Inktober 2024 - 06 Grain Elevator

An Alberta icon for today's drawing for Inktober 2024.

06 Grain Elevator

Black marker and watercolor.

I know the color is off but I did the best I could with what I had.

These are disappearing across our prairies.

Made up a ground cover and yes there should be tracks very near this building but I missed them in my creating.

I used a photo for reference so I think my lines are better on this one.

Inktober 2024 - 05 Hot Air Balloon

 Inktober 2024 Challenge

05 Hot Air Balloon

I drew a hot air balloon for piece #5.  The outline is black permanent marker. 

I washed the top third of the painting with blue watercolor then pull out the clouds with a tissue. 

I painted the silk part of the balloon in purple and yellow with a green stripe across in watercolor. I did a bit of shading with a very fine black marker. 

I painted the hills below in a couple of shades of green.

I know it would help to have people in the composition but I was too afraid to ruin it by adding them. 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Wet floors this Sunday morning.  All plans went out the window.  

Waited for someone to come and investigate and by noon fans and dehumidifiers were set up.

Baseboards torn out.

Later, the floor was unceremoniously broken and torn out with no consideration of keeping the floor to be reinstalled.  

Life has pivoted 180 degrees and this will take over my life for the next several months.

These huge machines and fans ran 24/7 for 2 weeks. 

The dehumidifiers also heat the space to help with the drying process so it was like Florida in my house.

Earplugs and closed captions were necessary to live in my space for that time.

Drywall was torn out in the front hall and storage room.  No wetness was found thank goodness.

Several insurance adjusters have visited several times and then contractors bidding on the job have been by.  

It is a waiting game.

Took some time out of the crazy to visit with my aunt at her art show on Friday.

Lovely work including paintings, glass pieces, mosaic pieces, collage work, and a bit more.

Had supper with her and her husband and it was a lovely break.

The Exile of Sara Stevenson by Darci Hannah was the book I read this week in the semi quiet of my bedroom with the door closed.

Set in 1814 Scotland, Sara Stevenson is in love and plans to defy her father and marry the man. Thomas Crichton does not come to meet Sara at the arranged place for their elopement. She returns to her father's house and is transported to Cape Wrath, a lonely island which has a lighthouse and a keeper William Campbell.  She is accompanied by a woman servant and her husband who will replace the assistant lighthouse keeper who recently passed.

Sara is pregnant so things will get interesting.  These 4 people live in a small cottage near the lighthouse. Things are tense in the house with 2 women being added to mix. 

Sara settles into life on the island, discovers other folks who live on the island.  William Campbell has not encouraged community during his time so making friends with these has it's challenges.

She still hopes that Thomas will return and they can have a happy family.

A mysterious package arrives at the island from an Oxford antiquarian which begins the process of finding out what happened to Thomas, meanwhile Sara is developing a friendship with the distant William Campbell.   Interesting times.

This was a great book.

Slow Stitching - No. 040 - Enso Circle

K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching Challenge 2024

Week 40 - Enso Circle - Zen Buddhist philosophy - symbolizes an expression of life, showing both the beginning and end

My top layer is linen and my foundation cloth is similar.

I used a large tip permanent Sharpie marker to make my mark.

It is quite open.

I couched variegated yarn onto my marker shape. I have green to blue in the colors. The inner one I stitched in blue and the outer one in green. 

I like the puckering of the fabric which has taken place.  I place the pieces so the color were offset.

It looked a little empty so I put a shell button in the bottom.

Inktober 2024 - 04 Lake Doodle

Inktober 2024 Challenge - 04 - Lake Doodle.

With life getting in the way, I chose to do a simpler design today.

I am starting out with a piece of 5x7 Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper.

I chose a lake outline then just doodled around the shape until the outside space was filled in.

I used my new to me Creeks 'n Creeks fountain pen with Parker Quink Blue Black Ink to do all the lines in this piece.

I then filled in the lake with watercolor.  I wanted a bit of texture in the color. I went around the edge with a small brush to add the darker edge.

Inktober 2024 - 03 Sailboat

Inktober 2024 Challenge

03 Sailboat

My third piece is a sailboat at sunset.

Sketched in a small format. I had to make it taller so when I translated onto my 5x7 mixed media paper I added height. Penciled with a Staedatler 4H.

Drawn with a Pigma Micron black marker then watercolored.

This one was pretty challenging but I am happy with the effort.

Inktober 2024 - 02 House

Inktober 2024 Challenge

02 House 

I dug out my dip pen from last year and the black acrylic ink.

It took a while to draw it and then it was too fat for my 5x7 paper.

I traced digitally and stretched it to be taller.  It looks much better and fits on the paper.

Pencil, then inked with Black Acrylic ink. 

Watercolored with a yellow front door!

Card - Inktense Painting

I made a card with my Inktense "Sunrise" painting.

I stitched the black outliner lines with a single embroidery floss. This is tightly woven cotton and was not fun to stitch. 

I chose a SU Garden Green A2 card base.

I ripped the painting to the edges of the color.  I tacked it down with stitches in the corner to a piece of white card stock that was trimmed to leave a wide border.

I glue the white layer to the front of the card base in the landscape orientation.

Added a white insert on the inside with a envelope.

It is ready to give!

Inktober 2024 - 01 - Vase on Table

This is my first piece for Inktober 2024.

01 Vase on Table

I am creating art that works for me.  I will post as many as I make.

I did an initial sketch. 

I am using Canson Fluid Mixed Media paper cut to 5x7 inches.

Once the final drawing was done in pencil, I traced it with a black marker.  

After erasing any remaining pencil marks I watercolored the image.

Inktober 2024 - Preparation

I am posting this retroactively after all my pieces are done.

This is what my desk looked like for the whole month of October.  Watercolors on the left with my small ceramic palette. A small light table and a grid sheet I created myself. Sheets and sheets of Canson Fluid Mixed Media 154lb paper which worked wonderfully. My dip pen with the red handle and the bottle of Daler Rowney FW Acrylic black ink. Black markers from several brands and in several sizes. The Staedtler Technical pen which I refurbished some time this month. I used a Staedtler 4H pencil for my initial sketching which was easy to erase with my Staedtler eraser. Three different sized watercolor brushes - a wide, #8 round, and a tiny one. Two dishes for water. A ruler or two. Scrap paper for checking color, etc. Rags for drying the brushes and general clean up.

The month has not be all fun and games. I awoke on September 29 with water squishing out from the vinyl planks in the front hall. I had dehumidifiers and fans running 24/7 for 2 weeks. I worked with ear plugs so I could even stand to be in this space. Watched TV with the captions on. Now four weeks in things are moving slowly. Adjusters have been in just about every week. The tear out crew was in October 3rd to pull up the vinyl and 2 feet of drywall. Plans are being made for me to move out while abatement takes place. 

Sewing Project - Adjustable Bookmark

I have been thinking of making some bookmarks for the Christmas sale since we share the space with the library.

With a bit of research, I found a few features I would like to incorporate. Adjustable and a pocket for a writing instrument.

After some measuring, I decided to make the it wrap around the book with an elastic and a couple of buttons for adjustment.  A pocket could be placed on the front and maybe some stitching could be included.

I cut 2 pieces of fabric measuring 3"W x 21" T - one patterned one solid.  I decided to use elastic from old face masks. I cut a piece of mustard fabric for the pocket. The buttons and embroidery need to be added before sewing.  The pocket needs to be sewn on the front of the bookmark. 

The elastic was pinned in place at the opposite end from the pocket. Then, I sewed all the way around the long strip leaving a slit to turn it inside out. I trimmed the corners, turned it inside out, pushed out the corners with a chopstick and pressed it flat.  I then top stitched all the way around. It was very difficult to do the buttons and embroidery after the pocket was sewn on.

Notes: 

• The pencil pocket is too tall and could be narrower. 
• Stitching and button(s) need to be done before assembly.
• This is a hard cover book so the overall length of the bookmark could be shorter to accommodate smaller books.
• I will use this one and implement improvements to future versions
• The mask elastic may too soft.

Sylvia"s Simple Shot

We have so few red leaf trees in our province.

This one was at a small park near my sisters house.  I was on a walk in the morning before heading to the ReUse Center. The sun was highlighting the red beautifully.

I was blessed to have supper with the same sister later in the day after she had been to see her husband in hospital and I did some errands.

I headed to West Edmonton Mall Monday morning to have a visit with one of my sister's who had just returned from PEI the night before.  

We ate at the food court where each of us could have our choice.  I had Vietnamese noodle bowl. Delicious.

She had the grandsons while their Mom and Dad were at an appointment near by.

I took advantage of being at WEM to visit the David's Tea store - only one in Edmonton.

I had some great ginger tea at my aunts earlier this year so I selected a ginger tea.  

It gives me a non caffeinated option which I can chose to drink more often.

I decided to visit the Old Strathcona Antique Mall and called a friend who generally meets me there. She was free!  

I have not seen her physically for about 2 years so it was nice to chat and we headed to Swiss Chalet for supper after traipsing through the antiques.

There is so much wonderful items there.

Check out the frilly lampshade on a Fenton glass base from I think the 1940s.

Amber handle on a mirrored tray.

Always a good time.

I put together a set of cards for her since she is a card giver.  

I have been supporting my friend who do give cards with some from my stash.

It is a win - win.  Cards leave my house and they get free cards which helps all the way around.

An Irish Country Practice - Patrick Taylor is a book I finished this week.  

There are new faces at the practice Not only has O’Reilly taken a new trainee under his wing, Doctor Connor Nelson, he’s also added a spirited Labrador puppy to his ever-expanding household at Number One Main Street. 

Meanwhile, his trusted partner, young Doctor Barry Laverty, finds himself wondering if he’s truly ready to settle down and start a family with his lovely fiancée, Sue.

This was a very deja vu read. Many things sound familiar but I have no record of reading it before.

Always, a joy to spend time with the doctors at Number One Main Street in Ballybucklebo.

Inktense Fabric Painting - Sunrise

I decided to invest in Derwent Inktense ink colors for coloring fabric. My sister and nieces have had them for a while.

The come in different formats - pan, pencil and blocks.

I chose the pans since I do  some watercolor and they were the least investment should it not work out.  I also went to Delta Art and bought the Inktense 2400 Outliner which is a black drawing pencil not is non soluble so it will not run when you paint over it

My sister and niece have experienced the color seeping into other areas of their embroidery when painting with water.  Several videos I watched suggested using aloe vera gel instead of water to activate the ink. 

I drew my composition on a piece of cotton with the Outliner then painted. I had some pure aloe vera gel in my fridge so I decided to give it a try.  It works very well. 

I just a small brush for my edges and concentrated ink.  I used my regular watercolor ceramic palette and blended colors as I wanted with the gel. You do have to rinse your brush in water when changing colors.  The seeping you see on the roof of the house was a result of my not drying my brush after using water to rinse so it was too fluid and so it ran.  

I set the painting with my hot steam iron.  I ran it in water after the setting and the color did not run at all. 

Yes, this is a winner.

Oil Diffusers - Travel Case - Set 1

Blue Bird of Happiness - This diffuser features a bluebird sitting on a branch applique with stitched flower in the upper left corner. The back is a light blue denim with a blue felt drop, a loop and hanger. 

Blanket stitched all the way around to kept both layers together.  All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Embrace Life - This diffuser features layered felt flowers with a dark center which would work well for a spot to place the essential oil.  The flowers were appliqued to green felt using running stitch and long stitches. The leaf was stitched in place first with the flowers overlapping it.  The back on this one is light mustard linen fabric with a brown drop, green loop and a hanger.

Again, blanket stitch all the way around. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Be Happy - A happy face is always fun and uplifting. I used a white felt background for good contrast. I cut the yellow circle then used a hole lunch to create the eyes then filled them with black felt circles. These were stitched in place. The smile was stitched in stem stitch then a satin stitch on the outer edge.  That took a long time.  I used a piece of quilting cotton in coordination colors for the back.  The edge of the cotton is folded over before stitching to provide a finished edge. The back has a yellow loop and felt drop and a hanger.

Blanket stitched all the way around the perimeter with yellow embroidery cotton. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

Wine O'Clock - I  hope that I have conveyed the message clearly enough with the clock in a wine glass. I chose a bright red felt for the background then cut a white circle for the clock. Black French Knots do for the numbers and then I stitched the hands.  I then stitched the wine glass in grey thread to represent glass but maybe black would have been better.   The back is a grey fabric to coordinate with the grey on the front.  A black loop,a red felt drop and a hanger on the back. 

Again, blanket stitched all the way around with red thread. All fits in a clear plastic travel case.

For overall information you can check  Oil Diffusers - Hand Stitched Original Designs with Travel Case.

Oil Diffusers - Hand Stitched Original Designs

I have been working on these diffusers all week.  These are all hand stitched with my original designs. They measure approximately 3.75" square. The fronts are felt with fabric as the backer.

I came up with this design to provide diffusers in a travel case. These cases are nice because they are transparent. 

The diffuser can rest in the slot and stand in your personal space to provide a relaxing scent based on the essential oil you have chosen.  The oil can be placed any where on the felt but depending on the ingredients of the oil it may discolor so I have provided a drop on the back for that situation.

I have added a loop above the drop with a small hanger so it can be hung in your personal space of horizontal space is at a premium.

They are very cute and appealing.

Card - HB - Watercolor Oak Leaves

A watercolor for a guy who celebrates his birthday this week.

I created a warm watercolor background then let it dry.

I cut one piece for the background of the card, then cut the leaves and acorns from the rest.  

I then added definition to the leaves and acorns with watercolor. Painted the white edges with dark brown watercolor.I added gold accents as well from my new watercolor set.

The card base in dark brown measures 6x12 inches.

A white insert and a length of double sided tape with carrier on the flap.  Ready to go.

Slow Stitching - No. 039 - Monochrome

Another piece for K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching Challenge 2024.

Week 39 - Monochrome - Pick a Color any Color - Green - House Top.

I decided to do my layout based on K3N's Wonky Wednesday last week of House Top.

I chose my bright piece in the center and then hand stitched my strips around till I had covered my foundation piece.  I trimmed all sides when I was done. 

I then top stitched in green thread along the inside edge of each strip. Going around the perimeter of the center green square. 

Cards - SC - All Occasion Flowers

 I was brainstorming ideas of what Celebration paper would look like for art in the December show.

I created some decorative paper by blowing liquid acrylic ink on paper with a straw. I used yellow, purple, red, and orange ink.

It did not work out quite the way I thought so I decided to use the paper for card making instead.

The card base is yellow linen card stock in linen finish. 

I chose a piece of dark green white core card stock, ripped in half and adhered the piece to the right hand side trimming it to the card edge with scissors.

I cut the flowers with the QuicKutz Large Flower die from the decorative paper, red, yellow and purple card stock then just swapped out the pieces. The flowers are held together with scotch tape.

I used the red flower with the decorative paper ring and a purple center.  The stem and leaves were cut from the decorative paper. The leaves are from the Sizzix Flower Layers and Leaves die. Stem is just cut with the paper cutter and adhered with QuickDry Adhesive.

A white insert and ds tape with carrier on the flap.

Here I started with a dark purple linen card base measuring 6x12 inches and scored at 5.5" and just short of 1" for the flap.

This time I chose a light green white core card stock on the left.  This flower is mostly decorative paper and is very punchy in color.

Here we have a solid yellow flower with decorative bits in the center ring and the stem and leaves.

The other half of the light green card stock on the right.

Another mostly decorative paper flower with dark green panel.

Super happy with how these turned out.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 I took this at the St. Albert Botanic Park.  I just adjusted the contrast on this shot but I think it looks painterly.

The dahlias were in fine form with many, many blooms to photograph.

I took a visit to the Little Blue Fiber Studio that I learned about from my niece who heard about it from my sister.

I understand my sister took a needle felting class at the studio some time back.

It has yarn, roving, classes, knitting needles, felting needles, Sashiko thread, and books as well.

I did restrain myself and walked away with no purchase but I will return for roving when I solidify my idea for a future project.

My neice brought the matching chair for the yellow one I've had for quite a while.

I am happy to have a conversation corner in my living room with comfortable chairs.

A bit of light to read by if I choose and a table to hold my cup tea.

Thanks for bring the chair!

I have enjoyed African Violets all summer long.

Being in the east window has agreed with this plant.  I should get another one - just thought of that.

It also gets a grow light for a few hours in the morning.

This is the fountain pen I found at the ReUse Center last week.  It is by Creeks n Creeks and has "Les feminnins de Creeks" written on it's side. 

My research on line seems to indicate it is a  a small French school fountain pen from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

It averages about $50 on line so I am very happy with this find. It is a cartridge pen so I will have to check out where to find those.

I checked on line and found out it takes an international standard fountain pen ink cartridge.

Staples only sells these on line so I could order through the store have some brought in.  I checked with Delta Arts - they had no stock and have been working to get some in from Shaeffer but not been successful yet.  I will check back. 38mm or about 1.5 inches long.

I discovered that I could refill the empty cartridge so that is what I did.  I cleaned the cartridge and the nib thoroughly.  I had a bottle of ink I bought last year for my dip pens so I used that.  The syringe is leftover from dental surgery.  It all worked very well.

Love it!

I needed to put my metallic watercolors into a water proof container.  I found this chocolate box in my stash so I repurposed it.  I discovered that they live in full watercolor pans which is great.

They fit nicely in this box.  The domed lid makes it a bit bulky but for the time being it will do.

I used some large glue dots in the bottom of the box to keep the pans in place.

I have documented the colors here since I will recycle the cardboard box.

I don't think I will ever concern myself with the actual color names.

Seven Blessings by Ruchama King

Story of romantic relationships in the Jewish culture.  Follows several couples and their matchmakers.

Beth is the central character who is 39 years old and really wants to marry but is not finding a mate.

She is recommended several men and dating taking place but there are problems.

I confess that I don't know much about the Jewish culture.  I found the culture was very complicated and there are many rules.

Not a great read.  In the end there is still no marriage. Disappointing.

Cards - Christmas SC Botanical

I thought I would use my SU Window Frame thinlits.  I was able to use the largest one!

A piece of Soft Sky as background with a strip of Chocolate Chip just off center.

The WeR Wildflower - Botanical DSP was cut and adhered with points instead of square. I added a Chocolate Chip smaller one with a gold square on that.  

The central element is from the SU Keepsake Ornaments digital set which I colored with Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky. It was color printed onto ivory card stock then punched out with the 2" circle punch. Adhered with 3D foam tape.

White insert and dstape with carrier on the flap.

I got carried away on this one.

The Botanical DSP as the background, then the largest Window Frame from Soft Sky card stock, then a gold square measuring 3 inches adhered with 3D foam tape.

Then I cut a green frame by placing 2 dies on my magnetic mat and adhered that to the gold.

Then another square this time in Soft Sky adhered with 3D foam tape then finally the 2" focal element adhered to the square with double sided tape.

A white insert and a ds tape with carrier on the flap.

The botanical DSP as a background again.

I cut the Chocolate Chip with the TH Vintage Cabinet die and adhered it to the DSP.

I cut the Soft Sky with the TH Mini Cabinet Card which I wrapped with Chocolate Chip ribbon onto which I had sewn a Soft Sky button.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape

I added an Old Olive paper clip with bow onto the right hand side.

White insert and ds tape with carrier on the flap.