Michelle's blog

I have been trying to get some things made up for ArtFest. I finally finished and mailed off my trading cards.

I made the trading cards by printing out an image that I had drawn onto watercolor paper. Then I painted each picture with watercolor paints. It was pretty fun and very relaxing. If I had a bit more time or imagination I would have added some type of clever saying in black in around the face, kind of like a border. But, since I was short on both I decided to leave them as is. I think they turned out pretty good. I am pleased with the fact that the card is all mine. No stamped image, collaged image or anything. It's something I drew. Hurray for that. (Although I won't be giving up my stamps or collage images any time soon.)

I also have fat book pages made and am in the process of making charms to swap with people in person at ArtFest. I have some really great images that I bought from LandOfEnchantment on Etsy that I am using for my charms. I just love the way they are turning out! I'll share photos when I get them finished.

I have been melting a little wax lately in my studio, trying to see what I can do with it. I really love the depth and texture that are created when images and paper are covered and textured with wax. I initially thought I would spend a day working on several different boards, just experimenting. But, one thing I realized is that it takes me a lot longer to work with the wax than I thought it would. Instead of having 5 or 6 different pieces/experiments, I was only able to do two. One is very ugly. I like the other one well enough for a first try. I really love the way it feels.

I think my next podcast will be about how to make something like this. Well, about how I make something like this. I am sure there are a ton of different ways to achieve the same technique. 

Hey everyone! I have a loom for sale. I have posted the info on Craigslist, but haven't seen any interest so far. Do you know anyone who needs a loom?

I am still practicing my Suzi Blu faces. I am also supposed to be practicing the bodies, but I don't feel like it much. I think it's because the bodies look terrrible. All the more reason to keep practicing.

We have been working on a fun little project that involves cupcakes. While the making of the cupcakes isn't then entire project, it did take up a bit of time. And, we had fun doing it.

I'll let you know when we finish the actual project, in the meantime, we have a lot of cupcakes to eat!

I signed up for an online workshop with Suzi Blu. I had been wanting to take one of her classes and jumped at the Angle's class. I didn't realize until after I started watching the videos that I wasn't quite ready for this class. So I signed up for a beginner class to get a better understanding of how to draw a face.  I drew several faces and then chose one to use for my angel.

Suzi suggests drawing a face on sketch paper and then tearing it out and gluing it to wood. This face is the foundation for the painting. After spending hours and hours drawing faces I couldn't bear to tear out the original drawing and glue it to wood. So, I scanned the image and then printed it out on nice matte photo paper that holds up real well to water and other liquid type stuff. I applied a layer of gel medium over the face and then began to add more details and color with colored pencils and paint.

It's hard to see, but the painting is covered with a layer of wax and a bit of colored wax as well. The wax, along with the molding paste wings give the painting great texture. I love texture! Anway, I finished the painting up the day before Christmas and gave it to my sister. I can't wait to try some of the other projects Suzi has in her workshops.

My brother came over yesterday to make a present for his girlfriend. I thought it would be a quick and simple project for him, a guy without much sewing experience, except for his stint at a tux shop where he admitted to "hemming" a customer's pants with tape. I knew we were in for trouble when I grabbed my sewing machine and it wouldn't sew. Not even an inch. I guess you could place the blame on me since I let my girls and their friends use it the other day, even though both my girls have their own machines. Mine was convenient so I let them use it. My fault.

After some quick troubleshooting we decided to get my daughter's machine out while my husband tore into mine. Once again, no luck on the next machine. Not only was it missing a foot and plate (which I stole from my machine) but when I went to plug the power cord in the thing the plug goes in to slipped into the inside of the sewing machine case. So, we tore that one open too just to find out that the power thing was actually broken. No worries though. I glued it back with some E600 and went in search of sewing machine number three.

My brother tried to inject a little humor into the situation by sportinga "Crafty Lady" t-shirt.  Once I found sewing machine #3 my brother was off and running. The actual project only took him about 1/2 hour. The sewing machine repair time was closer to three hours. Ah well.... now we have three machines up and running again!

Sewing machine 3, working!

I hope you all are having luck finishing up your Christmas presents too!

I knew our Christmas tree experience was going to be different this year when I decided to let the girls go pick out a tree by themselves. So, off they went to the corner lot in town with trees. I was pretty proud of them for keeping the cost in mind. We got our tree for $25. So, here is what they brought home.

I asked them how they even knew what it looked like. They said that the guy told them that it was just like the one he was holding only taller. What? Oh well. It was kind of like unwrapping a present. We weren't sure what we were getting. Here is what we got.

Uhh... That's what I was thinking anyway. We let gravity to a bit of work for us and pretty soon the tree had "fluffed" out. Here it is with lights and decorations.

And here it is after leaving the girls in charge of the dogs.

The girls hurried up and swept all the broken ornaments off the floor before we got home. Last picture...

I think the dogs were thirsty. Ok. That's enough about our tree. New show tomorrow!

I know that this doesn't have anything to do with crafting, but I thought you might want to see some recent pictures.

About two months ago we adopted a dog from a shelter in Portland. His name is Rocky. He is lab/dane mix. He has adjusted nicely since we brought him home and is a regular part of our family now. Jen (the mini doxy)  is happy to have someone lay with. And, get this... I caught the two of them playing tug of war the other night. It was so cute. Rocky was so gentle.

 In other news. The other morning we hear a commotion at the chicken coop. I thought it might be the coyote again. But, when I looked out I couldn't see anything. It wasn't until I went into the coop did I see the headless chicken laying on the ground. I didn't think it was the coyote because he would have taken the whole thing. I have seen a hawk fly in a rip the head off one of our small chickens, but hadn't seen any around for a while. So, we spend the day guessing what could have been the culprit. About midnight my husband went out to double check that the door to the coop had been shut (it is open during the day to let the chickens roam a bit) and he found another bird in the coop. The coop with the shut door. Apparently, this bird had been in the coop since Sarah had shut the chickens in earlier in the evening. Since it was dark out she probably didn't even see it. Creepy! 

He was trapped in the coop and trying to get out.

Look at those claws! They are huge!

Look at him hanging like a bat! Doubly creepy! I was glad to let him out and to see him fly away. I hope he doesn't come back for any more chickens. Or even just to hang out again. 

It's that time of year again, the time to create gifts for Christmas. I have put together three kits that are perfect to make and give as a gift. Or, you could give the kit to someone as a gift too. They are only a click away at my Etsy shop.

Pendant Kit