Week 3

This is the end of Week 3 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 3:  "Space and Beyond" pendants made out of Sculpey III clay.

7/5/12

I did other things than play with clay at the beginning of the week.  Today, Thursday, I sat in front of my clay and supplies and thought, "I don't feel like it."  I didn't feel like softening up the clay or making pendants or anything.  Well, I started.  I picked out one new color, Lemon Yellow and used some leftover hot pink and violet to make "Space and Beyond" pendants.  I kept thinking, "I only have 5 jump rings" and "what am I going to do with these pendants?"

I started out with a moon, a star and a sun (looks more like a mandala).  Then I made stuff that reminded me of space and some of my ideas about space and time, that it kind of turns in on itself, or that it's like a lightning bolt.  So all in all, a weird experience with odd outcomes.  Then I brushed powder (3 different colors of Pearl-ex pigments) over the clay pendants.  Then I baked them.  Done!

7/8/12

After spraying the pendants with finish, I took their pictures.  They are still a little tacky so I'll wait until next week to add jump rings or embroidery thread to make them into necklaces.

I found my pinking shears yesterday!  I've been doing a little decluttering due to the Flybaby steps on the Flylady website.  I'm already on Day 12. I decluttered the craft supplies in my bedroom and found the pinking shears at the bottom of a plastic bag with Valentine's card-making stuff in it.

Extras: 

I didn't make much progress on my "cherries" embroidery this week.  Just didn't feel like embroidering.  I have until July 20th to finish it for the contest on Flickr (New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns group).

I hung the Death Stars from last week along my bedroom wall.

My brother, Chris, gave me an idea for next week's project.  It's relatively simple and involves paper.  I can't wait to get started!

Week 2

This is the end of Week 2 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.

Week 2:  Brush and ink drawings of spaceships (6 or more).

I don't know why the number 6 keeps coming up. :)

6/24/12

Tonight I printed out some pictures (black & white clip art) of spaceships.  If I have time tomorrow I'll start on them.  I plan on using just one color of ink for each set.  In other words, not 4 colors on ink on one. Just black or gold or whatever.  I did a Bing search for the images.

6/26/12

I used Liquitex Ink! with an Asian bamboo brush (Windsor & Newton).  My brother said my spaceship ink drawings were "slightly disturbing."  I explained to him that I was doing a Space and Beyond creativity challenge.  This is my own challenge, but I got the idea from the website for 365: A Creativity Journal:  Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life! by Noah Scanlin.  I haven't even read the book yet! 

I like the silver ink effects, but I got more changes from the purple ink.  I think I'll do at least 4  death stars because they came out really nice.  I'm set up in the garage with my table and easel to put the stock art on.  This is fun and relaxing and I look forward to it.

6/29/12

Worked on copper alien and death star tonight.  Don't know what I'll do with these ink drawings.  I guess I'll put a few up.  I'm worried about a couple friends of mine.  I thought drawing would ease my mind.  It didn't.

7/1/12  I did the last of the ink and brush drawings today, these two in black ink.  I expected myself to improve over time, but I like the silver ones the best.  It felt a bit like postmodern cave paintings.  These are the things some people obsess about, aliens and their spacecraft.  Almost mythological!

The death stars (Star Wars) are my favorite!  I think they turned out the best, especially the silver one.

Extras:  

I found out about an embroidery contest using vintage patterns on Flickr.  This is the New Embroidery with Vintage Patterns group using patterns from the Hoop Love group.  I plan to enter the "summer theme" contest.  I chose a bowl of cherries pattern because we only get bing cherries in the summertime.  I'm using variegated threads.  I'll post my progress in the Extras.

Here is hungry Betty!

 Next week I'll play with clay.  Stay tuned!

Week 1

I'm posting my Progress Notes and pictures for Week 1 of "28 Weeks of Creativity 2012."  It was a good week creativity-wise.  I met my goal for the week, which was 6 Dutch Embroidery birthday cards.  That was pushing it however, as the stars take me about an hour to do and the comets 2 hours, plus time picking out the DMC embroidery floss colors and background cardstock.  I need to either better estimate the time involved or not put a number on the craft (or writing or art) projects.  Should I post more often or just once a week when I take pictures?  If you have an opinion, let me know.  :)

6/18/12

I really have missed doing Dutch Embroidery.  That's why I picked this to do first.  I'm going to make 6 birthday cards.  These are not my patterns.  They are from 2 discs of patterns given to me by a friend of a friend.  I have no problem using other people's patterns in my crafty/arty stuff.  It's what you do with an idea that counts, color choices, etc.

I'm doing the Star and Comet design cards based on friends and family's favorite colors.  I know, I could go with an over-arching color scheme, but I think I'll just go with favorites and colors that appeal to me.  I lost my pinking shears that I do edges with, so I have just straight-ish edges cut with scissors.

6/19/12

I decided on variegated thread and solid backgrounds for this week's projects.  Some of the birthday cards are for specific people, some aren't, just depends.

6/20/12

I started out with a white background then did a gold star on a dark blue background.  Whatever looks good!  Fun!

I was looking at cross-stitch patterns for future projects and realized that most of the patterns are very time-consuming.  My new criteria is, can I do it in a week?  Not much fits that criteria especially at the skill level I'm at with counted cross-stitch.

6/21/12

There is a prejudice for complicated time-consuming art.  The gesture, the art that takes little time isn't as valued.  At the same time people who aren't artistic may  not appreciate your time-consuming art.  It will be interesting to see what I can come up with in a week's time.  :)

6/23/12

Extras:

I did 3 drawings tonight.  The idea was from "Art Lab for Kids" by Susan Schwake.  It's not about being an artist (or a writer) or whatever.  This is just about expanding my skills and enjoying myself.  I had a hard time sticking to just contour lines.  I wanted to add detail!  This was from Lab 1-Contour Drawings:

I've also been doing some learning how to draw stuff at:  http://www.drawspace.com/  I'll post pics of those in the Extras as well.  I'll also post progress on my longer projects here (like the U2 jacket).

6/24/12

I made my 6the card today, finishing at my friend's house.  These are the ladies I embroider with.  I gave Mary the card as a housewarming gift.  It has orange variegated floss on yellow cardstock, comet design, the best of the lot.  Too bad I didn't have my camera with me!