What did you do today?

So the other day I was reading my new How Magazine and there was an article called Daily Deadlines about making a new small work of art every day. Two of my favorite featured artists are the Skull-A-Day and Obsessive Consumption artists. I fell in love with the idea, and thought I would copy it a bit, and start creating my own works of art every day.

Since I am on maternity leave, I figured that I needed a bit of a creative outlet for the next 3-5 months, so I plan to illustrate one thing that I do each day during my time off, and some day I will give the books to Arthur.

Week One
4.24.094.25.09
4.26.09

4.27.09
4.28.09
4.29.09

4.30.09

5.1.09

Stay tuned for more of what I did today...

Bad Ass Mommy.

So I have been told by more then one person that I need to make a diaper bag, and at last I have finally done just that. My little sister has a friend who in having a baby, and wanted a diaper bag that wasn't all diaper baggy. She is having a girl but did not want something all girly, and wanted something that did not look like she was carrying a diaper bag. I totally know where she is coming from, because when I have kids I know I don't want to carry around some cutesie diaper baggy, diaper bag. Thus the Bad Ass Mommy Diaper bag was born.

My inspiration came from a diaper bag that my older sister (who is a mother of a 2.5 year old little boy) LOVES!!! It is the Spark by Skip Hop. Since I did not have a pattern to work off of I went to Target and bought the bag so I could look at it more closely and come up with a pattern of my own (which I will have to create again if I make another one of these bags, because my dog ate the pattern... I'm not even kidding). Having the bag to look at and use to make the pattern was so helpful. Since I'm still pretty new to this whole blogging thing I for got to take photo's of my precess, so I will just have to show you the final product.

Here it is!

I had a lot of fun creating this bag and it turned out just like I wanted it to. One of the best features that this bag has (which I totally stole from the fore mentioned bag) is inside and out side clips that make it possible to clip the diaper bag to the handles of your stroller (see photo to the right). This is one of the features that make the Spark diaper bag my sisters favorite. There are also plenty of pockets both inside and out. I think it is a perfect size neither to big or small.

The best pat of my bag and what makes it so BAD ASS is the fabric. I found this fabric a while back and have fallen in love with it. I have a bag made out of it for myself, and I love peoples reactions when they see it. First they are all like wow that is so pretty, and then they look at it closer and are all like OMG are those SKULLS?! And they are, but is is still the pretties pattern. It is the perfect fabric for bags because it is a heavy canvas like fabric. I was super happy to make a bag out of this fabric because it is one of my favorites, and I cant wait to carry this diaper bag myself... Anyway it was the perfect print for this bag, and since the recipient of the bag is having a girl I lined it with some pink polka dotted oil cloth... because even if you still want to be a bad ass mommy, it's still fun to be pretty!

Inspired!!!

So lately I have been in a bit of a rut. No new ideas, and no energy. Over the last few days I have been trying to be inspired again.

Last Wednesday I went to a few of my favorite places to be inspired. First I went to Powells and grabbed a whole mess of great books, and looked through them over a cup of tea and made some notes. I came up with at least 2 or 3 fun projects to start.

Next I went to some place new. I went and looked around the museum of contemporary craft. It is a really cool place, and there is no admission on weekdays. I looked at a lot of art that inspired me as well.

Next I walked down to the pearl and looked around in one of my favorite stores Oblation papers and press. I love all the great cards, paper, ribbon, and most importantly I love drooling at all the great presses... I WANT ONE!!!

Last I walked over to Print Arts Northwest my FAVORITE gallery in the pearl and looked at all the wonderful prints. If I had money I would have bought so many of them. I figured out that what I really really want to do is start printmaking again. I miss it so much. I need to get myself a press, or take a class, or something soon...

Anyway I feel much more inspired and hope to get going on some projects soon... so stay posted.

Lazy T / The Sampler

So I have been the worst blogger as of late. I have been feeling a bit less then creative, but need to get it into gear I know...

One thing I have been up to is creating a set of samples (a monkeys in hats gift pack that includes a blank note card, bookmark, and button) to send into the greatest place that I recently learned about called the Sampler. It is a great program where crafty people like me, or even writers ans musicians can send in samples of there work. The great people at the sampler then put together packages of samples and send them out to their subscribers. I'm super excited to be featured on their website, and to have my samples sent out, now I just have to get my ass in gear and update my website for all those new customers that I hope to get.

Crafty Inspiration.

So lately I have been a bit lazy, with everything really. I have not done much crafting, or anything for that matter, so I thought it might be time for some crafty inspiration. One thing that I do when I need a bit of inspiration is look to others, some of my favorite ETSY sellers for instance...

elsita, smashing, kate durkin, berkley illustration, terry graziano, modica's Shop, tiny meat, phoebe1, chris parry, the black apple, Orange Willow, mary and jane.

ENJOY!

corporate zombie

This is my latest in my fleet of cute little zombies. He is a corporate zombie.

When I made my first two zombies I did not have the size hook that the pattern called for, so I had to use what I had. Mr. corporate was made with the correct sized hook, so he is a bit of a better size and shape.

I still have not figured out what to do with the eyes. I have really not thought about it much, nor have I tried what the book suggests, but as soon as they all have eyes I will let you know. I hope to make myself a fez monkey soon also...

My "Cute" little Zombies

I think I found my new favorite thing to make, creepy cute little critters. They were a lot of fun to crochet, and I can wait to make a whole mess of them. They went together really fast, the hair is what took the longest. I have not decided what to use for eyes, but as soon as I know I will post photos.

The patten is really pretty simple. This is the first "real" thing that I have crocheted from a pattern, other then granny squares so considering that I think I did a pretty good job.

Stay tuned for more additions in my little army of the undead.