Thursday, May 24, 2012

who ever knew making a pair of pajama pants was so difficult?

if you did know, someone should have told me :)
i found a do it yourself drawstring pants project on martha stewart's website
http://www.marthastewart.com/268829/drawstring-pants-how-to


seemed easy enough. i printed out the template and had to put it together with scotch tape. i cut a "front" and "back" piece and realized that something didn't seem right. the instructions were so confusing to me. i think i might be a dingbat when it comes to sewing. maybe there is just basic stuff you are suppose to know before using a sewing machine or using patterns/templates and i haven't found that lesson yet.

for me, i need more specific instructions. tell me how many pieces to cut. tell me what side to put the template on before i cut it. show me pictures of each step. i don't know, i was so confused. i couldn't follow the instructions. i took my 4 pieces of material and put it together the way i could. i thought of it like a puzzle.

look at the finished piece, do you see a problem? well, all of my pieces were cut the same way. i had to turn 2 pieces the wrong way to make it fit. plus, i couldn't figure out which was the front or back piece anymore. and then i accidentally sewed the crotch area on the wrong side so the middle looked like it was inside out. when i took it apart, the material is so thin and cheap, it ripped in some areas. i kept thinking to myself "i can't believe i'm having fun doing this". oh and geez, you should have seen me when i realized i didn't have holes for my drawstring to come through.

maybe i shouldn't have thrown away the template. i need to try this again the "right way". i went to the website just to see it again. i found a video for it but it wasn't very specific either. i'll figure it out :) i'm going to do some research on youtube before i do another sewing project.

putting the pattern together

final pattern pieces

fabric cut, but something doesn't seem right

something is definitely wrong but i did it!

at least it's wearable :) 

Monday, May 14, 2012

tried again and...

what a challenge! i picked something "easy". a simple card wallet. i did learn something about myself, i don't follow instructions well! this is ironic because when i cook by a recipe, i always follow it exactly the way it's written. one problem i had, i did not source the blog i found this project on so when it said to copy the template for folding and placing the velcro, well, i didn't have it available. i tried to find the blog but no such luck. so i improvised. i only had industrial velcro available and it has a tacky backing to stick it wherever you need. i tried to sew it in place and ruined my sewing machine needle! oh the shenanigans of sewing :)

Monday, May 7, 2012

my first sewing project

i was given this sewing machine from someone who didn't need it anymore. i decided to do something "easy" for my first project. coasters! it was a bit challenging at first. i was doing a lot of talking to myself, something i don't normally do. but i got through it and voila! i made 2 coasters. kudos to all who know how to work a sewing machine! i see how practice makes perfect :) i really want to make my own apron. another friend gave me a book of easy sewing projects, which is where i got the coasters idea. the apron i want to make is in this book.  i think i better practice making a few more coasters if i want the apron to look good. i now understand the importance of precision in cutting fabric too. i skipped the step where it told me to use a fabric marker and ruler before cutting. i also now understand the importance of following instructions carefully :) even through all the frustration, i really had a lot of fun doing this. the best part was that moment when "aha" happened & i suddenly figured it out. then another "aha" happened when i figured out the next problem. and then that big "oh, ok" when i really realized that i figured out what i was doing. i can't wait to try this again & discover a few more of those "aha" moments.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

goals for may

i've had a few days off from work and actually did a lot. i've had a list of "to dos" for months now and i just got most of that list done! one of those things to do was to make thank you cards and mail them. i always have fun making cards. and i love using all of the stuff i already have.

i've also been doing a lot of thinking. so for the month of may i decided on a few goals:
1. do a drawing a day (i need to fill up my sketchbooks)
2. no eating out (i will save a lot of money)
3. walk or ride my bike at least once a day (bike ride as soon as i put air in my tires)
4. finish reading the hunger games (a friend asked me to read it then i guess we'll go see the movie)
5. absolutely no more than 1 soda a day (drink water instead)

i think it can be done. no, i know it can be done. so let's see. today, i haven't done a drawing yet but i will as soon as i get off of the computer :) i did not eat out today and i only drank one glass of cherry coke. i took a nap instead of a walk and as soon as i'm done with my drawing i will read until i fall asleep.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

final painting portfolio

my first painting for the class. it made it into the student exhibition. the assignment was simply direct observation.

this was the most difficult painting i have ever done! the assignment was to do something with a skewed perspective.

this is my narrative piece. baxter like a lot of dogs loves to go bye-bye. where we're going, he doesn't care.
so i'm done with this semester. i have a summer to draw, paint, create, read, explore, whatever i want to do. i'm excited :) i really want to take a photography workshop so i can take better photos of my work, well just to be able to take better photos!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

frustration?

i'm frustrated because i cannot express emotion through my art? no, i'm really not even frustrated. are all artists suppose to be able to express emotionally through their art? i don't know how to paint what i feel. maybe i don't feel anything. maybe my personality is too calm and laid back. i worked very hard in the last few years to let go of a lot of negative energy. maybe the next time i feel anger or rage, i will go straight to the canvas and see what happens.

the painting on my last post was an example of me going "wild and crazy". the more i look at it, the more i hate it. so i thought i'd try it again. this time with my familiar oil paint. i thought i could express energy and grace at the same time. well, someone just told me to take both paintings, lay them on the floor and then splatter black and white paint all over them. that might be a good idea :)

even tho i don't feel i've created very successful pieces, i do feel i've accomplished quite a bit. in two nights i tried something new and different. i let go of the need to be perfect, that perfectionist in me won't even try new things in fear of messing up, in fear of wasting, and so i usually don't do anything at all. does that make any sense? and i actually spent time painting! that in itself is an accomplishment!

i have a hard time drawing or painting from imagination. i painted tonight without a photograph or any other source. i say i don't know how to create from imagination. i realized tonight that maybe i do know how i just won't let myself.  in addition to my perfectionist tendencies, my insecurity and inner critic tells me my imagination is too childlike and my skill level is not good enough to handle such make believe imagery. so i've taken the first step and tried. now i need to try again and again and get as much practice in as i can. it is kind of funny when i think about what i had in mind and then look at what i actually put on the canvas :)