Is FOXY the right word to use here?

 I don't know if you remember but... I LOVE FOXES. I am not really sure why, but I do. Maybe it is because they are catish and doggish. Maybe because they are orangey red. Maybe it is because I like how they prance with their little black legs. Maybe because they are cute. I dunno. But I like them and would keep one (or more) as pets if that were an option (and IF I did have foxes the girl would be named Aubergine and the boy would be Lucius. In case you wanted to know...) I also would rather like to be a fox so...

I made this! A ear-flap fox hat!

Recently I have been seeing lots of animal/monster ear flap hats on blogs/etsys and what not. I really wanted to make some, starting with a fox, but I couldn't find a pattern that fit what I wanted it to look like. So I looked through a bunch of random ones, meshed them together in my head, and on Thursday I made my own version of a foxy hat!

 I'm super happy with how it came out and it was quite easy to make. My little sister was a tad jealous of mine (the girl likes anything with pom-poms/puff-puffs) so now I am making her a bear hat (a panda, as per her request) and I think I am going to sew felt eyes and a nose onto the front of it. Pictures to come, I promise!

I am thinking the possibilities with these would be almost endless. This is almost like a personal amigurumi on MY HEAD! Anybody else want one? I can alter my crocheted pattern into any size and a good variety of animals (cats, bears, bunnies, most things with ears...faces too if you like that!). Similar patterns on etsy go for around $20-$25. Let me know in the comment section if your interested! I am always happy to do customs!

 There is just something fun about having an extra set of ears atop your head. And pom-poms dangling down from the sides. Those things makes me incredibly happy...

Featured!

Hey guys, just thought I should let you all know I am being  

FEATURED today over at Ashley's THESE HOURS. 

Ashley has a great, inspirational blog and a great photography etsy shop 

(with profits going towards fighting for children with cancer). 

You should definitely check her and her blog (and my post on her blog!) out!

Thanks! Have a great Sunday! Only 2 weeks until Christmas!

Presents for Pirates!

I think I just found my new favorite Etsy shop, or at least the one with the best name.

Presents for Pirates

With National Talk Like a Pirate Day (MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY IN THE WORLD!!!!!) coming up this weekend (TOMORROW!!! Sunday, September 19th!) I've been thinking piratey thoughts. 

I actually do this all the time, but September 19th makes me want to be extra piratey. 

Normally on the nineteenth of September I go all out. Not only do I TALK like a pirate, but I DRESS like one too (Yes. I have a full out costume and I don't mean striped tights and a bandanna. I'm talking a legit-looking costume, complete with cutlass. September 19th it is one of the only days of the year a person can go out in public dressed as a pirate and not totally confuse/scare people.Or at least less so...) but this year the day falls on what is my church's annual picnic. I have to be a photographer, socialize with my church family, and watch my sister get baptized, so maybe not all out this time... (I will however rock a skull and cross bones shirt and be sure and have my pirate dictionary- Yes, I have a full length dictionary of pirate-speak, The Pirates Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues, by George Choundas- in my purse!)

But anyway, while thinking piratey thoughts I came across this shop. They sell mostly stationery and journals. Good majority of it being pirate themed. They're a winner! Check it out!

Brightly colored skull and cross bones note cards! $5.00

Treasure map stationery! $8.75

Other Etsy Pirate finds worth checking out or buying (or better, buying and sending TO ME!!!)

This seriously adorable "Arr" hoodie, $40.00 from rainbowswirlz.

 

This different looking "skully roger" shirt. $24.00 @ binarywinter

 

His name is "Fred the Red" for $15 over at SnipnSnark's

 

Simple, but really amazing Anchor ring. $20.00 @ MintyFreshFushions

"The Seas Be Ours"  necklace. $18.00 from UntamedMenagerie

 

This hat, on a small child. $15.00 from PartTimeDiva

 

"Lost in a Sea of Love" painting (or anything in this shop. It's a favorite...) $16.00 at TheLittleFox

I hope this, if anything, inspired you to me a little more piratey! National (talk like a) Pirate Day is a great excuse to "find your inner pirate!" Join me! It is a fun game!

Yes, as it 'twould seem, I am wholly all crazy-like. Never a doubt! But, upon mine honour I'm having fun, so let me and my piratical fantasies be. **"A pyrates life be the only life for a man of any spirit" Savvy?

**-from the General History of Pyrates

Confessions, Creativity and Calling all Customs!

I, Isabella Kiss, creative beast, have something to confess. I had not created anything in at least 2 months up until 2 weeks ago. I had gotten so busy I hadn't made ANYTHING. Nada. No notebooks, no amigurumi, not even a pair of earrings! And that for me is huge, because one of my passions is creating...stuff. I was made by a creative God, I am his daughter, and one of His traits that He passed onto me was his love of CREATING. I have tried (and will continue to try) just about any artist medium. I love it. I thrive on it. But I had been slacking...

But in the last 2 weeks, I made not one, but two new purses.

I also have to confess, I don't actually *LIKE* sewing. I really like the concept of taking some flat, square fabric and other materials to make something. And I really, really like the end result of having something that is one- of -a- kind, made by me. But the middle process (cutting, ironing, sitting at a machine) isn't my favorite. At all. But I am always so happy at the end, that I go and put myself through that process again and again. I have made (am making, will make...) some pretty sweet stuff, guys.

The latest and greatest in the line of Bella Bags.

The blue-ish one was for my mom for Mother's Day. She had requested another bag, because the first one I made her was stolen when some mugs smashed in our car window on last year's Pennsylvania vacation.

Shot up close. Machine appliqued flower. 

Most the stuff I do involves applique and buttons. Tedious details, but I so love the end product that I work through the extra amount of time it takes to make them look that great! The bags would be pretty boring otherwise. And I am 100% against BORING.

The other bag is mine.

It was due time I made another one for myself. I was actually carrying around a bag I had purchased. Whole. Not made by me. From a store! And I found that rather mortifying. When I found an obnoxious orange/blue shower curtain for $3.99 I looked deeper, saw its inner potential (okay...lies... I just liked the orange and bold stripes) and brought it home to be turned into a bag. Why I am wearing it like a cloak is another story entirely... I think I was trying to show you how much fabric there is in a shower curtain. I have a bunch left.

Instead of applique (it would have been reallyyyyy not boring if I added to the crazy print. People's eyes would have bleed from too much awesomeness.) I did a hand-stitched swirly. (The white stuff is the chalk I used to draw it on, not part of the bag) Lime green, to match the lining (made of a curtain. Yeah for up-cycling!)

For some weird reason I enjoy hand-sewing a lot more than sewing on a machine (Sometimes I am really old-fashioned with stuff like that. I try and avoid machines and "the easy way" as much as is modernly possible). I actually hadn't sewn in so long that I rubbed like 4 layers of skin off my right thumb, while holding the needle. It was all red when I was done and didn't feel so great when I went to play keyboard the next morning. That is just sad...proof I need to make more stuff, more often.

I feel much better now having released some creative juices. And hey, I'm looking to release more! I've offered custom Amigurumi's before to raise money for the upcoming (July 9-17!) mission trip to Costa Rica. But I do custom bags too! Last year I made a bunch of money off of custom orders, and I am now throwing that offer out there again! The bags are all one of a kind! And I love doing customs because then I get to make the bag to fit you and your unique tastes!

 If anyone wants their very own, custom BELLA BAG, comment/etsy convo me!

Depending on what size, and amount of details (like applique), you want for the bags, they run from somewhere around $30-$45 dollars. The are generally between 12 and 18 inches tall, and are a similar number in width. The bags are very sacky, with big handles. Inside pockets optional. All of them are lined, and also interfaced for lasting durability.

Past work, just to give you a visual idea of the awesomeness I am capable of...

                                             

As you can see, a lot of the stuff I have previously done involves flowers, but I've also done musical notes, (simple) Celtic knots, butterflies, letters, skull and cross-bones and...stuff.

If it can be cut out of fabric and stitched down, I can pretty much do it.

Anyone interested!? Let me know!

Adventuring on Etsy.

I love Etsy. I have a shop but...there isn't too much shopping going on in that shop currently. If I were trying to make a living that way, I'd be a starving artist. But it is still fun. It gives me a place to showcase what I can do, maybe make some money, and get inspired by other creative people all around the world. Sometimes I do a random search and just browse through people items. I love artsy people and seeing what other people, all across the globe, can do inspires me to create MORE!


Here are a couple current favo(u)rites *I like to PRETEND I'm British. Stick u's in words is a good way for me to fake it. which I find inspiring and/or amusing.

PURPLE AND GREEN (!) Union Jack pillow! Karen Hilton Designs

Pirate-y Shirt. Critter Jitters

Can you tell I like pirate ships? The Koi Pond

Cat in a Hat, anyone? I don't know HOW you get your pet to wear this, but it makes me laugh. And I call my cat Hope 'Moon Bear,' so one of this would suit her. XMoonBlooms

Ohhh, the possibilities of amigurumis! Fyastiko

With God, there is no such thing as impossible. The Love Shop

There is something that I love about this crazy blue/orange vintage leather jacket. Zozatron

Already sold, but I still like it. A bunny, named Isabella, flying on a Raven. DKJ Art

Nevermore t-shirt (also sold). Binary Winter

Inspiring wall art. Letter Happy

While I could keep at this all day, I DO actually have things to do. So if you excuse me, I am going to go do what I love; LIVE.

An Aria of Amiguruminess

Meet ARIA.

(*her name was Primavera, but to a lot of people that would sound like a pasta sauce and not springiness...)

Aria is a brightly-colored, high energy bunny rabbit all ready for spring! If you'd like her to hop your way this season, she can be found in my Etsy and Artfire shops for $15!

She might be my last Amigurumi for a little while, as I am currently tackling a custom request that involves extensive sewing machine use, multi-colored anchors, very large pirate skulls, and a soon to be born child. Curious? Pictures yet to come!

*and remember, I love custom orders!!!!!

Turtle, turtle, turtle...

In a previous post I did on amigurumi I mentioned that I would be accepting custom orders, if anyone indeed had any.

Shortly thereafter, Elisabeth found my blog and requested a *pink turtle* with big black eyes. I hadn't ever made a turtle before, but was up for the challenge.
Here she is, in all her pinky glory!


**Anyone else out there think they need a custom crocheted somethin' or another? Leave me a comment, or convo me on Etsy! Profits go towards my summer missions trip to Costa Rica!

Sometimes things do not go as planned...

Well, I THOUGHT I was crocheting an owl.
But when you use no patterns and just make things up as you go along, sometimes things turn out differently than you originally imagined them to be.
So I didn't end up with an owl. Instead I got a...

Meet Harper.

{She is a baby mockingbird.}

She is on the smaller side of my usual Amigurumi animals at only 7 inches tall. She is made up of several yarns from previous projects (my sweater, and Zatara Bear). She will soon be finding her way onto my Etsy/Artfire shops.

Perhaps do you NEED a little, fuzzy mockingbird in your life?

*still looking for custom orders, if anyone out there wants something. In the next couple day I will be starting to make a custom Pink Turtle for someone who hunted me down on my last amigurumi post. Will you be next???

**ps: if you know anything about blog buttons, check out my post prior to this one and help me out! Thanks!

Butterflies and Bears.

Meet MARIPOSA.
She is my latest Amigurumi, and shortly after this post she will be finding her way onto my Etsy and Artfire shops.

Mari is a cat, but her name means Butterfly in Spanish (I just love the sound of that word and she is so colorful and springy that the name fit her!).




Her head and body are made of Rowan Rumor alpaca yarn, and limbs, ears and tail are made of double strands of acrylic rainbow/black yarn. Her eyes are felt and brown buttons and her nose is a vintage pink, faux-leather looking button. She is looking for a home; maybe yours? Profits going towards missions!

And secondly, Meet Chloe's Bear.

My sisters friend Chloe requested a custom amigurumi; it had to be a bear, she liked dark blue and brown, buttons were a like and it had to be cute.

Well Chloe, m'dear. Here he is!



My favorite part about him (or her, I suppose, just because it has a tie doesn't make it male. Especially because I am, at this very moment, wearing a men's tie...) are the eyes; if you look closely they have daisies on them (okay, maybe it is a girl...).

****If any of you out there would like a custom amigurumi, contact me either on this blog, or convo me on Etsy! They usually run about $15-unless you want something really small or really large. Custom orders are actually my favorite! ****