Pretty, Pretty Peacocks

Making some major progress on my embroidery project. I was able over the past week to outline all of my peacocks which there are six. Outlined in embroidery stitches and get their wings in progress. I currently now have three of them filled in with the darkest teal color. Eventually those will also have accents colors stiches to the body and a lighter to green and then seafoam green for highlight.

The crown on the head will have glass beads as will the eyes of the many tail feathers. I will use the three colors in conjunction to create textured tail feathers. After these are done the work on the flowers begins.

Slowly coming together,
Maureen

Feathery Puppet Fantasy Magic

      

Simic Guild

Izzet Guild

With the tax returns in and refund back, Justin and I found a few things to purchase. We already got one box of Magic the Gathering: Return to Ravinca to add to an already interesting compilation of decks. I have an awesome Dragon Izzet blue red deck that is pretty mauling. I dabbled with Azorious white blue deck, though its has some kinks that need to be worked out yet. My green white centaur Selesyna deck was tweaked by Justin to be a populating nightmare for those facing it. Return to Ravnica has proven to be one great set for multicolor or theme deck builders like myself.  We also got one box of Magic the Gathering: Gatecrash and are planning to buy a second. Which I am making a blue green deck based on the Simic guild and its array of interesting. I am hoping buying a second box pays off and I am able to get a legendary blue green merfolk creature, guess we will see. I love the artwork and challenge of strategy even-though I have to improve my skills with deck building.

I also found the most beautiful phoenix from Midsummer Knights Dream(MSKD), one that has peacock feather accents. I wanted to get a Jhari's cat with these accents but have not had any luck seeing them in the inventory to pick up. Though I would love to get a custom peacock puppet from MSKD, I am not sure how that would work and if it would be worth it now that I will have a peacock accented phoenix. Its purple, blue, and green the color combo I really like and will be opposite from the yellow, red, and black in my Phoenix, Miracle. She was at one of the renaissance fairs for sale down south, somehow no one bought her. A few folks on the fan site say it was meant to be, so Fate is her name. I also picked up at bright colored gryphon, which I named Keylime after the color of her fur. Tooks some pictures for you to enjoy.

Aso got some terracotta fabric for the gown I am working on commission finally found the color at the right price. Now just waiting for it to come in from India. In the meantime I will finish the undergarments and be ready to cut the pattern by the time it gets here. Excited to see it all come together for this commission.  Well I better get back to the sewing machine.

Regards,

Maureen

Homeward Bound Gryphon

I wanted to share the newest member of the Plotts Gryphon Conclave! That is what I call my gryphon woodbaby collection at home, lol. This new one yet to be named, will be joining us after the New Year. Also in puppet news I decided to sell off all of my Imaginarium Galleries Drabbits! Even though I like Drabbits with their very interesting style difference, available my local renaissance faire, and Imaginarium Galleries has Drabbit giveaways. I discovered much more happiness and contentment with my Midsummer Knight Dream Woodbaby collection and the company that makes these wonders of art.

My reasons for the total switch to Midsummer Knights Dream Woodbabies are; better and wider variety of creatures, much better prices for the puppet you receive, much better communication to customers, and options to order a custom puppet without waiting weeks for a reply. Even though I cannot get them at my local renaissance faire and I adopt them online, my feelings have leaned this way for sometime.  The staff at MSKD is so more engaging, friendly, and attentive to answering questions and flexible to my needs. I guess customer service means alot to me and MSKD has it.  

Hoping the sale will help with Holiday bills and will make room for me to move my Woodbabies from the cold front sewing/computer room, to the areas in the living room on top stereo a place of real honor. I have lots of interest with folks wanting to adopt the Drabbits I have at home and space should clear soon.

Productive Weekend Crafting

Well been busy with things I want to get done for a change. Besides getting the required chores done that need to be completed by weeks end, I was able to get some crafting completed too. I have had a collection of feathers meant for Elizabethan fans for sometime. I decided to finally make the hat pins and fans I was wanting, though not without complications. I had bought a finial to make a handle for one of the fans, thought to my misfortune  I cannot find it anywhere in my craft room. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, so I modified some broken wooden handles from some household tools. Though I will buy some decoration for either side of the handle to give aesthetic appeal and cover my glue joint to the handle.

Also on the Tablet Weaving front, I have made some garters in a coral wool yarn. Wasn't sure how the much thicker yarn was going to hold up but it did well. I am now working with another yarn in lavender and using a metallic weft thread, sparkles on the ends of the weave. Looking really cool, hoping the rest of the weave turns out pretty. I am thinking of using my single ply wool on this and seeing how it all turns out. Hmm should be interesting. Thought I would share my progress so far with a few pictures...

Below is an Elizabethan Feather Fan

 Below is a Feathered Hat Pin

 Below is another Elizabethan Feather Fan

 This is the second Feathered Hat Pin 

 Last but not least Tablet Woven Coral Wool Garters

... well that is what I have been up to this weekend. I hope to get pics of the lavender tablet weaving and such when its done. I also started small leaves on the back panel of the Elizabethan Jacket, baby steps I suppose. The jacket is one long and daunting feat, though it will pay off in the end. Well back to the workweek and hoping for some evening time to work and finish the weaving and embroidery.

Crafty Thoughts,

Maureen