Art: Sculptures

Way back when I was in high school.  I was assigned a project to weld a found object sculpture - they were doing simple brazing in class . . .  but I had ideas.  Dad-bot builds machines and stuff, so we had a nice wire welder at home in the garage . . . that could actually make my vision.  My first metal dragon was born. 

No. 1

Since the first one the family has made many many sculptures.  Many are made through a combination of work from all of us.  Others are made by one person in particular. Dad-bot is crucial to all as he actually know things like the importance of structural integrity, while Mom-bot and I are more of a it looks prettier down a bit farther type.

You can see that we have quite the collection now.  It has almost caused accidents and people slam on the breaks in front of our house.  People often wander the yard taking pictures . . . sometimes even prom pictures or the like.  It can be odd - especially in the morning when you just want to sit in your PJs and have some coffee and people wander into the yard.  I just visit home now, so I deal with it less often.  It is useful if you need to explain where you live.  Everyone in the area could tell you have to get to the house. Hopefully more people realize that making stuff is fun.

Crafty Tape Art

I have not had a craft blog in awhile.  Why?  I've been super busy and crafting takes time . . .  and imagination + creativity, which have been in short supply lately.  At least I have a short supply not already allocated to my dissertation work.  For my birthday last year (we are working toward my birthday this year) I got a awesome set of Japanese tape: Happytape!. I knew I wanted to do something more with them than just close boxes etc.  In the end, I decided to try some tape art.  I think the result is pretty good.

Tree and Wave

The wave is my favorite . . .

I didn't work with a pattern. I just picked some tapes and a general idea for a finished item . . . and started taping little pieces mostly at random.  I'm planing to make another wave (during the day) and another tree (at night) to go with these two.  They are the size of a standard album cover.

Crochet Table Runner

I recently made a crochet table runner that I think turned out rather nice.  I picked the blocks out from 200 Crochet blocks for blankets, throws, and afghans by Jan Eaton.  Its a great book.  I'd really recommend it if you like to crochet.  It has lots of patterns, but is flexible enough that you can do your own thing with it.  It has regular crochet blocks and blocks in the round.  I actually prefer working in the round . . . I make less mistakes for some reason.  I had having to pull stuff out and go back!  Anyway,  so I pick out a nice block and did it in two color combination, picked out and edge and then sewed it all together.

The whole thing = 1.5 ft (about)

Close up of the center square

Close up of the side square and edging.

In the end I think it was worth the hours I put into it.  There was a good amount of time involved.  Not a huge amount, but enough.

Homemade Star Wars Birthday Card and Gift Certificate

A friend of mine, Ahsik-bot, had her 30th birthday this Saturday.  She has lived in lovely Edmonton for a whopping 3 months.  We have become very good friends, however.  A few of my other friends and I decided that it was time for some wall art to make its way into her life.  We looked in Edmonton and found nothing of quite right.  So, we decided to get a Etsy.com gift certificate (if you don't no Etsy you should its a mecca for all things arts and crafts).  I soon discovered you can't have a site wide gift certificate, boo. So, I thought a PayPal.com gift certificate (its more of a wire transfer really).  I believe in having something awesome to open on your birthday and so began the awesome crafting day that resulted in the Star Wars Birthday Card with Big Bang Theory quotes and a Rebel Alliance gift certificate.  All of this was made by hand by me, as well as a envelop and an awesome list of art I think Ahsik-bot would like for her abode.

First, I made a two sided rebel alliance gift certificate.

80 credits issued by the Rebel Alliance

How to use the gift certificate

Next, I made the card!

Front

Inspirational words from Sheldon

Signing off

I folded the Etsy list into an awesome origami heart and made a envelope!

origami heart

Ahsik-bot was very happy with her present!

Look at all that happiness!

In the end it was a successful art project. If your curious of Etsy selections.  I recommend the following sellers: Raceytay, Honeytree, and Mamapainter

More Art or the Random Kind

 Thought I would post another picture.  I always kind of liked this one.  Sorry its a bit light again!

Looking

More Art! - Fruits Basket

These images are of some fan art I did for my favorite manga and anime  Fruits Basket!  Note I don't usually do fan art. 

Fruits Basket is the story of Tohru a character that should be sickeningly sweet, but is incredibly endearing for some reason.  Tohru is a young orphan who ends up living with an aloof classmate and his family . . . who happens to have an interesting secret . . . when hugged by a member of the opposite sex they change in to an animal in the Chinese zodiac!  Every single character is amazing and unlike most japanese stories it has a real ending.  The series is finished now and definitely worth investing in.

I suggest reading or watching it or both given your own proclivities! (be warned that the anime finished before the manga so it has a different end and does not go as long - which means you can enjoy both!

Sorry its so light!

I love this pair!

Sketch

A sketch of mine. I think the contrast is alright on the scan.

Women in profile

Abstracts

I've always really enjoyed making abstract line drawings and I thought I'd share a few of mine.