Kittys Drawings

Hi All,

I asked permission from my client to post the portrait I did for her. The drawing is to become a gift for her and her partner for their anniversary – How sweet!! I had fun drawing this – slightly different method from my usual style as I it was essential that I do justice to my subjects! So I spent a lot more time on it and made all efforts not to hate my “skillz” in the process.

I’m actually rather pleased with it!

(detail)

WIPs

What do you think?

If anyone else would love a portrait drawn then feel free to email me (address is in the About section). My rates are very reasonable – just send me a line and we can chat!
I know I don’t advertise this as heavily as I should, but if I could make a living off drawing I would be one happy girl. Imagine that – spending all day drawing (and sewing) and not having to slave away those 8+ hours in the office. My job isn’t dreadful, but if I could choose drawing over it then I would. It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately – Coming home, making dinner and then spending a few hours on my hobbies – those few hours aren’t enough. I have such a big list of the things I want to make and draw right now, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. And that doesn’t include my personal obligations like maintaining my relationship and friendships – neither of which can be neglected either.
This sorting of priorities is one of those “I’m an adult now” realisations….and yes, I still get those at 27…If only I didn’t have to rely on money so much! Ha – that goes for everyone doesn’t it!?

So – musings aside, I think that’s all I have for you today. There is currently a new drawing in the works (non-paid) and about 6 sewing projects I need to update you on! Sheesh! We’ve got the BF’s fancy camera back now so the quality of my photos should get a bit better – no more horrible graininess. Yay!

Seeyas!

Hiiiiiiiiii!

Drawing time!

Woo! This one took me quite a while. I lost count of how many hours. Up to 8? I’m guessing though. I ought to keep track of these things shouldn’t I?

And some detail – since I’m making an effort to create bigger drawings…

This I am very happy with. Feel like I’m making some semblance of progress with my techniques.

Where to from now? Should I concentrate on some drawing from life? Inanimate objects on my desk?

Not sure if I’ll get much done over the Easter break. I have friends visiting

Other news: I organised my fabric stash. It has it’s own place now and it’s all neat and ordered by colour. Makes me happy to look at it. Though it also makes me want more time to sew. Also – I tried a machined zipper technique I found online. Used some scrap to test it out – and it was so easy!  A really nice, faced and bound zipper. Woo! Now to apply the same steps to an actual garment. I hope I can pull it off as it’s a proper professional finish. But I will show you later.

Time to gooooo.

Hi All!
A quick drawing and a quick post today.

This one took me a few hours (maybe 4?)….Using reference as usual. I loved the light and the fairly simple tones in this.

Typical nose frustrations. That’s what I’ll be working on next. Noses. More noses. More!

Other news…busy busy as per usual. Trying to push through some motivation issues.

It should be a sewing post next? I’m pottering along with a few things. My frenzy has died down to a mild simmer.

Okay – well this is short/long enough. Til next time!!
(sorry for not being wordy today!)

Hey everyone!
Drawing time.

Another portrait study. This one took quite a few hours but the usual story, I got pretty sick of it by the end. I don’t really like this one. Its kind of harsh and overworked. And the colours are blah.

So I’m still fumbling my way around with the drawing. I think I need to do more of it to get more out of it. Hard to find the energy at the moment. Feeling drained. Literally! I gave blood today ….The girl had to jab two fingers to get an accurate hemoglobin measurement. Why is it that hurts more than the big needle going in?

But I am starting something new tonight….

And there’s still one piece that’s almost done which I am trying not to be disillusioned with.

Anyways….til later…

Hi Everyone!
Oh boy, I am sooo behind on my sewing updates!!
I made this skirt a few weeks ago as I was in a rush to make something that would go with my work shirt. The shirt is blue and striped (and is horrible) so I had nothing that matched. I needed to wear the shirt to go see a customer and while I did finish the skirt in time it wasn’t without some hiccups.

I used the base of a dress pattern and just made my own waistband to fit.
Everything was going swimmingly until I got to the waist! I had made it much too wide and it was mega squeezy to get it on. Ugh.

It was still wearable even though I could barely breathe and I used a cream coloured zipper because it was the only one that was the right length. I managed to make it through the day and just covered the dodgy zipper and waistband with a belt. When I got home I was fiddling with it trying to make it more comfortable and of course the zipper went *pop*! Derp!

By that time I was well and truly over it but funnily enough the next day I found I had the energy to fix it. I took the waistband off and removed the broken zipper. This time I made sure I tried it on after every new section was pinned and also managed to find a black zipper. It was too long but I sewed it in anyway and just trimmed and finished the end of it so it wouldn’t come undone.

Now I’m quite pleased with it as it fits fairly nicely and it’s super comfy. I’ve shown the insides of it too as they’re quite tidy if I do say so myself….The seams are finished with a zig-zag stitch and it’s all underlined with a soft grey gauzy fabric. I used satin sew-in hem tape for the hem.

Since this was made I’ve also used the same pattern to make another skirt (which I’ll show later). I made some modifications so that it fits slimmer and is more pencil shaped and I like the new version better.

However I have one question for the sewists out there – Since I am using a dress pattern for the skirt, should I be taking some off the top of the pattern to give more room for the waistband? I find that when I try these on without the waistband in, they fit really great. But as soon as it goes in, the skirt tends to bunch near my lower back as if there’s not enough room for all that fabric between waist and hip.
Hard to explain! But I’ll show you what I mean when I do my next sewing post.

(bwahahaha look at Boofy’s FACE – he looooooves the pats. He’s all like “gimmegimmegimmeMMMMOAR”)

That’s about all for today. Don’t forget the GIVEAWAY of course – being drawn on Saturday so get your entries in quick smart!

Oh and the shirt I’m wearing in these pics was a Savers find – Genuine vintage for $6!! The label inside the shirt still uses the old Australian sizing method – its a SSW ;-P Which I think equates to a modern size AU8-10 or so. And that’s my new hair – Freshly red!

Seeyas!

Hi All!

Drawing time!

Amongst all the crazy sewing I *have* been drawing would you believe it. This is something I did just quickly to keep me in the drawing mood while floundering on my other (more detailed) piece….which is also a lot larger. I’ve got such a bad habit of making these much too small.

I used a reference for this of course – and I can’t for the life of me find where I got it from. So I can’t link sorry.

I’ve still got issues with noses. Ergh.
WIPs
She looked rather alien until I gave her eyelashes and fixed her forehead!

After my current project is finished I’ve got some ideas for something new. Not Your Father’s Pin-Up are running a project where we draw an animal related pin-up which will go into a book to raise funds for the WWF. Info at the link – and yes, I’ve been a member for a little while there. Only posted one thing. Shame on me. This is a good cause so I should participate…and it will give me a chance to do something a bit more creative than these last few pieces. I like the WWF – one of the few charities I regularly donate to.

Sewing projects coming up – that 40′s dress will get finished eventually…its nearly done but I’m a bit meh about it. Also, the charcoal pencil – which was a bit of a drama initially but it’s become the thing I’m most proud of. Currently cut out is some yellow gingham which will become a short sleeve shirt.

Giveaway ALMOST there – come on – one more follower!

Okay time to go!
Seeya!

Hi All!
Here is another portrait I did just this week. I thought I’d give the black and white thing a go. Interesting for sure but I think I still love colour more.

Fairly pleased with the result but once again I left it too long.  So the details are lacking in the flowers and stuff. I’m not sure if it’s important or not – should I fiddle with details when I’m really over the piece? Or should I still keep trying to knock things out fairly fast and the detail will come with practice? SO MANY QUESTIONS! Hah!

It’s Nancy Sinatra by the way. Inspiration found via someone else’s inspiration. Thanks go to Strawberry Koi (her blog is most gorgeous and she draws very well!).

I took some more WIPs of the very early stages. The first two are done within a few minutes. Then the rest takes increasingly longer as you tweak each bit. The nose was difficult again.

I think I’m getting the hang of hair a little better. Block in the major shapes like where it breaks from light to dark. Then go over it with lots of brush-strokes using a tiny brush.

Anyways….
The sewing is going swimmingly (heh I love that word!).  I’ve got a red button front pencil dress with a big collar on the go. I just need to buy some interfacing and wait for my buttonholer to arrive from Etsy (pics when I get it cos its KILLER) for all those squillion buttons. Well. 10 buttons. Still a lot. I can’t be bothered doing that many bound buttonholes.

Also – I’ve nearly finished a fantastic pencil skirt. Found a navy linen from the Salvos which was just the right size.  I shan’t babble too much about it yet as I’m only a zipper and a waistband away from finishing so I’ll do a post on it then. Can’t wait to wear it though!

I hope you all don’t mind my sewing rambles. It really is a new found passion which to be honest is really taking over from the drawing at the moment. But I seem to be managing both at a pace that is markedly better than where I was at with my “hobby time” last year.  So expect this to become a half and half blog now – half drawing half sewing!

The sewing thing really couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve become increasingly disillusioned not only with modern fashion, but even vintage is becoming a more difficult search. I kind of blame Mad Men for bringing the 50′s and 60′s into the limelight again (even though I love the show to death!), thus making it trickier to find quality pieces from that era (without crazy costs).  It’s not like I can’t afford spending $150 on a dress but for that kind of money I could make more than three dresses and have the added satisfaction of creating something instead of just consuming. Not to mention I have full control of the quality of the finished product. Something that can’t be guaranteed when buying ready-to-wear – no matter how much you pay for it.
I am not sold on “luxury” brands.

Okay I’ll leave it for now. More fashion musings when I get that skirt finished.

Til then – seeya!