Home Improvements

Why call them resolutions? They're really just life improvements, aren't they?

Well, I've been giving my 2010 life improvements some thought and I've had plenty of time to do this over the last week during my mini me vacation. Nothing better than a week off work spent with one of your favorite gal pals in Atlanta. Great company, great food, amazing beers and I-K-E-A! 'Nuf said.

So, back to my improvements....

I won't regale you with promises to lose weight, live a healthier life style, save money, etc. Why would I when I can't even promise myself those things?

Let's be realistic blogosphere....I'm a crafter, an artist (pronounced ar'teest) if you will. My goals this year are to spend more time on my art, more time being creative, and spending time with other creative folks. I really want to tell you that I'm going to post a new item on Etsy every day this year, but that would be lying. So, I'm going to tell you that I'm going to try to post a new item on Etsy each week. That way I'll seem like a creative genius who has her sh** together if I post more than once a week.

With that said, may I present to you this week's Etsy installment (the first of 2010 I might add):

Ruskie Mittens in Red

I love making these mittens and actually have another pair that I'm going to post today (see 'creative genius' above). They're entirely made from felted upcycled wool sweaters and they are oh-so-soft and thick. I've also been making more gloves, but they take a little longer. Plus, I forgot to take photos of all of the gloves that I made for Christmas gifts. Sorry.

Please visit my Etsy store, and stay tuned for more here at A Jelly Girl...

Penelope, who?

I'm just dying to tell you about my lastest project idea. Have no fear, the can-can dancer is still in the works. I hit a bit of a roadblock with her as I'm trying to figure out how to get her full skirts all worked out. But, as is the case with an ADD crafter/artisan (I think I can call myself an 'artisan') I can't do just one project at a time!

Ok, enough babbling and on to the project......

So, I was looking though Etsy's Alchemy site trying to find something to make. I saw that several people had mentioned 'Penelope scarf' and 'Penelope coat'.
The coat and scarf are ADORABLE! They're worn by the character Penelope, played by Christina Ricci in the 2008 movie 'Penelope'. While I'm not a knitter, I can sew and I'm pretty sure I can make this coat. I've looked at all of the photos available on the web, and determined that it's a pricess cut coat with some sleeve modification. The edging is easier I think that it looks. It's simply another color of wool placed in the seam - much like you would do for piping on a throw pillow, etc.
I scoured the internet looking for patterns. I found several that were close, but this morning I think I hit the jackpot!
I found this pattern on both ebay and etsy (http://bontonvintage.etsy.com) in 2 different sizes. I think the yellowish dress with the sleeves of the red dress is the way to go. I ordered both patterns and hopefully they will be here in a week or so. I'm going to keep looking for more copies of this pattern.

Now I just need to find the fabric and some large coat buttons like the ones on the original coat. If all goes well, I'm hoping to sell these coats as a custom order at my store on Etsy. Granted, it's closing in on spring......but, I'm pretty sure it will get cold again!

She works hard for the money

Yea Jelly Girl!

I'm finally putting more stuff on etsy - which is truly an accomplishment for me because I hate taking photos of my work. The only place in our house with good light is this bay window at the front of the house, and if I don't get there between 10 am and sometime in the early afternoon I might as well forget about it. So, today I had a burst of photo-energy and have successfully updated my etsy store Jelly B. Green.