Sunday, April 1, 2012

Here's the finished portrait done in pastels

This is finally done.  I've sat and looked at it as much as I can and I have added all that I feel I can to it.  I think she turned out quite nicely and I hope you agree.  Tell me what you think.  Should I continue with these pastels?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Here's what I've been up to lately.

Instead of blogging all the time, I have been playing in my sketchbook and working on a pastel profile.  Here is a glimpse of some of what I have been playing around with.  Nothing earth-shattering, just playful, fun sketches and pictures:






And here is a peek at the newest pastel I have been working on.  This is just the first layer, she will need more fine tuning still, but I really like her.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Let's have a home spa day

The holidays are over, thank God!  Time to relax and rejuvinate ourselves and our moods.  Nothing does that better than a home day spa!  Here are some videos to help you learn how to pamper yourself and relax.





Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012!!!!

Here's a clip from a movie that I think says everything you need to say.
Don't wait until you think you are about to die to live. Happy New Year. Make this the best year of your life!





Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Finally started drawing again!

I'm working my way through the book, The Artist's Way, and I feel that because of doing those morning pages, I have finally gotten to start drawing again.  Nothing spectacular or wonderful.  As a matter of fact, to complete the first one I had to use a grid system to get the spacing and sizing correct.  Here it is:

Then the next week I tried to draw without the grid and did not do so good, but I still like the picture.  I am planning to work some more and tweak parts of this picture and will show you again when I feel it is finished.  I liked this picture because the girl in it has the largest eyes I have ever seen on a person. 

I think her nose is too long and her jaw is too weak, so will be working on those issues.  Otherwise, I really think it looks like the girl in the picture I used to draw from.

More to come later!
Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, December 10, 2011

TUTORIAL ~ Make your own Ballet Slippers

Here is a wonderful tutorial for those of you who are looking for that perfect handmade gift to give to the girl who has everything.  This tutorial is so well put together that even if you don't sew, you can probably still figure out how to make a pair of these cute slippers.

I found this tutorial and many other wonderful items at Shabby Raggy Roses and I recommend that you check it out.  I absolutely love this slipper tutorial and hopefully will try to make me a pair after Christmas is over and life is back to normal.

If you do make these, please let  her know how they turned out by emailing her at: 
charjen1@optusnet.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ballet Slippers


Here's an easy way to make some really cute slippers! Hopefully my instructions will be easy to understand! There are other ways to make these, but this is probably the easiest way. Make any changes where you prefer.

I'm a size 7.5 ( My foot measures 24.5cms) so the pattern is to fit me - please adjust to fit.

First of all, download 'Slipper base' template & 'Slipper top' template. Print, this will be your template to cut your fabic. If your foot is larger, I would say adding the extra length of your measured foot to the tails of the slipper top and to the sole would make for a perfect fit.


I'm using a cute print form Moda's Wonderland Bloom! Along with Moda Essential Dots for the inside fabric.

You will need to cut:

Base ~ 4 from wadding, 2 from interfacing, 2 inside peices and 2 bottom peices - You may want to find some non slip fabric for this, or something a little more durable.

*Make sure you flip your template so you have a left & right foot peice!

Slipper top ~ 2 from you feature fabric, 2 from wadding, 2 from the medium interfacing & 2 from your inside fabric to match the base.



Once you have all your peices cut, assemble them as shown below -
Base: Bottom peice, Interfacing, 2x wadding peices (for extra padding) and then your inside peice.

Slipper top needs to assembled - wadding peice, Inside peice (facing up) and the feature peice (facing down) so fabric is right sides together, then interfacing on top.




Once you have pinned them, stitch around each base holding all 5 layers together

Then sew around the inner curve of your top peice


Unpin the top peices, and you will need to pull the top fabric around to the other side ~ wiggle and press till nice and flat.





Topstitch around the inner curve...


Pin the tails of the top peice with feature fabric (top fabric) right sides together, sew along the edge securely - here I've added a binding to hide the edge or you can leave it raw.



Pin the top section to your base with your feature fabric and outside of bottom peice to the inside.

Carefully sew around the outside edge ensuring you're sewing through all layers really well, overlock or zig zag around the edge too.





Turn inside out - and you have a lovely pair of Ballet Slippers

Now embellish! These ones got a little bow on each side.


These got some cute crochet lace...



Again some crochet lace with some little buttons!


And finally some pink Ric Rac! Yo-yo's would be a great idea too!



Well I hope that was easy enough to understand - a bit confusing when I read back through it afterwards, but I tried.

I'd love to hear your feedback, and see pic's of finished slippers! Please feel free to email me at charjen1@optusnet.com.au if you need any further info.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Why Are Orcas Attacking Boats?

Recently I have been reading articles and news about Orcas attacking boats and causing quite a bit of anxiety.  Since these whales hunt in p...