Oddsockworld

Bamboo sketch 3

Too warm to hold wool today, so sheltering from the sun doodling crochet on my computer...

Bamboo sketch 2

Having fun with Photoshop today....working with a photo of some leaves at Bowood House, Wiltshire....trying out transparency and filters plus other effects. A mysterious little bird appeared in the centre of this one!

Bamboo sketch 1

 

I spent today hiding from the sun. It is so hot here and virtually airless, yet I hear this has been a bad summer from the locals in our village. I have been reading all sorts of Illustrator tutorials, my favourite latest being:50 Illustrator tutorials and learned how to make new brushes and twirls, vaguely how to do a photo trace and vaguely how to recolour artwork easily - or was that in Photoshop.....oh I am confused now, so it is time to go and do something else. I like this image because it reminds me how warm it was today and also, what the foliage and flowers look like on trees and bushes over here - a bit sparse! Also it looks a bit like Fuzzy Felt and I think that's down to the red background making the colours bounce.

 

Being Creative project

I guess all my work is creative and I am happy to share it - hence joining Julia Crossland's 'Being Creative' project.  I dipped into the theme pool and am going with 'flowers' this month! Here is something I drew using Illustrator......I'm going to miss the daffodils this year.

Daffodils

Oddsockworld banner design

Big crochet blanket

Here's a blanket I am hoping to complete in time for my return to the UK in 4 years.....I don't need it here in Australia! I'm making it up as I go along, so anything might happen. In the meantime I bought some brighter wool so that I could make some granny squares for a quick and bright 'colour fix' ...

Granny squares crochet

 

I've been working on a large crocheted blanket for some time and was getting a bit bored with it so bought some brighter colours to make some little squares.....a sort of 'colour fix' to keep me going. I like these because they look a bit like jammy dodgers and other party cakes....next time I will plan it properly and make some chocolate ones too..... find out how to make these flower-centred squares by clicking the link to Attic 24 at the side of this blog under DESIGN/CRAFT BLOGS I FOLLOW

 

Cardboard handbag

Here it is! I made this from a wine box and painted and varnished it. Oh and almost wrecked my sewing machine to make top stitching on the handles!

Make a rubber stamp from an eraser

A quick tutorial on how to make rubber stamps for next to nothing . I bought a pack of 12 pencil topped erasers for $2 and drew a small design on each one. Next I cut around my outlines and lifted the negative shape away just like easing a slab of cake off a plate. Simple and easy to hold. Happy stamping!

Mobile made from recycled cardboard

 

My latest recycling project- shapes cut from cardboard wine boxes, 2 scored lines down the centre to form a hollow for the sticks. Any type of glue will do - I used PVA, place the stick and then twistround to give an even covering of glue. Then stick the lifted layer of card back down on top of the stick. Coat with gesso and then paint in the colours you like......the anchoring block was a piece of wood brought in by the tide, dried out, sanded and coated with some outdoor furniture oil.....then holes drilled at an angle. Then insert the sticks.......voila....a standing mobile!

 

The cardboard circles have been painted as flowers for another project.

Yarn bombing

 

 

Melbourne.....yarn bombing! I am inclined to think that this activity should be confined to inanimate objects rather than nature's finest - it might work against nature if left there for too long.....eg. harbour for fungi or insects?.....what do you think?

 

 

Handbag made from recycled cardboard

Things to make with a cardboard box - Making a designer handbag from a wine box is a clever way to upcycle a cardboard box. I chopped off the top 10 cm (which I will keep for another idea). Then measure approx 5 cm horizontally from the top corners of the box, draw a line from the marks to the corner at bottom of box and cut the 4 pieces away.

 

Front side of cardboard bag with handle

 

Decorate and varnish the cardboard bag with acrylic paint and satin varnish,add handles and bind sides together. Handles were made from strips of waste corrugated cardboard, painted one side with lamp black gloss craft paint - dries with a semigloss finish - then run the strips over the edge of a desk to curve them and squash slightly. I used the sewing maching to hold the edges together and also to top-sew the square handle holders. Further photos will be published in a full tutorial.

Brighton Pier

via www.purseblog.com

This is crazy enough to be on Oddsockworld.....love the stick of rock and bashed up beach huts!

Bird mobile from recycled cardboard

This is a quick project using cardboard and recycling. I made up the shapes as I went along and added a beak with v-shaped pieces of florist wire. Cut a slit in the body and insert a pre-cut curved wing. Paint with acrylics adding detail and hang from thread. Another great way to make a gift from recycled materials...

Patchwork

So...it took 3 hrs design time scribbling on the backs of envelopes. 2 hrs to cut strips into three pieces each from the jelly roll and arrange into blocks. Now I'm sewing pieces together-think 2 hrs including pressing seams.

Christmas Tree design

My Christmas tree made from bendy green sticks lashed together with horizontals and decorated with glittery baubles. Not very stable.

Patchwork quilt

I have always wanted to buy a jelly roll - the name given to a selection of pre-cut fabrics. I decided to just get on with it asap and vaguely arranged them. I'm going to sew them into strips of 3 then cut into squares. Aim to finish this part in 2 hrs!

How to design a repeat pattern with Photoshop

At last - I have understood the method with the help of a very clever lady called 'SewHeidi' and this is my first pattern repeat:

It's a fairly long tutorial at 9 mins but it's the best one I have found anywhere!

How to make a papier mache fish

Now you've added the fins apply a coat of white emulsion or watered down gesso before letting your imagination run riot with colour then apply coat of varnish and hang on a wall. Thanks to DanMonsterMan for sharing his method. You can find photos of all the stages under 'recycling tutorials'.

How to make small papier mache fish

All made as per tutorial 5 super quick and very easy with no knives!