Bella Dia

Little Houses

I have some new Little Houses that I've made but they
won't be up for sale until early fall.  I hope you don't mind
but I couldn't wait until then to share them with you.
This one I call the Forest House. 

I needle-felted the roof so it has a thatched appearance... 

and it's surrounded on all sides by trees that have a bit
of stuffing so they are slightly three dimensional.

My favorite part of this house are the little mushrooms. 
I've been loving mushrooms a lot lately.

The illustration in the background is from Jan Brett's Goldilocks
And The Three Bears. If you've never been to her website
then take a look; it's chock full of printables and activities. 

This is my Red Roof house. Yellow roses bloom in the
window box above the front door. 

I'm experimenting with three dimensional elements so I put
an awning over the side window. (It looks crooked in
the picture but I promise it's not.)

The back has some traditional home implements -
garbage can, broom, and rake. 

The other side has two needle-felted shrubs harboring a
bird bath that a little bluebird has found. 

The mushroom is a WIP that you'll see more of soon.

Here's my little Beach Cottage.  I got a lot of inspiration from
Barbara Cooney's illustrations in Island Boy and Hattie and
the Wild Waves. There's an awning over the front door and
a porthole window. The front and back have swags of
bunting blowing in the ocean breeze. 

The window boxes are full of moss and the windows
have cottage style shutters. 

The back of the house has a sandcastle and a bucket and
beach grass growing in the sand. The handle
on the bucket moves. 

The background for the Beach Cottage is from
The Little Island written by Margaret Wise Brown
and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.

This Itty Bitty house is half the size of the others
and just the right size for fairies. 

Morning glories bloom on the back wall. 

I hope you like my Little Houses. They are going on
a journey and won't return until the fall but hopefully
by then I'll have more to offer for sale. Thanks for
looking through this picture-heavy post!

My Reach vs. My Grasp

I love to wear simple skirts and tops in the summer but I can never seem to find clothes that are just right.  I know what I want, but buying ready-made means you're stuck with the current fashion and not necessarily what looks good on you or what you like.  I found these Brown Paper Patterns and I'm really excited to give them a try.  There is one pattern each for skirts, pants/shorts, and tops and each pattern has five variations.  They are simple on purpose so you can customize the design to suit your fancy.  I'm in the process of making a six-gored short skirt but got held up when I didn't have the right zipper.  I bought the patterns from here after I checked out the reviews here. 

I also bought two other patterns:  Simplicity 4632 that has a top, dress, and pants with variations and Simplicity 4589.  I love what Amber at Berlin's Whimsy did with #4589 so I'm attempting the same thing.  It's supposed to be an easy pattern so we'll see. 

I took advantage of Hancock's sale and bought some fabrics that I'm really excited about.  You can see the palette I've been drawn to for the summer.  There's also some natural colored linen that's in the wash. 

My reach usually exceeds my grasp on sewing projects but then what's the summer for? :)

Craft Bloggers in Books: A List

The other day I was in Twin Falls at Barnes & Noble and there in the craft section was The Crafter's Companion!  I quickly turned to see my contribution and got a huge smile on my face just thinking, "Wow, look at me, here I am in Barnes & Noble looking at a book with pictures of my stuff in it!   Who woulda  thunk?!"  When I started blogging three years ago it never even crossed my mind that opportunities like that could happen so it really is quite a thrill for me.  Just seeing the whole DIY/craft movement become more mainstream has been exciting so I wanted to create a book list to reflect that.

Here is a list of craft books that are either written by craft bloggers or have contributions from craft bloggers, either way they all began with a craft blog:

The Crafter's Companion edited by Anna Torborg      Seventeen craft bloggers (including me) talk about their crafting life and have contributed a pattern for various craft projects along with instructions.

Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals by Therese Laskey   This book is available for pre-order and will make it's appearance September 6th.  I just know it's going to be wonderful.  I've contributed a pincushion pattern in this one.  For more info you can go to Terry's blog Softies Central

Pretty Little Pincushions from Lark Books   Available November 1 but you can pre-order now.  I have three pincushion patterns in this book.  It sounds like it's going to be great.

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew by Amy Karol   Of course you know Ms. Angry Chicken - you can find more of her wonderfulness here.

Plush-o-Rama: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults by Lark Books   Plush creators have contributed lots of fun patterns and designs for wacky creatures.

Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures by Kay Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne These ladies are two-of-a-kind to be sure - their blog is here

The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer plus contributors

Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee of Yarn Harlot fame

Doodle-Stitching: Fresh & Fun Embroidery for Beginners by Aimee Ray   See her blog and lovely work here.

Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split by Laurie Perry of Crazy Aunt Purl

Anticraft: Knitting, Beading, and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister by Renee Rigdon and Zabet Stewart of Anticraft.

Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects by Betz White Thanks for the heads-up on this one Anna. A great title - Betz's blog is here.

I'd be happy to add any others to this list just as long as the book began as a blog.  I've also created a Listmania! list on Amazon for this one called Craft Bloggers in Books.  Enjoy!

A New Favorite Picnic Spot

About an hour's drive from home, over the river and through the fields, we found our new favorite picnic spot.

I really love it here; the river is easy to get to and the kids can play in the sand.

Lots of rocks to search through too. Besides this great heart rock I found several pieces of agate.

There's still snow in the mountains to the north...

but the woolly bear caterpillars don't mind.

Wild lupines are making their appearance. Whenever I see lupines I'm always reminded of the book Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. A wonderful story that reminds everyone, "You must do something to make the world more beautiful."

A pronghorn antelope - all by his lonesome.

A hoary marmot says hello. My sister took this picture. She's got a beautiful new blog - go say hello won't you?

We live in sheep country so it's not uncommon to come upon these herds grazing free range. In the spring they are slowly driven north to cooler temperatures and then south again in the fall. Sometimes in the early morning you can hear them baaing from the hills.

This herd was being tended by two Great Pyrenees. The dogs protect them from wolves and women with cameras.

The road home.

On our way back we were lucky to come upon a mother fox and her three kits playing near the road. So so cute! The kits quickly hid in the brush but mama just sat and kept her eyes on us while we took some pictures. Isn't she beautiful?! She just takes my breath away.

If you're not bored silly by now you can see more over at Flickr :)

Crafty Fiction for Kids

I've created this book list of great crafty fiction for kids.   These are not how-to books but stories that will inspire, inform, and entertain.  If you have any favorites please list them in the comments for all to enjoy.  Yea for summer!  Yea for reading!

Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow (illustration pictured above)   One of my all-time favorites.  Pelle learns what it takes to create a new wool suit. 

Warm As Wool by Scott Russell Sanders  This is an historical-based story about a pioneer family in Ohio and how a small herd of sheep goes a long way in easing their hardships.

The Goat in the Rug by Charles L. Blood  A true story about best friends, Glenmae,  a Navajo weaver, and her pet goat Geraldine.  Glenmae weaves a rug from Geraldine's hair.  Very cute illustrations and narrated by the goat.

The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau  A modern fable about a talented and generous quiltmaker that teaches a greedy king about the gift of giving.  Gorgeous illustrations by Gail De Marcken.

The Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr  A patchwork memory quilt eases the transition of a Westward-moving pioneer family and a young girl's attachment to her favorite pet.  An I Can Read Book level 3.

The Keeping Quilt  A quilt preserves the memories of multiple generations of Russian immigrants.  A biographical story written and illustrated by the wonderful Patricia Polacco.

The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid  A boy enjoys playing with his grandmother's button stash.  Cute ideas to use with your own kids.

The Paper Crane by Molly Bang  Magic happens after a restaurant owner is given a paper crane.  Very cool illustrations created from a combination of collage and painting.

Yoko's Paper Cranes by Rosemary Wells  Generations stay connected through the art of origami even though they are oceans apart.  Incredible illustrations that make use of washi papers and gold leaf turn this book into a true feast for the eyes.

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall  An early nineteenth-century family works on their crafts all year round then sells them at the market only to start the process all over again.  A nice simple telling of the circle of seasons and wonderful illustrations by the fabulous Barbara Cooney.

The Chalkbox Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla  This is a beginning chapter book but also a great read-aloud.  A boy works out his anger and at the same time finds the artist within himself while creating a chalk garden in a burned-out factory.

I Am An Artist by Pat Lowery Collins  A beautiful and delicately illustrated book describes how anyone is an artist when they look closely at the natural world around them.

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I don't own the following books but they looked like good ones from my search on Amazon:

Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth  A quiet girl that knits inspires everyone with her generosity.

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan   For older readers.  A thirteen-year-old girl's experience within a traditional Indian culture and how embroidery helps her find her own independence and happiness.   

Emma's Rug by Allen Say   A story about how a young girl gets her artistic inspiration.  If you aren't familiar with Allen Say's work then you are in for a real treat.  His illustrations are the best!

Fairy Houses by Tracy L. Kane  Fairy houses!  Do I have to say more?  I put this one in my cart :)   Check out this website too.

Little Beasties

Do you know what this sweet kitty did the other day?  He brought us a present!  Oh yes, I've received half-dead mice and mangled fowl from our other felines, but this gift tops them all.... what was it?  A snake!  In the house!  Alive!!  Luckily, the snake was scared out of its wits and all balled up and Tom was laying next to it giving the snake a little pat every now and then just to remind him he was still there. 

I was in the other room, on the computer, and the kids called me from the kitchen... Mom, come in here!  Okay, just a minute.  Mom, we need you right now!  Okay, okay.   I pushed myself away from the keyboard and went into the kitchen to see what the fuss was about and at the same time that they are telling me - from atop the counter - that Tom had caught a snake, I see it on the floor!  A snake!   Why didn't you tell me!  Yikes!  We got a broom and swept him into a shovel and took him outside.  As soon as the sunshine hit him he stretched out and made his getaway into our storage area.  Of course, now, blogging about it, I wish I had gotten a picture, but you probably understand I was in a bit of a hurry at the time ;)   I don't like snakes.  They freak me out.  Even though this was a garter snake and I know they do a lot of good in the garden etc.  I still don't want to see them in my kitchen or run into them when I'm weeding. 

I had planned on cleaning out that storage area this weekend but now I think we'll save it for another day.

Flowercarts and Mushrooms

I've been finding these Japanese mugs at only one thrift shop and only every few months.  I go for weeks with nary a mug in sight then suddenly there are three!  I thought I was going to faint when I saw the mushroom one ;) 

I took an unplanned blog break but have lots of good things going on.  Spring fever hit me hard with flower planting, decluttering and organizing the house, the biannual switching of wardrobes from winter to summer, and general herding of ducks to get them in a row.  More to share soon!