My Creative Space...

I have a few different projects lined up at the moment, as you can see below.

My first embroidery project.

Slowly but surely I have been working on my very own piece of embroidery. This will take a while to do as I decided not to have a deadline for this. So I can take it and leave it.

Punk Girl 

Punk Girl has the potential for becoming a homemade doll. I want to make her for the Softies for Mirabel project. But we'll see how I go for time and resources over the coming weeks.

Emjie zine in progress

Then there is my zine. Okay, admittedly I am not hitting the time that I wanted this finished, I am just waiting for some bits and pieces to come through. Hopefully not much longer though.


Check out all the other cool crafty corners over at Kootoyoo.

Punk Girl Concept

Does Punk Girl have the potential to become a homemade doll? Is the question I ask myself.

Evening Doodlings

A page from my sketch book.

My mind is positively fried and I should have a nap. But I have never easily adjusted to sleeping in the day. If it is light, then I just won't shut down, no matter how exhausted I feel. So here I am at the computer thinking about some potential projects for the future and going over some recent doodlings.


Would love a pizza right about now? How about you?

Antonio Lopez

It is something of a surprise that I am now writing about an artist known as Antonio Lopez.
I borrowed from the library, a book called The Beautiful Fall, which follows the career paths of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. I was both fascinated and appalled at the lifestyles of these designers, but as I continued reading I was more drawn to the people who surrounded them. More particularly fashion illustrator, Antonio Lopez.
Antonio was for a few years a part of Lagerfeld's entourage, if memory serves correct this was roughly the early 70s. Wanting to catch a glimpse of this man's work which happened to grace the pages of many major fashion magazines, I jumped on the computer and googled away.
I have found a new source of inspiration. My goodness, I want to be able to illustrate the way Antonio could. Of course, it helped Antonio a great deal by having models pose for him while he did his work.
Following are some lovely examples of his art.

Walking Around in Tim Burton's Mind

My interpretation of the Tim Burton exhibition

On Saturday, I went to the Tim Burton exhibit in the city.

I cannot express just how insanely talented and prolific Tim Burton is, as an Illustrator. It was a beautiful, darkly disturbing and brilliant exhibit, and the curators worked so hard with the artist to pull the whole thing off.

As well as whole walls being covered in artwork, there were also film models and costumes on display from Edward Scissorhands, Alice in Wonderland, Batman, plus so many more.

I was amazed at how tattered Catwoman’s costume was — they sure put that thing through the wars when Michelle Pfeifer wore it. And I had no idea that the Mad Hatter's hat was so massive. I noticed lovely little details, like the embroidered birds and rabbits along the hem of Alice's blue dress.

I have been to exhibits before, where you would find a handful of work by a single artist. But this exhibit was so much bigger than that. It was like one massive brain dump.

This show will be winding up very shortly. So if you are a Tim Burton fan and you haven't gotten around to it, I highly recommend making the time. This is one exhibit that you do not want to miss. Click here for more details about the exhibit.

Animation Friday - Skipper

Gif animator

This entry is a response to My Poppet's Meme: Animation Friday.
My Poppet has easy to follow instructions on how to create these animations — simply click here.
Why don't you join in? It is as easy as pie.

Lucy & Ramona

The song ‘Cruisin’ has been playing in the back of my mind lately… I thought I'd share the music video with you. Would you believe, this is Michael Nesmith of The Monkeys.

What's Up Doc?

I have been knee deep in some projects, but I wanted to touch base with you.
One of my projects has been preparing my next zine issue. I actually missed coming out with a Winter issue this year. I am making up for it, by making my Spring issue just a little more special. I hope to finish the zine at the latest first week of October.


The other project has been my embroidery, as you can see below. I didn't know if this was going to work out well, as I am embroidering one of my own sketches, titled So Cal Noir. But, guess what! It is coming out just fine.

Embroidery: In Progress

I also want to share a little bit of retro with you. Yesterday I was under the house, searching for some old badges, which, by the way, made me feel like Alice when she grew too big for the room. I also stumbled across my Jem doll and this poster that came with her.
Oh how I loved Jem when I was a little girl, and I still do. This Hasbro creation has been in my heart since the age of seven. That makes… hold on, let me do the math — 27 years.

Front: Poster

Back: Catalogue

Oh, My Stars!

Looky, looky, what I just pulled out of a time tunnel…

These badges date back to the last century and the 80s no less. Carbon testing estimates it to be 1987.


There you have it — I grew up in the 80s. While most people tend to be nostalgic for their teen years, I tear up over a much earlier stage in life — ages 6-10.


Back in the 80s I loved skating, and it was such a treat visiting the skating rink, which on Saturday hosted a family roller disco. Those were the days.

Animation Friday - Skate On By

Gif animator





This entry is a response to My Poppet's Meme: Animation Friday.


My Poppet has easy to follow instructions on how to create these animations — simply click here.


Why don't you join in? It is as easy as pie.

Pink Lady Art Exhibition

So Cal Noir

Yesterday afternoon I stopped by at the local Wool and Sewing shop. Thank goodness, it is a two minute walk away (30 seconds if I dash).


I picked up the few supplies I need to begin my embroidery project. The printer ink has been depleted so I draped the fabric over the computer monitor, and traced from one of my original sketches. For the first time I have used dissolvable ink. So I have no idea how long it will last.


It will be interesting to see how this will turn out. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the embroidery frame.

The World In Miniature

I want to share something special with you. The below photos were taken at my local library. They have a display with a rotating theme. At the moment the theme is miniatures.



For those not in the know, making miniatures is a hobby to be enjoyed by both the young, the old and anyone in between. For those with the space, will build and fill actual doll houses. Or for those with limited space, or simply want to create rooms with special themes simply make room sets, such as those shown below.


I happened to speak to the lady, Jacki Mitchell, who set up this display. She had made each of these miniature room sets herself. These miniatures are a tribute to a friend who had passed away. Jacki mentioned that the book The Red Hat Club was also an inspiration point for her, hence it's inclusion in the display.

The Knitting Done

On the weekend I finished knitting the above baby blanket. I managed very well — only two ‘Oh crap! Did I stuff that up?’ moments. And even then I was able to fix my little mistakes. Overall the blanket is perfect.

I Had A Thought

I am thinking about the sort of craft/art projects I would like to do next. I am also thinking about trying my hand at embroidery. Indeed I am! (LOL. I think Pip's mannerisms are rubbing off on me)

Last year I worked on a noir illustration in Photoshop, and I shared the progress on this here blog. One of the comments received regarding an early sketch of this work, was that it would it make a good piece of embroidery. I might just give that a go. I like trying something new — it's all about the anticipation.

Animation Friday - Sprung Spring

Gif animator

It has been such fun being involved in My Poppet's Meme: Animation Friday. It is such an easy animation to create, and My Poppet has included instructions of how this is done. Why not have a go?

Making It Handmade

Today I had a lovely afternoon out in the city. I had such a good time I didn't even mind the rain.

I won a free entry (thank you Pip, of Meet Me At Mike's) into the screening of Anna Brownfield's film Making It Homemade. It was a thought provoking film, and it was good for a few giggles. I even met the Director herself, who in true craft form decorated her hair with two knitting needles — it was very pretty.

The crafters who appeared in the film provided responses to questions that I subconsciously felt, but never knew how to answer before. I suppose watching this film helped me to understand the craft movement I am gradually being drawn into.

When I was sitting in the cinema waiting for the film to begin, I listened in to bits of conversation around me. One person spoke of her knitting — something that was meant to be a gift. She wasn't satisfied with how it was turning out, so she was going to start again. Another person spoke of friends attending the launch of a new comic book. Why am I mentioning this? Because I want to point out how a film about craft can draw in crowds of strangers who are actually creative and like-minded. You would hardly hear this sort of banter at the screening of a regular Hollywood film.

When the film finished I decided to buy the DVD of Making It Handmade. So glad I did. I can hardly wait to watch it again.

P.S. I am halfway through knitting the baby blanket.

P.P.S. What happens next? Who knows. My mind is brimming with sparks of potential.

Vampires of the World Beware

I was just watching this music video by The Divinyls, which reminded me of this outfit that I made 10 years ago. Can you believe that? There is proof that I used to have a slim waist line. Proof that I was a Buffy fan way back when.

So what is the story behind this photo? Let us cast our minds back to the Spring of 2000… Some friends and I decided to celebrate Halloween in the true spirit. We would dress up in costumes that would strike fear into the hearts of any sane person, and in this attire we went to the cinema on Halloween, and watched a film — The Dish.

In under a few hours I sewed up this outfit, which is the cheerleader uniform worn by Buffy in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film.

So the big question: In this photo, is this a tragic or a proud dress up moment for me? A little bit of both. I should of kept the costume. ;)

The Last Gasp of Winter

Spring is upon us, but as always in Victoria, if a new season begins we still feel the chill or the heat of the previous season. And it seems that Madame Winter is determined to make her last stand in September. I am very much an Autumn/Winter person, but I got to admit it is time for a change and I welcome the sunny days with open arms.

As you can tell, I am in an up and up mood this morning. I had a nice morning with hubby and bub. I got in some knitting. Oh yeah! Plus, I discovered I was a winner of a ticket giveaway over at Meet Me At Mikes. The tickets are for the screening of Making It Handmade by Anna Brownfield. So I'll be going to see that. Woo Hoo!

How will you be spending your time, this weekend?

Animation Friday - Ollie

This week I had fun making this little animation. This maneuveris known, amongst skate boarders, as an ollie.

I hear that there are not as many skater girls participating in the sport. So I felt inspired to draw a girl having fun with her skate board.


Gif animator

This activity has been a response to My Poppet's Animation Friday.

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