Mothering Sunday sketch

What a nice way to end this weeks sketchbook task... my first ever Mothers Day! It has been a wonderful day with James and little man. Little man was far too generous with his gifting, as I would have been happy with just a box of chocolates, so feel very spoilt and was treated to a superb chicken roast dinner cooked by my lovely husband. All in all I feel very lucky indeed x

Saturday sketch

Yummy yummy bun for my tummy!

Friday sketchbook

I didn't quite get around to doing anything in my sketchbook yesterday, what with one thing and another. A big fail for my challenge, but never mind. This is todays little entry.

P.S. I'm not actually obsessed with feet...

Handprinted: a fabric swap III - finished samples

I have done a few more samples for the print swap, from which I must now choose one to continue with. I could go on experimenting with colours and slight variations, but I want to get this done so I can send it off. I like the bird made of the orange crosses the most. Not so happy now with the bottom 2 samples, they look a bit simple. Anyway, better get a move on as this needs to go all the way to Australia!

Wednesday sketches

Day three of my sketchbook journal! I'm not sure how I feel about the self portrait. Looking a bit masculine there, but then maybe I do look a bit masculine... I was concentrating in front of the mirror, so my face was pretty serious at the time. Lots of things that I would change, but that's not the point of this excercise. I just have to do it and put it out there, although I do think it looks better if I chop the bottom off and flip it (I have drawn myself back to front)

Bluebird sweater - vintage knitting pattern

I promised to add free knitting patterns to my blog every now and then, but I now realise that it's been a while... I have this lovely pattern for a vintage cardigan/jacket in my folder that I found on an Australian blog, which is written by (and I quote)

"A vintage obsessed, rockabilly queer-Femme living in Sydney Australia. I hoard vintage knitting and sewing patterns, and shoes."

She has been very generous and uploaded so many great knitting patterns as well as given links to her flicker account where you can find some 1930's vintage knitting booklets. Really worth a visit, so go and take a look here.

Picture pricking

Following on from my earlier sketchbook post, I have reproduced the picture of my feet as a pricked out picture using a sharp point and some card. A bit of background as to how I thought of doing this.. For my 30th birthday my Dad presented me with an old technical ink pen. I have used this loads, but have never really examined it like I did the other day. I was just playing and found that the nib that carries the ink unscrews to reveal a seperate tool with a sharp pin like end. I've no idea what this is for, but I have used it to prick my picture onto a piece of card like you would do if you were going to make some pillow lace. Having just finished, I'm now not sure if I should have made the releif side the right side, as the design is a bit more prominent on the raised bits.

I photocopied my original drawing and placed on the card with some craft foam underneath, all of which was placed on a cutting mat

A close up of the pricking tool I was using

The completed picture

Detail

Reverse of pricked area

The back of the photocopy after pricking

Detail

Up against the light you can really see the detail

Sketchbook journal - Tuesday

So far, so good. I have managed to keep up my sketchbook journal 2 days running. Today I was inspired by feet. It's not hard to see why when I spend most of my time sitting on the floor playing with Evan. He wins hands down with foot appeal, much nicer than my old clodhoppers! x

Space tourism postcard idea

Well, all this talk recently of space tourism has got me to thinking. Why not design a postcard to send back from your space holiday? As the Russians seem to be pioneering this idea I thought I would turn to 1960's Russian artwork for inspiration. If I had Illustrator or Photoshop then I would neaten it up a bit, but alas I do not. Way out of my reach for the time being, so to the humble pen and ink...

Sketch book journal

In a bid to encourage myself to draw more, I am going to be doing a sketch book journal every day this week. I am starting with a 1 week target with the aim of making it a regular thing, but we'll see. The point is to create snappy observational sketches that do not take up too much of my time. I hope I can last the week!

Watercolours and Mollie Makes Liberty fabric

I was looking through my box of paper the other day and found a little pile of watercolour paper that must have been hanging around for some time. In fact there was some attempt at a fashion illustration on one piece, so it is definitely from my university days. I thought I may as well put it to good use, so spent the weekend trying to think of some pictures I may like to paint. On a seperate note, I subscribed to Mollie Makes a few weeks ago and received the free Liberty fabric samples, which I used as inspiration for the background of one of my pictures.

I scanned this image of a street in Barcelona before colouring it in as I am happy with both versions. This was from an original sketch I did when I was there several years ago (as if you can't tell)

I started out making a paper breakfast, but decided to repeat this in watercolour (unfortunately didn't get to eat this for real!). I think I will make some stamps of these simple shapes for a new print idea.

New Folksy shop

I have bitten the bullet and set up a mini shop on Folksy. I have kept it rather small to start with, but plan to add more as and when I create something I deem worth selling. It's a bit nerve racking, but also very exciting. Just hope that someone sees and likes my wares. Eeek!

Lacy stripe sleeve - vintage knitting pattern

This is a gorgeous knitting pattern. I have yet to try this, but it has been with me for some time. Not very many iustructions, but I'm sure it's all there!

Pen and ink it

This weekend, whilst trying out some different ideas with stamps and getting very messy, I decided to do a few pen and ink drawings to ease my frustration. Little can go worng with pen on paper in comparison. I'm certainly no michelangelo, but I think there is a certain charm to what I've produced. Anway, below are the results...

 

Owl mittens - knitting pattern

Right, so I have designed a knitting pattern to follow. I don't know if I have done a very good job, as I have not followed it myself. I just tend to follow the colourful knitting charts that I draw out as it's easier. If anyone fancies having a go then please do let me know if it reads ok or if you need any help!

Vintage knitting - fishy jumper

Check out this superb vintage knitting pattern. If you don't already knit, I'm sure that this will give you the push that you need...