WIP, has to come to an end.

This piece has had a long life just put away.

I have decided to finish such old ones this year, and this is the first one. I have to say, I've learnt a lot since the beginning of this, and now I do see many things not as good as I first thought.

I have been reading much about composition since then, and I wish I'd done it a bit different.
Here is where it all started, 

I need to change almost everything in it, it all seem so flat. But building depth is possible, and I'll try to get it done. Below you see the one face done. I like it much better. This piece measures 70 by 70 cm, so there's a lot of work to do.

Now, this face need to be sculptured, can you see how flat it is?

Here they are, both faces done. To do this work, I'm using my inktense watercolor pencils. Working on top of fabric and wetting it, it's very risky so I have to be careful.

Below is a photo of it all. I've just started working on some of the houses. I am excited to see what can be done and if it's worth the effort. As for the composition, it's too symmetric and too centered. I do believe though, that by adding more contrasts it may look different.

I'll link this to Paint Party Friday, so happy PPF everyone.

Oh, and it's my 58 birthday today so I'm going to have a good day and finally start my new year as well.

Something new.

 

I bought myself a new cell phone yesterday.

 

That means alot of work to figure out how to use it and how everything works, and if I dislike anything, that's it. So to cheer myself up a bit I sat down today and made some bags to carry it in, and that's a whole different cup of tea. I love making such small things, and I love all the colors too. I asked handyman what he thought about them and all he said was: hmf...... Too much color for him.

 

 

 

I think I'll make one or two more, always fun to have something to choose from. We've had such a cold day here today so staying indoors making something fun was just the right thing for me.

 

I hope you are having a fun day too!

How do you feel about selling your art?

 

I knew from the beginning this one would be great.

The new doll I made is so cute I will have trouble selling her. I've often heard that painters have trouble selling their paintings and I never understood it. Now I know the feeling. It's almost like selling a part of myself. But, I can't keep them all. The first one I made I have to keep because I don't remember how well I secured every bit and part. The other ones are very well made so I'm sure they hold high standards.

Yesterday I had so much fun photographing the dolls, I must have hundreds of photos. I would really love to be able to make a little movie with them acting. Wouldn't that be fun?

I'll show you three photos and add some text I imagine they are saying. Here we go.

Viva, standing on the floor, says :

 Oh, are you my new sister?

No name yet, saying:

I'm sad, I wish I had long white hair too!

The two on the floor :

Don't be sad. You're special too, now you're the one sitting in the chair.

I'm laughing, can you tell I'm having fun? Handyman is laughing too when I show him all the fun photos.
The other day I was looking through my stash and found a shawl I made way back. That shawl had fringes of the "white hair" yarn. I had forgotten all about it and was more than happy to find it. The new doll got similar hair as Viva but it's mixed with another one too.

The new one has shoes and handcuffs and I sewed some small goldbeads onto them. I know I shouldn't have but couldn't resist. They are well secured but I'll have to tell the buyer to check on it every now and then. When it comes to the short haired one, I'm very tempted to replace her hair. But I have decide to jazz up her clothes a bit and see if that will do.

Just for fun I've noticed their "birthdays" so I'm planning on making them birth-certificates. That way a new owner will know their birthdays. If the buyers will let me know their adresses I was thinking of sending a birthdaycard for each doll and perhaps a little surprise too.

As you understand I've had a good weekend, I hope yours were good too.

Right now......

 

Since I'm out of ordinary work, I'm concidering to start as a shoemaker.

But I love my present customers, they are greatful for whatever I make. They don't speak and have no wishes. I bet you've guessed what I'm talking about. Doll shoes. The red pair in front are made in fabric, I intend to make a pair in shiny offwhite too ( balerina shoes) I have this white leather to use as soles.

 I've had some difficulties to find buttons for the eyes, but yesterday I found some that I believe can work well. So today I'm going to make another doll. I found some other stuff too, and now I have great plans of what to  make. Isn't that strange, each time I visit a store of this kind I could have baught half the store!

 But, I have too much in my stash to buy much. Some small details are ok though. See the little bird buttons? They're so cute I couldn't leave them behind.
Now, I'll have to start the new doll so this is it for today. Best wishes for all of you.

A little something

 

I made a little something for Sandra today.

Tomorrow is her big day ( and all the others too) which marks the end of her 4H project this year. The Autumn exhibition. It has been very nice to be able to help her and to watch her growth with the different tasks. I want to mark the end by giving her something I know she likes and that she can use whenever she wants. ( art related)
I wrapped it up and then painted on it. Not the smartest way of doing it but, too late to think of that now.

I also made this carrierbag for her. They always need something to carry things in so I thought it was a good idea. Untill I noticed the photo. Do you see it's in reverse?
First thing I thought was to make another one but I think it's good for Sandra to see that I make mistakes too. She always says that I don't make any mistakes and always compare to that. Now there's a proof.

I'll share with you her big day. I'm so excited for her and can't wait to see it all.

Now I'm off to make some dinner for Handyman. Have a nice evening.

Quite pleased

 

I didn't reach my goal for the week.

 

I made the coat but the balerina outfit has to wait. I'm not as pleased as I want to be with the tomboy doll. To make her a bit more girly I made her a dress and a west, and the coat. I had much fun making the coat, using all my dressmaker skills. I doubt it will make a differens but I hope that the child who is going to play with this doll will learn something about quality and how things should be made.

It looks like there is a stain on the coat but there isn't. I dwelt a long time before making the pockets, after all they won't be needed but then again they do belong there.

It's quite fun when she holds her hands in the pockets. I know it's not a good habit but.........
She had to get some boots too. A hat of some kind is a must so I'll have to figure out some ideas.

Here she didn't bother to close the coat. Doesn't she look fun? I have to smile when seeing her. Yesterday Sandra and I went on a research for what to use for hair on future dolls. I found some good replacements for the white hair I used on Viva. Viva's hair is so soft that it bows down even when I put it in high standing pigtails.

I did manage to make some mittens too, of course she needs to have mittens during winter. I didn't make the thumb though, that would have been almost impossible to make and even more difficult to use. Her west was ment to be a jacket but sleeves over sleeves isn't that smart, I think, so it became a west instead. Her dress is made of  40 year old bedlinen. I remember my Grandma had some similar to this. By the way her coat is made from the finest wool fabric. I had a suit jacket made in The US back in the 1930's, some time ago I threw it away but kept the back piece because it was such a nice fabric.

I'm excited to see if they will sell. Will people see the differens and does it matter? Time will show.

I hope you've had a good time too.

I certainly need to get used to this one.

I hvae to admit that I didn't use my brains when I made her hair. She started out with quite long hair but I had to cut it inot what you see in the photo below. Can you see there is far too much hair? I shouldn't have sewn two strands at the time, one would be enough with this yarn.
I did paint her face using watercolors just to bring her a bit more to life. She is still wet in this photo.

I did it quick and without bad feelings, but I have a hard time getting to know her. This one is not much girly, more like a tomboy in fact. I just have to find her personality and make her some clothes that fits.

She needs color other than white and a much more clear expression. That's my challenge right now. Today I'm having a friend over so it won't be much doll working.
Otherwise it seems we are going to have a sunny day today, much rain lately so a sunny day will brighten up a bit.

We wish you a nice weekend!

Just a quick hello to wish you all a nice weekend.

Viva and I have had such a lovely week, but now we have to break untill next week. I'm beeing busy the whole weekend. Next week I'll make a winter coat and a balerina outfit for her. At my workdesk right now are a pair of summer shoes made in fabric (stretchy) It will cost me alot more work than I thought of from the beginning. They will be part of the red dress outfit.

Below is a photo showing the aprondress from the backside. In fact I had to make her a new aprondress, the first one was a bit too wide. This new one fits much better.

The aprondress outfit almost done. I'm thinking of making a couple of ribbons, so that she can wear pigtails once in awhile. The blue shoes are made of cotton yarn, the soles are made of wool though. Summershoes I think.

Viva says: SEE YA!!

I'm going to party all weekend. Tomorrow night a huge birthday party and Sunday guests of my own.
Untill next week.

BE WELL!!

Little by little she get dressed.

We're doing well.

I'm still making clothes for the ragdoll. What you can't see below is a hairband I made from the same fabric as the dress. This is the test-dress I talked about in my former post. I lined the dress with a very smooth fabric so it will be easy to put on. In the back the dress is closed with a hook and eye. The opening goes 10 cm down the back.

In between the photoshoots she gets a little shy again. Look at her movement here, I couldn't  resist making another shot. This pose was an accident ( or coincidence) I didn't plan it. One of these golden moments.

Last photo shows something ment to be an apron for the test-dress, but turned out to be a dress of it's own. I really like her with this one, and I could make her a blouse in what color I want. As you see I knit her a pair of socks too. Better wear socks than shoes indoors. Her pose here was planned, I helped her to hold the arm up high. ( a needle in the sofa)  By the way, her hight is 40 cm's with exception of the high hair.

Perhaps a little too much white, but still I like it. Her hair is held in a ponytail on top of her head. It can hang free or in pigtails. I think she needs the hight of it as it is now.
I'm not sure I can sell this particular one so I'm planning on doing another one for that purpose.

Have a beautiful day wherever you are!

New cover for my journal.

Hello!

Today I've been making a cover for my art journal. I was so inspired after last night in the club. We always have such a good time and usually get inspired from one another. When I sat down with the machine today I was not thinking of doing this cover, but at a certain point I saw that this could do as a cover and my mind was set.

All the fabric was chosen quite randomly, as a matter of fact I used what catched my eyes and they are all leftovers. It's all done using the sewingmachine except the last seam which was hand sewn. It's visible at the second photo. The photo below shows the front cover.


The back cover holds the hand sewn seam. It was quick done and my journal feels good to touch and suddenly became more personal. This was really fun to do and the leftovers came to good use.


I'm very surprised what my journal mean to me, how it influences me. I would never have thought that when I first started. But at the same time it has become clear to me that I have to do different things, a bit of this and that. That's what it takes to do my best, or perhaps to feel the most inspired. I'm so greatful that Hanna inspired me to give it a try.

How did you get started?

Wish you all the best!

My new studio.

Helloooo folks, I'm still alive.

I won't mention the last days happenings other than to say it's terrible. We're all in shock and we all feel the terrible loss of almost 90 youths and 10 adults. It's surreal. Well enough of that I thought I would show you my new studio. It's a tiny room with windows towards the garden.
Since we (my husband and I) are collectors you can see my royal plates hanging on the wall. There's one missing and that's Queen Maud. That one is very rare and difficult to get hold of. The lower left shows our present King Harald.



I just can't wait to start using my new place but we are doing a really big decluttering job here right now. I recon we're done tomorrow if nothing happens in the meantime.
The wedding gift I talked about in an earlier post have to wait a bit but I got a coushion done. What do you think? Could this one be part of a gift?



That's all for now, I just wanted to say hello ant that we're allright.
Wish you all the best.

It's just sewing these days.

My fabric piles are decreasing.

I've really been using fabrics lately. The sewingmachine is in use all the time. And I'm enjoying it too. I haven't decide wether to start my own online shop but right now I don't think it's time. Better be in August since July is summer holiday time here.
This dress I made using some delicate cotton fabric. The pink decor is easy to remove if that's wanted. The size is 4 to 6 years I believe. Several of the girls in my family could use this one, if I decide not opening a shop.



I'm still practising drawing faces but I don't feel I get the grip of it. Won't stopp though. Well, the drawing isn't that bad but I feel it's difficult colouring it. I'm playing a bit with some stamps too and that's fun. I'll post some of it soon.

Have a nice week everyone.

Me and my sewingmachine.

Just a little tablecloth.

I came across a blog called Spirit Cloth and was so inspired that I late one evening sat down by my sewingmachine and made a test sampler. The next day (in daylight) I liked what I saw and decided to make some more. If I at that point had known that this should end up as a little tablecloth I would have made it on one piece of fabric. But I didn't. I thought of making a pillowcase but then again everything I test seem to end up as pillowcases. Why not a tablecloth I thought.



When I should photograph this I had to lay it on the floor and there was this mirror near by. This weekend I had to help someone to adjust the lenght of a galadress, that's why the mirror was placed there.
Well, when I noticed it I saw that my cloth could have been nice if I dubbled the lenght too.



Today it's raining here and they forecast rain the whole week. Just as I started to get used to summer temperatures.
Wish you all the best and I hope you have better weather than we have right now.

Me and my sewingmachine and a bit more.

Today was sewingday.

Today I spent my day sewing some mug mats. I'm really in for doing things as simple as possible and these were easy to make.
Since most of my daily used mugs are blue I chose to make blueish mats. The first ones I made I wanted to be as simple as possible but still have a little decor on them.

This is how I did it. I started to decide the size of the circles and cut them out in felt (felt with glue on one side) then I ironed the feltcircles onto the fabric and cut it even. I used a very close zig-zag seam to bind it all together.

I have this fancy machine that can embroider so I chose to make a circle of flowers/stars. When studying the result I felt somthing was missing so I added a handsewn row of red stitches. Simple and easy.

Here you can see them and below a close up.






I have had this fabric for a long time and today it came to use. I wanted to make some squared ones too and this design suited well for my plan.
I made them the same way as the first ones but when the zig-zag was done I sewed a stright seam using long stitches right inside the zig-zag. Then I found my hook and crocheted a little edge. I didn't want something lacey so it's single crochet only.
( US double crochet)





I like the way they turned out both of them even they are quite different.

Wish you all the best.

Making teddy bears.

Time to start bloging again. I've had a long and busy summer and have not payed my blog any attention for a long time now.
I've been doing different forms of crafting and my latest project is making my own teddy bears. The first one is ready and during making it I learned a lot of things. Now I'm making another one. It's very cool to make them and fun to make some clothes for them too. This next one will be totally hand sewn and I can't wait to see him/her.
My first one turned out to be miss. Hamre and she is a cute little girl.
I am thinking of making her a suitcase and fill it with clothes. ( not sure though)
Several days later I've finished off the next one and see that I have to change the pattern a bit. This one is 50% bigger than the first one and there is something to change I can see. I'll show you some pictures.
The white is the smallest one and the very first I made.


This is Miss Hamre.


This is the second one and he has no name yet.



Both of them together to show you the size differens. Miss Hamre is 20 centimeters high and the other one is 30.

Another creative day.

I've made these two so called "one piece" today and they were quite a challange. Easy enough to sew, but they shall be too large to the children. I'm most used to sew clothes that fits.
To the small one I made a waistband so that the poor girl will be able to walk when using it. The other girl is older and can better take care when using it. But, this is the way they are ment to be. I do not understand why but thats not important. Perhaps that shows my age better than anything else, snort.
I hope the girls will be happy though.

A carrier bag for a german friend.

I've spent the day making a carrier bag for a german friend who is visiting us these days. It is quite time consuming to sew one like this, but it's worth it. The bag is nice and proper done. Inside there is a pocket with a zipper and one for the cell phone. I also made a chain with a carbine hook to fasten the key in.
I have one of those myself and they are very practical.



As you can see at the pictures there is a big pocket on either side of the bag. Since they are outside the bag I have chosen to make a loop and use a button to lock them up.
I use mine when shoping, for hand luggage when traveling and when going to work.



They are easy to make but as I said time flies when making them.
Have a nice weekend.