Today. with close to 200 blog posts already under my belt, I thought I would go back into the blog "archives" and pull up a couple older posts you may not have seen when they were first published OR if you are a more recent/new visitor to myStoryART you may not have discovered yet.
First up is a blog post from July 2010 "Feeling Stuck, Bogged Down, Need Some Inspiration?" That's kinda how I felt this morning when I started this post!! Once again I had put my thinking cap somewhere and darn it, I couldn't find it. So I took my own advice... and I am back in the groove!
As many of you know, I love stories. So here's a short, ah... romantic tale...from 2009 that, guaranteed, will bring a smile to your face ... one you may have missed along the way... The Storm
Hope you have a wonderful week... and I will do this one again... it was fun taking a look back at older posts!!
Cheers,
Sharon
Friday, July 25, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Chalkboard Labels for the Spice in Your Life
Here is a quick project that I completed on a recent Saturday morning... chalkboard labels for my spice jars.
Originally I purchased a spice jar "spindle" at a garage sale with the idea of using it in my art room. The spindle doesn't take up much space (and I need lots in my art space) and the bottles are very handy for storing little stuff like seed beads, pins, elastic bands, x-acto knife blades, eyeballs (yes, you read that right...made from clay) and other small things that you use a lot. I already have one and thought a second one would be handy...after all there are 16 bottles to have fun filling up!! And then...
I got a new RED KitchenAid mixer... the super duper one that you can make all sorts of wonderful things with especially bread!!
I love baking bread and as hubby says: "You are probably the only person I will ever know who could burn out a KitchenAid making bread and goodies!" That's exactly what I did recently to the one I have had for 10 years. Oh it still works but only at beating speeds... okay for whipped cream...not good for bread kneading.
I decided that perhaps it might be an idea to paint this spindle the same colour as my new machine, put some cute labels on the end and free up some space in the cupboard. Being an avid cook, I have more herbs and spices than you could possibly imagine... a whole cupboard full of them!! And yes, in case you are wondering, I use them all.
Thanks to my friend Geraldine, I was able to borrow her 1-1/2" round punch (just the perfect size for the tops of the bottles) to get the job done. A few minutes on the web produced a plethora of free labels for personalizing and printing.
Interested in doing this kind of project? Here's what you need:
Avery full Label Sheets #5165,5265™, 5975™, 6465™, 8165™, 8465™ (anyone of these will work)
Clear contact paper
A 1-1/2" round punch
World Label has free templates for different types of labels, many of which you can personalize on your computer and then print off. The chalkboard ones can be found here.
Once I completed filling out the template, I reduced the size of the graphic in my graphics program to make the labels smaller. You may need to fiddle with this a little bit to get the labels down to 1-1/2" in order to fit on the tops of the bottles.
You can find all sorts of labels there for labeling jars in your pantry. I save the mason jars from store bought sauces and then fill them up with nuts, dried fruit, rice, quinoa, beans, etc.. and slap a label on the front. Using clear contact paper on the front of the label means that you can (carefully) clean the bottle when you refill it. As hubby found out recently... don't let it soak in the washing up water while you check the latest news on your laptop...your label will be ....uhh... toast!!
Have fun with this project. Your cupboards will definitely pass the "mother in law" test once all your spice jars are done!
Till next time,
Sharon
Originally I purchased a spice jar "spindle" at a garage sale with the idea of using it in my art room. The spindle doesn't take up much space (and I need lots in my art space) and the bottles are very handy for storing little stuff like seed beads, pins, elastic bands, x-acto knife blades, eyeballs (yes, you read that right...made from clay) and other small things that you use a lot. I already have one and thought a second one would be handy...after all there are 16 bottles to have fun filling up!! And then...
I got a new RED KitchenAid mixer... the super duper one that you can make all sorts of wonderful things with especially bread!!
I love baking bread and as hubby says: "You are probably the only person I will ever know who could burn out a KitchenAid making bread and goodies!" That's exactly what I did recently to the one I have had for 10 years. Oh it still works but only at beating speeds... okay for whipped cream...not good for bread kneading.
I decided that perhaps it might be an idea to paint this spindle the same colour as my new machine, put some cute labels on the end and free up some space in the cupboard. Being an avid cook, I have more herbs and spices than you could possibly imagine... a whole cupboard full of them!! And yes, in case you are wondering, I use them all.
Thanks to my friend Geraldine, I was able to borrow her 1-1/2" round punch (just the perfect size for the tops of the bottles) to get the job done. A few minutes on the web produced a plethora of free labels for personalizing and printing.
Interested in doing this kind of project? Here's what you need:
Avery full Label Sheets #5165,5265™, 5975™, 6465™, 8165™, 8465™ (anyone of these will work)
Clear contact paper
A 1-1/2" round punch
World Label has free templates for different types of labels, many of which you can personalize on your computer and then print off. The chalkboard ones can be found here.
Once I completed filling out the template, I reduced the size of the graphic in my graphics program to make the labels smaller. You may need to fiddle with this a little bit to get the labels down to 1-1/2" in order to fit on the tops of the bottles.
You can find all sorts of labels there for labeling jars in your pantry. I save the mason jars from store bought sauces and then fill them up with nuts, dried fruit, rice, quinoa, beans, etc.. and slap a label on the front. Using clear contact paper on the front of the label means that you can (carefully) clean the bottle when you refill it. As hubby found out recently... don't let it soak in the washing up water while you check the latest news on your laptop...your label will be ....uhh... toast!!
Have fun with this project. Your cupboards will definitely pass the "mother in law" test once all your spice jars are done!
Till next time,
Sharon
Friday, June 27, 2014
The Happy Gardener Reycyles Cookie Tins!
These past couple of weeks have been spent sprucing up my "secret" side garden and the deck off my living room with flowers, flowers and more flowers. It's just lovely sitting out there with my morning coffee and my Kobo... a little read,a cup of good coffee, some sunshine and this kid is a happy camper!
First let me tell you about those flower boxes. They are the best thing since sliced bread for putting over a railing. They are adjustable to the width of the railing but the best thing is that they have a leveling piece on the bottom of them that allows them to remain upright... no sagging, no danger they will fall over or off. They also have a reservoir in the bottom of them so that in warm weather your plants won't be suffering from thirst. They are more expensive than most planter boxes but worth every penny. Called "fence and railing planters", they are available from LeeValley.
Recycled Cookie Tin Project
One fine sunny day, in the early days of spring, I was cleaning up and clearing out "stuff" that had been lingering forgotten in my downstairs pantry. I came across some old cookie tins I had been saving for a couple of years. They were the big ones from Costco that had once held some very delicious Christmas cookies. I couldn't remember why I was saving them so they were earmarked for the recycling bin.
As I was about to place them in the bin and send them to recycling heaven, it hit me. Of course, use them to plant flowers in this summer! But boy the first thing they would need would be a paint job and some sprucing up. They were okay as cookie tins but pretty ugly for fleurs!!
Over to the hardware store I went to buy some primer paint and some hot red and yellow spray paint for the second coat. Well it was a bit too nippy outside to do any painting so I had to put the project on hold till it warmed up some outside. But in the meantime...
I went looking for vintage flower seed packet graphics and found a whole collection of Seed Catalogues at the Smithsonian digital collection.
I found a bunch I liked, re-sized them in my graphics program to fit the sides of the cookie tins and printed them off. Because they will be outside all summer, I decided to ModgePodge them with a couple of coats to protect them from inclement weather.
Fast forward to a warm spring day. Out the door into the backyard I went with a big cardboard box, my primer paint and the tins. Put the tins in the box to paint as spray paint goes all over. Even being as careful as I was with both the primer and finish coat of red, I ended up with some rather pretty but unusual colored grass!!
Take your time painting inside and out. Get into all the crevices with the primer. Let it dry thoroughly... best to wait overnight. The next day you can start with the your chosen finish colour for the outside of the tin. You really don't need to do the inside.
Once your tins are thoroughly dry, you can modge podge your graphics to the sides of the tin. Do all four sides as you may be turning the plants around for even blooming. Punch a bunch of holes in the bottom of the tin. Take a kitchen garbage bag and cut it to fit inside the tin, fill it with dirt and then your plants.
I made three of them... two red ones for the bench in my secret garden and one yellow one that sits on the table at our front door...
Happy Gardening,
Sharon
First let me tell you about those flower boxes. They are the best thing since sliced bread for putting over a railing. They are adjustable to the width of the railing but the best thing is that they have a leveling piece on the bottom of them that allows them to remain upright... no sagging, no danger they will fall over or off. They also have a reservoir in the bottom of them so that in warm weather your plants won't be suffering from thirst. They are more expensive than most planter boxes but worth every penny. Called "fence and railing planters", they are available from LeeValley.
Recycled Cookie Tin Project
One fine sunny day, in the early days of spring, I was cleaning up and clearing out "stuff" that had been lingering forgotten in my downstairs pantry. I came across some old cookie tins I had been saving for a couple of years. They were the big ones from Costco that had once held some very delicious Christmas cookies. I couldn't remember why I was saving them so they were earmarked for the recycling bin.
As I was about to place them in the bin and send them to recycling heaven, it hit me. Of course, use them to plant flowers in this summer! But boy the first thing they would need would be a paint job and some sprucing up. They were okay as cookie tins but pretty ugly for fleurs!!
Over to the hardware store I went to buy some primer paint and some hot red and yellow spray paint for the second coat. Well it was a bit too nippy outside to do any painting so I had to put the project on hold till it warmed up some outside. But in the meantime...
I went looking for vintage flower seed packet graphics and found a whole collection of Seed Catalogues at the Smithsonian digital collection.
I found a bunch I liked, re-sized them in my graphics program to fit the sides of the cookie tins and printed them off. Because they will be outside all summer, I decided to ModgePodge them with a couple of coats to protect them from inclement weather.
Fast forward to a warm spring day. Out the door into the backyard I went with a big cardboard box, my primer paint and the tins. Put the tins in the box to paint as spray paint goes all over. Even being as careful as I was with both the primer and finish coat of red, I ended up with some rather pretty but unusual colored grass!!
Take your time painting inside and out. Get into all the crevices with the primer. Let it dry thoroughly... best to wait overnight. The next day you can start with the your chosen finish colour for the outside of the tin. You really don't need to do the inside.
Once your tins are thoroughly dry, you can modge podge your graphics to the sides of the tin. Do all four sides as you may be turning the plants around for even blooming. Punch a bunch of holes in the bottom of the tin. Take a kitchen garbage bag and cut it to fit inside the tin, fill it with dirt and then your plants.
I made three of them... two red ones for the bench in my secret garden and one yellow one that sits on the table at our front door...
Happy Gardening,
Sharon
Monday, June 9, 2014
Fun Projects - Messenger Bag/Tutorial
Well my friend Karen recently "lightly and gently" scolded me for not posting more often! "it doesn't have to be a long post you know... you do some cool projects we all want to see."
Okay, my friend, I promise I will do a series of small posts over the summer. And the first one is the "I need to grab my wallet and go to the store" messenger bag project I just completed a couple of days ago.
I don't know about you, but I ABSOLUTELY do not like having to haul my big tote bag (with everything but the kitchen sink in it...) to the grocery store or the beach. So one day last week with a couple of hours to play in my sewing room, I decided to make a small kid sized messenger bag that fits my sunglasses, my wallet and keys. Here are the 5 things I like about it:
1. strap is wide and fits either over my shoulder and diagonally across my body
2. was made from left over fabric in my stash
3. has a little inner pocket to tuck my car/house keys in
4. washable
5. lined with iron on fleece to give it shape and body
Here's a photo of the finished project:
I made the "body" out of jean fabric, lined it with the outer fabric and used another piece of fabric for the strap. It's a great way to use up those scraps of fabric from other projects.
Here are the fabric size cutting instructions I used for my bag:
Flap - 1 - print fabric - 9.5" x 8"
Flap Lining - 1 - jean fabric - 9.5 x 8"
Body - 1 - jean fabric - 12" x 17"
Body Lining - 1 - print fabric - 12" x 17"
Strap - 1 - print fabric - 40" long x 4.5" wide
Iron on fleece - for strap - 40" long x 4" wide
- for flap - 1 piece - 9.5" x 8"
- for body - 1 piece - 12" x 17"
You can find excellent picture sewing instructions for a kids messenger bag here.
If you want to add an inner pocket, there are also instructions at the site for measurements and how to do it.
The pictorial is especially helpful if you need some assistance in learning how to attach the lining and strap to the bag. It is easy as pie once you "get it" but it can drive you to drink (chuckle) if you don't know how... it is not an intuitive assembly!!
If you want to add a magnetic snap to the bag, do it before you assemble it!! I forgot and then decided to just leave it off altogether rather than mess it up!
To strengthen the strap and allow it to "lie" nicely, top-stitch it on both sides and sew a couple of "lines" through the length of the strap.
So there you have it... use up your stash...make one for yourself, one for a friend, a neighbour, a favourite sister or niece and while you are at it why not make one for each of your kids, your grandkids, the neighbour kids, their friends... Just kidding...
Happy Sewing,
Sharon
Okay, my friend, I promise I will do a series of small posts over the summer. And the first one is the "I need to grab my wallet and go to the store" messenger bag project I just completed a couple of days ago.
I don't know about you, but I ABSOLUTELY do not like having to haul my big tote bag (with everything but the kitchen sink in it...) to the grocery store or the beach. So one day last week with a couple of hours to play in my sewing room, I decided to make a small kid sized messenger bag that fits my sunglasses, my wallet and keys. Here are the 5 things I like about it:
1. strap is wide and fits either over my shoulder and diagonally across my body
2. was made from left over fabric in my stash
3. has a little inner pocket to tuck my car/house keys in
4. washable
5. lined with iron on fleece to give it shape and body
Here's a photo of the finished project:
I made the "body" out of jean fabric, lined it with the outer fabric and used another piece of fabric for the strap. It's a great way to use up those scraps of fabric from other projects.
Here are the fabric size cutting instructions I used for my bag:
Flap - 1 - print fabric - 9.5" x 8"
Flap Lining - 1 - jean fabric - 9.5 x 8"
Body - 1 - jean fabric - 12" x 17"
Body Lining - 1 - print fabric - 12" x 17"
Strap - 1 - print fabric - 40" long x 4.5" wide
Iron on fleece - for strap - 40" long x 4" wide
- for flap - 1 piece - 9.5" x 8"
- for body - 1 piece - 12" x 17"
You can find excellent picture sewing instructions for a kids messenger bag here.
If you want to add an inner pocket, there are also instructions at the site for measurements and how to do it.
The pictorial is especially helpful if you need some assistance in learning how to attach the lining and strap to the bag. It is easy as pie once you "get it" but it can drive you to drink (chuckle) if you don't know how... it is not an intuitive assembly!!
If you want to add a magnetic snap to the bag, do it before you assemble it!! I forgot and then decided to just leave it off altogether rather than mess it up!
To strengthen the strap and allow it to "lie" nicely, top-stitch it on both sides and sew a couple of "lines" through the length of the strap.
So there you have it... use up your stash...make one for yourself, one for a friend, a neighbour, a favourite sister or niece and while you are at it why not make one for each of your kids, your grandkids, the neighbour kids, their friends... Just kidding...
Happy Sewing,
Sharon
Friday, April 4, 2014
Character Faces & Dolls in Polymer Clay
Well it's hard to believe that it has been so long since I last posted!! It has now been well over six months since my hip operation and I am glad to report that I am coming along just fine. I still can't walk very far or stand for any length of time but I am back to my early morning swims and trips to the gym, as well as dutifully (chuckle) going shopping spending hubby's money and for the last couple of months teaching myself how to sculpt character faces in polymer clay.
I remember hearing somewhere along the way that it takes about 40 tries until you get it. Yep... whoever said that was right!! I have created some absolutely hideous looking faces and heads over the last few months. I decided right at the beginning of this adventure that I would keep making them and smushing them up until I got one that looked like it wasn't from outer space. Took about 25 tries and in the end the clay was so absolutely filthy from so much handling that I tossed it out too!
But today, after much trial and error, a bucketful of frustrating moments, a few choice words here and there and hours and hours and hours of practice, I am absolutely tickled to share with you the fruit of my "labour"!
Meet Sister Mary Catherine, the music teacher and Samson, the music room cat.
At just 10" high, I think her personality shines through beautifully. She has the sweetest face. I discovered that I like to do older faces They just have more personality.
It has been quite an adventure in costume making! I scoured the Internet looking for doll patterns for nuns habits and came up empty. Finally I decided that the only way she would be completed is if I figured out how to make her habit myself. Well, if there is one thing I am good at, it's research!! And, being a non-Catholic, what interesting information I stumbled upon along the way.
Did you know that a nun's belt has five knots in it? There is a knot for the five wounds of Jesus at his Crucifixion (both hands and feet and his side).
In Mary Catherine's habit, there are seven pleats across the front for the seven virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, charity (or love). In a real nun's habit, there are 7 more pleats across the front for the 7 deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride)for a total of 14.
She has a set of little keys hanging from her belt as well as her crucifix which hangs around her neck. A gold ring, which signifies her marriage to God, is on her right hand (as some married Europeans do). Some nuns wear their ring on their left hand (as some married North Americans do).
Her rosary (or prayer beads) with the cross tucks into her belt by her side and has 6 black beads (our Father beads) and 53 little pearl beads (Hail Mary beads)for a total of 59 beads. If you are interested in finding out more about the rosary and how it is used in the Catholic faith, there is an excellent article here.
So I hope you have enjoyed being introduced to Sister Mary Catherine and now... on to my next project... an old fart and his "new" older gal friend. This one is gonna take awhile!!
Wishing you an arty week,
Sharon
I remember hearing somewhere along the way that it takes about 40 tries until you get it. Yep... whoever said that was right!! I have created some absolutely hideous looking faces and heads over the last few months. I decided right at the beginning of this adventure that I would keep making them and smushing them up until I got one that looked like it wasn't from outer space. Took about 25 tries and in the end the clay was so absolutely filthy from so much handling that I tossed it out too!
But today, after much trial and error, a bucketful of frustrating moments, a few choice words here and there and hours and hours and hours of practice, I am absolutely tickled to share with you the fruit of my "labour"!
Meet Sister Mary Catherine, the music teacher and Samson, the music room cat.
Her music stand was easy to make to scale. A couple of pieces of
cardboard, some paint, a dowel and clay and she was in "business". Her
music book is made from some black leather I salvaged from the cover of
an old encyclopaedia and some mini music sheets sewn together.
And Samson, the cat... well he's just being a lazy ole cat, lying there
being lulled to sleep by the sweet voices in the children's choir the
sister is leading in song.
At just 10" high, I think her personality shines through beautifully. She has the sweetest face. I discovered that I like to do older faces They just have more personality.
It has been quite an adventure in costume making! I scoured the Internet looking for doll patterns for nuns habits and came up empty. Finally I decided that the only way she would be completed is if I figured out how to make her habit myself. Well, if there is one thing I am good at, it's research!! And, being a non-Catholic, what interesting information I stumbled upon along the way.
Did you know that a nun's belt has five knots in it? There is a knot for the five wounds of Jesus at his Crucifixion (both hands and feet and his side).
In Mary Catherine's habit, there are seven pleats across the front for the seven virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, charity (or love). In a real nun's habit, there are 7 more pleats across the front for the 7 deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride)for a total of 14.
She has a set of little keys hanging from her belt as well as her crucifix which hangs around her neck. A gold ring, which signifies her marriage to God, is on her right hand (as some married Europeans do). Some nuns wear their ring on their left hand (as some married North Americans do).
Her rosary (or prayer beads) with the cross tucks into her belt by her side and has 6 black beads (our Father beads) and 53 little pearl beads (Hail Mary beads)for a total of 59 beads. If you are interested in finding out more about the rosary and how it is used in the Catholic faith, there is an excellent article here.
So I hope you have enjoyed being introduced to Sister Mary Catherine and now... on to my next project... an old fart and his "new" older gal friend. This one is gonna take awhile!!
Wishing you an arty week,
Sharon
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sooke Fine Arts Show 2013
What fun it was to go to the Artists Reception at the Sooke Fine Arts Show last night and discover my piece on display amongst all the other beautiful pieces of art in the show. When I go to an art show in which a piece of mine is showing, I am rather like Nancy Drew on a mission (grin) wondering in which niche I will find it on display. What a thrill it is to turn a corner and voila... there it is! Last night was no exception.
My hip operation was cancelled at the last minute (it is re-scheduled towards the end of August) so I was able to attend the show. It was made even more special knowing that my piece had already sold.
That was the message on the answering machine that greeted me when hubby and I got home from a last minute trip to Seattle to see the Chihuly Gardens of Glass which I have been wanting to see for quite some time now and still get back in time for the show.
Preview night (the night before the art show officially opens) attracts gallery owners and art lovers who pay a premium to get into the show beforehand to browse and purchase art they are attracted to. It's quite a thrill to have a piece sell on preview night.
As promised a couple of weeks ago, here is a photo of the polymer clay shoe I entered. The name of the piece is "Malona Flanick" and yes, it's a pun on a rather famous Spanish shoe designers name... the shoe designer reputed to have created "toe cleavage" in the women's fashion shoe industry. If you ever watched "Sex in the City" when it was on T.V.... you'll have a good little chuckle as you make the connection!
When you first see the fruit on the "flan" part of the shoe, it looks very real... almost good enough to just pick one of the mouth watering berries off and pop it in your mouth! What fun I had making that shoe. Having it turn out exactly the way I had envisioned it right down to the colour of the "custard" on the "crust" and the "blue-black" of the blueberries and blackberries was a real bonus.
Thanks for stopping by for peek. If you live in the Victoria area, make a point of going to this year's show... it's on until August 5th. This year's show is even better than last year's... and I thought that one was hard to beat!
Have an arty week...
Cheers,
Sharon
My hip operation was cancelled at the last minute (it is re-scheduled towards the end of August) so I was able to attend the show. It was made even more special knowing that my piece had already sold.
That was the message on the answering machine that greeted me when hubby and I got home from a last minute trip to Seattle to see the Chihuly Gardens of Glass which I have been wanting to see for quite some time now and still get back in time for the show.
Preview night (the night before the art show officially opens) attracts gallery owners and art lovers who pay a premium to get into the show beforehand to browse and purchase art they are attracted to. It's quite a thrill to have a piece sell on preview night.
As promised a couple of weeks ago, here is a photo of the polymer clay shoe I entered. The name of the piece is "Malona Flanick" and yes, it's a pun on a rather famous Spanish shoe designers name... the shoe designer reputed to have created "toe cleavage" in the women's fashion shoe industry. If you ever watched "Sex in the City" when it was on T.V.... you'll have a good little chuckle as you make the connection!
When you first see the fruit on the "flan" part of the shoe, it looks very real... almost good enough to just pick one of the mouth watering berries off and pop it in your mouth! What fun I had making that shoe. Having it turn out exactly the way I had envisioned it right down to the colour of the "custard" on the "crust" and the "blue-black" of the blueberries and blackberries was a real bonus.
Thanks for stopping by for peek. If you live in the Victoria area, make a point of going to this year's show... it's on until August 5th. This year's show is even better than last year's... and I thought that one was hard to beat!
Have an arty week...
Cheers,
Sharon
Saturday, June 15, 2013
If the Shoe Fits...
Fantasy Art Shoes that will bring a smile to your face and a chuckle to your heart...
Oh naughty me for not having posted since the beginning of last month! My big excuse... I have been very busy with art *stuff*, doing some spring cleaning and supervising (tee hee) hubby's planting of our garden for this year.
It is about to get even busier in our household as my hip replacement surgery date was set this week for the middle of next month. Of course this would happen after I bought my super duper backpack beach chair for this beach this summer! The sun had better shine a lot in the next few weeks so I can at least get to use it LOL
I did promise awhile back to post photos of the shoes I created for entry into the Coast Collective Shoe Show in mid May. Of course I meant to post them earlier... before the show began... and alas the show has come and gone BUT I did take photos of my entries.
The show was delightful to wander through and discover paintings, sculpture, and drawings you could purchase of vintage shoes, boots, running shoes, fantasy shoes, RCMP riding boots, sandals, high heels as well as real shoes all "gussied" up... you name it, it was there.
I had a real blast making my shoes for the show. It was a lot of fun and I laughed a lot as they came together. It's delightful to experience that kind of joy when creating "art"!
The first shoe is called "Meal on Wheels" and the wheels on the shoe actually do turn! Made from polymer clay, that cheeseburger, topped with a dill pickle and the crispy fries look so real you could almost pluck them off the shoes for a little snack and the strawberry for dessert is mouth watering luscious.
I was surprised that this shoe "art piece" didn't sell at the show... it is just adorable sitting on a windowsill or shelf in a kitchen. It certainly brings a smile and chuckle to the faces of people who see it! Guess it is just waiting for the right person to come along, see it and want to give it a home in their kitchen. In the meantime, it will sit on the top of my pie safe in my kitchen along with Chef Pierre (remember him from a few posts ago?) and look cute!
The second shoe "Which is Witch?" is something to behold when you see it with light shining on it. The sparkles are glorious... and something that photos just can't seem to capture and do justice to!
This shoe is a combination of many different mediums... a real shoe, paper mache, bookboard, clay, ribbon, acrylic paint, and more glitter than you can shake a stick at LOL.
Anxious to see what it would look like and being somewhat impatient to get it finished, I started applying the glitter at my art table. I just happened to look down to see my little white dog, hovering around my feet, starting to glisten and sparkle in orange, purple and glow in the dark glitter! Well outside we went, pretty darn quick I can tell you, to finish the job. Hubby remarked that we had the only glittering grass in our little village for at least a week.
Once it was done, I just smiled every time I looked at it. What a perfect Halloween shoe... I just loved the way it turned out. Well I wasn't the only one it seems... "Which is Witch?" sold at the show and is now in a new home... no doubt bringing smiles to the face of its new owner.
So there you have it! There is a third shoe that I did... I was definitely into this... that is just as delightful as these two... actually I think even more so, but I am saving it for now. I may enter it into an upcoming show and see if it makes the cut.
Have an "arty" week and see you soon...
Sharon
Oh naughty me for not having posted since the beginning of last month! My big excuse... I have been very busy with art *stuff*, doing some spring cleaning and supervising (tee hee) hubby's planting of our garden for this year.
It is about to get even busier in our household as my hip replacement surgery date was set this week for the middle of next month. Of course this would happen after I bought my super duper backpack beach chair for this beach this summer! The sun had better shine a lot in the next few weeks so I can at least get to use it LOL
I did promise awhile back to post photos of the shoes I created for entry into the Coast Collective Shoe Show in mid May. Of course I meant to post them earlier... before the show began... and alas the show has come and gone BUT I did take photos of my entries.
The show was delightful to wander through and discover paintings, sculpture, and drawings you could purchase of vintage shoes, boots, running shoes, fantasy shoes, RCMP riding boots, sandals, high heels as well as real shoes all "gussied" up... you name it, it was there.
I had a real blast making my shoes for the show. It was a lot of fun and I laughed a lot as they came together. It's delightful to experience that kind of joy when creating "art"!
The first shoe is called "Meal on Wheels" and the wheels on the shoe actually do turn! Made from polymer clay, that cheeseburger, topped with a dill pickle and the crispy fries look so real you could almost pluck them off the shoes for a little snack and the strawberry for dessert is mouth watering luscious.
I was surprised that this shoe "art piece" didn't sell at the show... it is just adorable sitting on a windowsill or shelf in a kitchen. It certainly brings a smile and chuckle to the faces of people who see it! Guess it is just waiting for the right person to come along, see it and want to give it a home in their kitchen. In the meantime, it will sit on the top of my pie safe in my kitchen along with Chef Pierre (remember him from a few posts ago?) and look cute!
The second shoe "Which is Witch?" is something to behold when you see it with light shining on it. The sparkles are glorious... and something that photos just can't seem to capture and do justice to!
This shoe is a combination of many different mediums... a real shoe, paper mache, bookboard, clay, ribbon, acrylic paint, and more glitter than you can shake a stick at LOL.
Anxious to see what it would look like and being somewhat impatient to get it finished, I started applying the glitter at my art table. I just happened to look down to see my little white dog, hovering around my feet, starting to glisten and sparkle in orange, purple and glow in the dark glitter! Well outside we went, pretty darn quick I can tell you, to finish the job. Hubby remarked that we had the only glittering grass in our little village for at least a week.
Once it was done, I just smiled every time I looked at it. What a perfect Halloween shoe... I just loved the way it turned out. Well I wasn't the only one it seems... "Which is Witch?" sold at the show and is now in a new home... no doubt bringing smiles to the face of its new owner.
So there you have it! There is a third shoe that I did... I was definitely into this... that is just as delightful as these two... actually I think even more so, but I am saving it for now. I may enter it into an upcoming show and see if it makes the cut.
Have an "arty" week and see you soon...
Sharon
Friday, February 8, 2013
Bet Mr. Levi never thought he'd see these...
cute jean place mats with bandana napkins sitting on the kitchen table...
If you've got an old pair of jeans hanging around that have seen better days, these place mats are super easy to make in a couple of hours. I made these mats a couple of weeks ago from new jean material and attached two back pockets from an old pair of my hubby's jeans. You could cut the mats from the jean legs if you wanted to... you may need to adjust the size. Here's what you need if you want to make a pair of mats like mine:
Jean Place Mats
3/4 yard of jean material
gold coloured thread
twin needle (optional)
3/4 yard of fusible batting for the back
2 jean pockets... you can also use the pockets from kids jeans... they are somewhat smaller
If you are using new material, make sure you wash/dry it before cutting it out. These instructions are for one placemat.
Cut one piece of jean fabric 20" x 18". Sew a pocket to the fabric on the right hand side, Place approximately 3-1/2 inches from the bottom edge of the fabric and 1-3/4 inches from the side. Sew around the pocket to attach it to the "placemat:" using gold coloured thread.
Serge all four edges of the fabric. Fold under 1" on all sides. Press with an iron. Cut the batting 18" x 16". Fold back the fabric and iron the fusible batting on to the back of the jean fabric. Fold the "seam allowance", miter the corners , fold back over the batting and pin. On the right side, sew all around the placemat in a double row. You can use a twin needle or do each row approx. 1/4" apart. You're done!
Bandana Napkin
1/2 yd, red bandana fabric
1/2 yd. blue bandana fabric
This is enough fabric to make 4 napkins.
Cut a 14" square out of both the red and blue bandana fabric for each napkin. Pin wrong sides together. Serge around the outside edge.
Tuck a napkin into the pocket on your place mat and you're done!
Now throw some beans in a pot, get a pot of chili brewing and break out a cool brewskie!
Cheers,
Sharon
If you've got an old pair of jeans hanging around that have seen better days, these place mats are super easy to make in a couple of hours. I made these mats a couple of weeks ago from new jean material and attached two back pockets from an old pair of my hubby's jeans. You could cut the mats from the jean legs if you wanted to... you may need to adjust the size. Here's what you need if you want to make a pair of mats like mine:
Jean Place Mats
3/4 yard of jean material
gold coloured thread
twin needle (optional)
3/4 yard of fusible batting for the back
2 jean pockets... you can also use the pockets from kids jeans... they are somewhat smaller
If you are using new material, make sure you wash/dry it before cutting it out. These instructions are for one placemat.
Cut one piece of jean fabric 20" x 18". Sew a pocket to the fabric on the right hand side, Place approximately 3-1/2 inches from the bottom edge of the fabric and 1-3/4 inches from the side. Sew around the pocket to attach it to the "placemat:" using gold coloured thread.
Serge all four edges of the fabric. Fold under 1" on all sides. Press with an iron. Cut the batting 18" x 16". Fold back the fabric and iron the fusible batting on to the back of the jean fabric. Fold the "seam allowance", miter the corners , fold back over the batting and pin. On the right side, sew all around the placemat in a double row. You can use a twin needle or do each row approx. 1/4" apart. You're done!
Bandana Napkin
1/2 yd, red bandana fabric
1/2 yd. blue bandana fabric
This is enough fabric to make 4 napkins.
Cut a 14" square out of both the red and blue bandana fabric for each napkin. Pin wrong sides together. Serge around the outside edge.
Tuck a napkin into the pocket on your place mat and you're done!
Now throw some beans in a pot, get a pot of chili brewing and break out a cool brewskie!
Cheers,
Sharon
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Polymer Necklace and Buttons to Match...
This year's Christmas sweater from hubby (he buys me a special sweater for Christmas each year... lovely man) was an Irish knit patchwork sweater. Instead of the traditional creme colour, he bought me one in a favourite colour... Aubergine. The sweater is very similar to this one... just shorter.
I fell in love with it, the minute I saw it. It is definitely "my kind" of sweater.
As it happens I was making some buttons in the same colour to bring to the shop where I sell them. I quickly decided to make a pendant to match my new sweater and fulfill this month's "obligation" in one of my Flicker groups... 12 Polymer Clay Projects in 2013.
It's a perfect match in colour and the first time I have tried embedding tiny marbles into the clay. Was an awful mess doing it... those miniscule marbles go everywhere... but it worked and it looks great on. I've also sewn a couple of the buttons on one of the patchworks in the sweater as well.... makes for an interesting look!
Wishing you a fun, arty week,
Sharon
As it happens I was making some buttons in the same colour to bring to the shop where I sell them. I quickly decided to make a pendant to match my new sweater and fulfill this month's "obligation" in one of my Flicker groups... 12 Polymer Clay Projects in 2013.
Wishing you a fun, arty week,
Sharon
Friday, December 21, 2012
Signs of Christmas Everywhere...
The west coast has been hit with some fierce storms the past few days and some parts of Vancouver Island, where I live, are in for a white Christmas.... something that doesn't happen all that often. I love it when it snows around Christmas... especially those big flakes that drift lazily down and if you stick out your tongue you can catch them!
I have been down with a very bad cold and laryngitis this past week (I sound like a fog horn) and with the medication I am taking, all I want to do is sleep. I have managed to get a few things done although I have not finished Christmas shopping and at this rate, probably won't! Guess I'll just cut out pictures of what I was going to get, paste them in a card and take advantage of Boxing Day after Christmas sales.
Every year I make an ornament that I give to friends and special people for their tree or desk. This year, I made some little angels that make up a choir when I put them all together to photograph them.
I have been down with a very bad cold and laryngitis this past week (I sound like a fog horn) and with the medication I am taking, all I want to do is sleep. I have managed to get a few things done although I have not finished Christmas shopping and at this rate, probably won't! Guess I'll just cut out pictures of what I was going to get, paste them in a card and take advantage of Boxing Day after Christmas sales.
Every year I make an ornament that I give to friends and special people for their tree or desk. This year, I made some little angels that make up a choir when I put them all together to photograph them.
They stand about 1 inch tall and are as cute as a bug. If you are interested in making them, there is a wonderful tutorial by Robyn over at Creations by Curry.
During the latest conflict in the Middle East I was inspired to make some clay peace dove pins with peace in English, Arabic and Hebrew stamped into the clay wings. It may be wishful thinking but perhaps if enough of us think and show support for peace for the Middle East, it will happen. While I was at it, I also made a dove scarf pin. It looks lovely with the black knit scarf I have. I discovered that it's tough to photograph anything white, so I tacked it to some black corrugated paper in the hopes that it would turn out. Once it was fired in the oven and sanded, it was so smooth. It's lovely to just run your finger over the top of it and make wishes!
Here's wishing you a very happy Christmas and lovely holiday season for you and your family! I'll see you again in the new year...
Merry Christmas...
Sharon XOXOXO
Friday, December 14, 2012
Little Things Come in Big Packages
As I was getting ready today to pack up a "gift of polymer clay" for my dear friend Becky in North Carolina, I realized I hadn't taken any photos of some very cute "little clay things" that are going into the package. Before I mail it today (late as usual!), I thought I would share some photos with you...
These crochet hooks are for Gramma (my friend's Mom whom I just adore). Gramma is an avid crocheter and will appreciate these along with the little chocolate "calorie free" stitch markers that go with them.
A bit of background. Becky and I have been close friends for eons and eons. Even though we are separated by many, many miles and live on opposite coasts now, we still chat with each other every week. Among the other goodies in the package will be some little red running shoes. Sorry that the photo below is not great... the shoes are so small that it was hard to get a good photo of them but trust me they are adorable.
So why the red running shoes?
Well, Becky is a nurse and when she was on the floor she used to wear red tennies. We used to call her Nurse Becky with the Red Tennies. She is now in nurse management but the red tennies still hold a lot of significance for her. They are a reminder for her to listen to and stay true to her heart. Whenever she is in a quandary, is worried about something or needs to make an important decision we talk about her red tennies!!
Becky can make the little tennies into earrings (she is an avid jewelry maker). They are less than 1" long and have her initials in them. Along with them will go the larger shoe that she can make into a pendant or put on a chain.
There are some other surprises but I am staying MUM about them for now... don't want to reveal all the surprises in the package. I'll just sit back and wait for the package to arrive because...
It's hilarious when the package is plunked down on her doorstep. She never waits for Christmas to open it. Nope she dives right in, rips open the package and calls me!! Ah, there is nothing like the beauty and love of chatting and being with old friends who know you "inside out" and "outside in" especially at this time of the year.
Santa is definitely on his way folks...
Have a delicious week,
Sharon
These crochet hooks are for Gramma (my friend's Mom whom I just adore). Gramma is an avid crocheter and will appreciate these along with the little chocolate "calorie free" stitch markers that go with them.
A bit of background. Becky and I have been close friends for eons and eons. Even though we are separated by many, many miles and live on opposite coasts now, we still chat with each other every week. Among the other goodies in the package will be some little red running shoes. Sorry that the photo below is not great... the shoes are so small that it was hard to get a good photo of them but trust me they are adorable.
So why the red running shoes?
Well, Becky is a nurse and when she was on the floor she used to wear red tennies. We used to call her Nurse Becky with the Red Tennies. She is now in nurse management but the red tennies still hold a lot of significance for her. They are a reminder for her to listen to and stay true to her heart. Whenever she is in a quandary, is worried about something or needs to make an important decision we talk about her red tennies!!
Becky can make the little tennies into earrings (she is an avid jewelry maker). They are less than 1" long and have her initials in them. Along with them will go the larger shoe that she can make into a pendant or put on a chain.
There are some other surprises but I am staying MUM about them for now... don't want to reveal all the surprises in the package. I'll just sit back and wait for the package to arrive because...
It's hilarious when the package is plunked down on her doorstep. She never waits for Christmas to open it. Nope she dives right in, rips open the package and calls me!! Ah, there is nothing like the beauty and love of chatting and being with old friends who know you "inside out" and "outside in" especially at this time of the year.
Santa is definitely on his way folks...
Have a delicious week,
Sharon
Friday, December 7, 2012
AllSorts of claying around...
I was wandering through Costco around mid week looking for some AllSorts candy for my father in law for Christmas. He loves licorice, especially Allsorts and at nearly 91, I think he should get to eat all he wants. I found a very big box of it (kinda Costco style, LOL) and when I got it home it only lasted about 10 minutes before the eldest son of my father in law (my dear hubby) decided that Christmas had come early to the House household. He just had to sample some of Dad's licorice!! Out came the candy dish and the nibbling began...
I took one look at that candy dish sitting on the table and a thought popped into my head. "I bet I could make some of those in clay. John (my father in law) would never be without Allsorts again!" I chuckled to myself as I dashed off to my art room to see what I could do.
So now I have a confession to make. There weren't any REAL Allsorts left to take a photo of so the photo below is really the FAKE candy made from polymer clay.
The "acid" test.
When eldest son was presented with two candy dishes, one with the real stuff and one with the fake stuff, he chose the fake candy. He thought it looked more real than the real candy!! Mission Accomplished!!
I think the next time I will do two resin pourings instead of one to get more built up texture on the top but other than that, I am pretty happy with the results.
Oh what a good chuckle we have had with this little project. It will be interesting to see the look on my father in law's face when he opens this package at Christmas. And yes, I will buy another big box of the real stuff too... only this time I will smuggle it into the house and hide it!
Have a great week...
Happy Arting,
Sharon
Friday, November 23, 2012
Fun Projects to Make in Just a Few Hours
Where does the time go? Here it is Black Friday already and I don't even have my shopping list together!!
I had planned and made a promise to myself after my last blog post that I would pull up my "socks" and post more regularly. The spirit was definitely willing... the body however, not so much! I've spent the good part of the last three weeks down with a wicked cold, sore throat, laryngitis and ear infection that plunked me firmly on the sidelines covered in Vicks, slurping hot toddies and sleeping round the clock.
Honestly, I can't remember when I felt so miserable and had a "bug" that wandered on its own "merry" (ugh) way through my body in slow motion!! The pain in my ears (and the fact that I could hardly breathe) got so bad one night, I ended up in the Emergency dept. at our local hospital. All they could do, after a good "look see" was tell me it was going around, give me antibiotics, told me to steam, stay in bed, keep warm and sent me home. I was back at midnight again... this time with blood seeping from one of my ears as in "ruptured ear drum"! I will spare you the nitty gritty's but it hasn't been the most pleasant couple of weeks in my life. However, today is the first day that I have felt like myself again (by gosh, I am actually going to live LOL) so I decided to pull a few fun things things I've made out of my art/sewing room to share with you.
First up are some pillow with neat French graphics on them. Kinda the "in thing" this past year. I purchased some good pillow inserts at the local fabric store (I was surprised at how expensive they are... even on sale) along with some Osnabruck fabric. I messed with the graphics to change them slightly to make them larger and darken them up to ready them for fabric transfer with HP T-Shirt Transfer paper. I dug around in my lace stash to find some antique lace (had just enough for two pillows) and decided to make the large, two and a half inch buttons from polymer clay. And here they are, all finished, gracing the antique chairs and couch in my living room...
You can find some neat French graphics at The Graphics Fairy if you are so inclined to make some for yourself or as a "different" Christmas gift for a friend or family member.
Remember all those Reader's Digest books I inherited? Well, I found another use for them. I was visiting an antique store this past summer and saw a book that was all bashed up but decorated with fabric roses. It looked interesting just randomly sitting on an old side table in the store. At $25.00 a pop, I decided I could make it myself!! It sits "nonchalantly" on a table in my living room that is covered with my great grandmother's beautiful lace tablecloth (and was on my wedding table when hubby and I got married).
A couple of years ago I inherited a whole box of fabric flowers and ribbon from my sister in law who was clearing out some of her "stash". She thought I'd be able to use them so gifted me with the lot. I sorted out what I wanted and stashed it away in one of my translucent shoe boxes that I keep on the shelves in my sewing room. I knew that some day a project would come along! Don't they always???? LOL
So here's how to make one of these books yourself. You can't be squeamish about bashing a book up to do this. Use a book that has no meaning for you or is so bashed up all ready that you are "recycling" it into art and giving it a second life.
Tear off the cover and the spine. Take some brown ink (Tim Holtz has some great ink pad colours) and splatter it all over the book... spray it with a fine mist of water to spread the ink around. I took a page from an old German book, crumpled and inked it, tore it to size to fit the front page of the book and glued it down. Once everything was dry, I simply took a wide piece of wired ribbon to tie around the book and hot glued some roses to the top of the book. That's it!! A quick and very easy little project.
Now I must get my list ready and get out to those sales today... Hope all my American friends had a lovely Thanksgiving and happy hunting in the Black Friday sales...
Cheers,
Sharon
I had planned and made a promise to myself after my last blog post that I would pull up my "socks" and post more regularly. The spirit was definitely willing... the body however, not so much! I've spent the good part of the last three weeks down with a wicked cold, sore throat, laryngitis and ear infection that plunked me firmly on the sidelines covered in Vicks, slurping hot toddies and sleeping round the clock.
Honestly, I can't remember when I felt so miserable and had a "bug" that wandered on its own "merry" (ugh) way through my body in slow motion!! The pain in my ears (and the fact that I could hardly breathe) got so bad one night, I ended up in the Emergency dept. at our local hospital. All they could do, after a good "look see" was tell me it was going around, give me antibiotics, told me to steam, stay in bed, keep warm and sent me home. I was back at midnight again... this time with blood seeping from one of my ears as in "ruptured ear drum"! I will spare you the nitty gritty's but it hasn't been the most pleasant couple of weeks in my life. However, today is the first day that I have felt like myself again (by gosh, I am actually going to live LOL) so I decided to pull a few fun things things I've made out of my art/sewing room to share with you.
First up are some pillow with neat French graphics on them. Kinda the "in thing" this past year. I purchased some good pillow inserts at the local fabric store (I was surprised at how expensive they are... even on sale) along with some Osnabruck fabric. I messed with the graphics to change them slightly to make them larger and darken them up to ready them for fabric transfer with HP T-Shirt Transfer paper. I dug around in my lace stash to find some antique lace (had just enough for two pillows) and decided to make the large, two and a half inch buttons from polymer clay. And here they are, all finished, gracing the antique chairs and couch in my living room...
You can find some neat French graphics at The Graphics Fairy if you are so inclined to make some for yourself or as a "different" Christmas gift for a friend or family member.
Remember all those Reader's Digest books I inherited? Well, I found another use for them. I was visiting an antique store this past summer and saw a book that was all bashed up but decorated with fabric roses. It looked interesting just randomly sitting on an old side table in the store. At $25.00 a pop, I decided I could make it myself!! It sits "nonchalantly" on a table in my living room that is covered with my great grandmother's beautiful lace tablecloth (and was on my wedding table when hubby and I got married).
A couple of years ago I inherited a whole box of fabric flowers and ribbon from my sister in law who was clearing out some of her "stash". She thought I'd be able to use them so gifted me with the lot. I sorted out what I wanted and stashed it away in one of my translucent shoe boxes that I keep on the shelves in my sewing room. I knew that some day a project would come along! Don't they always???? LOL
So here's how to make one of these books yourself. You can't be squeamish about bashing a book up to do this. Use a book that has no meaning for you or is so bashed up all ready that you are "recycling" it into art and giving it a second life.
Tear off the cover and the spine. Take some brown ink (Tim Holtz has some great ink pad colours) and splatter it all over the book... spray it with a fine mist of water to spread the ink around. I took a page from an old German book, crumpled and inked it, tore it to size to fit the front page of the book and glued it down. Once everything was dry, I simply took a wide piece of wired ribbon to tie around the book and hot glued some roses to the top of the book. That's it!! A quick and very easy little project.
Now I must get my list ready and get out to those sales today... Hope all my American friends had a lovely Thanksgiving and happy hunting in the Black Friday sales...
Cheers,
Sharon
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