Tree challenge complete...

Yay...
I got to the end of July and actually finished something.
Well I tend to finish lots of things, but when it's work related it sorta doesn't count. Work is a given, that has to be completed.

Everything else, I find far too easy to push to the side so I can focus on work...

Hence my need to have a monthly challenge that is aside from all that and just a bit of fun.
Sometimes it may end up being something I fine tune and make for the shop, but my aim is purely to explore, shape, color, texture, form and something new.

So, all that said and done, I have finished my tree offering for the 'July monthly design challenge'

They look so pretty, all in a bunch.

I had completed the bases yesterday and took two into the workshop today for some metal!

After a bit of cutting, gluing and overzealous hammering to squash my rivets in... I finished these two.


One with a silver trunk and one with a copper surround. Sadly I buggered the copper one. I was hammering my rivet in and the resin cracked. But in doing so I learnt that my best plan of attack would be to apply my metal to the base, then do my resin pour....Live and learn.

It was all a very organic process, so I didn't really have any plans to go by, just wingin' it.

Upon reflection I decided I liked the pine better to work with. I needed to apply my fabric or paper with sealer...wait 24 hours like I'm supposed to... cut and apply metal shapes, then resin pour to finish, oh and possibly use a resin that sets flat rather then the doming epoxy resin I have on hand.

So I may have attacked it all in a backward fashion, lacking patience and forethought, but....I got there in the end. I do sometimes think it's better to work things through in a practical hands on manner, rather then just thinking...and thinking...and thinking of how to begin.
I'm the queen of thinking too much and never getting around to it, so I'm trying to change that a bit and just jump in there. Gets results.....eventually. And the journey is more fun!

I do love the wood exposed as the tree trunk and the silver trunk too, so I might just play a little more, to create some wearable pieces.

Once you start experimenting, the options become endless.

Thanks for reading along and if you do end up with something treeish on your craft table, make sure to let me know so I can share it on here too.

Tomorrow, I have to show you the most awesome challenge piece that my mum came up with.
'Crafting disease' is definitely genetic.
Jay xx

Tree's on the mind...

As a new fan and possible addict of Pinterest, I have ...of course used it as a place to collect tree inspired images for the July monthly design challenge.

These are some of the beauties I have found.

Apple tree brooch: by Daniellieorama

Tree fabric: By Saffron Craig.

Birds in a tree via : Dazzlexhibitions

For more inspiration, check out the rest over here on my Pinterest tree page.

So far, I've been sketching ideas for a brooch.

Something with fabric and metal I think and thanks to the lovely Divajools aka Sue, I found a place to get some copper and brass to use in my peice too.

I Will be finalizing the design over the weekend and sitting down at the bench on Monday to get started.

Starting on July 26th and hoping to finish by July 31st....of course!
Hope you find time to join in too.
Jay xx

Monthly design challenge...

Boy it's been ages...

Ages since I put a design challenge out for all to play.
To be honest, life took over for a bit there and didn't seem to allow me much play time.
I have learnt though, that all work and no play ... is no fun.

So I am bringing back the monthly design challenge.

This time though...the rules are a little different.

Well, everything will stay the same, except for the method used to choose topics. No more names in a hat or random org selection. Nah, this time I'll be choosing the themes.
Just exploring stuff one subject at a time and if you wanna play too, you can.

Of course this is not limited to those who sew, knit or make jewellery.
Any one...any crafty hearted soul is welcome to join in.

If the months theme inspires you, then make anything you like, interpreted or inspired any which way you choose. You can send me pics or links to your blog post when you're done and I'll share them with everyone here.

The aim of the game for me, is to explore one subject at a time and hopefully get to the end of the year having done more then zero. Make sense...probably not.
What I mean is, sometimes my head is so full of ideas, that I don't know where to start. So I spend too much time in la la land thinking of all these cool things to do and never do any of them.

My aim is to do them all, one by one.
The only way to go really.

Being specific about the topic as a starting point, then giving myself a time frame to let ideas flourish and come to fruition.

Ideas, thoughts and wonderful plans are there to be explored, shared and appreciated by all.

So come on, join in and share with me the crafty things you come up with each month when given the time to take a topic and create to your hearts content.

To get started, I choose for the month of July 2011....

A Tree.

Small or big, green or brown, plentiful in season or baron and bare, it's bark, its leaf, it's silhouette.
The smell you think of or the color palette it presents, solitary or as a forest.

You choose how it's represented, you choose how it inspires you.

I'm thinking applique or silver shapes. Not sure really, but at least I have a starting point for some creative fun, once more.

Come play too.
Jay xx

P.S see the original post here and get your blog button too so others know you're playing along.