Custom label, sewn in. There was a bit of a learning curve on the stencilling, but I’m really happy with the end result. I pretty sure Felix will be too.
champions tunic, done!
Month: November 2023
constant companion
When you’re been sewing all afternoon, and now it’s time to cook dinner and you realize you haven’t sketched yet today, the nearest object seems like a good enough subject.
drawing people
I just finished a people-drawing course with Pedro Loureiro; I learned a lot! At the same time, I’m re-taking a Buildings course with Liz Steel. Although the subject material differs widely, both teachers emphasise observation, simplification, and understanding the underlying structures.
Setophaga coronata
We recently saw the return of Yellow-rumped warblers to our yard. They breed in the northern parts of the continent and come south in the non-breeding season.
Males have conspicuous yellow patches on the crown, flank, and rump (the latter giving rise to the nickname “butter butt” among birdwatchers). Their Latin name means “crowned moth-eater”, though they eat plenty of other insect species, as well as spiders.
Happy to see them back!
seeing trees
Virginia Robinson gardens
I had the opportunity to visit the first estate established in Beverly Hills, CA, the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The mansion was built in 1911; it was the private residence of Virginia Dryden Robinson and Harry Winchester Robinson, heir to J. W. Robinson’s Dept. Store. It’s now managed by the County of Los Angeles and is open to the public for docent tours by advanced reservation only.
I was not there for a docent tour, but I took a quick squizz at the portion of the gardens I was in … they are quite lovely, with steep terrain, many varied textures, and quaint fountains.
champions tunic
I love it when my grandkids request specific handmade gifts. I just received the Christmas wishes, and Felix (12) asked for a Zelda champions tunic. The base garment is easy enough; applying the white embellishment is more of a challenge. I quickly abandoned appliqué, and now I’m going the stencilling route. Right now I’m taking a break from hours of hand-cutting stencils from freezer paper (and wishing I had a nearby friend with a Cricut). White fabric paint has been ordered and is on its way. Fingers crossed that this plan works, and doesn’t end up looking too “Becky Homecky”.
paint it black
Sketching black things with John Muir Laws, learning to see tones and colours within the darks.
galling
I cracked out the old iron gall ink and dip pen to sketch an oak gall and acorns, because why not get meta?
Iron gall ink is one of the most frequently found inks in manuscripts from the 5th to the 19th century. The American Declaration of Independence was penned with this ink, as were many drawings by Leonardo da Vinci At its simplest, it is made from four main ingredients: oak galls, iron sulphate, gum arabic and water.
hair!
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
Oily, greasy, fleecy
Shining, gleaming, streaming
Flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka-dotted
Twisted, beaded, braided
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!
hashiworks 