New Ventures, New Adventures!

I have always been a thinker and often-times, an over-thinker. Many people are guilty of this (especially women.) Since losing my job, I have had PLENTY of time to think. Sometimes, I think about my worth or lack thereof. It is truly amazing how much of our self-worth is linked to our jobs. It defines us and I felt as though I lacked definition. That is until last night...

After a fabulous anniversary dinner date/trip to the library with my sweetie, it struck me: I AM AN ARTIST. Therefore, I have a job. I have been given a gift: time. I get to experiment in the kitchen, garden, walk, take photos, sing and dance, enjoy the sun, see my friends, and CREATE. Sitting behind a desk would limit these experiences, so why am I moaning. I should be reveling in it.

I have decided to spend the rest of the time I have been given doing just that. I will be focusing more on creating embroidery patterns to share and to sell. I will complete that blasted set model. I will embellish. I will make. JOY!

Back from the Dead...with projects!

When you decide to become a blogger, you always have great intentions: posting valuable and timely content, being engaging and interesting, taking eye-catching photos. Then life happens. Careers change. Relationships need work. Self-confidence and self-worth plummet. Well, not always, but that is what happened to me.

Working today for tomorrow

Some of you out there may think that I am a little scattered: jewelry-making, cooking, crocheting, felting, embroidery, plays, fitness, work, and now art. It may be true, but not in a bad way. For as long as I can remember, I have liked to stay busy. As a child, I had a vast imagination and could spend hours playing with Barbies or reading books. Summer reading challenges were no big deal for nerdy lil me.

As I reached adulthood, I have tried to maintain my imagination and creative spirit.I enjoy branching out and learning new things. I have always been fascinated with fonts, layout, and text (hence my metalwork) and my new online classes are fueling that fire. I think that they will really help me with my eventual goal of publishing my own embroidery patterns.

I realized, as I carted art supplies through the house that I have dedicated spaces for sewing and jewelry-making, but not "standard" art. Enter the new art space:

I want to make a line of patterns inspired by the Dowager Countess on Downton Abbey. Some possibilities above.

My first Downton pattern! I will stitch it up soon, refine the pattern, and post it here soon!

Elementary School Time

Last night, after dinner, I opened my new packages of pens and cracked the spine of a new composition book. It felt like the first day of second grade...and I loved every minute of it. I spent two and a half hours tracing lines onto graph paper and carefully printing out the alphabet. Seriously. And it was awesome.

It was not just repetitive movements and the scratch of the pen, but rather it was my mood lightening and lifting. By the end of the practice, I was happy and smiling. I felt super-creative and calm, kind of like meditation. I can't wait to practice more and learn more fonts and get designing!

Practicing my blog name, (someday) business name, and the tried and true typing phrase :)

I also worked on the journal cover for the second class which is more advanced lettering. This was a great investment of $70...2 classes, a creative outlet, new skills, and a refreshed Weas!

Art Class for Grown-Ups!

If you are a regular reader or my friend in the real world, you know that: A. I love learning new things, especially even art/craft-related things, B. I am a huge nerd and actually enjoy talking classes, C. I adore new supplies. D. I would like to design my own embroidery shop and design my own patterns. True story.

Last week, when the favorite guy and I were on our weekly library date, I found this gem:

52 drawing labs! I am so excited. I rushed out to stock up on more supplies and jumped right in.

I have spent a little while everyday working on a lab or two. It is challenging yet rewarding. 

Some samples from Lab 1: Drawing Cats in Bed

Metalwork Monday: Custom Color Bobby Pins

Okay, so today is a little bit of a cheat. I didn't actually MAKE something, I just embellished. But if you know me at all, you know how I like to match. This is one of the busiest weeks of the year for me, so simple yet helpful is the way to go!

Stitchy Saturday: Embroidered Sketchbook

Fall is a time for new beginnings, I think. I know that Spring is a more commonly held time to start anew, but the new school year always makes me more creative. I adore Moleskin notebooks of any kind, but wanted my fall sketchbook to echo that sense of what could be. 

Thankful Thursday: Upcycled Cookie Tins

This has been one of THOSE projects. Boom! Great idea. Get supplies. Try it. Mess it up. Stash it for a few weeks. Try again. Another mess. Finally, quasi-success! 

WIP Wednesday: Embroidered Sketchbook

Today was a rough day. As a gal with MS, there are little challenges that I have to deal with daily. Tinglies, numbness, fatigue are part of my life. Not that it is a huge deal and not that I am not blessed, but some days it just adds up. I had a MRI scheduled for this morning. I got to the Imaging clinic on time, changed into my gown and was ready for a slightly loud and annoying process. Little did I know how annoying...

Metalwork Monday: Upcycled Soda Can Jewelry

So, it is fall. Well...almost. For some reason, fall always brings out the Depression-era Weas. Maybe it is putting up food, maybe it is school supplies... regardless, I have decided to make things of other things this week (and if not actually MAKE things, fancy them up a bit!)  Welcome to Weasinart Upcycle Week.

How Tuesday: Peeking Doctor Bookmark

I think that everyone who stops by Weasinart knows what a huge geek I am. I make no apologies. Doctor Who just happens to be one of the things that I adore. I have enjoyed all the Doctors, but 10 is my favorite. Today's project is just a quick little craft to have a little doctor in your day.

How Tuesday: Paint Chip Dry Erase Board

I have been in love with paint chips since I was a kid. As a child, I would carefully place folded chips in my kiddie purse. They were my make-up compacts, my palettes, my tiny yellow brick roads. With the uber-popularity of Pinterest, paint chip projects are everywhere. This is my interpretation of the paint chip dry erase board. And yes, that is a framed photo of David Tennant hanging in my kitchen. 

Why was the Weasinart unplugged?

For the last month, the Weasinart has been unplugged. It was never my intention to just stop blogging. I had just finished producing a show and time was tight. I had just postponed a big life change. And I was (and am) trying to prioritize my life. While all this was going on, it suddenly became summer with its new responsibilities and opportunities.

I am an artist and jeweler, additionally though...

I am a runner.

I am a gardener.

I am a partner.

Recently, I have been focusing on my running training. I have a very hilly 15k in just 10 days and have only been able to run for the last month. I have also planted two gardens and all the work associated with that task. I am also focusing on my relationship. My sweetie lights up my life and I want to be the best partner to him that I can be.

I am missing making things though. I may not make as much in the summer as I try to balance my creative zeal with the rest of my life. Baby steps. The Weasinart is plugged back in and new treats will start coming again soon.

Thank you all for your support and stay tuned.

WIP Wednesday: TARDIS Embroidery and Quilt Block Swap

Sometimes, you agree to things without paying much attention to what you are doing.
Earlier, this year I signed up for a quilt block swap. What I neglected to notice is that blocks had to be done shortly after the play...oy...
The fact that it took me three sewing machines to get them done was frustrating, but they are finished and will be in the a mail an entire day before the due date!
I have also started a project that I have wanted to make for quite a while. The TARDIS is a great shape to stitch and will make a cute little plushie when I am done :)

A slow start, but looking good.

The TARDIS pattern and blue floss.
It was tricky to pick the right shade. 

The blocks for my swap. The other quilters chose the
colors, I chose the fabric and pattern.

How Tuesday: Doctor Who Washi Tape

I am not a a girl who is super trendy...geeks rarely are. I was loving Doctor Who LONG before it was the greatest thing going. Granted, the current trendy bit makes it easier to get Whovian merchandise! One trend that I am intrigued by but have not yet embraced is washi tape. 

What better way to celebrate it than to combine it with one of my favorite things? 

Ready to adorn!!

My supplies: double-sided tape, Doctor Who comics (picked
up at my local thrift store for a song), brayer, and scissors.

Chose the images you love and place them FACEDOWN.

Place the tape over the sections that you want.
Roll with brayer to assure maximum stickage.

Cut along the tape to make strips.

Roll, enjoy, adorn to your (two) hearts content!

How Tuesday: Portlandia Bird Mobile

Today's craft--super simple, simply marvelous. Using the Portlandia bird, I created a mobile to jazz up my kitchen.

I downloaded an image of the bird used on Portlandia,
but any bird would do. I traced it onto card stock and cut it out.

I gathered some twigs from my yard and but an eye hook in  one to
hang from the ceiling and attach the other sticks.

I used 22 gauge wire to add loops to the other sticks and
attached all three with jewelry wire. I punched hokes in the birds
and hung them from the twigs with thread.

WIP Wednesday: Felt Flowers

Sometimes an outfit needs a little something. A flower is always a good way to spruce things up, even when they aren't in season. This flower works great a a brooch or you could attach it to headband to liven up your 'do!

I started by drawing a template on a thin piece of cardboard.
I drew a flower and a circle.

I traced them onto the fabric using a sharpie. You could use pencil
so you can cut over the lines or just hold the template
to the fabric so there are no lines. I wanted my petals to have a "dipped"
edge, so I went with marker.

On some flowers, I extended the edging the make the petals
look really dipped.

I folded each flower in half and then in half again. I snipped off
the point and applied hot glue. I attached each flower to the circle. I started
on the edges and filled in the center.

Once the petals were all attached, I glued a small piece of fabric
over a pin. You could apply the same technique to a headband.

Ready to brighten up your day!

Metalwork Monday: Folded Flower Pendant

Being sick has one or two tiny advantages. Instead of roaming around spreading the plague, I have been able to do lots of designing and some creation between meds, tissues, and tea. Yay!


I spent time this week experimenting with new techniques and tools and am pleased with what I have learned. Stay tuned for future posts featuring these great new design elements! 


One of the simplest new techniques that I tested was folding my flowers rather than dapping or doming them. It needs a little refinement, but am happy with my first attempt!

I folded and curved a nickel and copper flower blank and
riveted them to a brass filigree flower to create the pendant.

The tools: blanks and filigree, hole punch, design stamps,'
round nose and chain nose pliers, rivet/riveting tool, hammer,
bench block, marker, liver of sulfur.

I drew a large asterisk on each flower. It is a little
messy, but they will buff out when I polish them.

I punched a hole in the center of each and stamped
the edges of each flower.

I used my chain nose pliers and folded each flower by
placing my pliers on the marker lines and bending
the flower towards the pliers with my fingers.
After I bent the flowers all the way around, I used the round
nose pliers to curl the ends of all the petals.
Because the hole in the filigree is larger, I also punched
a hole in a small copper blank to hold the rivet on.

I layered the 4 pieces and attached all three with an eyelet.
It is ready for a jump ring and chain!