Make and Tell Challenge Abolished!

After much thought, I've decided not to continue with the Make and Tell Challenge. (For those of you who aren't familiar, this project entailed me making progress on at least one of my projects each day and then blogging about it.) It's too much for me, and the anxiety associated with sticking to a schedule impedes, not promotes, my progress more often than not. From now on I'll probably just post about projects I've finished (for example, this Tiny Fruit Salad Tote pictured here). Quite frankly, it's kind of tedious for me to report every brush stroke anyway -- and I'm sure it's even more tedious for you to read! So, no more rules. I have enough of those in my real life. From now on, let's just have some fun!

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 178: Some Ends and Some Beginnings

Today brought the triumphant conclusion of my sunflower pillowcases. Bolstered by the completion of this long-sought-after goal, I went on to paint the second coat on these tiny totes, then outlined all but two. Finally, I'd mixed some paint for the totes that I didn't want to waste, so I used it to begin a new painting I'd drawn a week or so back. As the result of all this I feel happy, accomplished, and strangely well rested. :)

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 177: Pillowcases Almost Finished!

This morning, I awoke to snow falling. I'm extremely fearful of driving in snow and ice, so I made the executive decision to call out of work.

As for the Challenge, I was amazed to find myself making great progress. As in, I almost started and finished the second sunflower pillowcase in one day (top photo). All it needs is a bit of dark brown in the negative spaces in the flowers' centers.

For comparison's sake, I'm posting a picture of the first pillowcase too.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 176: A Prototype

For tonight's Challenge I made a necklace that's long been burning at the back of my mind. It all started with this pack of thin bangles I bought. I had this idea that I wanted to wire wrap beads in the center of each bangle and then use them as pendants for ribbon necklaces. So I did. This one is for me, as it's the prototype and has a few quirks I'd like to avoid in those I make to sell. But nevertheless, it's a fun little piece.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 174

The first pillowcase is done! I think. Tonight I get cracking on number two.

Last weekend I saw Valentine's Day. It was good: romantic, splashy, a little sad in parts, and with a few twists. It just goes to show you can't always listen to the critics. I also caught Almost Famous again on TBS. I'd forgotten what a quality movie that was. Plus, I didn't realize how many people were in it the first time around. (Zooey Deschanel, Rainn Wilson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman had bit parts, to name a few.) When I was little, I remember my parents renting movies and picking out all the actors they knew. Look, there's so-and-so! they'd say, and Is that so-and-so? I used to think this was boring. I mean, they didn't actually know those people, right? But now the bf and I do it ourselves! There's something gratifying about being able to recognize as many stars as possible, especially when they're playing a role they normally wouldn't. The bf is actually better at it than I am.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 172 & 173: The Pillowcase is Underway

Yesterday I finally made some headway with the first of the two custom sunflower pillowcases I'm painting. I'm very pleased so far and hope to finish the set by the end of the week. :)

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 170: A(nother) Work In Progress

I could never resist stretchy bracelets. When I found these in A.C. Moore a few months back, displayed with various charms and doodads, I immediately bought a couple of packs. Tonight I finally experimented with them, deciding to tie the charms and some of my own magazine beads to them with thin satin ribbon. I think I'll need to add a few dabs of fabric glue tomorrow for extra security. Although I don't know how productive tomorrow will be, because I need to gather my receipts for the good people at H&R Block (I have an appointment with them bright and early Saturday morning). Just what everyone wants to do Friday night . . .

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 169: Ribbon Necklaces

Last night brought yet another project: these two fetching ribbon necklaces, fashioned with wooden beads and my own handmade magazine beads. I want to do a bunch more of these (I already have a black one), using different colored ribbons. I still have scads of tiny totes to finish and that painting to, well, paint, not to mention a custom assignment to paint two pillowcases, which I absolutely must do this weekend . . .

My computer crashed last night, which is why I'm posting now before work. It got eerily, maddeningly slow before konking out altogether, and it was enough to make me want to pull my hair out. So, I'm relieved to find it humming along normally this morning.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 168: Back to the Drawing Board

Tonight I took a break from my tiny totes to sketch out a new painting. This one's an undersea scene. It seems a little generic to me now, but I have some plans to change that. :)

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 167: The Tiny Totes March On

I'm finally making a little headway with these guys. It's a particularly kitschy batch, with the Tiny Makeup Tote edging ahead as my favorite.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 166: Outlining and Thoughts on the Truman Show

I anticipated outlining eight tiny totes this afternoon. This did not happen; I outlined two. But two is better than none, right? Plus, I also retagged the rest of my medium totes, which is time consuming.

I painted in front of the TV again, TBS blaring as always. One of today's movies was The Truman Show, which I've seen many times. It never fails to give me the creeps. I can't help but think the story of Truman unknowingly living in a controlled environment (a TV show) is a metaphor for life. As in, we think we have choices but are really limited by the choices that society makes for us. Christophe (creator of the Truman show, played by Ed Harris) himself says, "We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented." Christophe also says that the world he's created for Truman is safe and secure, unlike the real world. Yet it's this very "safety" that is so dangerous because it symbolizes the absence of freedom and original thought. Of course, Truman figures it all out and escapes in the end. Which is a nice message to end on.

That's all for deep thoughts today. I'm off to Valentine's dinner with the bf.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 165: More Tote Progress and Some Thoughts About Clothes

Not being able to take it anymore, I began working on the second coats of my tiny totes in earnest today. They're coming along nicely, although I think the koi fish one will need a third coat, thanks to the pesky blue canvas. Tomorrow, I outline. Although tedious, it's always a satisfying step.

I went out briefly this morning, to the post office and drugstore, which meant I got dressed instead of camping out in my pajamas the way I normally do when I spend the day painting. I went with my new turquoise acid washed skinny jeans, one of my favorite print tops, red plastic jewelry, and black pumps over black socks printed with little turquoise shoes. And you know what? I felt good throughout the day, not at all schlumpy the way I usually do when I "hibernate." This got me thinking: how many real people out there dress up to spend a day at home? I mean, on TV people are always done up in outfits and full makeup, just sitting around their houses drinking coffee and whatnot, leading everyone to believe that it's effortless and natural to be so put together, even when no one's looking. But it isn't. It takes definite effort to decide to put on something nice when you're comfortably and warmly swaddled in sweats. I imagine it's even harder for people who work from home. What's to stop them from never getting dressed? I like to think that I'd always dress if faced with this situation, that my love of clothes would somehow transcend the allure of laziness. Yet if I'm being completely honest with myself, I'm not at all sure that this would be the case. Which leads me to another thought-provoking question: Do we dress for ourselves, or for others? I like to think I dress for me, but how can that be true if the "me" on its own is almost always clad in a disreputable (read, paint-splattered) bathrobe? It's all very mind boggling. Thoughts?

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 163: Always Room for JELL-O

Today's tiny tote creation features one of my favorite desserts, namely the JELL-O mold. It has a smiley face and appears to be having a grand time with its equally smiley lollipop friend. Oddly, I don't make many JELL-O molds, probably because you never know how they're going to turn out. Instead I just make my JELL-O in a bowl. Much easier that way :)

I think I'd better start to paint the second coats on these tiny totes. Despite what I said yesterday about having fun lining up all the different designs, they're beginning to haunt me a little (I think there are 18.)

Make and Tell Challenge, Days 161 & 162: Snowbound

My favorite of the bunch so far. The final version will feature black zebra stripes on the yellow.

The dark totes always present a challenge, because the paint barely shows up. But then I realized that mixing some of the colors with white makes them thicker and more visible.

I really like this one. But then I always love my dessert-related creations!

This one's kind of run-of-the-mill, but still cute.

A classic!

I can't seem to stop painting fruit.

A tiara and magic wand. Because hey, everyone likes to play princess, right?

The bf's Mr. Snowman (for the record, not his choice of name).

My office closed today due to this seemingly ongoing blizzard, so I delved into painting more tiny totes (well, once I got up at about 10:00). I realize that I should've finished the ones I started, but there's something fun about lining up as many designs as possible, A) because I have this compulsion to get my ideas onto canvas as quickly as possible, as if they'll fade away if not anchored down, and B) because if I start a ton of projects, than I'll be honor-bound to finish them. Whereas, if I finished each one in order, then I may not be quite as motivated to make more. We all have our ways of tricking ourselves into finishing creative projects. Like, when I was in college and needed to start writing a paper, I'd say to myself, now this is no big deal. You're only writing the first draft, getting your ideas down. Later you can polish it up -- that's the hard part. Then, once I'd moved on to the polishing stage, I'd think, okay, this is the easy part. All the raw material is already there; all you have to do is clean it up. It's odd that all this cajolery was necessary, considering that I was an English major who loved to write. But there you have it.

For today's session, I temporarily migrated back to the living room (apparently I need TV like a plant needs light). I happily watched several reruns as well as Just Married with Ashton Kutcher and the late Brittany Murphy. The movie was silly but did the trick, and at the end I'm embarrassed to admit that I was a tad bit emotional. Must be this cabin fever.

In other news, the bf completed his own Challenge today by building a snowman. Better him than me. I hate snow and cold so much that I couldn't barely stand opening the front door to check it out.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 160

A couple of more tiny totes in the making. Just what is it about owls?!

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 159

I banged out the first coats of seven tiny totes today, then drew seven more (not pictured). I decided to make this latest batch of tiny totes more complex and interesting than the last -- that is, more like smaller versions of my larger totes. Before I used to just paint a simple heart or flower or something on a colored tote and call it a day. I already like these better. :)

Make and Tell Challenge, Days 157-158: Outrageous Owl Tote Completed

I finally finished the Outrageous Owl Tote (as usual, please disregard the hideous blue painters' tape). I thought I'd get more done, being snowbound and all, but if anything I feel more sluggish. Hopefully tomorrow will be more inspiring.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 156

To be honest, I didn't work on anything last night. I went to my parents' for dinner, then came home, watched Ugly Betty, and went to sleep. So tonight I was determined to finish the first coat of the Outrageous Owl Tote, which I did. I even forged ahead and started painting two of my tiny totes. With all the snow coming this weekend, I think I'll have lots of time to finish these projects and maybe even start some others.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 154: One Fat Owl

Inching along here in the first coat with Mr. Owl. He's a little chubbier than I intended, but maybe that's because he's been snacking on the candy, cupcake, and pizza surrounding him. At any rate, I'm pleased with how he's turning out. It's funny. When I first start painting, I think, okay, now which of these things do I already know the colors for? I go from there, hoping the question mark items will let me know what color they should be. They never disappoint, as choosing one color leads to choosing another. As simple as it sounds, it never fails to amaze me. :)