wristlets

wristlets
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

A new thing to try with wool sweaters that are felted! Keeps the hand and wrist warm and the fingers free to needle felt!

secret santa gifts

secret santa gifts
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Secret Santa gifts from my Pit Bull Forum friend. . . the dogs are enjoying new collars and coats and I'm enjoying the scarf and gloves.

craft class

craft class
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Set-up at the crafting class at my Library. . . everyone wants to have more crafting classes after this. Especially where they can sign up for JUST Needle Felting. . .

There are no pictures of the class itself because I was just a hair busy!

guinea pig meets pit bull

guinea pig meets pit bull
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Even though the pit bulls are rodent hunters and enjoy a good tumble in the swamp. The house pets are introduced properly and NOT ON THE MENU. For the most part Ready wants to clean them like a puppy and Cruiser (pictured) runs when a piggie is put on the floor without supervision. . . He dosn't want to get accused of anything. . .

jada, the pit bull

jada, the pit bull
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Happy customers

Comment from Custom Order Clients and New Friends:

iPhone Case:
Cannot put into words how I feel about this seller and her products. Her friendly and sincere personality shines in the quality of her products. Barbara took the time to know more about me and what I was looking for in this particular product. Once it arrived, my iPhone case was more than I had anticipated it to be! I use it everyday and love the personal touches that were put into it. You would have to take me down to get it from me! I love it for its quality and personalization. More over, I love it for the wonderful person who "made" it for me...from her heart!

Guinea Pig Portrait:
He is here!

Thank you so much. He is perfect!

Horse Portrait:
Che arrived today and I'm thrilled! I could not see how much wonderful detail it had on the photo. I think she's going to love it and I'm also happy that we're exchanging our Christmas gifts tomorrow!!

AND I love the little snowman. HE's going on my coat for tomorrow.

Thank you sooooo much! This is a very special gift.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
she loves him. She was going to wear him on her jacket that night. Then I think she wants to somehow hang him on her tree! She really liked the "actual white" on the chin and snip.

So it was a success!

Yellow Lab, Body's Portrait:
received the package and it is in being framed. The frame is seven inches square, ebony fabric which goes up two inch, and covered in glass to protect this precious piece. I love it! I will send you a photo when I get it back, which is why I have not gotten back to you. I think you are a talented lady.

Pumpkin Pin:
Wonderful, wonderful. Already got a compliment my first time wearing it!!

Guinea Pigs:
so cute guinea pig , very well made ,thanks (France)

Rottie Portrait:
Awesome work .....looks just like my dog....

Arabian Horse Pin:
Thank you for such a fast delivery of a beautiful felt pin.
We shall have to discuss a pair of cat pins in the new year if you are interested.

Corgi Portraits:
O.M.G. I am literally speechless. Even though I saw pics, I was NOT prepared for just how much these really would look like my corgi, Ein. So so soft, so so adorable, and the Nick corgi is going to be the PERFECT gift for my future father in law. Nick is his baby, and I can't think of a better gift to give him than a soft, fuzzy, miniature 3-D "portrait" of his baby.

Highly, highly recommend this seller!

Pumpkin Pin Cushion:
This is SO cool! I love it- lovely work, fast shipping, well packaged. Thanks! I don't want to put it down. :)

Personalized I Can Build a Snowman Can:
Darling Snowman Can!! Thanks for the extra carrot!! Happy Howlidays!! ^..^

needle felt dog wool coat

dog wool sweater recycled vest
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

My first attempt at a dog coat. . . modeled by our boy but made for a female dog to protect her hairless belly.

All the needle felt decorations other than the name are to cover slits or moth holes in beautiful green felt. Goodwill wool sweater fulled in the washing machine into felt. Cut into a vest using the original neck hole. the sweater sleeves are refashioned into the belly band that velcros at the dog's back.

Stanley the needle felt and Molly the American Guinea Pig

Stanley the needle felt and Molly the American Guinea Pig
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Molly is 4 weeks old American with Satin gene (meaning 1/2 of her babies would be a American Satin if bred with a Satin male) and Stanley is a portrait of a Chicago Teddy. . .

Molly is the much anticipated replacement to Drama. My 9 yo that wouldn't even show the Judge the sex of his cavy at fair time is now planning breedings and wanting to learn more and more about genetics. . . well, atleast a herd of guinea pigs will be much less costly space wise than when my older brother plays with dairy cow genetics. . .

Che the Dutch Warmblood/Arabian

Che the Dutch Warmblood/Arabian
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

Commissioned piece for an awesome Texas Artist. . . .

Check her out at www.wildwood-studio.com

Learn Needle Felting

Hastings Public Library
Craft Night
December 10, 2008
6:00pm - 3 short term Holiday Crafts
6:30-7:30pm - Needle Felting Cupcake Pin
7:30-8pm finishing up short term crafts

Learn the basics of needle felting, including 3-d elements and leave with a needle felting kit to continue on your own. Material cost $10.00

Needle Felting Display in the Library in prior Blog Post.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND = FREE SHIPPING

Now that I have finished Body, The Yellow Lab it is back to the felting needles to start on some commissioned Sculptures, all to be gifts ready in time for Christmas.

It is not to late to ORDER A GIFT for the petlover in your family.

Needle Felt Display at the Hasting Public Library

I was asked to teach needle felting at the Hastings Public Library and then to do a display to attract attention to the class (FREE ADVERTISING!!!)

I've had so many comments on the colorful display, as well as education opportunities to tell people about my craft. Most people can't believe that you can do this with felt.

Body, Yellow Lab

eye of the dog. . . just how my dogs like to be photographed







































4 1/2" ear to ear 3 3/4" chin to poll 1 1/2" deep
Body is a lovely yellow lab commissioned by a loving Grand-mum for her daughter's Christmas. She sent me the greatest pictures to work from and now, my husband would actually love to keep this sculpture for himself. I started on this piece with a 3" pin in mind, he just kept growing until I contacted his future owner hoping that she would want to shadowbox frame this piece because of his size. Body truly deserves to be framed.

How much can a picture tell us about someone?

Sometimes I actually hang out in the more Chatty area of Etsy forums.

This was the title of a thread I entered for fun
"Based on the avatar above you, what is the owner like?"

www.periwinklesuz.etsy.com says: (about my avatar & I assume my store name)

pitbulllady:
"Madly in-love with her family and her dog. Doesn't like bullsh*tters. Stands up for what is right and does all she can to make this word a better place. Wants to make a mark on this word that will be remembered and cherished by those who come after her."




What would you say about periwinklesuz with out going to her store?

4-H State Dog Show Results

Ready wins 4th place out of 63 in Agility and GOLD in Rally at Michigan State 4-H Dog Show. . . what a proud pit bull!!!! and teen owner of course!!!!
The Shelti, Ty, helps Steph win Gold in 15 & over Champion Showmanship class and OVERALL BEST JUNIOR HANDLER!!!! Go Girl. . .

Accomplished a MAJOR GOAL

Steph was seatdancing and singing all the way home in the van with 2 tired but happy dogs! My non-giggly girl still giggles everytime she thinks of this day! I don't know that her Reserve Show Of Champions win at the fair topped this day.

Come Shop West Michigan

I'm proud of the many talented people who live in my part of the State. Come see us and post here what you like best from their stores.
Etsy West Michigan: Gift Guide

Thanks Guys

Celebrate Winter ---- Snowmen

Upcycled Goodness

Cell Phone Case for a iPhone out of Recycled Blue Jean Material accented by Needle Felted Flower. The needle felt design is my fantasy Daisies accenting initials.

iPHONE sized opening with a blue jean strap that is just long enough to fit over your wrist when not clipped to your purse or keys and is closed with a small clip and ring that rides on a repositioned belt loop. The back of the Cell Phone Case has a partial blue jean pocket. Send wrist measurement along with cell phone dimensions for best fit, it is 10 1/2" right now.

The Needle Felted Wool is felted right thru the jean material and securely fastened to the material and the case is fully lined with red bandanna material.

Comments from a Customer & New Friend:
Cannot put into words how I feel about this seller and her products. Her friendly and sincere personality shines in the quality of her products. Barbara took the time to know more about me and what I was looking for in this particular product. Once it arrived, my iPhone case was more than I had anticipated it to be! I use it everyday and love the personal touches that were put into it. You would have to take me down to get it from me! I love it for its quality and personalization. More over, I love it for the wonderful person who "made" it for me...from her heart!

Pirate Flag

Came home tonight after a stressful, busy day to a sale my $5.50 Jolly Roger Magnet pin sold!!! How cool that it has found a home before Halloween.

Comment from new owner.
Great communication. Fast delivery. A cute, well-made pin!

first kiss

first kiss low comp
Originally uploaded by PitBullLadyDesigns

This was during the first home meeting of our 2 dogs, Cruiser (the red nosed pit bull) was being adopted from the local animal shelter. Hard to believe another Love Anniversary has gone by. . .

Needle Felt to Lose Weight

I know funny thought, right but. . .


At the WW meeting Monday, we were to label emotions that we try and satisfy with food. I've decided that it is not as much emotion that causes me to eat but idle hands. If my hands are not busy, I'm coming up with something to do.

So, needle felt to lose weight. . .

1. busy hands
2. food makes wool stick to fingers.
3. wool tastes bad.
4 texture of wool on my tongue is an absolute uugg, "I'm not eating that" to my brain.

What Is In A Name?

Much thought and time went into the choice of my Store Name.

How to portray myself to the Art World? Not only who am I but what do I stand for? What do I create?

I especially love the portion of my business that allows me to create animal portraits out of felt for people who adore their pets. So, I wanted a name that had something to do with animals.

I also wanted a name that would positively portray my breed of dog in a good light and allowed me educational opportunities. I was tentative about what type of reception my Store Name would receive, but positives of this name far outweighed the negatives.

Doing Dog Safety Programs for children in my community had given me the name I've decided to wear with pride. I'm known as the "Pit Bull Lady" to the under 5' crowd, because Ready, one of our loved rescues helps me with education and entertainment during these programs.

I'm many things to many people (and animals). First, I am a child of Christ. A Wife. A Mother. A Step-Mother. A Grandmother. An Artist. An Educator (not a teacher) but an educator to my children, my 4-H kids, the community about causes that mean a lot to me. An Animal Trainer. A Pit Bull Lover. A Dog Rescuer. A 4-H Leader. A Fighter of Breed Specific Legislation. A Church Volunteer. . . . . . .

My family and I have a long history with this mis-understood breed of dog that has lived with us since the 1980s. I trained and showed American Pit Bull Terriers in UKC , selecting and continuing a special Old Family Red Nosed line. This is the same Breed that I now educate about, fight for, rescue, foster, and my kids show in 4-H.

ADA CRAFT SHOW

ClawTreeDesign, Shelly & I were last minute invites of Ada Elementary School Craft show. Grabbed supplies and loaded van after 9pm the night before, leaving capable hubby with the boys and the house.

These pictures are of my booth. Shelley set up her jewelry & felting in a booth the right of mine, just a corner of her table & her scarf is on the mannequin (boobies) show. I was so pleased that the school had lights that we could reposition to highlight our booths.

Turned out to be a good show for me. . . after too many bombs of not selling a thing at outdoor shows, it was a good show for sales and needle felting education. Between Shelly, educating on Nuno felting and needle felting earrings and I educating on Needle Felt sculpture, we talked all day to customers.

Update on the mannequin

I love the hanging mannequin torso at craft shows but... storing it at home is quite interesting and not one of the little boys in my life will help me unload the thing they call 'THE BOOBS' - LOL

I mean COME ON! It is a whole torso - not just the boobs!!!

More new creations

This little fat face guinea pig is still not quite done... I want to repoke his cheeks to give him a cheek reduction! LOL He is about 2" long.

This curly vine pumpkin pendant is on a dark piece of felt that is 1 1/4" by (just shy of) 2", with part of the pumpkin and a portion of each of the two leaves hanging off the edges to create a design that is is 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/4" long.

One leaf is curled over the top of the pendant so that will allow it to be threaded on a chain or ribbon. The pumpkin is made of 4 shades of orange and the vines and leaves are from 3 shades of green.

This little gray guinea pig is just waiting for a new home... :)

American Pit Bull table top display - continued

This is a display that my daughter originally put together for a 4-H contest and I have used since for American Pit Bull Education; Anti-BSL events; adopt a dog gatherings etc. It is just jam-packed with information and pictures. She was 13 at the time and the figures were from 2001/2002 but for the most part this display is still relevent today.

Follow this picture back to http://flickr.com/photos/pitbullladydesigns to read all the attached notes and see several others on how the display was put togather. It is a fold down display that includes its own tablecloth base and room for display at the base.

The back - with added side wings - is a large box torn apart and reassembled with velcro, which folds flat in quarters for travel and storage. The 3-d centerpiece is usable alone or velcro'd into place to complete a more complete display.

RIP drama

My son's dear cavy passed away from an ongoing infection that we had been fighting for several months. He had seemed healthy other than a puss boil that sprouted on his side the day before the July 4-H show day, and we continued to treat the healing wound.

It was a sad time for all of us :( Just like the dogs, this rodent carved out a place in our hearts and lives with his patient and engaging personality. Well, patient that is until food was available, THEN, he must have veggies - FRESH VEGGIES, AND NOW!!! We made jokes about cavies being food and the fact that they are judged with rabbits - also a food animal - but this guy was always a friend first.

Will we again venture into the world of cavy showing? I don't know, it all depends on what my kids want to do...

American Pit Bull table top display

For all of those lovely anti-BSL people who are now looking for pictures of this display, I will take clearer pictures and replace this post soon... as long as life doesn't derail me before tomorrow night (it is my Birthday and I am hoping to have some fun!).

I have a picture in the blog from 5 September but it's not too clear, so I'll be retaking more foryou...

Custom animal portrait: 'Thunder'

Somehow, I missed adding 'Thunder' to my blog! How great this rottie head turned out and the feedback from his owner was "Awesome work - looks just like my dog!" - yay :)

I did have to wait for his owners to come back from vacation to let me know if he had a more of a German bred profile or an American bred profile... His pictures didn't do him justice for his proportions. He was German style and I think the end result came out just great! I did have to change some of the black shades to help make his ears show more as they stood away from his body. Isn't he handsome? If you would like a custom needle felt portrait of your family furry, just convo me via my Etsy shop: PittBullLadyDesigns .

Metro Hospital Craft Show

Seven of us West Michigan Etsians shared three tents at the Metro Hospital Show; this is my section:

It was an early cold day this fall for Michigan and there was rain the night before AND THEY LEFT THE SPRINKLERS RUN ALL NIGHT!!!!! It was so wet - ugh :( I stepped into the grass and sunk 2" up on my poor tennis shoes. Normally, I'd have worn muckboots to an event like this but with no warning at all, we all ended up sat around with cold, wet feet all day and no sun to help warm us up!

My newest item

This wide headband is redesigned to feature a 'Sweet Cupcake' pin/magnet which can also be worn as a magnet brooch and the headband worn seperately. You can include in this order any design of PBLD's pin, magnet or brooch with no extra shipping cost.

'Sweet Cupcakes' come in chocolate with white frosting and an orange flower, or vanilla with lavender frosting and a deep purple violet - your choice. If there is a certain color combination you would like, please contact me via my Etsy store and I can make it up for you!

My 'Sweet Cupcakes' are magnet backed pins/brooches for headbands, purses, coats, shirts and hats. They are felted on a felted sweater scrap base - new and recycled, pretty and useful - what more does anyone want?! How can a brooch or pin be useful? Well, I use mine as a wearable pin cushion and Etsy advertisement! LOL

'Sweet Cupcakes' are 2" tall and 1 1/4" wide. The magnet that is next to your skin is encased in a tiny, soft fabric tab to make handling easier.

My craft booth at the FSAM

I am so happy with my new banner of bright colors and happy triangles - all made from the pile of fabrics that I posted last week!

FeltingFever says: "Lovely, so bright and cheery!"

rosethistleartworks says: "Very festive and eye catching!"

When I'm not using it for my craft booths, this banner is in the kid's area of the Hastings Public Library drawing attention to the new display of reading posters gracing the walls :)

A new body?!

My dear hubby rescued two of these mannequins for me... So fun and sweet of him but what on earth am I supposed to do with the second one?! Hmm... a hanging lamp maybe?!!