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  • Archive for the ‘Crafting’ Category

    Buried in art supplies


    2010 - 08.16

    It was decided that this week I would host Art it Out night, a weekly gathering of my friends where we dedicate the evening to art and girly chatting. It’s delightful. I was absolutely thrilled for this…except when I remembered the state of my studio (or what is really just the south end of the basement at my aunt’s house where I live). I started cleaning off the tables that were covered with huge pads of paper, canvas boards, unfinished paintings, collaging supplies, sketchbooks, watercolor paints, feathers, yarn, pencils, pens, fleece, catnip, crochet hooks…and all other manner of creative things conveniently forgotten and tucked away in the basement… I’ve made the startling realization that I could hermit away in my studio for well over a month and barely put a dent in all the art supplies I have…

    Projects started but never finished, books purchased but barely read, supplies bought on a whim because I want to try everything… Coming from a family of pack-rats, artist and overachievers, I’m doomed to drown in art supplies! It’s overwhelming…

    Cleaning makes me want to start working on something…anything…Josh’s painting, another ATC, crocheting, more catnip toys…the mannequin…oh my poor neglected mannequin, will you ever forgive me as you lay in pieces throughout my studio? o.O *sigh* but I should continue cleaning…maybe this happy little realization will be another reminder that I don’t spend enough time down here…

    I may need to reinstate my art day… Just claim every Thursday for myself to work on projects… mark myself as busy and stick to it… It’s like someone carving out time in their schedule for working out (which is another thing I need to do >.<)

    Too much to do…not enough time in the day… back to work…

    Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)


    2010 - 07.29

    While browsing Blick Art Materials the other day, I meandered to the back of the store where I don’t usually go. Tucked away on the corner end display I found a book on Artist Trading Cards (I’ll try and remember to post the title and author when I have a chance, right now I’m not at home) along with little packs of various types of paper. I started paging through the book and really enjoyed the range of techniques they walked through…but I’m getting ahead of myself… ATCs are small, 2.5 x 3.5″ pieces of art work. The sky is the limit as far as what you can do with them… a very small chunk of sky that is… So far I’ve done three ATCs since I got the book a couple of weeks ago. The size limitation is extremely daunting…and the inspiration in the book is a little intimidating. But the informal nature of the cards has let me lighten up a bit and allow myself to play.

    Lately, just getting me to work on art has been challenging. I have a tendency to over-think art and scare myself out of starting anything because I’m afraid that it will suck… but the cards trick my brain into making the art less about the final product…it’s easier to throw away a little card than it is to repaint a canvas or toss an overworked piece of watercolor paper. I don’t know, here I am over thinking it again. But the point is that I’m really enjoying what ATCs have done for me so far. Once I get used to the size and try out a few more things I might actually start trading them at organized trading events…but for now I’m just having fun building up my collection. I’ve added a new tab for them under Ishkadoodles, soon the gallery will be full of cute little works of art! I think my favorite so far is the Rose…it looks like it might be unfinished, but now I’m afraid of ruining it…see!!! over thinking it…I might go back later and work on it more…but I like it…

    All tied up


    2010 - 06.20

    This afternoon, after a delightful breakfast of cinnamon bagels from Panera, Chris and I ran out to Savers in Bloomington and had ourselves an adventure of the thrift store variety. Naturally we got lost in the book section and I picked up two Stephen King books that I can’t wait to read…(after The Dark Tower series of course…just started book 4! go me!) After reminiscing over some VHS tapes (An American Tail: Fievel goes West anyone? <3) and giggling over the board games we looked into the clothing sections… Of all places, I get lost in the ties… At $2 a pop, I allowed myself to get 10 neck ties for the next skirt project… I may have to go back tomorrow before belly dance because I looked at my stores of neckties and I’m running low on interesting ones…and man…did I hit the jackpot at Savers… check them out!!!

    Ties from Savers today

    The next skirt is going to be totally different from the past three skirts that I’ve made…I should hunt down some pictures…one sec…

    Okay, forgive the terrible pictures of me 5 years ago… just look at the skirts…allow them to distract you from the person wearing them…particularly my hair…good god… anyway…

    The Rooster Skirt! so name because of the length in the back kind of looking like a rooster tail. the colors were laid out just right I think. this is my all time favorite skirt that I’ve made.

    This is the first tie skirt that I made back in Senior year of high school. Good times… learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work and I think I finished it in two days…

    I have one more tie skirt that I don’t seem to have any pictures of at the moment but it’s a knee length one that’s pretty darn cute.

    Can’t wait to finish this one!!! should be fun.

    Day 3 of the Mannequin


    2010 - 02.12

    More progress! I’m having way too much fun with her so far…it’s great.

    This evening I’m going with a friend out to Donnie Dirk’s Zombie Den…I love this place, it’s oddly classy, delightfully quirky and very cozy. pretty yummy drinks too… can’t go wrong with Zombies…for real.

    Tomorrow is a day of shopping, painting and relaxing…should be wonderful!

    My Valentine’s Day plans consist of an all day Art day with my dear friend Christine who is going to teach me how to crochet! then later in the evening Debbie and I are going to “According to Coyote” at the Children’s Theater. I have a nice and busy weekend but I’ll be busy doing the things I love with the people I love. Good times!

    Paintings…quite a few of them (in various states of completion)


    2010 - 01.30

    Last week I went to the new Blick store in Edina and spent entirely too much on new painting supplies to celebrate my new free time. Since then, I’ve painted every night at least…practically all day when I can. I’m having so much fun experimenting and playing again, I don’t really care if it isn’t good, I’m just enjoying the journey. so here’s a sampling of what I’ve been doing, in various states of completion and goodness… sorry about the crappy light and camera…not much I can do about it. I would say that most of these aren’t done yet. but I was too excited not to post something and share what I’ve been working on. Feedback welcome!

    Mission Accomplished! (finished the apron!)


    2010 - 01.13

    One quick post for the night because I accomplished my mission and got the apron done. thought I’d show it off a bit!

    Aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddddd It’s time for bed…I need to start getting more than 6 hours of sleep a night…I’m getting old. but hey, getting farther in season 2 of Lost and now know enough about making this apron that I can make another for my friend quickly before she starts traveling. I really hope she likes it!

    Almost done!


    2010 - 01.12

    So tonight I got the pocket made and attached to the right side of the front panel, cut out the back panel and attached the front to the back. All that’s left is to make the strap for the neck and the ties. Maybe throw a couple of buttons on for decoration and be done with the first one! I’m sure the second one will go faster, and I won’t bore you with process images, but I’ll show you what they both look like when they’re done! Maybe we’ll model them for you too.

    Apron Project Progress


    2010 - 01.10

    Got my goal accomplished for tonight…albeit at 3am…(Hey, gimme a break, I was watching Lost Season 1, I was distracted) Got the front of the apron totally cut out and assembled. I think it looks pretty snazzy so far.

    So that’s that, I’m quite pleased with it. The other one I make will be the reds and purples of the group. can’t wait to see how this looks when it’s done. I’ll have to cook more now though…you know, to justify having a crazy awesome apron…mmm cooking. I’m hungry…we’ll it’s been quite a while since dinner time so I guess that makes sense…I forget to eat when I focus on projects…*shrug* Morning will come soon enough.

    Not sure if I’ll get to work on this more tomorrow or not, but that’s alright, after 8 hours of working on it tonight, I could use a break.

    New Project


    2010 - 01.09

    yes, I’ve been terrible about doing my Drawing of the Day challenge… >.< with any luck and motivation I’ll be getting on that soon.

    Now however, I’m here to talk about a new project I picked up this afternoon while out and about with Debbie.

    Really awesome apron with these really awesome fabrics!

    Should be enough fabric for two aprons, so I’ll have one for me and one for my friend. Can’t wait to surprise her with it. I’ll try and remember to post some in process photos, shouldn’t take too long though.

    Toys for the new haircut!


    2010 - 01.03

    New Years Eve day I got my hair cut. Now it’s fun, spunky and remarkably versatile! Today I decided to run out to Target and get some new headbands for it but when I got there I realized I didn’t want to drop $5+ on each pretty new one I got. Instead I bought a pack of three plain black ones for $3 and took them home to decorate with whatever I had around the studio… so for my “drawing of the day” I’m breaking the rules a little…but this was a really fun creative act that turned out to be quite rewarding. so :p

    the three together

    the three together

    feather fascinator headband

    feather fascinator headband

    detail of feathers

    detail of feather

    lacy

    lacy

    magazine clippings

    magazine clippings

    magazine detail

    magazine detail

    feathers!

    I did do a drawing yesterday and I’ll put that up later tonight when I get the chance. I promise :p