"I'll save you!" in Color.

Watercolor and ink.

I like to see the sketch and final side by side.

And the Bear and Girl Saga Continues...

"He's just not that into you."

In my month long attempt to figure out what to do for the Valentine's card, I ended up continuing the bear and girl saga.

Here she is seen with the bear and a Valentine behind her back as the boy she is sweet on races past her on his bike.

The cat is either snubbing the boy with his back to him, or is interested in the bird in the tree.

It wasn't supposed to go there, but it developed as I was drawing it. Maybe the upcoming Movie Release of the same name above was stuck in my mind.

And then...



"But it's ok, cause I am."

The bear she rescued tried to console her, the cat is lounging in the tree. Perhaps he got his bird and is ready for a nap?

I couldn't leave it with an entirely unhappy ending.

I'll save you!

I'll save you, Teddy!

Little girl sees a stranded teddy in the stream and valiantly goes to his rescue.

Reminds me of how when I was little I applied emotions to stuffed animals. I had separation anxiety leaving some stuffed cuties in the stores, I thought I could save all of them and make sure they had a good home.

The Story of the Traveling Terrarium

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a girl who like to make things. In the spur of the moment she created a little terrarium to gift to her best friend.

This terrarium however, had to brave the cold 7 degree weather. So instead of waiting in the car, the terrarium decided it would be best to meet her new owner in the movie theater.


At the movie theater the terrarium snuggled in next to her new owner and friend in the conveniently placed cup holder.

After the movie, the terrarium was invited to go out to dinner at her creators and new owners favorite restaurant the Firkin.


The terrarium enjoyed the colors of the flavorful martinis made by the bartender both the creator and the owner knew back in their younger days as regulars.

As the evening wore on, the terrarium attracted many admirers!

But eventually it was time to go its new home and the terrarium said it's goodbyes and lived happily into the ever after.




The End.

Apothecary Terrarium

Today, I decided to try something different.

2 plants.

Dried moss.

Stones.

2 Apothecary jars from Walmart for about $10 each.
(Unbelievable but very fragile.)

Dirt.

Cat.

Red mushrooms from Germany.



Mmmmm....moss cake!

Hydrating the moss.



Not finished until the Inspector says so.



I am not certain of their current placement in my home. Maybe when I finish refinishing the spindle legged table, they will go there. The frog is from Germany, a gift from my Mom after she saw my delight in it.



Close ups.

Next up...sculpting a Garden Gnome.

In progress...2

Tonight's progress on Fairytales. Better known as Romance is Dead, Dear-heart.

I am not certain how dark I will go with the color from here.



The photo that started it. Taken at Castle Hirschhorn.


Antidote to possible elation: long walk, clean apartment, listen to slightly depressing music, paint with grays. Balance and level-head restored.

Work in progress...

Poor brushes, they always seem to end up victims of my efforts.

Monkey in Space

I am thinking this is going to be the Birthday card for a Nephew and my best friend's son.

Concerning Ostriches and Cake

Before Rocket Ship.



After Rocket Ship.

Creativity runs in the family...

My sister-in-law Ann Druce-Hoffman is a talented knitter.

She designed this new pattern for knitpicks.com.

Keep it up, Ann!

Interview taken from the knitpicks.com website:

We recently interviewed Ann Druce-Hoffman, designer of the Ladies Jacquard Vest pattern, about her design process and the pattern itself.

Knit Picks: Can you describe your inspiration for the colorwork motif on the Ladies Jacquard Vest?

Ann Druce-Hoffman: I’ve always loved things with curlicue patterns—twenty years ago, I was doodling intricate spiral patterns all over my high school folders! For this vest, I looked at many examples of both historical and contemporary damask and jacquard fabric, and used Knit Picks designer Kerin Dimeler’s ideas as a starting point. Damask and jacquard motifs are everywhere right now—from fashion to home décor—so I didn’t have to look far for inspiration!

KP: When you design garments, do you have a particular person in mind who you picture wearing the garment, or is it just about the garment itself?

ADH: I definitely design with the wearer in mind. I’ve found that in knitting colorwork garments, just because you can doesn’t always mean you should! Often it takes a lot of swatching to find the right color combinations and motifs. Personally, I don’t like to knit something unless it will be used.

KP: What were the challenges or surprises you encountered when designing this particular garment?

ADH: Before designing this vest, I always steered clear of colorwork patterns that had yarn floats on the inside of the work that were more than 5 or 6 stitches. Or, I tried to catch the yarn every 5 or 6 stitches, with less than perfect results. When I began swatching my ideas for this design, I was thrilled that the long floats—up to 20 stitches, no less!—worked out fine. They “stuck” on the back just like they should. I feel like a whole new level of colorwork knitting has opened up for me!

KP: What was the best part of designing this vest?

ADH: The best part of designing it was seeing the end result! After trying and rejecting many ideas, it’s very satisfying to see the combination of garment shaping, motif design, and color selection come together successfully.

KP: Do you have any insights as to the body type that might look best in the vest?

ADH: Because the vest has an all-over motif pattern, I think that this vest can look good on all body types. Although the motif is fairly large, it has small components that contribute to the complicated overall look of the vest.

KP: Are there particular features of the way the pattern is written that you think makes it a satisfying knit?

ADH: I enjoy knitting most when it is both challenging and relaxing. I want to be able to watch TV and enjoy the repetitive, physically meditative aspects of knitting, but at the same time I want it to hold my interest and not get boring. Knitting colorwork in the round achieves this goal for me—steeks enable you to enjoy the color pattern emerging, and you can just keep knitting until you get to the top!

KP: What are your favorite things to design and why?

ADH: Not only do I love the process of knitting colorwork designs, but I love the final product. I’ve always been drawn to ethnic textiles, and I love how colorwork knitting can incorporate many different colors and patterns, but bring it all together within the confines of repeated motifs. I love the challenge of finding those colors and motifs that work well together.

KP: Do you knit with Palette in your personal projects? Do you have thoughts on Palette as a colorwork yarn?

ADH: I’m possibly Palette’s biggest fan. I love everything about it! I’ve made beautiful vests for my kids that meet their standards of comfort and also stand up to the rigors of preschool. Palette is also a great sock or hat yarn. Since Palette is inexpensive, it’s fun to be able to buy a bunch of different colors and experiment with new designs. Really, I could gush on and on.

01/13/09

Sweet, light, the usual.

After the previous post and subsequent concerned emails, I thought I should post something true to my nature and mood.

This was drawn some time ago and I am still at a loss as to what exactly she is doing.

I'll leave future experimental creepiness for Halloween next time!

It's dark out sometimes...

Why don't you just say it?

can't





Inspired by Neil, thanks for making great art.

Also Coraline, by Neil Gaiman.

Fairytales

Mommy, where have all the Knights gone?

Romance is dead, Dear-heart.

Oh.


Pencil, art paper and my scanner hate each other.

Wonder

Originally the turtle didn't exist. But the boy seemed incomplete without a companion. I imagined him as an apprentice to a great magi out on a journey to ask the moon a question.

Between sleep and wakefulness, this popped into my head and wouldn't leave until it was out on paper.

Watercolor, ink, gauche.

Queen Bee has a Guest for Tea

The Moleskine Sketch.

The rather hastily finished painting.

Thanks again to N.T. for the addition of the tea service, whose idea of the cat and battleship is seen below.

These are the products of coffee and imaginative minds.