Drawing Basics: Seeing in Shapes

Recently I have taken up drawing in pen and ink as an inexpensive, relaxing, creative activity. I have never been much of a “classic” artist, but I figured that there are a lot of styles and techniques out there, and with some practice I could be good one.

 No matter what technique of drawing you use, one of the most important basic concepts to employ is what I call “seeing in shapes.” This is when you can look at a model of what you are drawing, or lay out your drawing in the shapes it is broken down in first.

It can be overwhelming to dive right into a massive landscape, for example, with intricate details and colors. However, when you see in shapes it becomes much more manageable. Even drawing something simple, breaking it down into shapes can be very helpful.

Let’s take this flower:

 Now break it down. It should look something like this:

 It’s not the most beautiful or accurate flower in the world, but it has good shape to be the building blocks of whatever your personal style is. From here, this flower can become a realistic study, a cartooned delight, a modern reinterpretation, etc. With good bones, this flower can become good art.

Cats and Crafts

Cats are the most dangerous natural predator to the unsuspecting craft. Many an innocent crochet project has been turned to nothing better than a tangled mess of string and broken dreams in the vicious paws of these ferocious beasts. However, every once in a great while, the crafts manage to outsmart their nemesis, besting it while it lays bloated on expected victory.

Observe the cat and its prey in their natural habitat: my kitchen table.

The cat lays atop its latest conquest: fabric laid out to be cut.

Sated and filled with the glorious fruits of victory, the cat dozes...

This was a mistake! The crafts choose this time to strike, when the cat is vulnerable and unsuspecting.

Pinned down by pattern pieces and his own treacherous pride, the cat cannot put up a defense. Soon, he is rendered blind.

Helpless and trapped, the crafts proceed to consume the cat, turning nature on its head in an epic and mysterious circle of life.

***No animals or crafts were hurt in the making of this documentary.***

Balance

A short note about the artistic concept of Balance. Balance is defined as the way in which the elements of a piece are arranged. Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and is used in absolutely all craft designs, whether you realize it or not.

Symmetrical balance is usually considered more formal, classic, and stately. This is when all elements are laid out with equal weight such as in this picture:



Asymmetrical balance is less formal, and, depending on the extent of the asymmetry, can be whimsical, or downright absurdest. Asymmetry also tends to make a piece feel more dynamic. This is when elements of the design are laid out with varying weights and proportions such as in these pictures, arranged from least to most asymmetrical:



There are, of course, more design elements involved in balance than just symmetry or lack thereof, but it is a good place to start. Once you decide the overall balance of a piece, you can worry about radial or lineal symmetry, space and color. Planning out the balance of a piece can help to find your artistic voice, and convey it more clearly.

Luggage Helper

Saw this idea on Pinterest, to make a travel kit from a washcloth, and thought I could add my own little flare to it.

The idea is to make a toothbrush and odds and ends holder that will absorb the water and keep your travel accessories nice and neat.

They are super simple to make, and are great gifts!

You will need:
A washcloth (I got a set of four from the dollar store)
Matching Thread
A needle
A few pins
An 18" length of ribbon
Some scrap fabric

Step 1: Fold the washcloth, leaving about 2 inches at the top. Pin in place. Fold the ribbon in half and pin about half-way up one side. Sew up both side edges.

Step 2: Sew 3-4 lines into the folded part of the washcloth, forming the pockets.

(You can be done now if you do not want to personalize your kit)

Optional Step 3: Cut an initial or simple design from your scrap fabric. Pin to the backside, above the pockets. Applique in place.

Optional Step 4: Tuck a small toothbrush, a comb, toothpaste, a handful of band-aids, a travel pack of Advil, etc. Keep it for yourself, or give as a great gift! I made one of these up for my mom, husband, brother, etc, in lieu of Easter baskets this year, and tucked candy bars in with the other goodies! They were a huge hit.

Knit "Potter" Scarves

When I was in high school, I learned how to knit. I did this with the sole intention of making myself, and maybe some friends, Harry Potter house scarves.

I have never really stopped making them, and have gotten far more intricate in my designs. The first ones were very simple block stripes, straight boring knit the whole way, with relatively large needles. Now, they look more like this:

You will need:

2 balls primary color yarn
1 ball secondary color yarn
(I prefer Vanna's Choice or Carron Simply Soft)
Size 8 needles (this is not super important - you can size up or down to your taste)
Scissors

Cast on 28 with Primary color
Row 1: K2, P2 until end
Row 2: P2 K2 until end
Repeat, row 3-34
Change to Secondary color
Row 34-37: Repeat K/P pattern with secondary color
Change to Primary color
Row 38-43: Continue with Primary
Change to Secondary
Row 44-53: Continue with Secondary
Change to Primary
Row 54-59: Continue with Primary
Change to Secondary
Row 60-63: Continue with Secondary
Change to Primary, repeat Rows 1-63 until desired length

OR (in simple terms)

Cast on 28 with Primary color
Odd rows, K2, P2
Even Rows P2, K2
The pattern:
34 rows Primary
4 rows Secondary
6 Rows Primary
10 Rows Secondary
6 Rows Primary
4 Rows Secondary
Repeat until desired length

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Jar crafts

Around the holidays, everyone likes to put up all those recipe-in-a-jar things, but honestly, they are getting old. There are so many other cute and creative things you can do with jars that will last longer than those cookies! Here are just a few ideas.

A. Make a terrarium in a jar. I found some instructions, and this picture at the HGTV site. However, their instructions seem overly complicated to me. (Be warned, I am terrible with plants and growing things, but I do love them.)

So I did this my own way.

You will need:

• A jar
• pebbles or gravel
• potting soil
• a plant (I suggest a small succulent or cactus, or if you are as bad as I am, a nice fake silk plant.)
• decorations (twigs, moss, colored glass gems or marbles...whatever tickles your fancy!)

1. Wash your jar and dry it. Add a thin layer of gravel or small rocks to the bottom.

2. Add some potting soil.

3. Use chopsticks or a spoon to make an indent for your plant.

4. Put plant in the indent and scootch dirt around so roots are covered. Add more dirt with spoon if needed.

5. Decorate. Put in some pretty glass gems, some twigs, even a layer of moss or small glass animals and fake flowers. Anything you want to make it pretty and fun.

6. Water. When you water, use a very small amount, as there is little drainage.

7. Put someplace partly sunny and enjoy.


B. Make a keepsake jar.

Instead of buying dull picture frames, make a keepsake or memory jar of a special event or outing.

I first saw the idea here, at Women's World

You don't need much - just a jar and your bits and pieces! You may want a magic marker or paper label to write down the date and place the items are from.

1. Gather your treasures
2. Label your jar
3. Fill your jar with your treasures.

A few helpful tips:

• If you want to put small pictures in, use sand or small stones to hold your photo upright.
• Using long tweezers or chopsticks to get things right where you want helps immensly!
• If you are concerned about your treasures getting knocked out of place, dab a bit of quick-drying glue on the bottom as you place them, or even a small piece of double-sided tape.

You can make these as great wedding or shower mementos, use them for baby keepsakes, give them as gifts handcrafted about a special memory or place that you and a loved one share, etc, etc. The possibilities are endless, and they make great conversation pieces! Great projects for a scout troop or club! Fantastic for book reports - use items that are important for the plot or characters in the book and impress your teachers! Overall, have fun with them :)

C. Savings Jar

I just love putting change into a jar until it is finally full and I can find out all the money I didn't know I had.

Cute savings jars are simple to make.

You will need:

• A jar
• glue or tape
• decorations (I like to print out pictures and clip art)

1. Decorate your jar. Going on a trip? Put a picture of the place. Saving for a fun new toy? Tape an ad for it on there. Want party fun money? Decorate with glitter and streamers. Have fun!
2. If you are feeling mean, or need the extra motivation, glue a lid with a slit cut in it onto your jar. Metal canning jar lids make this tough, but coffee cans with plastic tops work great!

A few silly ideas to give these as gifts (with a small starter fund if you're feeling generous):
-boob-job jar for a close gal pal (with a sense of humor)
-retirement fund jar for parents/older friends and loved ones
-pirate booty jar for a younger child
-babysitter money for new parents
-iCoin for the tech and gadget guy in your life
-car money for a sweet sixteen
-beer money for the recent grad
-honeymoon fund for a bridal or jack and jill party

So save your jars and up-cycle them into something way more fun!

Intro to Bum Rolls

I know it sounds totally silly, but bum rolls are the best. I do not profess to know the whole history and such of them, but they are basically used to give your skirt some oomph.

For example, here is my behind without a bum roll.

And here it is with a bum roll.

It's like an old-school booty-pop.

For any sort of costume or skirt that requires a bit of scaffolding around the mid-section, they are the way to go. No need to make a complicated bustle skirt when you can tuck a bum roll under a pleated or gathered skirt for much the same effect, and much less hassle.

Even if you have the skill, time, and energy to make a full bustle skirt, a bum roll will still give it that extra pop that the style demands.

Best part is, they are crazy easy to make.

You will need:

• a few yards or scrap fabric (or 2-3 old t-shirts)
• scissors
• a needle and thread
• ribbon or string

You can make these a few different sizes and such, but the method remains the same. The one I am wearing wraps from the front of my hips around, with only a small section missing in the front, across my stomach. I wear it under Renaissance-style costumes. You can also make these so they just sit directly above your bottom, to go for a more Victorian look. They can be as large or small as you want.

Step one: Measure how long you want your bum roll to be.

Step two: Fold 2/3 (or 2 of your t-shirts) to this length.

Step three: Fold the remaining 1/3 so it is about 4 inches shorter. Place it on top of the longer fabric, in the center.

Step four: Roll all of your fabric together, as tight as you can, and pin in place.

Step five: Hand sew along this line, with doubled thread for strength. **It does not matter if your stitches are pretty, no one will see them.**

Step six: Sew a length of ribbon onto each end, long enough that you can tie the roll just below your waist.

Step seven: Wear and enjoy!