Making galaxy shirts

I really like making galaxy shirts, they are fun pretty easy and a great way to get kids to  learn about negative space (with out imposing a lesson on them).

My kids had a few friends over and we made galaxy shirts.

the basics:
start with a cotton shirt
lay out random circle objects-we used taped, lids and a frizbee
using a spray bottle spray a 50/50 mix of water and bleach
let it "develop" rinse
we then tossed the shirts into the drier on low
once dry we put in details like rings and dots of stars using a bleach gel pen
after the next round of bleach is rinsed off we washed and dried the shirts
once dry add the paint
I found a great bottle of spray white fabric paint, that really helps.
Once the paint dries remember to heat set.

These are great fun, and the kids had a terrific time. I really enjoyed watching their little customizations.  One painted in a mini Tardis- instant Doctor Who shirt; another kid made sure there were 9 planets, added a rainbow bridge  and labeled a few of the planets Asguard and Midguard--instant Thor shirt; one created cookie monster in space, and the last kid added arranged the planets for a solar system. None of these additions were guided or suggested. Its great to see how the took the concept of space and made them their own!

I plan on cutting them up to make mine into a deconstructed tank top.

Whatcha been doing?

I haven't been doing too much jewelry making lately, but Im still making art!

Im thrilled to have created some technical drawings/illustrations for the upcoming book:

The Cloth of Egypt
All About Assiut

by Dawn Devine


















You can find out more about the book here: http://www.davina.us/blog/cloth-of-egypt/

Assiut is this totally amazing mesh cloth with designs woven in using metal strips.

Dawn has done an academic  Master's degree worth of research, and collected or art directed thousands of reference photographs. She has also created seemingly hundreds of examples and sample projects using this fabric for the book.



My illustrations aren't thrilling, but they are important for visually describing technique, and accompanying instructions.

I can't wait until the book comes out!

I can't make it since its in California, but there is going to be a great launch party:

Assiut Fest - Sunday Aug. 24 - Sunnyvale, CA
• Afternoon Workshop with Princess Farhana 3 hours/$40
• Evening Dance Show and Party - 3 hours/ FREE 
Join Davina and Friends as we celebrate the release of her book "The Cloth of Egypt." 
Need More Details Here? http://www.davina.us/blog/assiutfest/

SUPER DUPER SILVER SALE!!!

I am having a clean out clearance sale on my silver jewelry.

Unfortunately a good deal of it has been sitting around in my stock for too long, and its time for it to go.
If it doesn't go I will send it in for recycling.

I know I missed this big cost bubble when silver was over $50 an ounce, but its still pretty high.

Most pieces I will be selling at my cost. I use Precious Metal Clay, and so I have priced items so that I can purchase more clay. Several other pieces are just at market value of the silver.

I hate the thought of an original work getting melted down, and thus the cheap got-to-prices.

I have many pieces listed on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/zoeowyn

some of the items I have listed:






https://www.etsy.com/listing/8540/super-clearance-silver-and-amozonite?ref=listing-2



https://www.etsy.com/listing/22798918/super-silver-sale-small-silver-celtic?ref=listing-shop-header-1

and more that (hopefully) wont make it to Etsy, as Im trying to sell directly from my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Medeiros-Art-stuff/147377941945717?ref=hl

Ears!

I dont think. I got a chance to show off my fairy ears, and ear wraps. I was intent on making them, I forgot to post them every place!

ATC summer swap

Its been a while since I've made ATCs. I forgot how much I enjoy them. These four sets were made for a craft group ATC swap.

Crazy Cat Lady

Words

Live Well Love Much Laugh Often

Mystic Flutterby

Finishing up some projects

Trying to finish things already started. I have too many starts lying around, or waiting in boxes taking up space!

Finished this one in 7 years

This one was probably only laying around for 3 orso years.

These bracelets were also waiting for about 3 years, maybe 4 to get finished up.

Daily art

I decided I was too unbalanced, either only doing "day job" work, or binging on art.

Actually I think grad school set me into a binge mode mentality. Binge mode for writing papers, where thats all you do. Binge mode to watch a tv series on Netflix because there is a brief two day respite in the work load before the next assignment is available, binge reading fiction because starting next week there will only be time for research.

Its not a healthy way to approach projects or life. And Im not living my life as a grad student anymore, so time to work on balance.

I felt one of the ways to do that is to make art every day, not finish a complete project every day (that supports the binge concept) but something artistic.

This is my goal for April.

I started this month with some shrinki dinks. Yesterday I assembled them into earrings, and prepared a hair stick and a fancy egg pendant ornament. Today I managed to get my art on early, and I was able to finish the hair stick and the easter egg necklace!

Little projects and little stress to have it done now.