Watercolor Pencils & June Blythe Runway Entry

I've really gotten into using watercolor pencils in my art journal. I now have 3 different brands in various colors, so now I'm getting an idea of what I like in them.

I had Crayola watercolor pencils for awhile, and never really used them that much. I bought a set of Prismacolors, and since it didn't have any flesh shades, I picked up some Faber Castell Aquarelles since that's what I found available as single pencils.

I am really liking the Aquarelles, when you wet them, the pencil strokes really blend away easily, where I don't think the Prismacolors do as well. The Prisma's take a LOT more water to blend - even more than the cheapie kid-aimed Crayolas. I think that as I use up the Prismas, I'll replace the colors with equivalents in the Aquarelles.

Off the topic of pencils, here is my entry for the June Blythe Runway Challenge:



Everyone got the same two fabrics and had to try and use them evenly. Check out the rest of the entries at the group - there are some AMAZING entries there!

I am definately making more of these!

From a tutorial here: Reese Dixon: Organza Flowers.

I LOVE this! It was fun to make too! I picked up 4 colors of organza this evening just to make some. This was the first and only one I had time for tonight. It's going to become a hair ornament for the March Blythe Runway Challenge.

I'd like a do-over on that last week please... maybe the last month.

You know, the last 4 weeks of my life have been a hell of a roller coaster. The company I work for got bought by another company with all the panic and craziness that goes with it (which is now settling down, and it looks like it will be a Good Thing), and then last week this happened:



A lady turned too wide into the street on which I was stopped, and hit me from the front of my car on down the side. My poor car will be in the shop for the next 3 weeks at minimum. The good news is that I'm ok - the damage is all on the car.

Onto brighter news... :)

The February BRC ended, and I got sort of an "honorable mention" for "Most True to Concept." :) The first, second, and third place entries sooo deserved their wins - they were gorgeous - check them out:

1st: WoolyRockers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glamourfae/3327431490/in/pool-blytherunwaychallenge

2nd: Miss Armour
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glamourfae/3326593933/in/pool-blytherunwaychallenge/

3rd: Ro/wererabbit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glamourfae/3327431234/in/pool-blytherunwaychallenge/

Now I have to buckle down and work on the March challenge tonight. I have the fabrics picked out, and an idea for a hair ornament popped up, so I think I have a theme! Woohoo! :)

Whoops.

Note to self: believe the Google search results that tell you cotton/polyester blends will not dye with the same stuff you know works on wool.

Dying Mana Energy/White Dress Challenge dress: No go.



However, notice that sticky loop/Velcro appears to dye just fine.

February BRC DONE! :)

I'm happy with how it came out, except for the poncho.

I researched Aztecs a bit for this, to find how their women actually dressed. I doubt a woman would actually wear the headdress, that would be for a king, but hey, this is modern times! ;)

I staged her on some Day of the Dead-ish fabric, because I found out that the Day of the Dead actually came from the Aztecs.

A couple more pictures:





If you're interested in history, here's a paper I found in researching that talks about Aztec clothing:

AZTEC GARMENTS: FROM BIRTH TO FULFILLMENT

Now for the clean up... and I still have other projects to start and finish up!

Anyone want to come clean my studio for me?

Working on the Blythe Runway Challenge - AA skirt

Last night I worked on a prototype for the skirt for the outfit I'm making for this month's Blythe Runway Challenge. If you'll recall, I'm re-interpreting the outfit for the Blythe "Aztec Arrival Inspired." Here is the sketch I did:



It's a separate wraparound skirt and top, not a one piece.

I cut it out in a test fabric from a human pattern that just happened to print at the perfect size:







Tonight, I'll cut out the real McCoy, and move onto the shirt. I'm going to look for trim at lunch today.