Macrodons!

My friend Billy Zinser makes Macrodons. For his new baby, Tilly, I made this crocheted plush version based on the 20-foot blow up version he made last year. I'm really happy with it. I can't wait to meet baby Tilly!

New, New, New!

Last weekend, I set up for my first show of the 2011 season. It was at a baby store, so I geared the items towards babies and little girls. It was my first opportunity to debut not only a whole new line of products, but a new display, tags, and sign. It's a complete visual make-over! Everything is green, gray, or cream. These delicate neutrals set the stage for the muted colors that I prefer and the wide range of colorful yarns that I use in my crocheted button pins (and now hair clips!). There is also a literary theme working throughout the display: pages from the class children's book Heidi are used in item tags, drawings and pages from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice are used on the new gray trays I made and on my new Modest Ambition sign. In addition, I have a new logo, sort of. I'm still working on it. It's my signature MA text, plus a few hand drawn flourishes in a nice fluid, yet brittle line. 

I'm very excited about all of these new items and I'm really looking forward to putting the new baby merchandise out with the new and returning favorites for adults at The Dallas Flea on September 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Side on Lamar. I'm planning on bringing a whole new line of crocheted necklaces -- in advance of my October 23 Crocheted Necklace Workshop at Oil & Cotton Creative Exchange, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. So... maybe I have a thing for seersucker right now?

By the way, I also have a new website. More on that soon.

Wee Thing Winter Wear

Tomorrow, I'm debuting my new baby items at the Babytique Grand Opening, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Here's Lena trying on a few things for me. We're going to have to work on her on her ability to sit still! But, she's awfully cute. The baby hoods and coordinating ponchos are made from either acrylic and bamboo blend or acrylic and wool blend yarns. All are really soft and wearable. The buttons on the hoods are from my vintage collection and the ponchos button at the flower, so the neck opening is nice and wide. I can't wait to share these!

More DIY Kits

I just dropped off more DIY Brooch Kits at Oil & Cotton last week. Ireally enjoy the opportunity to play with the colors and textures and choose the buttons. I think they will be really fun for someone to assemble into their own creation. There are so many possibilities! On sale now exclusively at Oil & Cotton in Dallas.

Introducing Modest Ambition Vintage and Supplies

After the Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale I was inspired to open a second Etsy shop just for supplies and vintage. I've toyed with the idea of opening a vintage shop for awhile, but just hadn't gotten around to it. Now, I've finally done it. Modest Ambition Vintage & Supplies or modestambitionvands will focus on supplies, both handmade and commercially available that I use already, and vintage, mostly paper goods. I'll be adding to the shop regularly as I build the inventory - I have plenty here, I just have to find the time to put it up.

I opened my original shop in 2007 and let me just say, Etsy has really changed since then! It is so much easier to open and run a shop now. I'm glad they are putting the work in to make it better.

By a Thread

My friend Stephanie gave me a box of thread for crochet and tatting.  I made this piece from some of the thread for her birthday. The fabric looks like needlepoint canvas but it is actually an upholstery fabric sample. I crocheted all of the components for the collage except for a small string of tatting that is folded up inside of the red pod. My grandmother made that. I had fun playing with the fibers, choosing different weights and hooks for different effects. I actually enjoyed using my tiniest steel hook to create the crenelated shape at the bottom corner, working two stitches into every stitch on every round to create a hyperbolic pseudosphere. I hope to try my hand at this sort of project again soon.

DIY Brooch Kit

I've started making brooch kits for sale at Oil & Cotton in Oak Cliff, Dallas. Here are two examples. There are 9 different crocheted parts plus one fabric yo-yo. I've made sure that there are numerous ways to put kit together so the design is really up to you. Each kit comes with two pin backs and two pony-tail holders. Why two ponytail holders on a brooch kit? Because I don't like waste! I've included enough parts for four items, but since you're only making 2 brooches, what to do with the rest of it?

The kit also comes with matching thread and two felt squares for backing the brooches. Finally, four buttons are included. Again, this is to give you lots of choices so you can make the best most awesome custom item just for you. The buttons are from my vintage stash and picked out just for the color combination included in the kit.

The packaging is completely recycled from other purchases of mine -- clean and new when I got it, lovingly repurposed for you. Baby stuff comes in lots and lots of plastic so I have a sea of it. The kit also includes step-by-step instructions for making your brooches. 

Altogether you have a kit with endless possibilities, handcrafted and selected for you. What do you want to make with it? The kit retails for $20 and is currently only available at Oil & Cotton. It makes a great gift for a crafty friend or buy it and make one for you and one to give away.