Saturday, January 31, 2009

Welcome home, Nikon D40...I've been waiting for you!

I finally bit the bullet and bought a new camera!!! A beautiful Nikon D40 digital SLR camera that is going to aid in my quest to become a better photographer.  I have been wading through the manuel, trying to understand the camera jargon, and testing out my new prized possession.
The camera is amazing! I am still in need of a tripod, which I think will be the key to my success. ( might go pick one up tomorrow)
I hope you have a great weekend! Stay tuned for my next Illustration Friday drawing- posted on Monday and the opening of the Etsy shop...close!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Daily drawing


One of my favorite daily drawings yet... I think that I might work more on this drawing at a larger scale? She was fun to draw and decorate.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Illustration Friday- Climbing

Have you heard of Illustration Friday? It is a creative outlet for anyone to post an illustration inspired by their weekly topic. This is my first time participating and this week's topic is "climbing". I want to really use the idea of the random topic and draw the first thing that comes to mind...I think that will make it truly a creative exercise, rather than just one more thing I am trying to accomplish.  If you are interested in seeing what other artists have drawn on the subject, click on the link. Participants can use any medium to illustrate and it is really interesting to see all the different ideas that one word can spark!
Oh... and my illustration is about a stone's difficult journey to the top of the rock pile. (I said that I was going to draw the first thing that I thought of!)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Etsy shop...teaser :)

Hello...I am sure that you all are waiting with baited breath for the grand opening of my etsy shop... haha! (I am thinking the end of the month) I designed this header for the shop and wanted to share it with you!
What do you think?

Friday, January 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!




My beautiful and wonderful mother is celebrating her birthday today and thank goodness! I have been desperate to show you the present that I made for her... a happy little winter bird in a tiny vintage frame. 
I started with the tiny frame (I had picked a few up at a thrift store- at 40 cents, they seemed to good to pass up) and the sketch.  My mom has a great collection of bird figurines from special places that she has visited, which was the initial inspiration. I have been feeling the need to embroider for awhile, and I thought that the embroidery and applique would be more special than 2d drawing. 
I use iron-on stabilizer for the bird's body, tail, and wing and used a blanket stitch to applique them onto a natural silk ground. I stuffed the bird's body with a tiny bit of felt to make him a bit fatter. Then I added a beaded branch for him to stand on and a little stitched heart so my Mom knows that I love her! I used the patterned fabric (a freebie from the lobby of my apartment-SCORE) to back it and used dark blue velvet ribbon so she can hang it anywhere.
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!


Monday, January 12, 2009

the absolute LUXURY! the love...


I want you to see the love of my life! If you know me at all, you know that I have an absolute weakness in the knees at the sight of a really beautiful opal- or a faux-pal (this is MY term-BTW) The large necklace is perhaps and most likely the BEST six dollars that I have ever spent in my life! It is my favorite necklace- really, it GLOWs! I get compliments every time that I wear it...
So, getting to the point, I have recently discovered the value of Etsy (not for the amazing handmade everything), but for the SUPPLIES!
I have been going absolutely mad in Minnesota by the lack of quality (cheap!) antique stores that can provide me with the glory that I am used to...Savannah,GA was the spot for finding reasonably priced treasures!
Etsy has provided me with the treasures- vintage loveliness that will inspire me to create new jewelry.  I used to find all sorts of broken bits of jewelry that were begging for a new life!  I miss the thrill of the hunt, but online hunt is better than no hunt at all!
Now- I am the proud owner of 5 beeeeeeautiful faux-pals in a few different sizes and will be making something absolutely fantastic with them to share with you!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

how to take photos of tiny shiny things...


Here are a couple of the photos that I have taken for the Etsy shop! I built the light box, and it seems to help- but getting great detail shots of tiny shiny things tends to be really difficult for me! I am using a vintage milk glass cake stand to hold the earrings and to make the photos a bit more interesting. (I actually use the stand as my everyday earring holder-works great!)
I am still averaging about 5 terrible photos to every 1 decent photo, but maybe practice will make perfect.

Friday, January 9, 2009

daily drawing

Happy friday! This weekend, I will be working on creating a lightbox, from a DIY that I found here. It doesn't sound too technically difficult, so hopefully it will get me on my way to better photographs for the blog and for the up and coming Etsy shop! I have been researching photo styling ideas as well, so I will be testing a few out with the new light box.
Also, I have a special someone's birthday coming up next week (that's you Mom!) so I am working on a top secret project for her this weekend as well. I will be taking pictures in progress to show you after the big day!
Have a fantastic weekend!
xoxo

Thursday, January 8, 2009

daily drawing

I felt like hiding the other day....

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Tweet!


Do you ever feel like this? When you just want to stand on a box and shout... I don't think that my bird is mad...just excited and ready to be heard.
 I had doodled the main element of this page a really long time ago and found it when I was cleaning my desk. I knew I would need it someday!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Daily drawing

I was feeling red.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Years

Happy New Year! (a few days late...) I wanted to share my resolutions with you as well as get them written down so I can't back out! The image above is an illustration that began as a collage of totally random images and drawings. I really loved how it all came together, so I re-interpreted it in pen and ink. I had planned on finishing it with digital color and sharing it with you.....about four months ago! Which leads me to my first resolution:

*to finish what I start and focus on one thing at a time*
 (remember my design ADD?) I am interested in so many different things, which I think is good- but does it hold me back from being really brilliant at my true calling? (haven't nailed down the true calling yet either...)

*to become a better photographer* 
The styling and the shooting to truly showcase my work. Sooooooo important for selling work online- which leads me to my next resolution-

*to open a new Etsy shop*
 I am planning on using my stock from Finch's Holiday Boutique to develop a focused and curated Etsy shop. I really want to begin selling online and to create this shop as a true reflection of myself and my point of view. The shop's name? "a paper bag of pearls", of course!
I want to focus on the details and make it work!

*continue blogging and not let stress at work take over my life*

*exercise more and show my love to my family* 
That is all! Phew!  I hope that I didn't bore you...and I hope to follow through with these thoughts and goals. Happy 2009!