Our Featured Guest Star- The Speckled Dog

I’m so excited to introduce my first “Guest Star” on Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy Sitcom!  Hold on, I’ve got her back here in the “Green Room”.  I had to make Tom Selleck find a new place to perch.  (He likes the hors d’ ouvers, perrier water and swag bags that I give my guests).  Here she is!  I want to welcome Kristi from The Speckled Dog.  Kristi is an amazing crafter who has a knack for finding old things and making them vibrant and new again.  She and her dog, Dax are our special guests here today.

Dax, the kibbles are for you.  Tom- put them down…

Kristi’s before and after pictures are incredibly inspiring and after checking out her website, I find myself perusing yard sales and Goodwill stores and thinking, “What would Kristi do with that?”

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AFTER
Who would have thought to add scrabble letters and a bit of paint and turn something that frankly had no use whatsoever into a great entryway piece of art.
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Here she located a peg board that had a very angry previous owner judging from all the stabby marks, and created her own new pegboard.  Hmmm… the theme is scrabble!
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Okay, this is just amazing.  Kristi, I’ve got to hand it to you- you have a wonderful sense of style.

Suzy: Tell me a little about yourself, your family, your other hobbies…
Kristi: Let’s see.. I’m a native South Carolinian. I live with my computer nerd/artist/handyman, husband, my 11 year-old daughter, two dogs and two cats. Three years ago, we finally bought a house big enough for all of us and I’m enjoying giving it a design overhaul. I’m the designer and hubs is the muscle (except for the painting – I do that while he’s at work). I do some minor sewing and quilting, but my first and most favorite craft is knitting. I’ve been a knitter for 8 years.

Suzy: When and why did you start blogging, and where would you like your blogging to lead?
Kristi: I’ve always enjoyed reading blogs and after I became a stay at home wife/mother, I thought it’d be fun to start one myself. I intended for the blog to mainly be about knitting, sewing and homemaking, but I soon became hooked on the various decorating and DIY blogs out there. There is not a knitting post to be found on my blog! Hopefully, with Fall approaching, that’ll change. I’d really like to eventually make a little money through my blog either from advertisements for craft/DIY businesses or through an etsy shop that would be tied into it. I’m still pondering that one.

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Suzy: Your daughter’s bedroom redo is amazing, and I love to see what you do with Goodwill finds. You have a fabulous sense of style. Who or what inspires you?
Kristi:  Well, thanks! I love Pottery Barn, but their prices are insane! Even the outlet prices are too much for me so I like to imitate their products and style.

Suzy: Name a few of your favorite websites that you go to for inspiration.
Kristi:  Pottery Barn, of course, West Elm, Pier One. There are also a bunch of blogs that I love. A few are: The Painted HiveMustard Seed Creations, Under the Table and Dreaming , Soulemama and Ravelry (you know that one – ha ha).

PB original
Kristi’s Version

Suzy: You seem to do a bit of everything, craft-wise. What are your favorite things to create?
Kristi:  I love knitting so anything related to that. For some reason, I really love making baby hats. Maybe because they knit up so quickly. I also love finding ugly things at Good Will and making them over. I’ve learned how to look past the ugliness and see what the item can become with a little help.

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Suzy:  Is there another type of craft that you would like to learn in the future?
Kristi:  Crochet!! I can’t for the life of me figure that one out. Also, I’m really interested in card making and in quilling. I’ve made some simple cards before, but there are some amazing things out there that I’d like to try.

Suzy:  You have so many successful craft projects. Is there one that just never seemed to come together? I know I have several “errors in judgement” hanging around my closet. Do you have a crafty horror story?
Kristi:  Ha ha.. I think we all do! Well, those curtains I made for Han’s room, after I cut all of the fabric for my panels, I realized that I’d cut them all wrong. I ended up having to make one panel thinner than another and then I still had to go out and buy more fabric. I also have several knitted items that I didn’t do a gauge swatch on, that are hopeless.

Suzy:  Tell us about your crafting space.  I’m thinking that you are incredibly organized.  And look- two sewing machines!  If you saw my work area right now, you’d laugh…

Kristi:  I’m lucky enough to have my own room to craft in, but I end up doing most of my projects on the dining room table. I don’t know what it is that keeps me from using the space I have.

Be sure to check out Kristi’s blog, The Speckled Dog for her latest projects and her Weekly Faves posts that highlight some of the best craft ideas from crafter link parties all over the web.  Very inspirational.  Thanks, Kristi for stopping by!  And you too, Dax!  Ummm…Dax- that’s not a chew toy, that’s Mr. Selleck’s shoe …