New Ventures, New Adventures!

I have always been a thinker and often-times, an over-thinker. Many people are guilty of this (especially women.) Since losing my job, I have had PLENTY of time to think. Sometimes, I think about my worth or lack thereof. It is truly amazing how much of our self-worth is linked to our jobs. It defines us and I felt as though I lacked definition. That is until last night...

After a fabulous anniversary dinner date/trip to the library with my sweetie, it struck me: I AM AN ARTIST. Therefore, I have a job. I have been given a gift: time. I get to experiment in the kitchen, garden, walk, take photos, sing and dance, enjoy the sun, see my friends, and CREATE. Sitting behind a desk would limit these experiences, so why am I moaning. I should be reveling in it.

I have decided to spend the rest of the time I have been given doing just that. I will be focusing more on creating embroidery patterns to share and to sell. I will complete that blasted set model. I will embellish. I will make. JOY!

How Tuesday: Craft Tutorial Round-Up

In the words of Calvin (to his good buddy, Hobbes), "The days are just packed." Although autumn is my favorite time for new beginnings and new projects, the week that play rehearsals begins is always a bit hectic.  Although I have not had much time lately to make a ton of new projects, I am constantly thinking of new ideas and gathering inspiration.

 I love to make things and learn something new. Please take a moment to check the blogs in my side bar, they are some of my favorites! 

In addition, these great websites and blogs are wonderful resources  for craft ideas and tutorials:

Craftahloics Anonymous

Totally Tutorials

Cut Out &  Keep

One Pretty Thing

What the Craft

Craftzine

Stitchy Saturday: Embroidered Sketchbook

Fall is a time for new beginnings, I think. I know that Spring is a more commonly held time to start anew, but the new school year always makes me more creative. I adore Moleskin notebooks of any kind, but wanted my fall sketchbook to echo that sense of what could be. 

WIP Wednesday: Embroidered Sketchbook

Today was a rough day. As a gal with MS, there are little challenges that I have to deal with daily. Tinglies, numbness, fatigue are part of my life. Not that it is a huge deal and not that I am not blessed, but some days it just adds up. I had a MRI scheduled for this morning. I got to the Imaging clinic on time, changed into my gown and was ready for a slightly loud and annoying process. Little did I know how annoying...

Thankful and Thinkin' Thursday: Blog Love

This week, I have been all about becoming a better blogger.

 In addition to my lil' idea Moleskin, I have started a blog binder with ideas and weekly plans. I was already doing that in my little book, but it was so crammed, it was tough to find anything.

While I was out flea marketing and thrifting this weekend, I bought several blog styling items (just wait until you see the vintage kitchen scale that I got got $3.99!). In speaking to the vendors about the blog, several wanted to check it out and I had to scrawl the URL onto scraps of paper. So, I decided to make blog specific business cards. They should be here next week!

Regrouping

Three steps forward, four steps back.

 Just as I was starting to re-focus and re-align my priorities, life has thrown me another curve ball. Everyone deals with hardship, it is true, it just seems like I have gotten more than my fair share recently. I have to have surgery...nothing life-threatening or even huge, but still costly and a more than a little stressful. That being said, my sweetie and friends are super-supportive and caring and they bolster me everyday.

I have been taking baby steps towards normalcy as I prepare for my "work"--I have cooked more seasonal dinners, reconnected with more friends, resumed my half-marathon training (though barely), begun work on my script for the fall play and have walked back into my studios.

Projects lay unfinished. Fresh supplies lay heaped on my cutting table and bundled on my work bench. New tools cry to be used and patterns beg to be begun.

So I have started to organize...chose what projects I want to complete first...brainstormed themes for upcoming posts...planned more yummy dinners...and move forward.

I want to finished my bird embroidery, complete my TARDIS plushie,
make a tote for school, and make some metal pieces with
my new embossing die...I need another Craftcation!!

I took the time to smell and arrange the flowers. And my
favorite retro cookbook has inspired a theme week!

Can't wait to make a retro inspired apron as
an awesome holiday gift!

As I deal with it all, I will run my
way to serenity...I hope.

How Tuesday: Printing with Lace

I enjoy being girly. I am obsessed with dresses, painted toes, and fancy pastries. What is more girly than lacy stationary? Nothing. Here's how you do it:

The finished product!

The supplies include:
-blank cards or card stock
-lace
-brayer (it would be even better to have two)
-glass surface (I used an old collage frame)
-block or screen printing ink

Using the brayer, spread a layer of ink onto the glass.
lay the lace on top and run the brayer over it until the
lace is saturated.

Place the lace on the card. Cover the lace with a piece
of paper and roll a clean brayer over it. I only had one, so I used a can
from my pantry,

When printing photo mats, I used painter's tape to create mitered
corners. Place the tape in the corners, print the area, and remove the tape.
After 30 minutes, place the tape on the already printed sides and complete the frame.



Now you can share your girly tendencies with the world! Perfect for
wedding or shower invites, birthday cards, or just staying in touch!

Metalwork Monday: Lace-etched bangle bracelet

I have an admission to make. I have an addiction to vintage sewing supplies--kitschy fabrics, retro trims, and most of all; lace. My lace collection is embarrassingly large. My favorites are hand-crocheted or tatted, but I also have two boxes full of bolts of lace, both old and new.


Hence, lace week. 


Metal etching is the trend of the moment in Funky Monkey Studio and I have just learned to print with lace (check back tomorrow for that tutorial), so I combined them into a great new design. So exciting!

Lace-etched copper plaques riveted onto a bangle with a
lace overlay.

Using block-printing ink, a brayer, and a piece of lace, I applied a
resist to the plaques. I etched more pieces than I thought I
would use so I could choose the best etchings. Before I printed the copper,'
I mounted them to the sticky side of packing tape to prepare them
for the acid bath. More details on lace/ink printing in tomorrow's post.

The plaques spent 30 minutes in the ferric chloride bath.
I use recycled take-out container for the bath. The tape on the edges
of the bowl suspends the metal just barely in the acid.

After coming out of the bath and having a quick rinse, you can see the
lace pattern. I polished the pieces, used the Dremel to round the corners,
and oxidized them in liver of sulfur.

Using my French Shears, I cut the bangle blank. I used the
Dremel to round the corners and texture the piece.
I used the sanding block to smooth the edges.

I added a piece of lace over the bangle blank and used my
riveting/eyelet tool to attach it. I then added the
copper plaques and attached them with copper rivets.
The lace is attached with four brass eyelets.
Before forming the curve, I stained the lace with strong tea
brushed over it with a flux brush. I did four coats of tea to
get the shade I wanted.

Formed and ready to wear. I used both the bracelet mandrel
and the bracelet-bending pliers to achieve the  finished
fit and look.

Metalwork Monday: Sunny Day...Sweepin' the clouds away

It is a beautiful day here in Central New York. I am back to work and rehearsal and away from the studio, but have a ton of great news ideas and exciting new supplies.


Many people get down in the winter, myself included, and I always look forward to the re-growth afforded by spring. I have always seen it as a time for new beginnings and fresh ideas. Plus, sunshine makes me much happier. 


As I look to my future, I am feeling a little stuck. But with the love of a wonderful man, new ideas churning, and the sun shining, I think I will make it over the hump.


As my projects this week are designed to keep that sunny feeling going, all year long if I can manage it.

Fun sun earrings--I used a rubber stamp and ferric chloride
to create these fun little guys. I added a super-sparkly Swarovski crystal
to shimmer like sun beams.

A more avant garde steam-punky type sun earrings.

The new toy!!! Cant't wait to really start creating some awesome embossed
metal with this!!

Not at all metalwork related, but I also just designed this poster for the play
that I am directing. 

Sunday Funday: And this is where the magic happens...

I have been very blessed. I was able to take 3 days off this week and just create. I made some many things that I am more certain that ever that that is what I am meant to do. Some were challenging,  some bizarre, some really fun, and some really satisfying. 


I have added a few more techniques to my jewelry design, but more on that soon...


I am also blessed that I don't have to shuttle my creations to and from the dining room table or carve out a teeny tiny corner for myself. Since becoming a solo house occupant again, I have been able to dedicate not one, but two rooms to the things I love.


Wanna see?

My jewelry work bench. Behind me is the drill press/flexible shaft.
The vice is on the right and the bench pin on the left.

The shipping area. Also where I keep catalogs and magazines.

For painting, general crafts, drawing, and gift wrapping.

I used to work in beads and still have a ton on hand. This is also where
I keep chemicals, patina agents, and safety equipment.

I love this space too. I use it for cutting both fabric and paper,
doing decoupage, and other things that need more space.
It is right next to a window and makes me smile.

My trusty Singer Featherweight. I love it. It sits parallel to me credenza which
houses office supplies and my printer. And my crazy aloe plant...
I reupholstered a drum throne as my sewing stool (watch for an upcoming
tutorial!). 

Next to my machine, I have fabric storage. Scraps are sorted by color
in the shoe boxes and larger pieces are sorted by fabric type.

Admittedly, this is a wretched photo. Out of focus for sure. But I HAD
to include a photo my my organization center (which includes my dress form,
Matilda) and the famous "Wall of Cute." It makes me smile.

There it is, my work space. I hope it inspires you to carve out your own little creative space.

 It inspires me everyday!

Stitchy Saturday: Improv Sewing

Spring means new flowers, new baby animals, new fresh foods, and new clothes. Unfortunately, my finances are not allowing me to go on the kind of spring shopping spree that I would prefer. 
Luckily, the spring issue of Craftsanity Magazine had a great feature (among so many!) about improv sewing. 


Taking a boring long-sleeved tee from the back of my dresser, I was able to re-purpose it into a springier cardigan. I used some ribbon from my stash and picked up some buttons (with a 40% off coupon!) for inspiration.

My finished project--I love that I can  wear it with jeans
and a white tee or a blouse and skirt for work.

The "ingredients": shirt, thread, scissors, embellishments, sewing machine.
Cut the shirt along the front and fold the edges in. Pin, add ribbon,  and sew multiple
seams up and down the front. I used variegated thread that went with my buttons. 

LOVE the buttons! decided that it needed a little more
interest at the lapels, so I took one strand from 5 different colors of
embroidery floss (the colors on the button) and did a little back stitch detail.

Fancy and it will go with so much! A whole new look for about $2.00!

Thursday Think Tank: To theme or not theme, that is the question...

I enjoy being a crafty blogger. I am part of a great community. I read an embarrassing amount of other blogs. I enjoy the challenge of sharing my work with you all on a daily basis. My photography, admittedly, needs more refining. My readership is tiny...for now. I don't think that I will be the next Martha Stewart by any means, but I am enjoying the process. 


My sweetie gave me a variety of Moleskine notebooks for Christmas. I must admit to more than a passing fancy with them. I have been using them for years, but have taken to carrying one with me at all times. Inspiration strikes at the oddest times and is stimulated by the oddest things. My notes are frantic and frenetic. Some pages have organized lists, others just random scrawls. I love it.


In addition to working in the real world, designing jewelry and crafting up a storm, I also direct plays at the local high school. We are just a few weeks away from our spring Shakespearean production and life gets a little crazy. I also have a craft fair, a consignment order, and a juried art show coming up. No rest for the crafty...


As I pondered how teachers and Moms get through super busy times, a thought occurred to me: themes. Already each day of the week, weasinart has a theme, but what if I combined a daily craft type theme with an overarching weekly theme? I decided that at least until the show is performed it is a good way to stay focused. 


Upcoming theme weeks will include lace, sun, floral, Doctor Who, upcycling, and birds. The plan has further organized and focused me as an artist. 


If you have any themes that you would like to see, please leave a comment. I am pretty open to suggestions.


I whipped up a really quick project this week based on a post that I saw on Pinterest. I don't see much point in "pinning" inspiration if you are never going to use it. Not original, but I like it:

T-shirt necklace/scarf: the finished product

Found a slightly stretch shirt that I wasn't really wearing much and cut 1-inch loops.
Make sure to keep the side seams intact.

As it stretches, the loops roll in on themselves.

Paired it with some fun bird earrings that I made to
 "spring up" my outfit.

In action at the office, stylish and fun!

How Tuesday: Commitment Phobia

My hands are sore. Like, hurt to bend my fingers sore. My arm is tired from lifting my hammer. It is like a good workout...it is a good kind of sore. I am back in the saddle, although it has taken me a few tries each day to really get into the groove. 


Nothing, though, is permanent. I may be able to stay on the the streak and make new pieces everyday. I got a fun new tool today that will pique my interest for the immediate future. I may not though. Nothing is permanent. Okay, maybe one thing is... tattoos. Lots of my friends sport a little ink. I would, but I am not a fan of pain...or very confident about how it would age. 


I figured if I wasn't going to get one myself, I would make one. Inspired by vintage motifs, it is a tiny piece of nostalgia around your neck. I come from a line of sailors, so it seemed appropriate.

Inspired by my grandparents. My grandpa was in the Navy and
I regret never seeing his actual dog tags.
The piece is an aluminum dog tag, a copper banner, and copper rivets.

This piece is a copper heart, brass banner, and vintage chain.

First, I stamped the words onto the banner. I used a
pre-cut banner piece, but you could cut your own.
I started from the center of the piece and stamped out from there
to keep the phrase centered. 

I used my chasing hammer to deckle the edges and then
used my round nose pliers to give the banner movement.

After a dip in the liver of sulfur bath.

I used my Crafted Finding rivet tool to attach the two pieces.
I added a vintage heart charm that also reminded me of an
old-school tattoo.

The rivets from the back. Check out the finished piece at
the top of this tutorial.