Summer Crafting

We're ready for beach crafting this summer at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn.  Sign up NOW for our workshops and craft camp.

Fiber Arts Workshop

We were all knitting intensely today at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn this morning.  The whole group was back and finishing up and starting new projects.  We had to come inside for AC it was too hot and sticky for porch knitting today.  Summer knitting and crochet is a lot of fun especially with all the wonderful yarns surrounding us here.  There's inspiration in every corner. Jennifer Johnson has the best selection of yarn and accessories on Hattteras Island.  Come join us!

Totebags for the Summer

Those who know me well know that I am a bag lady.  I love my purses and Totebags.  My closet is filled to the brim with purses and totes.  The last couple of weeks I have been making totes, knitting them, painting them and teaching others to knit them.  I've had a great time designing and crafting these totes and using texture and color to make each one unique.

Last week at Camp Crafty Diva, Nancy from Illinois came to knit a sophisticated beach tote. Black and white color way. We had a great morning enjoying soulful chatting and sharing stories on the porch here at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn. There were many visitors to the gallery this morning and we had a great conversation with another visiting artist. You never know who you might meet on this great porch of ours. I can't wait to see Nancy's finished project. Come join us this summer for 'Fun in the Sun' at Camp Crafty Diva.

Did I mention That "I LOVE TOTES!"

Fiber Arts Workshop

I taught Jenn Johnson, the Owner/Artist of Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn to crochet recently.  This past week she completed her first crochet project the 'Beach Tote.'  I'm so proud of her accomplishment and her use of colors in her design.  Now she has the perfect bag to tote around all of her crafty projects.  Come join us this summer at the gallery and create your own one-of-a-kind handbag!

Fiber Arts Workshop

Today was another great day crafting at the beach.  We had Erin from Tennessee join us to learn how to macrame.  She made a wall hanging and a hanging planter.  It was a lot of fun teaching her and it brought back memories of my first business enterprise making and selling macrame hanging planters in high school.  Then a new Claudia joined to revisit crochet.  She had made potholders with her grandmother as a child.  She caught right on and will be making a infinity scarf, she's local so I hope she joins our regular Tuesday group.  The weather was great, there were a lot of customers coming into the gallery and tomorrow we start camp.  Wish us luck!

Camp Crafty Diva

Camp Crafty Diva At Blue Pelican Gallery and Gifts starts this week.  Sign up now!!

The end of May

May has been a very productive month for me.  The rest of the world was rock in' and roll in' with tons of disruptive energy.  I on the other hand was settling into a groove finding my own rhythm on this little plot of sand.  I accomplished a lot spiritually,  mentally and physically.  I am ready to embark on my new and improved Camp Crafty Diva this summer.  I enjoyed my flowers in the garden, organizing my home and studio space, finishing up projects and creating new ones.  I am learning to live a simpler and more full filling life with less things and less money.  All in all a very productive and gratifying month.  My dreams are unfolding one day at a time.

Fiber Art Workshop

We welcomed Amy back today!  She had an eventful time with her grand kids in Ohio.  Look at the adorable hat she just completed for her grand baby.  She will be glamorous next winter in her hand knitted hat made with love.  We were very chatty and active on the porch today.  The weather was perfect for porch knitting.  Lots of customers came into the shop.  There was a very nice sea breeze with all the wonderful ocean smells.  We enjoyed filling each other up on our latest news and experiences.  It so nice to have a safe place to vent your frustrations.  Share your joys and be supported by the group.  There's more to knitting than just making a scarf.  It's creative, therapeutic, empowering, soothing and just plain fun.  Come join us next week. P.S. Look at Jenn's gorgeous hybrid hollyhocks.

This is the display cabinet for the camp projects on the porch.

Here is a photo of my completed summer shawl.

Organize Studio Day

We had the perfect weather to organize and dust my studio today.  Camp Crafty Diva starts in two weeks and the last minute preparations begin.  First and foremost I needed to get my house and studio organized.  Next on the agenda is to get my plants planted in the yard, then start the camp.  My studio four years ago was a perfectly organized and decluttered vacation house studio.  Everything was in place and everything had a place.  It was 'Virgo perfect.'  This last year moving twice and filling it up it became a cluttered mess.  Now that it's become a full time studio/office space I needed to get it organized.  Yes, I admit it 'my name is Michelle, and I am a craft hoarder.' I'm ready to let go of that identity and this fall I will be decluttering my studio and my storage unit  of craft supplies.  For now I have walking space, sitting space, computer space, sewing space and maybe room for a couple of visitors to sit down.  I'm relieved and enjoying this creative domain.  Yes, the shelves and walls are 'packed to the gills' with yarn and paint and glitter but I can see the endless creative possibilities now instead of overwhelm.

Crafty Diva Fiber Arts Workshop

The weather cooperated today and we were able to knit on the porch at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn.  The ocean breeze was so soothing and relaxing.  The birds were chirping.  There were two families of geese and little goslings to entertain us.  Lots of knitting, taking out knitting, taking out and 'Aha!'perfect knitting.  Jenn has got in some very scrumptious and colorful summer yarn.  I've got my wheels churning for several projects.  Suzanne brought her mother to join us today.  It was great to see her.  Suzanne had show 'n' tell with her gorgeous and vibrant pillow she knitted to match her coverlet she brought back from France.  Come join us next week!

Fiber Arts Workshop

Yesterday we had a blissful time knitting on the Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn porch.  The sea breeze was heavenly and the sun was shining brightly.  It was beach living at its finest.  Friends crafting and creating together.  Jenn received some gorgeous summer yarns with more coming.  Come join us every Tuesday for our Fiber Arts Workshop.

Fiber Arts Workshop

We had a exciting morning at our Fiber Arts Workshop at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn. We learned how to make sample swatches for our new T-shirt projects. A new to the group knitter and crocheter Lynn joined us. Even Jenn was able to come knit with us. Suzanne was back from her travels abroad with tales of shopping in Provence. A group of artist from Fairfax County, Va were down shopping at the gallery. We chatted about all the people we knew in common in NOVA. The weather was great with lots of kite surfers and wind surfers at the sound. Claudia and Jane modeled their completed elegant shawls. All was good!

Samples for Camp

I spent an enjoyable time hard at work designing, creating and crafting samples for this Summer's Camp Crafty Diva which will be held at Blue Pelican Gallery & Gifts.  Stay tuned for more info.  The weather was gorgeous, just the right temperature to make and create on Jenn's beautiful porch.  Melissa the store manager was very helpful and attempted to make a sample, but we got a lot of customers.  As I was running out of ideas my 'Crafting Buddy'  Suzanne showed up and got right to work creating cloth.  We had a great rest of the afternoon crafting and creating.

Earth Day

Spent an enjoyable day with my friend Laurell exploring up the beach and visiting a garden center. We spent time collaborating and planning garden designs, pergolas and dream decks and pools. We were looking for flowering plants that enhanced nature and were non toxic to bees and butterflies. A great way to spend Earth Day.

I got my great love of gardening and flowers from my father and grandfather.  My grandfather was passionate about his extensive gardens.  Flowers, fruits and vegetables were planted every session.  I loved helping him in the garden during our summer visits.  My grandmother canned and froze all of their harvests.  My sister and I loved to help her out in the kitchen.  So I honor my 'Pop pop' on this Earth Day for instilling in me my love and appreciation for our planet.  Thanks to my cousin Jackie Sandole for sending me this new found picture of my Pop pop with my cousins many moons ago. Peace!

Fiber Arts Workshop

We had a wonderful time porch knitting this morning at Blue Pelican Gallery Gifts & Yarn.  There was a cool sea breeze and the birds were singing.  We were finishing up our summery triangle shawls and putting on the fringe.  Next week we will be modeling them and starting new warm weather knitting projects.  Looks like Jennifer Johnson has received a new shipment of goodies. Stop by and join us next week.