Felted February

This felted piece is based on one of my Chub Babies, which I created and drew late last year. This activity is a response to the February Felt project being conducted by Meet Me At Mikes.

My Creative Space

This is my all use crafting workstation on wheels. For now this is my design studio until I can one day have a whole room designated for my art and craft.

• I am about to make a felt picture based on my Chub Babies drawing, which I created late last year. I have been inspired by Meet Me At Mike's Make-a-long Felt February activity. Yesterday I picked up these five coloured pieces of felt from Lincraft so that I can begin this project.
  
• There is a pair of dressmakers scissors on the workstation and three metal pattern makers rulers.
• There is also a tall brown mug filled with soothing green jasmine tea.
• Next to my workstation are two containers filled with my art supplies and fabrics.
• Yesterday I also bought toy filling so that I can make an assortment of plush dolls. If the dolls turn out good I will donate these to Handmade Help.

Waggsble???

The other day, when leaving a comment on another blog, the word 'waggsble' popped up in the spam blocker. Now I ask you, 'is waggsble even a word?'

Two Hands

The below illustration shows two hands. The larger hand is my own. The smaller hand that I am holding belongs to my baby Gwen.

Two Hands

Banana Bubble World

This morning I felt the creative impulse which resulted in the creation of the below patterns. Altogether it took me less than an hour to create these images.

My Awesome Pyjama Pants

If Madonna and super heroes can get away with wearing their underwear outside their regular clothes, then surely I could wear my comfy pyjama pants out in public too.  For instance, I can wear my pyjama pants in the following situations and no one would be the wiser:

• to bed.
• going shopping in.
• wearing at a No Doubt concert.
• playing golf in.
• to a Reggae bar.
• what other situation could I wear my PJs at???

"Fashion Story" Comeback

Aeons ago while studying fashion I illustrated the above female figure. That was well over ten years ago. And in the last three years this old girl keeps making a comeback in one form or another. In 2007 she became an acrylic painting, which hangs in my house. Since then she has also appeared in one of my zines. And today I once again find myself pulling her out of the archives, turning her into a Photoshop paint brush.

This print would look amazing on fabric.

Snowflake Pattern Play

Homemade Money Box

Today I created a very cute, feminine money box for my baby girl, Gwen, using an empty baby formula tin.

Firstly, using an art knife I cut out a rectangular hole (roughly 5 mm x 4 cm) down the central point of the plastic lid that comes with the tin. I made sure the hole was long enough to take a 50 cent coin and wide enough for a $2 coin.

The cutout hole in the lid.

Secondly, after measuring up the wall of the tin with a dress makers tape measure I created a design in Photoshop and printed it off. In this case I required A3 paper for the design to fit the tin when completed.

My Photoshop design for the outside wall of the tin.

Thirdly, I crop my print out with an art knife and metal ruler. Then using PVA woodworking glue (I practically use this stuff for almost any art project that requires gluing), I attach the design to the outside wall of the tin cylinder, then allow to dry. 

The end result - a very pretty homemade money box.

Yo Ho Ho

Herein is my latest Photoshop project... a pirates map, in tribute to all things piratey. Yo-Ho-Ho!

Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated by the romanticized fictional pirate. This interest can be dated back to when I first saw the movies The Goonies and The Princess Bride. Then in my early teens one of my favourite computer games happened to be Monkey Island, a very silly and hilarious pirate romp. Then of course there were the movies Cutthroat Island and Pirates of the Caribbean continually adding fuel to my lust for all things piratey (in a completely fantastical sense).

Romancing the Handmade Pirate

Recently I commissioned Evie of Handmade Romance to create for my baby girl a plush pirate princess. Originally I came across Evie's gorgeous pirate design when she provided a doll for Meet Me At Mikes 'Softies For Mirabel'. I was so enchanted by the doll, which resulted in my contacting Evie for the commissioned creation of the below pictured doll.

It was an exciting morning as the doll arrived in the post for little Gwen and the little pirate is too cute for words. Even M-Boo stopped to admire her and all the little details that were put in. She is a unique doll. She comes with all the accessories that a pirate needs - a swashbuckling sword, an eye patch, a parrot that sits on the shoulder, a 'skull and cross bones' shirt, and deep skirt pockets for all that pirate gold. I even noticed a sweet little tag on the skirt, with the letter G stitched in (I suspect to be a reference to Gwen's name). I also love the detail that was put into the doll face - the eyes are stunning. Evie certainly went all out on this project.

The pirate princess watches over sleeping Gwen

The pirate princess makes herself at home.

Thank you Evie! You did a marvelous job in creating Gwen's doll.

Vintage

When I was a child my head turned for new things. But as I grew up I found myself appreciating the past a lot more and the items that went with it. Perhaps that is because the things I grew up with became vintage over time. But not just that, when I think about it, because I also developed an interest in design from much older begone eras.

In saying all that does that also mean that I have become vintage?

Firefly

Firefly

This image is my latest Photoshop play which I quickly created, with the use of some amazing paintbrushes. It incorporates some of my favourite decorative elements - fireflies and bamboo forestry.

A Fish Called Ginger

Today I finished this little illustration (titled "Ginger"). It was done over two days, between eating, sleeping and taking care of baby Gwen.

Something For Dad

I was in a bit of a slump this afternoon. So to help me out Dad suggested I draw a stick figure and send it to him. I expanded on the exercise and it turned into a funny family portrait (Piper the cat, M-Boo my husband, baby Gwen [whom will be 2 weeks old tomorrow] and myself). I felt so much better once I started working on the drawing. Thanks Dad!