CRAFT ME

Things I've Made;
Tessellation Wall Art
Inspired by an artwork that I saw in Inside Out Magazine by Cameron Foggo (see photo below), I created this artwork for our bedroom - I wanted the final piece to look like a multicoloured patchwork when up on the wall.
I then added more pieces..... its all blutacked on so can be moved and changed at will!

Here is the process...
Cameron Foggo Artwork Inspiration
planning
measuring & ruling
cutting
test paint samples
painting / staining
playing


Things I've Made;
Christmas Birdies and other gifts
In the beginning, there was Christmas 2010.....yikes!
So, as with every year, I planned to make many of our gifts for family and friends, and intended to get them all on here straight away, but xmas was so scattered last year that many didn't get their presents until February! What The! Will NOT happen again this year, what a nightmare!! Here are some of the gifties I made...
Made these cute wee birdies for the kids following the instructions on this blog 'One Golden Apple' 


Made, what seemed like, a million of these LOVE paintings to raise some cash for the Christmas/summer holidays... here is one.... i have seven more blank ones left.... not sure if I will ever actually be able to mass produce again ~ definitely not a comfortable process for me! Still LOVED the joy that these brought people! 

A hot pink mosquito net adorned with purple and paua shell handmade butterflies and a few extra bought ones... little niece Caitlin LOVED it! 


Made a necklace.... haven't worn yet.... want to change the rope to leather or brass chain...

Things I've Made;
Retro Vintage Comic Book Handmade Envelopes
Recycling our 2010 retro comic book calender into envelopes of all sizes... heaps of fun; quite relaxing churning them out actually ~ Pepper would agree!! 

Things I've Made;
Kiwiana Love Signs
Been crazy busy making these Kiwiana Love signs; I enjoy making things that NZ people can relate to; summer blue skies and pohutukawa trees and harakeke flaxes in bloom. Such an Iconic NZ image! Cute girl and me busy at the art table - love the little smooshed up face on the paint brushes!! Gosh i look bedraggled in all my crafting busyness!! 

Things I've Made;
PAPEL PICADO; MEXICAN PAPER CUT OUT BANNERS
I followed some instructions on how to make the Papel Picado but here are my versions - I have made them in both tissue paper and plastic..... here are the tissue ones..
Here are the Plastic Papel Picado - Made from thin plastic tablecloths from The $2 Shop - Red, Orange, Green and Blue...

Things I've Made;
MEXICAN VOTIVES ~ DECORATED GLASS CANDLE HOLDERS
The next crafty thing that I tackled was to make a set of Mexican style votive candle holders. I am about to go and pick up the printed stickers which will be wrapped around each votive, so will take more pics of the completed project!! Here are the steps to make your own;

SUPPLIES
  • Votive sized glasses - although I bought 2 sets of tumblers from The Warehouse which stand at 11cm. I also bought a few random glasses from the op shop ( I would recommend op shop is best- RECYCLE!!)
  • Strong Glue - I use Tiger Grip glue, you can use it for EVERYTHING! 
  • Glitter in a variety of colours
  • Adhesive jewels or rhinestones - anything hideously tacky and bling! (although these are 'adhesive' I still had to glue them on!)
  • Gold paint (or in my case nail polish)
  • 2 lids - 1 for the glue and the other for the glitter
  • I have used Photoshop to make up a set of stickers featuring Lady Guadalupe, Frida Kahlo and Mexican Senoritas - all surrounded by rose and flower borders! See next post for new pics!
Step 1
pour glue into one lid and glitter into the other

Step 2
Dip the glass into the glue..... 
.....then into the glitter.....
.....roll the glass around in the gliter to completely cover the glue.

Step 3
Now is the time to bedazzle and bejewel your votives - I have used red, sapphire and baby blue jewels to adorn mine and all of the gaps in between are daubed with a gold dot (which I have now realised isn't actually shown in this photo.....)


Step 4
Now to add the stickers and candles. I created my stickers using images from the internet and the wonders of Photoshop - Here is one example of the kinds of labels I designed, this was then colour copied onto a clear adhesive sheet and then cut to fit the glasses.
I just left all the labels rough around the edges as I knew they were going to be cut out anyways...

Here are the finished products.....
Here are some shots showing the way that the flowers wrap around the sides....


OTHER THINGS I HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS....

2009  Vintage fabric collaged and stitched onto t-shirt

2009 Handpainted Makeup Bags - Acrylic and fixative



Cushions 2008
Cushions with heavy duty cotton and vintage fabric. Hand-stitched and hand-painted with fabric ink.
  

A commissioned pair of cushions for a friend.


Cushions 2007

Cushions 2005
Pair of Cushions made in 2005
Vintage patchwork with white cotton insert, hand painted using fabric ink. 
Exhibited and sold at East West organics West Auckland.