July 6th, 2008
I’ve been working on trying some more realistic drawings. (I’m working my way through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain) and I think I’m improving a bit. This is my nutty puppy, Gus. I think I caught his crazy eyes and shaggy appearance pretty well. He’s very hyper and his mouth is either hanging open or chewing on my shoes. He’s really sweet, though, and I think he will calm down some more - I just had him neutered.
The stamp is a flower I carved a few months ago. It doesn’t make very regular impressions, even if I press evenly, but I kind of like the imperfect effect. The buttons are from my antique button stash.
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July 5th, 2008
Step Outside Your Box Saturdays usually forbids flourishes. I don’t mind because I am no good at them. My hands shake too much. (Never ask me to put your mascara on. I’ll blind you.) This week, though, there is a challenge to turn a flourish into something else and, since I’ve thought that one of them looks like a butterfly, I couldn’t resist. Of course, my hand shook and I had to thicken some lines to try to disguise the wobbles. I also over flourished the heart side - that one loop looks crowded. For something I rarely do, I guess it is okay, though.
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July 4th, 2008
In between barbequing and watching fireworks, don’t forget to spend a few minutes enjoying your freedom to make any art you please. I always find it amazing that we live in a country that loves freedom so much, it lets people burn the flag as a form of self expression. When you see how little freedom to dress as they please, read what they want and create art that speaks to them some other countries give their inhabitants, it makes you realize how precious and rare a thing it is. Happy 4th!
“A Blast from the Past” Includes Pioneer & Patriotic Quilt Designs
Mary Emma Allen at Quilting and Patchwork names a number of patriotic and pioneer quilt designs and quizzes you on them.
Barbara Brabec and Me: Helping Crafters to Be
If you want to craft for profit, you should know about Barbara Brabec and Eileen, whose motto is “The Artful Crafter - Helping Crafters to Be”.
Crocheted Friendship Finger Puppets
Finger puppets are great gifts, and they are wonderful for summer travels. Crochet up a handful or two of these charming little finger puppets for your young friends!
Layers Upon Layers
The beauty of a small Italian town took up all of Cyndi’s energy during her travels!
Mister Skunk’s Magnificent Creations
Skunk creates toy art from used bicycle parts and trash. On exhibit in Boston until July 18.
One Piece of Paper
Pop-up inspiration for your visual journal.
Sewing shirts? Try this easy way of marking buttons
Here’s another tip from Chloe to help you finish off your shirts easily.
image by Moi Cody
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July 3rd, 2008
George De Groat says, “Don’t be intimidated by your materials.”
I started to think about this quote and realized that often, I do let materials intimidate me, especially if they are new. There is something scary about using something new for the first time. What if I mess up? What if I waste something expensive?
The way I overcome my fear? I often just jump in and experiment on a piece of cardboard or other inexpensive scrap. Sometimes, it takes a class to help me become confident about using something. Other times…well, I now have a DVD and a book on soldering and I still haven’t managed to solder one little thing.
I’ll do it before the end of the year, though, even if I’m sitting up at midnight New Year’s Eve. I promised to learn how to solder this year back in January for the Learn Something New challenge and I’m keeping my promise!
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July 3rd, 2008
I came across Craft Pudding on Etsy and thought Magda had the neatest idea for a business. She makes personalized address and name stamps using her original designs. But she doesn’t use vulcanizers and computers to press rubber stamps. She actually hand carves each and every stamp she sells.
On her blog, she mentions having rubber stamps of some of her hand carved designs made in the near future. I think that would be a nice option for people who love her owls and birds and sock monkeys, (Oh, the sock monkeys! They are so sweet. I want to buy a personalized one for my sister’s birthday, but I think I’ll cut it too close because her birthday is coming so soon. Maybe for Christmas.) but can’t quite afford a hand carved original.
Anyway, I just had to tell you about Craft Pudding because I love to see a crafter or an artist carve out a niche in an area that seems to be too full to support any more businesses and do well.
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July 2nd, 2008
We used to go to the Inner Harbor, fight through swarms of traffic and then sit far away from the fireworks display on the ground, where we could barely see the fireworks. After that, we’d have to fight our way out of the traffic and back home. Then, one year, we decided not to go.
We were disappointed until we realized that we could see the fireworks from our front porch better than when we drove 20 minutes to the Harbor! After that, our porch was filled with people on the 4th. It was so crowded that the kids were having trouble…seeing the fireworks.
So, we went up to my bedroom, opened the window and climbed out onto the roof. The baby, who is now 23, wasn’t allowed, but we did let my younger sister come out with us. The view of the fireworks was spectacular. When my mom discovered us sitting out there, she came out to make sure we were safe, decided the flat porch roof was lower than the trees in the backyard that we were always climbing and let us stay. Today, we’d probably wrap our kids in bubble wrap and put bars on the windows to keep them in!
By the way, if you are looking for rubber stamps with a fireworks theme, I found three nice ones at Stamp Francisco.
Image by Musyahidah Zawawi
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June 30th, 2008
I’ve been playing around with beeswax some more. I love it, even if it isn’t a permanent art form. The consensus of opinion is that it is okay on art in journals because they aren’t hanging up sideways, so I’ve done some of the swap pages with it. I photocopied my mermaid and adhered her, the rock and the starfish to the background with an even coat of beeswax.
I think I will be investing in some Encaustic wax for more permanent pieces.
Sea is stamped using the clear set of alphabet letters from Walmart. (Note to self - keep packaging so you can give better credits.) The star is a die cut.
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June 27th, 2008
A butterfly T shirt with reverse applique, recycled weaving and spool knitting
Here’s a great way to reclaim scraps of weaving to embellish garments and accessories
Creations from Organic Artist Paul Schick
Paul transforms twigs and more. You’ll love the earthy feel of his work.
Layers Upon Layers
Be ready to ooooo and aaaaah over Bonnie Meltzer’s mixed media pieces!
Shortcuts for sewing shirts
Chloe from Tangled Thread shares one of her quick & easy shortcuts to save you time when you’re sewing shirts.
Turn Off the (Mod Podge) Bubble Machine!
If you’ve been plagued by bubbling and wrinkling in your decoupage projects, you need to read Eileen’s solutions.
What is the Value of Your Quilt?
Mary Emma Allen at Quilting and Patchwork will start you thinking about the value of your quilt(s).
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June 26th, 2008
Split Coast Stampers has the greatest tutorial for making Scratch N Sniff rubber stamped cards. We can’t wait to work on some and have already gathered all of the supplies, but ran out of time. If only there were more hours in a day!
Instead of doing this awesome project today, we:
- Bought an anole. (2 separate pet stores to view small green lizards. 2 hours.)
- Found our aquarium and cleaned it out. (20 minutes.)
- Yelled and screamed as the anole made a dash for freedom. (Felt like eternity, but took 2 minutes.)
- Sighed with relief as his dash landed him right smack in the aquarium. (5 seconds.)
- Found the perfect rock, tree branch, etc. for the anole. (2 and a half hours.)
- Went cricket hunting. (a half hour.)
- Yelled and screamed as the crickets made a dash for freedom. (Felt like eternity, but took 2 minutes.)
- Sighed with relief as they dropped into the aquarium. (5 seconds.)
- Took a break to watch The Spiderwick Chronicles and practice sight words. (1 hour.)
- Gathered our supplies and then realized we had to clean up for dinner. (15 minutes.)
Photo by Bart Hickman
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June 26th, 2008
I’ve been off taking photos and have added a chippy paint background for you to use in your art. I love textured things like this and I am very thankful I have a digital camera. I used to get the strangest looks from the photo printing place employees when they cautiously showed me the prints and I was happy about them. I think they were under the impression that a child had gotten a hold of my camera.
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