Muppets are AWESOME-Artists of whom I am extremely jealous

I was looking at Drawn today and they featured this super duper wonderful blog featuring a muppet alphabet.

http://muppabet.tumblr.com/

Yay!!!

All above are property of David Vordtriede

Lullaby Book-Toora Loora update

So, I've been embarking on this adventure of re-working some lullaby illustrations that I just wasn't happy with. The last one I had left was "Toora Loora."

Here's my most recent one. I changed themes completely. I originally had a landscape of Killarney, where the song mentions, but it seems landscapes aren't always my forte so I chose to do the Snowdrop the unofficial flower of Ireland.

Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here's my first one.

All in all I'm very pleased. Now, to see who could print these out for VERY cheap.

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Rock-a-bye Update

I didn't like my first version of Rock-a-bye baby. And yesterday, all those pictures of cats in cravats got me thinking. Hmn, why not a cat?

So here is my updated version of Rock-a-bye baby. It's modeled on my cat Mr. Moostache.

Here's the first one I did.

I like my most recent one better. Now, next up is the revamp of Toora Loora Loora and I can finally get his printed in book form.

Ruth

ps. Here's the pic of Mr. Moo that I used.

Mr. Moo

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous-Heather Mattoon

Today when I was over looking at Nicole's Balchs blog "Makingitlovely.com" she posted this amazing collection of super neat paintings by Heather Mattoon...

Property of Heather Mattoon

All I can say is, Dang, those are some dapper looking felines. If you peruse through her Etsy account, she has some really sweet and fluffy paintings of birds. I love those too.

Good Job Heather.

What I want to know is, how did you get them to sit still in those outfits for so long? You are truly the cat whisperer Heather.

Lullaby Book-Brahams Lullaby Update

I have been sitting on the Lullaby book project for awhile. I just wasn't happy with some of the illustrations. I finally got back into it again and re-did Braham's Lullaby.

Here's the new illustration.

Brahams Lullaby Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here was the first one I finished.

I didn't like that one either so I did it again.

Even after adding owls I still wasn't happy. They look kind've cross eyed and strange. I like the third one better definitely.

Well, hope you like it. By the way, I made up these words. The only ones I could find were in German so I made these up on my own and decided to stick with them. There the ones  I sing to my son.

Ruth

Painting the Door

11/10 update

So I painted the door today!!

It's BLUE. It was supposed to be Navy, and that is the color of spray paint I bought, but somehow, it is a much more vibrant cadet blue. No matter....it's all done now and I like it. I probably should have used a gloss instead of a flat but lesson learned. I like it. The seat cushions on my rocking chairs are a bit too blue now. But, easily remedied, because I can always take them off or match them to my door!!

ps. I did paint my bench seat and the window alcove. Still smells like paint but it's nicer, much nicer.

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Lately I've been in a painting mood. It started when I was considering painting the bench seat at my window because it is in horrible shape. It looks like it has mold acne. So while thinking about paint I thought about my front door. It's a metal storm door, with molded panels and and little arch cut out window. I think it needs some sprucing up.

Here it is.

Here are some inspiration photos I found.

I think I'm veering towards the navy blue. What do you think?

Kilt

So, My brother asked me to make him a kilt for this race he's running called "The Warrior Dash." It's a 3 mile run and obstacle course. I don't know why he wants to wear a kilt or why he's doing it....I think it's a guy thing.

Here is the pattern I used.

It's a costume pattern but the only one I could find. It asked for 5 1/2 yards of fabric. Which is a lot of fabric. I can only imagine what a 'real' kilt would call for. I've hear it takes upwards of ten yards. That is a LOT of pleats. I found some very cheap, cotton yarn dyed plaid. I cant believe the printed plaid was more expensive. But there you go, life is strange.

Here is the finished product.

Seawolf standing at the apex of my dryer, my water heater, and my deep freeze.

It's being modeled by SeaWolf, my size 12 women's dress form. It's a bit low on her since she's not a 35" waist but she was the only person who was willing to model it. I apologize for the bad pictures. I do not have a great camera, ( I use my phone), I do not have photography skills, I do not have a backdrop, or lots of natural lighting. I do most of my work in the garage where my sewing "room" is. There is no light in there. I sometimes lament that my blog doesn't have great pictures of my work like Making it lovely, or crazy mom quilts, or Anna Maria Horner. But they have the aforementioned things I do not. Instead of spending money and time on acquiring them, I just spend my money and time on doing the things I love. Which is sewing, and quilting and blogging in less than stellar studio space. That being said, if someone wants to come to my house, make me a studio, with gobs of natural light, excellent space, a great camera, and give me a ton of lessons, I would be willing to accept them. Until then, my blog wont be a glorious as those others that I mentioned. More's the pity.

Back to the Kilt, it was a very easy pattern, and simple to complete. There's very little construction past ironing the pleats, and then constructing a waistband. The most time consuming part is ironing the pleats, and then pulling out the threads on the hem to give it a "distressed" look. Other than that, it was a piece of cake. (Now I'm hungry) The problem with cotton plaids is that eventually the creases on the pleats will fall out. The only way to make them permanent is to have a synthetic fabric heat set. But, since this kilt is going to be worn in a race that ends in mud, I don't think my brother will have an issue with less than knife straight pleats. I only made the kilt, not the accompanying spats or drape. Which saved me at least 2 yards. Now I have two yards of a pretty plaid. Another piece of fabric for my collection. Sigh.

Ruth