art equals happy.

Online Shop Update! Pin Badges :: Shop & Potter

YAY! Check out the awesome badges I just added to the online store! There's a bunch, and not ALL Harry Potter related... hehe. :] But for you Potter lovers, I put up a bunch of designs you could only get as embroidery patterns online before now. Some of you might recognise these from fairs I've done. I've tried to group them into similar themes... i.e. Death Eaters, Hogwarts etc. So, if you're into being all dark and evil, you can find most of the ones you'll like in one place! Keep in mind, there may be more than one listing for a specific theme. (i.e. not all Order members are grouped together).

Hope you enjoy having a look around. I'm working on more updates so everyone who can't come and visit our real-life shop, can still have a great shopping experience with TONS of great choices. Bear with me, it's only little old me and my silly cat Negs doing it all. :] Hugs Kim xo

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Mini Skeins. :: Shop Update!

Yarn Shop Day- SHOP TOUR :: Shoptalk.

Southdown Pencil Roving. :: Wool on The Wheel.

Playing the Uke to a baby cousin. :: Videos & Music

Grand Opening! 10th OCTOBER 2014

A housewarming gift for Amy. :: Drawing.

My dear friend Amy moved into her first real place away from her parents recently. She starts Uni (for reals) this year, and it's all super exciting because she is making her place very nice and homey. We are pretty big Harry Potter geeks, and I always love an excuse to draw anything potter related... so obviously... this happened!It's got quite a few (really geeky) references that most of you probably won't get (double points if you do!!!)- but that is meant to be a Doe (someone said it looked like a sheep- oops!) and, 'Always' is something Snape says in the last book. 
When I gave it to her, she squeeled and jumped up and down and hugged me- so I'm pretty sure she liked it... hehe.
Here are some sketches I did before I commited to the cup:Thanks to The Art Cafe, where I painted it. And Happy New House Miss AMY! kxo

Harry Potter Studio Tour. :: Friends and Geekiness.

Some of you may be aware that there is a Warner Bros Studio Tour just outside London! Basically a dream come true. It was completely magical as I went with fellow geek, Amy, and we spent the whole time with our eyes as wide as saucers, quoting the books and movies at each other. I even dressed up a bit. haha! Unfortunately I lost ALL of my photos from this day during a horrible hard drive failure. Luckily, Amy still had all of hers. Phew! I think that just means we will have to go back another time!

So here are some of her snaps- and you can check them all (there's a lot!!!) here : Studio Tour part I : part II

There's also a fun guide that we put together of tips if you are planning on going. I would just to add: DRESS UP! because it's more fun!!! And when you take photos, you'll look like you really belong. :]
My highlights were: Spending the day in Harry Potter land, haha! Hagrid's Hut, The Burrow, The Potter's House in Godric's Hollow (I cried when I saw it.), And the surprise at the end!!! There were just so many amazing things. Like- the potions classroom, and creatures department- we got to see Buckbeak. Aw! OH! And Remus Lupin's self-packing trunk. That was cool. And, if you couldn't tell, I'm definitely a Marauders Era fan. Give me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs over the trio anyday. Thanks for these photos Amy. <3 kxo

The Embroidery Patterns are Back! :: Shop talk!

Hello everyone! This is just a teeny tiny announcement to say that I'm making the switch from Etsy to Goodsie for all my main shop stuff! I'm still figureing out things here and there... However, I have already got all the Harry Potter embroidery patterns up- so if you've been waiting to snag one, now is a good time. [:
I'm getting pretty excited for the Harry Potter Studio Tour that's opening up this month in England!!! 

A couple of side-notes on the new storefront!!! 
1. All the currency is in GBP (£) but you can still check out with Paypal and Shipping will be available worldwide.
2. Although there are some products listed- you will see they say 'Coming Soon' or 'Sold Out'. That will give you an indication of returning items and products that are being 'archived' there- as a visual portfolio for people interested in seeing the range of possibilities that Art Equals Happy has to offer.
3. Thanks for bearing with me while I sort this out- as this is a part-time job for me at the moment, it's always tricky to find the time, but I'm sure we'll both be pleased when it becomes a reality. 

Big loves. Kimxo 

Little Potter Reminders. & Freebee!

Okay, here we go- the last post for the Harry Potter part of this week. [: Just to link back to some things:
Making Butterbeer!
 There's my recipe there, which works very well. It's sweet and lovely and warm and easy.

Potter Fan Badge DIY:


And because I love you and it's time for some fun geekyness, here is a free little download of some of my embroidery patterns:   This one has got so many things to do with the last film, I thought it was most appropriate! I'll be taking it down later, so get it while you can! (just click the image and save it- then print it!) 

And lastly- here is a photo from ages ago of my 'Gryffindor' jumper. :D
Lots of love from here, and happy pottering! :D

Meg's Harry Potter Outfit :: Guest Post!

Today is the day before the release date! I am soooo excited for everyone that is going to a midnight showing or seeing it tomorrow! There isn't a movie house anywhere near my Grandparent's house- so I'm going to have to wait untill we get to see it... which is basically a tragedy... but I'll survive. haha. It'll be all the more sweet when I see it, and family comes first. (it's kind of been torture to see these posters pop up around london!)Still though- the trailers look amazing and.. eek! Here is lovely Meg to share her outfit for tonight...

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Hello to all the lovely readers of Kim’s blog! My name is Meg and I’m the author of Bargainista on a Hunt , a life style and fashion focused blog. Apart from being a blogger, I’m also a movie and series lover so when Kim offered to write a Harry Potter related guest post, I was SO excited! In today’s post, I’m actually combining both of these parts of my life.

First of all, I have to say I’m not a genuine HP fan. I don’t search for the information of all the actors on the internet and don’t look for gossips in newspaper. I even can’t quote the whole movie by heart. However, I saw all of the movies at least thrice and read all of the books (some in Czech and some in English even before they were translated). There were even times when I wished for quidditch to be a real sport, haha!

Although I usually go to see the movie when it’s its premiere (or even a pre-premiere), I actually never wore a costume related to the movie. But then I realized I don’t have to exactly copy the movie costumes to be movie appropriate. Actually, one can only slightly adjust their style to match as well, no matter if they own a Gryffindor or not. And with the last HP movie, I said to myself to go for it!For me, it’s all about the details. I like simple style, in general, and usually try to highlight it with accessories. That is what I did with my Harry Potter outfit (which I plan on wearing to the midnight premiere on 13th July). The main HP part of it is the Gold Snitch necklace I got from Piebald. It’s even openable! The dress itself is quite simple but it has an adorable owl pattern which makes it a perfect HP dress, right? (Poor Hedwig..) I’ve been into owls a lot lately so below you can see some other accessories of mine that could act as a perfect Harry Potter jewellery.

And how about you? Are you planning to wear something ‘special’ for the last HP movie? Are you even going?

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Thanks Meg! Looks great. Enjoy. <3 

From Amy's Eyes :: Guest Post.

Here are Amy's beautiful photos from our fun day full of knitting, stitching, photographs, spinning and best of all, Harry Potter dress up! haha. When I spied these analogue photos on her blog, I just knew that you would enjoy these as much as I do. She made my house look really dreamy and comfy. :] So lovely. Here we go...
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 I think she captured the feel of the day really nicely. And Negs looks so sweet! Forever in love with these. Thank you!!

Our day of Harry Potter fun. :: Home and Friends.

In June Amy and I had plans to meet up for the first time and chill out, do some knitting and get to know each other in real life. I knew she was a big Harry Potter fan, so I knew that we would probably geek out and talk about that, pretty much the whole time.. haha! I also knew that she doesn't have many real-life friends that are as fanatical as we are- so I invited two of my dear friends to come meet her, dress up, have butter beer and watch a film in the evening!
Anna came as Madam Rosmerta, Saara as Professor Minerva McGongall and Amy as Luna Lovegood.
Here are some of the photos from our little shoot! We totally got in character- it was so much fun and hillarious! We used paintbrushes and knitting needles as wands, in case you were wondering!(I think Amy looks pretty badass with a wand! Death Eaters, beware!)"Turn this water into rum!"... haha. we were obviously taking it VERY seriously... :] Saara was so good that I was actually afraid she might take points from Gryffindor at one point! (I always thought that Molly might've had a good relationship with the lovely barmaid- I can just imagine Arthur convincing Rosmerta to give her some mulled mead for xmas. aw!)(Order of the Phoenix girls...) I dressed up as Molly Weasley, which wasn't hard to do, honestly.. haha! I'll share my 'outfit post' in a few days. 
Is anyone dressing up for the final film? Hosting a Harry Potter party?? It's all good fun. :] 

Amy's can't miss scenes! :: Guest post!

Amy was one of the lucky ones that had the time and energy and enthusiasm to go and camp out for 3 days in Trafalgar square at the premier (07/07/11) that I jealously watched on T.V. later. sigh. it sounded miserable and wet and long and tiring but oh so exciting and a once in a lifetime event! the premier was sunny with a touch of rain and everyone was looking their best! Amy has kindly agreed to share with us the scenes that she hopes they don't miss out- and the peeks from the trailer that are most exciting!! :D Without further ado....
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Aka. The Things I Really Hope They Haven’t Screwed Up. 

 

**Spoiler Warning**

If, by some miracle, you don’t know what’s going to happen, look away! Pretty much all of my favourite moments are huge spoilers! 

 

It’s less than a week until Hallows part two! If you’re anything like Kim or I, you’re probably pretty excited by now. The second half of the book is my favourite by far - so many fantastic, tragic and beautiful moments - I can’t wait to see how they’ve done it. However, I have been known to sit in the cinema muttering “That’s not right, that’s wrong, that’s not in the book...” under my breath, so I’ve got my fingers tightly crossed for this film! 

In no particular order, here are the bits I’m really looking forward to... 

The Prince’s Tale. I know I said in no particular order, but this couldn’t not be first, it’s my favourite chapter of all the books put together and I am so nervous about it - yep, I’m a geek, I know! Snape is my favourite character and I can’t wait to see Harry learn the truth about him. 

 

The kiss we’ve all been waiting for! Ron and Hermione, together at last! I’m not quite sure how they’ll bring this about, Ron’s comment about the house-elves won’t really make sense as they cut SPEW from the films, but I’m sure it’ll be good, however they do it!

“Potter’s there! Someone grab him!” It’s not Pansy’s words I’m looking forward to, but the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws standing between Harry and the Slytherins. A fleeting moment, but in my head this looks so good, I just hope they’ve included it!

The Deaths. Fred. Severus. Tonks. Remus. Countless others.

The fire in the Room of Requirement. I will be sorely disappointed if Draco doesn’t ride to safety on the back of Harry’s broom!

Neville’s finest hour. It’s about time this fellow got a little of the glory! “I’ll join you when hell freezes over, [...] Dumbledore’s Army!”  I can’t wait to see him give Nagini her just desserts! He’s a true Gryffindor. 

 

Molly Weasley vs. Bellatrix Lestrange. Julie Walters vs. Helena Bonham Carter, what’s more to say? 

 

 

Professor McGonagall. This lady has some fine moments towards the end of the book, and seeing as she has a movie poster of her own, hopefully she has some fine moments in the film too! 

Something I particularly liked in the books, was Percy Weasley’s reconciliation with his family, but seeing as his feud with his parents was downplayed in the films, it probably won’t have been included... I’m ever hopeful though!

 

The Epilogue. Need I say more? Okay, I will. I really hope they leave in the line “One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.” Snape got a lot of bad press throughout the books and this is a pretty touching moment. My mum actually said “Oh, I hope they don’t put the end bit in, it’ll ruin it.” Sometimes I do question whether or not she is actually related to me.

After seeing the latest trailer this list grew even longer! Seeing Lily, “Harry be safe, be strong”, this will have me in tears, without a doubt (seeing as I was practically sobbing at the trailer...) The moments with the Resurrection Stone also look amazing in the trailer... 

I could go on with this forever, scenes and quotes keep flashing into my head, but hopefully it’s safe to say we won’t be disappointed!

 

-Amy

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Thanks so much Amy! [her blog] Lets have a Deathly Hallows date night when I get back and we can discuss ALL about it!!! :D

it's not what it looks like...

Actually... it kind of is.
Amy came over on Monday to chill out and do crafts and talk about Harry Potter.
We may have dressed up like Luna Lovegood and Molly Weasley.
We may have used knitting needles and paint brushes as wands.
We may have quoted things from the books a lot.
I may have invited two other potter lovers over to dress up as well.
We definitely had a great time.

More photos and things about this to come, in the meantime I'm replying the the TONS of e-mails I got about guest blogging. Thank you Thank you Thank youuuuu! It means so much to me to know that you enjoy visiting and want to contribute! 
I'm doing another shoot at Prick Your Finger tomorrow, so cross your toes it doesn't rain! :]
kimxo 
p.s. yes! my hair is different.