Miniature Shoes: Felt Prototype

This is a view from my laptop. It shows different parts of the shoe. I can send these drawings to my KNK Maxx electronic cutter and they will be cut exactly as seen on screen. I can change the size of my cut to make smaller or larger shoes.

This view shows the KNK, (Klic-n-Kut), MAXX. The Maxx is a professional, heavy-duty electronic cutting machine. It looks good, but performs even better.

On a carrier sheet, you can see a piece of stiffened felt which has had it's shoe pieces, (and a bunny!) taken from the felt.

The felt shoe pieces on my worktable. I am getting ready to sew the pieces together with thread and a needle. I prefer to use sharps. They are small and sharp! Here I am using sewing thread.

The finished shoe fits Mag, my Asian Ball-Joint Doll. She is 1/3 scale. You can see that the shoes are stitched together on the outside of the shoe in a blanket stitch, meant to be seen. Note that the shoes are elongated and pointed into an elfish style.

Although I am pleased with the outcome, the sides of the shoes could be higher on the foot for a better and more stable fit. I will go in and adjust the design file accordingly.

Work in Progress: The Common Things

The Common Things, paper, ink

This is a scan of one of my book pages for The Common Things. The original is a combination of machine and hand cutting. The landscape pieces are swiped with an ink pad for shadowing.

Images: Botanicals

This is a page from an antique design book. I think the color scheme is beautiful. It certainly could be used today. The layout is meant to be a reference, showing various stages of growth and season. Note the tiny florets just below the berry bunches.

I like to use these kinds of images in collage, jewelry, cards or as a study for a silhouette. The circular insert showing the tree structure is a nice touch. The page itself is a lesson in design.

Digital Collage: Duo

Duo, digital collage

Duo

Duo pays homage to my musical sisters who delight me with their tunes, laughter and joy. I am fortunate enough to be a party to and friends of many talented women in the Wichita, Kansas area.

I collect images, particularly vintage images. If they are musical, all the better. This piece showcases a rare vintage scene - one depicting action. Common photos of the time are rigidly posed, as most cameras had long exposures and the subject had to sit still for a long time.

The subjects are given wings of blue, then surrounded with florals. I cut, paste, multiply and repeat the flower elements until I am happy with my garden. To use an image several times, I vary the size and direction of it. This helps make it look more natural all together.

My fairies are then painted with a digital airbrush to bring them to life with color. The remainder of the collage is airbrushed, including the starlit background.

Digital Collage: Baby June

Gypsy Baby, digital collage

Baby June

This digital collage uses a vintage image of June Havoc, sister of Gypsy Rose Lee. The photo spoke to me; her rehearsed pose, her little girl hands.

I mix old and new, object and abstract. This piece was an exploration of transparency in digital tools. I often saturate the colors, giving the subject an otherworldly element, dreamlike.

The background branch-like shapes are abstracts of one of my beaded necklace photographs.

My book: Silhouette Style

Here is the cover for my new book by F & W Publications, (North Light Media), which will be out in September.

I love this cover! The lanterns are one of my favorite projects, so to see them grouped and lit this way makes me quite pleased.

And, there is a cd included with all the design files included. I designed the book to mix and match silhouette images to use in the projects.

Writing a book is a long, laborious process from concept to author review. I have learned so much and could not be more proud. I can't wait to actually flip through the pages.

Beadwork: Floral Earrings

These earrings feature seed beads in iris finishes and polymer clay flowers. The light orange color on the flowers actually glows in the dark or under a black light. I like the way the beads look crinkly all together. If you look closely, you can see that among the tiniest beads I have thrown in a few of a slightly larger size.

Reds and deep coral combine for an unusual palette against the purples of the seed beads and the iris beads. The tiny floral cups are polymer clay.

The term iris describes the multicolored metallic finish as seen above. It refers to Iris, Greek goddess of the rainbow.