Getting Creative

We get to meet Millie (our baby girl) in approx. 18 more days! Jon and I are so excited to start our little family! I have had the itch to make her some things this past week so I thought I would share a couple of them (and a special handmade gift from her grandma).

This is a little hat that I crocheted.

This quilt was made for Mille by my mom! If you look really close you can see that the yellow fabric has little dragonfly designs and all over the quilt are little dragonflies stitched in.

My mom also included some of this owl fabric that she picked up.

It was just enough fabric to make a cradle sheet! I love how it turned out.  Here is the tutorial I followed.

Have a great Wednesday!

Jen

Getting Creative

The start to our new window display using flashcards in a bunting style.

Any ideas for what we should do in the bottom half of the windows??? We were hoping to have enough flashcards to cover the whole window but ran out.

New Dino art for Emerson's room. I hand cut the stegosaurus out of plywood and then added vintage wallpaper. Yeah, I pretty much love how it turned out!

Well that's all for today. I'm gearing up for Jen's baby shower this weekend, can't wait. I will take lots of pics to show you!!!

Make sure to check out our Vintage sale this Saturday(10-6) if you're in the Bemidji area. 

Have a great night!

Jennifer

Getting Creative

Tree Sweater Installation

before

after

I had so much fun making this tree sweater! Check it out on your way to the lakeside carnival or on the sculpture walk tomorrow! 

Its been so fun seeing people double take and smile when they walk by!

Have a great day!

-Jen

Getting Creative

Tree Sweater: Progress Report

Above is the tree that will soon be the coziest tree in all of Bemidji! 

I decided on a yellow, orange, cream, pink, and lemongrass green color scheme... I had lots of Lion Brand Thick & Quick yarn scraps in those colors to use up, so it worked out really well!

As of today I have crocheted the trunk piece as well as 3 of the four branches! I am hoping to finish up crocheting the remaining piece tonight and possibly install the tree sweater tomorrow... (weather permitting) I will be sure to post pics of the transformation!

-Jen

Getting Creative

Adopt a Garden

So on Tuesday a lady came in wondering if we would like to adopt a small city flower bed across the street from the Yellow Umbrella gift shop. I love to garden and have been so busy with the store that I havent been able to do much of it at home lately...so whats better than a mini garden across the street? It will be nice to get some fresh air and play in the dirt throughout the week while I'm "working".

Its a bit neglected looking right now but I can totally see the potential! It has a good size crab apple tree in the center with a shrub bush, some scattered lily of the valley, and a random variety of lily (i think).  I found myself wanting to do something really special in this space that would sort of reflect the fun crafty creative feel that is Yellow Umbrella...and then it hit me...MAKE A TREE SWEATER!

If you havent heard about tree sweaters yet you need to!...here are some lovely examples:

Tree Cozy - Carol Hummel

Knitscape Broadway - Carol Hummel

Lemon Tree Sweater

Bemidji does not have a knitted/crocheted tree that I know of but many places are allowing and even encouraging fiber artists to take over the town... Blanton Museum of Art (Austin, TX) recently organized a huge tree sweater display that clothed 99 trees just outside of the museum called Knitted Wonderland.

Knitted Wonderland - Blanton Museum of Art

Knitted Wonderland - Blanton Museum of Art

Knitted Wonderland - Blanton Museum of Art

Knitted Wonderland - Blanton Museum of Art

See short documentary videos about this project here and here

Then I started to wonder if Bemidji would embrace this type of art expression...I finally worked up the courage and called the lady in charge of the gardens...and she said go for it!!! I am so excited about this project and will begin crocheting today!... I'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress!

Have fun!
-Jen 

Getting Creative

I love vintage fabrics and I always snatch them up when I run across them at thrift stores or yard sales. I have quite a collection growing of various prints but because the majority of them are small scraps I haven't used them. So I ordered some frame pendant settings and chain and started creating some vintage fabric necklaces!

Today we get to set our store layout!!! Designing displays are one of our favorite parts of having our own shop!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Jen  

Getting Creative

Paint & Wood

Yesterday was amazing. It was the first day in weeks that we stayed home all day. Emerson played outside all day and it was a beautiful day. I was able to spend some time creating. Here's what was created.