Laura dreams the dream of living like a craft-star pop diva. Striving to become an artisan whose art is the "day job." Knowing that in an alternate dimension this is the case, she does the behind the scenes work in this reality to create the cool items, that score her diva status over there, in that alternative place.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Bragging rights
I failed to mention that my shoulder dragon named "torque" (because hes a big torque like necklace) won second place in the professional 3D category at Chattacon back in january.
Thing-a-day
I have made sure I sat down and did at least something. I mostly call them clay doodles. Putting together little assemblages of color. unfortunately they really are not that interesting.
I finished the medusa --she is now a pendant. I made another squid.
Wednesday I sat and played with making ear cuffs. Experimenting with how to actually make them. Wednesday was probably the longest day I actually gave over to crafting.
Ive made some molds and molded a whole bunch of components. Components to what exactly I don't know.
I would like to compose a bigger project, and not just a bunch of little things, just to say look I made something. I have some shoulder dragons I would like to work on, and several mermaid ideas I would like to sculpt.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Cephalopod Medusa
Ever since we saw Percy Jackson on Monday I have been thinking of a Medusa, but instead of snake with tentacles. I just happen to have the face already molded and cured. So I played with the clay that was out and made todays cover model.
My Thing-a-day is continuing well. I'm not posting every day, but thats ok.
Friday I made a piratical hair clip, skulls and scrolls. Its black and purple and midnight blue-green. Lets just say it does not photograph well at all.
I *get* why they discourage all black collections on Project Runway: you can't see the details in black.
Friday I also completed most of the frames with little pictures--mostly fairies and vintage belly dancers--and little art bits and RESIN!
I'm having a lot of fun with the resin. I also learned with the frames its best to start with a picture in mind, and/or create the frame using a removable piece of thick paper that can be used as the image template.
Also I need to stick with traditional based frame shapes. The paisley one looks more like a craft fail more than anything else.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Worlds cutest squid
Well maybe not, but that was the goal. I was going for major awww factor.
It just barely passed with my 7 year old.
Last month at a craft fair my vending neighbor saw my cute octopus and asked if I could do a squid.
Since vending at Two Roads Cafe in Lebanon (next to Sherlocks Book Emporium) is happening again this weekend, I figured I had better get working on cute squid.
Here it is, looks like a she, don't you think?
Lent Thing-a-day
In a discussion about Lent with a group on non-Catholics one lady determined anyone participating (in this specific group) was really using Lent as an excuse to better themselves for a healthier lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that. She also wondered since it wasn't for religious reasons why deprive yourself, why not add something for improvement: like smile at your neighbor who is a %^&, or add an apple a day. And then in the world of Universal Manifestation you want to use positive phrase-ology.
Since I do pay more attention to Universal Manifestation than I do to Lent I will be adopting actions for lent:
I am embracing positive and empowering beliefs, exercising regularly, and creating something creatively every day.
I missed Thing-a-day for February, so I have created my own thing-a-day for lent.
Day One
I recently fell in love with resin. I absolutely needed it for one specific project. never used it before but needed it. So I braved forth into the resin world, and boy-oh-boy is it easy, and the results cool beens.
I started toying with what to fill, and started to make frames for use with resin. Last night I wanted to use up this lump of leather brown clay. I played with frame shapes. And single color (to be enhanced after curing) versus multi color.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Im gonna do it!
I have wanted to make a shrine for a long time now, so, this looks like as good of a reason as any to finally do it!
CRAFT and iLoveToCreate.com have teamed up to present to you the Crafty Chica Challenge: Love Shrine!
Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica, has been making love shrines for the past 15 years. Using everything from mint tins to cigar boxes to even kitchen drawers, she transforms them into colorful art assemblages filled with objects, trinkets, mementos and phrases she loves. Her themes range from exotic lands to her kids to her Mexican culture. But her favorite love shrines to make are themed around romance!
In Kathy's new crafty-themed novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, her main character, Star Esteban, makes a magical, glittery love shrine for her ex-boyfriend, Theo as a way to woo him back. Readers will not only have a peek at how Star made her love shrine in the story, but at the back of the book there are directions to make your own. You can also try one of Kathy's Love Shrine workshops in a Box - or start from scratch!
Here are her tips:
Let your heart guide you. Think of all the things that give you goosebumps (or that you want to give you goosebumps!) and make you happy! Your shrine can be exploding with sparkle and shine, or it can be soft and subdued. Start by laying down a foundation and background, and then adding a focal point, and then add accents to round it off. While Kathy likes to use creative containers for her love shrines, you can use what ever you want - anything is fair game! Kathy believes by setting out your love shrine in a place where you will see it everyday is a great way to bring happiness into your life!
Enter in this Crafty Chica Challenge for a chance to win crafty prizes. This challenge will run for 5 weeks, and the deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 11, 2010. The Prize winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Because Kathy feels that love shrines are oh-so-very personal, the winners will be drawn at random. There will be one (1) grandprize winner, and three (3) runners-up. For more information and official rules, visit the Crafty Chica Challenge: Love Shrine contest page.
- The Grand Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket, a copy of the Crafty Chica's first novel Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and a $50 gift certificate to the Maker Shed.
- The Runner-up Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket as well as a Crafty Chica bobblehead.
To enter this Crafty Chica Challenge, please submit photos of your love shrine to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Group, and include a description of your project, inspiration, and materials were used in the process. (250 words or less please).
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Golden Dragonet
I want one. I love firelizards!
Crochet, hmmm, maybe I should pick up some hooks and see if I can make anything more that a granny square!