Gerbera Daisies

This month at the Decorative Painters Society after meeting we painted Gerbera Daisies. The Gerbera Daisies are a fun project, and one I'm sure I'll do again in the future.
For this project I decided to use a 8"x10" stretch canvas, and prepped it using Deco Art Americana Paint in Midnight Blue.
Next I traced on my pattern and based the petals in Deco Art Americana Light Buttermilk.

 Next I filled in the petals using Cadmium Orange, and shaded with Napa Red and Deep Burgundy.

The center of the flower was done with Antique Gold, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow, and shaded with Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, and Burnt Sienna. 

Going back to the petals, highlighted in Spiced Pumpkin, then finally finished up the stems with Avocado, Evergreen, and highlighted with Anita's Acrylic Craft Paint in Olive Green. (Yes, all the paints were Deco Art Americana except one!)

This project was just so cute! A number of painters in our group used Greenish Black or Black background prep and the petals turned out a beautiful reddish color, but there are lots of little changes you could make with this type of project. Next time I'm considering making my daisies in shades of pink! Perhaps on a Memory or Jewelry Box??? The possibilities are endless. 

Happy Painting!

On Healing Wings

This month our decorative painting group Heart-of-Texas-Tolers, painted a beautiful angel from TheDecorative Painter Magazine 2-2012. This is the kind of  project I want to again and again!

On Healing Wings - designed by Erika Joanne - DPM2 2012

My version (as well as most others in the group) was done with Americana Deco Art paints rather than the designer's original JoSonia paints. Next time I'll experiment with different color variations and maybe add some sparkle. This was so much fun to paint, and I was able to complete it in one day, minus the finishing varnish. Wouldn't this make an excellent gift for someone? I love it!!!

January Sewing Projects and Pattern Making

Several weeks ago I showed you I had bought a bunch of new patterns. This month I decided this is the pattern I'm going to work on as part of my sew 1 garment a month goal.  McCalls M6515.

 My wardrobe really needs some dress pants. I really have none that fit me right now, so I picked this pattern to work on. I'm between sizes on the chart, so I plan to start by making a muslin. Once that's done, I'll have to pick some fabric, as I don't currently have anything in my stash that would be business appropriate. I'm thinking maybe some Black Gabardine. Anybody wish to do a sew a-long?

On another note, this week I'll be starting an advanced pattern making class at the fashion school. Hopefully I'll learn to make my own pants patterns for the future. I haven't yet attempted to make my own sloper, but the instructions in this Textbook: Pattern Making for Fashion Design - 5th Edition- by Helen Joseph-Armstrong are pretty good for creating designs of your own.

Post below and let me know what you're working on sewing this month. I'm starting to look for some ideas for February.

Reversible Twirly Skirts

This Christmas, I decided I was going to sew some skirts for my nieces. I found 2 fabrics I thought the girls would love. Red for Tessa, and Blue for Natalie.

 

I thought about making them from some store bought patterns, but then I found this blog post... MamaMakesStuff.com

I followed the directions mostly...

I used Swedish tracing paper and followed the instructions for measurement

But decided I wanted more twirly in the twirly skirt, so I used 6 inches between the cuts instead of 3.

 Gave the pattern a seam allowance of 5/8 inch but, trust me it really didn't need it.

Then I got caught up in having the skirt lined... or better yet why not make it reversible.

HOW FUN!!!

Here's the results

Not too shabby... Can't wait to see them twirl!

Lulu's Nighty

My sister informed me that my niece, Lulu, wanted a new night gown, so I decided I would make her one for Christmas. I used the size 5 shirt pattern from McCall's 6500 and cut it a little longer. I'm not one for following the complete directions, so I cut it out and just started sewing it up.

I was really shocked...

This shirt looked like it would fit me... not my 4 year old niece! REALLY!!!

I used Flat Felled Seams to keep it comfy on the inside and Cinch up the neckline with some elastic. That helps make it look a bit more little girly...

I added some length to the bottom, but since it was a shirt... maybe too long? I decided it will work. Maybe I'll add some pink stretch lace. I rolled the hem on the sleeves and at the bottom. Being that it's a knit, it ruffled perfectly.  I'll be sure to post a picture of her wearing it.(I have to ship it to her.) Hopefully she loves it. I mean she LOVES Pink!!!

Oh No!!! An Old Hobby Resurfacing???

SQUIRREL!!! Ha ha ha!
One of my co-workers as been bringing in a bag of yarn and crochet hooks to work on projects during lunch hour for the Christmas season. When I saw this I had a flashback to my mother teaching me how to crochet when I was 14. I've made quite a few "hole" blankets as I called them. It's scary, but it got to the point that I didn't even have to look down to do the stitches. Anyway I asked R.J. what she was making - A fancy scarf for her sister. "How did you learn to do that?" I asked her. She'd gotten the pattern from www.ravelry.com for free. FREE?!!!! I had to check this site out! This site is so cool. You can create your own library of patterns you like, track the projects you want to work on, list supplies you have, yarn you want to trade and on and on. All you have to do is set up a FREE Account.
I'd love to make this purse...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/104027375_1fa86bb39f_z.jpg
or maybe this owl sweater...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3049226397_705fed1872_z.jpg
This would be gorgeous on a skirt hem... reminds me of snowflakes.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2312666003_81af5a70e6_z.jpg

UGH!!!! When am I going to be able to do this??? I have so many want too and Christmas sewing projects to get done right now!!! I really should try to find a way to make all my artsy f artsy into a well paying job. <sigh of wishful thinking> I'm going to have to brainstorm on that one.

Catching Up

I realize I haven't had an entry for quite sometime. Honestly I don't have a great excuse, but sitting 8 hours a day or more at a desk job, then coming home to sit in front of the computer again is really the last thing I want to do. Soon though I will have nothing but time as my job is ending at the end of the month. Initially I was kind of sad about that. I've been there for over 4 years. Now, I'm actually looking forward to all the new crafty time I'll be getting. At least until I decide what to do next.

So... What's been going on? I've continued taking classes at the Fashion School, and I've found a ton of inspiration from the blogging world for a few projects which I'll share here. I'm very excited about a few of these. I picked up a few patterns from my local JoAnn's.

 And I found these in my old patterns from when I was a teenager... plus a few of my Mom's now vintage patterns...

And these were in her stash too.... I call them "The Horrid Moo-Moos". Seriously... What to do with these???

I've gotten some fabric stash from my Grandma and some free... yes FREE off Craigslist! Amazing people trying to pare down their own fabric stash and giving away perfectly awesome fabric!!! Lucky Me!!!!

My FREE stash off Craigslist!

Continuing on... I'm still attending monthly meetings and painting with the local Decorative Painting Chapter. A few things have turned out pretty good, and some, well, some I still need to work on...

"Santa's Toys" Pattern by Susan Stamilio (c) 1998

Recognize this guy? He's painted now!!!

 LOVE! My Papier-mâché Santa turned out pretty good I think!


My goals for the next few weeks are to make a pair of slacks for myself McCall's 6515, a couple nighties for the nieces, as well as a few twirly skirts to give my nieces for Christmas. Also working on the rest of my Christmas list. Some people are so hard to buy or create for... hahaha! I'll let you know how it goes.