Storage solution for paper paintings

Studio update:  Storage and organization.  So, I have been producing new paintings; however, storage and protecting my completed paintings have been an issue. With an outdoor shed converted into a studio, little critters such as lizards,  find my studio as a heaven on earth.  Yes the little buggers, are waiting at my studio door ready to enter as I open the door to begin a painting session.  

Already one painting was tossed into the trash after a lizard relieved itself on it.  Here is where I get frustrated.  

 So my main concern with storage is how to protect my watercolors while they are in different stages and once they are complete.  ( Since we live in a small house, I really want the artwork to stay in the studio....not in the house) 

Solution:  chest of drawers.  Chest of drawers are narrow and tall.....that works for my space.  After a couple of weeks of looking around on garbage pick up day and not coming up with a set of chest of drawers, I realized it was time to hit the junk store.  (Mind you I have upcycled all my furniture in the studio)  I was very lucky!  The first store Glenn and I went to we purchased a nice chest of drawer that needed a little TLC..........nothing difficult.  

Check it out:

Perfect size

However, I wasn't happy with the brown stain.........too dark for the studio space.  So I repainted the chest of drawers  to match my desk.

Check it out:

Heirloom White

Lined with vinyl inside drawers

I was very fortunate that Mother Nature held her rain for two straight days here..............so I was able to knock this project out.  

Already I started to organize the drawers and fill with watercolor drawings.   The chest of drawers was a great solution at a minimal cost.  All total I spent $80.00 (for chest, paint, and lining) What a deal!

Here is a detail shot of my latest painting (which will now be safe from lizards)

Untitled for now

New Artwork

 Last remaining wall went up a couple of weeks ago in the studio. Finally my studio feels closer to completion. (Although next year's project will be adding a ceiling and solar panels)  Currently I am organizing the studio....basically figuring out where to put my supplies.  There is nothing more frustrating to know you have a particular paint brush but you can't put your hands on it. 

 In between organizing, I have been working on new paintings.  I have to admit.....it has been a struggle.   I decided to go into a different direction then oils.  I have been using charcoal, watercolors and pencil.  

Since my studio feels like it is located in a forest, it was only natural to be influenced by my surroundings.

My goal is to create original paintings; have giclees made from them and sell the giclees on Etsy.  I haven't set up an Etsy account yet, because from what I gather you really need at least 36 images.   I am no where near that, but at least I have started.  

Today I did send off for two giclees.  I am excited to see how they turn out. (They are considered test runs)

Also in the fall, two artists and myself will have a Yard Art Sale.  Basically in my front yard we will have tables and art to sell for one weekend.  I am looking forward to letting go of some older works. 

Check out my newest paintings. 

Dangerous Mushrooms 

Waiting for Spring

Wrapped in Fall

Hello There

 Hello There,

So nice to have time to mention a few projects I have completed.  

The holidays seem so far away, but I did want to share a a couple of hand embroidered bookmarks I gave as gifts.  Check it out:

The designs came from this sweet little book.  The designs are simple and easy to hand stitch. 

Moving on to the outdoors.  I really wanted to create a seating area outside my studio door.  So, the hubby and I went to Home Depot and lugged a bunch of bricks home.  The size of the area is  about 12' wide by about 4' deep.  It took around 200 bricks to complete the project.  I did throw some thyme seeds in the space between the bricks......I hope I will have a carpet of thyme, but we will have to see.

Inside the studio, I realized the little ones, ( the name I gave to our two new little dogs) needed a dog bed.  They love to hang out in the studio with me when I paint.  So back into the sewing room and I sewed up this cute cotton dog bed.  I have been wanting an excuse to use the giant zigzag tape, so I got my wish.  I used it as trim around the bed.  Nola loves her new bed.  I now need to sew one for Morpheus.  They don't like to share.  Oh well. Check it out: 

OK Nola doesn't like taking photos

Stay safe and keep creating!    

Simplicity 8947...easy peasy

 So I have been lap swimming outdoors for a year now, and I really wanted to sew up a pool dress for fall.  (A cute simple dress that will get me through the gym to my vehicle)   I found Simplicity 8947 and new it was the right pattern for my pool dress . This is a super easy pattern to sew.  Here is the low down:

Pattern has a lot of ease. I sewed the Medium size with no adjustments.  The fabric I choose is a terry knit that I picked up from Hobby Lobby. For the dress, I sewed up image D, but I did use the arm pattern of image A.  I do like the way the dress came out.  I can totally see sewing this dress in a nice sweatshirt fabric and possibly adding some embellishments to the sleeve. However, the sleeves do need to be shortened a tad for my next dress.

Pool dress for Fall

My sister took this photo using her cool phone's photo app

Oh, I wanted to mention this dress could be sewn in a day.....I sewed it in a weekend because of other projects. 

Lastly, I re-filmed Paper Cut Out Collage.  The new video is less quirky and has more content.  Check it out:

https://vimeo.com/453420067

Studio curtains please

 The studio is coming along nicely.  Currently I have been sewing curtains for my windows.  I really wanted to sew up something non-fussy...............So this is what I came up with.  

Quilted cotton with a floral pattern.  Check it out:

Next up:  To sew a chair cushion in a quilted cotton with a different pattern.  I plan to make my own piping.  

Lastly, here is a link to my most recent How to video titled:  "Paper Cut Out Collage".  Enjoy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xPD3SB5kQykpYTgrv7u8WpqFlpN4q6tI/view

Mosquitoes, please stay out of my studio

New Orleans is famous for so many fun wonderful things, but also the dreaded mosquitoes.  Rain can pop up anytime.  You may be out and the skies are blue and out of nowhere a downpour.  So it is not surprising that we have a lot of mosquitoes.  

Since the studio does not have any air conditioning, it is important for me to keep the main door open for air flow; which also is a welcome mat for mosquitoes to come in.  Bummer.  

My solution, sheers hung inside the door way.   I was fortunate to have some extra sheers stored in my closet, for a project I decided against.  

I wasn't sure if the sheers would keep the mosquitoes out, but they actually work.  Check it out:

Outside view

Inside view with my little dog Nola. 

I left the sheers open for this photo but I usually keep them closed while in the studio. 

Maybe this will help someone who is suffering from mosquito bites too. 

Stay healthy and safe.

Christin 

Looking like an Art Studio

    So for the past couple of months I have been pushing myself to make an art studio a reality.  I have had art supplies and paintings stored away in boxes for the past five years and finally I reached a point where I could unbox my treasures and put them on display.  ( With only 4 more boxes to unpack, my goal feels obtainable.)   To me there is a little light shining through these unusual times.  

Since my husband now works from home.....my studio desk turned into his work desk.  Bummer.  So with a very slim budget and with my little pick up truck, it was time to hunt down some trash finds.  Yes, you can always count on the end of the month for people to put furniture out on the side of the road for trash pickup.  I ended up scoring three nice finds:  a sewing table with sewing machine, a small shelving unit and a rolling cart.  

I removed the sewing machine, lightly sanded and cleaned the table.  Prepping is important for re-purposing furniture.  Then I spray painted the table with Rustoleum painters touch 2x.  Paint and primer.   I love this stuff.  Easily applied and goes on smoothly.  Anyway, I did the same prep work for the rolling cart and shelving unit.  To dress up the small shelf unit I did decoupage the back with decorative paper.  It came out ok. .....a little wrinkled but for the studio......I am fine. For decoupaging I used white glue mixed with water and brushed it on.  Of course I sprayed it with a final clear coat for protection. 

Check it out. 

Looking Like an Art Studio.  The sewing table is to the left. I painted it off white and added bird pull handles which I painted with the same off white.

Check out the decoupage shelving unit:

Shelving Unit with decoupage.  Spray painted off white and used decorative paper.  Rolling cart to the right was spray painted vintage blue.  The cart holds my small printing press.

Oh, I completed another how to (drawing) video.  This one is GLITTER YOUR MANGA CHARACTER.  I thought it would be fun to add glitter to a manga character I created.  I think the kids will like it.  Some lessons I learned.  Vimeo lets you posts your video for free as long as you don't go over the 500 mg once a week.  So the first video I did was 504 mg and I naively thought they would post it.  Well they did for a second and took it down.  So now I know before posting make sure it is 500 or less.  Also, I figured out that my videos can be about 4 minutes and stay below the 500 mark.  This is good to know, so that if I see my clips are too long then I can edit them smaller before turning them into a mp4.  

Here is the link: (will have to update in about a week)

Ok, so if you go over your weekly limit for Vimeo they do not release it the following week.  Instead they lock your video unless you pay for upgrade.  Lesson learned.  So I uploaded my video to my Google drive and then made the link viewable to everyone.

Without further delay, Glitter Your Manga Character How to video:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-szsJb4necuc0T4kzGO0TA7UQ8Y9z8Vn/view

 Also, here is the first video, How to Make an Abstract Watercolor.  So I went ahead an uploaded it to my Google Drive since I deleted my Vimeo account.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gcZVbdLJUnD5cbiTWpWLtEgpgLnpeZQ1/view

 Stay healthy and safe,

Christin