Tanlines. Not Deadlines.

Alright-
I think I must admit that I don't think it's possible to maintain a weekly project, but I am working on things.
One new toy I am learning is the Silhouette cutting machine that I got for my birthday in January, yes JANUARY. Five months ago and I only just opened the box. It is going to be everything I dreamed. :)
Hope to have pics of some things up here soon. Until then, keep enjoying your summer!

Week 7

Well, this was the last week of school so my creative time was shared with my girls doing something that I bought supplies for months ago and haven't yet done. We made rings from old buttons. Groovy, right?
Easy and fun.
Now that summer is here, I'm hoping to take on some bigger fish!
But first, this next week I have something cool to show you.

Week 6

I went out of town on Thursday for a weekend cycling event (my first century!), so my creative time was cut a tad short.
But I finally put together some logo samples for a friend. That counts, right?
While away, I picked up this cool lamp shade frame that will turn up soon. Stay tuned.

Week 5

May is always a crazy month so I fell back on an old idea for this week. I saw an embroidery similar to this a long time ago and pulled the old, "I could do that" and yet never did.
I finally did. Thanks, weekly project!
Created the artwork in Illustrator and digitized it for my embroidery machine, then stitched this onto felt and sewed it on the sleeve of a shirt I bought for Luke for this very purpose (weeks ago, of course). I thought it needed a little more something so I added some random orange satin stitching along one of the front pockets. Kind of goes along with the distressed military look going on here.
Despite having the tools to embroider a patch outright, it is not necessary. Keep your eyes open for cool embroideries on old clothing items, even silk screened artwork that you can cut & applique onto things. This extra step can take something as simple as this grey shirt and make it grey-oovy! (sorry- had to)

Week 4

My first pass card!
This is why I was unable to execute some creativity this week. Poor little one broke her arm but all is well and mending.
Perhaps I'll make up for it this week with two projects? :) We'll see.

Week 3

I decided that this week I would finish something I started at least two years ago. At least!
How pathetic is that! Wait, I should hold back that criticism of myself because I know I have more projects in that stage lurking within my office.... so, to focus on the positive... I am going to complete one soon!
Once upon a time, I traced the shadow of a beautiful eucalyptus tree in our yard onto this canvas and that is how it has stayed. Empty and wanting. So instead of starting a new project, I decided to bust this baby out. Alas, I was not able to complete it, but I think it still counts that I worked on it. Perhaps this coming week I can finish it.
A flaw in these long project lapses is that I can't really remember anymore what end result I had in mind so I am just playing with colors and layering and hopefully it will turn out worthwhile in the end. So far I kind of like the paint by numbers look.

Week 2

The project this week was to get my tangled necklaces hanging up on something once and for all. It's not the coolest thing I have seen to do, but it is the most ideal for my space (and how many I have- I didn't realize my granny stash!). I needed a way to see them and reach them easily so I decided I needed a long cork board of some kind. Then I changed that idea to particle board so it would be more sturdy.
Enter Home Depot.
For $5, I bought this perfect width, long panel and a tiny package of tooth hangers.
Wrapped it in grey canvas and stapled it with a staple gun, nailed on that hanger and I was done in 10 minutes.
Beautiful, right? Just kidding. But it's functional.

I had these wood push pins I bought at Container Store forever ago and used them. I ended up hammering them in (with the heel of my boot, no less- how apropos!) as I went depending on where/how I wanted to display everything. Bonus- purge items you don't wear anymore.

Ta-dah! Now I have a visual display for inspiration (i.e. reminder of what I own) and no more tangles.

Week 1 Results

Well, I did it. I kept my goal for the first week, at least. Hopefully I won't get behind on posting my results. I did end up finishing this on Thursday to give as a baby gift for my friend.
I have wanted to make paper maché hot air balloons and thought a little mobile would be good testing ground.
As seen in the previous post, I used strips of paper on water balloons. They turned out well enough but I already want to make another one with some improvements.

I painted them (masked areas w/ masking tape) + embroidery floss and twine for the ropes + little cardstock flags... the more I tried to incorporate ideas, the more I realized I should just stick with the current medium so I stayed with paper. In retrospect, some glitter would have been really fun.

As always, I share these things in hopes to inspire. I'm happy to give further details if you want to try some yourself. Do ask. :)
And I've already recognized one lesson from my experiment in forced playtime...
By giving myself 'permission' to create, I already feel a sense of peace knowing I will be accomplishing items on my to-make-one-day wish list. I've made that day happen. What took me so long? I've been waiting for circumstances to accommodate me but perhaps it has to be the other way around?
(It's also frightening to think that if I can't make it work, if I do fail, then I will prove to myself that I should never have tried. I typed this in parenthesis to keep this doubt from my conscience. I really do hope I prove myself wrong in that regard!)

Phase One

So far, it's working! :)
My first project is something that's been in my head for a while.
It's not making eggs, I'll give you that hint. But it is paper maché. I want to have one done by Thursday so results will be up fast.

Let It Begin

Dear Academe readers,
If there are any! I really am not sure. But if there is anyone out there, I need your help.
I have decided that I need more creativity in my life so I have made a new goal for myself to create something once a week. It may be big or small, but I am going to force myself to make SOMETHING.
I know it may sound silly because why would I need motivation to do something that I love?
It's because I have a problem: I talk myself out of it because I feel like there are other things that I should be doing before doing this for myself OR I question the purpose and ask, "Why? So I want to make that, but then what do I do with it?", like I need some kind of validation before I even begin. See? Excuses. And I am sick of it. I have emotional needs to make messes again and ignore common sense.
So I'm going to do it.
I'm starting this week.
This is where you come in. I think a little feedback/accountability will do me good. So if you see something you like or think it should be a doorstop, comment and tell me. Then I'll remember that my promise to myself is public and I can't make another excuse.
Thanks. Here we go.

Scary Maché

Aren't these awesome?
Made by Sebastian (here is his Flickr group) for a horror experience show. I think they are perfectly executed. Simple, classic and pretty darn spooky. These would make an awesome Halloween decoration.
Or to wear late at night at Walmart.

Found via PumpkinRot

My Hands Hath Wrought

I gathered a few designs together for a freelance portfolio and thought it would be fun to throw them up here.
I don't know why. Maybe to remember them? My work is usually spread across so many different places that I never see it once it leaves my hands. It's fun to look back.

Union Jack Pillows

This was one of the crafts that I've been meaning to do for a long time. I finally bought a few colors of fabric paint, got some friends together and we painted Union Jack pillow covers. They were a snap to do - motivating me to try some other designs. I think I got a little carried away with the distressed look but couldn't help myself- it was too fun. I purposely kept the color rough and hollow in areas, but you can apply the paint rather evenly, getting pretty professional results.
I'll post the pic when I get it all sewn up and completed. Maybe I'll get a 'new' looking one painted in the meantime.

More String

Filled the orders from the Girl Next Door show this past week. I think they turned out pretty well. I really like the green. The pic doesn't justify the size. Each panel is 2' x 2' wide!

Etsy Time

Just opened an Etsy shop if you're interested in some necklaces.
I haven't really planned on opening one but figured... why not?
Now I'm motivated to share more stuff. Stay tuned.