Altered Clothes

When I was a kid I remember my mum telling me not to tell anyone about my plans before I'd finished, because if I didn't end up doing it or it didn't work people would know and I'd look silly. Well-meaning advice to be sure, but not entirely encouraging. I've certainly inherited some of her self-conscious caution and it stops me from doing a lot of things. I can be afraid to start a project because it might fail and I can't look forward to doing it anymore. And even if I haven't told a single person about it, I still know about it. I witnessed the discouraging failure. That alone can be bad enough.

But even so, I'm starting to push through this rather destructive mindset. Recently I've been reading through the blog of a talented seamstress called Jillian at Refashionista. She takes frumpy, ripped, discoloured or unwanted thrift store finds and alters them so they look like new. I've always liked fabrics - especially the quirky prints you can find in thrift shops. I'm not much of a sewer myself, so I never really considered doing a revamp of something I wouldn't otherwise wear until I saw the projects on her website. Sometimes just taking up the hem and shortening the sleeves is enough to entirely change the look of a dress. 

Here is one of my favourite Refashionista dresses, the Swagger Dress. Go and check out her blog, it's fantastic.

"Swagger Dress" by Refashionista, December 2011, www.refashionista.net

Now that I've seen these kind of alterations, I know it can be done. And if it can be done, then I can do it. I'm going to try making my own clothes. My brother has kindly donated a couple of his old shirts (one black and one purple). I even own a sewing machine. No more excuses. And I'm telling someone (even as vaguely as telling 'The Internet') because I know if I try to back out of it I'll look silly. Maybe that's the point my mum was trying to get across.

If you're going to do something, do it. Don't get lazy. Don't talk yourself out of trying. Don't give up until you've done what you set out to do.

Kids Animal Illustrations

A few other things I've completed during my blogging drought - kids t-shirt designs. Or kids wall art designs. Cutsey little animals, for whatever purpose. Hoping to get them printed somewhere like Cafepress in order to sell them online or at markets. Still just trying to build up the confidence to put feelers out and get expressions of interest. I know a few people with kids, so I guess that's a good place to start.

"Purple Quokka", Photoshop, January 2013

"Contemplative Panda", Photoshop, January 2013

"Yellow Duckies", Photoshop, January 2013

Also thinking of putting them up as collage sheets on Etsy. I've sold some cat silhouettes on Etsy before, just need to put them back up for sale and add a few more images. Feeling pretty confident about this at the moment. I've been getting a lot done lately, learning new things and generally getting a pretty consistant style together. This blog is definitely helping me to see my progress, and hopefully that will continue.

Two Owls

Well, it's December 21st, 2012. The day the Aztecs apparently predicted that the world would end (you know, according to various highly credible internet loons). This sort of lighthearted end of days talk always makes me feel anxious. Not because I feel like it's actually going to happen, but because I'm deeply bothered by the idea of it happening. Whenever someone mentions how fun it would be cracking zombie heads or outwitting looters, I can't help but think about the things I would lose. Particularly the people I would lose.

There are people and things in this life I care very deeply about, and one of my very greatest fears is losing them.  Which makes me sad and anxious, but it also pleases me greatly that there are things in my life that I care for so much that I'm terrified to let them go. The fact that I can lose them means that at least I have them, for this brief moment.

EDIT: This rant went on for a bit, and I don't really think this is the place for it. So enjoy the pretty picture. And the things you love in your life.

"Two Owls", Crayola Coloured Pencil on Printer Paper, A4, December 2012

This picture is a Christmas present for my dad. He likes owls, so I drew a father owl with a baby. I'd like to have done more patterns and textures, but I didn't want to mess it up this close to Christmas and have to start over. I think he'll like it. Hopefully I'll be able to see him again soon. Maybe next year it will be easier.