On the Beach

 Here are more photos I posted on Facebook.  Driftwood series.

(driftwood 3, 8, 10 and 15)

Mad for Micas

I'm so excited!  I just started a watercolor class (videos) on Udemy. https://www.udemy.com/course/watercolourswithconfidence/learn/lecture/19413472#overview  Every two weeks or so there's a sale on Udemy classes, around $13.  The teacher, Wendy Framst, in one of her lectures, on paint, explained that you can use gum arabic with pigments to make paint.  She used the liquid.  I did further research and found out you can use the gum arabic powder and water to make your own paints too.  Being the scientist I am I want to try this, making my own paints!

This is what I got, the stuff for food is the same as for watercolors.  It's a binder and thickener, and allows the pigment to stick to the paper.  $8 Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/

 

I already have a set of Pearl-Ex micas, set #1 (a set of 12, 3 gram jars)  They go for about $20 on Dick Blick, https://www.dickblick.com/ $30 retail. I've used it before on polymer clay jewelry.

Wendy Framst says in her videos to buy the best quality art supplies you can afford.  Not necessarily in large amounts or in every color.  This got me thinking.  Mad Micas has a excellent reputation for their micas.  So tonight I also ordered 3 samples of colors I really love and a Mad Grab Bag made up of 10 mica samples for $10.  They are a teaspoon each, which doesn't sound like much but should be fine for my purposes.  Here are the 3 I ordered, $1.50 each.  The shipping is kind of high though.

Quite a few of their micas are safe for soaps and makeup.  https://www.madmicas.com/

So... I was also looking at ordering plastic pans and half-pans for the future paints.  Something nagged at me.  I finally figured it out.  Why not use ice cube trays?!!  We might even have a white one in the kitchen somewhere that we're not using for ice.  

Wish me luck!

All for now.

AW

Dumb Blonde

I've been posting my photos on Facebook.  In the spirit of not holding back, not saving everything up for some mythical special day in the future.  In that vein, here are my Barbie pictures.  I originally planned some photos with Barbie and Sasquatch, but didn't get very far with them.

(In the Box)

 (Something in the Way)

(Threshold Guardian)

Breaking the Ice

                                             (Break the Ice, edit from a pixabay photo)

Sooooo... I've been away from blogworld for a long time.  Since 2012 for this blog.  A lot has happened since then.  I'm still creating, still stitching the wheel.  I'm a Maker.  

I took up cross-stitching again and now I'm obsessed.  I'm working through a Dimensions beginner kit right now.  I bought 3 patterns from an Etsy seller.  I can't wait to get started on them.  I call cross-stitching a "slow craft."  Embroidery is a "medium craft" and photography a "fast craft."  Your mileage may vary.

Here's where I am after 6 weeks:

I'm still editing photos.  None this year yet.  I did a lamp series last year that turned out nice. Here's one from 2020:

 

I started using Pixabay photos (free to modify and use commercially) for my photo editing.  I like the combination of perspectives, the original and my spin on that.

It's nice to be back.

All for now.

AW

Blog Cancellation due to Inclement Weather

I don't want to do this anymore.  Blogging is lonely.  I'm going to reinstate my blog on coachcreativespace.  There I feel at home and is where a lot of my online friends are.  I'm shutting down my photography blog too, which I didn't spend much time on.  I haven't been stitching or doing anything arty, just some writing.  You can find me from now on at:  http://coachcreativespace.ning.com/

Bye for now!

AW

Thanks for visiting!

Doodles

I didn't get a lot of stitching done this week, but I did do a few felt tip marker doodles.  Here they are:

Knotty Problems

I've been doing some stitching lately.  Here is what I've done this past week (not including the map of Ireland, which I've been working on for ages, just did some French knot coastline on that one):

This last picture poses some problems.  I need to see better to complete the cross-stitch project.  I mean I can see, but... it's a real eye strain to do so.

 

 See, I only got one more square done this week.

Here's my solution, a lighted magnifier thingy from Amazon.  I'm ordering it tomorrow.  It's around $17 and is called,

Mighty Bright Vusion Craft Light

 

Let's hope it works!

(plus, it's purple)

 

A Halloween Finish, a Shell, and a Celtic Lion

Here's what I've been doing for the past two weeks:

I finished the Halloween Tentacles, just have to frame it-

A counted cross-stitch shell, yes, this took me hours!  That's four squares of 100 stitches each.  Easy weekend project, right!  I've only done a few counted cross-stitch projects.

And an embroidered Celtic Lion on a tote bag for my Mom, Urban Threads design.

Love & Tentacles

I finished a card for my boyfriend this week.  His favorite colors are silver and black.  I really didn't get a lot done this week, have been kinda down lately.  Here is the card:

It's Dutch Embroidery or embroidery on paper.  I used cardstock and Krienik silver blending filament.  The pattern is an adapted embroidery pattern by Urban Threads.

I picked up last year's Halloween project, also an Urban Threads pattern, and worked on that today.  Here are some orange tentacles to haunt your dreams....  (mad cackle!)

Cars, CDs and an Affirmation Book

I decided to let go of my "Space and Beyond" challenge and just do what feels right.  This includes finishing the classic car grilling apron for my brother, doing the CD labels any which way and starting an "Affirmation Book" with poems, Celtic Messages oracle card info. and nice things people have said about my creations or me, plus there will be a few affirmations too.

Here's the pictures from this week:

 

The colors off on the second picture...

 

Week 9

This is the end of Week 9 of "28 Weeks of Creativity 2012."  I plan on creating to a theme (Space and Beyond) for the rest of the year in art, crafts or writing projects.  I will post process notes and pictures here with an Extras category for projects that don't fit the theme or are from previous weeks.

Week 9:  "Space and Beyond CD Labels-the start"

OK, I didn't get a lot of these made this week, but this is the start of this project.  I'll finish them up soon.  I have a set of CDs that are just car stereo CDs, those are the ones I'm putting labels on.  They are in a travel case, seen below with the two CDs and their "arty" labels:

Extras:

I finished some of the lettering on my brother's grilling apron.  It says, "Quench my thirst with gasoline."  The quotation is from a Metallica song about cars, called "Fuel."  I'm going to add "-Metallica" in embroidery, to finish the lettering.

I've been spending time getting ready to release art into the world aka Creative Release.  Here's my preparations so far.  More about this later!

Week 8

This is the end of Week 8 of "28 Weeks of Creativity 2012."  I plan on creating to a theme (Space and Beyond) for the rest of the year in art, crafts or writing projects.  I will post process notes and pictures here with an Extras category for projects that don't fit the theme or are from previous weeks.

Week 8:  "Celestial" baby blanket-finished!

Now the idea was not to take 3 weeks to do a project, but one.  However, I underestimated how long crocheting this blanket would take.  I tried to embroider stars on this with embroidery floss, but the blanket wasn't a stable enough ground for that.  Live and learn!

Here it is:

I made this for my best friend Kari's baby shower.  I also made and decorated a pineapple cake for her party.  We had the party at my house on Saturday.  The cake and the baby blanket made a big hit!

Here are the prize ribbons I made for the winners of the games:

Some of the above qualifies as Extras...

Extras:

I also finished the top of the apron for my brother.  I'm going to add words to the bottom.

Next:

Something both musical and circular!  :)

Week 6 & 7

This is the end of Week 6 and 7 of "28 Weeks of Creativity 2012."  I plan on creating to a theme (Space and Beyond) for the rest of the year in art, crafts or writing projects.  I will post process notes and pictures here with an Extras category for projects that don't fit the theme or are from previous weeks.

Week 6 & 7:  "Celestial Baby Blanket-unfinished"

I didn't post last week because I felt bad that I didn't finish this baby blanket in a week.  Well, it will probably take another week at least since I haven't been working on it much.  Oh well!  The first picture is more accurate color-wise.  Here is the start of it:

Here is approximately where I am now:

Here is the yarn label:

 Extras:

Here is a grilling apron I'm embroidering for my brother.  His favorite colors are maroon and gold.  This is his favorite old car from an embroidery set by Aunt Martha's.

I haven't gotten very far on this either.  The canvas is hard to embroider so I switched from 6 strands of floss to 3.  I didn't win anything in that embroidery contest on the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns group.  Win some, lose some!

Here is where I am after a week:

I have this hanging in my room.  I made it several years ago at a party, but it fits the theme.

I'll try to post even when I'm making almost no progress (in my eyes at least!). 

OH Deer!

Here is a little fawn in our front yard: