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Showing posts from January, 2008

Snow!

And it stopped about 10 minutes later :( ( I sound so strange, and can't think of anything else to post today ;p)

What are you Looking at?

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WIP Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip Start of another little ACEO. Looks a little odd with the eyes looking a lot out of proportion, but I am hoping that it looks all right once finished. I did draw up a quick sketch so that I knew it would fit in such a small space, and thought everything was correct before I transferred it onto the Stonehenge. I was going to do Everyday Matters Challenge #36-Draw out in public today because the sun was shining but the wind is still blowing and the possibility of a flying pop can or a stray piece of wood flying around my head put a stop to that. I guess I could have done #88 -Draw something breezy - something that blows in the wind - a flag, leaves, your choice... But my sketchbook would have been the object blowing away in the wind. I guess I could have drawn on my hand :p

Everyday Matters #2

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Everyday Matters Challenge #2 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip The lamp I like most is the one that took me less than 2 minutes to do. I still need to work on perspective, something that I have always had problems with. I'd be afraid to turn on the lamp at the top left. Probably covered in dust and might start a fire. o.0 The page looks a little blank compared to the rest of the challenges, but really what can you write about a lamp besides that it lights things? :p Its been pouring rain here which probably explains my splitting headache, but no flooding here. Just really deep puddles that the birds enjoy and cars like swerving into to create huge waves.

2 for the Price of One

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Everyday Matters Challenges #37 and #70 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip Nice lazy Sunday. Venturing outside today would have been dangerous. Another windy day where you think a cat might go flying past the window, the birds were even having a hard time taking off. Kept getting blown back to where they started. Should I start writing here what I write on the EDM sketches? I know my handwriting is messy, so I am wondering if people want me to type here so they can understand what I am saying instead of trying to guess at words? And tilting your head to read can be a pain sometimes.

Pink Dragon Finished!

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Stuffed and tagged, he is finally finished. I stuffed his head, feet and his tail but the main part of his body is full of little beans which are in a lining so he doesn't lose his filling. I wouldn't poke him with any sharp objects in case he loses his guts though. And thats not a mess anyone wants to clean up (I had to pick beans off the floor more than once) :P His wings are a little crooked but nothing is perfect. He just needs a name now. Any suggestions?? And "moo" and the pink dragon next to each other. Moo was stuffed with so much stuffing his side ruptured :/ But that was easily fixed. I want to make another cow pattern dragon and I have some leopard print that I think will look nice too. Than I have to find some nice green fabric and try to make a dragon that goes with the one in the banner above. :) But first its back to drawing :)

Things to do when Bored

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Almost finished the pink dragon. He is inside out and just needs his neck sewn and than he can be filled with beans. So I will probably end up going crazy chasing little beans around the floor, but until than I can be a kid again and make some really nice designs.

Argh! My Back!

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He has some spikes now and his wings are sewn to his body, a little crooked but it looks fine. It is really hard to get the wings to match up 100%, haven't been able to do it yet. I guess I could hand stitch the whole thing but it would take forever. I do like sewing by hand, just constantly stabbing myself in the finger. :p The white spikes are 2 felt pieces sewn together with pink thread so they are not so plain. Used felt because it is hard enough on my machine going through 6 layers of fuzzy fabric, adding 2 more might kill it :( I probably would have had him finished but I wasn't paying attention and sewed 2 pieces together that shouldn't have been together so had to use a seam ripper to separate them. Can't actually rip the seam or I end up with shredded fabric so it took over an hour. :/ Hoping for some sun this weekend so I can get some nice pictures of him outside when he is done. :)

Busy Busy

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This is all that I have gotten completed on the pink dragon. I can only sew with the machine during the evening because someone is sleeping during the day here and the noise might wake him up. There are a few pieces that I can sew by hand tomorrow, so I am crossing my fingers it gets finished soon. Went with the blue eyes, they look nice. Went to the dentist today to get my splint fitted to try to help me stop grinding my teeth. Who would have thought that such a small simple piece of plastic would cost so much. They told me to stop drinking pop and try not to eat candy. yeah thats not going to happen , I'm addicted to sugar :p I did think about trying to do Crafting 365 so that I am doing something, even a little thing everyday. I would just be afraid that I couldn't think of anything to do. And it would give me something to blog about when I can't think of anything to write (like today :P)

Everyday Matters #21

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Something so simple but it was hard for me to draw. Something I will definitely be re-doing next year. Lots of sewing to do tomorrow, plus trying to finish some projects. I really do have to start finishing a drawing before I do anymore :p So Sad :(

Valentines Dragons

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Valentines Day Dragons 2008 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip Quick little drawing done with coloured pencil on Stonehenge paper. Very simple design because I cannot think of anything else to draw for Valentines Day. I really am not a mushy person who swoons over flowers or rocks (well maybe the rocks but I'm not a diamond girl), ok I would probably be happy to be given chocolate but I think maybe because I am not a romantic person I can't think of anything sappy or romantic to draw for the day. Next dragon holiday themed drawing is going to be Easter. Chocolate, candy and dragon bunnies. Lots of ideas for other holidays left to come. :)

Mine is an Evil Blog

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I got a laugh out of this. Its a small list of keywords that lead people to my blog. 1. how to make fabric labels 2. evil kitten pictures 3. blog fabric labels 4. birds on ice 5. fuzzy business cards 6. kittens and dragons, art 7. evil kitten 8. every day matters 9. evil kitten photo 10. fuzzy hairy cow long horns 11. patterns for stuffed dragons 12. everyday matters 13. pics of evil kittens 14. evil pictures of dragons Lots of evil :p My evil fabric labels that I purchased from JennifersJewels at Etsy. I really like the way they turned out and can't wait to add them to things. :)

Answer to the Pink Fuzz

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A huge pink dragon with a heart for the end of his tail :p The pattern is 24 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail, but once it is sewn it will be just under 20-22 inches long. I don't generally celebrate Valentines Day so coming up with ideas for the day is hard for me to do. Blue or green eyes? Leaning towards the blue. I did sketch a Valentines Day dragon design which I am hoping to get started tomorrow and if I get it finished even better :) Hoping that it will make a nice design for either a print or for cards.

Everday Matters Challenge #109

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Everyday Matters Challenge #109 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I actually write a lie. The clock going off still makes me jump if I am not paying attention. I am really enjoying doing these little sketches. Its fun trying to think of little things to draw or write with them and it is good to draw something almost everyday, even a small thing like this. I probably should work on making my writing more legible :p And I am turning into a pink werewolf o.0 *I have pink fabric fur up my nose that keeps causing me to sneeze*

Another Dragon Header

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Dragon Website Header Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I had to draw a different dragon for my website. Just needed a little one to put near the top now. John has been working on the new design off and on for the last few weeks. It is going to look very simple but really I don't need nor do I want a flashy website. Its still going to be green on black just have to remember how to do that in Photoshop :p

Poisoned Apple

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Everyday Matters Challenge #24 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I know there are dozens of stories with apples in them but my mind is drawing a blank. Any suggestions?

Somethings Hiding

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I feel like I am being watched ;) Had to go to Dundee today so walked around for a bit just killing time. I really need to open my eyes more when we are there, I keep finding little details on the street. Did nothing else today but list some art on Etsy and get rained on. :p

This Doesn't look Comfortable

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Popeye doing what he does best. Well, that and eat :p The staff can not keep him out of the store and some are getting a little mad :p And a little photo of what I am working on right now. Another little art card of a cat :) I have so many things to get finished it isn't funny. I really should make a list :) The helicopter that we saw yesterday was searching for a missing woman :( And now people know where I live :p

Its freaking Cold!

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Foothills covered in snow, leading to the Grampian Mountains. There isn't any snow on the ground just lots of frost and ice (watch out or you will fall!) and its is bloody cold out! You can see this from pretty much any high point in town and its less than a 5 minute drive (yes I am too lazy to walk :P) from the house. Today we chased around a helicopter so John could get pictures of it (exciting!, well not really. It consisted of him driving, cursing at the cars that took too long to move when the light turned green and me pointing saying "Its behind us now :/") . He thinks they were doing some kind of training exercise. Photo was taken in the posh part of the town where houses can cost more than £400K. (thats pounds! and they weren't exactly that big o.0 )

Everyday Matters Challenge #8

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Everyday Matters Challenge #8 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I am trying to only spend about 10 minutes on each sketch that I do. I'm trying to focus on what lines are important so that the eye can still recognize the object for what it is. We went from having 80mph winds to rain all day. Trees were blown down and rubbish bins were having races down the street. Not sure which one won. Probably the one that cheated. :p Put the swan I drew for a WetCanvas forum challenge on my Etsy shop. :)

Turning into a Smurf??

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"Mysterious Flower" Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip Today I looked like I had rabies. I was frothing blue at the mouth. I had a mould taken of my bottom row of teeth to make a guard I can wear at night because I am grinding my teeth so much they are chipping and causing my jaw to be in a lot of pain. So *crosses fingers* that this time it works. There is always those few seconds where you think your teeth are going to come out with the mould when it is taken off and then *pop* its out. I took the chance and scanned the above. It didn't scratch the scanner bed but it also didn't scan very well. I still have a long way too go with this and while I still really like the paper I am not so sure about the flower at this stage. I need to add a lot more colour to the middle petal and make it very bright. I am not sure if I should burnish this so that it has a smooth slick look which might make me like it more. It definitely needs to be more yellow so I probably should have us

Room Photos

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So I took a few pictures of where I am drawing at the moment. Its what I am told is a "box room" that John's brothers have used as a bedroom, hence there is a bed in here. Not sure of the dimensions of the room, its small but not too small and everything fits in here fine :) This first picture is just a general view of my desk, with a few labels. The blue container on the left contains a few tins of pencils when not in use, my art card portfolio and pre cut paper. A few basic supplies like sharpeners and stapler, boring stuff really ;) There are 2 paper cutters to the right of the sewing machine that weigh a ton :p Close up view of my desk (£29.99). Best money I have spent in awhile. Perfect size for me and holds pretty much everything I need it to. Jars full of graphite pencils and pens, paint brushes and a jar to put pencil shavings in so they don't get all over everything. View of the dark abyss ;) The wrapped up cups on the bottom are those Halloween mugs I drew

More Petals

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I am not sure how to go about scanning this once it is finished. I don't know if it is rough enough to scratch the scanner glass or even if it will scan because of the bumpy surface. I could try taking a photo on a sunny day as long as I remember to wear gloves and thick socks (and have lots of warm tea waiting inside, plus some cookies can't forget the cookies). I'm glad I have that little brush that is in the corner. I would be inhaling a lot of dust if I didn't brush it away every once and awhile. And coughing while drawing doesn't work very well. The grey that shows up really strongly here on the back petals is not so strong when seen in person. I'm hoping that I get a lot done on this tomorrow. There are a few animal pictures that I am itching to draw but want to try to get this finished. I also have a few dragon ideas to try to draw. Need more hours in the day. Fun with Crayola I used to use Crayola markers to colour flash designs because of all the colou

Petals

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First time using Art Spectrum Colorfix Paper, and I do like it so far. And now I really know people were not joking when they said the paper eats pencils. Which is not a problem for me, I am hoping that I use up most of the Primacolours I have left so I can go buy some different pencils. I am sick of the leads breaking, off centre leads and sometimes very gritty as well. So I would have to think long and hard before I buy any more Prismas or unless someone tells me that the brand has improved and not continued to go down hill. John bought a day light bulb for my little lamp. Never actually realized how much of a difference it makes. Its spiffy :p I will post an update in this picture hopefully later in the day.

Pay it Forward

So a few months ago I made a comment on Tina Mammoser's blog on a post she made about Paying it Forward. I thought that it might be something that I would do on my blog in the future and it has been in the back of my mind since than, but was really reminded when she contacted me. The rules of Pay it Forward are: (copied from Tina's blog) The first 3 artists to comment on the blog and who want to take part will get an artwork from me (a new one I'll make just for you!), and then they in turn agree to 'pay it forward' and do the same on their blog with their art- or craft-work. Its simple but at the same time it is nice to help people and in turn have them help someone else. I did bring up the fact that you really don't know if the person that you help does go on to help or give a gift to someone else, just have to trust that they will. So here is what I am going to do. The first 3 people to comment that they want to participate will get an ACEO from me (might t

Everyday Matters Challenge #78

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Everyday Matters Challenge #78 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip So #78 was "Draw a souvenir of a place you've been. journal a bit about your memories of the place." and this is the pendant that I bought in New Zealand. Its a very pretty dark green and very translucent when hung near light, just under an inch and a half tall. The only other thing that I bought when in New Zealand for myself is a tie-dyed sarong that I on the same day ripped when I tripped in a pot hole in a Hostel drive way (and I was completely sober and it was the middle of the day). But at least I didn't cut up the bottom of my feet like John did when he went swimming in what he found out was an area that the bottom was all clam shells. *ouch* he still has some scars and shell bits in his feet. But if he had not of done that, we probably would not have met because we wouldn't have been at the same Hostel at the same time.

It Snowed!

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Well sort of... View of the backyard this morning. And than it snowed for 10 minutes pretty heavy and than just stopped. So now there is a lot of ice on the roads, one giant skating rink. Fun and broken bones :p Its nice to have even a little snow considering the lake would freeze solid sometimes in Ontario and we would get feet of snow. I was told that the ice mountain in the background was blown up to stop people climbing on it, but I don't know for certain. Dad and John walked on the frozen lake but you wouldn't catch me trying that. o.0 Me staying warm in my huge grey woolly sweater. The ice is really pretty when it breaks up and forms back together like this.

Everyday Matter Challenge #39

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Everyday Matters Challenge #39 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I grind my teeth too so every once and awhile my teeth either crack or get a chip in them. Have to go the dentist on Friday (ACK!), could have went tomorrow but who really wants to go the the Dentist on their birthday??

Everyday Matters #4

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Everyday Matters Challenge #4 Copyright Jennifer Rose Phillip I don't like coffee. The smell can sometimes make me ill. I think its from working at Tim Hortons . Smelling the coffee all day and night. I never drank coffee but by the time I was done working a shift I was buzzing like I had guzzled a dozen large double doubles. I think the coffee absorbed through my skin and the fumes made me jumpy. And if you ask for a black coffee with 2 sugars, its not a black coffee. Black coffee is just that. Black with nothing in it. So the first sketch from the Everyday Matter Challenges, and you get to see my messy writing :p