Crafty! Knitty!

Well it has been way too long since I have posted anything. Sorry! I have been so busy being creative and crafty!

Here are a few of the items I have been working on. The pink scarf/ascot is one of my first original patterns! (yay for me!) I feel so accomplished that I actually made up a pattern and it turned out the way I wanted it to! I saw one like it at Anthropologie and thought "Hmm... I bet I could make something like this for a lot cheaper". And, well, I did! I am now making one in mustard yellow, similar to the one in the Anthro catalog.












I also knitted an ear flap hat for myself. (I have several projects going on at the same time so when I get bored with one I just pick up one of the other! Craft ADHD.) The first hat I knitted I knitted in a finer yarn but when I finished it I hated it. So I knitted this one up with very large double pointed needles and bulky yarn (I actually combine two types of yarn). It turned out perfect. My husband, Adam, comment that this one is truly a Karina hat. I have to agree. It is so plush and warm and, well, beautiful! I wish you capture sparkles with the camera. The yarn has a tiny thread of gold sparkle woven into it which makes the hat a little more classy.

The project that I finish last night is the granny square baby hat. It turned out beautiful! I think I may try to adapt the pattern to fit and adult... cause I want one now! I made it for the Free People craft exchange and the lady that I am crafting for has a 16th month old baby girl. I hope she likes it!

Last but not least are the fun hair pins that I made for my sister. I saw some decorated hair pins at Anthro and online somewhere and loved them. I used some vintage hair pins (they were my grandma's, my mom's mom) and vintage buttons from my button collection. I am going to have to make some for myself.















Well, that is all for now! I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a very happy new year! Stay safe and warm!

Mississippi Trip crafts

Last Saturday my sister and I participated in a craft show at French Camp Academy's WFCA radio station. It was a joyous event in-spite of the fact that I lost my voice and had to wear a sign stating such. At least it made people smile. We had busied ourselves earlier that week crafting coloring wallets, hand-made journals, crocheted animals, knitted wears, dress-like aprons, fairy wands, greeting cards and more. My mom had sent some items down earlier to help fill up our booth... hand dyed silk scarves, socks and onesies were just a few of the wonderful things that she sent down. Below you will find a sampling of our goods. Enjoy!

(Note: I am making more coloring wallets. If you would like to purchase one for you wee one or for yourself... please e-mail me at karina@aniradesigns.com. Thanks!)






















My sister made the most wonderful journals (and was so kind to give me one!)

New Brooches and other whimsical jewelry

I have been working on some brooches lately for a craft show in Mississippi. My sister (an intern at French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS) is going to have a small booth at the academys' craft fair/ show and told me that I can make whatever I want and she would sell it for me. I am so excited! I love making brooches but don't need any more myself. So this gives me a great excuse to make some. I am also hoping to print up some of the stationary that I have designed to sell as well. (I will try to get some sample of that up soon as well.)

I am also working on a really eclectic necklace centered around a plastic owl I found in some family junk. I loved it and have been wanting to make it into something for quite a while. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos... my camera was acting strange. Anyway, you get the basic idea.


This week has been a memorial week. I turned 25! Yikes! For my birthday my husband took me to the Tennessee River Pearl Farm and Museum (the only fresh water pearl farm in North America). While there he bought me two strands of pearls and two loose pearls... all grown in Tennessee! I spent most of my Tuesday evening creating jewelry from the lovely pearls. Adam designed the necklace and I made it. The earring are both made of pearls and sterling sliver. The necklace is strung on silk and, for the time being, held together by a clasp I already had on hand. I am hoping to get a beautiful sterling clasp soon.

My mom sent me the most wonderful vintage cards. I think that I am going to frame them. They just don't make greeting cards like this any more! *sigh*

Until next time Happy Fall!

New art!

I am finally getting around to painting again! I love being creative.
The red mushrooms are going to be turned into note cards and the little girl (whom I like to call Audrey) may be turned into a greeting card of sorts. I love doing these kinds of small projects. I am currently working on some bird illustrations for some more stationary. Eventually I want other items mad as well (mirrors, bags, etc.).

Just as a side note... if I were a fairy, I would love to spend my afternoon resting under or on the red mushrooms.

Belle and Boo

I have been inspired lately by Belle and Boo. Mandy Sutcliffe is the artist responsible for these delightful illustrations. She captures the forgotten innocence and life of pure childhood. Her pictures make me wish that I was a little girl again! Check out here wonderful products at www.belleandboo.com!

New Items

Well I am finally getting pictures of some of my most recent projects. I just learned how to fuse plastic grocery bags together to make a very durable material. I had a really fun Old Navy bag and thought that I would experiment with it. The results are really fun! Here is the little bag that I created out of my fused Old Navy bag.









You can kind of see the "Old Navy" on the bottom of the bag. I love the colors and the texture.


















A few month ago when I went to visit my family in Indiana I picked up the coolest embroidery sampler from probably the '70's or '80's. I brought it home to TN, gave it a good washing, then was inspired by some Anthropologie pillows and decided to make this fluffy little pillow.
I love the little deer among the flowers. The textures are just so rich!

New project: Apron

I finally decided to take a picture of my new project. My husband has our camera so I had to use my cell. Anyway... I had a really cute dress from Anne Taylor that I really liked but it was too short, too low and too tight on me. So I decided to turn it into an apron (after being inspired by so many Anthropologie aprons)! It has been a really fun project. When I get our camera back I will take more detailed pics of it. 

To make the apron I cut the back out of the dress, added a red ruffle to the to and bottom and I am currently hand stitch

ing printed flowers onto the skirt. The flowers come from a really 

beautiful but very ratty

 vintage table cloth my mom had given to me a while back. I have been trying to think of some creative ways to use the good parts... but was having a mental freeze... until now! I cut out some of the good flowers and am hand stitching them to the apron. Once they are stitched on I am planing to add some funky embroidery around the flowers.

I got my handprinted skirt sewn up. All I need to add is the trimming around the bottom... but at least I can wear it now. It is so cute! I love the cut and the fit. I will be sure to post pictures of it soon.

It has been way too long. I have been wanting to post some more pictures but between my forgetfulness and my husband taking our digital camera with him while he in on tour... well I think that explains it. But I thought today that I would post some really neat pictures I found. I Love birds and fairytale type images.










I can't remember who this artist is... but I just loved this image!

Loved these birds. The main one is my laptop's desktop image.
Painted by the late Charley Harper. Check him out sometime! His artwork is amazing!
















Well.... until next time!

Soon!

I just started some new project and will hopefully get some pictures up this week. I am getting back into water color and have been experimenting around. I also start writing a short children's novel. I am planning to get some particular water color techniques down so that I can create pictures at the beginning of each chapter... but that is a ways off yet.

Also, I was inspired by a beautiful skirt at Anthropologie and am working on my version of the skirt (for a LOT less! Hmmm lets see I got the skirt at a rummage sale for around 50 cents and the embellishments for well.... free! yeah beats Anthropologie by a long shot.)

Here is the one from Anthroplogie... soon you will see mine! (yay!)
So far it has been very time consuming. I am embroidering the branch with think tan yarn on scrap fabric then hand sewing it onto the skirt. Then I have some old sheer scarves and hankies that I am going to use for the flowers. I hope that it turns out the way I see it in my head.

Here is one my most recent projects. This is a security blanket that I made for some friends miracle baby girl. The head is crocheted while the rest is hand knit.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome! My name is Karina. I am a graphic designer and artist based out of Nashville, TN. I have been wanting to start a blog to show some of my works in progress. I love to work with a wide variety of mediums... paints, yarn, fabrics, etc. Anyway, I hope you enjoy what you see!