Camille's Bag

I've been taking a class on how to make a purse called Camille's Bag. It was a very ambitious choice for someone who has been sewing less than three months, but the instructor thought she would be able to help me with it. Well, it was a huge challenge for me, but with a lot of help from Dixie at Sew Unlimited, I finished it yesterday. You can't see the little imperfections that mark it as the effort of a beginner in the photo, but they're there. That's okay, it's still a great bag. I'll make another one later to practice the techniques I learned.

I haven't forgotten about Twickie. My mom suggested I try a dark blue background for the bottom half. I'm going to send her the results and then make a decision about how to finish it. It's about time to hang that puppy's picture up on the wall!

Finalist

Here is the background combo I like best, modified to reflect people's comments and preferences. I used the colored pencils more heavily, especially on the bottom color. I like this better than the reddish color I used in #2, but it has more of a tonal presence as that trial picture had. I am pretty happy with how this looks. Any comments before I take the plunge?

Need Help

Hi, all. I finally photocopied the Daphne portrait. Then I tried three background color combos. I need you to look at them and let me know which one you like best. Please pay attention only to the color, not to the coloring job; these were quickie color studies. The final job will be much smoother. Please leave me a comment, email me, or reply to me on a list if you were directed here from there to let me know which combo you think is the most attractive. Also if you have other color combo ideas, I'm interested in hearing about them.

I chose these color combos from the pencils I had already pulled to work on the drawing, so most of them pull from background or accent colors.

I'd like to start my final work on this within a few days, so please give me your feedback as soon as possible. It will be valued.

See below for photos of the color combos. Please reference the photo number when giving your opinion.

Daphne Background #1

This is Daphne Background #1.

Daphne Background #2

This is Daphne Background #2.

Daphne Background #3

This is Daphne Background #3.

Here it is

Well, here is the green paisley I finished a few weeks ago. I've been kinda hanging on for dear life with school/ISATS (standardized testing) and some health problems. It hasn't totally stopped me from creating; however, it has slowed me down and left me less time for things like taking photos, so really there is a lot of catching up to do. I'm on Spring Break now, so it is my hope that I will finally catch up with myself, get healthy, and get some serious quality time in my studio.

I'm not totally happy with this paisley, but it was a fun creative exercise. Next time I will try to sharpen my pencil more often; the Lyra colored pencil I used was if anything softer than the Prismas I usually use.

Also, please realize that this is not a good photo. The real paisley is a warmer green and the background is a pale cream color. Keith just gave me his old camera (which may not sound like such a good deal, but this is a really good camera). Now I just have to read the manual and learn how it works.....and maybe I'll be able to start putting up really good photos on this thing for a change. I hope so. I'm so tired of struggling with the camera I have now.

Green Paisley

Long, long ago my mom challenged me to create a paisley in one color (monochrome). I chose to do it on cream Stonehenge paper with a Lyra colored pencil in a color called Sap Green (a moderately warm leaf green). Well, I drew the outlines in about ten seconds while I was still working on my mom's Christmas paisley (see prior posts for that if interested). Then I set the green one aside to pursue other things, promising myself I'd get back to it later.

Well, this week has been the magical week of the green paisley. I can't show you a progress photo because I left it at school (d'oh!). But I will tell you that it's nearly done now. The main paisley shape is all finished and I am working on the fringes. This one went very fast compared to the one I made for my mom. Parts of it I like a lot, while other parts are not so good. I learned that the Lyra pencils are smearier than the Prismas. I also learned that eating chocolate while working is not smart unless you are more careful (or coordinated) than I was....oops. Additionally, I needed to sharpen more frequently and work more slowly (do you notice a pattern here?). But at least I have been having fun with it. I'll try to get a photo up this weekend if not before.