new experiments

at the beginning of this week, i vowed that i would spend at least 2 hours every evening in my studio. luckily for me, my week has worked out nicely that way!

the outcome.

this is my latest experiment: Fabric Bubbles Brooch.
my sketches come to life in 3D! seriously, i know that sounds kind of silly, but i'm constantly drawing circles in all different sizes. the circle fascinates me. but sometimes a flat circle can be so dull. so i took some cotton fabric, stuffed it with poly-fil and called it a pin! well, it was a bit more complicated than that, but you'll have to buy the book to find out how to make it.

that's mostly a joke, but kind of true. i've been really experimenting because i want to be a part of a book being published in 2009 by Lark Books, a publishing company that publishes many amazing craft books for the average person! they're calling for entries right now! the book will be called, The Art of Jewelry: Fabric. and YOU can apply here! they're also accepting submissions for the gallery section of the book. very exciting!!

i just posted this brooch on Etsy tonight, so i hope to get some good feedback.

i'm also making earrings! another submission for the book. you can see one on the left, next to the brooch i just posted on Etsy. no earring hook attached yet, but it's identical to the pin, just with a felt loop instead of a pin in the back.

hours spent on brooch (experimenting included): less than 3 hours.
this will of course be much faster now that i've done it once. the earring took me half the time.

more colors to come!!

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on another amazing note, i am going to meet my new baby cousin Riley tomorrow evening!!!! i will give him many hugs for all of my cousins and brother and aunts and uncles and mom and dad.