read a little somethin' to me, sweetheart

Two sweethearts, snuggle up against each other, while lazily reading a book. What a better way to spend the day? :)

Since it is summer, one of the things I have been doing is reading, and reading some more. It has been so nice to finally read all these books that have been patiently waiting for me to open the cover and begin.

Can I help it if my artwork has been inspired by this? I love to read, and of course as many of you probably know I love owls. Put two and two together, and this is what happens. Barn owls reading, but wait there's more, actually quite a bit more, since after this drawing I immediately proceeded to draw another drawing with a book and another. Can't wait to show you!

Also I am proud to announce that pretty soon my shop will be chock-a-block full of professional style prints!

More on that tomorrow, hope your weekend was fabulous!

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

Renegade Craft Fair Austin 2010

Last Saturday, I went to Renegade Craft Fair in Austin. In a word Renegade Craft Fair was amazing! There were so many talented artistans/crafters there.

This is what greeted us upon our arrival.


Of course we had to stop by the Etsy booth where they were giving away free pins, and a demo on how to make a mini bunting.
It now proudly hangs above my barn owl drawing in my room.


The directions were surprisingly easy, and I loved this little button fabric that was covering their tables.
Now on to the loot!! :)
My very own mustache pin!!!!!
My mom surprised all of us as we were leaving with a little gift, she gave me this mustache pin made by Isette. I've been wearing it all week. Can you blame me?

I also got several items from the seller Clay Wood & Cotton. The first was this little bookmark below that I have been also using all week. I was totally smitten with everything in this booth, and would have bought more if I could...

I got the squirrel print there as well, along with the yarn.
The toast poster came from The Poster List's booth.

I have been reading this book, Free Range Knitter, by Stephanie Pearl Mcphee and of course using my A Good Yarn bookmark. :)

This book is so wonderful and I have been reading every chance that I can. It is so funny and witty, yet insightful. I love it! I definitely recommend it. I even read some of it to my sister, Kaitlyn (a non-knitter), and we both were laughing so hard we cried!

Here is the yarn made by Jill Draper Makes Stuff I got in the Clay Wood Cotton booth, and I have been thinking of making Saroyan with it.... Not sure yet, but since I have to finish other projects first it doesn't matter yet.

Next year I definitely plan on being in Renegade. It was a wonderful day, and after wanting to go after so many years, it was a dream come true.

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

My Very First Amigurumi

My very first amigurumi came from the book, Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet by Anna Paula Rimoli. Here is the link to her blog. I made the boy and girl elephant and loved it!
This one is the boy (obviously)...

His name is Maxamilliano.

Try saying that 10 times fast :)

Made this lovely elephant amigurumi in late 2008 I believe.

I changed the face because I didn't have the eyes and love altering patterns anyways :)

After I finished making it I showed my brother Michael and he told me that it could have come straight from a manga comic. Ahhh...gotta love my little brother.

He is very photogenic. No?

More crochet projects to come as well as a recap of the marvelous Renegade Craft Fair in Austin!!!! Toooooo goooooood for words, but in the mean time check out my sister's post about the experience.

Sweet Dreams!

xoxo, Callie

the magical bean

Crochet Hook Case

One of my favorite things I have ever crocheted is this case for my hooks. I made it sometime last year, and love how functional it is. It is from the book Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!:Lacy Crochet, the one and same that I used to make my corsage out of.
I ended up improvising on the actual sewing of the case because I wanted mine to be sturdier. I luckily had just enough of this mushroom print for it!
The pattern actually had shorter ties with beads but I didn't have any beads that large, so viola tiny crochet balls on the end instead! :)
The best thing about this case is that I no longer have to run around looking for a hook when I need it or accidentally buy two of the same. It definitely helps me stay organized :)

The other day I realized that I hadn't shared almost any of my finished projects with you. I'm not sure how this happened but I am trying to rectify this! First ones up are crochet... I have much more to share!

Hope your Monday was fabulous!

XOXO, Callie the magical bean

P.S. I love this song!

Austin Here We Come

A while ago we (Jessica, Kaitlyn, my Mom, and I) went to Austin for a Yarn Sale at Hill Country Weavers. While driving we saw these signs that had been yarn bombed! :) I was pretty excited! In fact I made sure we turned around so I could take pictures of it.

I love how bright and homey the yarn looks against the gray concrete. Of course I love the granny squares!
See the chevron in the orange/yellow/black!

Ah, Austin you make me happy.

We also stopped by this bookstore we like to frequent called Book People.

Luckily at the Yarn Sale it wasn't raining like it was last year. I got so many good deals on great yarn. More pictures on the yarn I got to follow...I can't wait to show you.

Thanks so much for taking me mom!

Kaitlyn has once again got me addicted to another song. This one is from Imogen Heap, called First Train Home. Know any good songs you could recommend?

More to come soon!

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean
o

3 Random Things that have inspired me

Hello there.

Not much creating going on right now unfortunately. I have taken on the large goal of purging my room of clutter and in doing so haven't had time for anything else. However I did manage to find these three things that seriously brightened my day seeing them..

So I thought I would share.

Little mushrooms!! Gasp! :) Instant love. Made by Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane. Click here for the link to the original post.

Lynn Yaeger hugging her doll collection. Maybe the strangest and endearingly cute old lady ever... Found via TeenAngster. Click here for the link to the original post.


The cutest little monkey ever??? Possibly. Cymbal Monkey by Emily Martin of Inside A Black Apple. Click here for link to her original post.
I also can't help but like this song by Joanna Newsom, especially all the art on the black board. Even though Kaitlyn of My Baloney doesn't :(

Good night where ever you are...

XOXO, Callie the magical bean

Daily Doodle

Drew this in my government class, while taking notes two weeks ago. Kaitlyn saw it and suggested the name. It is a little gnome who is performing a new dance called The Barley and Hop. He makes me laugh!

Drawn with a pencil.

Happy Monday.

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!!

The gorgeous woman in the photo above is my mom, the greatest woman I have ever met.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for all you do mom!!

You brighten my day and make me proud to be your daughter.

Everyday I think how lucky I am to have you as a mom and friend.

I love you.

XOXO,

Callie

P.S. Sorry this is late... :)

red and white oh so nice

I AM DONEEEEEE!!!!

YAY!!

Yesterday I finally finished my last final!!!!! Wooooo hoooooooo :)

I am so glad.

Sorry I've been gone again, but school got to be a little too busy for blogging. In the meantime I haven't been able to really work on anything creative except this amazing shawl I really can't wait to show you, except I haven't been able to take any pictures of it yet. I'll try to later today! Well, I've got to go get ready for the day!

What have you all been up to since I've been gone? I have a lot of catching up to do.

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

(Links for the photo mosaic are below.)
1. market, 2. fly away, 3. Giraffe's don't like rain., 4. Untitled, 5. Secret, 6. LEGO Twitter Fail Whale, 7. Untitled, 8. Mushroom swap, 9. red, 10. The Bubble Makeover!!!!, 11. catch me, 12. 032, 13. mushroom eater!, 14. Here or There Illustration, 15. bonne annee~, 16. Little Knitter , 17. Smiley Fries :), 18. best one yet, 19. IMG_1269, 20. gnomes, 21. والذي نفسه بغير جمال لا يرى في الوجود شيئا جميلا, 22. Ponyo wants ham!!!, 23. oréli, 24. LaaDeeDa Arty neck wrap2, 25. We are 5 !!

(P.S. I went to Borders with my sister Kaitlyn of My Baloney after class yesterday and found this musician called Lisa Hannigan, which I loved immediately. I can't get over how creative her videos are or her CD case for that matter which is the reason why I noticed it in the first place. I mean paper cut outs of a forest and a pop-up book?!? Love.)