Where oh where...

oh where, did January go-

My mojo hasn't gone anywhere but there were a whole bunch of procrastinating chores in front of it.

I'm working on my diet and I imagine some of the tired feeling is the withdrawal from those hyper/addictive foods.  I am liking the ginger tea with breakfast and the no computer during the morning.  Lunch is at the 'puter with good food and then COFFEE!  :)

Now the focus this year is fabric so I haven't posted too much mixed media art but...

My gal and I had a visitor for our regular day.  We take what we learn and then share it with the grand kiddies the following day.

 The background technique involved about 4-5 different steps so we just passed the papers to the student on our right after each step.  I got so excited I almost pitched the fabric focus.  I do think this would also work with fabric dyeing though!  ;^)                                           

Then we made little journals and a bookmark.   I felt like the art was well done.  Because I tend to be a technique junkie,  we decided to follow a bit of a plan and to keep with the wet stuff while the skills build and the interest is high.

So we are back to basics- the colour wheel and the first colour yellow.  Adding white and black.  We decided to keep it simple and didn't show the kiddies how the complimentary colour also adds nuances to the colour scheme.  We are learning lots!  :)

Again, not fabric related but I have my new camera.  I haven't even put the new lens on but I've been thumbing through the very thick manual.  eek!   I splurged on a camera case and in the spirit of me- my theme for the year, I have to figure out how to make it mine.   I wasn't feeling to try paint on it and then remembered I want to do handwork so...

I need to just do this so I signed up for a once a month camera challenge.  Tomorrow my gal and I have an art field trip and I shall have my bag packed - ready or not- and I shall click away!  :O  Then I'll have to figure out how to upload and all that. :(

If I want fabric/fibre to be the focus I had to make my main machine, Nina ready for anything and especially machine quilting.  I swear I should get a paying job reorganizing people spaces because...  you guessed it I changed the playroom around.  I had this set up before for Nina and it was great.  I didn't want to change the wet corner but I could restore the other corner.  It works.

 Mostly because I actually have consolidated (ie. thrown out) lots of stuff.  Everything fit but I have to either lift up or move those wall files.  Bonus is a less cluttered look; and if I can get the Rooster to fill in that open space with a lovely piece of melamine, it'll be perfect.  The quilts will be supported on the left and can spread out towards the wall when I move the books.  I stand to quilt and I don't feel cramped.  Here is hoping I can then get to the UFO busting that is sandwiched and due presently!

The winter has been quite lovely and we have actually had rain so the snow has gone down.  Snow and cold is again forecast though.  But the young steer is apparently bored with the whole thing and has left his pasture mates, two sheep, and has gone to look for greener pastures to kick up his heels in!  :(   Where oh where will he wander to next? 

And that should give my dear followers some idea of where I have actually been!  :)

Catching up!

I finally got my red acrylic paint to make my colour wheel for the Basics class that Balzer Designs offers. As I pursue my own way I have felt to get better grounded in the basics and this 12 month selection of various techniques sounded like a good start.  Getting Started!

Lesson one is about colour mixing.

Now I had actually given up on finding the Liquitex Basics primary red. So I bought the 3 primaries from Grumbacher's Academy Acrylics which the art store carried.  And of course, soon as I purchased them I found the missing tube at the next store!  :(   So I colour mixed both brands. :)  If some look similar to their neighbours it is probably because I don't have equal amounts of the necessary ingredients. First thing I leaned is I am not necessarily precise.  lol  But I am really leaning this colour wheel and I'm okay with 'close enough'!

This was loads of fun.  I had 12 different blues and I mixed them with a primary yellow.  Very cool!

The extra paints were all smeared into my journal for future development.

Then just as I was congratulating myself on finishing I clicked a little word- next!  :O

Tints, Tones, Shades

This was most enlightening.  I understood the principle but actually doing it was very worth while!

Neutrals!  Again, enlightening.  After finally getting it through my head that opposites make mud- don't do it! I made mud.  I didn't have time to mix my secondary colours so I decided to try my gouache colours. It turns out that opposites with lots of white make a whole range of browns that would be skin tones!  :O Now I can't imagine doing skins but...  My first try was not a brown but a grey. Blue red and blue green and that made grey.  So I found something else in the set.

Then the Duh!  Colour mixing works with things other than acrylics.  I knew that but now I KNOW that!  lol.  I had already diluted my spray inks but hadn't made the next step to making my own mixes.  Luv it!  I also learned it is best to buy good products.  Michael's pan pastels are so hard they don't hardly work.  :(  So I'll save my coupons for stamps, punches and fun foam.  I joined the Artist's Emporium in Winnipeg and I get a discount on everything and they will mail me stuff if I ever give up going to the city!  lol  They are very helpful, too!  No question too dumb!  Ask me how I know!

Now this is as things piled up on Tuesday.  Hopefully we have peaked and the piles will begin to subside soon.

I'll be back sometime next Tuesday; hopefully faster and well rested!  Me and the 'puter!

Can anyone sniff spring yet?