Apples of Gold

Well we did a lot of spring cleaning lately, trying to get real with my craft supplies. So I got rid of a bunch of wool, fabric, and recycled leather. Feels great. This was all stuff I'd like to do but won't get around to any time soon. This process is continuing, so vinyl crafting is on hold at the moment. It was also good for strengthening my "No" muscle, because many folks ask me for concessions when I sell things online. I've taken to adding "no holds, no deliveries, no partial orders, etc.," to my garage sale listings.

What I love about the iPad is that I'm able to work at it while lying down, no paints to mix, no craft area to move when it's time to make dinner. I wish I'd had the iPad when my kids were little -- whenever I had a sewing project or something I'd have to pack everything away so we could use the table and so that the toddlers wouldn't get injured on sewing supplies.

Recently I bought an app called iDough. It has a tricky learning curve, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. It is great for generating 3D objects that one can use in paintings. For a long time I've wanted to illustrate Proverbs 25:11. What brought it to mind was something my husband related to me from his work. How a difficult statement is able to be framed "just so," so that a harsh truth is communicated in a softened way. Now that I had something which makes 3D easier to render, it was time to tackle this subject.

Ammonites and Feathers

Artrage on iPad.

On Artrage, feathers are done with the oil brush. The ammonite was drawn with the ink brush, The undulating septa also with the ink brush but with a large percent of taper. I used the paint bucket fills with varying colours on the different chambers. I used a whitish airbrush to lighten the high parts and a darker airbrush for the lower parts of the shell to make it look 3D. and Lots of layers and experimenting with opacities and blending modes.

It basically started out as an experiment in spirals and then I wondered if I could make a composition out of it. I liked it enough to post it but I'm not sure if it's completely successful. But who cares, I feel like sharing it now. Thanks for viewing, comments appreciated!

I think making art on the iPad allows for a faster learning curve, because of the ability to work in layers, apply blending modes, transforming elements for different compositions, and the ability to back up when something isn't working. I wouldn't have physically painted 10 different studies but I can get the same kind of research done on the iPad. Cool.

iPad Greeting Cards

I'm going to give a set of these to one of my banner suppliers. My iPad paintings are here.

I also thought that I can use the painting tools on the iPad to visualize how a painting might look on a recycled vinyl banner background.

Custom Painted Vinyl Wallet

A client wanted an emerald green wallet with accordian card slots, a coin purse and a couple of card windows. We went back and forth a bit on the specific shade, referencing paint chip colors via EasyRGB so we were on the same page as to the color. The picture shows it with the coin compartment open.

I would like to try a marbling paint technique for my next wallet. It will have the ink-printed advertising on one side, and coordinating marbling on the outside. It would be so stunning that the money would never want to leave the wallet!

Inspiration for cut-work patterns

I went to the library today and sketched some patterns which might work for the cut work patterns I use on my soap totes. (Soap totes are like a hanging soap dish). These were from a book called "1000 Patterns," by Drusilla Cole. I drew them using Sketchbook Pro on the iPad.

Back in the Saddle

I had the pieces of this wallet sitting around for a long time. It has been a rough winter. I had thought my fatigue flares were a thing of the past, but my recovery is not proceeding according to my agenda. Feels great to be back in the workshop! This wallet is a warm-up for a custom wallet. I had to make one to remind myself of the order of operations in making this accordian-style organizer wallet.

Viking Shoes

Skymring posted a how-to video on instructables about making Viking shoes. I'm going to make a cut file based on this pattern and try it out with recycled vinyl tarps. She recommends thick leather but I want to see for myself how the tarp will behave. I know that the vinyl as a sole material will be super slippery (Viking curling sliders!). Perhaps I could used PlastiDip for the sole or glue on some recycled rubber inner tube.