Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Embroidering onto Fabric Paper




It is always fun to take supplies that I already have and use them together in a new way. Several years ago I scrimped and saved to purchase an embroidery machine. One of the best purchases that I have made ever!


I have these very skinny walls in between the windows in my "room". I found some canvases that fit perfectly just had to decided what to put on them.
So, I made some paper fabric, embroidered the letters onto it and mounted it onto the canvases. Turned out really nice. And I was really surprised how easy the embroidery machine worked on the paper fabric. I "babysat" the machine the whole time it ran worrying that it might get mad about stitching on such a foreign thing, but it worked out fine. I am going to have to explore this a little more.


Fun with Aluminum Foil




So this is something that I have been working on for a little while. I know that we are all encouraging everyone to be more green and reuse things that we have for repurposing. Well, I love jewelry of all kinds especially the pieces that I make myself. So, I was in the kitchen one day cleaning up after dinner and noticed the aluminum foil sitting on the counter. I took it to my "room" and out came this really great necklace. I am crazy about it. Just had to add a washer to the back for some weight. I will probably be making this in every possible color, maybe a ring, or earrings.

Time to play with wax!


I have decided after watching my mom use wax for a while to try it out. And I gotta tell ya, it is so fun. It is a great way to add texture on the top of something and still be translucent for the image underneath. The way it smells is nice too. This is definitely going to be something that I will play around with some more.

Monday, January 4, 2010

New Year's Resolutions!

So I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but this year I have decided to jump in with a couple that I think will help along my creative process which has been in a little bit of a slump due to other duties in my life that have come up lately.
I am excited about what this year is going to bring. So what are my new resolutions????

First, I am going to start keeping a more serious art journal. I have been keeping one for a while now but always have the expectation that it should look like a finished piece of art instead of what it is meant for and that is an idea book. It is really only meant for my own personal "jumping off" anyway. And I want to jump back in on my blogging which I consider an extension of an art journal.

Second, I have been fortunate enough to inherit a wonderful Pentax ME Super from my late grandfather. It is a fantastic 35mm with a few great lenses. I have had in interest in photography but this is the year that I intend to learn how to take the manual off my cameras and explore the creative process through the lens. I also want to process my own prints.

That's it. I think those will be good starting points for me for right now. Some times it is difficult to keep my life straight with two kiddos, homework, housework, church stuff, animals, a husband, etc, and also make time for my creative side. I am hoping this will all help.

Oh, this pick is of my and my "little artist" an New Year's Eve. Just a few days ago.