jane's apron

a printed pic

I printed a picture.  Like on paper.  At a place that magically does that.  Walgreens even has an app that lets you select photos directly from your instagram account to be printed. 

I know this because I had to make something (just a little something) for my teacher friends.  I had an instagram of the old-school Mary in my classroom.  I added a Hail Mary.  She's pretty and simple and she makes me calm; hoping she does the same for everyone that got one in their Advent package today.

I am happy to share it.  Download it, print it, and share it too.

View this photo
  

love hate pinterest

Pinterest.  It's a love/hate thing.  I have used Pinterest for reference (mostly for recipes) but the bulk of my activity is pinning stuff I forget 30 seconds later; never to be seen again.  

For some reason (my love of letters/graphics?) I remembered the idea about spray painting plastic letters because when these letters arrived at school in a box of hand-me-downs, I grabbed them.  And when I was spray painting a vintage stool and had some paint left, I painted the letters.  This was not as easy as it seemed but it turns out that the letters are pretty cute with their cohesive "seaside" color scheme.  But our refrigerator is not magnetic,  So why?  Why did I do this?  I'm not sure but know I will eventually find a use for them (as long as I don't need more than two Es).  

So ballpark it.  What percentage or fraction of Pinterest ideas do you put into play?  I'm going with an optimistic 10%.  Love.  Hate.  

auction for catherine

I don't usually jump in to something without really thinking about it.  But when I saw that Jenn (noodleandlou) was organizing an art auction for Catherine Thursby (redshoes), I couldn't respond fast enough.  Catherine is one of my first and oldest blog friends and a crazy-talented artist.  She has always supported and encouraged me (and made me laugh).  

I have a stash of items that I could contribute but I was more like the girl with a closet full of clothes but nothing was good enough.  I needed something new.  I'll leave out the messy details but I wanted the art to be red and black, with paper and paint, with dots and hearts.  The two-piece heart was from a stash of magazine pages and I think it's a perfect reflection of friendship and love.  

So...the auction.  It's on instagram and happens on Saturday, April 26 here.

And, Catherine, I have to include the next photos for you.  Hope they make you smile (as you attempt to see my artwork in the background).

etsy jewelry

 

I think shopping for jewelry on etsy is like a needle in a haystack (I just checked...there are over 2 million listings for "necklace").  Technically, I can make my own jewelry.  Buy chain, attach pendant, done.  But I really can't do it nearly as well as someone that meticulously crafts jewelry.  Julie at Puffluna makes beautiful pieces using handmade elements, vintage findings, sterling and oxidized silver; even the clasps are pretty and sturdy.  The hand-hammered silver circle is my new "wear it everyday" necklace.  I haven't worn the green one yet but I've learned to buy what I like when I see it.  

be awesome

I've been organizing my photos and ran across this one last night.  That coffee cup?  Love. I added a favorite phrase from my Pinterest "say" board.  Kind of motivational for the new year.  

patent prints at kinkos

I saved my page from Country Living about creating prints from Google Patents and pulled it out when our basement re-do took a turn to the industrial side.   I selected two drawings from Thomas Edison that had interesting shapes.  And that was the only hard part.  After that I:

• downloaded the files to a USB drive
• took the files to Kinkos
• told them I wanted 24 x 36 copies
• walked to the machine and picked them up (so cool!)
• paid $4.50 for each

I framed them and have already put them up in the basement.  A record speed for me.  Now I have a sudden need to print more things at Kinkos.  It's a magical place.  You can find the two files I printed:

Pyromagetic Generator

Concrete Thingy

art school

My aim was true.  I created a pretty art journal and added a Summer Art School title.  My failure to actually take myself to school is my own fault.  Yes, I'm busy but I know I can find a few minutes each day.  I also know that creating something (even something very small) makes me happy.  Kind of like ice cream makes me happy.  And I manage to do that everyday.  

Would you like to go to school with me?  Maybe share some of your art journal stuff too?  Instagram makes it easy.  I'm janesapron.  Use #summerartschool and we can find each other.  

creator, producer, or both {a question}

I'm more of a straight-edges kind of girl.  But polka dots?  That's a different story...I love them.  I thrifted these dotty tumblers last week and they add instant happiness wherever I set them down.  

So...my question...

Yesterday I had the calling to cut and paste and turned that energy into two new train cases.  These are the last of my stash and that's OK with me.  I've been feeling the pull of a different crafty direction and clearing out the old makes room for new ideas...whatever that might be.  

I am a creator; my inspiration comes from things I have in front of me and I always start a project by gathering a pile of supplies.  Everything comes from that pile and the final design is always a surprise to me.  I love that process.

Occasionally, I am a producer.  I make 'more' versions of an original idea.  I don't love that process...at least not for very long.  This makes for bad business and disappointed friends (ack...so sorry...I haven't felt like making "insert item here"...guilty feeling).  

Are you a creator that sometimes becomes a producer?  Are you good at it or do you struggle?  Do you move on to the next thing without looking back or...not?  

5 x 5 {march}

If I ever had the chance to teach an art class, I would share one very important thing...don't be afraid to make mistakes.  Mistakes are your friend.  Mistakes can take the piece in a better direction.  At the very least, even bad mistakes can be covered up or hidden.  

For this 5 x 5, I used a picture of a setee from an Anthropologie catalog and a scrap of old ledger paper as the "floor".  For the background, I used one of these fabric tags.  It was a little too bold so I covered it in tissue paper.  Still a little too bold.  So I painted over it with a wash of vanilla paint.  Then the tissue paper came off. Unintended?  Yes.  Totally cool look of aged plaster?  Even better.  

I finished the setee with a new paper seat and a new paper pillow. The only other thing I'd teach at a class is to lightly sand your finished work...tones the whole thing down a bit.    

simple stitched journal

I've assembled some handmade journals before and love them.  It's fun to see the colors together and fun to add lots of goodies.  And fun just to have them around.  This is how I make them:

• gather a group of papers and pick out 6 of your favorites (double-sided scrapbook paper works really well because you get to see both sides).  
• cut the paper to 8.5x11
• fold the paper in half (so they are 8.5 x 5.5)
• stack the papers until you like the color combo 
• punch about 5 evenly-spaced holes along the fold lines (through all 6 sheets of paper).  A needle works well.
• thread a good-sized needle with twine and, starting on the inside of the journal, stitch together with a big running stitch up one side of the journal and then down the other side. Tie off the last stitch with the first using a cute knot.  

now comes the fun part...

add stuff...stuff you have in your craft space; envelopes, ribbon, buttons, stamps, etc.

This one is off in the mail today to a friend but I'll be back with a few more later this week (after I find a better way to take pictures of them).