CRAFTeReport

I am going to go beyond the normal Top 10 List this time because I, as well as others, have noticed the general public's lack of interest for colored pencil drawings compared to the interest in paintings and crafts. Although paintings (oil paintings especially) have been on the top of the "quality" types of arts list forever, there is definitely a place in the art world for colored pencil drawings. A place among the "professional quality" arts. Colored pencil drawings by professional artists are created with top quality professional colored pencils on top quality paper suitable for professional colored pencil drawings. Colored pencil drawings require great control; mistakes cannot easily be corrected. In general, colored pencil drawings require many layers of colors to be applied to the paper to create areas of intensity, darkness, and even lightness. The great control that some artists have over their pencils allow them to create wonderfully realistic looking drawings. Their control allows them also to put much detail into their works. Not all quality, professional colored pencil drawings are of a realistic style. Many professional colored pencil artists create amazing works of abstract drawings as well that require just as much control as the realistic drawings require, but they also tend to require much more creativity on the part of the artist. So with that being said, I hope everyone who reads this blurb and views these great examples of colored pencil drawings will come to see that colored pencil drawings do indeed have a place in the professional art world.

Posted by AmyC at 9:40 PM 0 comments  

I think that whenever an item that I have featured has been sold I am going to replace it with another item, this way there will always be an updated Top 10 list for all the different types of arts and crafts that I am featuring on my blog. Sound like a good plan?

Posted by AmyC at 9:39 PM 0 comments  

Posted by AmyC at 9:39 PM 0 comments  

Posted by AmyC at 9:37 PM 0 comments  

To those of you who have been reading my posts, sorry for the delay in getting more Etsy Top 10's posted. I will try to post at least 2 this week, but its going to be a busy week so I can make no promises. I will say that the next few posts will include miniature needle felt items (which will wrap up the needle felt section for awhile) and following that will be crochet/knit items, jewelry (all kinds....wow this is going to be a hard category to narrow down!), colored pencil drawings, watercolor paintings, acrylic paintings, oil paintings...and thats all I can think of at the moment. In October I will have a posting on Halloween items. November I will have a posting on Fall/Harvest/Thanksgiving items. And in December of course I will have a posting on Christmas items.

Posted by AmyC at 9:36 PM 0 comments  

I have been slacking on writing up new Top 10 lists and so I have decided that I am going to start posting the Top 10 lists in pictures only, no comments from me about what I like about each one. I am simply going to let the pictures speak for themselves....which if they truly are the Top 10 then they WILL speak for themselves. I think this will help me be able to post more Top 10 lists on a more constant basis.

Posted by AmyC at 9:36 PM 0 comments  

This is a broad range of felted fashion accessories including pendants, pocketbooks, hair clips, belts, scarves, shoes, and even a cellphone case. In the near future I will feature a generalized jewelry category which will no doubt have one or two felted items in it, or I may down the road do an all felt jewelry posting. If anyone has suggestions as to what items to feature, just send me a comment. I pre-approve comments before they are published so if you have suggestions I will take those suggestions and make a Top 10 of your suggested items, but the actual comment will not be published. Also if you would like me to add your blog or website (arts and crafts related) just send me a comment as well and I will add it. But any comment that contains any sort of advertising will not be published. Only comments concerning the featured items in a post will be published.

So onto the Top 10!

Okay so once again I couldn't just pick 10! So here's the Top 14.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9922309

I decided to include this glasses/cellphone holder into the fashion accessory category because well it doesn't really fit anywhere else and you could carry it around with you not hidden inside of a pocketbook so that everyone could see the beautifully designed piece. This was embellished with yarn and beads.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=14546694

This was created using rolled felt strips. I love the movement that the strips create in this piece. And I love the use of black in combination with the bright colors. These brooches have a very unique style.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12118539

I have admired this artist's embroidered felt cuff bracelets for awhile now. All her bracelets are equally as beautiful as this one. They all look very professionally made and have beautiful embroidered designs with beautiful color combinations.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12184323

The felted part of this item is very simple, just a simple needle felted ball. But again I wanted to include it to show the different ways of using felt and the different ways of embellishing it. And this piece is not short on embellishments! Beads and embroidered designs give this piece a fun, festive look. And there are endless color combinations that can be created.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12988414

This was done in a very unique way that I have not seen done before. Wool rovings were weaved together and then wet felted to make the piece strong. She then attached the belt fastener. With every color of the rainbow in this piece, it is sure to make a statement.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15084764

This pocketbook was made by stitching cut pieces of felt to a felted background. I love the color combination that is used and I love the overall design ofthe piece. It is a pocketbook that makes a real fashion statement.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10764638

Here is another pocketbook created in using a different method. This item was knit and then wet felted. I will probably have another one like this featured in my knit posting but I wanted to include one here to show the different techniques that can be used when creating felted accessories. Here again I love the color combination (of course because it has my favorite color, teal, in it) I like how the felting process gave the colors a very soft look.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14555492

This is a very unique felt necklace. The pieces of felt are cut out and strung to a string of seed beads as if the felt cutouts are beads themselves. The overlaying of colored felts and the embroidered edging over each piece creates interest and here again I love the color combination, it is probably my favorite color combination of all.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10815543

I will admit, most felt hair clips or hairclips in general usually do not appeal to me. But this one I think has a very elegant look to it. I could see someone even wearing this on their wedding day as their "something blue". The added pearl beads help give it that elegant look.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14843405

These baby shoes are just adorable. They are very well designed and seem to be very professionally made. I love the added touches of the strawberries and flowers. If I had a baby, my favorite baby fashion accessory to dress her (or him) in would be shoes! Lots and lots of cute little baby shoes!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14738950

I am usually not one for fall colors or a fall themed accessory but this scar is amazing. The colors and the flowers (she calls them flowers but they take on a leaf resemblance I think) just scream fall. And in front of that brown shirt, the scarf really pops out at you and makes a real fashion statement.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14567523

Here again I had a different headband of this artist's picked out to feature but it was sold before I got the chance to right about it. These headbands sale like hotcakes and for good reason! Her designs are beautiful as are her choices in color combinations. She also offers custom color combinations.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11209934

What a fashion statement! Just beautiful!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14917423

I originally planned on featuring a different one of these lariat/necklaces but it was sold before I even had a chance to right about it! That is how hot of an item these are and how gorgeous of a fashion statement these make! Her ability to make a felted flower look very realistic is amazing!

Posted by AmyC at 9:31 PM 0 comments  

Sorry I've been slacking on the posts. Throughout the day today I am going to publish 3 posts and finish up the felting category. The first post (this one) contains felted housewares/home decor items. The second post will be of felted fashion accessories and the third will be needle felt miniatures.

Okay well maybe I'll do a Top 12 this time because I can't choose! There are so many different kinds of items included in the category of housewares/home decor!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=1206668

This I believe is done by wet felting. I love the color combination and I love that it is not in a simple common bowl shape. The added balls were a nice touch and placing more than one side by side gives an interesting overhead look.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9993983

This is a creative use of felt the way shapes have been cut out of the felt allowing the green fabric to show through. It is a very fun piece to have around the house.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12612770

Another fun yet simple piece. This was created using cut sheets of felt sewn together in circular shapes and strung on ribbon. These circles could have an endless choice of color combinations.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14726856

This is a very cute baby mobile. I like how they are different on each side: different colors and/or different facial expressions. Here again these were done with cut felt sheets, sewn together and strung.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14985995

Although this piece consists mainly of non- needle felted pieces I just think it is an absolutely cute home decor item and so I had to include it. This shows that there are endless possibilities when using felt to create craft items and that there are endless other materials that can be used in conjunction with felt to make a very unique (and cute) item. I love the use of wire with felt items. I love the color combinations in this piece. And I love the country feel that it brings without having an overly country look to it.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12066684

I love this idea! It is just as beautiful as a real fish tank and with no maintenance! It also gives the artist many choices in color and fish type combinations.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10732262

I think this pillow is artsy, fun, and beautiful! She made a piece of cream felt, then (I believe) wet felted the design onto it. Then she sewed the picture onto a blue fabric piece, stuffed and sewed it together. The way the picture is framed in a red outline and then framed in blue gives great contrast to the piece and helps the picture really make a statement in a room.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12741935

Speaking of making a statement, these placemats sure would make a statement on a kitchen table! Very vibrant colors, in an unpredictable "pattern" meaning each placemat would vary slightly from one another. It also has some added embroidery stitches to give texture and create more interest.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14697248

This is an interesting pillow and right up my alley as far as my art style. I like bright colors in combination with black, especially when the bright colors are outlined in black which is what we have here with the felt pieces sewn onto a black background using black thread. I also like how she changed it up a bit in some areas and used a patterned felt. And like this artist, I too like the style of molas (look them up!) They are a source of art inspiration for me as well. She did a great job recreating the mola look.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13501679

This is a wet felted round table runner. I can't imagine the time it would take to make all those dots! The result is very beautiful with great color combinations and she also makes these in custom color combinations.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_16&listing_id=13734869

This was done by first crocheting a bowl shape and then felting it. I wanted to save the items that have been crocheted for my crochet post later on,but the needle felted design on this one really stands out from the crocheted background so I included it here. I love how the needle felted areas seem to pop from the background with the help of a black border around the shapes. I love the color combination in this one. I love teal!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12551453

This is one of those "WOW, just wow" pieces. What's more to say? It seems to be very professionally done, and I want this!

Posted by AmyC at 6:14 AM 0 comments