Woolnimals

I'm honored to have been approved to list my shop among other amazing, eco-conscious artists over at Cosa Verde. Cosa Verde (Spanish for "green thing")is a sort of hub, if you will, of eco-friendly Etsy (and other online shops) artists. You don't buy directly from the Cosa Verde shop, but instead, the interested buyer is linked directly to the Etsy shop. It's basically more exposure - but exposure to a specific "green" market. I really love the site and the artists it hosts, and am so thrilled to be among them. You can check out my Cosa Verde store by clicking here! Celebrate GREEN THINGS!

I've had some really, really late nights lately - as a result of heat, coffee late in the day (bummer), and having a great deal on my mind. I'm gearing up to take a couple of weekends away to the ocean in July, which will be so revitalizing. A few nights here and there I've been up painting - which is a rare thing for me. Last night, I watched a spider catching bugs and eating them for nearly two hours. I think the summer heat makes me wistful and calm - and unfortunately sleepless, because I'm so tired today. Wah! In among other things I have been needle felting and re-photographing my creatures for my Etsy shop. It was starting to look a little dull, so I took some better pictures. The fox and hedgehog are new - and the reshoot of the mouse looks really cute. I'm quite pleased with it. More blog updates and happenings when my eyes uncross! Keep Smiling!

I've been trolling around Etsy and finding some amazing little watercolors done by talented artists. I really love illustrations of animals or children with animals - and I thought that perhaps it was time to make my way back to watercolors. I've spent a lot of time understanding how animals work in the 3-D sculptural world - which I think has aided my drawing skills. Usually it's the other way around, right? Last night I tried to paint a lion at about midnight (I was wired and couldn't sleep), and I messed his face up pretty badly - despite the fact that he looked lovely otherwise. I thought to myself: "Self, you can do this!" So I painted a polar bear. And a bee. And a pig, Canada goose, and mouse. I love them! I realize that practice makes perfect - and I will begin offering original ACEO-sized watercolor paintings in my shop soon. I will continue needle felting - but it's time to stop being afraid of watercolors. It's quite hard to photograph and...

I'll be doing a couple of proper blog posts soon!

I just did a new treasury! I haven't done one in days! I love this one... Ode to My Inner Child!

Mephitis mephitis ! This lovely skunk is now available in my shop!

As everyone already knows, I love Etsy. It's my favorite place to buy gifts for others, and every now and then I buy myself a little treat too. I have been nothing but pleased with every purchase I've made on Etsy...until now. Meet Hamilton the Pig: I am not simply "pleased" with this purchase...he is hands down my favorite purchase ever! I bought him from Knitted for Ewe on Etsy after reading this blog post on Nicole's Knitting Blog. Hamilton is made from bubblegum pink yarn - upcycled from a thrifted sweater. He's so plump and squishy and fat and pink that I can barely stand it. I brought him to a Father's Day picnic at Charlotte Beach in Charlotte, Vermont - and he enjoyed the lake views and being hugged by my husband's entire family. His first adventure was hanging out on the dock, catching some sun. And my husband may love him even more than me. Here he is posing proudly with our new piglet... I think Hamilton has a lot of adventures ahead of...