Free People 2009 Holiday Craft Swap

I'm putting this up now as i'm pretty sure it's been long enough and my parcel has probably reached it's destination by now.
I sent this out on the 8th of December as I finished it pretty quick.
A little pamphlet book in pretty butterfly paper.
I had it all wrapped up and ready to go when I suddenly realised I hadn't taken any photos! XD
So this is what I managed to grab.
Hope my recipient liked it.

Blog Pimpin and OMG IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS AND I HAVE NOTHING READY YET

Follow my blog with bloglovin
Testing out something new.

Also, now that I am on break from one of my jobs, I'm catching up on making some presents (yes I'm a little behind).

If I don't get a chance to say it later, have a safe, happy and fun Christmas with all the family shenanigans and present opening and trimmings that apply!
Much love. <3

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Crafting on the Job

These days, I don't take my laptop to work with me very much anymore, not so much due to lack of time to use it, but more so because I've become a little obsessed with making cards and soft cover books. I rarely get much time after work to make any so in quiet times at work, I unpack the crafting goodies and set to work.




One thing working in this fashion has taught me is how to work faster; I get more binding and crafting and drawing done for the 8 hours I'm 'on the clock' than I do any other time of the day/week. :)
It's a good thing I'm part owner of the business I work at lol.

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Entries to ... something

Sketch and preview of a pic I've been working on for a competition of sorts.
Also part of an in progress series of images.

The Great Origami Giveaway @ The Paper Place

Like I wouldn't blog about this!
The Paper Place is having a brilliant give-away of a mountain of origami paper.

Clicking on the picture takes you to the competition post.

Anyone who knows me knows my passion for anything washi related at all, so of course I'm entering this one. XD
Head on over there to join in!


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Happy 60th Birthday, Mum!

Today is my mother's 60th birthday, a milestone in my eyes. I certainly hope I'm as lively and youthful as she is now when I turn 60!
I bought her a lovely herbal foot spa with river stones (she'll be indulging in that tonight) and I also made her this book with materials I knew she'd love (turquoise silk for the spine, which I paper backed, and a lovely metallic patterned paper she went gaga over when I first bought it ^^).
The pages are a lovely, cream coloured cotton paper with a delicate texture, really nice to write/doodle in.
She was very very impressed with it, she initially thought I'd bought it somewhere! When I told her I'd made it she started tearing up, it was so sweet :) I'm just very happy she liked it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMITA QUERIDA!!! I LOVE YOU!!

Gift wrapped with love and ready to go!

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Navy and Pink

Latest little book I worked on, just a prototype at the moment though, I accidently missed a signature for some reason lol, must have been too eager to finish! XD
This one was made with thick navy blue silk card, floral patterned pink card for the end papers and off-white parchment paper. The binding is in waxed cotton in a similar pink to the floral papers. Little pink crystal bead for decoration.
Yes. I like pink ^_^.

Oops, bad colour adjustments in this shot ^ ... Bad Vee, BAD!!

My favourite thing about this book is that the end papers sit just a little past the covers when the book is closed, it gives a peek of that lovely, contrasting pink and balances the pink bindings. :)
That's all for now.

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Hoarding - First it was silks, now it's paper

I really can't help myself can I; if it's pretty and hoard-able and comes in various lovely patterns and colours, then likely I will hoard it. XD

Current obsession is paper.
I ran out of room in my little quarters so I'm having to make space by making my shelving go up.
It's working rather well ^_^ Need MOAR SPACE!!

New shelf number one: Expensive decorative papers, mountboard, vellums and relaxing bookblocks.

Shelf number two: Bulk lots of decorative papers, handmade papers, paper pads and bookbinding books. Also stamps, nik-naks and out of date calender fail.

Currently working on.

Doggy approves.

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PE Fairytale Exchange

PE (private exchange group) 'Fairytale Exchange'.
Painting of Ary Makabe for Xanedrian. ^^
Image is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, The Wild Swans (one of my favs).

Clicking on the image is a must for detail. :P

Painted over a pencil sketch in Painter.
References for the swans used (duh, I'm not that good).
Lots of rather time consuming rendering but fun and relaxing change of pace for me lately.
The story this is based on can be found here: http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheWildSwans_e.htm

I'll be adding more close up and detail shots later this week, but for now it's 3am and I have to work tomorrow (today... in a few hours... x_x). G'night!

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Pamphlet Book Swap - Photos

My first book swap at the BookArts Forum was a hardcover pamphlet, which I'd never made before so it was both fun and a learning experience!
I love making these little things, it's so addictive.

Now that I've received confirmation that my swap partner received the book (and is happy with it, yay!), I can post a few of the photos I managed to take just before I sent it (I only remembered on the day I was sending it so didn't get a chance to look at the pictures till now, thus some are a little blurry, apologies ^^' ).









Materials used were:
Japanese silk paper in pale pink, reinforced, for the spine
Pink vellum with a cherry blossom design for inside papers
Dark grey metallic paper with white fans design for the covers
Cream metallic paper for the endpapers
130gsm, textured, cream coloured calligraphy paper for the book block
Vintage silk from a Japanese kimono in gunmetal grey for the slipcase.


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A Post About (almost) Nothing

Oh wow it's been a while since I updated last :(
I'm still here, just working a lot, trying to earn the monies to spend some time in Darwin for Christmas this year! yays!

Hectic and overcrowded work schedule means not so much time for the crafty/arty stuffs, so all I can offer right now is a few snippets of works in progress, so I at least don't look like such a tool and post a blog about nothing lol.

Colour test for a character portrait

Initial sketch for an ACEO style artwork.

Hopefully, I'll remember to update this place more often, I actually do have a few other natural media works ready to scan, but scanner and I have a rather tumultuous relationship (ie. I hate scanning).

Take care.
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Finished Something!!

Haven't completely finished a drawing/artwork in a while now, so it's a good feeling when it's finally done :)
Drawn on tan mountboard then inked in various colours with Sakura Micron pens. Coloured with coloured pencil. The full size image is actually a little smaller than the work itself which measures 9.7cm x 15cm.
Sorry about the watermarks, this one's going up for sale (without the watermarks of course).

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Updated Serpentine Girl Sketch

Just an update on one of the sketches from my previous post.
I'd say this one's about ready to be inked now. :)

Click on the image for a close-up, there's a lot of detail in there.

Sketches and WIP's - September ALREADY?!

High Tea at Tea and Niceties

My first high tea!
Had a very nice time with a friend at Tea and Niceties, on Tamborine Mt, a short walk away from my house (we drove).
It was a very 'proper' experience and after we got over the uncertainty of exactly how we were supposed to behave in such a dainty place, we enjoyed lovely tea and edibles and conversation.
All those little sandwiches and cakes, though they may look small, are incredibly filling. Not to mention, delicious. :D

Also, I've never seen so much pink in one room before.



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Ink Works in Progress

Better late then never ^^

I've been doing more bookbinding then drawing lately but here's a few works in progress I'm slowly chipping away at.
Mainly during work, of course.


Both are drawn with Sakura Micron pens. <3
Ink washes to come.


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Gold and Girl Book - a quick preview

Latest book I've been working on.
This one took me a little longer due to the drawing I added to the cover.

Do take a look at the full size image (click on it) for better detail.

The book is soft card cover with a reinforcement of a secondary inside cover of gold paper, same paper used for the cover drawing. The pages are thick, off-white paper, bordering on cardstock; really nice to draw or write on.
The book will come in a silk case, once I get it done lol.

The drawing itself was done in sepia pen which I moved around with a detail brush and a little water, to get that watercolour effect. Highlights were added in opaque white pencil.

Unfortunately, pearly gold paper doesn't photograph very well. Click to enlarge for a better view.


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Elle Portrait Sketch

Portrait of another character from Felicien's storyline, Elle.
She's a follower of the Gothic Lolita fashion. ;D


A few basic stats:
Name: Elle
Age: 18
Hair colour: naturally light brown, dyed black and white and pink
Eye colour: blue
Height: 5ft 9" (175cm give or take)


Soon to be painted as well ^^

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Fee Mini Portrait Repaint (Minor update: hair)

!Compression! Kill it with fire!! (by clicking)

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