Fairy Houses

Our family was delighted to discover that a band of fairies had made camp in our front yard. Sneaking up as cat-like as I could, I snapped a few pictures...of course no fairies would come out (they are awfully camera shy), but my children were completely mesmerized by the houses none the less~

Afternoon tea in the studio. I'll allow my children to make a slight mess so that I can paint in peace...This is the tea set from my childhood and I was delighted to share it with my little ones.

Fairy Bread by Robert Louis Stevenson
Come up here, O dusty feet!
Here is fairy ready to eat.
Here in my retiring room,
Children ,you may dine
On the golden smell of broom
And the shade of pine;
And when you have eaten well,
Fairy stories hear and tell.

Hand Carved Stamp Tutorial by Art Nest

Supplies
drawing paper
tracing paper
carving block
carving tools
pencil
inkpad

1.Draw your design with pencil on drawing paper. Make sure to keep your design simple! I am drawing a hand with a heart inside to represent my love of everything handmade!



2.Trace your design onto tracing paper using your pencil.


3.Lay your carving block in front of you and place your traced design right side down on block.

4.Transfer the design to the block by rubbing over design with your thumb nail.







5.Using your #2 tool, cut a deep groove around the entire design, being careful not to carve out the pencil lines.




6.Now, using your # 1 tool, carve out the negative space in your design (the part that will not pick up the ink) Don't over do the first pass at carving.



7.Rinse design under warm running water and blot dry with a paper towel. This will remove any carving dust.



8.Using your ink pad, press ink onto your design and stamp onto your drawing paper.





9.Evaluate the results and, if needed, continue carving. I want to make the heart smaller and thin the sides of the fingers.

10.Repeat step 7 – 9 until you are happy with result:



11. Using #6 tool, carve out entire design following the deep groove you created in step 5 BE CAREFUL, DO NOT CUT TOWARD YOUR FINGERS OR BODY





12. Your hand carved stamp is now complete and ready to use!

Bella's First Birthday Brunch! We had such a grand day celebrating our little one's first year. Over twenty guests arrived for the occasion. Lots of laughter, talking, and eating. I love a good party and I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

We took an afternoon trip to the park this Father's Day. Jeffrey is quite the photographer. He is a professional photographer...I don't know that I've ever mentioned that! He is one of the most involved father's I've ever witnessed. He plays, protects, and loves his children to the point where I get a little jealous sometimes.

One of my sketch book pages. It's always a treat to see inside an artists world, don't you think?

My first pillow case dress! I was pleased with how easy the project was. I hand embroidered the 'B' with a ballet pink thread, and used some satin ribbon for the ties.

This is my first dress to make with my new sewing machine! The polka dot diaper cover is from Jackie Clarks Britches and Bloomers.

Knitting Needle Travel Pouch

Supplies
2 fat quarters
measuring tape
scissors
pins
rotary cutter & mat (optional)
sewing machine
iron
snap
needle and thread for hand sewing

The below measurments will accomodate needles up to 11" long. You will need to add width for longer needles.


Step 1
Start with 2 fat quarters that are washed, dried, and ironed:


Step 2
Choose the fabric that is to be the outside of your pouch. Mine is the floral. Cut a rectangle that measures 6.5" tall by 12" wide.
Using the fabric that is to be the inside of your pouch, cut a rectangle that measures 7.75" tall by 12" wide.
IF YOU NEED A LONGER POUCH, ADD INCHES TO THE WIDTH.


Step 3
With right sides together, align the rectangles to the right and pin:


Step 4
Using a 1/4" seem allowance, sew down the right side:


Step 5
Align left sides together. Pin and sew down the left side:


Step 6
Turn inside out. Position your outside fabric (the floral) in the center of the two strips of inside fabric (the cream). Iron flat:


Step 7
Fold the left side in 2" :


Step 8
Fold the right side in 1.5" and pin down the center :


Step 9
Sew both ends using the following method. First sew end using a straight 1/4" seam allowance. Next, zig-zag stitch to secure. Snip threads. :



Step 10
Remove pins and turn pouch inside out. Use a knitting needle to gentley push corners if needed. :


Step 11
Hand sew a snap in the center of your pouch:




Step 12
Insert your knitting needles into pouch, snap closed, and travel away!

Bonjour!It's 2009 and I can feel the winds of change...much like the character, Vianne Rocher, in Chocolat. To live simply is something I am striving for more than ever this new year. My husband, three children, and I have all been learning to enjoy life's little pleasures...the sound of rain as it hits the elephant ears in the garden, the glorious smell of lemons, fresh sheets on the bed, sketching and coloring as a family, reading chapter books aloud at night, and discovering what truly matters. Art Nest is a place to celebrate everyday beauty, hard work, living creatively, artistic achievements and remembering to live simply.

fancy sending me a surprise??
Art Nest_PO Box 33_Hot Springs, AR_71902

e-mail: sittingprettystudio[at!]yahoo[dot]com Subject line: Art Nest