Despite the rubber gloves, I have destroyed 9 out of 10 freshly painted nails so far this week. We’re getting ready to sell our house, and that has meant, so far, three days of intense deep-cleaning. We are pretty clean and tidy people, but you know those areas you just don’t normally get around to … well, there was a lot of, “Ew, gross, gross, gross!” being muttered.

The bulk of the work has been done, but I’ve got another list of things to do for tomorrow, so it will be quiet around here this week. Hopefully by next week we’ll be in “maintenance mode” and I can squeeze in some creative time. ‘Til then!

Believe it or not, Dolly the Dachshund is just about the same size as Snowball the Cat underneath all that fur. It’s a quick pattern to make up and uses minimal amounts of yarn. If you give it a try, share some photos in my flickr group, would you?

Click the image below to download the free pattern.

Somewhere along the way I came across these cool runner’s ID bracelets. I like the idea, because then I don’t have to remember to take my regular ID out of my wallet for a run (or remember to put it back after a run). But I don’t like the idea of spending that much money on something I don’t really need.

So, being the “I could do that myself” person that I am, I made up my own (DIY hack) version. It is essentially a friendship bracelet—remember those?

I took small bits of vinyl and sewed them together on three sides to make a little pocket. I slipped a piece of card with my emergency info printed on it into the pocket and cut slits in the ends of the pocket so the bracelet could slip through them. Then I stitched down the ends of the bracelet and added some velcro for a closure, and voila!

It’s not quite as polished as that shiny silver version, but I can change the info at a moment’s notice without spending more money, and the vinyl does not stick to my arm like I wondered if it would, because the bracelet sits beneath it and keeps it off my skin. And I can make additional bracelets to match any outfit, if I please.

I have to admit, it was sort of fun making a friendship bracelet again. It seems I’m not the only one who’s been up to the knotting business lately, either.

Happy Monday!

Yesterday found me Amigurumi-ing again. Veggie Tales characters, to be exact.

They were much larger than I’d thought they’d be (read: they took all afternoon and evening to crochet), and thanks to a promise that I’d have them finished by morning, I was up late sewing on Larry’s eyeballs.

They were met with enthusiasm in the morning, though, so I guess it was worth it. The patterns are here.

Bob looks pensive, don’t you think? I’m pretty sure it has something to do with Larry and his blasted silly songs.

There’s nothing like a little time lapse slideshow, right? (Really, I just took way more photos than I needed and wanted to use them up somehow!)

I’ve written up the pattern for this little guy, and it’s available for free. Just click the image to download it.

If you make one, will you share it in my flickr group? Also, please do let me know if you have any questions or find any errors!

Coming soon: Dolly the Dachshund.

Well. Hmmm. Looks like I took a little blogging break there, didn’t I? I’m … not sure why. The days just ran into each other, with fleeting thoughts of, “Oh, it’s a blog post day, I’ll do it later,” and now here I am. The up side is you didn’t miss much, what with all the closing out of 2011 books and tax preparations. Exciting stuff, I tell you!

Right now I’m actually trying to finish working my way through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. I got so caught up in other artwork that I let this one sit for half a year, but now I’m going steadily through the exercises with finishing in sight.

I’ll share some of that later—it’s really fascinating science and interesting to learn the methods and techniques behind the things I’ve been doing intuitively—but for today, do you remember this conversation?

My daughter really wanted to give her teachers “pets” for Christmas, so I made one very fluffy kitty:

And a little dachshund:

And, lucky you, I wrote up patterns as I went, so I’ll share them in the near future too.

You have so much to look forward to, don’t you? (Why am I so cheeky today? Why do I sound British? I have no idea.)

Here’s a little something I made for a Christmas gift. It’s basically a slipcover for a camera strap, with a little lens cap pouch that slides onto it. (Just search “camera strap tutorial” or something of the like on Google and you’ll find many instructions.) They really are easy to make and a great gift for the photography enthusiasts in your life. If I could just save up enough for my own DSLR camera, I’d be making one for myself!

And here is a new drawing recently listed in the shop.

I’ve been told by some (ahem) that it looks like a dog, but I prefer to think of it as a wolf. It’s part of this theme I’ve got on the mind, something along the lines of unlikely friendships between humans and animals. (Recall my previous two drawings of boys with bears.) I’m considering adding a color version for a “Little Red” look, since that’s pretty popular right now.

Well, it is—quite literally—back to the drawing board! While I’m getting back into the swing of things here, I’ll be posting some more hand made gifts and possibly a crochet pattern or two. “See” you soon!

I’d like to keep moving in the same direction, becoming more comfortable with myself and growing into myself more and more, both as an artist and as a person. With that in mind, I’ve set some specific, attainable goals for 2012:

1. Continue to grow as an artist, building skills (maybe take some more classes) and developing my personal style. This includes focusing on my “likes”: ink, graphite, watercolor, mixed media, themes of storytelling, imagination, and the relationship between people and animals.

2. Increase sales of artwork online and pursue possibilities for selling in brick-and-mortar stores locally. I’ve already got one wholesale relationship with a local yarn shop, and there are a lot of other shops in this town where I might build similar relationships.

3. Become a recognizable figure in the art world. I’m not talking celebrity here, just becoming an artist whose work some people might recognize and admire, as I do with so many others. That’s a pretty ambitious goal (even feels a little self-important) considering how many amazing artists are out there, but at least one goal has to shoot for the stars, right?

4. Make time for some “background” projects that I enjoy: sewing, crochet, knitting, paper-cutting, etc. I want to continue to cherish the rich heritage of making things by hand that are both useful and beautiful. This includes continuing to have a “handmade home.”

5. Become a runner. I have liked to run in the past, but until last Summer I was never fit enough to really enjoy it. (You know, when you’re past the point of feeling like you’re going to die and can actually relish the feeling of using strong muscles?) After a spontaneous 5k run on the beach, something I’d never done before and didn’t even know I could do, I realized just how much I love running. Sadly, I took too many months off from exercise and am back at the start, so this year I’d like to get back in shape and then set some “beginner” goals: participate in some 5ks, maybe work to a 10k by the end of the summer. I’d like to make running a more regular part of my life.

There are other bigger, more personal goals floating around in my head, but I think these smaller things will contribute to the bigger things. By pursuing dreams and taking care of myself, I will hopefully enjoy positive outpourings into my relationships, my family, etc. That’s the way to do it, I think, one small bit at a time.

(The artwork you see here are two pieces done as birthday gifts at the end of 2011. A bit different from my usual, but tailored to the recipients, and I’m quite pleased with them.)

You know, New Year’s Day was never such a big deal to me. It was just another holiday to celebrate with good food, friends, family, etc. But lately it’s really becoming my favorite time, a time when I really do feel like I’m putting away the old (as great as it may have been) and starting completely fresh, with a whole new beginning and lots of possibility stretched out in front of me. I like that feeling.

I think I did pretty well with last year’s goals. My theme was Freedom, Focus, and Flexibility, and I think I achieved all of those. I made a few handmade gifts, but I didn’t feel pressured to make anything just because I could, and I shopped Etsy a lot more for the rest. I focused on finding the creative things I love to do the most and developing them. I moved at whatever pace fit at the moment, which was at times quite productive and at others way more than sluggish—and that didn’t bother me!

For the whole, specific list of last year’s goals, you can go here. I’ve continued to branch out into my artwork and feel very satisfied with where that stands. I put more time into making items for my shop (rather than for gifts), and I took on a little more networking and polishing of the business side of things, ‘though I still haven’t put a huge amount of effort into that aspect. I kept some creative background projects going here and there, but I found myself so wrapped up in drawing that I didn’t feel a strong desire to do anything else most of the time.

Most nights I get to bed earlier than I used to, which means less creating time, but I’m ok with that at the moment. (Sleep is good!) I’m still working on being a better mom. There are times when I know I’ve done great, but there are also ways I know that I lack. I’m not aiming for SuperMom here, ‘though I know it’s easy to carry unnecessary guilt when you’re a mom. I just think there are always ways you can improve on anything you do, and I’d like to do that.

My six simple, achievable goals were good ones, I think. All considered, I’m satisfied with how 2011 came out. How about you?

(I’ll be back Friday with my goals for 2012.)