Lily pad Beret.

It is yet another long weekend. I finished all the mandatory items on my previous to do list, but unfortunately not all the artsy things I wanted to get done. I did make some jewelry though, and am liking them. Hopefully it will be bright enough out tomorrow to photograph them and list them on Etsy.

I've been working on this illustration for the past few hours:



I'm not sure if it's done, or if I even like it yet. I just can't tell. I think I need to sleep on it and then make last minute changes perhaps. Sigh, my sister thought that it was a picture of me when I was a kid and accidently cut the end of my nose off. Hmm...that can't be good. I just like those noses that are kind of angular on the end. Mine is really round, and I always wanted a different one.

So I guess we will see.

PS - my nose was reattached and looks completely normal now. I promise.

Okay, I am back now a few minutes later, and I whipped up this version:



It was actually meant just as a joke for my sister, it looks like her, whereas the other one looks a lot like me as a kid. I kind of like the colors in this, maybe I will offer it as both.

To do

I just found out some very good/terrible news. A shop just opened right on my way to school that sells ooodles of vintage glass and lucite beads, as well as sterling jewelry supplies. Oh no. My poor little credit card is just a shakin'. * must control spending *

This weekend, which is a long one, as are all my weekends, (I LOVE having Mondays off) I really need to get some work done, so I thought I would make a list, and then as I finish things off it, I can post photos of them. Maybe this will get me off of my bum and keep me accountable, who knows.

Okay,

1. CLEAN! - The house needs it, desperately. DONE.
2. Find the following items while cleaning: cardstock package, chucks, headpins that went missing..
3. Paint at least 2 small paintings.
4. Make at least 3 cards.
5. Ship off print. Done.
6. Felt 3 sheets for homework. Done.
7. Finish abstract landscape homework. Done.
8. Watch bladerunner for history class.
9. Complete custom illustration work. Done.
10. Create at least 2 new illustrations, and plan out ideas for others.
11. Felt at least 3 beads.
12. Organize surface design tools and supplies in plastic case. DONE.

A cozy scarf.

Wow I have had a very productive couple of days. Yesterday I started using illustration board and just love it. I drew a couple of illustrations on it and then did some details in watercolor, acrylic and gouache paint. I love the effect and think it will really add dimension and texture to my work. So far I've just got the one listed but I will hopefully have time to edit and list the other one today. I just love that chartreuse background, not sure if other people will though. My boyfriend thought it was a bit much, but I just went for it anyways, and followed my gut.




Today was one of those very few days each year where everything works out just perfect, and nature creates the most beautiful scene you could imagine. It happens so rarely, but it is just spectacular to see. When I came out of my house today, all the trees were just covered in a glassy sheet of ice, and the softest, fluffiest snowflakes were stuck to them. They almost look like these rock candy stick things I used to eat as a kid.



I was already running really late for school as I had slept in, but I just had to run back and grab my camera. Especially since a good friend of mine has never seen this before, and I had just mentioned it the night before. It's always so quick to fade too, I took these at 10 am, and by lunch it was gone.

It's just amazing in real life, photographs can't do it justice. It's like actually experiencing magic. The fluffy snowflakes were also catching in the wind and slowing flittering down to the ground all around me like glitter. The sun gleams through them like diamonds. It's just beautiful.



I hope you all get to experience this some day in your lives.

A big ball of string.

I really love being done class at noon. It means I am up and about, which I wouldn't be if I didn't have any class, and so it leaves me with a whole afternoon to use as I see fit.

Today I wandered down to The Owl's Nest, a giant used book store, and found myself looking in the children's section for vintage storybooks. I always find these things so inspiring for my own illustrations, and they really motivate me to create. One little jewel I found was "A Big Ball Of String", a 1958 tale of a boy who just wants to unwind string, even if it is his mother's knitting. After I read through the book and check out the drawings, this will become my new journal for a surface design class I have.



My favorite find is definitely "Simon's Soup", just look at that gorgeous red patterned inside paper. I love it. The book is full of little sock monkey style illustrations in a poppy red and chartreuse color scheme. It would make for lovely notecards, but I don't think I could cut this book up, it's just too sweet.

I also dyed, and knit the hat that is peeking out from underneath it.



Also thought I'd throw that photo in of some silk I dyed this week in a pretty aqua shade, and the floorcloth I painted that accidently rather matches. I'm really loving the process of creating all these things lately, it's very relaxing and interesting to me.

Well, the afternoon holds many possibilities for me. Maybe I'll paint, or felt, or work on some illustrations I have been commissioned for. Or maybe I'll take a nap. Oh the surprise of it all! :P

A wee bit of chaos.

I have been a busy little bee lately. I'm just starting up my surface design classes, which are going fantastic so far. I dyed some silk, did some gouache paint chips, and little things like that. I am also certain I am going to love my felting class. Yes that's right, an entire three hours each week solely devoted to my favorite fuzzy fibers. Fantastic.

I'm also working on some card designs, as well as offering my prints as notecards. Should get these things up and running very soon I hope. Today I also rephotographed some destash supplies, which I am going to list on memory.etsy.com, instead of morememory to keep things a bit more simple.

It's going to be good, I know it. :)