Endless years of artwork

I have been an artist my whole life, I could never think of a day that I wasn't making something. I discovered my love of printmaking in high school, but it was until Uni that I just couldn't get enough of it.  I have been thinking lately about how much I miss printing and how much I want to get back into it...

I was cleaning out my studio the other week and found some of the MANY prints I have accumulated over the many years. I have no idea why I hang on to so much of my art when I love sharing it with others. I decided I would pull out a few of my small older prints, frame them up and see what people thought....see if I could sell a few. What do you think????

This etching was printed in 1996...just a few years ago. They are framed in an 8" x 10" matted frame. They are all printed off the same plate, but all 100% original, based on the ink used and treatment of the print.

This one has a glitter painted over the wings.

This one has been hand painted over the print.

This one is a smaller etching in an 6"x8"  matted frame. Again, it is printed off the same etching plate but printed on different paper and ink.

This one is printed on white reeves and printed with a black and yellow ink.

This is printed on a cream reeves paper with black and green ink.

CRAZY BUSY

It has been a few weeks since I have blogged, or even sewed!! It has been so crazy busy at work, and alot of physical jobs going on that I have come home so tired. I finally have had 2 full days off, one day to try and get myself back into the real world, today is for turning on the sewing machine and whipping out a few Scrappys for some wonderful customers that have been waiting so well without even a peep till I got a day off.

I am at that point again, wondering if work is becoming all of me and I have nothing left when I finally do step away. I have been in this position before, and I walked away from it, for my sanity, but not sure this time. I am at a big "not sure of anything" point in my life right now....deciding to just stay put, or have a go at running my own business, or get back into teaching, or go back home???? Making decisions is not a thing I am good at.

So for now I need to keep the sewing machine going and hopefully that pull will keep me from completely overdoing myself at "work".............so hopefully people will keep me busy with orders :) and I guess I have a niece whom is coming up on a 1st birthday that I can sew some great new dresses for. I have a book with ideas, so I best get to work and start churning out some of this new ides.

Here's to a crazy busy wonderful day of sewing and creating (in my jammies)

Hmmmm, I seem to have some unfinish items still lurking around

OK, so I thought I was on a roll a few months back when I finished all my niece Bella's outfits, as well as finding my Little Scrappy's from a few years ago and finally finished them off. I felt so good to finish off something and let go of it (another bad habit I have....letting go and sharing my work) that I have kept going with the making of the Little Scrappy's for other people.

But now as I sit here tonight and reflect over this past week, its been busy, hectic and emotional at work and I haven't been inspired to do anything at home. I have 2 half finished Little Scrappy's sitting here staring at me and as I look at my sewing table and I have 2 almost finished outfits for Bella (and 1 finished dress). I have been  thinking  of all  the other projects buried  in my boxes from Grad. school that I need to finish....oh my zebra print pot holders!!

I need to get back on track and finish all this stuff. I need a few days off....when I am not so tired it takes me that long to recover....to just motor through. I need creative help. I NEED MY MOJO BACK!

Phew....finished a few orders these past 2 weeks

Its been such an up and down 2 weeks. Its hard to be on your feet 50-60 hrs a week and then come home and get into a creative head space to sew. I struggle with that all the time, and trying to find that balance. its that question I have been asking myself for over 10 years now....do I just start working for myself and create all the time???? Oh, I wish I was brave!

I have been frantic trying to finish these 4 orders before I knew I was going to have a hectic week at work with a big sale. Finished them and was so happy with what the final product looked like. I hope their new owners are happy with them too. Its always hard to finish things and wonder will they love them like I do??

I even have ideas for new ones...when I get a break at work and get my mojo back.

These lovely pair were for a little girl who loved pinks and rainbows (double bonus with the rainbow butterflies on the back)

I love doing the wedding set, these are my second pair I have done and they are so much fun to make. Their owners just got married this weekend, and hopefully these lovely married pair is not far off from reaching them too.

This little boy in blue was for a new baby boy Austin.....hence the "A"

Finally, these 2 Minky blanket and Little Scrappy sets were for my cousin to give as baby shower gifts. I was so happy with how they turned out, and I hope the new moms are too.


Now the lesson learned here................was try and blog after I finish each order, and not at the end of 2 weeks worth of orders.

New Little Scrappy's

Ok, so as I have been saying, lots of sewing (and lots of distractions) to finish off some new Little Scrappy's. I am still trying to figure out a shape I like and so there for they are all different and unique. I think next time I am going back to making 2-3 at one time, not 10-15. That way I can fill them with more love, cuddles and kisses.

Just to share how my Little Scrappy's came about, it was about 2 years ago, when I first moved back to Australia and was looking just to be doing something creative, so I picked up some scraps and thought what can I create... They are all made from scraps of fabric from various projects, buttons I have collected along my travels, and bits of wool felt. No two are the same, they are all so unique, odd and wonderfully cute.

Ok, all the above cuties are $15 ea, and are all uniquely different. To mail it is $6.50 for 1-4 Little Scrappy's (US its $10.50 for 1-4)

These are a few Little Scrappy's I made for Easter. They have wool felt ears and a nice fluffy tail. They are $17 ea.

If I have time this weekend I might make up a few different ones...including a good old Collingwood one :)

Arms and legs...oh my

I spent yesterday afternoon at home sewing, cutting and stuffing lots of arms and legs for my Little Scrappy's. I was hoping to come home tonight and start joining them all up to my Scrappy faces but just too tired after a long day at work. So my goal this weekend is to get lots of now Scrappy's up on this Blog and hopefully sell a few.

I am also thinking of some grand Collingwood Little Scrappy's.....what do you think??? I am dying to make a Collingwood dress, but might start with a Collingwood Little Scrappy. The fabrics were just screaming out to me at work......

Weekend Easter dresses

Ok, so this weekend I didn't feel I was as productive as I could have been. I was thinking too much and when I think, I worry and hence, didn't get to much done. I did get all of my legs and arms all drawn up for my Little Scrappys and now just need to sew them up.

I did manage to sew 2 outfits for my niece Bella. I think I might need to take a little break and work on the Little Scrappy's more (wishing and hoping everyone wants to buy one). I am always busy thinking of different dresses to sew my niece.

Here are some other dresses that I have managed to sew my niece. Hopefully they look wonderful on her....

 And just so you all know who my niece Bella is...here is a beautiful picture of her....