My Creative Space - hoo hoo

This week I SO wanted to sew a top for S. We've had some hot weather, and I've had this gorgeous owl fabric (from Tessuti) calling my name. (Because S's name means 'wisdom' I'm subtly suggesting a bit of an owl theme for her childhood.)  So last night I stayed up and just did it.

Of course, when I asked S to put it on so I could take a photo, she insisted on heading straight out to the ride-on mower for the shots. Hmmmm. Interesting choice.

And modelling in general meant an particular stance.

I love this pattern. It's from this pattern book, and it has just enough little details to be special. There was a time when I wouldn't attempt anything with 'extras' like pleats and frills, but now I'm keen to make really special things that will be treasured and worn because I just love seeing my kids wearing them.

Head over to kootooyoo for more of today's creative spaces.

My Creative Space - it's HUGE!

I've been painting a backdrop for a photographer friend, and it's not a neat process (or a lonely one, obviously,  can see 3 phone handsets in this photo!). I used my Ezibuy catalogues as drip catchers - now I can't buy anything out of them - it's a lack-of-self-control thing, the fact that it's not safe keeping them intact.

This is the end product on the dining room floor.

The rest of the house is stacked with chairs and tables. You'd swear we were moving.

Can I also tell you that this glue is fantastic.Better than Aquadhere.

I used it to glue the two pieces of primed canvas together for this project, and I also used it when I covered my desk in fabric a few months ago (you can see a bit of that desk in this photo, actually).

And I've just realised that I've photographed the French side of the label - there's English on the other side - but that's not quite as exotic, is it? Must be channelling my inner Nathalie!

Now go and get inspired at the home of the Creative Space - kootooyoo!

My Creative Space - Shiny Shiny

Today's creativeness has involved varnishing two canvases.

The first is a butterfly scene to be donated to my kids' school at the Race Day next weekend.

The development of this painting will be the subject of my animation tomorrow. Really. I'll be doing Animation Friday ON Friday, as opposed to Monday's Art Tip that just happened to be on Wednesday this week. Promise. OK, well, I'll do my best.

The second is a commissioned portrait of four children, that will be a birthday gift, so identities have been disguised for now, just to be sure it's a surprise.

Now off to set up for more hanky screenprinting before the bub wakes up.

For more Creative Spaces, head over to Kirsty at Kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - Recycling

Things are very busy here this week.

During bub's sleep time today, I got started on a painting that I'm donating for my school's fundraising Race Day, coming up in a couple of weeks. I said I'd do two decorator pieces, as top prizes in one of the draws, which, for me, is better than doing one 'masterpiece' to be auctioned (which is like saying 'take my heart and see if someone can get a bargain' - usually awful).

I'm painting this first one over a painting I did two years ago (that hadn't found it's destiny yet), and it's nice to farewell the old and welcome the new.

By the way, I've just found a description of a terrific way to mark where you want to hang a picture  on a wall - here at 'Tatertots and Jello' - read down past the tutorial on specimen art (which is pretty cool, actually) and there it is. Involving painters tape and a thumbtack. Are you intrigued yet?

For more creative spaces, head over to Kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - hearty

I've got a lot of other things on my list, but creatively speaking, these little hearts are going to become something big. Only about oh, a hundred more to cut out! It looks good in my head, anyway.

And we did some creative jam pikelets and fairy dresses play today too. Can you see the huge gouges in the butter? My daughter would eat it straight from the tub if she thought I wasn't watching. Just after this pic was taken there was a spat about the knives - even though they're identical. Perhaps I shouldn't have let them play with knives...

I've been solo parenting the last few days, so it's been a bit hectic around here. I have just sorted the photos from the Cluedo party though, so I'll post about that next.

For infinitely more creative spaces, take a look over at kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - Lete-ing inspiration in*

 

Last night I got a little homage to my art-crush Nathalie Lete out of my system.

I have a few ideas for these hearts - hope they look as good when I finish them as they do in my head! (That's often not the case, unfortunately.) We'll see!

Kristy's back from her break so head over to Kootooyoo for more creative spaces.

*Sincere apologies for the dreadful pun.

Some crafting in the dead of night

I made this owl last night.

I did it because I was egged on by Chantal who is putting together an etsy owl treasury. But I've accidentally fallen for it. So it won't be for sale - it's for my daughter.  Her name means 'wisdom' so I've decided owls are her thing (until she tells me otherwise). Plus I've realised I'm never going to be a making-softies-for-sale sort of girl. There are much more competent sewers out there with marvellous ideas. I might just make a couple more of these for my own present shelf.

The table is my creative space at the moment. I am making some more hobby horses that will be for sale, so it's good to know that's all underway.

And the undies - well, the lovely Cintia of my poppet put me onto Project Underpants and I was in Kmart
and knew it is a little project that I'd be happy to help. Maybe you can too.

Or join in my "Great Hanky Drive" and pick up a handy hanky for charity. More designs are on their way.

So it's all happening around here this school holidays. I'm a bit tired of cleaning up spills (lemonade on the carpet, anyone?) and having no chairs because of the climber we live with is wearing a little thin... But hey, the
mornings are a LOT cruisier. Love it.

My Creative Space - Paper Blooms

This week I made some VERY SIMPLE tissue paper flowers for a tea party birthday.

And because I had one person ask me how (and I really like her), here's the instructions. I'm sure I didn't think this up myself though, so if anyone can remind me where I saw it, please let me know!

This is the only tidy space in my house today.

I started with this $2.50 pack of multi-coloured tissue paper, from the $2 shop (I know, so why did I pay $2.50?), and a pack of 30 florist wire pieces that cost $2.95 (how does that happen?).

I cut a strip off the end like this (this is the third strip I cut, the paper was longer to start with).

Then I laid out the strip, tidied it up so each piece was on top of each other properly (not staggered like they are in the pack), and cut it into three (didn't measure - just approximated), and trimmed the corners like so.

 I then had to fix this situation. Hmmm, does dirt count as a protein?

Then take 3 pieces and pinch in the middle (I tried to put the lighter colour in the middle, but that's just being perdantic).

Wrap a piece of florist's wire around and twist to secure.

Fan out the 'petals' a bit, and you're done!

Before you know it, you'll have done another two...
 

... and maybe some green ones for leaves...

And you'll have a lovely bouquet like this.

Which you may like to try wearing on your head. And setting the timer to take a photo.

Totally up to you.

For more creative spaces, head over to the lovely Kirsty at Kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - flowerishus

These are the palettes, that painted this painting...

...that was from this scene in my parents backyard...

... and that is winging it's way all the way to Germany. Tomorrow.

Very exciting. 

Can you see the three bees?

I was lucky enough to catch one in my photo.

You'll see them pop up again in one of my Animation Friday posts.

For more of Thursday's creative spaces, off you go to Kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - shiny shiny

Varnishing is my favourite part of the whole process of painting. I love my paintings to be glossy and shiny, it really makes the colours pop. And it's a signal that it's finished, ready to go out into the world.

My Mum helped with the girls this week, so I could fit in a few sessions of painting for the Carnival of Flowers exhibition that's coming up. With limited time, I paint like lightening! But I did totally redo the butterflies during the process of this one (I love acrylics - nothing has to be forever) and this butterfly (can't remember the name) is one that can actually be found in Australia.

I can't vouch for the other one though. I think he's a visitor from out of town.

For more creative spaces, head over to kootooyoo!

My Creative Space - mural progress

Here's the progress of a nursery mural I painted this week -




It's not finished yet - and my camera battery was flat before I finished, but I was so keen to try this animation thing! I've got another two hours or so to do to finish it tomorrow, so I'll update the animation when it's done.
NOTE: it's now done and I've replaced the original animation with the finished one.

The lovely client is having a baby boy in October, and wanted a big autumn tree. Through the progress of the day we added quantities of things that will hopefully be a nice distraction during nappy changes - one dog, two frogs, three rabbits, ... ten bees, twelve ladybugs, etc...

Lots to do today, so I'll post again about the special bits of the mural after I go back with my recharged camera.

This weekend the boys and I are working on Mad Hatter and Fantastic Mr Fox costumes for bookweek. If you have any suggestions for either of those two, please let me know!

For more lovely creative spaces, head over to kootooyoo!

Creative Space - hanky panky

 This week I've been sewing a gift for a sweet one-year-old nephew - 

Making delicious lemon cake with a mysterious hole through the middle (how does THAT happen???!) -

And gaily screenprinting new hankies for my upcoming project - due for a spectacular launch soon! (Some hankies are for sale already here, now.)

Just in case you thought I was dead. Because I haven't been posting. That's all. Thanks for worrying!

For more creative spaces, head over to Kirsty's at kootooyoo!

My Creative Space - painterly

This is my favourite painting that I've done for the Downlands Art Show this year. It's a little one, just 30cm square, and was the last one I did. Of course now I'm in 'the zone' I've got no more time (or babysitting) so hopefully I'll be able to find 'it' again to do some more art for the upcoming Carnival of Flowers exhibition, and a Pinktober charity event after that.

Here is a pic of my beautiful studio assistants (although perhaps 'assist' shouldn't have been in their titles)

and the other paintings I finished just in time (these were all 30cm square also) -

and of course, this one which was 60cm square -

There's a bit of shine there, from the light hitting the canvas.

All in all I'm so glad to have submitted something. It was probably the most difficult it has ever been to find the time and inclination to paint, but now that B has turned one, I've definitely felt something shift and a few more things are becoming possible again.

Now I just hope something sells!

For more creative spaces, head over to kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - Yeehar

I haven't finished it yet, but this is the main painting I'm sending to a local art show next Monday. I have still got to add some glazes, making the colours richer and making the background recede more successfully.

The only way I could do this was with the help of my mother and husband looking after the children. So it has been a big job for all of us. And it felt SO GOOD to get stuck into a painting again. Let's hope someone sees it and can't resist...

For more creative spaces, head over to the lovely kootooyoo (you should see the great lace lights she's made...).

My Creative Space - Daily Bread

Friends started using their breadmaker again last week, which spurred me on to get our ancient breadmaker out of the laundry cupboard, so today this is what my creative space looks like.

Still haven't seen any stylists using my tip about the Peppa Pig plate...

I'd never baked bread in it without a mix before, but after a bit of googling, this is the basic recipe I used, and I added a handful of mixed seeds that I had in the pantry.

I've just put another batch on and set the timer so it'll be done at 3.10 - just in time for after school. So this is what it looks like now -

On an totally different note, did you know if you don't have softened butter you can just grate it for the same result (why did I only just figure that one out?).

B wonders the same thing...

Thanks for all the hairdressing comments on my last post so far - I really appreciate your ideas and insights.

My next question is - what would it take to get you to CHANGE hairdressers? Is it price, personality, bonuses... what would you think was enough?

OK, paintings due for an art show soon. Will be mulling over hairdressing ideas as the paintings come out of the end of my brush ... that's the plan anyway!

For more creative spaces, head over to kootooyoo!