Sunday 31 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.244)

Our Moon and Magic stand manned by everyone but me!
It's been a day of pajamas, big brunches, Magic the Gathering and Game of Thrones season two (in preparation for the next series!) A well deserved day of rest after such a long, epic day yesterday. We had an early start to decorate the walls and windows of the Fifth Floor Arnolfini with bunnies, eggs and balloons, all those weird and wonderful things I've been working on for months. The rest of the day was a blur mostly, a brilliant blur of amazing handmade treasures, music, laughing kids and cake! There were a few hiccups, like the lift breaking, but after reaching the building capacity more than twice I'm sure it was just as tired as we were. I certainly learnt a lot from yesterday, but I'm not convinced it was worth all the work as there was some disappointment among a few of the traders. It's hard not to take it personally as I organised the whole thing from traders, to liaising with the Arnolfini, to making decorations, doing flyer runs and online promotion. Not to mention all the running around on the day to make sure everyone is in the right place and comfortable.
I did manage to take some time out to get my face painted, just at the point my sister (In the Milkwood) performed, which was awesome. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and feel it was a success.
Today's boat was made on Friday with some new oil medium my mum brought round, it has a much softer texture than normal oil pastel's, and is almost more like paint. It blends and layers very nicely and can be etched into. I didn't have too much of a play as I was a bit preoccupied with the market but I did make a boat :)...of course.

Friday 29 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.243)

I won't be home tomorrow so I've done another boat today to make up for it. This is an easter egg with designs inspired by boats of course.

A Boat a Day (no.242)

The calm before the storm, today has been all about finishing things off and and getting some good relaxing in before we head down to the Arnolfini tomorrow. For today's boat I drew a few boaty logos from around Bristol, (and a Blue Peter boat) not very creative but all that my imagination would permit.
If you are a Bristol local then come down tot he Arnolfini tomorrow between 11-7 for a fine selection of live music, workshops, stalls and of course an Easter Egg Hunt!

Thursday 28 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.241)

I had one final meeting at the Arnolfini to finalize details before Saturday, on the same mission me and Taz managed to shift the last few bundles of flyers. On our pleasant amble into town I found these three boats, and decided they would be my first installment of a boat trail, as everywhere I go in Bristol I find boats everywhere. It's a shame I couldn't get a picture of a little model of the SS Great Britain, but for some reason I don't feel it's acceptable to take photographs in a library.
The first boat I found is a mosaic boat in a tunnel, with added urban graffiti (not the awesome street art Bristol is known for!)

The second boat was in the window and the third is a decoration on top of a gazebo.

Wednesday 27 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.240)

Good evening, today has been another day of drawer making, I had until now completely forgotten to even think about a boat. But here it is a negative made from flyers.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.239)

Four days until my Easter Artisan Market!! It's hard to believe that the fruit of the last five months is finally coming to fruition. I'm so excited to see it all come together and hopefully be an event worth shouting about. :) Since this month has been all about signs and decorations for this event I've hardly had time to think about my own stock, let alone make it. But this week me and Taz are going at it hardcore stylee with one super late night already under our belts I think we'll be just fine. Here is last nights creation, a mini cabinet with a "stained glass" effect window, made from the see-through plastic of a cake box, plastic bags and sellotape.

Monday 25 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.238)

I woke up today with the ingenious plan of making a bookshelf with hidden compartments, revealed only after pulling a book from the shelf. After about two hours I realized I was using cardboard and nothing was going to make it work for me. So I took it all apart and started again from scratch to get this little delight.
Today's boat is a handmade gift bag which we'll be handing out at the market for people to collect business cards and flyers in, we've added a few to start it off.


Sunday 24 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.237)

I thought todays boat would be a quick one, but two hours later I think I'm satisfied... I decided to make a graffiti inspired boat using only the airbrush tool on Gimp, (plus eraser, blur and layer settings.) I was about ready to give up until my housemates chimed in and told me it looked good, only at that point half of it was transparent and so I had to try and recreate that somehow. There's even some of the elements I learned from my Annotated Diagram included in this picture.

Saturday 23 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.236)

Since posting my blog yesterday I have discovered and become addicted to a Game of Thrones facebook game...how did this happen? I have been doing so well ignoring the mounting excitement for Series Three, listening to the audio books while crafting decorations should have been enough. Then again I am used to this annual buzz about ASOIAF, every year there is a new reader in my circle of friends, or a new series or, blessed be, a new book! I just have to wait one more week, get my Artisan Market done and dusted, then I can think about diving into a fantasy realm of intrigue and well fantasy...(and doom too, lots of doom.)

On an entirely different tone todays boat is a simple potato wedges boat.

Friday 22 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.235)

Celtic knotwork is so satisfying to draw, especially if you take the time to use a ruler and make guides to start. I think the highlights and shadows definitely make it. I spent a couple of days practicing different patterns a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but I wasn't quite as patient as I am now. I drew this initially as a design to copy onto an old table which I'll be up-cycling in the near future.

Thursday 21 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.234)

It has been such a busy time for me that I fear I have let my Boats slip a bit, I will apologize in advance as I think next week will be much the same. Next Saturday is the Easter Artisan Market I have been working hard on, I am so nearly ready, I just have to focus on making some stock for my own stall!
Todays boat is an educational diagram, or two with annotations, I think doing this will improve my drawings and models in the future.

Wednesday 20 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.233)

The long list is getting shorter, I have just 10 days until I host the biggest market yet and I'm onto those simple jobs which can be done in an almost relaxed manner! Today I have been painting teapots, prepping colourful stripey and spotty bug bodies, writing out speech bubbles, drawing the room plan and making paper bags from recycle magazine pages. The boat today is made from dried paint flakes which did most of the work for me :)

Anyway it's time to switch the brain off now, so I'll see you all on the morrow. x

Tuesday 19 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.232)

Me and Taz had a little adventure in the graveyard down the road, we played a bit of hide and seek and did various things for her video a day. Just before we left I decided to make todays boat out of leaves and twigs, a little taste of Spring.

Monday 18 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.231)

I'm making potato wedges and chicken tonight, yummy, this is the spice mix I made up to season the wedges hopefully it will taste yummy. Have a nice evening!

Sunday 17 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.230)

As today is St Patrick's Day I started with green, I got a bit distracted and ended up just cutting strips which I then wove together. Thats about as far as I got though, a woven canvas cut into the shape of a boat. A little touch of randomness, it's been a long weekend.

Saturday 16 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.229)

Good evening! today was another market day down at the Harbourside. A bit warmer this time perhaps but so much wetter. I hear there was even thunder, luckily by this point I was safely tucked behind the counter at work. :) For the last few weeks I have been making endless Easter decorations, making signs and writing clues that both kids and adults can enjoy...I hope! And of course making chocolatey goody bags for the hunters. So todays boat is made from the second round of chocolate shopping which I will have to put into nice cones with ribbons on.

Friday 15 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.228)

Today has been a very long day of mostly sign painting! Decided to make two A boards for the street outside the Easter Artisan Market, out of two pasting tables. They are both old and warped and despite a bit of paint will still function as tables. They do make rather decent double sided signs, I just don't know when the fancy lettering was decided, but at least it matches the flyer design which is pretty cool! So today's boat is a sign using the same font as the signs I have been doing all day. Phew, it's time to play some silly games and drink a bit before Market and work tomorrow!

Thursday 14 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.227)

More Bunnies! Only this time not paper chains, we used the templates and maché'd them, to add a bit of relief, covered them in a base of blue/grey gluey paint. Tomorrow we will paint.
After yesterday's blog the last thing I should be doing is going to a scrapstore (which is where I found myself this morning) but you would have been proud.  I made it out of there, with some glue sticks, spatulas and sellotape not bad considering my "problem".
Today's boat is a bit of a take on my old Art Tutor's favourite technique, drawing negative space. Once again using silver on black cus I just can't resist! I like how the streaks make it look a bit like film, and a bt stormy perhaps.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.226)

I think I should rename this project "Hoarder's Anonymous" all those things that have been lurking at the back of the shelves for the last decade are finally seeing the daylight! Some for the first time even, it's a terrible addiction, buying crafty things on a whim. It's even worse when it's time to downsize and that voice keeps saying, 'I'm sure this will be useful one day.' The hard truth is that it will be, one day, most likely the week after you give it away, but that's no excuse!
So today I have been using up the candle making kit I bought as a teenager, me and Taz had a lot of fun making mess in the kitchen (as always) and the results are pretty cool too. I even broke out the whittling tools, which I think I will use use more appropriately soon :) There is a video of the process on Tazie's Video a Day blog, or will be once it has uploaded!

I made my mold from tinfoil, which would have worked better if I had built some sort of support. Taz used a glove a pint glass to hold it. You can use just about anything around the house and old wax crayons add a bit of colour.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.225)

Good evening, today I've been getting on with some writing which has been a lovely break from all the hard work of late. One day I'll find a boaty snippet for you but for now it's a tinfoil embossed boat.

Monday 11 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.224)

Todays boat is a chain boat, seen as I have been making Bunny Chains for the last week I thought I should use some of the leftovers and the same technique for today's boat. Cut from tissue paper they should create some nice window decor.They are a bit misshapen but boaty enough, I shall stash them away for the Easton Arts Trail when they will make good displays.

Sunday 10 March 2013

A Boat A Day (no.223)

There are some days when I struggle with the decisions I have made. I love my jobs, all three of them but it is hard working seven day weeks for next to nothing. It's on those days when I think I should just get a proper job and try that money thing. I hear it makes life a lot easier.
But I wont, I can't give up Bazaar Inspirations or Moon and Magic, and I know they wouldn't survive if I chose to take a job. I've worked hard to get to where I am, even though I'm still on that first step to self-employment and the dream of a 'creative living.' If I stop now it will be such a waste.
There are plenty of other people in similar situations, and seeing it work for others is what continues to drive me.

Doing this boat project has really made me realize how much I love creating things, I get a little bit of joy making something just because I want to. There is no need to make things anyone else will like, or want to buy. Sometimes I make them as gifts, like todays Mothers Day card, but there are no expectations or pressures. Many of them are quite childish, and some are just plain fails, but I love letting my standards drop for this one project and just getting creative!

Saturday 9 March 2013

A Boat A Day (no.222)

Today's boat is pastel on black card. I had a lot of fun with this, mostly because I love blending, contrast and playing with shadow. The section I chose to draw is less predictable than my usual boat, and is a place I've never actually been, or seen up close really. It is part of a wistful dream, in which I am a Robin Hobb inspired pirate! :)

Friday 8 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.221)

Today has been a long day of flower making, and bunnies and decorating baskets for easter. Last night me and Tam spent over two hours making up the goody bag prizes for the Easter Egg Hunt. So much work is going into this event, I just hope it pays off :) anyway todays boat is made from screws

Thursday 7 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.220)

My poor studio is suffering from chronic damp, I've already removed five bin liners of fabric from it but it's getting worse. So today I've been in there moving everything away from the 'wall of doom' and throwing even more fabric to charity. The word ruthless doesn't even come close, I don't really sew much these days so that made it a little easier. By the end of this year I want to only have the things I use and none of this hoarding 'cus it may be useful nonsense. I might even have a little crafty sale at the Easton Arts Trail. Today's boat is a fabric collage, which was great fun and adds a nice bit of weight to my already bulging sketchbook :)


Wednesday 6 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.219)

Good evening,

Today has been a day of chores, finishing egg signs, some Bazaar Inspirations admin and of course washing up. It was weird looking at the bubbly sink in an inspired way, but there it was, something I hadn't done before and a bit of fun :)


Tuesday 5 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.218)

Just a quick one this evening, getting some early rest in this evening and hoping I am just feeling funny and don't have whatever has been going around the last few weeks. So glad I made this boat earlier today, out of junk :)

Monday 4 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.217)

Sorry I'm a bit on the late side this evening, I have been visiting with friends. Today has been a lovely 'Spring is just around the corner' day. Blue skies and mild breezes, I hope it lasts!
This project is not quite finished, but what could be more nautical than a treasure chest with boaty decoupage. I will be finishing this off tomorrow in between flyering and egg making for the Easter Artisan Market.

Sunday 3 March 2013

A Boat A Day (no.216)

Today's boat is an oil pastel doodle, I was struggling quite a bit until Justin suggested to focus more on the surroundings than on the boat. I always forget to step back from my subject, but I find it quite refreshing.
Anyway, takeaway and TV calls this evening, so have a good one :)

Saturday 2 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.215)

There are some days when inspiration appears at the last minute. Usually when I get home from work I look around the house for something simple and instant, but more recently I've been running out of the random things I can arrange in boat form. After making the matchbox drawers I have a good stash of left over matches, but haven't really thought about them for my boat a day because I have used them before. But, this is a little bit different, because after all matches are made for lighting.

Friday 1 March 2013

A Boat a Day (no.214)

Hello, I have been busy paper machéing a giant egg sign for the Easter market, with the help of a couple of big kids. This evening we are paying poker so that is todays boat, the Poker Boat! :)