My Creative Space

This week, I'm very excited to have begun a four-week textile design course with the lovely Karuna of Design Crafty.  I feel as though most of my ideas usually revolve around what would work well for hand-printing, and figuring out all of the wonderful things that a professional printing company can do with fabric opens up a whole world of possibilities.  Repeating blocks!  Mirror images!  The magic that Karuna worked with her computer after our initial exercise was pretty amazing. 

In the first class we put together "mood boards" which functioned to gather inspiration and focus our ideas.  Having never been to art or design school, this was my first mood board assembly.  I really enjoyed the process, and after I came home, I found myself ripping pages out of magazines to set aside for future image collections.  Here are some photos of the mood board I set up in class.

I've been working with a pen and watercolors to visualize different designs.  I haven't played around much with watercolors in the past, but I really love the effect.  When I got home, Solomon and I set out the paints and worked side by side for a while during Aya's nap.

If you live in the Nelson area and are interested in Karuna's classes, you can find out more here.

I'm playing along with the fabulous Kootoyoo this week.  By the way, I'm loving the new look of Kirsty's blog.  She's just switched from Blogger to Wordpress, and the outcome makes that transition look awfully tempting.  Hmmm, something to think about. 

x Jen

My Creative Space

 

This week, I've been playing around with something a bit different....we were given a lovely set of matching dinnerware recently, and suddenly all of my op-shop plates seemed a bit extraneous.  I bought ceramic paint ages ago, and it's been withering away in my desk drawer, so I decided to experiment with a new medium.

I used both a pen and paint for these ("Porcelaine" brand) and the consistency of each took some getting used to.  Now that I've got the hang of it though, I'm feeling hooked.  It's a good thing I have a whole pile of plates to go through.  The paint is dishwasher resistant, but I imagine these more as little depositories for trinkets or keys than for eating off of.  I'm sure I'll end up giving most of them away -- because really, there's only so many trinket plates my husband will tolerate.

Playing along with the lovely Kootoyoo this week.  Find links to many more creatives and their spaces here.

My Creative Space

This week I'm working on a small project for the walls of the my oldest's room; he has just transitioned from a toddler bed to a big kid bed, and I want to make his personal space feel as safe, beautiful and loved as I can -- you know, in a bigger-kid way.  I'll do a few more of these with different fabrics and then I'm planning on using my free-hand (ie childless) time at the market this Saturday to embroider them.  Simple, cheap, satisfying.

And not necessarily in creative space, but in super-exciting space, I just received my issue of this lovely magazine, which featured the work I do for My Baby and Me in the "Pick of the Organic Crop" section.

This is definitely a first for me.  Yay!

My Creative Space

So far I've got the inspiration....

 The materials....

And the space....

Does this count as a work-in-progress if I haven't technically started yet?  This week a new shower curtain motivated me to finally finish up the bathroom refurbishing we began months ago with a simple paint-job.  Rather than buy a new bathmat, I'm going to try to breathe new life into a pile of getting-a-bit-dingy towels.  I'm not really sure how terry will hold up to the rag-rug style, but it seems like the thickness of the material should make pretty quick work of it.

In other news....today I finally dusted off the storage box that holds my running clothes (literally --  it was pretty dusty) after I heard myself saying "I really ought to make time for exercise" to one friend too many.  I mean seriously, Jen -- do it already. Sure, I'm busy.  Our lives are full....but do I not have 30 minutes twice a week to devote to my health and mental well-being? In fact I do.  Sleep has been slightly better lately, and as my little ones get more independent, I know I can get away more easily.  I'd love to get back into the running habit....as with everything else -- we'll see how we go.

Playing along with the lovely Kootoyoo (for the last time this year!)  Pop over to Kirsy's creative space to find links to many more.....

My Creative Space

Hello!  It's good to be back.  I think a bit of a break was vital, but I'm feeling fresh, recharged, and ready to enjoy this space again....

While I was away from the blog we've done quite a lot:

:: We've begun our landscaping and gardening business -- nearly two weeks in, and all going well.
:: I've done my first craft market, which was a wonderful experience.  I loved meeting people and the other vendors couldn't have been nicer.  My stall-mate Amelia and I will be doing another Nelson market on November the 20th, and every Saturday through December.  Please stop by and say hello if you happen to come down!
:: We've finished putting in our spring gardens - - we have fruits and veggies tucked into every possible corner.  I think this year's crop will be amazing.  I'm so excited for summer's bounty of fresh organic produce.  (Full credit to my husband -- this is very much his domain.)
:: I've churned out a few new designs -- I'm most excited about this one....

The print has been hand-cut and will be used just once.  I've hand-detailed a few of the vehicles as well.  Though this design won't be repeated I see a lot of potential in the idea and am excited to see where it goes.

I've also been doing a few summery prints on blankets....

I think I'll need to put prints aside over the next week to complete a few Christmas projects to get ready to send before the deadlines.  (FYI Dec 6 for Australia and November 29th for all other international if you send via airmail.)

Happy to once again be joining in with Kootoyoo!  Find many more creatives and their spaces here.

My Creative Space

Oh, I am loving my time out in the studio these days.  When I finally get out there, it's usually after 8 -- but lo and behold, there's still a hint of daylight in the sky.  The air smells fresh, and all is peaceful and quiet.  A few friendly hedgehogs poke around on the borders of the yard.    I've been on a bit of a podcast blitz as well.  I've been listening to episode after episode of This American Life.  Have you heard of it?  It's classified as a radio journal and the premise is that every week a theme is chosen and stories that are variants on that theme are explored.  Quite simply, it's brilliant.  I often stay out in the studio after I'm done working just so that I can finish listening to an episode.  I'm sure all of you mamas out there (stay-at-home or otherwise) appreciate what I mean when I say that I crave social and cultural stimulation.  TAL (among a few other podcasts, like Radio Lab) help provide that for me.  If you haven't yet had the pleasure of listening, find This American Life here, and Radio Lab here.  You can stream all of the programs directly from the sites.  Working in the studio + listening to a podcast is for me, multitasking in the best way.

Anyway.  Here's what I've been up to:  Lots of prints, including some very satisfying new mosaics (each of which is one-of-a-kind.)  Still building up stock though unfortunately, I won't be at the Nelson Market this Saturday.  My stall-mate has had something important come up, so we're aiming for next Saturday, November 6th instead.

I have the pleasure of playing along with Kootoyoo today.  If you have the time, check out many other creatives and their spaces here.

My Creative Space

In my creative space this week, I'm gearing up for my second attempt at the Nelson Saturday Market on October 30th.  Fingers crossed for better weather this time....

Just building up some stock.  A few of the organic baby tees and lots of organic sleep sacks and blankets.  It's nice to focus on prints again after taking a break for a few weeks....

And speaking of breaks, I think I'll definitely be taking a bit of a blogging hiatus after this whole Blogtoberfest shenanigan is over.  You may be able to tell by my erratic posting this week -- I'm getting a little burned out.  If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I'm more of a when-the-mood-strikes sort of blogger than an every-day sort of bloggger.  Which is a valuable thing to know about oneself, I guess.

At any rate, I'll do my best to push though the wall and finish what I set out to do.  One bright spot in my immediate blogging future will be picking the winner for my Handmade Marketplace giveaway!  Stop by and enter here if you haven't yet.  (And thank you to those of you who have.  You guys are one clever bunch -- I'm loving your tips.)

And finally.....If you have the time, it's well worth checking out the lovely Kootoyoo to find many other creatives and their spaces.  Always a pleasure....

My Creative Space

I won't hold back:  I'm feeling really proud of myself.  Know why?  I followed a sewing pattern!   I did everything -- the measuring, the finishing of edges, the pocket.  Everything!  I know it probably doesn't sound like a big deal to you veteran craftsters, but for me, this was huge.  I only figured out how to thread my sewing machine about a year ago and during my short history of sewing I've mostly had what a friend described as a "rip sh*t and bust" attitude toward projects.  I am both impatient and very stubborn.  I'll finish a project no matter what (and usually as quickly as possible) even if it's a total disaster.  Funny, the contrast between my take on sewing and my approach to print-making (where I'm incredibly slow and detail-oriented.)  Anyway, using a pattern and actually reading the directions took a little while, but hey -- look!  Something we can actually use!  And it (probably, hopefully) won't disintegrate in the wash!  Who would have thought?

This is the "Simple Dress" out of Lotta Jansdotter's lovely Simple Sewing for Baby.  Next, "Simple Pants."  There's no stopping me now.

(Full disclosure -- this is actually the second time I managed to follow a pattern.  The first was a few days ago, with a much simpler pot-holder pattern:

On the left, my own version, sans pattern.  On the right, pattern followed -- this little comparison was enough to convert me.)

What else?  I've done some work refurbishing a child's art desk that I found the same day I found the doll's house at the flea market.  The two cost $20, combined.  I do love the flea market -- and clearly it loves me back.

And finally, some baking.

Pumpkin ginger cake,  Anzac biscuits, and no-knead bread -- our starchy mainstays of the moment.

 Do pop over and see Kirtsy at Kootoyoo to find many more creatives and their spaces.  Just follow the link here.

PS Everything is still on sale in my shop....  Take a gander here if you like.

PPS  100 readers, yay!  Giveaway coming over the weekend.

My Creative Space

Has looked a little like this....

But far more like this....

  It's school holidays, and even though neither of my little ones is in "school" per-se,  S does an afternoon Montessori program a few days a week, and all of our other potential activities (like music, library or gymnastics) are on hold during the break.  So we've had a lot of home time; I've intentionally let go of any print-making expectations, lest I get frustrated when they go unmet.  So we've colored, we've painted, we've play-doughed, we've baked, we've gardened, we've made little homes for the worms we've found, we've built train-tracks, and we've gone to the park.   I've really enjoyed creative playing without any focus on "making" or "getting done."

If you have the time, please check out Kirsty's blog Kootoyoo for many wonderful creative spaces.  Happy to be joining in....

PS, still ticking along with Blogtoberfest!  So far so good....though I may sit down tonight and do a little planning to keep the momentum going.  Have already found so many amazing blogs through the sign-up list; if you have time, take a gander.  Find it here.

My Creative Space

Something very strange seems to have happened to my camera, creating this other-wordly glow in some of my photos.  I've resisted replacing this camera, having finally warmed to it, but it's getting a bit crotchety in its old age: I have to recharge the battery every other day, sometimes it decides to randomly turn itself off, and now this.  I feel overwhelmed by the plenitude of choices for a replacement.  I need something decent, but simple and economical.  Any suggestions?

Anyway, I've begun working on these super-sturdy eco-totes, made from a wonderfully thick 100% cotton canvas, and perfect for carrying a load of library books or for vegetables, flowers and a baguette from the farmer's market.

Both sides of the bags are printed with slightly different prints.  I'm excited to list these, but think I may need to sort out what's going on with my camera first.  Or else include a disclaimer: "Contrary to appearance, bag does not actually glow."

Hm.

Happy to be joining in with Kirsty from Kootoyoo this week!  Find many more creatives and their spaces here.