Some Things Done, Some About to Begin!

I have a lot of projects I want to make for the upcoming UK trip. I'd love a sleep mask, a passport cover, and a large stylis htravel bag. I already have the fabric for the bag, now just need to work on a pattern! I have competed a few projects this week as well! Here are photos of my latest crochet sculpture! It's also a working light! I've submitted three pieces to the gallery and hope that I'll get at least one crochet piece in there. My friend had her baby early, so I have to get going on her baby shower gifts. I also have a few birthdays coming up in April. My mom's gift is something that I started last year, intended for her previous birthday! I hope I can get it done in time! On another note poor Jack and I are sick again. Jackson is not napping or sleeping well. In fact we've been sleeping with him at night, otherwise he wakes up every hour screaming. *sigh* I don't think I'm going to get much one today!

Off We Go!!

In May we're going to London and Scotland!!! I can't wait! I have a number of items to craft for the trip! I've been busy working on my crochet sculptures as of late and starting a couple of commision things! After I finish all this crochetting I am getting back to sewing! I really enjoyed it, the last time around!

Artist Trading Cards!

I've finished my first set of artist trading cards! Ive been wanting to get into this relm for a while now. I did a swap on craftster.org and the theme was ABC. So I've done one card for each letter and sent each card to a different person. I'll be receiving three different cards from three different people as well. I hope to participate in the whole alphabet swaps as they occur so I have a full set! For "A" I used a photo that the recipient liked. For "B" I chose an art nouveau feel and for "C" I did a cool collage! It was lots of fun and I was able to complete them in one night!

Finished Paintings!

This feels so good!! It's been almost a year since I've completed a painting. I almost forgot what it feels like! It's an amazing, releasing experience. I always know when a painting is done because i don't feel as attatched to it. I figure when it's complete there are no pieces of it left in me, so it's released for good! So here are my paintings! the first three are part of a series i am working on and the last one is for the gallery! oh and the last is of my assistant!

My New Bag

So I started out making this bag for someone, but I realized that it was far too small, so now it's all mine , mwahahaha! I love it and can't wait to use it this weekend..... oh this weekend! Chels, Mom and I are going to Vancouver for the weekend! Can't wait to have this little break! Tonight I finished three paintings! I'll take photos tomorrow and post! I'm really proud of them!

Taking it Easy

This has been a pretty good week so far! I haven't really been doing any crafts or art. It's a nice change. I did do the punk bunny stamp, but that's about it! Today Cory assembled the shelving unit in Jacks' closet and then we all organized and purged in the garage. Now we have a rug and counch in the garage! It's a nice hang out spot, just needs a coat of paint and it'll be perfect! Tonight I'm going out with my sister and some friends .... something I rarely do! Then (hopefully) tommorrow I'll be getting a haircut! I'm going for a Louise Brooks bob I think! Before I go out tonight I might chop my fringe as it's down to my lips! Yesterday I bought some fabric to finish up and start a couple projects! I'm making a super cute ruffled apron or my sister, starting on the day of the dead table runners and finally getting to the old school tattoo diaper bag! I'm really excited about the diaper bag because it's a neat shape for a diaper bag! I'll post pictures as I go along. So it sounds like I'm taking a break from crochet stuff and heading into the sewing world! It's been far too long!

Lino Printing Instructions

Printing Instructions

Materials Required:

Speedball Water Soluble Ink

Speedball Roller

Paper

Lino Carving

Shiny Cardboard (such as a cereal box) or plate of flat glass (from a picture frame)

Before you start make sure that your lino carving is clean and dry.

Step One:

Place a small amount of ink on the center of your cardboard or glass

Step Two:

Place the roller on the ink and roll vertically as well as horizontally, spreading the ink so it is as wide as the roller is. Continue rolling until the ink on your cardboard/glass looks like an orange peel

Step Three:

Immediately roll the ink onto your block (ink can dry fast depending on temperature).so that all the raised areas are thoroughly coated with ink.

Step Four:

There are two ways of pulling a print now. The first one is as follows- Place paper on table and flip lino carving over so ink side is facing down. Place the lino carving on the paper and press down evenly without shifting the carving (otherwise it causes smudging). To remove lino carving from paper. Hold the edges of the paper with one hand and pull lino carving up without shifting.

The second is as follows – Leave you lino carving with the ink facing you. Place your paper on the lino carving and press down, evenly and firmly without shifting the paper or bending the edges over the lino carving. I use the back of a large spoon for this method. Carefully peel the paper off the lino carving, without shifting.

You may need to do a few pulls before you get the right amount of ink and pressure when printing. Re ink your lino carving for each pull. When adding more ink to your cardboard/glass add a very small amount, so you maintain that orange peel texture.

Happy Printing!

A Home For A Bunny

This cute bunny is being sent far away! A woman commisioned me to do a handmade stamp of her punk rock crochet bunny! I think it turned out great, and was a lovely challenge! I'm also working on some great projects for a "Birds are Beautiful" swap! So exciting!

Is This It?

Okay so I've decided that in two weeks I have to get my tatto finished! I've got two bluebirds on my lower back that have been colorless for EIGHT years!!! What happened was that I had the appointment booked years and years ago to get the color work done, but when I went in the tattoo artist was ill, and I never rebooked the appointment! So here is what the little guys will look like soon! Mine don't have the crown as I didn't like it back then, but now I really like it, so hopefully he can add it on!

Crochet Sculpture #2

So here is my second attempt as crochet scultpure work! This one is for the gallery that is having it's next show in April! The theme is "Illumination" so I made this one look sort of like a hanging lamp! I crochet each layer, stiffened them and then strung them together. The sculpture's "arms" don't stick out as much as I'd like so I am going to have to add some supports. Other than that I am pretty happy with it! The sculpture is even reversable!

New Art Endeavors!

In the begining of March I am going, with Jackson, to meet a fantastic artist! He has a studio downtown for his crochet and knotted sculptures! We are going down to check out his work and talk about the worl of fiber art! i have to finish some peices and take photos so i can show him my work .... if he wants to see it! Mostly though we are going to check out his stuff! I'm really looking forward to it. here is his site:

http://members.shaw.ca/daleandjohn/01.D.html

My new fabric came a few days ago ..... Retro Rocket Rascals! I am thinking of making a quilt of jack's new bed, but am nervous as i've never quilted before!! My grandmother and aunt bot quilt so maybe they will have some advice. I already got some great advice from the ladies at knitting last night!

Yikes

it seems that finding daycare is quite hard in this city! i have been on the waitlist for a very long time at many daycare centres and still have not found anything. i'm starting to look for family care instead of a daycare, though that makes me nervous! i just can't imagine letting my wee one go. it would only be for one day, but still....... it's hard! i did some more lino carvings last night and finished up another bowling for bunnies set. the rest of the week i am going to concentrate on art!

More Art, Less Craft

well not entirely true! I have been painting and am working on a small series right now. not sure of the titel yet, but when they are finished i'll know! i also found some resin and mold making stuf so will experiment with that in the coming weeks! i've ound some neat jewelry to make molds from! I'm working an a gorgeous set of sage and cream bowling for bunies set as well as the final draft of the pattern! My testers are hard at work making sure it's right. I've been doing a lot of family stuff this weekend and like last weekend will be doing a couple haircuts. I enjoy doing hair still, and it pretty well pays for any craft stuff that i buy during the week.... tried to post a photo, but didn't work!!!

Team Player

I've never been much a team player or a joiner, hoever I've joined some street teams on etsy to help promote my shop. There is one in particular that I'm excited about and it' called Etsy for Animals . I'll be donating some items as well as portions of my sales to local animal charities. The two that I have chosen so far are Project Seahorse and Wild Arc. It really feels good to be donating, it's been too long! I'l be working on projects and posting some photos ths weekend!

Hot Topic

Yay!!! My bowling bunnies are on the front page of craftster right now in the "Hot New Projects" section!! Oh and a junior highschool friend of mine bought a set of my t.v. notecards!! Off to the post office again. Yesterday I was at the post office mailing my red nana bunny off to a women with whom i traded for one of her gorgeous necklaces ..... i'll post the necklace and link to her site once I get the necklace. Great day today!

First Feature Shop

I've decided to start featuring shops and items from Etsy that I like or have purchased things from!

I've been really into jewelry lately (jack doesn't rip necklaces of my neck anymore!) and have found quite a few things I like on Etsy. In January I ordered a beautiful charm necklace from ClayFaery. She custom made the necklace for me combining two bracelets that I fell in love with.

Her shop is

www.clayfaery.etsy.com

I get so many compliments on the necklace she made, it's fantastic!

The Other Side

I'v been doing quite well keeping up with listing things on my etsy shop and now have to start advertising! I am joining some online groups that prmote your shop for you and also doing some posting on various websites I really don't know what I am doing, but have plunged in head first! I am going t have to take a break from creating etsy stuff and concentrate on my art as the deadline for the april show is approaching! I've finished the crochet part of my sculpture, now just have to stiffen it and make it stand on it's own! Alright tme to get off the computer and get at 'er! Oh here are my new cute toys! Bunny Bowling!

Away From Home

I'm at my mom's right now and will be until the end of the week. It's nice and relaxing up here, except for the fact that my son decided that 5:30am is a great time to start the day! I'm sleeping in the same room as him so I can't just let him do his thing until 6:30 like I would at home. But today he stayed in his crib until 6:15, even though he was babbling the whole time. So today he's a bit more on schedule with meals and naps. I've brought three projects with me to work on.

1: ABC Art poster
2: Crochet Sculpture
3: Swirl Baby blanket

I've got 2 swirls done of the 13 I need to complete, but have misplaced my tapestry needle, so won't be assembling the blanket this week. I'm making the most progress on my sculpture, which I'm happy about. It's a very relaxing almost zen-like process, so it's the most enjoyable. I have done 4 layers and am working on the fifth. In total i think there are going to be six or seven layers so I'm almost done. When I get home I'll stiffen the layers and put it all together and it'll be complete! I've got an end of the month deadline for 3 art projects and the sculpture is the only one even close to being completed! The ABC art poster is coming along. I've figured out what to put on each square and penned the lettering, now i just have to draw all the images and paint them. Tonight I won't have time to work on anything as I'm joining a friend for her prenatal class. That should be a strange, but interesting experience! On Thursday Jackson is taking myself, mom and my friend out for dinner for Valentine's day! We'll be home in time for his bath/bedtime, so I'll hopefully get most of my projects finished that night.

Being away from home always makes me think of how much i need to do when i get home. I really want to focus on decorating the main living/dining area when i return. I've got a list of projects for the dining room and i won't have to buy anything for them! I'm trying really hard not to purchase craft/art stuff this month. So far i've done very well. I did buy some material, but i'd actually purchased it last month, the order just didn't go through properly so I had to re-order in the beginning of me "no shopping" month. So I don't think that really counts! Alright the wee one is asleep, time to craft!

Lino!!

I love lino carving, i really forgot how much i love it! Yesterday I decidedto alter some photos i had taken of my heartfelt critters. They looked really good as flat black and white images so i carved them up on lino and printed off some notecard sets! i plan on doing a few different sets. This first one is calle the Heartelt Critter Collection. So far I've only cared 2 stamps, but will do more, maybe in a couple weeks. I'm going away for a week, starting tomorrowso won't be doing much crafting. I am hoping to get some work done on my newest crochet sculpture! I had to scrap the first one I id, but here is a photo of the direction it was heading in!

Working Even When ill

I've completed a few projects this week, more than I thought I would! I've got one heartfelt finished and another that just needs it's limbs attached! Also I've made two toddler scarflettes and for my personal project I've FINALLY made a case for my crochet hooks!! I seem to be on a blue and green kick!