Mosaic Book Done

I have to say, this book was one of those ideas that sounded so perfect when it was formulated and if anything made me realize that sometimes I don't think things through enough before just diving in. I had no idea how much time this book would take when I first started it and it was a painstaking ordeal to actually get me to finish it . . . FINALLY. In the end, I look at it and think that it was all worth it. I love the way the book turned out in the end. I really hope my mother likes it, because most likely it will be the only book I make like that. I realize now, that I was too picky, too particular about the way I set up the mosaic . . . I wanted it to look just right, I wanted certain colors next to others and certain shapes.


Back


Front


Details









All of the little mosaic pieces are blended polymer clay that was rolled out, cut into geometric shapes, separated on a cookie sheet, and then baked. They were glued on with mod podge and sealed with black acrylic paint that was applied with a pastry bag and a very fine point frosting tip. I realize now that there are steps I could have taken to make it easier on myself, but I wanted it to look precisely how it was in my head . . . did it end up that way in all actuality? No, there were things that didn't work the way I wanted it to and ideas had to be changed, but it turned out all for the better.

The inside:

And the affairs continued . . .

Ah, another affair, this one was short and sweet . . . my sister, Rhoni, asked for a specific type of head band, so this was created:








This was a simple moss stitch over five stitches. That was the only annoying problem, k1,p1,k1,p1,k1, turn . . . over and over. But she loves it and would like some more in the future, so that is good!


I am sure you may not remember this beauty . . . this has been a VERY rocky affair. One of way too many frustrations to perfection, but we have definitely worked together recently and we are working to complete our relationship so that it may move on to one who will hopefully love it unconditionally. It is almost done, a few more clay tiles and some final sealing. Honestly, I am quite proud of how it is turning out, some ideas were changed. Somethings, just work out.











I have also done a little spinning, but on the spindle it looks like I have done nothing, so I won't bother you with a pic of that.

*hides* I also bought more clearance Red Heart Sport to knit some more hats - - half off some of the colors at my Michaels.

That ends my cheating behavior for now, but I can guarantee nothing for the future.

Slow Moving

Again, it bears repeating . . . do not let me do another mosaic project unless it doesn't have to be done until I am seventy years old. I am still working on my mother's mosaic journal. Yes, I realize that initially I was suppose to bring it to her on my visit back in the beginning of June, but I just couldn't get it finished in time. So, I am still working on it now that Art Camp is over. Here is my meager progress.










I still need to finish the mosaic part, put the green trim over the binding and potentially fill in the cracks with something either see through or black. Yikes, I know . . . it takes me too long because I want it to look just right. Yes, yes, I realize I am a bit of a perfectionist or ocd, whichever you want to consider it.

Holy Heat!

Well it has gotten quite warm here in Buffalo and threw everyone for a bit a loop. My plants are happy and yet a little in shock and my body is freaking a little as I am having trouble sleeping, but it's suppose to cool down a little here. I gave up and pulled the radishes and carrots when I just had to admit to myself that there wasn't enough sunshine for the root parts to really grow adequately. Go figure, then we have a heat wave. Oh well.

I have been working on my crafts. Crappy in house lighting taken because when I was ready to take pictures a thunder shower was occurring, that's what you get with this kind of heat and humidity. See how Justice's doll is coming:








I have been making some little birdies:






I think it is weird on this on how part of the flower looks like an eye and beak.


I am making these as kitty/ferret toys. The pattern comes from this site .


I have also been working on my mother's journal:






I know the journal isn't very far, but it's taking me a while because I want it to look just right. The amount you see here was all that was accomplished during 101 Dalmatians cartoon. Oh well, better get working.


I have been working on some other things too, but not enough that it warrants any pictures. Well, that's all for today.

Longer Post with nifty WIPs

Well, today's post will be longer because work was cancelled. We are having some icky spring like weather here in Buffalo, which doesn't work well when one works at an ice cream shop. Oh well, more goodies.

First up is going to be the project for my mother that I mentioned yesterday. I have actually been mentally thinking about this for more than about 6 month or so and it is finally really coming together in my head, on paper, and on swatches.







This is my swatch so far. The bottom area is just regular stockinette stitch, then lace stitch I will be using for the background (most of the shawl), part of the chart I made for a frog (you see his toes and the bottom part of his legs), and then the top portion is where I am trying out the lace edging I intend on using (haven't gotten very far on that section though).

Here are a couple of close-up pics of the swatch.












The yarn I am using is lace weight Knit Picks Shadow in Basalt (100% Merino wool) with 2.25mm (1US) needles. I really like how the yarn looks. I was a little iffy when ordering it cause I know how colors can change from monitor to monitor, but it is beautiful. The gray is really made up of different colors that can be seen when you look closely. These pics kind of suck because I couldn't get any good light outside because it started getting really icky outside.


I also wanted to share with you my latest yarn that I spun. It is wool roving that was ordered off the internet. I dyed it with wiltons cake dyes as roving and then spun it. I am calling it Pacific Northwest, because that is where I am from and it reminds me of home. These pics are of it just after it finished drying . . . my technique of wrapping it around a large water bottle . . . blame living in a smallish apartment. It was navajo plied, also on a spindle.










I have a couple other spinning WIPs right now, I'll try to get some pictures of them up. I spin with a spindles right now although I do hope to one day own a wheel. To be fair though, there are many craft items I hope to one day own, so . . . it could be a long time coming. Maybe once I am done with school and get rich off of being a teacher . . . ha ha ha ha ha! Oh well, we all have our dreams.

The last thing I am going to show you today is a journal that I am working on for my mother. Yes, I realize I make a lot of things for my mother, but it's easy to make things for her when she actually does appreciate hand-made items since she does a fair amount of crafts herself. Anyways, the outside of the journal and spine are matte board, while the inside are pages taken out of a composition book(3 notebooks worth). I am in the middle of making the "tile" pieces I need to make the design on the outside. The "tiles" I am using are really sculpey and fimo rolled out, cut into little pieces, and baked. I like this way better because there are no sharp edges for her to cut or snag on.













Well, that's all for today everyone. I need to go do some tidying up and work on some crafts. I am sure you will learn quickly that I have many WIPs going on at one time and this is needed due to my short attention span and boat load of ideas.