Rainy Afternoon

Today is Saturday and it's raining outside.

I'm snuggled up next to a window
all comfy
with some sewing
tea
and watching a cooking show called Poh's Kitchen.

So good!

A few nights ago, I spent some time drawing fairies. You should have seen my boyfriend's face when I said 'I was drawing fairies while watching tv' (he gave me a are-you-really-27 look haha). Anyway, I have since transferred it to some calico and begun embroidering today. I am hoping to create something to help me with my goal to stay warm this winter.

Back to it. Yay :)

Oh, and next week a few friends and I are going to have a cookie bake off! I will be making our favourite chocolate chip cookies since a few colleagues have been hounding me for some for a few days now. But I just remembered about a savory cookie recipe I saw on Design*Sponge. Jalapeno and cheddar cookie! After all those sweet cookies (we'll be making peanut butter and 2 types of chocolate chip cookies), I reckon we might need something savory to balance things out :)

May they sing for you every day

My current project, a set of pillowcases embroidered with a cute design I found in 'A Rainbow of Stitches' (newly purchased from Amazon.com). Cute no? I hope the lady this present is for will think so.



As you probably have noticed, my books have arrived! And I LOVE them. Have been peeking at them every night before sleep and dreaming of possibilities. The next project, next present, is also a design from the 'Rainbow of Stitches', some plant stems to decorate another set of pillowcases. I think after that I might make myself a sweet little headband from the 'Embroidery Companion'.


Oh and I've bitten the bullet and finally bought myself a sewing machine. Simple and basic, but hopefully it will do everything I need (especially the projects from the I Love Patchwork book which I also bought on Amazon). Awaiting delivery :)

Tiny bit of crafting emerging

Christmas is approaching so fast, and while I'm still totally living up my new life here (more on that later), I am beginning some work on christmas presents. This year I would love to focus on personalising items with embroidery. I bought some books on amazon for inspiration and am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Embroidery Companion: Classic Designs for Modern Living. This book has some really gorgous designs which could be used to add just a touch of scandinavian charm to your favourite items. Usually I'm not that much of a fan of classical designs, but the ones in this book changed my mind, just a bit. I love a hint of colour and culture.

A Rainbow of Stitches. I love motifs and I love sewing them. For some reason, outlining something is relaxing after a day of work. I also think for people like my sister and friends, these designs would appeal to them more. I am looking forward to reading about how to design my own motifs and get better at sewing them (as usual with my crafting, I play with the medium on my own first then read about how it's actually done after, backwards I know).

Cant wait to get these books! On the other hand, I have nearly finished my first gift, a simple red tote with my own Dala Horse embroidered on the front. This Dala Horse is a bit different, slightly more animated than the traditional ;) I will post a photo when it's finished.

What's been keeping me busy atm? Lots of little things really, but most recently we had a massive launch party at work last night for the new department of our studio. Oktobor has existed for awhile but just yesterday they officially announced our department as Oktobor Animation, a studio partnership with Nickalodean! We met the people who started the successful tv animation giant, Nickalodean, and the people who created the Penguins of Madagascar series. Such big guns in the industry, but extremely nice and humble people. I feel really lucky to be here at this time.

Oh we also had Guy Fawkes Night a week ago, playing with fireworks for the first time. And my friend introduced Matt and I to a card game called 500, which has been extremely fun. So much to say though so maybe I'll get my act together and post more often. Talk soon!

Felted hearts and flower garlands

Nature Love Embroidered Felt Hearts

Anyway I recently reopened my Sodalight Creations etsy store and stocked it with some gorgeous felt hearts and fabric flower garlands, all made out of reclaimed craft supplies and bits and pieces laying about at home. Inspiration? Moving... My partner and I have decided to move back home and while packing I've discovered a bunch of things that are too good to throw away and a bit weird to donate (a tiny square of felt in an op shop? I dont think so). Here are a few things on sale. Snap them up :D

Luxury Flower Garland

Sweet Embroidered Heart Ornament

Oh and some of the felt hearts will include a FREE GIFT!! I found these really pretty mobile phone charms and rings. I thought I would share. One gift each participating item.

Sold!

Yay! I have buyers! Two buyers in fact (over the last week) Thank you so so much!

So, today I had a lot of fun packaging up the items. I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The idea came from DaydreamLily and her lovely hand drawn ziplock bags. I drew a sample of the design that was purchased (the seedling and hatchling designs), and I wrote a thank you note and etsy address on the back. So while it packages my work safely, keep it moist resistant, it also doubles as a business and thank you card. I hope my customers can reuse the bags and always have my details on hand. Very simple, but very me. I have a feeling the packaging design might evolve but for now I love them. What do you think?

Oh and another thing, I finished off my mother's birthday present. Isn't it cute?


The pattern came from the book Omiyage, from the project Marble Bag. It reminds me of a zoetrope (the cool spinning contraption with slots which, when you peer in, you can see a sequence of images that moves. The very beginning of animation). Anyway, this one looks like a cross between a tomato, berry and lolly haha. I hope my mum will like it :)

Lessons in colour

For some time now I've been wanting to sit down and deconstruct some pictures and their amazing colour palattes. I love colour, but I am the first to admit I am not so good at coming up with colour schemes on my own. So, inspired by the colour studies from blogs like The Inspired Bride, I have decided to download some prints I liked from blogs and select some colour combinations. I chose prints and already stylised images to start off with as the colours have pretty much been chosen already. I think this is a great study and hopefully I'll be able to work out what goes with what in the future.

Please click on the link to go directly to the post and find the original artist.

This one was found on decor8

A beautiful photograph from Susannah Tucker

And this one was found on Print & Pattern Blog

New Line!

Finally, I've listed my new line Crafting Movement at my shop Sodalight Creations. I've made several items, however at the last minute I've decided to list them as Made To Order items. Not only do I want my customers to have a bran new one with customizable feature (like change colours), but it also allows me to have a set to refer to. I can also use them and market them that way haha, plus I love them and want a set for myself. Please pop over to my shop to check out the bags. Will be listing more over the next couple of days.


One final thing, I was watching Martha Stewart today and she was featuring Bakerella, a cupcake maker, check out the really gorgeous looking cupcakes on her site. I really want to try this one.

Sick and now better.

I've had a huge two weeks. One week of absolutely nothing, I was struck down by glandular fever and I was not conscious for most of the week. It was not fun, couldn't swallow, couldn't eat, couldn't sew. Imagine my relief when I was able to pick up the needle and thread again a few days ago.

As for my sewing project, I've definitely made enough to open up shop and get it started. Time to photographs, list and package! Tonight I've made the decision to get everything ready to take some photos. I've got tonight and tomorrow until 4pm to work on this then I have to focus on my AM homework (oh and Matt's parents are coming this weekend which means even less time).

This project is turning out really good, cant wait to see what other people think.

Nearly ready

Well it's been another week and gosh it was busy, but a lot of fun. I've been wanting to sit down and put these ideas into action for ages and now... I've almost got enough to set up shop. My inventory now has

3 tea towels (1 each of Seedling, Hatchling and Leaping)
1 small bag (Seedling)
3 hankies (1 of each design)

In progress is a shoulder bag and 3 other bags.

So far I've been good and not fallen into the temptation of buying more supplies, even as I watch my embroidery thread supply deplete like crazy (or perhaps I just see it that way and it's actually ok). I'm also trying to hold off on the need to buy more bags and things to sew on. I really love the small bag I finished yesterday, and so I will definitely be getting more of those once I see how it performs on etsyland.

I have a small side project I wish to do after I'm done with my first batch. It will include items for those who like my design, but is not ready for a bag or tea towel yet. And it will allow me to be creative with the supplies I've got.

Well, back to it! Sew sew sew.... love.

Busy busy

Whoo, another week just flew by, but not without a flurry of activity in my little corner. Early on in the week I finished off my Crafting Movement hankie samples; Seedling, Hatchling and Leaping. I'm really pleased with all of them. So when my order of supplies arrived on Thursday (tea towels and bags to embroider on), I made a pledge to stop testing and start listing. Technically I'll still be testing these supplies, to see what works best before I order more, but I am definitely going to sell the ones that I'm happy with. So far I've made a tea towel each of Seedling and Hatching.

Embroidery

It's been aaaaages! But I've been busy busy and have settled into a crafting groove finally. And I must say it was a PLAN that saved me. Since I last wrote, I've made a plan with what I wanted to achieve and then a plan of attack. I'm following it and it's such a relief. I know what I'm doing now.

Another thing that saved me was a trip to the library. I needed some guidance to embroidery and painting (for Crafting Movement and Fabric Art projects respectively). I've dabbled in both in the past and so I know a bit about each, but to take it to the next stage I needed to do some tutorials. The books I've found will take me a long way. Let me brief you on what my projects are

Crafting Movement is a series of images embroidered onto usable items (tea towels, napkins, hankies, towels and eventually bags, hats and skirts). The images are a sequence of events, currently they are called:
Seedling, Hatchling, Pounce, Dance
Want I want to achieve? I want them to look really modern, none of that floral, cottage, blended coloured look (which I love btw, but not what I want here). Something that wont look out of place in a modern apartment like the one I'm living in now, which means bold, confident blocks of colour. I also want to learn how to embroider neatly so that it's not messy on the back.

Fabric Art is the project you've seen floating around this blog. A 3 dimensional picture made out of repurposed fabric. So far I've made one batch, 4 waiting to be framed and they're called:
Still Life, Attitude Derriere, Firebird and Solitude
What I want to achieve next? I would love to work on my painting skills. While my painting isn't bad, it's time to take it to the next level and give these pictures even more dimension.

My two projects. Love them both. Watch this space, seriously. haha

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Animation: ever heard of working something to death? I've never worked on an acting shot for so long! My acting shot for my animation mentor class was done over 5 weeks! So abnormal for me, a tv animator who would do it in about 2 days. What I was meant to learn in the class is to make this good enough for feature animation, and I didnt quite make it. I worked it to death, over polished it till it became mushy. Doh! Next term (next week), keep my focus and only fix what needs fixing! Oh and DON'T watch something while I work on it (bad habit of mine).

Progress Notes

Hello hello, just had a really wonderful lunch, Portuguese style kangaroo (like a hanging kebab). So tender and tasty. Anyway, now I'm in this sleepy comfortable state and I thought I'd blog while I wake up.

Creatively I'm at this funny stage where I want to do something crafty but don't really think I should. I need to spend some time planning and playing with layout, colour and design options. Do some research and exploration. I might have to restrict myself from actually doing any painting or Crafting Movement until I've got everything planned. Of course this doesn't include making tests and samples, but I've had enough of wasting paint so whatever prevents that.

Last night I implemented this idea and began cutting out magazine sections for colour swatches. I then stuck them into my notebook and mixed and matched the colours with my existing fabric art and the colours already painted onto it. I have a few ideas, though I might play around and see what else I can include, maybe think about adding depth or textures. I'll also have to think about refining the piece and make it look really neat even when you're up close.

Crafting Movement, really looking forward to exploring this. As I said notebook research first, then in April around easter, I can start making these items. I want bags, skirts, homeware, towels and linen. I want to play with stencil, embroidery, stamping and iron ons. Really excited, but I can't jump the gun and waste all the good materials I have on hand already. Perhaps I should stay away from buying stuff as well. Fun fun!

ps: I passed the framing shop and it says they'll be open again on March 22. So yup, on that day I will bring Attitude Derriere, Still Life, Solitude and Firebird and get them framed up nicely :D then off to Etsyland they go.

Tutes and decisions

Horse Silhouette bag :) By the New Handmade found on Etsy


Isn't this dress lovely? I love the freehand look of the spirals. You can find the tutorial on Etsy, referencing the work of Natalie Chanin who wrote the book Alabama Studio Style.

Argh, I really need to work on my eye for colour and painting. I tried to do some more painting yesterday and its going nowhere. I'm wasting a lot of time and a lot of paint. Matt keeps telling me to do some test paintings, regular painting on flat surfaces, and I think it's about time I listened to him. The reason I've been avoiding it is I have no idea what to paint. Perhaps I'll borrow out a book and do a tutorial, or do a still life.

Anyway, I have made a decision regarding Secret Project 2: Little Book for Dreamers... I am going to shelve it until further notice as I am way to excited to do Secret Project 3: Crafting Movement. While I am not going to do anything today in regards to it, I want to use the cat figures I cut out the other day and create iron ons for a bag I bought awhile ago from the thrift store. Today however, I am going to work on my animation homework. I was really disappointed with what I submitted last week and so I am going to give myself lots of time to get it right this week. I also have a LOT of lectures to catch up on.

Framed and finished

Yay, I just picked up my 'Early Morning' picture from the picture framing shop and it looks really good! I want it now... I kinda want to keep it in it's cellophane wrapping too (they wrap it in a piece of cellophane plastic to keep it protected). It's an interesting idea and maybe I'll package it that way when I do get around to selling it. I'm so happy about the outcome of the framing I'm going to see if I can get the rest of my pictures framed there as well (since they are not a regular A4 frame size). The frame is simple black and is flat and modern. While I don't want to up my price, I will have to charge an extra $45 on top of the picture price, which is quite a bit of money, but... totally worth it :)

Good and Bad

Good news is I've officially finished and spray sealed 5 of my pictures ready for framing. Bad news is to get the picture framed it would cost $45 and that's without glass and shadow box (which would be around $80-$100). So I will have to look for other ways to get my work framed (or have it prepped to be sent out). $45 for framing would mean I'll have to up my price to over $100 when I planned to have it around $50-$80 (with a $10 frame if they exist).

So while my 'Early Morning' picture is getting framed with the $45 frame, I have begun testing using the cheap frame I got awhile ago at Officeworks. The idea is not to sell cheap frames but to have it look presentable for etsy, and the customers can get it framed according to what suits their home. The backing board is workable and can be used instead of mdf, after it is prepped with glue. I played with new designs last night using my last mdf and the preframed backing board. The funny thing is it didn't actually work out the way I imagined but is still a pretty cool look. I was thinking of making a textured surface to stencil on some running horses, but as I pulled the fabric a horse head appeared and I loved it so much I just couldn't ruin it. So I am going to see if I can still stencil over it or just paint it to look like a horse head.

I've also decided to close this blog for personal use, an online diary for myself, just like my animation blog. I'll open a new one called Crafting Movement so I can share final product information and interesting finds with others. This one just has too many notes and blabber to be interesting for anyone else.

One last thing... my work with Little Book for Dreamers has come to a halt (not because I dont want to do it, but because I got distracted). There is a third project and it's very much about 'crafting movement'. Basically it's a series of 4 mini wall mountable figures in sequence. Like an egg hatching, cat running or flower growing... So a mini sequence of something happening. This was actually the idea that started this blog, but I had wanted to do something a bit too complicated before (like sewing it on bags and clothes). For now, and what I'll be doing when I go home today, is drawing my designs onto cardboard and paper mache-ing it to stand a little bit away from the wall. We'll see how it works out, updates coming soon :)

Cute

Isn't this plate from Ninainvorm so cute?? If I were a kid I'd love to eat breakfast off it. Since I'm an adult I'd love to put it on the shelf and admire it (or serve fruit and cheese around the cute colours). Love the bunting. This is her blog.

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Here is another great article about what should be included in a package when something is sold.

1. Branded Invoice
Don’t simply print a receipt from Etsy or Paypal. Instead, design a professional, branded invoice with your logo and fonts. Include details such as date, billing address, contents of the package sent and their price.

Bonus Points: When customers place an order on my retail site, they can check a box to indicate that the order is a gift. When they do this, we mail a gift invoice instead of a regular invoice. Our gift invoice does not include any pricing information and includes a note from the sender. Implement a similar feature on your website so gift recipients get a special invoice with their order.

2. Return Information
On your invoice, or someplace else in the package, you should reiterate your return policy and return instructions.

3. Contact Information
Provide customers a way to get in touch in case there is something wrong with the order. Include your website URL, your contact email address and, if possible, a customer service phone number.

4. Swag
Provide a little something extra that will surprise your customer, preferably something they will keep, like a pen or magnet, although samples may make sense too if you sell edibles, cosmetics or bath/body goods.
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Yesterday I got the rare motivation to work on my animation homework after work (usually I leave it till the weekend as I need a change from working in animation all day). The motivation sparked from the ideas I got from the Q&A class I had earlier that day. It's looking pretty cool and I hope to give it a few days and really hone in on it and make it perfect (for blocking that is).

I'm still getting new ideas daily and it's' getting a bit overwhelming. I want to make so many things (I jot the ideas down, but it's hard to sketch out exactly what I see in my mind's eye). I wish I could photograph the images I see in my head so I wont forget any details. Anyway, I havent decided what I'm going to do tonight, but I will go through and put some pictures up of the fabric pictures. One amazing this happened though, I think my Arabesque picture is evolving... I was pretty down when I added the black shadows to my dancer and I thought I ruined it. Tuesday it looked the same, black and yucky. But yesterday it feels like the shadows have blended with the fabric and it's working again. So so weird, was there some chemical reaction? or have I adjusted to it and am now seeing it differently? Anyway, I feel like that picture is done. It's hit on the Love level and I love looking at it. Approved. Hehe, I'm kinda excited about sharing this with the public... I'm scared of course, what if people think I'm crazy. But I would really love to see how people react to it.

A picture to finish the post off... Gorgeous costumes from last night's So You Think You Can Dance Australia. Love the colours in the dress especially

Design*Sponge

More awesome tutorials on Design*Sponge.

Notebook Lunchbag

Silhouette Tealights

Cool print transfers linen. I really really want to try this out, but I must stop buying new things and use up the felt and fabric interfacing first haha.

Felt Wall Mural

Oh and the Life Instyle show in Sydney which I saw via the red thread
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Progress report, I started on the Little Book for Dreamers last night, it's pretty fun putting all the elements together, but it's clear I need more photoshop skills.

I also decided to put all the Fabric Pictures I've done around the room and live in it for awhile. So far, I've decided that Early Morning, Still Life, Firebird and Solitude are done. The only other one is Arabesque, which needs a bit of a touchup. Oh, btw, the gold just makes me happy :) Might do it again tonight while I do either mentor homework or more LBFD...

I'm thinking it might be an idea to buy frames from IKEA in the future... These ones have 'wood based panels' for the backing and it might be just like the MDF I've been working with. And this one is extra deep for a shadowbox effect.

Time to move on...

Yesterday I did some painting but somehow it felt different, like I couldn't hold on to the excitement and inspiration I had the last couple of weeks. So I've decided to move on... leave the paintings for a few days (or weeks) and come back to it. It's really only 'Summers Day' and 'Water sleeves' that I'm having trouble with. I lay down one colour and I just cringe immediately, no idea why...

So today I'm going to jump on to Secret Project 2, which is Little Book for Dreamers... I did say I was going to reveal it one word at a time and I forgot about it about 2 weeks later oops, sorry. What is it? you'll see :) I've collected all the resources already so now it's a matter of putting it all together. Will give you some hints when I have something substantial to show.

oh and a little note to self: try doing some tiny ones, is that even possible?

Dreams

I'm dreaming about making skirts after seeing this tutorial by Amy Karol (from Angry Chicken). Actually I love the idea of sewing, I'd love to make some bags and pillows and skirts, but I don't own a sewing machine and the idea of sewing the whole thing by hand just puts me off. Oh well, I guess it's probably a good thing I dont own one just yet as I have way too many projects I wish to try already. I'll just keep on dreaming :)

Over the weekend I didn't get a chance to work on my Art as I was working on my Animation homework (and watch Avatar, which is awesome btw). I did make some nice discoveries on Friday, so I'll blog about that instead, tehehe, it is a craft blog after all...

After work we went to replenish my paint supply and I decided to try some metallic bronze paint. I didnt really know what I was going to do with it, it just looked pretty sitting there on the shelf in the shop. When I got home I tried it out, dry brushing it onto one of my Wip art (which I decided to call) 'Solitude' and it really surprised me! Such a simple glowing outline really gave the picture an atmospheric glow. The colour reminds me of Egyptian gold and the background felt even more quite and mysterious. I was tempted to do something with the extra space, like some bronze swirls or something but I decided against it when I looked at it from a distance. Simplicity and mystery is what this piece is all about. I love it, and it's fast becoming one of my favourites.

That's the thing I want to achieve, I want to feel a little bit of giddy happiness whenever I look at these pictures. Even though I plan to sell them, I still want to experience the feeling of ownership. Selling them would be like giving these pictures a stable home (instead of travelling along with a digital nomad like me).

I also tried the metallic paint on two other paintings. 'Firebird' which is the red figure on the black background, and 'Arabesque' which is the beautiful dancer with the mottle sunset background. The bronze metallic paint really worked on Firebird, and added the fire element. Firebird was the one I was unsure of as it had funny proportions and the black annoyed me. But after adding in the bronze/gold it looked beautiful, so I am going to deepen the black today and finish it off. The gold however didnt work as well on Arabesque which is kinda weird. I thought it would bring out the highlights in the skirt but for some reason it hid it instead. I'm still trying to work out what is wrong. Perhaps I should make the figure a darker shade to enhance the gold? Will have to try and work it out today.

Ooh, such a long post. Well those were my thoughts. I plan to finish painting ALL of my Art work today (I've already prepped 'Summers Day' which will be mostly white with colour peeping through, and then I'll work on 'Water sleeve' which needs a new colour scheme). Lots of work, but I need to get them done so I can start on Secret Project 2. Trying to get through my list of projects hehe. Photos will be uploaded soon.

Secret Project 1

A compilation of my Art! The three big ones are the finished ones, the smaller ones are work in progress. Anyway, more on that later, want to note something first.

So here are some interesting notes I saw in an etsy email about item descriptions. Because it is an online marketplace, your customers cannot touch or feel the items you are selling so it's important to have detailed descriptions (and photos). The online article can be found here, but I thought I'd post it below so I won't ever lose it. I wish you could 'heart' an article like you would an item.

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1. What is it? It may be totally obvious to you what the item is, but it might not be obvious to your customer.
2. What color is it? The color on your computer monitor may not be the same as mine.
3. How big is it? As a buyer I don't want to guess if that painting will fit over my fireplace or if those earrings are going to hang past my shoulders.
4. What is it made from? What materials and techniques are used?
5. How do I care for it? Can I wash and dry that wool sweater?
6. Who should buy it? or Who should NOT buy it? Is it appropriate for pregnant women? Children? Pets?
7. What is it used for? Is it decorative? Does it have a function? Both?
8. What does it feel like? Is that scarf soft to the touch? What's the texture like? Is that necklace very heavy?
9. How does it work? Does it slip over my head? Is there a clasp? Do I tie it around my waist?
10. Why is this one better than the one in the next shop? What special skills, materials, or ideas do you use that make your item the best?

11. Do I get everything in the picture? I see 12 items in your picture, do I get them all? Only one? Does that lovely bauble in the background come with it or is it just for display?
12. Will it fit me? When I shop in a brick and mortar shop I might try on 12 things and find only 1 that fits well. I am taking a BIG chance on buying clothes online. Please make it easier for me by offering extensive measurement and sizing information. Don't assume that your customer will know what you mean by "small" or "large."
13. What if it doesn't fit? Am I stuck with it? Will you exchange it? Who pays to ship it back?
14. Is it ready to use? Is that painting ready to hang? Do I need to frame it first?
15. How does it arrive? Is it gift wrapped? Is it ready to ship or is it made to order?
16. Will I get the EXACT item in the photo? Is it a stock photo or do I get the exact item?
17. Is it gonna stink? Does that vintage item have a funky, musty odor? Does the seller smoke while he creates that item?
18. How do I know it's "vintage"? What kind of research did you do to determine how old that item is? Is it marked? Is there a date on it? Are you experienced with vintage and antique items?
19. What do those fancy terms mean? Don't take for granted that your customer knows what a cabochon is or what giclee or gocco means.
20. Can I live without this item? Chances are your customer can easily live without your items. It's your job to SELL it to them. Let them know why owning this item is so wonderful. Are they going to feel like a princess with that lovely bracelet? Is that platter not only functional, but makes a wonderful work of art? Is that item the perfect gift for hard-to-buy-for people? Does the item evoke certain emotions? Tell us what's so great about it!

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I've finished off some Art pieces and I really love them. Perhaps I'll hang them up at home for a bit before I set them free on Etsy. I am still wondering if I should add some highlights on the dancer, but the two nature ones I am pretty happy about. Because these were my first, the edges of the picture needs a bit of a touch up, so I'm considering offering them framed. I've also laid out the background paint for the next batch, I'm looking forward to completing them this Sunday.