animal kingdom

I promise I'm not getting the baby buzz but sometimes I lack the cleverness to find another use for something so simple... all's i have to say is - I love me my animals. I dont just love one, I love all, and I love drawing them and building up a whole fleet... so heres what I've decided to do.

1. Cut up or pre buy some cardboard stock in small note sizes (mine are 2.5x4inches)
2. Lots of options for this but the easiest is to find an online kids colouring page site where they will list countless line drawings of every animal imaginable (example site here).
3. draw out your desired animals making one per small square.
4. Eventual goal: a handmade animal kingdom set for a kids gift or maybe for saving for the future (this gives me a lot of time to create a whole collection)

Here are six animal cards I created for my January 20th handmade

day 19 - sketchbook entry

In the months of waiting we prep. We prep and get excited for things to come.

Here are some of the idea sketchs that have been building....

a little update

January 18th, the day AFTER 'blue monday' statistically the most depressing day of the year, congratulations, we made it!

So a brief apology for my delay in posting. I have NOT given up, at least not this early in. I have been continuing to do my creative tasks for my everyday handmade challenge even though I seem to be experiencing technical difficulties loading some of the items i was hoping to show.

I decided instead of waiting to post the more current handmades, I would post the ones I do have ready while I try to overcome loading issues and camera cord disappearances. Undoubtedly the most challenging part about this challenge wont be making something different every day but the ability to get it up here in a timely manor.

Flo studio work is progressing. One piece of the business puzzle that we've been working on as of late has been the website. The talented Bri guy is creating us a multifuncional website, one for which there will be a lot of thumbnail images.
After a couple hours of resizing detail shots for the gallery section, this little postcard template came to light. Melody's handmade for january 18th - more flo marketing materials.

flo floats!

I've thought about how far I might reach with this 'handmade' project. It appears assembling ikea furniture counts. Justification? If it took the entire day to put together, then i think it's worth documenting. And I am mightly pleased with the results and wanted to share some progress in the new studio.

Day 15 - Building a flamworking space (part 1of2)

Where it all beings - an empty space.

Note: Do not boast too loudly about you ikea assembly skills UNTIL its finished.

Note #2 - Do not skip steps. That's usually going to bring you trouble.

Note #3 - Flat floors are much appreciated.
My floors from one end to the other were off by 2.5inches.
The result? Flo's Flameworking Station Floats!
(cement leveling the floors will be an upcoming handmade to look forward to)

Oh yes, and I cheat even further with my 'handmade'
I absolutely could not have done this project without Pat's skillful assistance.

Est Voila! This entire unit, with countertops included, cost under $600
I am so so excited about my new creative space!

Part 2 of this project still to come. Fume hoods and metal fixings will be installed to make her fully functional and safe for my flameworking needs.

not much commentary needed: Handmade #13 -z-bird.

Another night in the studio with my side kick rocky boy.

Day 11 on the handmade menu - medallions.

I need to develope a better system of taking pictures of progress shots while at the bench.

Sadly this is all i got of the process...

I'll work out the kinks, and produce better quality shots in the future.

can't make it better

This guy was the reason I fell behind in my handmades... Loading issues, but finally resolved. January 10th's handmade - a song (*note* very rough recording).

sundays are for long walks with the doggie

I am behind on my updates, but at least I am still playing by the rules. Bri and I went for a walk with the ever animated Rocky boy on Sunday where we tested out our new film for our Super8 camera (we now have to take it in to get converted onto disk.. another future handmade project to finish) and I brought the ol' SLR for some picture taking of my favourite pooch.

If we haven't already covered this, Rocky loves playing with sticks.

Day 9's handmade - a Rocky album of all his wonderful character shots on flickr

painted potters

Personalized home project 1 for 2011 completed.
Day 8 of 365 days of Handmade - making pretty potters Bri and I decided to take our random potters at home and give them a little character
(to go with our exceptionally characterized home)

Our tools consisted of tubes of acrylic paint (matching our decor),
a small assortment of brushes, painters tape, a sharpie, and a clear lacquer spray paint.

Simple patterns tend to be the more successful. Try to start with a clean, rough surface. The black lines on the pot below are my sharpie trick, it adds more punch to your planter. When you're happy with your design be sure to use the spray lacquer on both the inside and outside of the pot. This keeps a good water resist finish.

To conserve on space we painted ikea potters with small holes for hanging.

I would have loved to post this portrait of Rocky boy as one of my handmades for this year
but alas the painting was a christmas present.. one of the last items i finished from 2010. In any case we'll say hello to it now so its not left out.

banana muffin

Baked goods are on the list for handmades this year. We're starting things off a touch easy here, going through recipes I would deem my 'tried and true' family baked goods. This recipe has always been made for me with love from Margi dearest. She sited the recipe off the top of her head, and now I divulge it online for all to enjoy (as i sit enjoying one of the sample muffins in these photos)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pre-Heat Oven to 350

In a blender, mix the following:
1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp lemon juice

2 ripe bananas

in a separate bowl:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
mix well then add wet ingredients

once mixed add 1 cup chocolate chips

Dish into 2 muffin trays of six (or pour into greased loaf pan)

bake muffins for 20mins (or loaf for 40mins)

So straight forward, so easy and yet baking intimidates me (why?) All the more reason to keep the handmade daily's going. It'll give me more practice at those things that unnecessarily scare me out attempting them.

last note: my friend Andy who has the blog delicate.balance has also joined in on this challenge. Instead of daily shes taking on a weekly handmade assignment for herself. Giver a gander.