Saturday, November 19, 2011

So I haven't been doing a very good job keeping up with the blog as you can see, but I have been working on redecorating my apartment still. The first project was cutting bird silhouettes for one of the wall in the living room. I went to Jo-ann fabric and bought a few items for the project. So I got some black and white card stock paper, cork tiles, and a glue stick. This project is actually really simple, but very time consuming. First I had to find some bird silhouettes online, made them various sizes, printed them out, and then cut out each individual silhouette. Than I traced them onto the card stocks, cut that out, traced it onto the cork tiles, cut that out, glued the card stock and cork tiles together. Finally, I put the mounting tape on the back of all the silhouettes and than onto the wall! Sounds like a lot, but it's not that bad and it kind of fun if you're into that kind of stuff. Some of you might think why didn't I just buy decals right? Well, decals are very expensive for the amount you get! I think I spent only like $10.00 for everything to make the project. To me it was a better deal than just buying decals plus I get to choose what the birds would look like and what size they will be! I forgot to take a before picture of the wall, but it was just a plain white wall with the black shelves and the picture frames. Here are a few pictures of the wall. The cute little boy in the picture frame is my super adorable nephew!

I am still crocheting like crazy! I finished all the hats and scarves for the kids at the daycare, but I have been working on stuff for my co-workers and some staffs at my work place. So far I have made a pair of slippers for a co-worker, two hats for staffs, and two headbands. Right now I'm working on two more hats for a staff and a co-worker. I forgot to take pictures of the hats, slippers, and headband so I don't have pictures to show you guys, but I'll take pictures of the two new hats I'm working on right now once it's finish!

A new update! I got a new job that is full-time so this next week will be my last week at the daycare. Sad face!!!! It's going to be extremely hard to say good bye to all those cute faces! But that also means that I won't have as much time to work on craft projects plus I will be working longer hours so I will be more tired too. But we will see, hopefully everything will be okay and I will have enough time to update all of you guys on my projects!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Projects

I know in my last post I said I was going to work on a project everyday...well it has been going good so far, but the redecorating project is put on hold for right now. I need to get paint to paint the walls and I haven't had time to go buy it yet. Plus I need to get the paint approved by the building manager. I guess there is only a certain kind that you can get and I'm not sure which one is at the moment, either way the project is put on hold maybe this weekend I can start on it again.

However, since my redecorating project is put on hold I have been working on art work I have a new drawing...and yes another peacock drawing. I don't know what it is about peacocks, but I love to draw the creature! I think it has something to do with the repetitive pattern of the feather. It doesn't matter how many ways I draw the peacock or the pattern of the peacock, they are all the same and yet different at the same time... plus they are just beautiful to look at.

On another note I have been working like crazy to get the hats and scarves for the kids done. I just found out on Thursday that I got a new job! Yay!!!! It only took me about a year to get a full-time job. Anyways, since I won't be at the daycare too much longer I have to finish these hats and scarves even sooner than I thought. I have about two weeks to finish everything, but I should be able to get it done because I only have two more scarves left to finish. Yes, two left I have been crocheting like crazy. I think my hands are permanently stuck in the position they are when I hold the needles! I really hope they work out for the kids at the daycare! I going to miss everyone so much. It's crazy to think that I'm so attach to these kids when they're not even mine or related to me! It makes me so sad to think that they are all going to grow up and they won't have any memories of me because they are all still so young. I wish there was a way I could stay connected with the parents. Oh well, can't stay there forever, I need to take care of me and my family first and if that means working a different job so I can pay the bills, that's what I will have to do.

On a happier note, I can't wait for Thanksgiving. I haven't seen my mom and sister and my little nephew since my wedding which was in August so it's been awhile, and I miss them and can't wait to see them again. I can't wait to go shopping with my mom...I hope she buys me lots of things considering she didn't get me a wedding gift! My sister and I talked today and I think we're going to wake up super early this year and go find some good deals. By the way, does anyone know how you can find out where all the good deals are? But most of all I can't wait for all the good food! Not only the turkey, potatoes, and pies, but the hmong food my mom and sister are going make for me! I can cook a lot of food, but I lack in the hmong food department and haven't had any in a long time! And I can't wait to spend some time with my little nephew who by the way broke his arm! That little boy is going to be two in February and he is the naughtiest thing ever. Still love him though...got to he's the only grand baby in our family! Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

When I'm alone

Recently my husband started a second part-time job in the evening leaving me to be by myself more than ever. What do one do with her time when she is home alone? I crochet like there's no tomorrow! Lol. I figure I should fill my time with something I enjoy and get something out of it. Within the last week I have made five hats and scarves plus two pairs of slippers! The hats and scarves are for the kids at the daycare I watch, and the slippers are gifts for family members.
Because I have so much time to myself these days I have been looking for ideas to redecorate my apartment...cheap ideas I'm a broke artist remember!? Anyways, my most recent project is our bedroom. I found a picture online with frames hung on a wall and just fell in love with it. Here's a picture of what I want, but with white frames and a purple background. What do you guys think?

My goal is to do one project a day and blog about it! Today was day one and white frames were on the agenda. I went to a small thrift store in Crystal and found a ton of frames for a super duper good deal! However, when I was at the store I decided to get all rectangle frames because there wasn't any unique ones. I bought eight frames and came home to paint them only to find I didn't have enough white paint! I hate it when I have my heart set on a project get super excited about it and can't finish it for stupid reasons! I will have to make a trip to the art store to get more paint! Oh...side note. Would gesso work? Or would it be too dry? Has anyone used gesso on wood before because if you have and it works let me know because I have a ton of gesso! Anyways, here's a couple of pictures of the frames and how far I got on them. Stay tune for further update on the redecorating!




Monday, November 7, 2011

Blogging again!

So like I said in my 411 box, I use to blog for an online class I was taking in college and than stopped for a couple of years, but thought I pick it up again! So here we go!

Lately, I have been doing a lot of paintings again and for those of you who know me knows that I love art, but stopped for awhile due to personal reasons (good ones). However, I have started again and would really like to put my work out there for people to see other than my husband. I do all kinds of art, but mostly drawing and painting. I do a lot of black and white drawings due to the fact that I like the contrast of the black ink on white paper. Most of my drawings are patterned meaning it would be just a bunch of lines and patterns or an object filled with lines and patterns. It's kind of hard to explain so I will have to post some pictures so you guys get the idea.

This past weekend I also started a seascape painting for my husband's friend. I haven't done a seascape painting in a long time almost forgot how much I like it! Something about the water calms me, it's almost relaxing to paint it! Yes, I know I sound like a weird art person!

I have also picked up a new hobby, CROCHETING! I'm crocheting a bunch of hats and scarves for the kids at the daycare I work for. So here are a couple that are done!