Nursery Painting

Sometimes beginning a painting can be overwhelming. A great way to get inspired is to copy a painting from an artist that you admire.

The painting to the right is a copy of one of my favorite contemporary illustrators. I have always loved children's books and this illustration just seems to speak to me.

Since it is not my image, I can not sell it but learned by working on it & plan on keeping it for my own enjoyment.

Green Jeans

Not a new idea but sew much fun and simple to do. I turned an old pair of my husbands jeans into a tote for myself (possibly future diaper bag) and a small matching purse for my favorite Niece. the purses themselves didn't take more than 5 minutes total to sew but I spent the next day or two decorating them and lining the larger tote with pockets. I crocheted the handles out of novelty yarn, hand embroidered a few embellishments, added some costume jewelry, ribbon, buttons, sparkles. . . I had enough jean material left to do 3 more small clutches or accessory bags, and a few scrap patches that I can save for future projects. Pictured is the small matching purse.

Update

Since my last few posts my life has come back full circle. I am pregnant again and thrilled but also terrified that it might turn out as heartbreaking as the last. I quit my job in early January to eliminate the stress and focus on my new priorities. This has given me the opportunity to dabble in my art work again between Dr visits and naps. I am eternally greatful that my husband allows me to stay at home and that he endures the trails of creativity as they follow me around the house and take over the living room, dining room, office, and extra bedroom.

Now that I'm trying to make room again I need to tame my art & craft supplies by wrangling them into a few confined areas. I decided that I couldn't go to my favorite art stores until I used some of the many items I have collected over the years that are now spilling out of the closets, the attic, my inlaws, my parents. . .

Recycled Grocery Bags

A great green project for those who possess basic crochet techniques as well as free time and patience. I crocheted old plastic grocery bags into new stretchy bags that I use each week to carry my groceries or other store bought goodies home. They receive lots of praise from checkers, baggers, and people in line behind me each trip. The bags are perfect for your lighter groceries and will stretch to accomodate almost twice their size. I keep them in my car and have also found them handy for toting home wet towels and bathing suits from the beach. You can be very creative by varying the color bags you use or changing the size of bag or needle.

Start by flattening out your bags

Trim 1" strips of plastic vertically. I used about 15+ bags to recreate each bag.

Tie the strips together end to end with a regular knot. Trim the knot (or leave for a frazzled effect)

To make the bottom of the bag: Use a size "G" hook to single crochet in a circle adding stitches to each row until you reach desired size. Remember the tighter your stitches the stronger your bag will be.

Then continue the same number stitches until the bag is the height you want.

You can add straps by single crocheting or sew on straps of fabric. My favorite bag handles were made with recycled denim. I added stitches around the base of my handles for support.

Ipod Holder

While riding my bike last weekend I nearly lost my ipod coming around a bumpy corner. Most of my shorts that I wear when walking or riding don't have pockets. . . my solution was to make something fun to hold on to it for me. I designed a small purse that resembles my cat, Romeo. The back has a wrist band & velcro so I can wear it: on my arm, around the strap of a shirt, on the strap of my purse, handlebars. .., there is a snap that holds the ipod in place for bumpier rides, it is washable & I think it is going to be just what I needed.

Organizing Digital Photo Files

The convenience of digital photography is unquestionable. Digital photos have saved us all time that would have been spent developing film and picking up prints. Camera Cards can hold up to 600 photos at a time. . . The only drawback is that you end up bogging down your PC space with all of your images, can't remember which you have already backed up and sometimes can't find the image you are looking for, might even delete one you love b/c you need to clean your camera card and take a new shot immediately.

An easy method to organizing all of these digital files is as follows:
1. Create new folder on your desktop by right clicking with your mouse
Then select "new", then select "folder"
Name the folder with the current year
in this folder you will create 12 subfolders: one for each month
in each month you can also create a folder for each event
As you shoot photos download them into the corresponding folder

2. Pick a date to archive all images depending on how often you shoot and how many photos you take at each event. I try to do this once a month.
You will open the folder then select "copy images to cd" from the left, place a recordable cd in your cd burner and follow steps in pop up box.

3. Once the images have been recorded, select all files (all should be highlighted if done correctly) Then select "file" and "Print". If you have the printing wizard you will follow the directions and choose "contact sheet 35 prints/ page" Print out an index sheet to show you the contents of each cd. Take out the cd, look at the back to be sure images have been burned (you should see rings of slightly different sheen, or open the cd on your computer and double check that all have been burned) Then you can delete the images from your computer.

4. I like to put the contact sheets & newly burned cd in clear sheet protectors made for presentations. They have 3 holes that allow them to easily be inserted and organized into a 3 ring binder. Perfect to store your sheets and cds by date and simple to remove when needed. I write extra notes in the margins such as the size & clarity of the file, event addresses, so on and so forth. . .

*It takes a few hours to do but saves you hours of searching for files and information later. Once you have completed the process a few times it will become simplier and you will be faster at it.

How to Make Handmade Paper

It is fun, good for the environment, & FREE. Paper can be made with things you already have.

Step 1. Get a pile of used paper preferably from your shredder or a pile that your kitty has
has been working on.

or Shred the paper using scissors. The smaller the pieces the better

2. Fill your blender 1/2 way with water. I have a designated "art blender" that I use. It was downgraded since the lid has gotten slightly warped in the dishwasher. I've found the flying liquid paper adds to the excitement of crafting. If you aren't lucky enough to have a spare, don't run out to buy one. Just clean well when finished.
3. Add 1/2 the amount of shredded paper and puree or blend until you get a milkshake
consistancy.
4. remove from the blender and place on a screen. OR lay it on sheets of wax paper instead.
5. Roll out with a rolling pin to flatten or press into interesting molds. To add pizazz, use
bits of confetti, extra strands of string (great use for all those pieces you throw away
when sewing) or excerps from magazines
6. Use a sponge to sop up the extra water then lay out in the sunshine to dry for 24 hours
& VIOLA! You have now made your own paper!
Your paper will be a grayish consistancy & is great to use for craft projects. It won't be thin or stable enough to go through your laser printer or wrap a present with.