As you can see if you look closely at the notebook, I have started and restarted this darn thing three times now. Third time is a charm, right?
I also attended a webinar tonight featuring the new book Master Class put on by Alison Lee of Craftcast. Sounds and looks like a great book to obtain.
Tomorrow I will be working on a b-lessing shawl and this cardigan as I am on the road to LLano to look at retirement property. With a little luck, I'll be back to polymer by Sunday afternoon or Monday night and we can get this challenge rocking.
Thomas Edison is supposed to have stated he did not fail at making the light bulb thousands of times, rather he learned thousands of ways not to make a light bulb.
Day 9 has been a complete and total bust. First, hours in the studio and nothing, nothing turned out even remotely good enough to put in the oven. I learned many, many ways how not to make a cane today and generated lots of debris for natasha beads, swirl beads, lizard tails, etc.
So, I then went back to the b-lack lacy mini cardigan thinking I would complete the sleeve and at least have something to photograph. No such luck. I had made a mistake and had to start over. Not too bad. I can write about that. Then, moments ago, I found I had fobar-ed again. No sleeve. Starting over......again. So today, when all has gone terribly wrong in the creative world of Dakotah Flannery, is my BEG OFF DAY.
Wish me luck for tomorrow.
I got so caught up in television and knitting I almost went to bed without today's post. Since the gauge was correct I started the sweater today. I plan to knit the body in the round and so started with a sleeve. I have gotten 4 inches on it completed today - about 2 hours work. I set it up on the pattern photo so you can see what i am making.
So the answer the question, "can she polymer with her dominant hand in a splint?" is, yes, sort of. It just does not feel very good and I have to take breaks. But I did get 3 texture plates, each 4" x 4" made from b-ake and b-end clay. I am in a swap featuring texture and hearts so I started that task. I'm not sure these are good enough to swap so I will try more either tomorrow night or on Tuesday.
This 4" x 4" knitted lace square for gauge does not look like much for a challenge day until you know the background. It took several days of going through pattern books and magazines to find one that would work. Then trips to 6 yarn shops before I found the perfect yarn to make the thing. When completed (and I'll post a photo of the pattern photo soon) it will have a grossgrain ribbon on the inside ribbing with many snaps so that different bottoms can be attached. I am making this specifically to wear at Synergy3 this year.
On a separate note, not sure I won't have to use some of my 52 off days soon myself. Tonight, David brought in the new gallon of liquid laundry detergent and set it on the washing machine, which was in use. We heard something fall but couldn't figure out what and where until......while going to the closet for shoes, I slipped in the mess. The closet is next to the laundry room. Down I went with the entirety of my right side slamming into the door jamb. Currently we are hoping my right ulna is not fractured. We have it splinted and will see how bad it feels in the morning. Wish me luck.
So I tried, over and over to do that lovely leave tutorial and all the results were dismal. And time was running out. So I tried to use what I had and this poor excuse for polymer art is what happened. I tried to make it a petaled bead. Doesn't look like much does it? Luckily for me the word B-ad starts with a B and thus meets the parameters for the challenge. Tomorrow is a trip to the yarn store for B-lack yarn and help with the "B-obble, B-eaded dress" I am working on. We'll hit polymer again Sunday.
Today's offering is a simple and sweet little B-arrette. Not much but I didn't sleep last night and I really didn't want to go into the studio at all, so I am feeling good about posting this completed polymer item.
The background is the project which did not work (a leaf cane four photo tute on facebook by Meg Newberg). While slicing the unacceptable item to re-mix/condition I saw the stripes and decided they would make the perfect background for some flower canes.
Today's offering is a pile of shard beads. Years ago I learned the faux ivory technique from an article by Tory Hughes in an issue of "Ornament" magazine. Over the years I have added my own twists and turns but it still came, originally, from her. In these beads a large rectangle of the ivory is stamped with prehistoric type images. Next the rectangle is torn to make ragged edges and organic, non-planned shapes. Now add a rhinestone here, a paper punched already cured faux coral shape there, and just for fun, some faux turquoise. Now form the beads over a garden gazing ball (derived from a L. Cozzi class), antique with your favorite oil paint mix and cure. After curing comes the sanding, backing and placing of hanging mechanism (derived from a R. Weltman class), sign and cure again. Last, more sanding and buffing. Now they can be hung in pairs, singles or make an entire collar of them.
As you can see from the references above, it takes a village to make a bead.
Day 2 is still unexciting but I am meeting my goal of creation, photographing, placing on the blog and also in a facebook group by the same name.
I decided to make a matching hollow bead for yesterdays bracelet. I added a swarovski crystal just to make it a little bit feminine.
Well, we had a lot of people look but no takers to join me on the journey. Still I am going to do the deed.
Starting slowly and humbly. I had purchased some clearance base metal cuffs in the past and today I added a 4+ year old leaf cane overlay on gold premo. I have had a lot of difficulty with photos of really shiny items so I took this one before the final sanding and buffing. Now it is shiny and that little red blemish is gone.
Hi Everyone!
Now that the holidays are over and we have had a day or so to regroup it is time to get serious about the B-B-B-B-B-BAD Challenge 2013.
Questions answered here:
I have been asked some very good questions and thought there might be others who didn't want to ask but wanted to know so here is some additional information.
I think you may be overwhelmed by the idea of daily creativity so I am going to help you see it isn't scary at all.
Let's say you are a B-asketry person and it usually takes you about 3 days to finish a basket. Photo of materials and/or start of basket is day one post, day two can be a written update (i.e. I added another 3 inches to the height of the basket) with or without photo. This would continue until the project is complete.
Are you like me and have a finger in many creative pies but cannot figure out how to fit them into the "B" of the challenge? If you are a quilter your "B" is the block of the quilt you are working on. Do you sew? One of the things on my to do list this year is to make a B-edspread with matching B-edroom curtains for the front bedroom. See how easily this bit of creativity fits into the challenge?
Do you knit or crochet? Another project on my list is an orange/green/yellow variegated knit tunic. Guess what the name of the pattern is? Bobble beaded dress. I am not making this up. I also have at least 3 prayer shawls to make this year and one of them must be blue for that is the recipient's favorite color. I figure those two projects alone will meet 14-20 days of my challenge posts as they go from start to finish, row by row on up to completion. See how easy it is to meet the challenge requirements?
Are you a beader? Post daily with a photo to let us see how you are doing.
This doesn't have to be hard folks. Don't over think it.
Is it the thought of trying to upload photos that is keeping you from taking the plunge? Okay. We have two places to make it easier. I have made a facebook group and a Flicker group, same name same name for both, Bad Challenge 2013. With these new phones a quick shot and post to facebook is a snap.
Is it the thought of not making it to the end of the challenge which has you hesitating? Look, guys. Here is the story. I started this darn thing twice before and didn't make it. But I refuse to give up because the prize - 365 days of documented creativity - is such an appealing idea to me. I have invited others to play as well so we can encourage each other and keep ourselves going.
WHO IS WITH ME?
So far I have had many inquiries but no takers. It is time to make a decision so you will be ready when January 21, 2013 rolls around. The facebook group is by invitation. Drop me a line saying you want to participate on that site and I will "friend" you and add you to the group. The Flicker site has a join button with the rules being simply that you have read the rules on the first post of this blog and agree to them. I look forward to seeing some "count me in" comments in the next couple of days.
Reminder: I can be reached at facebook as myself, Dakotah Flannery or at the following email accounts: polyclaydak@gmail.com; badchallenge2013@gmail.com
If you still think the challenge is too much for you or you cannot get a team together, please pass this on to your friends and guilds.
