Along with adding some more stitches to the baby blanket, this week I finished up the tissue box holder that taught me French knots:
I know I've made one of these before, but another occasion made this flower pot/pencil holder appropriate:
I also began an experiment this week--learning to utilize unused, or rarely used art supplies. I traced out a poppy on three different pages of my mixed media sketchbook. The first flower was made using colored pencils.
I was doubtful of the outcome when I started. After all, I was coloring with cheap Crayola and Rose Art pencils that I'd previously used horribly in "adult" coloring books. BTW--for those who know me well, Rose Art makes horrible crayons, but decent colored pencils. Even though the inexpensive pencils do not blend nearly as well as higher end artist pencils, I was very pleased with the results.
What do y'all think?
I'm sure that in the future when I upgrade to either Prismacolor or Faber-Castell pencils, I won't have to work nearly as hard to get the desired results.
Hopefully by the next Monday Mess Making post, I'll have completed my other two experiments, and make a few more messes.
For the past couple of years, I've gotten back into cross stitch and plastic canvas. Though the concept of the crafts is simple, some of the stitches are not. So far, the most difficult stitch I've encountered is the French knot. I started stitching in my late teens/early twenties and only had written instructions (this was pre-internet). This is typically what the books' instructions looked like:
If you can follow that, you're a good one. I was never able to make heads or tails of it. Enter YouTube:
With those very easy instructions, I was able to successfully execute the stitch multiple times.
Well, I just gave you a hint about what else I'm working on.
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This isn't exactly a UFO, but it is an unused tool. Last year, I bought a pom-pom maker, but just got around to using it.
Using the tool was easy. However, like every other time I've made pom-poms, no matter how tightly I tie the strings that hold them together, they are incredibly fragile. I still have no confidence in being able to use them on hats--they would leave a handful of year cuts at the bottom of the washing machine. I have no idea how to solve this problem. Oh, well. I won't be washing the wreath, so it's safe.
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I started this painting a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I know it still needs something, but I'm working on a technique.
One of the most insulting things another artist ever said to me was to insult my very first attempt at a moon painting (not this one--this is only my third). I was well aware that my moon was misshapen. Rather than answer my questions and help me find a better technique, this person acted like a horse's rear end.. Fast forward five years and I'm trying it again. Well, let's see how this goes.
Well, I've started a new baby blanket. So, would you call it a sunflower or a Black-eyed Susan, or both? It just may be that the blanket and the tissue cover will go together. Stay tuned.
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BTW--I teased you with a photo last week. I did finish the project. However, I hit a snag and had to re-do part of it. In other words, I found out something wouldn't hold with hot glue. So, next week will be the reveal...unless the new way I attached it doesn't work either. Then, you may be watching me throw a fit.
I'm taking part of my time off to dive in to my UFO (Unfinished Object) pile. Like my "Finishing and Fixing Series (see here, here, and here), one of the projects sat unfinished because, quite frankly, my first attempt was so butt ugly I wouldn't display it at a worm wrestle. It was a set of those little square drawers from the Dollar Tree.
I glued nine of them together in three rows of three. Because I wanted to use them as functioning drawers, I covered the inside of cut out end with some leftover craft foam (seems like that stuff just won't go away), turned the drawer around, and glued knobs to the side facing outward. My idea was to paint the whole thing black and decorate it with painted flowers. Well, once I painted it with black chalk paint, it looked like I'd set it on fire. It sat unfinished, laughing at me, for at least two years. When I pulled it out of the closet, I ditched my original idea and opted for something simple.
After I was satisfied with the paint job, I lined the bottom of the drawers with felt (it won't go away either). This is now my designated earring box. The purple and gold go great in my bedroom. I'm very happy with how it turned out.
The start of the year is a time to try some new things. My latest new project isn't quite finished yet, so I'll give you hint as to what it might be.
Lord willing, by my next post, I'll have it finished.
After teaching seven classes straight at the university, I came up for air and am taking a much needed break until February. The holidays were full of fun creativity:
This year's outside decorating theme was Grinch. This most likely will be my decor for the next few Christmases with pieces added as time allows.
My sister, Clara, told me about a YouTube channel called The Posh Paper Lady. This channel features gorgeous paper crafts. Miss Sherry, the owner of the channel, creates detailed, easy to follow tutorials. Once I saw the video for the planner covers and gift bags, I didn't rest until I learned to make both. I had so much fun creating these as Christmas gifts.
This is a sampling of some of the fun gifts I had the opportunity to create this holiday season. I really got back into plastic canvas and found unique ways to turn pizza pans and upcycled candle jars into festive art.
I even had time to have a painting party with a friend...
The new year is starting off with some new crafts to try, new challenges to conquer, and some new opportunities to share this ministry of Art + Compassion = Hope.
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