Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring is upon us!??!?!

I can't believe it's almost here! SPRINGGGGG!  I don't know about you guys, but I always feel more energized when I can actually see sunlight when I get out of work. You might think of spring cleaning for the cure to cabin fever, but I wind up going craft crazy (not that my house doesn't need that spring cleaning fever--any volunteers? ).

My apologies for not being around- I have no excuse for my pure laziness. I've just have been. 

So what is my cure for pure laziness? CRAFT CHALLENGE! My friends and I have just begun monthly craft challenges as a way to inspire each other and to praise each other's creativity. The only rule for this month's craft challenge was that you had to make something,  anything,  and complete it by the 20th. In my usual style, I just squeaked by before the deadline. Maybe I'll post an overview of everyone's projects after their reveals!

Anyway, I made this:
It's a canvas! It's painted! It's cut out!

BUT HOW DOES SHE DO IT?

Well, it's easy. Just paint a canvas with whatever design you desire -- I started super abstract, and then I realized I just wanted random color, so I painted over the original. I won't share it. It was ugly.

And then I bought a super cheap stencil at the cheapo store, and painted a geometric pattern on the back of the canvas. At this point, I had intended to cut out all of the pattern parts.

So I got to cuttin'. And I cut using a brand new exacto on a cutting board for what felt like forever, but was only a few hours one day. I decided not to cut out all of the pieces, since it was getting a little weak from all the lacy-ness.

So here's my final project! I like that I didn't cut out all of the shapes -- It gives it a little more "art"ness. I will advise to be exceedingly careful not to slip with your blade, because the canvas wants to curl when it's left to its own devices. I may somehow patch the two areas back together and sealing it, but I won't tell you where the boo-boos are ;-)

And here's a detail shot -- check out how cool it looks with shadows behind it! 

I really dig this, and may try another variation on the same idea sometime. It would be cool if you made several smaller ones that made a "big picture"!

Look forward to more frequent posts in the coming weeks!
Great to be back!!!

Friday, January 3, 2014

I hope you remember me... Long time no post :-/

Hey... 



Hey........



Hey Guys......










GUESS WHAT!
I am making a blog because I feel guilty :(


I've been super lazy about making blog posts -- preparing for the Christmas season at work for the month of November, and then Thanksgiving, and then Chaostmas (what I have officially renamed December for retail workers), and then Christmas, and New Years, which brings us to NOW.


Although I've got to get planning for Valentine's day soon, here, I think I can keep this under control now. I do want to share with you my recent developments. 


Development #1: My husband got a job. YAY!

Development #2: I have formally decided that I am going to make jewelry my lifelong profession. I will begin educational advancement shortly. I don't have a plan, but I know that I'm going to have to learn to do more things. It's gonna be great.

Development #3: I might have watched most of Netflix in these past few months... please make me stop. 


I guess that's all I have for right now... I haven't made any projects lately, unfortunately I didn't have time to make any Christmas gifts for family, but I'm sure I will in the near future. Don't be surprised if I start making more jewelry-related posts, it's just where I'm at right now.

Until next time! 

And I'll tide you over with a link to a super cool picture of the largest octohedron crystal: the Tower of Brilliance. 
It's on display, suspended from the ceiling at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA. SUPER COOL!!!