tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91184504605377576762024-03-07T21:24:15.491+01:00Cymberrain - Studioa look into my studio where I experiment with various mediums and make divine jewelry!Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.comBlogger523125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-17779748715299321902023-12-14T01:51:00.000+01:002023-12-14T01:51:11.688+01:00Moved Again!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUne9F1QXkCact8A8amj54MnkExBGUFCN0Ete37MRwKaoXqvpHEeHqe6hVlnCjmm1JgCXzfNwAw5ymneXPzN0CSs3TVAJqXYpcvLOBSxFUkq1e_g5pboBbYPf_ufWyZ00KUrf8c8xv1Gi2sAqYILn4c5XE35VsV9yflew3ZfLGv7YHtMAnFwrRndSAJc/s1600/blue%20world%20drops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUne9F1QXkCact8A8amj54MnkExBGUFCN0Ete37MRwKaoXqvpHEeHqe6hVlnCjmm1JgCXzfNwAw5ymneXPzN0CSs3TVAJqXYpcvLOBSxFUkq1e_g5pboBbYPf_ufWyZ00KUrf8c8xv1Gi2sAqYILn4c5XE35VsV9yflew3ZfLGv7YHtMAnFwrRndSAJc/w200-h200/blue%20world%20drops.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Just a quick update to let everyone know that yes, I have moved again. How many times in a year? I have lost count but this one I think will stick. I am back in Seattle and I plan on staying. I opened a shop last month and I am slowly settling in. Customers are starting to trickle in and I am working on my website again. I have lost so many things during my moves, things have been left here and there in three different countries and I have only just started sorting what stock I have left of my pretties to put in the online shop. I am also setting up a small area in my reweaving shop to put pieces of my work. I am excited on what the future has in store and I am finally starting to feel a bit of stability again! <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQYIt26VVg-YFFc7ZFZ5Mq4IgNWIs5DbRfwuHTXWUgTG9SJ8irBEQNDJEg_lFCAjw3K7MzSrPJfidOZNOyu0V0FABQIcQmpek8Xgybuicfrp-pyMge5OUy8RdyHHcbJ9LtV32i2h6LB3SH24yxKOrMNjpwo6oltByE6DrRxw-yKF_JxFkZFYo4k_6rmI/s4624/PXL_20231208_004214291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQYIt26VVg-YFFc7ZFZ5Mq4IgNWIs5DbRfwuHTXWUgTG9SJ8irBEQNDJEg_lFCAjw3K7MzSrPJfidOZNOyu0V0FABQIcQmpek8Xgybuicfrp-pyMge5OUy8RdyHHcbJ9LtV32i2h6LB3SH24yxKOrMNjpwo6oltByE6DrRxw-yKF_JxFkZFYo4k_6rmI/s320/PXL_20231208_004214291.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Stay tuned for updates, I have my workspace set up now and hope to start making new pretties soon.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Wishing you a joyous season,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjIPZUPVgU-1m5pFBXHs6bhOOOd93mBj7FyINHqCwzAoMcoaYKQFygM5qOqRynv_d-rU-rm4e7QnZLiDOyXGhmSrySQIzd6TJUbX39R_1FCm8Xj2iHi2bC6Cqixa4T4KcNYosqaE3YJNIY_XFFZi22ucEn8Dl-vw0sTgHOFv9-ahBiNoMcRIm2pA0DEg/s600/Signature%20copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjIPZUPVgU-1m5pFBXHs6bhOOOd93mBj7FyINHqCwzAoMcoaYKQFygM5qOqRynv_d-rU-rm4e7QnZLiDOyXGhmSrySQIzd6TJUbX39R_1FCm8Xj2iHi2bC6Cqixa4T4KcNYosqaE3YJNIY_XFFZi22ucEn8Dl-vw0sTgHOFv9-ahBiNoMcRIm2pA0DEg/s320/Signature%20copy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-90119502429774193372023-08-01T19:33:00.010+02:002023-08-01T19:54:08.389+02:00Stability<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUerZzDgjpElw590hjXPIsvluVBVE0ru0Lw37TaPe-uixsVZQXixipScX8lkyAO7sEK04ZBWmuoih8TYJL8ytvKt-pz36JV2vIc_jwY6c_CF4eKaDVGrUzidkAjS4LqBxTdffm2ll4WMz10pOhfGQXnHBaG81Ph9Qhhf9PGnBlQ9iG7DAK0cIQcFTGPU/s1774/IMG_20230620_203912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1774" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUerZzDgjpElw590hjXPIsvluVBVE0ru0Lw37TaPe-uixsVZQXixipScX8lkyAO7sEK04ZBWmuoih8TYJL8ytvKt-pz36JV2vIc_jwY6c_CF4eKaDVGrUzidkAjS4LqBxTdffm2ll4WMz10pOhfGQXnHBaG81Ph9Qhhf9PGnBlQ9iG7DAK0cIQcFTGPU/s320/IMG_20230620_203912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I know this blog seems dead and gone but it isn't. I have been traveling...moving...for a year now. Actually more than a year. I started packing my house back in Jan 2022. Since then I have been moving from place to place, often with only two suitcases. Most of my things are scattered in three different countries. Some I will probably never see again.<p></p><p>Just this last month I moved into an apartment I hope to be in for the next year. I spent the last few weeks getting my area set up to create, and I started making things again this last week. I hope to have my shop up and running soon, within the next few weeks if possible.</p><p>I have been playing a lot with my acrylic drops as you can see from this photo. I love these little swirls of color and I have trays of them all around me to pick and choose from as I create. I invested in some nice jewelry trays back in France and made sure they were one of the things I packed to bring with me. I am not sure if I will be able to find replacements when they run out so these may be a limited item. I love how good my drops look in these.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQTDcHwfcR3h7B1WZhqO0RfxvNyr2wNw7A0JgdzQTq3ST9MvfL2_9EbkP4vuxO8fDneqvMjs9M5qW8fEj4_B4kZMEMOW4QEVmMEcwcqBcAMpoBittYN-iwlEPXgTLlZitM4nzGH2whzEfaHdTh4LuBPNTSiZvYyGdLvSc-A6KQzP0F8-jO7Xv567eJtE/s4608/IMG_20230730_201115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQTDcHwfcR3h7B1WZhqO0RfxvNyr2wNw7A0JgdzQTq3ST9MvfL2_9EbkP4vuxO8fDneqvMjs9M5qW8fEj4_B4kZMEMOW4QEVmMEcwcqBcAMpoBittYN-iwlEPXgTLlZitM4nzGH2whzEfaHdTh4LuBPNTSiZvYyGdLvSc-A6KQzP0F8-jO7Xv567eJtE/s320/IMG_20230730_201115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I have also been experimenting with my resin wings, using different methods to make a variety of styles. Each time I make a new set of wings I feel I get closer to perfecting the process. I now feel very confident I can make good, solid pieces that are worthy to put into my shop. When I first made my wings for my flight-of-dreams collection I made so many duds I had a whole box full of them. Now I rarely make a mistake. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS7fUgVrKrChfX39hhj7t7LqUCgtBml1hbLm35Z1PuqIPm8LRaGs7pdsx-5XYxjtPkznJjwJA1jh_DmysxrilkKcKwiLi_gN4_T0-buhqqLNaE5mZRhxfpPESD2BXCeyXjRmvrS9izOCkCq_IalaYxHmM8qaOylehjeS6ngNXNInldI0P7HC6C9kAG-g/s4608/IMG_20230729_174852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS7fUgVrKrChfX39hhj7t7LqUCgtBml1hbLm35Z1PuqIPm8LRaGs7pdsx-5XYxjtPkznJjwJA1jh_DmysxrilkKcKwiLi_gN4_T0-buhqqLNaE5mZRhxfpPESD2BXCeyXjRmvrS9izOCkCq_IalaYxHmM8qaOylehjeS6ngNXNInldI0P7HC6C9kAG-g/s320/IMG_20230729_174852.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I hope to write a post on the making of my wings soon. And I am not only making wings, I am also going to add other whimsical items.</p><p>Stay tuned!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv7_9-fwIRn4SAkCvFCR3jIajzmwPDAWCCCcQIe0WnaaQ9-36AeWKyOm0j3Ej6UYOSMhrfj-T-LLIqaAvgKAQO2UXNXwfEi_DZ7dqg9W4J5t6rZZmJu_sAZR-kO7APulb608sFHvQpIvlc9lqZgVRdVZjdj0UGPRFJCw4OJR8xFAO8RNuNJeg9f_jyas/s600/Signature%20copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv7_9-fwIRn4SAkCvFCR3jIajzmwPDAWCCCcQIe0WnaaQ9-36AeWKyOm0j3Ej6UYOSMhrfj-T-LLIqaAvgKAQO2UXNXwfEi_DZ7dqg9W4J5t6rZZmJu_sAZR-kO7APulb608sFHvQpIvlc9lqZgVRdVZjdj0UGPRFJCw4OJR8xFAO8RNuNJeg9f_jyas/s320/Signature%20copy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0Montreal, QC, Canada45.5018869 -73.5673918999999917.191653063821157 -108.72364189999999 73.812120736178855 -38.41114189999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-50184922258910627752021-04-21T11:06:00.002+02:002021-04-21T11:09:29.122+02:00Coming up for Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQheX6nRFuNCccwNcHMVTAr0AJonlzqTQJBT1ostvpoH9gHCneg-zCKjT1DgXldkcchLnpNQF8S5UAddeLH9lXOEmh2E5MZ4gg5Ae9gecwKjTbjg48I4hb_mCBC7OTyKg8E_rIK-CNxF0/s1080/render1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQheX6nRFuNCccwNcHMVTAr0AJonlzqTQJBT1ostvpoH9gHCneg-zCKjT1DgXldkcchLnpNQF8S5UAddeLH9lXOEmh2E5MZ4gg5Ae9gecwKjTbjg48I4hb_mCBC7OTyKg8E_rIK-CNxF0/s320/render1.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I have been lost in computer land lately. I don't see myself leaving anytime soon either. I do think I need to change a few things though. Let me explain. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> About six months ago I embarked on a new adventure. Something I don't have any experience in at all. I started making graphics for a video game. I had a little experience with photoshop and by that I mean very little! I had no experience with blender which is another software that is even more complicated than photoshop if that is possible. So for the last six months I have been working hard trying to learn how to use these two software to accomplish what I need to do.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> It has been mind-bendingly hard. I am fairly good with technical things but blender makes me feel like what I thought was good is nothing. It deals with all things 3d. Modeling, animation, texturing, particles and so forth are what I play with most days now. It has called into question my abilities as an artist. I am persisting though because I love it! I really do. Every time I make something it gets more exciting. The things I made 6 months ago look terrible to me now and I am sure the things I make now will look terrible in 6 months but I am continuing to improve. I don't plan on stopping with this project anytime soon. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> BUT, and this is a big but, I miss my art. I know what I am doing is art but it isn't the same. The screen is great but I want to touch my art. I want to get my hands dirty and play with colors, splash paint, squish clay, bend wire. I'm not sure what, but I think I need to do some hands on art.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I am thinking of giving myself a day each week where I do a project. Not anything to sell probably, maybe for the house or for me or gifts. I do think it is needed though. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I also want to write a few things about what has been going on with the house. We have continued to work on it. For quite awhile we were planning on selling so things halted but then we decided to stay. Now our plans are up in the air but the work goes on. I can definitely say though that this house has greatly improved and I am really starting to love it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> So all this to say I think I will start writing here again. I didn't see much use in writing about what I am doing now, although if there is anyone out there interested in my graphics work let me know and I can throw a post in now and then covering what I am doing there. So here I go again. I am quite excited *grin*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Can't wait to talk with you all again. Hope you are having a great week!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cf8bnIjTEIqhyphenhyphenQ9nXF9-v-9YvywH8DuY132cWSSSKsJSvfzhd9ih-tp40iAc2xm7Uxj6ogfxzlF604pj2bUtJfQMNv_PbWmkhRMaWyC6Q51d06RStSEQMGUIJnV-bF6g30M6eLegFZw/s600/Signature+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cf8bnIjTEIqhyphenhyphenQ9nXF9-v-9YvywH8DuY132cWSSSKsJSvfzhd9ih-tp40iAc2xm7Uxj6ogfxzlF604pj2bUtJfQMNv_PbWmkhRMaWyC6Q51d06RStSEQMGUIJnV-bF6g30M6eLegFZw/s320/Signature+copy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-28204097859074388902020-07-27T13:50:00.000+02:002020-07-27T13:50:09.882+02:00And We're Back!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C2ECgHc_M6NDCvUXF2KeyjWU19iMEm5X6EU_4WGToT_9cGZh-EW9oO_IxY4mDqCGbaEKH-CMUocycXqn7zOTSIAeSQBNHkg_DxzAiUvESPHbPxfXDMGXm4S5oaiCmSuw0Wk0FQm7rLs/s2048/drop+earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1701" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C2ECgHc_M6NDCvUXF2KeyjWU19iMEm5X6EU_4WGToT_9cGZh-EW9oO_IxY4mDqCGbaEKH-CMUocycXqn7zOTSIAeSQBNHkg_DxzAiUvESPHbPxfXDMGXm4S5oaiCmSuw0Wk0FQm7rLs/s320/drop+earrings.jpg" /></a></div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><font face="georgia">photo for attention. *grin*</font><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div><div><font face="georgia">Excuse all the hiccups while I get this blog back up and running again. I will sit down soon and try to catch ya'll up. </font></div><div><font face="georgia"><br /></font></div>Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-74588391353242106882019-08-14T11:56:00.002+02:002020-07-27T12:13:40.008+02:00How Life Gets in the Way<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/20583323/?claim=qxdyycm3k36">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
<!--wp:image {"id":1545}--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="Painted tree in resin" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190808_150307-750x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="750" /></div><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><figcaption style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Autumn Tree</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Hello all, I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer despite the high temperatures in so many places. I have been fortunate with the house here on the mountain. Since it is built into the mountain the downstairs maintains a nice cool temperature even on the hottest of days. It’s like built-in air conditioning without the cost! Though I think we pay for it in the winter.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1542" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_140201-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_140201-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_140201-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_140201-300x400.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_140201-600x800.jpg 600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Kumihimo Beaded Bracelet<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I am steadily working on my new collection but I must admit it has been hard. Though I had high aspirations of working on design ideas when I was on my trip to the US, that was not the case. But I don’t regret this. I enjoyed every minute of my trip and all the people that I was able to visit. Then when I arrived home I was sure I would be right back at it but jet lag reared its ugly head and I wasn’t functioning for a good two weeks if not more. When I finally had a clear head I hit on another problem. My muse had left the building. I could not come up with one good idea so I spent the last month frittering my time away on a bunch of disconnected pieces.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1543" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190813_135749-768x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Finally, I feel like I have a theme going and ideas are starting to arrive. Of course, as soon as this happens I have to leave again. A week away in Bretagne to go to our dear friends’ wedding. It’s true that I am looking forward to seeing them and attending the wedding but once again I am off course. I am not sure how to solve this problem. Each time I leave, when I return it seems to take forever to find my place again. I told myself that I would release four collections this year. Right now I think I will be lucky to get three done. I know there is no way to do four. Who knows, there might only be two.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1544" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190726_210433-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190726_210433-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190726_210433-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190726_210433-300x400.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_20190726_210433-600x800.jpg 600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /><figcaption style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">A row of mica resin leaves.</figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">All of this to say…I am sorry for any delay. I am here. I am working daily to make new pieces. This is a whole new way of working for me so I guess it will take time for me to find my groove. Does anyone else have this problem when they go away?</p></div><figcaption><br /></figcaption></figure><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p></p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-6880090450320466292019-07-20T11:54:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:55:05.894+02:00New Experiments<!--wp:image {"id":1530}--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="first try" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-finished-dot-piece-503x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="503" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;"><br /></span></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I have been experimenting quite a bit the last few days. The final vestiges of my jetlag seem to be falling by the wayside and I feel my mind opening up and beginning to be creative again. I brought home a treasure trove of fun stuff to play with. New paints, micas, tools and mediums. Much fuel for a creative fire!</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1531" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings.jpg 720w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings-300x400.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings-600x800.jpg 600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I have been tossing a few ideas around for my new collection. I had planned on fleshing it out more when I was on my trip but vacations really are another world aren’t they? I completely just let it all go and so I came home with not many more ideas than I left with. Loss of sleep further deterred me but finally, I am making some headway.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1532" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting.jpg 720w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting-300x400.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting-600x800.jpg 600w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I learned a new technique this vacation from a dear friend. She makes awesome pieces and let me play with her tools. This dotting technique is just lovely in how it works up. It is a bit tricker than I expected and I am having to really work to get it right. I am pretty happy with the last few things I did though. I know I have to get more even and exact with those tiny little pinprick dots but I am working on it,</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1533" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-1024x1024.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-600x600.jpg 600w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-100x100.jpg 100w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I also had a try at mixing my own paint! I bought some lovely pearlescent mica pigments and mixed this wonderful pearl white and gold paint myself. Although I am still not happy with my tiny dots I am getting the fluidity down and the dots are smoother. I have to wait for a few things before I can finish this experiment but I am happy with what I have made up so far.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">What do you think of this method? Do you like it?</p></div></figure><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p> I have been experimenting quite a bit the last few days. The final vestiges of my jetlag seem to be falling by the wayside and I feel my mind opening up and beginning to be creative again. I brought home a treasure trove of fun stuff to play with. New paints, micas, tools and mediums. Much fuel for a creative fire! </p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"id":1531}--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1531" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-pair-of-fun-earrings.jpg" /></figure><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p><br /> I have been tossing a few ideas around for my new collection. I had planned on fleshing it out more when I was on my trip but vacations really are another world aren't they? I completely just let it all go and so I came home with not many more ideas than I left with. Loss of sleep further deterred me but finally, I am making some headway.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"id":1532}--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1532" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/More-experimenting.jpg" /></figure><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p>I learned a new technique this vacation from a dear friend. She makes awesome pieces and let me play with her tools. This dotting technique is just lovely in how it works up. It is a bit tricker than I expected and I am having to really work to get it right. I am pretty happy with the last few things I did though. I know I have to get more even and exact with those tiny little pinprick dots but I am working on it,</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"id":1533}--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1533" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_20190719_182320_159-1024x1024.jpg" /></figure><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p>I also had a try at mixing my own paint! I bought some lovely pearlescent mica pigments and mixed this wonderful pearl white and gold paint myself. Although I am still not happy with my tiny dots I am getting the fluidity down and the dots are smoother. I have to wait for a few things before I can finish this experiment but I am happy with what I have made up so far.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image--><br /><figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph--><br /><p>What do you think of this method? Do you like it?</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-32698974112755028302019-05-08T11:51:00.003+02:002020-07-25T11:53:53.763+02:00Finally<div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="experiment" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190109_193255-750x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="750" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;">Another failure</span><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;"><span style="text-align: left;">Last time I wrote here everything was still in upheaval. I was deep in the throes of unpacking and tying to settle into a life of living in two places. It took quite awhile to sort everything out and get to a point where I could create again. But time smooths most things and I fell into a rhythm. And finally, yes finally, I managed to complete my collection. The break-thru moment was when I was able to create the resin pieces I wanted. There are a lot of methods out there and I discarded them all. None satisfied me on their durability or looks. Now I am able to make pieces that I feel comfortable selling. Once this was accomplished I started to play 😉 I am constantly amazed at just what you can do with this amazing stuff! It’s like the strongest glue you can find. It is an amazing glass substitute. You can add things, build on it, just so much you can do!</span></span></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><div class="elementor elementor-1400" data-elementor-id="1400" data-elementor-settings="[]" data-elementor-type="wp-post" style="box-sizing: inherit; hyphens: manual;"><div class="elementor-inner" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="elementor-section-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><section class="elementor-element elementor-element-5827a21f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section" data-element_type="section" data-id="5827a21f" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1140px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-45c0c63c elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column" data-element_type="column" data-id="45c0c63c" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; min-height: 1px; position: relative; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; position: relative; width: 658.031px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-2b6527a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-element_type="widget" data-id="2b6527a1" data-widget_type="text-editor.default" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 658.031px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="elementor-element elementor-element-9081b1d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section" data-element_type="section" data-id="9081b1d" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1140px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-9582af5 elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column" data-element_type="column" data-id="9582af5" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; min-height: 1px; position: relative; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; padding: 10px; position: relative; width: 678.031px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; position: relative; width: 658.031px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-6b3ce6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image" data-element_type="widget" data-id="6b3ce6d" data-widget_type="image.default" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 658.031px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="elementor-image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><figure class="wp-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large" height="887" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-866x1024.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-866x1024.jpg 866w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-254x300.jpg 254w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-768x908.jpg 768w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-300x355.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190219_181100-600x710.jpg 600w" style="border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="750" /><figcaption class="widget-image-caption wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.8075em 0px;">sparkly, pink and bubbles. What's not to like?</figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></div></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;">So now my latest collection is finished and I publish it in two days. I am so excited to finally be here. I have learned so much along the way and gained much valuable experience. Making a collection is nothing like making one piece of jewelry. It involves a lot of planning and failure but now I feel confident to go forward with that knowledge and make another collection! And that is exactly what I am doing. I am already hard at work in my head, planning and designing a new collection. So I hope you enjoy my latest one “Flight of Dreams” and be sure to check back in the future for my newest creations. I will try to do better about posting my experiments along the way. I get so lost in the process that I often forget to take photos.</span>os.Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-89855987518818567582019-02-09T11:50:00.000+01:002020-07-25T11:50:49.687+02:00It's been a long road<!--wp:paragraph--><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/34070951_10160691594165724_8428980009682599936_n-750x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="750" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;"><span style="text-align: left;">The last time I wrote here was over seven months ago! At the time I was quite excitedly looking forward to moving into the city. Ready to start a new life among people. French classes were lined up, new adventures planned. I was so excited. Well. Life does not always turn out the way you expect it to. This time was no different. Over the course of the last 7</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: left;">months,</g><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">everything we had planned has changed EXCEPT that we are going to sell our house.</span></span></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Within a month of moving into the <g class="gr_ gr_11 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="11" id="11" style="box-sizing: inherit;">apartment,</g> we had turned in our notice to move back out. It was just not working out. There were problems with the apartment that could not be fixed and so instead of settling into a happy life right in the center of beautiful and exciting Colmar, I started packing things back into boxes.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We also had planned a long vacation in Georgia with our dear friends to celebrate their wedding and the christening of their son. Then shortly after our return from that trip, I had to go to the hospital unexpectedly with yet another problem that left me in the hospital during our move (poor Frenchie had to do that one on his own) So he moved everything back to our house and now…onward with the search for another apartment. I am dwelling in limbo.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I refuse to let this keep me down though. I am determined to finish my collection that has been lying dormant in my mind this entire time. Instead of staying in the house until the apartment is found, I am traveling each week with my husband to Switzerland. We have set up a temporary studio there where I am beginning to do my work again. It is still a bit chaotic and I am still finding my balance but it is coming. Slowly but surely it is coming!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">One thing I have accomplished during this time is my website. I moved from my old shop platform to my very own site that I built on my own. I am not very tech-savvy so it was quite the endeavor but I ended up enjoying the process quite a bit. If you find anything too clunky there please forgive me and feel free to point it out to me.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-997" sizes="(max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web-ready-blog-photo.jpg" srcset="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web-ready-blog-photo.jpg 548w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web-ready-blog-photo-300x349.jpg 300w, https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web-ready-blog-photo-258x300.jpg 258w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I hope to be up and running in the studio this week and soon will be cranking out more experiments of course. I refuse to make anything to sell until I have a piece that I feel confident will make my clients as happy as it makes me.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">This wing experiment has proved quite the challenge. Where it seems quite simple, <g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12" style="box-sizing: inherit;">resin</g> is anything but that. It can be quite fickle and different types achieve different results. Add on top of that the fact that I am using it on my own artwork and it can be a bit tricky. I have had to play with different sealants and methods to try and create a good resin piece that will hold up to wear. I am learning a lot about this and have developed several processes that work for different items. I will continue to keep you updated as I go.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I am so excited about my new collection though. It takes everything I have learned so far and wraps it into one package. I really hope that you will find it as enchanting as I do. I hope you have a great week!</p></div><!--/wp:heading-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-4245548043201044032018-06-23T11:47:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:47:23.372+02:00The End is in Sight<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/33672546_10160672965945724_8774606688100548608_o-750x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="750" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> So today marks one week until our move. Soon I will be back in a city. A new one for me and one that I love a lot. I will be living right in the middle of the beautiful and quaint city of Colmar. I will have a park for my front yard and another park for my back yard! I am hoping that the green will help me adjust to leaving here, where everything is green and the view from my window is breathtaking. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_48966a31a1b2419e942fac5cd3e2c743~mv2_d_3534_1375_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_550,h_214,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_48966a31a1b2419e942fac5cd3e2c743~mv2_d_3534_1375_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I probably have a million photos of this view and it never grows old. It will be hard to leave it behind. This move will be good for me though and I try to remind myself of that when I grow sad about leaving. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> Despite the move I have still been busy creating. This last week I worked hard creating over a dozen resin pendants with coral suspended inside as mementos for a friend from his father’s collection he had gathered in younger years.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_f3061d73bef149efab82ffea48e7dceb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_413,h_736,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_f3061d73bef149efab82ffea48e7dceb~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> This was good practice for me. I have been slowly learning how to use resin properly and after this last bit of work I am feeling very confident with my abilities. This is a good thing because my new line of jewelry will involve a lot of resin. If you follow me in my facebook group you have been seeing a few peeks of what’s going on behind the scenes in the creation of my new line. I will be sharing more peeks there and soon hope to start an email newsletter sharing more. If you are interested in knowing what is coming up and when be sure to subscribe and join the group. I have plans for giveaways in the future and special discounts and if you want to be informed when the line will be released. Click here to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/227874354658710/?ref=bookmarks" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #9f0052; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">CymberRains Creations.</a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> This will probably be my last post until after the move. SO until then. See you on the flip side! </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_325,h_163,al_c,lg_1,q_80/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-90455623948183176432018-06-12T11:45:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:45:46.533+02:00Of Moving and Still Being Creative<!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_20180502_145212_945-540x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="540" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;"><br /></span><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_5281046110964dc08fb5736cbf0ebab6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_645,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_5281046110964dc08fb5736cbf0ebab6~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I have been quiet here since I finished my website, mainly because my life has been filled with things having nothing to do with my art. My husband and I have made a very big decision. We are selling our house and moving to the nearest big town here, Colmar. It is a much needed change but not done without some regret. I love this house up on the side of the mountain. I love the view, the quiet, being so close to nature. But I also crave the city, being close to what I need. I do not drive. This has been a true hardship for me. Since we are SO far out into the mountains we are the last stop on the bus line. It only comes to the town four times a day and makes running into town for a quick errand impossible. There is no post office of grocery store here. I am truly in the sticks! I am also alone most of the time since Frenchie works in Switzerland and stays there during the week. A change was needed.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> So we are finishing up our big remodeling projects. The bathroom is almost finished and the same with our new bedroom. We will be moving in two weeks. There is still much to do so it is taking away from my creative time but I have not stopped at all! I live to create and so I find little times to sit and make. It keeps me going.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I have changed my thinking on how I create and have decided that from now on I will create groups of things that run along a certain theme and release them all at once when they are finished. This is very exciting for me. It gives me a lot of room to brainstorm and come up with a great idea with lots of fun making more than just one piece. It is a great challenge also to make a group of pieces that are cohesive. It is with this in mind that I have started working on my first themed set. My dear sweet daughter created a face group for me so I could discuss my upcoming lines. She is a great support for me and I think my biggest fan, haha! If you are truly interested in the work I am doing I suggest you join my group. I will be featuring giveaways and contests in the future once i get settled in my new home and things start rolling smoothly again. You can find my group here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/227874354658710/?ref=group_header" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #9f0052; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">CymberRain’s Creations.</a></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_3b71b36f9131403c994c2c30f344e13a~mv2_d_3648_5472_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_726,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_3b71b36f9131403c994c2c30f344e13a~mv2_d_3648_5472_s_4_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div></div></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I have been quiet here since I finished my website, mainly because my life has been filled with things having nothing to do with my art. My husband and I have made a very big decision. We are selling our house and moving to the nearest big town here, Colmar. It is a much needed change but not done without some regret. I love this house up on the side of the mountain. I love the view, the quiet, being so close to nature. But I also crave the city, being close to what I need. I do not drive. This has been a true hardship for me. Since we are SO far out into the mountains we are the last stop on the bus line. It only comes to the town four times a day and makes running into town for a quick errand impossible. There is no post office of grocery store here. I am truly in the sticks! I am also alone most of the time since Frenchie works in Switzerland and stays there during the week. A change was needed.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> So we are finishing up our big remodeling projects. The bathroom is almost finished and the same with our new bedroom. We will be moving in two weeks. There is still much to do so it is taking away from my creative time but I have not stopped at all! I live to create and so I find little times to sit and make. It keeps me going.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I have changed my thinking on how I create and have decided that from now on I will create groups of things that run along a certain theme and release them all at once when they are finished. This is very exciting for me. It gives me a lot of room to brainstorm and come up with a great idea with lots of fun making more than just one piece. It is a great challenge also to make a group of pieces that are cohesive. It is with this in mind that I have started working on my first themed set. My dear sweet daughter created a face group for me so I could discuss my upcoming lines. She is a great support for me and I think my biggest fan, haha! If you are truly interested in the work I am doing I suggest you join my group. I will be featuring giveaways and contests in the future once i get settled in my new home and things start rolling smoothly again. You can find my group here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/227874354658710/?ref=group_header" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CymberRain's Creations.</a></p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_3b71b36f9131403c994c2c30f344e13a~mv2_d_3648_5472_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_726,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_3b71b36f9131403c994c2c30f344e13a~mv2_d_3648_5472_s_4_2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-200154992534913102017-12-05T16:47:00.000+01:002020-07-25T11:44:01.238+02:00Lab Rat - Scientist Role Reversal Shrink Plastic Earrings<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I told you in my last post that my friend had made a request for some new shrink film pieces and I wanted ot show you what I came up with. She is a scientist and she had this idea for a fellow lab mate as a gift. She liked the role reversal with the alien and cow that she asked me to come up with something similar for a rat and scientist. This is what I drew.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I told you in my last post that my friend had made a request for some new shrink film pieces and I wanted ot show you what I came up with. She is a scientist and she had this idea for a fellow lab mate as a gift. She liked the role reversal with the alien and cow that she asked me to come up with something similar for a rat and scientist. This is what I drew.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_0968d81dd42948af88e332967add298a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_593,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_0968d81dd42948af88e332967add298a~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_d77dc9cb7a044840ba98ed3aa023c8c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_581,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_d77dc9cb7a044840ba98ed3aa023c8c4~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I then inked them out on the shrink film and colored them in:</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_c3c786400b1146bb8c601fdb453037ae~mv2_d_2211_1991_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_436,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_c3c786400b1146bb8c601fdb453037ae~mv2_d_2211_1991_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> And here is the finished pieces, also some cows and aliens as I had an order for a pair of them as earrings.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_5d5d257884c0467ab7310e03a097dc0e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_525,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_5d5d257884c0467ab7310e03a097dc0e~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> Unfortunatly I forgot to get a picture of the pieces as finished earrings. It was a rush order and I had to mail them quickly. I had a lot of fun making these. It is way outside of my normal work and it is good to do something a little different occasionally.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Hope you are having a great week!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_d77dc9cb7a044840ba98ed3aa023c8c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_581,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_d77dc9cb7a044840ba98ed3aa023c8c4~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I then inked them out on the shrink film and colored them in:</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_c3c786400b1146bb8c601fdb453037ae~mv2_d_2211_1991_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_436,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_c3c786400b1146bb8c601fdb453037ae~mv2_d_2211_1991_s_2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> And here is the finished pieces, also some cows and aliens as I had an order for a pair of them as earrings.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_5d5d257884c0467ab7310e03a097dc0e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_525,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_5d5d257884c0467ab7310e03a097dc0e~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> Unfortunatly I forgot to get a picture of the pieces as finished earrings. It was a rush order and I had to mail them quickly. I had a lot of fun making these. It is way outside of my normal work and it is good to do something a little different occasionally.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Hope you are having a great week!</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-16475848288020025652017-11-29T11:42:00.000+01:002020-07-25T11:43:12.343+02:00Alien - Cow Role reversal Shrink Plastic Jewelry<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><img alt="" class="attachment-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar size-halcyon-pro-with-sidebar wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/shrink-film-cow-design-750x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 750.031px;" width="750" /></div><header class="entry-header" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: -23px; padding: 24px 0px 11px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span class="category" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 18px;"><a href="https://cymberrain.com/category/jewelry/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #090a0a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase;">[ JEWELRY ]</a></span><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: rgb(12, 12, 12) !important; font-family: Oswald; font-size: 32px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 40px; margin: 0.67em 0px 20px; text-transform: uppercase;">ALIEN – COW ROLE REVERSAL SHRINK PLASTIC JEWELRY</h1><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="postedon" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://cymberrain.com/alien-cow-role-reversal-shrink-plastic-jewelry/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #9f0052; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">November 29, 2017</a></span></div></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(235, 237, 239); box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 36px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I have this friend, she is a little zany. She has a million ideas and they are all a little different and fun. She has long hair and always wears it up in a bun. She told me one day she would love some fun and silly hair sticks to wear in her hair, like an alien beaming up a cow. I thought it was a fun idea and worked on and off for well over a year with different ideas to make these hair sticks. I tried beads and fimo and wire. Nothing really seemed to catch it and I put it aside for awhile. Then I started working with the shrink plastic and one day *bing* the idea came into my head to make the alien and cow in shrink plastic. Why not?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I sat down to draw it but realized that the regular alien and cow scenario just wasn’t doing it for me. I needed a twist and that is how the cow abducting the alien came to life!</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I inked the pictures onto shrink plastic and came up with this. I then refined it a little, adding some shadows and such. I really love how these came out, they are so fun!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_1a557d574b074788a60bdb8cb29a0cfd~mv2_d_2175_2362_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_526,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_1a557d574b074788a60bdb8cb29a0cfd~mv2_d_2175_2362_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">After I was finally satisfied with the piece, I made them into a nice set of hair sticks and gave them to my friend.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_76b5c2a567d74699989685bdeff186a8~mv2_d_2212_3318_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_726,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_76b5c2a567d74699989685bdeff186a8~mv2_d_2212_3318_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">She loved them so much she came to me the next week and begged me to make her friend some earrings. I will show you what I made next time 🙂 </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-25036515294546097482017-11-27T11:41:00.000+01:002020-07-25T11:41:54.894+02:00A Serious and All Encompassing Bug<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I caught a bug in October. It wasn’t your usual cold and flu thing, no fever and no cough. No, this was something completely different. I caught the knitting bug!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Not only did I catch it, I caught a very bad case of it. I have wanted to knit since I was a teenager. I have tried many times. Each time ending in disaster. I even got as far as making a scarf my last attempt but it was hard and long and I fought it the entire way. I was left with a wonky, sloppy mess that I still wore till it was wearing out but I was not happy with it.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_546fd4353cf74dcb902115a3d1dcf405~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_645,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_546fd4353cf74dcb902115a3d1dcf405~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I joined a facebook group this last month and I am putting this bug squarely on their shoulders. It is a fiber group and suddenly there on my feed, day after day, were all these wonderful photos of the most beautiful work and a lot of it was knitted. I started to get that itch again, that deep desire to surround myself with skeins of beautiful wool and knit something beautiful. I decided to try one last time. If it didn’t work this time well then, that was that. Only that wasn’t that. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I’m not sure what changed. I really don’t understand what happened but this time I picked up the needles and that big ball of squishy yarn and it came to life under my fingers. Suddenly I was knitting away row after row of beautiful stitches with hardly a wonky one among them. I did it!!!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a422cfd9e41d4f70bd2b94644d1849fb~mv2_d_3318_2212_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a422cfd9e41d4f70bd2b94644d1849fb~mv2_d_3318_2212_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I started with a simple scarf, I didn’t know what I was doing but I was happy. About 18 inches into it I noticed it was curling and learned from the experts that I couldnt just knit and purl away like that, it would always curl. So I took my first piece apart and made this instead:</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_57a7a0a08ec645b89ca9d4f9b7e91379~mv2_d_2212_3318_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_726,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_57a7a0a08ec645b89ca9d4f9b7e91379~mv2_d_2212_3318_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Once I finished my first scarf I went on to more colorful projects. This is my second scarf and I adore it! It is warm and bright and fun. It has quickly become a favorite that I reach for time and time again.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_fbbfa66ec31f48d09e533795e065ae44~mv2_d_5472_3648_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_fbbfa66ec31f48d09e533795e065ae44~mv2_d_5472_3648_s_4_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> Now I was completely hooked. I was spending hours drooling over different patterns and yarns. THen I saw entralac. Oh My Goodness! What magic is this? I had to learn. So I set out to learn this elusive stitch and low and behold, I could do that too! </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_85094e65011446b4958359fce4b03aea~mv2_d_2613_1944_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_360,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_85094e65011446b4958359fce4b03aea~mv2_d_2613_1944_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> With the skills to do that beautiful stitch I made myself a pillow top. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_93202118547e466796620cddb2aa4642~mv2_d_1511_2015_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_645,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_93202118547e466796620cddb2aa4642~mv2_d_1511_2015_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I just think it is scrumptious! I love it so much. I am really and truly hooked now. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Next on my agenda was learning to make a hat, so I found a nice slouchy hat pattern and this happened:</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_6b220f49b7c749a7ac07df80b97dc009~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_645,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_6b220f49b7c749a7ac07df80b97dc009~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> So you can see, I really am truly hooked on this. No telling what I will make next *grin*</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-53321230885337048592017-09-14T11:40:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:40:25.252+02:00Steam Punk Fairy Makes an Entrance<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> After finishing Pomp & Circumstance I found myself still yearning to pick up my pencils. I was thrilled with this as I have let them lay dormant for many a year with no desire to visit them at all. That I would find such satisfaction with them again was an exciting thing for me. I quickly set about with a new idea. My daughter had told me she wished a drawing of a fairy some day so that is where the idea for this drawing came from. I decided to draw a fairy but not just any fairy, a steampunk fairy. I wanted her to be bold and yet beautiful also. So this is what I started out with. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_278c7e36158246799ddaac861cb8deec~mv2_d_2991_1889_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_306,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_278c7e36158246799ddaac861cb8deec~mv2_d_2991_1889_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I didn’t really like her face yet, I wanted something more angellic. I finally settled on this face and I am much happier with it.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_ccf99c2fca3c4b3da759071d3b908abe~mv2_d_2188_3125_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_691,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_ccf99c2fca3c4b3da759071d3b908abe~mv2_d_2188_3125_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">After I settled on the face I went into a little more detail on her hair. She is starting to shape up!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_9c95d5300ae4426fb213b9053944a82a~mv2_d_2423_2196_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_439,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_9c95d5300ae4426fb213b9053944a82a~mv2_d_2423_2196_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I am really looking forward to this piece. I think she is going to be a lot of fun. Keep posted to see her come to life.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Hope you have a great and creative week!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-30987934157729322212017-08-28T11:38:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:38:55.507+02:00Pen & Ink and Colored Pencil Design<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center","dropCap":true}--><br /><p class="has-drop-cap" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">This is a post about my recent rediscovery of my love of pencil drawing and the results of my experiments in colored pencil. When I recently did the graphic sketch of the colorful feather I realized just how much I loved drawing and missed doing it. When my son made a comment that he had none of my art to hang on his wall I started mulling over the idea of doing a drawing for him. He has a painting of his father’s on the wall and it is of our old angel fish. Well I love angel fish and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to do a fish also, then he would have one in each of our styles?” So that’s what I decided to do…</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_d998f209c00847ea88c403465e919264~mv2_d_2092_2760_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_639,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_d998f209c00847ea88c403465e919264~mv2_d_2092_2760_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I started out with this peliminary sketch of the fish.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I wanted to do an angel fish but one with lots of swirly very colorful fins. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_531f244684184e718d897ed69064a1e3~mv2_d_3318_2212_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_531f244684184e718d897ed69064a1e3~mv2_d_3318_2212_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">After I finished my sketch I inked the body of my fish. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_491ffd9816ba46dc9be6b01107d8c818~mv2_d_1995_1968_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_477,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_491ffd9816ba46dc9be6b01107d8c818~mv2_d_1995_1968_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> Then I began my first layering of color. I have never really done any professional work with colored pencils so I watched a lot of videos on different methods for layering color, etc. I started out with my lightest colors, lay the color down and smoothed it with turpentine. It made a nice painterly effect and I really liked how well it covered this way. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_00f0d1f32e7345aa9d6b7fc08c9139d0~mv2_d_2391_2152_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_436,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_00f0d1f32e7345aa9d6b7fc08c9139d0~mv2_d_2391_2152_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I then slowly started building up the color. I found this a fascinating process. I always used only graphite when I worked in pencil when I was younger and I was missing out on a whole world of beautiful colors. The Prismacolor pencils I use are rich and soft and layer beautifully. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_7f0d43c5cb1e43f2b7055024dc292e0f~mv2_d_2212_2933_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_642,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_7f0d43c5cb1e43f2b7055024dc292e0f~mv2_d_2212_2933_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Once the body was done, then the colors really came out. Now I am starting to play! This was such a fun project. I really just let myself go. I found the pencils themselves made me even more creative. The vast amount of color effects I was able to achieve just encouraged me more. I think I spent more time deciding the colors and designs I would use then I did with the actual work but it was all a very fun project!</p><p class="has-drop-cap" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_7b622be7a391453f97993c49864f0f10~mv2_d_2362_3079_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_631,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_7b622be7a391453f97993c49864f0f10~mv2_d_2362_3079_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-80242149827631323662017-05-16T18:49:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:37:13.204+02:00Initial D Shrink Film Experiment<!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_37378986c3934a8180f00bab32caab39~mv2_d_1739_1614_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_449,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_37378986c3934a8180f00bab32caab39~mv2_d_1739_1614_s_2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I was so happy with my rainbow feather piece that I wanted to try this method out again. I loved how the rainbow feather turned out but I felt it was just a bit too detailed, so I set out to simplify the design. I started out with a sketch of an initial D.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_e5b7c8b090854d4b9d9665bbc4e42cb3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_508,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_e5b7c8b090854d4b9d9665bbc4e42cb3~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I really loved how this sketch turned out. I didnt add the color or fine details in the sketch. I chose to wait until I put it on the plastic. I made up two pieces of the film and tranferred the design onto them for shrinking. I wanted to do one piece with the sharpie markers and one with the prismacolor to compare the two. I immediately made a mistake by tranferring the design onto the wrong side of one of the pieces. I went ahead and finished it anyway though as I wanted to see how it would look with it done on the wrong side. The piece done on the right side is with the colored pencil, the wrong side is the marker one.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a1c14fc4d2854f0a88d1a5b634467531~mv2_d_2062_1663_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_390,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a1c14fc4d2854f0a88d1a5b634467531~mv2_d_2062_1663_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So here below are the first two pieces. The one on the left is the one done on the wrong side. As you can see the colors are very muted. I guess this could be used in some applications but I felt it wasn’t suitable for this application. The second one I thought turned out great. I was so excited about it that I set out to wrap it right away. Silly me! I totally forgot to seal it before I started and before I was even halfway finished with the bezel the ink had rubbed off the front of the piece. The bezel also didn’t work so two fails in one day! </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_bf47df8264ff4571862985a0bc46611d~mv2_d_1555_1482_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_461,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_bf47df8264ff4571862985a0bc46611d~mv2_d_1555_1482_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I went on to do two more pieces. I was determined to get this piece right. I again repeated the same experiment, one with marker and one with pencil. This time I inked them both on the right side. This time they both turned out great so I went on to seal them. I decided to use the spray sealer to eliminate the brush stroke that were somewhat evident on the rainbow feather. Boy was that a mistake. I am not sure if it would have worked if I had used a lighter touch but what happend was a reaction with the ink and the sealer. It leaked into the background.Two more pieces regulated to the scrap pile. One good thing though, I can use these with the resin experiments I want to try out as soon as it gets a bit warmer. It is still way too cold up on this mountain for the resin to cure well without using lots of heat in the room.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_aee35511ad184837ad5bcbf2eec74308~mv2_d_2208_2145_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_470,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_aee35511ad184837ad5bcbf2eec74308~mv2_d_2208_2145_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_c10814fe3cff40ba96d3936c642541a6~mv2_d_1555_1385_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_431,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_c10814fe3cff40ba96d3936c642541a6~mv2_d_1555_1385_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_8884413136eb4d9ea0c34c8288f6f39e~mv2_d_1625_1528_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_455,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_8884413136eb4d9ea0c34c8288f6f39e~mv2_d_1625_1528_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I was still determined to do this right. I made one more piece. This time with the pencil as I had decided from the previous batches that the pencil looks just a bit better than the marker. Though really it is a close call. They both look quite good in my opinion. So here is the final piece inked and then shrunk.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_5c2c168e1cba49cdab754510585887ed~mv2_d_1267_1330_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_508,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_5c2c168e1cba49cdab754510585887ed~mv2_d_1267_1330_s_2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Finally a good result! I am still not crazy about the background and would probably be more likely to use this with images that fill the whole piece. I still have to play with this more. What do you think? Do you like the results? Would you wear something like this? </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-15536099945607691762017-05-02T11:34:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:35:05.886+02:00Shrink Film Update<!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_24fe9fba2a6f4e8783306e1dd707bfb0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_380,h_570,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_24fe9fba2a6f4e8783306e1dd707bfb0~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I have had a busy day here on the mountain. It was cold and snowy up here and not much fun to be outdoors. Thankfully the forecast shows warmer days to come. I am ready for spring<g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12" style="box-sizing: inherit;">!</g></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12" style="box-sizing: inherit;">And</g> speaking of spring, I think my new piece has a bit of a spring feel.After I shrunk this down I really wanted to give it a wrap to showcase those lovely rainbow colors. So I made this wrap with some of my hand dyed rainbow silk ribbon.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I really do love the color it added but I still think this piece is way too detailed. I plan on doing things a little more simple in the future to see how the color pops. The black just dominates too much. It was just an experiment though. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">What do you think? Is it too dark or do you think it shows the colors sufficiently?</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_074b644d359f4444b0af54aeb0194671~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_436,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_074b644d359f4444b0af54aeb0194671~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Since I loved this piece so much I did decide to refine the sketch and worked hard all week to make this new version. I say work but how can it be when I have so much fun doing it?</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So here is the new version, refined quite a bit and much larger. I am really out of practice! It has been so long since I did anything with a pencil that I even took a quick refresher course on shading to get back in the groove. It wasn’t long though before I was shading away happily. I can do this!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a86891f903a84861a1bcbc157405689e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_336,h_566,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a86891f903a84861a1bcbc157405689e~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">This piece will go on my living room wall. I even have a space that has been waiting for that special something. It will fit right in. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Now I am onto more shrink film experiments, I am not done playing with this medium for sure. I think it has a lot of interesting possibilities and I want to see if any of these crazy ideas in my head work out. I will keep you updated. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Until then, take care and enjoy the spring weather!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I have had a busy day here on the mountain. It was cold and snowy up here and not much fun to be outdoors. Thankfully the forecast shows warmer days to come. I am ready for spring<g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12">!</g></p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><g class="gr_ gr_12 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Style replaceWithoutSep" data-gr-id="12" id="12">And</g> speaking of spring, I think my new piece has a bit of a spring feel.After I shrunk this down I really wanted to give it a wrap to showcase those lovely rainbow colors. So I made this wrap with some of my hand dyed rainbow silk ribbon.</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I really do love the color it added but I still think this piece is way too detailed. I plan on doing things a little more simple in the future to see how the color pops. The black just dominates too much. It was just an experiment though. </p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">What do you think? Is it too dark or do you think it shows the colors sufficiently?</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_074b644d359f4444b0af54aeb0194671~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_436,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_074b644d359f4444b0af54aeb0194671~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Since I loved this piece so much I did decide to refine the sketch and worked hard all week to make this new version. I say work but how can it be when I have so much fun doing it?</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">So here is the new version, refined quite a bit and much larger. I am really out of practice! It has been so long since I did anything with a pencil that I even took a quick refresher course on shading to get back in the groove. It wasn't long though before I was shading away happily. I can do this!</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a86891f903a84861a1bcbc157405689e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_336,h_566,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a86891f903a84861a1bcbc157405689e~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">This piece will go on my living room wall. I even have a space that has been waiting for that special something. It will fit right in. </p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Now I am onto more shrink film experiments, I am not done playing with this medium for sure. I think it has a lot of interesting possibilities and I want to see if any of these crazy ideas in my head work out. I will keep you updated. </p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Until then, take care and enjoy the spring weather!</p><br /><!--/wp:paragraph--><br /><br /><!--wp:image {"align":"center"}--><br /><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-55818393176535558122017-04-21T11:26:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:28:11.412+02:00Shrink Film Experiment<!--wp:paragraph--><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> I wrote recently on my experiments with alcohol inks. In my last experiment, I used the inks on shrink film and I was very interested in the results. I looked at the wings I had quickly inked and I suddenly saw an opportunity to use my fine art skills in jewelry. I love making jewelry. It does satisfy something in me but I am constantly trying to find ways to bring my art into my jewelry. The wire is lovely but popping colors? Even better!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">So I set about on a trial to see just exactly how much art could I bring to a miniature medium like this. Here are my results and I think you will be quite pleased as I was.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">First off, I wanted a nice intricate piece with lots of colors. Feathers have been on my mind a lot so I did a sketch of a feather in pencil. I didn’t take a lot of time on this piece but I ended up loving it. So I will definitely go back and redo this in a larger size and ink it properly. This is definitely a sketch, not a finished piece.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">This is the piece I am going to do. This image is only about 4″ tall.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_969fd049573d43d394b45561f3114700~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_451,h_568,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_969fd049573d43d394b45561f3114700~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I did a lot of reading on this subject before I started. I wanted to know the pros and cons and to catch the little tips people throw out in forums, etc. I learned that a sanded surface works great for colored pencils. S<g class="gr_ gr_139 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" data-gr-id="139" id="139" style="box-sizing: inherit;">ince</g> I had no colored Sharpies or other alcohol markers, colored pencils it was.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I had already <g class="gr_ gr_8 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" data-gr-id="8" id="8" style="box-sizing: inherit;">did</g> quite a few test runs on my oven and slowly took the temperature down <g class="gr_ gr_23 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" data-gr-id="23" id="23" style="box-sizing: inherit;">till</g> I found the good temp. 140c seems to be just about right. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I did a test with my colored pencils. I have many brands and wanted to see which pencils would work the best. I decided that the Marco pencils seemed to go on much nicer than the others. Later during the coloring of the piece I actually found the Stabilos going on much smoother.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Here is my little color chart I made for reference. </p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_9b5b37f548a24c11bd259caa1e5f7a8b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_242,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_9b5b37f548a24c11bd259caa1e5f7a8b~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">The brighter side is the unsanded side, as you can see the titles are backwards.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">While I was at it I made a ruler too. This is a great little reference tool to give you an idea of how large your piece of plastic needs to be to get the proper size.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_24a49e9b84334e06be9c67ff80278a29~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_192,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_24a49e9b84334e06be9c67ff80278a29~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">As you can see, I still hadn’t figured out my oven temps with this piece and <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />the colored pencil templates and they cooked way too fast.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I could probably put it back in the oven and flatten it a bit more if I wanted to</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a914ea2d511144ed91d8396edbb4be3a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a914ea2d511144ed91d8396edbb4be3a~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">After doing my pencil test I sanded down my film. I took my jewelers sanding blocks in gradient grits ranging from P60 to P600 and set about sanding the whole surface area. I tried to make it as smooth as possible and eliminate as many lines as I could.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Many people had talked of sanding their paper but only with one grit and in a back and forth motion. This didn’t seem enough to me so I sanded it as I would a piece of jewelry. It came out with a pretty good smooth surface though there were still some scratches in it.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_c298efc1d71848e9828f71aa664d50dc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_c298efc1d71848e9828f71aa664d50dc~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Next, I taped my film over my pencil sketch and inked it with my fine tip sharpie on the unsanded side. Having that one sharpie on hand sure saved me.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_969fd049573d43d394b45561f3114700~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_451,h_568,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_969fd049573d43d394b45561f3114700~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />After it dried I turned it over to do the pencil on the sanded side.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_d2d38494d42145018e60727b122e9092~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_413,h_570,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_d2d38494d42145018e60727b122e9092~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Here is the piece with the colors finished. The shiny side is shown.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_d714ac9e80874ff0b8c37247acebc488~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_380,h_570,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_d714ac9e80874ff0b8c37247acebc488~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Then it was time for the oven. I was so nervous and thinking that maybe I was just a bit crazy to put so much time and effort into a shrink plastic piece!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">By now I was used to the shrinking process and sat right in front of the oven. I opened it often to help the piece along when it curled too much. They can get hot but I don’t find them too hot to touch quickly. I just open the oven door, reach in and help it unbend a bit when it seems to be curling too much. Sometimes if they curl too much they stick together and I didn’t want that to happen.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">It melted down well (with a little help) and then I set my bench block on top of it to flatten it further. It is nice and heavy and does the job perfectly!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Here is the finished piece and I am in love once again.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_e81b23556eca4b27a602434c7f1c7088~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_396,h_571,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_e81b23556eca4b27a602434c7f1c7088~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a51a4334c2e6420b8f3a08f4d5ec7898~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_513,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a51a4334c2e6420b8f3a08f4d5ec7898~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_45ae110f8a9f40d8b342b806c7bf8bc9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_380,h_570,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_45ae110f8a9f40d8b342b806c7bf8bc9~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />THis project made me so happy. Not only did I remind myself of how much I love to work with pencils and draw I also found a fantastic way to bring my fine art to my jewelry. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Now my next job is to figure out how to wrap this in wire to make a pendant so that it <g class="gr_ gr_4 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" data-gr-id="4" id="4" style="box-sizing: inherit;">satifies</g> me. That itself might be a monumental task.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 1em 40px;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-38240200981667591632017-04-16T20:19:00.000+02:002020-07-25T11:25:53.703+02:00More Alcohol Ink Experiments<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I have come to the realization that I am terrible at blogging. I’m not sure what it is. The time it takes to upload the pictures, sort them and make the post maybe? I know I get lost in my studio and say to myself ten times a day, “I should blog about this!” But then it doesn’t happen.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> I think I just need to make myself blog no matter how quick and unpolished just to keep a journal, even if only to myself, of what I have been up to. So I am going to try to be better. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I am really busy in the studio and I am accomplishing a lot though it doesn’t show here. I want to post real quick about what I have done the last few weeks with the alcohol inks. They are not the only thing I have been playing with but I am still very excited about them.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> They are just so bright and playful!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_921524b7d0d1421a8d27ed7a4e152bfd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_332,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_921524b7d0d1421a8d27ed7a4e152bfd~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">My next experiment after the shells was with the flower beads. After all, this is what I bought the inks for. I made a small ink stamper by gluing a piece of felt onto the end of a small tool I had. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I have since realized that it would have been better if I had glued a piece of velcro on the end so I could change the piece of felt and made a better tool. Learn as you go!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I loaded my stamper with three colors of ink and stamped away with the ink.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_78dd7ef3630f44a588afa70dabdb0698~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_323,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_78dd7ef3630f44a588afa70dabdb0698~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I think the results speak for themselves.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_1f02b80d262f4fd59b9ff568b9164a13~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_355,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_1f02b80d262f4fd59b9ff568b9164a13~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I am so excited about how they turned out. I absolutely adore them.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_9e41ddfb19194ccfa0906bbbd1d9b652~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_552,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_9e41ddfb19194ccfa0906bbbd1d9b652~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">These blue ones are my favorite so far but I have only started playing with these. I can’t wait to try more color combinations.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I went on to try sealing some of these with resin. Although I am fascinated with resin and plan on doing much with it, I found that I prefer the matte finish on these flower beads. The pictures of the finished resin beads did not turn out well so I wont be including them in this post but here is a picture of one pair of earrings I made with the resin ones. As you can see, they are much shinier and the resin made the inks run together. I could probably alleviate that with the sealer and I may try again next time I pour resin.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_b3518082d93c475ebe018412fb9dc3e7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_396,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_b3518082d93c475ebe018412fb9dc3e7~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Since then I went on to play with shrink plastic. I haven’t done anything with this medium before except play with shrinky dinks when I was little. I had no idea what I was doing! I started out by inking a nice wing on the plastic and then proceeded to paint it with my inks. I loved how it turned out.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_5616f063b5c54636aed508cd1bd659bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_372,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_5616f063b5c54636aed508cd1bd659bc~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I still had to bake it though and really had no idea how this would go. To start out with I am fairly sure I had the oven too hot. It curled up quite bad and wouldn’t go back down. When I took it out the inks looked almost black in places. It was dark dull and ugly I thought.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_3279613e1f254bfb8bf9d8bdeef72865~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_424,h_570,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_3279613e1f254bfb8bf9d8bdeef72865~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Holding it up to the light you can still see the color somewhat but even that was minimal.</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_a036ef006fad4e929d9a41728d1ac6c2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_407,h_569,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_a036ef006fad4e929d9a41728d1ac6c2~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I spent the afternoon experimenting and realized that: </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">1. I was using too high of a temperature. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">2. The inks intensify when baking.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> It is much better to apply them afterwards.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">3. It is better to apply a weight after bringing the piece out of the oven to help keep it flat as it cools. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I made a few smaller pieces. Inked the outline as before and baked them without the alcohol ink. Then I applied the alcohol ink afterward. Much better! I also cleaned the ink off the big piece and reheated it and flattened it with a weight (my bench block worked perfectly)</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_14970683a90f47cb86274b67c91b3060~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_341,h_565,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_14970683a90f47cb86274b67c91b3060~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">All in all, I am in love with the alcohol inks. I still have a lot to learn about them but I think we have become fast friends. The shrink plastic is also an interesting medium. You can do quite intricate works of art on it and then shrink it down to have a nice piece in miniature. I am sure I will also be playing with it a lot in the future. What I really want to do is wrap it in wire.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Until next time I wish you well,</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><br /><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-48813070681242152302017-03-09T19:34:00.000+01:002020-07-25T11:24:46.618+02:00A Look at Alcohol Inks<!--wp:paragraph {"align":"center"}--><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><img src="https://cymberrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Esta-Iridescent-Purple-shell--750x450.jpg" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I recently purchased several bags of acrylic flower beads. They are nice shapes but sadly uninspiring. The colors are matte, and generic. I was disappointed when I opened the package and saw that they did not live up to my dreams. I stuffed them in a drawer and forgot about them for <g class="gr_ gr_18 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" data-gr-id="18" id="18" style="box-sizing: inherit;">awhile</g>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"> Then one day I happened upon a video about someone coloring a mug with alcohol inks. I was fascinated. You can paint ceramics, and glass and wood and metal with these? </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">Color me intrigued! </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">So I ordered some and had my son bring them over in his suitcase from the US. When he arrived we met in the south of France to spend the first week of his visit down with the family. So here I was with this exciting new medium and <g class="gr_ gr_13 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" data-gr-id="13" id="13" style="box-sizing: inherit;">no where</g> near my studio and those pesky beads of mine. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">One day we went to the beach and as I walked along the shore with my son we picked up an assortment of seashells. I noticed that the most <g class="gr_ gr_5 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" data-gr-id="5" id="5" style="box-sizing: inherit;">prevelant</g> shells were a plain white shell. Not very interesting to look at but maybe, just maybe a perfect canvas?</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_8fcbdd88b21544b68cd154a714646158~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_396,h_564,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_8fcbdd88b21544b68cd154a714646158~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> So we filled our pocket with maybe 2 dozen shells and came home with our treasure. The next evening we got out the inks and alcohol, plastic sheets and what not to play. Everyone joined in on the fun and we soon had a pile of pretty colored shells. </p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_8dfb352f46b241dea8aecbfe1c1f4522~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_343,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_8dfb352f46b241dea8aecbfe1c1f4522~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> I deemed our experiment a success. I was smart enough to buy the sealant with the ink and sealed all the pieces and brought them home. I then sat down and wrapped them.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">I was so happy with how they turned out that I had to pull out the inks again. This is a small pair of cabachons I inked. I am in love!</p><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_29c32b7689034d53bbda340f87151bdb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_484,h_322,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_29c32b7689034d53bbda340f87151bdb~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #58595b; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_286,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/360828_979363fceedf47c68caa9ebb3d7a0b55~mv2.webp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></figure></div><!--/wp:image-->Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-71711011097351723602017-02-08T12:00:00.000+01:002017-02-08T12:00:47.720+01:00Stepping Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My recent blog posts have been about my foray back into fabric. If you know me at all you know that I have had a long and very intimate relationship with fabric. Simply put, I love it. I grew up with fabric, made my own barbie clothes when I was tiny. Made a lot of my clothes in highschool. Fashioned my children clothes and embroidered their sweatshirts and dresses. I spent over a decade of my life in downtown Seattle manipulating the threads of fabric to invisibly mend everything from suits to cashmere sweaters to an almost century old teddy bear. I then went on to spend another ten years manipulating threads into my own visions of art and dyeing beautiful pieces of luscious silk and velvet. To say I have an intimate relationship with fabric is putting it lightly. So of course when I was at my lowest that I have been in years I turned back to the comfort of my cloth. I needed to be surrounded with the piles of color and texture. It was very hard for me to leave them to go down south this year for Christmas. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtck8WHx2uhdDOvyBNiJWFk1mANdkdjoIIFDXcjI-T5WSgDofSHnkRV-QClcp2Lj9LrFE4uFOobBR562jDsY_XcBfli6tkiBg5lv7Jkk-WQRQit1MwhzgB8P8jJz30hkeFEE25NGhzPQ/s1600/DSCF8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtck8WHx2uhdDOvyBNiJWFk1mANdkdjoIIFDXcjI-T5WSgDofSHnkRV-QClcp2Lj9LrFE4uFOobBR562jDsY_XcBfli6tkiBg5lv7Jkk-WQRQit1MwhzgB8P8jJz30hkeFEE25NGhzPQ/s640/DSCF8165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now that I have returned, I have sat here for a month and can not move forward. I know I have been combating this illness (four months now) but that is not enough for this blankness. I simply hit a dead end. Instead I dream of jewelry designs. I didn't want these designs, I wanted to sew. I ignored them and instead would sit for days staring at that piece and feeling nothing. I cut the sun out because it was really disturbing me but it didn't help. I scribbled sketches but they all felt flat. So I am admitting defeat for now. If I have learned one thing about my art in all this time it is that I can't force it. If it isn't there then I need to step away until it returns.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBRyT4U641i7ZnmA4HnLxOWCJJYE1XWlk1B4wbxF3KyGVrdQ9ka2TVVNIFbi7dXeflQXZVPqOsCcb_hH-kXIGrDcYTb1m284bpCgv39qmhBBe3YxD7dKOIc1fVv9naC1y_j4nGwD17aM/s1600/elven+ear+cuffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBRyT4U641i7ZnmA4HnLxOWCJJYE1XWlk1B4wbxF3KyGVrdQ9ka2TVVNIFbi7dXeflQXZVPqOsCcb_hH-kXIGrDcYTb1m284bpCgv39qmhBBe3YxD7dKOIc1fVv9naC1y_j4nGwD17aM/s640/elven+ear+cuffs.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
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Therefore I am returning to my wire. If that is what is speaking to me then that is where I am at! I started a year ago to teach myself how to use wire professionally. It was my goal for 2016 and I am very satisfied with the results. I feel that I can make a professional piece now that is worthy of a place in my shop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosFNDxvLSiSZteH62m_l6p1o_jErcl7WEcQyfAVj9ZEURLBe1sc4trypuM_lFEoju71Yw9zdSxevgvLEBMSWMf6pVICXx_URnpCIcylbWsYaNzq-HzrNVLalkZmOHtrPEpp8tSIYl7fQ/s1600/paua+shell+earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosFNDxvLSiSZteH62m_l6p1o_jErcl7WEcQyfAVj9ZEURLBe1sc4trypuM_lFEoju71Yw9zdSxevgvLEBMSWMf6pVICXx_URnpCIcylbWsYaNzq-HzrNVLalkZmOHtrPEpp8tSIYl7fQ/s640/paua+shell+earrings.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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My goal this year is to get my business license back up and running. This is a big one because the laws here in France changed. I am now required to take a week long business class in french. I can speak french, though not well. My biggest problem is I have a very hard time understanding people when THEY speak french. I can't imagine how I will do trying to learn on a subject I have always been awful at. Business is not my forte. Wish me luck as I truly need it. My second goal for this year is getting my shop repopulated with new work and be back in business. I do have quite a few things already made, Many designs I can work off of and many dancing around in my head.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">So for now I am setting aside my fabric once again. I apologize if I led you on (Linda you know this is for you) This doesn't mean I won't pick it up again. It is all right here in front of me. My threads and needles, bits of fabric in baskets and such. It only takes a stretch of my arm and they could be in my hands again. I admit defeat for the moment though and follow what is speaking to me. Well, I always have been a little flighty! Haha.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3NPOMLxR-9PrAebsDQteTZrw4VzzxrBSXw3QsMRF8C9iiNTmvfoekJBtWmqow9LDeyh3Zo1zztCmAVapHclM0711oCmOVQIyRzKyoZiIWMhVB0ODnAkS-XfAQN4u9xg6eXzgcKExDIY/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3NPOMLxR-9PrAebsDQteTZrw4VzzxrBSXw3QsMRF8C9iiNTmvfoekJBtWmqow9LDeyh3Zo1zztCmAVapHclM0711oCmOVQIyRzKyoZiIWMhVB0ODnAkS-XfAQN4u9xg6eXzgcKExDIY/s320/Signature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-6412252849002089702017-01-26T15:51:00.002+01:002017-01-26T15:51:30.279+01:00Edit ThatSo here is what happened last night:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJngilUNg4o4X2BsXTC_NRoXP0GJBhDJlZ6UbiENcEmTlfVSPqDIK_v93dEcDgRPTkvUy6Xzxn9bm4KAF_8B_bnWXR0tmFuOOiOC2K-9N8kcStkdYUzIVvOg4EMQvkTLS91vQyDlttM1Y/s1600/DSC02193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJngilUNg4o4X2BsXTC_NRoXP0GJBhDJlZ6UbiENcEmTlfVSPqDIK_v93dEcDgRPTkvUy6Xzxn9bm4KAF_8B_bnWXR0tmFuOOiOC2K-9N8kcStkdYUzIVvOg4EMQvkTLS91vQyDlttM1Y/s640/DSC02193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have looked at this piece since I got home. Here I was, chomping at the bit the whole time I was down south for Christmas, wanting to be home to work on this piece. Then I get home and all I can do is look at it and it was just bugging me silly. I couldn't figure out what it was at first but then it hit me. This sun does not belong here. I originally dreamed this sun and it was part of a bigger picture. It also has a lot of negative thoughts associated with it and I think that is the main thing holding me back. SO..I snipped it. Now let's see what happens.<br />
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Hope you are all well!<br />
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<br />Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-90789637150367301552016-12-19T17:05:00.008+01:002020-07-27T09:16:56.593+02:00Sun, Moon and Star Update<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3H3ySexani4tF3ujCDUqZxroHEudSsAuC4KX8n-i43J9-0i4qMeekZ6X5JR4AMJrJsTF4LcI5W8PjCT6WH46mOtVaoz5MdeQAPSA5v_IrTnuk81iZBmxJi_0sfU93qf2FqnTCSPCcMQ/s1600/1st+sun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3H3ySexani4tF3ujCDUqZxroHEudSsAuC4KX8n-i43J9-0i4qMeekZ6X5JR4AMJrJsTF4LcI5W8PjCT6WH46mOtVaoz5MdeQAPSA5v_IrTnuk81iZBmxJi_0sfU93qf2FqnTCSPCcMQ/s640/1st+sun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to write you a quick update today </div>
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as I am flying out in the morning for the south of France.</div>
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I won't be working on my piece while I am down there </div>
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but I wanted to show you my progress so far.</div>
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I picked the lower left hand corner for my first sun and I wanted it to be red.</div>
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I really liked the way this cotton gauze and silk gauze looked together...</div>
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I layered them over a piece of golden velvet and appliqued them onto my square </div>
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and then created the face. </div>
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I have never used the silk gauze in my sewing,</div>
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I mainly had it on hand for the shop for nuno felters.</div>
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I think in the future I will avoid it for this type of work.</div>
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It snags easily and I wasn't expecting that. But it is here now so it will stay.</div>
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Unfortunately two of the other squares are layered with the silk gauze on top of cotton.</div>
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I will have to take special care with them.</div>
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Ah well, lesson learned.</div>
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I had a lot of fun with this applique method. </div>
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One I really haven't used before but I found the silk was such a dream to handle. </div>
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I started with Silk Charmeuse which is as always gorgeous</div>
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but it is a bit thick for the corners I am working on. </div>
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So the second ray I used silk habotai which is perfect for those extreme angles,</div>
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then I pulled out a pile of silk ribbons because they are so nicely variegated and the 12 cm is wide enough that I was able to do the third ray with a ribbon.</div>
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I will definitely be using this method with silk in the future. </div>
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It gives me much more control of my angles and curves</div>
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and I think with practice will even go a lot quicker than my old methods, </div>
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Hand stitched satin stitch is a long consuming thing and was not always the effect I was going for in the past so I am glad that this looks so good without it.</div>
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I am sure I will be eager to pick up where I left off when I return home.</div>
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I am so happy to continue stitching again. </div>
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My eye doctor agrees with me that resting has not solved my eye problems and so there is no sense in continuing to go without sewing. I will return for observation in another 45 days. </div>
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Hope you all have a blessed holiday season,</div>
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Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-13924684283403843852016-12-12T13:42:00.001+01:002016-12-12T13:42:27.559+01:00Back Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I see from my last post date that it has been almost a month.</div>
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When I left you I was in the middle of creating my base for my new piece. I had cut all my pieces and pre-basted them ready to join them together. </div>
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Which I did. </div>
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Then on rising the next morning I decided that the order was completely wrong and took it all apart again! SO...I had it all apart and ready to rejoin but it didn't happen.</div>
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Instead I have spent the last month trying to recover from an ear infection, a sinus infection and inflamed bronchial tubes. </div>
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The entire time I had a non stop headache so there was no sewing for me!</div>
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I am finally on the mend and today is day three of no headache. I can finally think again, and even better yet, I can sew again. </div>
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So last night I stitched together my squares in the order I want and pressed them out. Here it is...my final base for Sun, Moon and Stars. I was surprised that I didn't gravitate more for the blues, I have so many to pick from but the other pieces spoke to me and I could see stars dancing on those black and maroons and suns glowing from those mottled golds and browns and splashes of fuschia. So now my mind wanders to my suns. </div>
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My first will be the one I saw in the beginning, my beautiful, powerful glaring red sun. I will place it on this square. It speaks of turmoil and strife which was where my head was at when it came to me. Our sun, glaring down on us in all its powerful glory.</div>
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And now I am back to mulling over how I will bring this figure to life. Hopefully I will be back a bit sooner this time!</div>
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Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9118450460537757676.post-31356083870835466862016-11-16T13:55:00.000+01:002016-11-16T14:02:02.442+01:00Sun, Moon and Stars<br />
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Well all of my fabric has been unpacked. I played with it yesterday, sorting it into different piles. Feeling the softness of the velvet, the slickness of the silk. I forgot how much I had, how many pieces I truly loved What brought me to this place was a post done by a much admired fiber artist that I have followed for almost ten years now. I saw her post on my facebook timeline and clicked over to read it and when I did something happened. I don't know if it was the distress of the day or something else I can't define but I decided I couldn't spend the rest of my life not sewing. Life is too short and I hold it too dear. So right then and there, in the blink of an eye, I told myself enough is enough. It is time to sew again.</div>
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She is giving a class that one can follow along with and make something similar to what she is doing. I decided I am going to do this class. It is a way to find myself back to where I was so long ago when I had to put down my needles and 'REST'. Well that advice wasn't much good as I still have the same problem I did when my doctor told me that, so here I go...</div>
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She starts with a nine piece square, something I have never done. I picked out my pieces of fabric last night and ironed them all, today I will stitch them together. It is cold out and it feels good, curled up here with my blanket and my cloth on my lap. Good times!</div>
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<br />Diane Cransachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09163924503318866393noreply@blogger.com1