1.15.12

I've been embroidering more handkerchiefs with portraits of Civil War soldiers...mostly Generals with interesting facial hair. Above are the first two completed handkerchiefs with General Brannon (blue trim) and General Burnside (pink trim). I've posted them for sale on my etsy site.



I brewed my first beer yesterday. With the help from a friend I brewed a Peppercorn Rye-Bock. Pictured above are some of the ingredients that went into the kettle: malt extract, rye, peppercorns, two kinds of hops, irish moss. I can't wait to taste it (It will be ready to drink February 25th) and I can't wait to brew more beer!

10.31.11

Lately I've been attracted and inspired by wycinaki, which is Polish cut paper designs. Earlier this year I had started researching Polish folk art designs for some potential jewelry inspiration and came across wycinaki. I immediately was drawn to the layering of the cut paper, the symmetry, and the bright vibrant colors. After amassing examples of wycinaki onto my laptop, I've finally came up with some projects that I want to do using the designs. Today I started cutting out felt versions of the flowers which are commonly used in different wycinaki designs. Included in this image are the paper patterns I made as well.
I would love to wallpaper a room in wycinaki...someday I will.

10.31.11

Here is my little neighbor wearing the polar bear costume I made for her! It was a little large on her when we did the fitting but with the cold weather her parents used that extra space to layer on the clothes underneath...which is great because it ruins it when you have to put your winter coat over your costume. I can say without even being biased that she was the cutest trick or treater I received.

10.30.11

My flight attendant costume for Saturday night Halloween parties. I made my garrison cap hat along with the airplane on it (which I made out of cardboard and gold paint). I also made pilot wings to hand out and I borrowed a seatbelt from my local auto garage as a prop that I could use to display how to buckle up for a flight. Sadly, a mixture of snowy slush hit upstate NY so the turn out for the party was pretty sparse. I have plenty of hand colored pilot wings left over.

10.23.11

Lately I've been working on Halloween related projects. I spent some time carving these Yoda and R2D2 pumpkins to decorate my front steps. However, since putting them on my steps a squirrel has eaten one of Yoda's ears and his upper lip.



My neighbors have hired my hands to make their 3 yr old daughter a polar bear costume. I used two different white furs for contrast on the belly and ears as well as a cute floral fabric to line the hood. I just finished the last few touches on it today (ice-like buttons and black claws). Tomorrow I will unveil it for the little girl. I really hope she likes it.



For my own costume, I plan on being a 1960's stewardess. I had most of the clothing items for the costume (red pencil skirt and red blazer). I found a charming silk scarf with different worldly destinations painted on it to tie around my neck. I am making a red hat and will be adding gold trim to the blazer. Above are drawings of the pilot wings I plan to make out of plastic which I will hand out to other special Halloween guests. The pilot wing design comes from a vintage pair I found online that was tagged as either being the wings for enlisted airmen or a special set of wings made to give out to sweethearts (which I liked). I chose the design for authenticity as well as for the fact that it didn't advertise any one airline.

9.28.11

Lately my spirits have been quite low. I am working on many projects but yet I am not fully pleased with my surroundings. After another work day filled with brainstorming on how to improve on my situation, I left feeling low once again. But then as I was stepping out onto the brick I looked down to find that a gift had been left for me on the ground; this beautiful bird wing. It's bright yellow accents had caught my eye and while other workers passed by I gently bent down to examine it further. It made my day to find this wing and what brought even more happiness to me was knowing the perfect person to send it on to.

9.24.11

For my friend Kendal's birthday I drew her in paper doll form along with several outfits that she wore in real life. On this page is an outfit she wore to an art opening; black dress and fur. I also made her a mustache face mask with a petite blonde mustache.