Hi Gang, I'm toiling away (grin) on some illustrations of Autumnal items. Later this week there will be a review of the Heidi Swapp Mini Minc machine from American Craft. I've had it for a few months and put it through it's paces.
These illustrations will be turned into digital stamps (full explanationt to come) with a couple as free downloads so you try them out. Here's a little process video from yesterday's drawing session. Enjoy!
In Sept/October issue of Cloth Paper Scissors is my article on creating flowers from paper cloth. I thought it would be fun to share a few more images with you folks.
So much fun to make. I think with winter coming, white and silver would be beautiful!
This pod shape is my fav, I think. I mounted these with dimensional glue dots on wood pieces that were grunged up with some brown and sepia toned paint.
Cheerful trio!
It would be fun to make a bunch of these into a wreath or spilling out of a pot. Flowers for all! I added some of these to some cards recently too. Really fun.
There's a bunch of ideas brewing, pictures waiting and rants whirling about in my head. In the meantime ...
I'm thinking of making embroidery patterns from some of these flowers. I really like this one:
these words alone ...
wabi; harmony, peace, balance. a sense of fullness and content with simplicity of self being not just enough but ripe with possibility, potential
sabi; meaning the bloom of time, the celebration of wrinkles, graying hair for instance
this phrase means much more, of course. a life could be spent wondering over and discovering wabi and sabi and wabi sabi.
It feels like that. In a good way
Rev up the engine and leaf some tracks (ha)
In editing this photo, I found myself cropping here and there and here again.
X-acto is tempting me.
Tacket Stitch Online will be on sale next week-ish. Class Opens 10/28.
What have you been up to?
Take a girl out of the city, plop her down in an authentically rural area and watch culture shock take over. These past couple of days on the Eastern Shore of MD have alternated between hilarious and enlightening. Here by me onsie with no tour guide (eg, daughter who is sharing bed but working alot); there is no filter. A good thing.
For instance, yesterday Sassafras State Park was not to be found even though I peeked under each cornfield along the way. Maybe tomorrow? And this is funny (in retrospect): thought I was crop dusted - or rather my sweet red mini cooper was while I was contained within.
Daughter patiently explained that: A) crop dusting is illegal and B) they wouldn't do it this time of year, anyway. Also: C) crop dusting planes are now used for joy sky-riding by the younger generations.
Edit: Crop dusting is not illegal, but you do need a permit and farmers may crop dust this time of year to knock down a crop that is finished so that can put in a crop that will wwill be good for the winter. Learning more each day!
Tuckahoe State Park was somewhat easier to locate today. There was a fantastic walk, a sitting with the sketchpad, a bit of gathering of wool, elderberry, and the usual suspects from this neck of the woods.
Sorry there aren't more pictures. They are stuck in my smart(ass) phone; which, btw, could not find Sassafras yesterday.
Amidst the logistics of planning my daughter's wedding is some straight on fun.
The bridesmaids had their hearts set on fascinators and when I found this tutorial on making chiffon flowers, the deal was done. The edges of the fabric curl when held over (ahem, not IN) a candle. A trip to Fabric Row in Philadelphia with my buddy Susan, provided everything necessary to make these frothy confections. Susan found the perfect fabric for the leaves.
It was pretty easy once the fabric circles were cut. The largest circle is about 4.5". Anyway, flowers done, one to go *the bride needs one, right?* And a lovely silk hairband with flowers for our junior bridesmaid.
I'm thinking of all of the sizes and colors you could make these in for pins or embellisments. I made a tiny one - about 2" across that is quite cute.
You can see this post at Sketchbook Challenge today as well. Get in the fun over there. This month's theme is Spice of Life. Check out this month's giveaways as well!
... Look no further than your kitchen and neighborhood for this journal entry. Based on my experiments with botanical dyes last year, I decided to whip up some DIY stains for this month's theme. This is a great way to explore nature.
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Paprika, Turmeric, Walnut Ink & Pokeberry, Journal Page, Diana Trout |
Paprika and turmeric are readily available at your grocery store. Add about 3:1 water to spice and let them sit for a while. You may need to add a bit more water as the spice absorbs and it won't absorb completely. It will be grainy.
Please note, this is just for playing around. The "paint" will be full of undissolved spice. I painted the colors on (see above), let it dry and just brushed off the undissolved spice.
Pokeberries grow wild and are usually in full berry right about now here in the Mid-Atlantic, US. The snowstorm we had last week clobbered our neighborhood bush so I was only able to gather a few. Put the berries in a little bowl and squish them with a fork (or your finger) to release the "ink." I don't mind getting messy, so I pick up one of my berries after squishing and pushed it around on the page. Great fun for adults and kids.
If you have a black walnut tree around, you can find the nuts on the ground in autumn. Smack one with a hammer (if it's not already broken) and then cook the outer hull in about 1/2 cup water. Just bring it up to a boil and simmer a bit. It is very intense! Badda-Bing: home-made walnut ink.
I did the little drawings and writing on this page with the DIY walnut ink and a dip pen.
There is a clip at the end of this video showing me-self making and using pokeberry ink (the above page. The clip begins at 6:32 so skip ahead to that (unless you'd like to see my daughter in action at her post-grad job a couple of years ago :)
Enjoy!
Last week was a blur between the jet lag, July 4 and not the least, my daughter and her new fiance coming home to catch up and celebrate. I began sorting through pictures and make color studies and sketches.
Susan Cohen was taking so many pictures while we were in Italy, I decided to leave much of the photography to her, here on Flickr. These pictures were taken by Susan at Fonte Fresco where we spent a most delightful time.
Using both my sketches, memory and imagination, a bit of patchwork has cropped up on my Italy Journal scarf.
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