THE MOONLIT STITCH

Wandering through etsy one day I discovered this lovely little shop called TheMoonlitStitch. I immediately connected with the imagination and craftsmanship of the pieces. There were wooden spoons dressed up as dolls, and a bedspring used for a nodding Santa Claus! I like the Zen of putting articles to new and unusual uses, especially clever uses that make me laugh, so I contacted TheMoonlitStitch and asked about her inspiration and why she does what she does:






"I've always been in love with old-fashioned things. A perfect day for me would be getting lost in an old antique shop or the attic of an old house filled with items that haven't been seen for years. Primitive crafters try to re-create the look of "days gone by" through crackling and staining their pieces."





"Long ago, people would "make do" with what they had and create things from simple items, such as a pin keep on an old candle stick (hence the term "make do"). I also like to try and see the world through the eyes of child. When you do, things seem whimsical and simplified."


















"There are not many primitive crafters in my area, so I recently joined a wonderful etsy team called "Old Farmhouse Gathering". These folks create wonderful primitive to shabby chic items. I would really like to encourage etsy artists/crafters to find a team that fits their craft style. Connecting with others who share your interests can be a very inspiring and supportive experience. The OFG team members made me feel like part of "the family" immediately. I don't feel so much like an "odd duck" now!"

"Since I work full time, often the only time I can create is during the "moonlit" hours of the night and that's why I named my shop "The Moonlit Stitch"."








You can see her shop at http://themoonlitstitch.etsy.com, and be sure to look at her team's shops, too. Thank you so much for sharing with us!

PUNKINHEAD

This is my cat, Punkinhead, aka Purrhead, Meowhead, Sillyhead and the Big Meow. I found her in a warehouse about 16 years ago. She came running out of a dark corner with one leg dangling and her left eyeball skewed out of the eye socket. I couldn't just leave her to fend for herself, so I took her home, and to a vet. He thought perhaps a dog had attacked her, grabbed her by her front left leg with a tooth in her eye socket, and shook her as animals will. There was no saving her eye, so that came out and he sewed it up, put a splint on her leg and in about 8 weeks she was fine. She was an outdoor cat, and even with her Elizabethan collar on she was hunting furry and feathered beasts. Children in the neighborhood would come up to me and say they had seen her in a tree stalking birds.







So one day she didn't come home. A couple of days later she showed up with a broken tail. No idea how that happened, but she was in a lot of pain. Again, there was no saving the tail -can't really put a splint on a tail - so we amputated it, and now she has about a 2"-3" stump. And she will use it! She waves it back and forth, or it will stand straight up, or be tucked under when she's sleeping, which is most of the time nowadays. I had to move from the house where she could go outside, and into a 2nd floor apartment. The co-op board did not approve of me letting her outside, so now she is confined to my studio space. It was hard on her to begin with, but after a year or two she became settled as an indoor cat, although I still fell guilty about curtailing her life like that. Now she explores various sleeping places and positions.









It's not easy being a cat, is it, sleepyhead? Big Purrhead. Silly little Punkinhead.

AN ETSIAN CHRISTMAS

I am a firm believer in supporting my fellow crafters/artists, and want to share with you the shops I have purchased from this year. Some of the products will be Christmas presents, others are for myself, and Teaman is for freebies that I send with my sold items, except for the chai which I hoard for myself - hahaha. I am very happy with all these fellow etsians, and recommend them to you.

http://smileymoo.etsy.com - bath and body products, jewelry
http://Ciliciacrochets.etsy.com - crocheted dishcloths and other cloths for the kitchen
http://teaman.etsy.com - assorted handblended teas - delicious!
http://GlassHouseSupplies.etsy.com - jewelry, bath products, assorted herbs
http://Larrystinsigns.etsy.com - amusing signs
http://lostriverrags.etsy.com - gorgeous soaps
http://redneckcandles.etsy.com - self explanatory
http://jenxcreations.etsy.com - wrapped silver jewelry
http://GossamerGraphics.etsy.com - graphic designs - she designed my banner, logo, business cards, etc.
http://trulyenchanted.etsy.com - jewelry

and remember our battle cry - BUY HANDMADE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!