Project 365

*** I actually wrote this post and another before going away for a few days, so I could publish them while I was gone. But I was so busy I completely forgot until I got home.

87/365: My peeps
88/365: Some crocheted, then felted baskets/bowls

89/365: The notebooks I've been experimenting with making. I was going to try and sew the binding, but decided the stapled binding was just as good, and less time consuming.

90/365: I had to do some boring photo work for my boyfriend, and just wasn't motivated to take any other photos
91/365: Another shot of the sunrise reflected in the wet sand

92-93/365: Took the holiday weekend off
94/365: Some newly planted ground cover at Red Wing Park. The "spots" made me smile.

Liberty of London at Target

I love the new Liberty of London collection at Target. Its so bright and cheerful.
You can download free desktop and iphone wallpapers here: http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/ref=sc_iw_ss/?node=2241595011

More Project 365

I couldn't post all my photos for project 365 yesterday, because blogger only allows 5 photos per post. So here are the rest of my photos to get caught up.
44/365: Today I have an illustration to share, not a photo. This is my "Lunar Moth" illustration, which I started on Friday and finished Saturday

45/365: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. One of the trails leading to the beach.

46/365: I should have posted this on Valentines' Day, but I'll post it today instead. I love the red color, so bright and cheerful. I asked my boyfriend not to get me roses, and he didn't. He got my this potted tulip instead. I think its much nicer, it won't die in a week.

47/365: Its an Apple Cozy! I'm not the type to cove everything I own in crocheted cozys, but these are seriously cute.

LOVE

Check out my new Valentines!

These were inspired mostly by one of Amy Butler's nature based patterns. Amazing how the end result is so different than my starting point. I actually began these last winter but was unable to finish them in time for Valentines Day 2009, so I put this design aside for awhile. Then I finished it after the holidays and got them printed, photographed and listed a few weeks ago. These were definitely time consuming, and I had my doubts about whether I would be happy with them. Even though I was able to copy and paste to fill in areas I still had to adjust the shapes to make everything fit together nicely. I also was unsure if the word "love" would be clearly visible.

My "Peace" Illustration

I'm back from my unintentional leave of absence from this blog. December was crazy busy for me, with my first craft fair, some good business including a special order in my Scarlett Made Etsy shop, and the usual last minute finishing of my Christmas gifts. I was literally wrapping gifts for my boyfriend's family in the fedex parking lot to ship 2 days before Christmas. I didn't even get my tree up until Christmas Eve this year. We had a great Christmas, very low key, just us, our dogs, and a visiting friend and great food. And I've taken time off since then to relax and refocus. It feels good to be back "at work" today.

Even though the holidays are over, I wanted to share my "Peace" illustration. This is a folk art inspired design that I actually started last year, but put aside because I didn't know quite where to start, and probably scrapped the illustration at least a few times. No doubt because I was over thinking things. I finally settled on a branching botanic motif, inspired by a book on German folk art. I think that the final illustration is both modern and definitely vintage inspired in appearance, and fits well with my style.

I was so happy with this design I made ornaments, using felt, adhesive, iron on tranfers, and monofilament for a hanger. These were great at my craft fair, because they added some color to my tree.

Vintage Ornaments Notecard

I've wanted to create a design inspired by vintage ornaments for a few years. Here is an illustration I did last year, but decided I didn't like it. It feels forced and depressing, not cheerful. So I never put it in my Etsy shop.

Then this year I found some great fabric with an ornament design on it, that reminded me of Dr. Seuss. So I decided to come back to the ornament idea, only make something fun and joyful this time. I sat on the couch and watched "The Grinch" for inspiration while I made a few sketches. Then I drew several designs using illustrator, and came up with this finished card.

Here is a flickr mosaic I made last year. I love the colors and shapes.

Books, books, books

I'm not just a crafty nerd, I'm also a book nerd. And recently I've been reading some great things.
Barbara Kingsover's "Animal, Vegatable, Miracle" is one of the most interesting books I've read in awhile. It chronicles her family's effort to eat only food which is grown locally and sustainably for a year, much of which was grown in their own garden. I think I esspecially loved it because I read it in the spring, when I was planning and planting my own garden.
New Knit Books! Erika' Knight's "Mens Knits" was a gift from my favorite (only) British friend. I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself, but I love it, and I'm sure I'll make more the the sweaters for myself than I will for my boyfriend- he's difficult. "Feminine Knits," by Lene Holme Samsoe. I really intended not to buy anymore knitting books until I had my WIPs and stash under control, but this book is full of such pretty, wearable pieces that I couldn't resist. And since I had a gift card I don't think it counts as something I bought.
"The Boleyn Inheritance" was very entertaining. I think Phillippa Gregory's books are not just interesting from a historical perspective, they're also great reads for just relaxing, and this one was almost as good as "The Other Boleyn Girl."
Currently I'm reading "My Life in France," written by Julia Child with her nephew. So far I'm loving it, she has such great descriptions, right down to how everything smelled.
And I also picked up "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe" which I've been meaning to read for awhile, even though the movie was terrible, and a book on how to be more productive. I hope it works.
Also, some of my favorite magazines have been great lately. I don't usually buy "Vogue Knitting", the style just seems a little "old" for me, but the spring/summer issue was full of wearable designs. I always love "Knitscene." The summer issue of "Interweave Crochet" is my favorite issue yet, with several piece I can't wait to make, when I have time... And the ultimate crafty, bookish magazine, "Piecework." I couldn't resist the idea of travel sized, historically inspired patterns, particularly the Norwegian Tree of Life Mittens.

Yay!! A box of pretty papers! Last week I got an order from one of my suppliers, and spent some time building up inventory. And I was glad I did, because today when I got an order (from a repeat customer!!) all I had to do was print a shipping label, invoice, pack it up and put it in the mailbox. No spending 45 min finding all my supplies, clearing a workspace, and throwing out the first few mistakes. Not only did it take less time to print and package many sets at once, but there was less waste (I almost always have a few unsellable prints) and significantly less stress. And I have a much better idea of what I have in stock, and what I need to order for my autumn designs. I think I'm going to try to devote a few afternoons to making stock every month. So much easier than making my card sets by the order.
And I was able to make my illustration into cards, before I didn't have the right color envelope. So I'll be listing a few new things in Scarlett Design this week.

Wiener Werkstatte

Its amazing how quickly summer flies by. I can't believe its already mid-July. And it seems to go by even quicker here in Virginia Beach, where a home near the ocean guarantees there is never a shortage of house guests.
Recently I stumbled upon a some photos (I can't remember where, Cafe Cartolina perhaps?) of textiles created in the Wiener Werkstatte. The Wiener Werkstatte was an artists collective in Vienna during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, and, like the Arts and Crafts movement in England, included all of the decorative arts, with the goal of making good design available to everyone: textile design, furniture, glass, architecture, etc. I think I'm particularly drawn to this because I've recently been working on an illustration by the German Art Nouveau period.
Wkikpedia article here.
I think I just may treat myself to the Wiener Werkstatte book for my birthday (in a few weeks) and when/if I ever get to Vienna, I'm definitly going to the musuem.

I love the nature inspired and geometric patterns in these designs

What a gorgeous shade of blue!

Two Illustrations

Today I want to share some of my illustrations.
The first is a digital illustration I made years go in Art School, and I've always loved it. The assignment was to take a subject from one photo, and a background from another photo, and merge the two in an original illustration. I think I worked on this every afternoon for a few weeks, but it was worth the effort. I think this is the first drawing I made using the Illustrator program that I was really happy with.

Right now I have this available a fine art print in my etsy, but I'm planning on making it into greeting cards as well.
The next illustration is one that I'm currently working on.

This one is a hand drawn ink illustration. So far I'm pleased with it, but its taking a long time, and I keep having to buy new pens because they die on me. . Sometimes I hit mental block, because I'm not sure what to fill the space with. I want to keep with the celestial theme and fill the entire space.
It was inspired by Ephrain Mose Lilien's Illustration to Genesis, done in 1908. I know many people don't like Art Nouveau, but I love all the curve-linear lines and nature inspired themes.

Completed!

I finished a few things I meant to share last week, but then I lost my internet connection for a few days, and with the truck engine dying, and some unexpected guests for Easter I just never got around to it. First, my Marlene Socks

This is the first pair of really nice socks I've made for myself, and I love them. I pretty much followed the pattern, with some adjustments around the foot for gauge, and I decreased at the toe to avoid using kitchner stitch. I used Fibranatura's Yummy Superwash Wool.
Next is a Louisa Harding purse.

I didn't do a very good job following the pattern, mostly because I didn't do a very good job reading the directions. But I'm really happy with the result, and thats all that really matters. I liked the styling in the pattern photo, but felt it was a little "granny" and then saw another similar Louisa Harding purse with much trendier styling, so I decided to go for something in between. Because I am neither granny nor cool. I used Paton's Bamboo Silk, and then made a lining with some brown cotton and attatched a pair of bamboo handles I've had for years, but hadn't gotten around to doing anything with yet. Then I added a velvet ribbon and some pins. The ladybug pin used to be my grandmother's.
I also finished making my "Fern Frond" illustration into cards to put in my Scarlett Design Etsy shop. Again, I'm very pleased with how the finished item turned out.

And finally, a project that isn't completed but that I just started.
I got Alabama Chanin's book last spring, and I've been meaning to make some clothes with old T shirts, just never got around to it. Then I saw some of her Spring 2009 collection. And its beautiful, but definitely out of my budget. So I finally began a skirt. So far I love it, I don't often handsew anymore, so its kind of nice to do things differently for a change.

I have a few more photos of these, but I'm tired, so I won't be adding them to flickr until tomorrow.

Works in Progress

I've been fairly productive lately, and added several new items to my Scarlett Design Etsy shop, including some pocket mirrors, photos and these "Canine" greeting cards:
I've also been working on this illustration of some fern fronds that is almost finished. I just need to tweak the colors and decide which paper and envelope I'm going to use for the completed product.

I'm planning to overhaul my Scarlett Made Etsy shop as well. I think it wasn't successful this winter because I jumped o the chunky knits bandwagon, and didn't really love all the items I offered. So I've been giving some thought to what I really want, and I've decided to offer unique crocheted items. Including this free form scarf I'm working on right now.

For fun I have a few knitting/crocheting wips. I expect to post about my completed Marlene socks by the end of the week, and I'm also working on a hexagon throw.

Panzer's Silhouette

This is an illustration I just finished. It started as a photo of one of my dogs, Panzer. I won't show you the photo because it is a badly lit photo of my messy living room. But basically I I had my boyfriend hold a treat, and then took a photo of Panzer's profile while he sat nicely waiting for his cookie. Then I imported the photo into illustrator and traced his outline. I'm planning to add a more ornate frame, and then use this design for some items to put in Scarlett Design. I also want to make one of Chewie and hang them both in the living room.
Also, I've been adding some photos I took of Great Falls National Park this fall to my flickr, so you should check them out if you're not familiar with this beautiful place.

Cherry Blossom Notebook

New item in my Scarlett Design etsy shop!

For a while I've been wanting to experiment with using iron on transfers to put my photos and illustrations on other items. Today I finished making 2 notebooks covers decorated with this photo I took last year at the Cherry Blossom festival in DC. 

I'm really happy with how these came out. At first I was afraid the colors would be distorted or too pale, or that the iron-on transfer would peel off easily. But it worked beautifully. Also, I used a textured fabric and lace, so there are many layers of texture in the finished item. And many of the supplies were things I had on hand, except the transfer, so I didn't have to buy more stuff. The cover fabric I bought a few years ago to make a skirt, but then I got a white skirt as a gift, so I never used the fabric. Now, I love the look of it under the transfer.

I also made this 4x6 mixed media collage this morning, from my Queen Anne illustration, using more materials I had on hand. This wont be in my Scarlett Design etsy shop until tomorrow.

Weeds Contest, win Scarlett Design Note-cards!!!

Between traveling quite a bit in February and working more than usual at my paying job, I wasn't able to get my spring line up on my etsy site as soon as I would have liked. But I have finally begun adding my new items, including this dandelion design.

What is a weed? Many people consider Dandelions weeds. I don't.
Leave a link in the comment section to your own original writing, photo, or artwork about weeds, by March 30 and my favorite will win a 4 pack of these note-cards.
The prints have slightly more subdued colors, which I'm very happy with.




"A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Let them be left. O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet." -Gerard Manly Hopkins

weed: (noun)1. a valueless plant growing wild, esp. one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop. 2. any undesirable or troublesome plant, esp. one that grows profusely where it is not wanted: The vacant lot was covered with weeds. -dictionary.com

Evolution of an Illustration

Yesterday I completed a new illustration that I'm very happy with.
I began with this photo. Even though the photo is poor quality, I loved this stand of trees, particularly the architectural feel of bare/dead trees in winter.

I cropped, de-saturated, and heightened contrast

I used my old light table (circa 1970? it was my mother and aunt's when they were kids, it even had a whole bunch of Barbie scenes and outfits to mix and match) to trace from the photo, rearranging and simplifying the composition.

The final illustration is pen on vellum.

Right now I love it, and I'm thinking of making a limited edition of 100 to sell in my etsy. I haven't decided how to reproduce it yet though, I like the idea of tracing the original drawing, that way each edition would have the tactile feel of an original, not to mention slight variations and "unintentional imperfections" that add to a handmade piece. I tried tracing a few with a fine art marker, and while it did go much more quickly than the original, it lacked crispness.

Handmade Notebook

As promised, here are instructions on how I made my notebook:
1- Cut a piece of 14"x6" fabric. I used linen, but any light or midweight fabric without stretch would work.
2- Fold in 1/2" on each long side, and press. Fold in 3" on each short side, and press.
3- Top stitch around edges.

4- Choose an iron on transfer image. I used one of my own photos and printed it at home. Adhere the image to the front of your notebook according to the manufacturers instructions.

5- For the inside pages, cut several 3 1/2" x 7" sheets of paper, and punch two holes in center, 1/2" from edge. I also printed these at home.

6- To bind everything together, punch two corresponding holes in the fabric cover, and tread a ribbon through. Tie a bow on the outside of the notebook's spine.

7- Add a decorative ribbon around graphic to coverup any uneven edges.

I'm really happy with the way these came out. I have wanted to try combining my design with fabric by using these transfers for a while. I'm considering selling something similar in my etsy shop, only I would use premade notebooks, and only make the cover myself.
And here are the notebooks I received in return. I think they did a much better job on the bindings than I did. One had an actual leaf on the cover, and the other is from a vintage paint-by-number, and used old book pages inside.

Random Crafts

Since I haven't posted anything recently, here are a few photos of some recent crafty things I have been doing.
Some Gothic Arch ATCs, one is made with the illustration I posted a few weeks ago, and another has a transparent rose window.

Some Handwarmers/Fingerless Gloves based on the "Beer Gloves" pattern from "Son of a Stitch and Bitch." I had to make some small adjustments, for gauge, etc.

A small notebook I made using my own photo and an iron on transfer. I'm thinking of making covers for pre-made notebooks like this to sell on etsy. I'll have instructions for this in a few days.