather. He has short fur himself so he prefers to be warm & dry. I decided that this year he would be Chewbacca from Star Wars. I started with some faux fur for the body.

Now this faux fur came like a square shape, so I rounded the top edges. The gray squares are the pieces you see on Chewbacca's utility belt. I made them with felt and rolled up some plastic bags to fill the square and shape it.

Now I have done this by hand, since it's easier. Faux fur can get stuck in a machine sewing needle, so you can use a machine (but go slow!). I added the gray squares on top of some brown ribbon I laid out. I just hand stitched them on and had my buttons to help gauge where to place the gray squares. You will want some space between each square. 

As you can see, it's not fitted on him yet. I plan to add some ribbon with snaps around his collar and under his belly. But the size is good and the finished utility belt came out how I had hoped it would! Today is very warm so he didn't wear it long, just for a quick photo. Past costumes I've made include K9 from Doctor Who and a cute thrift store cape with bat wings. 

My Etsy shop is on vacation for the time being. I am moving my craft supplies to a new room in the next month or so. I will have my shop open in November again, just in time for winter holiday shopping. So never fear, you will be able to shop for handmade goods in a few weeks!

New Listings

Welcome September! Let's all wave goodbye to Summer! The hottest, driest Summer I've had in sometime. We need rain, yet when it does falls the earth drinks it right up. I'm not so sure foliage will arrive on time this year, due to such dry weather. But I'm ready for Autumn to arrive in style. Bring out the cooler temperatures, layers of clothing and hot drinks.

I will spare the 'pumpkin spice' references but for this one. No, I don't care for the drinks or much else. Some of you have a pumpkin spice addiction (you know who you are!)

I've been busy and just got to listing some over due goodies. I have two new felt charms in my etsy shop! I also finished the photos of my dog modeling the stylish doggie bandannas. I have four total finished and will list those shortly. But here is the peak at my felt charms, based on some favorite animated movies.

September  listings!

Felt charms

I am already gearing up for the holidays and am making some hand stitched felt ornaments. Easy to ship to family & friends and are sure to never break if they fall off a tree. So pop on over to check out my handmade goods and stay tuned for more new listings!

End of Summer

Summer is winding down and the days are becoming cooler, the nights more quiet. The cicada have finished their songs of summer, the fireflies are starting to leave. Our summer has been very hot and dry this year. We certainly could have used more rainy days to encourage the gardens to grow and flourish.

I've spent my time altering clothes, trying out some giant crochet hooks on thick yarn and ~ butterflies! So please enjoy my round-up of summertime photos. Thank you for continuing to be followers of my little blog. And for being supportive of small artisans, seamstresses and buying locally USA made goods.

summer time frozen non-dairy ice cream

local farmer's market treats!

my long sheer coat I made & my awesome folding craft table

I finished the tank top

my fairy house from wooden bird house & clay

I raised and released painted lady butterflies

I hope everyone had a fun, enjoyable and memorable summer! I am looking forward to listing new items soon: dog bandannas and felt character charms. So do check in with my Etsy shop shortly to view new listings. 

Summer projects

It's hot... it's humid... I'm melting away! So what does one do when it's hot, humid and every time you step outside you sweat away 3 pounds?! Why, indoor projects!

I'm working on some little things here and there. I do have a large sewing project I want to tackle but haven't had the room or time for it yet. You want to know why?

Izzy the dog

The reason I can't pull out my huge table to cut fabric on is because - I'm pet sitting! Above is a picture of Izzy, a terrier mix. I am also watching a big ole boy named Willie, along with my own dog (and two cats). My cats out weigh the smaller dog, and they aren't afraid to let her know this (with various forms of hissing). So basically I can't do much with a full house here. 

But I have done a few little projects I'd been wanting to do. I love to put a decoration on our front door each season or holiday. So for summer, I wanted something rustic and a little farm-ish in style. I found these lovely chicken wire, metal letters at JoAnn Fabrics on sale two weeks ago. I picked one out, picked some ribbon and faux flowers and went to town. It made for a nice afternoon project while stuck indoors avoiding the heat outside. 

Don't be intimidated by the above finished piece! You honestly can pick up supplies for under $15 and play around to get something you love. I sometimes use reference photos I see online, otherwise I just let my creativity flow. To hold everything on the wired letter, I used old bread twist ties (since I have a surplus of them). 

I'm also making things for my shop on Etsy. Check it out for what I have up for sale, because these will be listed shortly. I figured with extra doggies around, I could make dog bandannas! Here is the small sized, which I have 2 finished now (different fabrics). The bandanna slips onto the dogs own collar, so no need to tie it on. I use dog bandannas on my own dog all the time. I use it for visibility, since he is medium sized and almost complete tan in color. I also use it for spraying bug spray onto the fabric, instead of the dogs skin. 

my model Izzy, in the fashionable heart print bandanna 

So for summer, it's little things and projects. I'm also already playing with yarn for future winter things. Because... reasons. Because we are all secretly longing for a break from the heat (am I right?!)

New blog style, FREE background!

Welcome, how do you like my new bloggy style? I decided it needed a fresh new vibe, since I love to play with design. I found a great blog and artist who offers free downloads for your personal blogs and use.

went from this ^^^ 

to this ^^^

Yes that's my bunny I crafted (not for sale) and my own picture with the spool & thread. I wanted something brighter and more colorful. Now, the background image on my blog and the pretty watercolor flowers are from Angie Makes. She has a page dedicated to the free downloads with beautiful watercolor works. 

She also has an Etsy shop, offering more custom work and digital downloads. So if you enjoy her work, please show your support by visiting her shop! 

I hope to perhaps start to offer altered and handmade clothes in my Etsy shop. I've always enjoyed altering clothing and it can be a lot of fun to let loose. I intend on using thrift store purchases as well as new purchases to alter. As for handmade clothing I have plenty of fabrics to pick from and use, such as cottons or linens. 

I hope you take the time to visit me on Instagram, I'm sharing little things about my days. From adorable silly pet photos, short videos and what projects I am working on. Hope your start to the summer is great! 

Instagram & baby gift!

Hi everyone, how is your June starting off? Mine has welcomed weather of summer settling in. I've also recently heard the song of the cicada outside by the woods. I've been busy and I always like to share what I'm up to.
First off, have you visited me on Instagram? I'm there about once a day, sharing photos of my time spent crafting & such. I love to share about my adorable pets, if I head out to something fun and nature.

I am on Instagram as CraftinessbyB

I've been also sharing photos of food. I can't help it, I love food! Since I do not have a garden this year I'm trying to share locally bought produce and such. Or if I am making something yummy (often dairy-free) and how it came out. I visited a farmer's market over the weekend and just wanted to buy all the homemade, locally farmed foods! If you want to make an impact, support your local farmer's, bakers and artisans. You'd be surprised what you can buy and at such good prices!

locally grown produce

naturally, I bought strawberries!

Now, onto the baby gift I made! A friend is expecting in about a months time. She is having a boy and I wanted to make her something handmade. Even if she never puts them on the baby, she can display them in the nursery as a decoration. I found a darling book all about felt crafting and gifts. It has these 'Hermes' baby booties to make. I made mine out of blue and took my time making the stitches even. I hope to offer a video shortly of the stitching for this craft, called the blanket stitch. 

I decided to 'wrap' the gift in a fabric cloth bag. I bought a fat quarter of fabric and only used half of it for the bag. I simply picked a matching ribbon and wooden bead for it's closure. It's a pretty way to present a handmade gift without having to actually spend money on wrapping paper. And really now, it's so much more special this way!
I hope everyone is having a great start to their summer. What are you going to craft this season? Pop on over to follow me on Instagram and leave me some comments if you like! I tend to follow back people whom follow me. 

May Spring SALE ~ 15% off!

It's spring time and you know what? I decided, let's have a SALE! Visit my Etsy shop, open 'announcements' to view coupon code & details. From today to the end of May the sale is going on - so come browse my quality, hand made, artisan gifts for sale.

When you buy handmade you support your local communities. You are encouraging artists to continue their skilled crafts and workmanship. Each time you purchase from a small business you help support the local economy as well. Buying handmade has never felt so good!

My Etsy shop: Craftiness by B 

May Day, Fabrics and Floral Crowns

Happy Spring to you! How is it where you live? Here it's been warming up slowly. The geese are vocal on most days, the robins are hopping around in the yard and grass has grown back. Trees are alive with new buds on them and flowers are just barley poking up from the ground.

our dog enjoying a warm day

I have designed and ordered my 2nd fabric design for Spoonflower. If you haven't checked it out yet, I have a shop there now, it's CraftinessbyB on Spoonflower. Once my 2nd design arrives by mail, I photograph it and the listing will be public. That means it will be available for purchase as a fabric, wallpaper or gift wrap! My first design came out so pretty and I've even tried it on at Sprout, where you place your own design (how cool is that?!) on their virtual patterns before buying!

my design on the Zipper Pouch Baggie pattern

Both designs are from hand drawn artwork I made. I then scan it into my computer, adjust it (such as add a solid background color) and then post it to Spoonflower. I hope to one day offer full sized patterns on either 1/2 or 1 yard pieces of fabric. That way you can purchase it, simply cut out the pieces then sew it at home! What would interest you in a hand drawn pattern? Plush/soft toys, bags or something else?

And since it is nearly May now (my, how time flies this year!) I am working on a floral crown for May Day. I love to dress up for festivals and enjoy making my own accessories. The past few years I've shared two other crowns I made, one for summer/autumn, the other (with deer antlers) for winter. This one I'm including ribbon on the back that is about 1 foot or more in length.

May Day (Beltane) floral crown

I hope you are enjoying Spring in all it's green glory. Stay posted on my going on's on my:

 Google+ page, 

Pinterest page

and of course visiting my Etsy shop. 

❀*:.✿:*Have a sunny weekend everyone! ❀*:.✿:*

Spoonflower fabric ARRIVES!

It arrived, after about 10 days from purchase, shipping to me. I am so ecstatic to see my hand drawn design on fabric!

It is water color floral, tiny flowers design. I hand painted this, then inked it, then scanned into my computer to do final touch up's. It should now be available for purchase in my Spoonflower CraftinessbyB shop. This was on cotton, the colors came out as I hoped in almost pastels but still bold. 

Spoonflower & Gifts

This sure has been a busy winter for me. I had to wait to share these, since they arrived last week. Baby gifts for some expectant friends!

Flannel and fleece bib, in progress.

I had to make two, since the friends are both due fairly close to each other. One is having a boy and the other a girl. So little baby boy got some cool owls with funky hats. Little baby girl got elephants holding umbrella with a yellow birdie.

Owls for boy, elephants for girl.

I may even make a few bibs to sell in my Etsy shop at some point. I love gifting something handmade but also practical. These can be washed and dried and are easy to wear for baby. 

In other fun news ~ I am finally designing for Spoonflower! You can visit my shop on there at Craftiness by B on Spoonflower. I have one design I am going to try and load this coming week. It's from hand drawn and water color design I did by hand. I've always wanted to see my artwork on fabric. So this is a fun way to try it out and see how it will look for sewing projects. So far I will have one finished design but do have plans for two others soon. 

Spoonflower gives you a chance to put your designs on any number of materials. From stretchy lycra to 100% cotton. I can see my designs on things like bags or little gift ideas. If I get real ambitious, I will design things like "cut out dolls" where it's a pattern already on the fabric. The crafter would simply buy the fabric and it would have all the pieces and instructions printed on it. Cut, sew, there you go! So stay tuned for any future designs I might share with you.

Winter afternoons

Oh it's cold and bristly outside! I've moved my craft room around and am still unpacking. That's why my Etsy shop has been on vacation mode, I hope to re-open it shortly.

But in the meantime I'm enjoying some sunny wintry afternoons indoors. I've been working on my sashiko yet again ~ this time, my usagi (rabbit) pattern. Sashiko or さしこ means "little stabs" and is a decorative functional stitching from Japan. In history it is often seen in mending clothes.

this household travels by TARDIS

This will eventually be a pillowcase or ~ I suppose I could turn it into a tote bag. I just know that for a hands on project to sit and enjoy in winter, this certainly keeps me busy. Hope you are all staying warm where you live. Just for fun, here is my dog in his winter sweater. 

Mummies never go out of season!