She Brews

Anticipation and Mentally Creating

Well, its all sitting here. Every time I have to walk by it, something reaches out and grabs me and clings to me until I promise to come back and make it into something. That's how an artist' mind works. You think they are not paying attention, but we really are........it's just that we are not paying attention to you.

Everything has a place somewhere in our creative mind. Sometimes that mind is a forest and we are too deep in to see the trees. We also, are very emotionally involved. How it makes us feel, is how it comes into being. Are we oversensitive? Oh, yes, a big yes to that. 

We get into trouble because we are usually dawdlers......spending way too long looking at things.......figuring out how they fit where ever we are at the time.....I got into trouble with my mother in law when I was newly married because I spent too much time looking at the things in her house when I should have been looking at her when she was talking. I suppose, I was distracted, and didn't hear her......frankly, I am a little disappointed when people come to my house, and they do not look. They give me undivided attention......and I have spent all my time making my surroundings creative juices and spent no time on myself........

My husband says all artists are weird. He uses the term "weird" losely.....and lovingly. He means to say that we don't fit into "his" world. He has spent a lot of time trying to keep me conservative......I would for sure be one of those old ladies people point at and giggle......but the true stifled artist says, "I wish I had the courage to be myself".

Everytime I see someone over 60 expressing themselves artistically, I want to applaude, and God knows how much I envy their freedom. Now, I can only enjoy little girls and their freedom to "express" their creative selves.....They are little "works of art" to me....

I will be back when I start creating......soon......I promise.

I See Sock Monkeys......

I got an order to make two dozen sock monkey ornaments. I am happy to report that I finished them today. Here is the beginning......

Here is a close up. I draw the design on first and then later add the paint.

I thought red was the best color since the original socks were red and brown. This is one side of the ornament. None are exactly the same.

The color is not very good on the monkey. They are a little washed out...but you get the idea. I will not have any working time now until next week, as I will be working at the Christmas Shoppe each day....it's gonna be a long five days.......

I hope to do some more fun stuff soon. Will be back to show you.

Third in the series finished

 

Here is the process:

 

start out with the background and build it. I have an idea, but let it dictate it as I go. I removed some squares that didn't photograph well. I am learning the camera can tell you things you don't see otherwise. I know quilters use it a lot when placing fabrics. It gives you an ability to see truly light from dark.

 

 

I am not liking that one aqua green square at this stage.

 

I put a cow over it, and I covered some of the other squares that I felt were too dark and unbalancing the grass.

 
Now, this is the finish of all the details. I added lots of stitches around and in the leaves to bring some depth.

Then, I decided that Farm One and Farm Two also needed some words to complete them, so here they are:

 

 

There you go, my new barn series. I hope Jill likes them. I am going to try some painting collages the rest of the day. I will photograph my progress and show you if all goes well......heh, heh.

It's the Red Queen's turn

As promised, here is the process:

 

Drawing the outlines on the paper. I pencil it in first and then redraw it with a pigma waterproof pen.

 

I start laying down the color using the places I am the most comfortable with, although if there are faces involved, I like to get them looking at me, or get some life into them right away, for some reason it keeps me going......

 

At this point I am fine tuning it. There can't be major changes, and in fact, when watercoloring, change is usually quite impossible. Sometimes, then, I will step in with acrylics and make changes if need be......

 

This is how I mount it on a fabric background. This makes it an easy 8 inches by 10 inches, which is a standard framing size in US, so you don't need to custom frame it, saving a lot of expense. You can go to a department store and purchase a frame to fit. It is ready for framing at this point, it doesn't need anything else added to it.

I love the patina of the old page, and of course, its a plus to get a page where the red queen, white queen and Alice are conversing. I used "Through the Looking Glass" on this one. So far, its the only one I have done with that book. I am thinking about TweedleDum and TweedleDee......perhaps Humpty......

 

They will be available in reproductions in my etsy shop. I haven't seen any of the new illustrations done, just Tenniell's so far. Thanks for all your wonderful comments last post. Please let me know what you think of the Red Queen. Lots of looking at my FLickr pics, but no comments so far.......(?)

cupcake pincushions

 

 

Paper Weights...or tools of a Passive Aggressive

 

  

 

So, I have been making these wonderful little blocks and thinking about what I am going to say to make you need them.....I see them on a desk holding down papers so your open window, fan or air conditioner doesn't blow them away.....however, after much contemplation, I decided that you could pretend you are an avid Alice in Wonderland fan, but meanwhile sending out messages to those who enter your space.......

They look real nice on my bookshelf right now.......

I will be listing them in my etsy when I get a chance.......thanks for visiting!

A Sign of Things to Come.....

 

This has been a really slow month. I realize its winter, but I would think the blogging world would be way more active. I am disappointed that I have had my 'friends" connect widget up for three weeks and have yet to have someone be the "first person". The only thing saving me, is although I have an average of 50 visits a day, only about six of them are to my front page. Most of them are following links to one thing or another......especially my patterns and embroidery. Hmmmm........

I set up a mock display in the dining room because I want to plan out a show display this spring, rather than "winging it" like I usually do. Sometimes I don't have enough of the same colors, etc, to make a nice display......I also want to add more than just 2-D for the inside shows. Outside shows aren't nice to fabric, so 2-D is okay for that. I feel like no matter what I make, it's likely not going to be enough.

 

While I am working on Alice in Wonderland things for my etsy shop, I made a few little placques with my favorite quotes. These turned out so cute. I do calligraphy so I can letter just about anything I like. It's great freedom. I know that some are using machines now (cricut comes to mind) that cut things out of vinyl with templates. This is where a lot of that fun wall art is coming from. Those cricuts are about $300.00. 

If I had more time for more projects, I would be saving for one of these nifty devices. However, for now, my calligraphy skills save me.....

 

These plaques will be in my etsy shop shortly. This one reminds me of my diet. I will diet tomorrow or diet yesterday, but I never diet today.......argh!!!

I think this is what the queen had in mind when she said this in Alice's Wonderland.....I am currently working on a few more different Alice things that will be in the shop, too.

Let me know I am not typing to myself, okay? I love to hear from you, even if its just to say, hay..........:)

Ornament Heaven........sort of.....

I am currently working in a Christmas Shoppe that is open all year-to give you the magnitude of this shop--it is packed with eye candy for the creative mind......it's tough not to want to purchase things, as the offerings seem limitless......

I worked there approximately ten years ago and have a sampling of what I did then. Here are a few:

  

I took a blank frosted ball and drew all of this design on it. I used the glazes and paints from a ceramic shop to make the colors.

 

This one you can even see the dimension I got from some of the paints offered at the ceramic store. I am not showing you the colored balls because I think they would reflect too much....maybe another day.......

 

When I made these specialty ones, we couldn't keep them on the tree. On the other side is the grandaughter name and date. I don't have the freedom of designing these in the store, but I personalize any of the ornaments with the names and dates the customer requests.

I have been thinking that maybe next year I should offer some ready mades to personalize on the spot at the fall shows. Just thinking........

Anyway, I am not creating at this moment because I am working every day and don't get home until after 6 or 7 pm. Too many other things to do when I get here.......

Shebrews Back to Work...

 

You probably have noticed my blogging slowing down rather than the normal writing or more frequent writing as I told you I would be doing........

I secured a job in a Christmas Shoppe lettering on ornaments and I started yesterday. I lettered 80 ornaments and did a few other things. Great atmosphere for this time of year. I had applied a while back and had decided that they were not going to hire me, and a few days ago I got the call.

Fortunately, I planned on getting the job and finished up most of my Christmas orders. I have two more to go......so, I probably will be a little less blogging for this month, at least.....although, I might have some interesting stories to come back and tell.......

I am working on a project that I have been taking progress pictures of. These I will post next posting. I am hoping to finish this project tomorrow.

I am very excited about working in this Shoppe. I worked there about ten years ago, and found it very inspirational and magical. I would love to take pictures, but I am not sure they are allowed........I will check it out.

Vintage Feedsack Projects

 

Oh, the patterns of this vintage material! I know they are duplicating them now, but even the feel of the fabric makes you wonder about their story.........

I am making little things from scraps of vintage feedsack I have collected. I have quilt pieces that have been hand stitched but never made it to a quilt.....I thought they were really pretty ornaments for a quilter's tree.......

 

This style I used vintage buttons. I layered batting in between and zigag stitched and pinked the edges. They are really quite showy on the tree..... 

 

 

This style I added the cloth daisy in the center because I didn't have so many colored vintage buttons, and besides, I thought it gave it a different look.

 

You can see how bright and showy they are. I am wondering if I should display them with little twinkle lights on the tree, too. I will be taking them to the show this weekend, and then they will be offered in my etsy shop for $3.00 each. I will give a break on multiples. I only have so many, so I don't know what I will have left after two shows.......

Also, tomorrow I will show you a surprise! Make sure you come back to see!