In my sketchbook: copic marker + lamy safari pen

I've been eyeing Copic markers for the longest time, but they are just so darn expensive!! Hobby Lobby had some on clearance so I decided to treat myself to one to see if they really are that wonderful. So far, they are!

I've been using them alongside my Lamy Safari pen and the pairing has made for some new twists on old doodles.

Benefits of repetitive sketching

There are many benefits to drawing the same thing over and over again.

One of them being that you can see how your drawing will look with different variations of watercolor paint.

I think this pink one is my favorite!

In my studio: Playing with my new gelli plate

Last week I finally got myself a Gelli plate!!!

There are so many tutorials of how to make different kinds of prints with them online that it can be sort of overwhelming just where to start.

I really liked the simplicity of Linda Germain's Yoga Printmaking that I thought I would began with that. I cutout several organic-shaped stencils out of a manila folder and collected several other items that would go well with this method. 

My supplies: newsprint, hand-made stencils, string and various paints I had on hand

  

It was a really fun, relaxing process, and I'm anxious to use these prints in an upcoming collage!

In my studio: Staying close to home

 I always feel a tinge of jealous for my artist friends who live by the ocean. They always seem to collect amazing things on their beach-combing trips.

Having just entered the third trimester of my third pregnancy, I am in no condition for long excursions but walks around the block with my two little ones in tow is completely do-able! This led me to make a collage of goodies that I found within a one-block radius of my house.

Week in review...

So here is what I've been up to this week:

painted some Jenga blocks from the thrift store to make a wall hanging

tried my hand at digital collage for the first time

doodled a little in my sketchbook

and discovered someone else's checkout list in a library book! Think I'm going to add some of these titles to my reading list. :-)

Hope you've all had a creative week, too!

My ICADS from Instagram

Been gone for a really long time and wanted to show you my ICAD's for those of you that don't follow me on Instagram! (If you want to follow me, my handle is @Loeweness)

Hope to post a little more often over the summer months! For those of you interested in joining the Index Card A Day challenge, head over here to Daisy Yellow's blog to learn more.

SB: more thumnails

For when I make some more sculpey pendants!!

Off the needles: UILI #2

UILI project #2 is done! I had some Malabrigo sock yarn left over from a shawl I knit for myself and decided to use it to make a mini shawl for my little girl (almost two years old now!). 

I chose the Light and Up by Caroline Wiens for a few reasons. 

(1) The center increases are done with either a M1L or a M1R stitch which means no holes like a YO increase will give you.

  

(2) The YO lace border is pretty but simple enough for a toddler to pull off.

(3) I could easily make a small version of this pattern without having to do lots of calculations.

AJ is pretty pleased with her new "less" (think necklace), and I'm pretty to have my second project done! How are your knitting/ creative resolutions coming along?

In my sketchbook...inspired by triangles!