Until 2012!

All organised, just need to pack and I fly out tonight. 15 hours of travelling time, most of that flying.  The nerves are setting in.  I'm not too keen on flying.....  Anyhoo, I'm not sure I'lll have the opportunity to blog while I'm away, so in case I don't I'd like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and everything of the very best in 2012. 

(((hugs)))

Delivered!

Just delivered the order!  Whew - all done and out my studio!  Did a painting the other night - I haven't painted in a  while, what with carnival and all.  It really felt good!

Food for thought: 20 questions to clear your clutter

Hi bloggers!

I'm hectically working to meet THE deadline (which I had to move back to Monday) I want to get everything finished by Sunday night, which by the looks of things entails another 12 or so hours of work.  I have dark circles under my eyes and not looking too glamarous at all.  Sigh.   I'm a bit behind - which happens to me EVERY YEAR, despite my best intentions - I ALWAYS underestimate the time I need to do something.  So, on reflection - the new formula to work out how long I'll need to do something is going to be:  my estimate X 1,5 

I've been working in chaos (my studio is tuiny, tiny, tiny: maybe 9m2) so I've got patterns, fabric and bags of cut costumes EVERYWHERE.  Contrary to popular opinion (ie. hubby's) I actually LOVE order.  So, when I get back from SA in January, I'm totally re-organising the studio.   Which led me to this article I wanted to share.

OK, enough blogging and back to work!  I hope you all have a fabulous CREATIVE weekend!

Food for thought: Wanting to Want

Having a little coffee break and stumbled across a great website and an article that caught my eye:
Wanting to Want

Great sites to reproduce artwork

Good morning my blog friends!  I quickly wanted to share a couple of great sites with you:

• Spoonflower (print your own fabric - I have a 'fabric' shop there - although there are only 2 pieces right now, I still haven't used the pieces I had done, but will get round to it in the new year when I get back from Africa)
• Vistaprint (print your own stationery - watch out for some really great FREEBIES - I use this site for my business stationary)
• Galison (just saw this on Geninne's blog - she's made some amazing goodies - maybe one day when I get REALLY good - I might cross my fingers and submit something)

Hope you're feeling INSPIRED!  Now that my coffee's finished - I'm off to cut a new pile of costumes. 10 days till delivery.... and counting (and trying not to FREAK OUT just a little).  Just NOT enough hours in the day when there's a day job in the middle of it.  Sigh.

Featured on ATCS for all

Every month,  on ATCs for All there's an ATC contest.  In September I entered, the theme was "Hidden beneath the layers" and won!    Woo hoo!  Very exciting for me - and apparently there's a little package of goodies in the post on its way.  

I used mixed media: watercolours, ink, gellyrollers, metallic pastels, silver pen and watercolour pencil crayons - I tried to build up various layers and a sense of depth using the different mediums.

My card is featured on the front page of the site (you have to scroll down to the bottom). 

This and that

Another week gone, and my deadline's drawing closer....I have just under 2 weeks to finish off my Captain America carnival costume order (patterns, cutting and packaging for 60 people).  I think they're going to look great all made up and the kids should be super-cute! Sigh....I just want to get it all done now, so I can relax and get ready for my trip to Africa.  

Last night I finished the shawl I've been knitting for my mum for Christmas - I used a lovely chunky cream magician yarn  - it was such a pleasure to knit up and I'm very pleased with the reslts.  (I'll take some pics of Mum in the shawl when I give it to her). 

I also wanted to share Art Trader Magazine with those of you that don't know about it. It's FABULOUS - chock-full of ideas and inspiration!  There are so many great online courses available - I wish  could do them all!  I haven't been working on any ATCs lately, as I simply don't have the time - but when I get back from SA I plan to start working on some larger watercolours. 

Well, it's nearly pumpkin time and it has been a long day.  Got to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow (Sunday and all) to do some cutting.  I'm off to bed!  

On my wish list

I haven't been doing much art in the past couple of weeks, as I'm spending all my free time on cutting.  I really miss it!  BUT - I have to focus as I only a little over 2 weeks to go to finish the order.  Sigh.... Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about Copic markers - I remember using them at Tech when I studied fashion - loved them and haven't used them since.  I'd really like to start working with them again. Did a little Googling and have my eye on this set................. (drool).......

Great tutorials using Copic Markers

PS: Pam Garrison has some great tips on her blog

Pattern cutting in the studio

Haiku swap

I received my haiku ATCs in the post this morning - thank you Lenna!  What a stunning envelope!  Stamped and beautifully decorated -and  those stamps - love them!  I received 3 stunning ATCs:

Beautifully detailed, stitched and beaded from Frieda Oxenham:

From Jo Urbani this precious dragonfly with iridescent wings:

From Janet Fystrom a gorgeous collage using embossed paper:

Thank you all so much for your wonderful ATCs!

New in my sketchbook....

Wow - I haven't blogged for ages - been working on carnival and ATCs for trades I'd (overly-enthusiastically) organised.  I've got about 10 more ATCs to do and then I'm taking a little break until I get back from South Africa in January.  Tried grouping these, but it didn't work out - so here they are in a long column

Swap terms

I just found this GREAT article on Art Trader Magazine defining all the terms I've been wondering about... yeah!

2012 online Workshops

How FABULOUS - 3 free online workshops to sign up for!  (I've signed up for all 3 myself)  

Registration is open! Workshops are FREE!
Series starts January 1, 2012.

Learn techniques from experienced artists through online videos and downloadable instructions.
 

Get inspired from other students in our virtual classroom. Keep motivated with ideas and tips from your instructor. Register for our 2012 Online Workshop Series today.

Our online workshops are free and self-paced. Workshops are held in our virtual classroom website. Each workshop consists of four video lessons and supporting downloadable instructions. Students can participate in conversations on our discussion boards or share work in the classroom photo gallery.

Artwork by Traci Bautista

Workshop 1: Doodles Unleashed: Mixed Media
Mark-Making Techniques

Instructor: Traci Bautista
Start date: January 1, 2012

Description: Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, you will enjoy a creative escape as you combine different media, color, texture, collage, doodling, lettering and more to create your own mixed media paintings. Push yourself beyond traditional art media by incorporating stitching into your work. Learn basic bookbinding techniques when you repurpose a painting into a mini-book. Play with paper in ways you never imagined!

Artwork by Cathy Johnson

Workshop 2: Watercolor Sketching

Instructor: Cathy Johnson
Start date: March 1, 2012

Description: Learn how to sketch from life using watercolor, pen and ink and more. Cathy Johnson will share numerous tricks and techniques, covering topics such as ink and watercolor, watercolor pencil, gouache and other mixed media. Learn how to start a sketch with pencil guidelines or jump right in with watercolors. Add interest and meaning to pages using a few select collage elements. Put all of these techniques to work in your nature, travel, urban or journal sketching adventures.

Artwork by Michael Mattesi

Workshop 3: FORCE Drawing Technique

Instructor: Michael Mattesi
Start date: May 1, 2012

Description: FORCE spans all forms of art, from animation to illustration, cartooning to fine art. Mike Mattesi, author of the popular and inspiring FORCE drawing books, demonstrates his drawing theory across four compelling videos. During the videos you will learn how to draw FORCE, form and shape. Through this knowledge you will add more life and drama to your work. These three main principles can be applied to occupations in the entertainment industry such as character design, animation, illustration, storyboarding and comic books.

In the spotlight

My ATCs arrived for Lenna Andrew's ATC haiku swap and she posted a nice blurb.  Thanks Lenna!
Creative Swaps

Indian Women workshop

This is going to be a super workshop and starts tomorrow!

Instructor: Andrea Melione
Art Level: Women of India is a workshop for beginner and intermediate students.
Start Date: September 26, 2011
Contents: 1 module program
Fee: $24 US per person
Questions? Please view our Online Workshop FAQ
This Workshop Includes:

• Basic Styles of Indian dress
  • The Sari
  • The Salwar Kameeze
  • Bollywood! Mixing India and the West
• Indian Jewelry
• Indian Hair Styles
• Color and Pattern in Indian Clothing
• Inspirational Resources
• Indian Woman Paper doll: Designing your own outfits
• Project: 8x10 Canvas

ATCs #60 - #68