Sketchbook Goddesses

I had so much fun making my little goddess doll yesterday, I thought I would design a few in my sketchbook, just for fun.
For these I cut paper dolls out of black paper and uses a white gel pen for the designs, my favorite is the one on the right.

For these I used the other patterns from the site where I found the mini goddess pattern. Just some watercolor, sharpie markers and a fine tip pen. I like the green one the best. I would like to make more of these goddesses, maybe I'll paint the next one.

Tiny Beaded Goddess

I love goddess and fetish dolls and I found this great goddess pattern at Kivett-Studio. I made the body out of black felt(*tip* it's easier to stuff it as you sew it up, example-sew one arm, stuff, sew the head, stuff, etc.). I have these great moon face beads that I like to use for my wish bottles and I thought it was the perfect face. I also could not resist giving her gigantic blue breasts, she is a fertility goddess after all.
I just started beading it randomly, I think that the next one I make I will plan out a little more. There are several different free patterns on this site and they all are simply shaped. There is also a gallery of work here and here.

Book Review: Making Creative Cloth Dolls by Marthe Le Van

This book is visually stimulating with a wide variety of art dolls. I really liked that all of the dolls shown have the artists' vision included with the description.

This book starts with a basic overview of tools, materials, and techniques and also includes a list of what your basic sewing kit should include. Ms. Le Van has created three "blank canvas" doll patterns(clarity, energy, and strength) with basic instructions. The blank dolls are there interpreted by four different doll artists using different styles and techniques. There are also instructions for twelve other original dolls. At the end of the book is a gallery of even more art dolls, patterns, and brief bios of contributors.

Projects of interest - Lois Simbach's Hearts Desire Wish Doll(pages 108-109), Pamela Hastings Folk Art Dolls(pages 86-87), and the Author's Strength Doll(pages 60-62). Inspiration - Dolls for sacrifice(page59), dolls for magic(page 71), and dolls for fertility(page 107).

I recommend this book for someone interested on making art dolls. It has enough basic information to get you started, however an experienced doll maker may find it less useful.

Featured Artist - Pattie Tierney Designs

Perry Mason Artisanal Charm Bracelet

Pattie Tierney Designs Shop

I adore Pattie Tierney's jewelry. It's so creative and original. The themes that she chooses are awesome! My favorite piece in her shop is this bracelet. She also has pirates, geishas, Harry Potter, William Shakespeare, Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, and may other interesting pieces. If you're looking for something different this is the shop for you!

Learning to Knit

I have been teaching myself to knit, it's something that I do occasionally to relax, I often knit when I'm annoyed or irritated. I really wanted to use this pattern, but I didn't have the yarn she used, so I started making adjustments, I'll just cast on 40 instead of 32, surely that will make it fit.

This is my first try, the pattern looks fine(it's my first time making stripes), but it's to small and makes my arm look like a sausage. Okay, I'll just start over.

Here we go. Now I'm casting on 52 stitches, it seems better so far. I'm now to the point where I'll decrease for the wrist. I'm good at decreasing, it's increasing that seems to be a problem. I'll probably finish just in time for a hot July evening out.

Bargain Hunter Round 4 Swap

I've joined the bargain hunter round 4 swap on craftster and the partners were assigned today. I have been in all four rounds of this swap, it really stretches my creativity, it also encourages me to experiment and try new ideas.

Here's a sample of what I've sent and received, you can also see the galleries Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3 click the view images only tab to leave out all the chatter.

Calender Journal

I really admire this journal. I have tried many times to make something along these lines, but after spending an evening making the pages I often forget to write every day. I thought I would start with a weekly one and work up to a monthly one.

I would like to make a set of stamps for events that reoccur like birthdays, working, etc. and definitely stickers, no one can have to many stickers.

New Purse Designs

I want to expand my sparklicious bag collection. I would like to have several style of purses to offer, so to the sketchbook.

I'm working on the prototype for a larger bag and this is a sneak peak of the fabric I'm making it out of.

I'm just going to make the handles with this the bag body will be black.

Finished Shrine

I have reached the vision that I had in my sketchbook. I still think that it needs a few things, a battery powered tea light, a vellum envelope with a tuft of fur, and a slide with his paw print. The process of creating this shrine has been difficult. The paper on the inside of the lid is a letter I wrote about my grief and guilt. It was very difficult to write, but it was also relieving to get it out.
The slide and envelope will go inside the lid and the tea light will go on the right inside the box.

Book Review: The Decorated Page, by Gwen Diehn

This book is written for the beginner. It covers basics like supplies, layout, blank book selection and customization. Each of the techniques that she speaks about is clearly illustrated in step by step instructions.

My favorite part of this book is all of the journal pages from various artists. I also enjoyed Illogical Illuminations(pages 30-32) and The Pillow book of Sei Shonagon(pages 100-101).

Overall I liked this book, however I recommend that you borrow this one from the library before purchasing.

Beloved Companion Shrine

I worked on my shrine more today and I am almost done, I just have to get the picture to put in the frame, so I can glue everything down. I have also decided that the empty space on the right need a battery powered tea light.
I hope to finish this in the next couple of days.

Featured Artist - glimmeringprize

Glimmermingprize's Shop

I have been inspired by altered art all week and when I found glimmermingprize's shop on etsy.com I was blown away by her shrines. They are so beautiful and the stories that go along with each item make them even more interesting. She will be adding more shrines this weekend, so check out her store.

Review: Digital Concepts Light Box

I was going to build my own light box for taking photos using this tutorial. I needed a tripod for my camera, so I was looking for one at Walmart. All they had was a gigantic one that looked like it could hold a old school video camera. I have a tiny little Kodak camera it would had been silly to have such a large tripod. Anyway I happened to notice that they were selling a light box kit, it was about $50, it had a light box, mini tripod, two lights and two different backgrounds.

Here it is set up. The great thing is that it folds flat and has pockets for the lights and tripod. I think it had really taken my product photos to the next level.

Before

After

The details are a lot sharper and it just looks more professional. I went to Walmart online to see if they carried this light box, but the only thing that they had was this for $140 and it looked pretty much the same as what I bought except the box is different. I did find it here for $40.16 and free shipping on Amazon.

I would recommend this light box to anyone that needs to take professional pictures of smaller items. It is a real value for the price and the way that it folds up and stores everything is ideal.

Beloved Companion Shrine

I want to make a shrine for my cat Mango, who was put to sleep in December. I wanted to have him cremated and buried with me when I die, but that was just not possible. I've been working on sketches and I like the way it looks, but there is an empty spot in the lower right side that deeds something, maybe a short prayer or verse.

I have the perfect box to use it is roughly 4" X 6" and 2" deep with a lid. The Bast figure I have fits perfectly inside. I will be making an embossed metal frame for Mango's picture. BTW I did some research online and found out that disposable aluminium pans work for embossing. I made a sample and it was a lot easier than the soda cans. For the lid I want to cut a round window. On the inside of the lid I will have the story of adopting Mango.

Metal Frames

After reading Kaleidoscope I decided that I wanted to try the arting and crafting with metal project(page 36). I did not have any 36 -38 gauge metal sheeting, so I used soda cans as a substitute. I often substitute when I am trying a new project to see if it is something that I will enjoy before investing in supplies that I don't have. Soda cans do not like to lay flat and I solved this by making cardboard frames and covering them with the cans.

I used sharpie markers to color them and I haven't decided if I will be antiquing them. I will be exploring this project further, I already have plans to make a shrine with an art deco styled frame as the center piece. I will be purchasing the sheet metal because I think that it will be easier to form. This project would be great for artists who enjoy altered art to people who enjoy scrapbooking and card making.Let me know what you think. These are my first attempts, the images in the book were much more elaborate. The instructions were very detailed and I didn't have any problems working with the metal.

Book Review: Kaleidoscope, ideas and projects to spark you creativity, by Suzanne Simanaitis

This book does exactly what the title says, "spark your creativity." The tone set by Ms. Simanaitis is engaging and entertaining. I laughed like a school girl when I read this on page 97, "I swear, one of these days I'm going to gather hundreds of my unmounted, unused rubber stamps, stitch them together into a dress, and develop a performance art piece that involves rolling around on a giant ink pad and bouncing on a canvas covered trampoline."

This book is heavily illustrated with works from over a dozen artists and is beautiful to just fan through the pages. The short(1-3 page) projects are easy to understand and reproduce. Projects on my to do list: Arting and crafting with metal(page 36), magick portable shrine(page 62), mail art to self(pages 42 and 62), and pockets of inspiration(page 86). Favorite article, That voice inside your head(or as I like to call it take a witch out for a latte week).

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for new and creative ideas.

Suzanne Siminaitis publishes ARTitude Zine and can be found on the web here.

New Blogger

Hi, thanks for stopping by my new blog. Here you will find all the tidbits of things I like and what occupies my brain most of the time. I will be reviewing books, sharing my sketchbook, featuring tutorials, and featuring other artists' esty stores.