21/05/2011
The Degree show opened yesterday and hundreds of my postcards and business cards have been taken, so I think an update is in order! Just a short one because my dad is visiting the show today and I have to go and meet him.
For starters my contact details are
Mobile: (+44)7805 988160
Email: maddy.norval@gmail.com
Website: magweno.com
http://carn-dearg.deviantart.com
http://twitter.com/magweno
I got a 2:1 for Scuttle the animatronic brownie and all my work this year which has made me SO HAPPY! It really has, I feel like nothing could get me down right now. There's been a lot of partying in the class and a lot of good, fun, happy times. I'm really going to miss everyone when we graduate and leave Dundee.
My special effects work in Khaled Al-Hurby's interactive zombie film got some interest from the BBC but I was a dumb dumb and didn't give Khaled any business cards so I think I missed that opportunity. I sold one resin bug yesterday to the head of the departments daughter, but I think everyone elses prints sold like hot cakes, the shop was heaving!
There are commissions on the go as well, poor Galidor still hasn't been finished and after that I have Nebel the grey gryphon to make, which should be pretty straightforward. After that I'm going to take a break for a little bit and make some non-commission dolls because I want to experiment with techniques and designs a little.
Okay I'd better hop it, if you're reading this after visiting the show then thanks for coming!
-Maddy
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Coming Soon...
17/03/2011
A lot of things in the pipeline right now: commissions; a website; folio reviews...
The most exciting news is that my insurance agreed to replace everything that had been stolen.
Considering these are all upgrades (I had a D40, an I3, a 3rd gen nano and a GBA) I am really doing a jig. I also got a cheque for my Diana Lomo camera and I should be getting a cheque for my handbag as well. And my excess was only £25! The policy only cost £45 at the beginning of the year as well so I paid £65 to have nearly £2000 worth of stuff replaced. Woohoo! That should be arriving within the next hour - you have no idea how excited I am!
Since the last post I finished a doll and three commissions, Luca, one I haven't mentioned yet and the magpie. I'm really sorry I didn't post any progress pictures but I was panicking about time and having my stuff stolen really threw me off balance. Here are a couple of pics to tide you over until I announce the new website which has loads of progress and final photos on it - It might even have videos!
Both have been posted.
In addition to Luca and the gryphon I made a little doll when I was hungover while watching the Antiques Roadshow as a sort of time kill. He went down a storm with DA and also sold within three hours of being put in my Etsy!
I called him Porphyrios because my classmate suggested it.
The third commission was one I got through Etsy. She said she liked hummingbirds, wolves and snow leopards so I came up with something quite butch then decided it was too butch and did something alittle more graceful, which she loved so we went with it. I called him Biscuit because that's what he told me to call him - honest.
I absolutely LOVED making his wings and working with those beautiful feathers - they are french partridge and come in a huge variety of colours. I will buy some more and experiment.
So What Happens Next
Well I have more commissions, my slots are all filled! As you know I have the kirin doll to do, who has been baked and is patiently waiting for the art shop to order in yellow fabric dye. Then I have a lammergeier gryphon called Ozzyfrage to make and a blue dragon called Galidor. Galidor's owner asked me to make him roughly the same size as Luca, which I said would cost more, but she was adamant.
There was another person on the list but they asked to be dropped to the end of the list so they could decide whether or not they really want a commission. If she does she'd like a grey and black gryphon.
Galidor and Ozzyfrage both came just after I changed my commission prices. That's right, they went up. The amount of time and effort I spent on Luca made me realise that I should be charging more for these. I spend more time working on them than my uni project, so the prices have gone up to:
£50 for a doll without wings
£70 for a doll with wings
The reasons are because I felt what I was charging before wasn't covering the materials I was buying. The feathers and fur really are high quality and the change in price reflects whether or not the quality will stay constant. Also as I mentioned before, I spend a lot of time on these. There's love in them!
Things Other Than Dolls
Oh there's not much of that... :]
Okay so the next post will be proudly announcing my website!! I'm so excited!
xx
Mads
A lot of things in the pipeline right now: commissions; a website; folio reviews...
The most exciting news is that my insurance agreed to replace everything that had been stolen.
- Wacom Intuos4 Medium
- Nikon D5000
- iPod nano, 6th gen
- Sennheiser headphones
- Panasonic Lumix camera
- Nintendo DSi
Considering these are all upgrades (I had a D40, an I3, a 3rd gen nano and a GBA) I am really doing a jig. I also got a cheque for my Diana Lomo camera and I should be getting a cheque for my handbag as well. And my excess was only £25! The policy only cost £45 at the beginning of the year as well so I paid £65 to have nearly £2000 worth of stuff replaced. Woohoo! That should be arriving within the next hour - you have no idea how excited I am!
Since the last post I finished a doll and three commissions, Luca, one I haven't mentioned yet and the magpie. I'm really sorry I didn't post any progress pictures but I was panicking about time and having my stuff stolen really threw me off balance. Here are a couple of pics to tide you over until I announce the new website which has loads of progress and final photos on it - It might even have videos!
Both have been posted.
In addition to Luca and the gryphon I made a little doll when I was hungover while watching the Antiques Roadshow as a sort of time kill. He went down a storm with DA and also sold within three hours of being put in my Etsy!
I called him Porphyrios because my classmate suggested it.
The third commission was one I got through Etsy. She said she liked hummingbirds, wolves and snow leopards so I came up with something quite butch then decided it was too butch and did something alittle more graceful, which she loved so we went with it. I called him Biscuit because that's what he told me to call him - honest.
I absolutely LOVED making his wings and working with those beautiful feathers - they are french partridge and come in a huge variety of colours. I will buy some more and experiment.
So What Happens Next
Well I have more commissions, my slots are all filled! As you know I have the kirin doll to do, who has been baked and is patiently waiting for the art shop to order in yellow fabric dye. Then I have a lammergeier gryphon called Ozzyfrage to make and a blue dragon called Galidor. Galidor's owner asked me to make him roughly the same size as Luca, which I said would cost more, but she was adamant.
There was another person on the list but they asked to be dropped to the end of the list so they could decide whether or not they really want a commission. If she does she'd like a grey and black gryphon.
Galidor and Ozzyfrage both came just after I changed my commission prices. That's right, they went up. The amount of time and effort I spent on Luca made me realise that I should be charging more for these. I spend more time working on them than my uni project, so the prices have gone up to:
£50 for a doll without wings
£70 for a doll with wings
The reasons are because I felt what I was charging before wasn't covering the materials I was buying. The feathers and fur really are high quality and the change in price reflects whether or not the quality will stay constant. Also as I mentioned before, I spend a lot of time on these. There's love in them!
Things Other Than Dolls
Oh there's not much of that... :]
Okay so the next post will be proudly announcing my website!! I'm so excited!
xx
Mads
Sunday, 27 February 2011
An Eventful Week
To Begin With : The Robbery
On Wednesday a random stranger walked into my flat, went into my room and took my Wacom Intuos3, Nikon D40 then went to the hall and took my handbag, which had my Panasonic Lumix, Mini Diana and iPod Nano in it (but thankfully not my purse, keys or phone). Where was I? In the kitchen. Where were my flatmates? Ones was in his room, one was at work and the other was with me, in the kitchen. How long had we been in the kitchen? Twenty minutes, max. The front door was open because there were three of us in the flat. Can you believe the audacity of some people?
The thief left the tablet pen so he was obviously looking for shiny expensive things. The police said these people are looking for quick money, anything that looks expensive. After thinking about it, he probably could have got more from the xbox games sitting in the hall, because as far as I know gamestation don't ask questions but pawnbrokers do.
Either way it looks like I won't be getting my kit back. The realisation hadn't sunk in on the day (happened about 5pm) but on Thursday I couldn't concentrate at all. When my insurance company rang about my claim they managed to reassure me a bit though - as long as I have photos of my stuff then that's proof enough for them.
What Happened Next : Commissions
On the same day I got two commissions and sold two dolls (which is strange in itself!). Both dolls have been sent to their new owner, one was a commission and the other was a doll I listed just after her commissions which she snapped up because she said she just had to have it.
That's riiight, I finished the cat-dragon commission!
I'm really proud of how it came out. The fur was a little crispy, next time I'll just find a matching colour I think. I'm especially pleased with the furry mane and the green spray at the end of it's tail - both from the feather variety pack I got from Lakeland Fly Tying. I would never, ever have bought feathers like that but they really were useful!
The Future : Work
The two new commissions are very different. One is a magpie/snow leopard gryphon and has been painted and varnished. He looks great, but the paint is shiny and the matt spray I bought is terrible.
Because both my cameras were nicked I can't show you progress photos. (it feels like I'm missing a limb) But I'll take him into uni on Tuesday and rent a camera. If the insurance company can't get me the exact model then they send me a cheque, which means I could maybe reconsider my initial choice and get a Canon instead. I do like the Nikon d40 though, it was humble and did the job well.
While I was writing this I got another commission from a pal on DA. Here is what she would like, I think it looks awesome:
I'm thinking about using bird fur for the green sprays and I love the gold scales. She said the design is based on a kirin, which is cool because I haven't done a water horse since the Kelpie.
That commission is third in line though, here's what's coming up next:
Woof! Really exciting.
Also apart from those I have a little fun art trade going on with Claire Borwell over at Fish & Bird. She's ma homie, and I totes love her art so she's painting me a picture all for me and I'm making her a doll all for her. The animals I got yelled at me were "COCKEREL, MONKEY, DUST BUNNY". I haven't sketched it out but my imagination is running wild.
As For Uni...
Just don't get me started...
Talk to you later compadres!
On Wednesday a random stranger walked into my flat, went into my room and took my Wacom Intuos3, Nikon D40 then went to the hall and took my handbag, which had my Panasonic Lumix, Mini Diana and iPod Nano in it (but thankfully not my purse, keys or phone). Where was I? In the kitchen. Where were my flatmates? Ones was in his room, one was at work and the other was with me, in the kitchen. How long had we been in the kitchen? Twenty minutes, max. The front door was open because there were three of us in the flat. Can you believe the audacity of some people?
The thief left the tablet pen so he was obviously looking for shiny expensive things. The police said these people are looking for quick money, anything that looks expensive. After thinking about it, he probably could have got more from the xbox games sitting in the hall, because as far as I know gamestation don't ask questions but pawnbrokers do.
Either way it looks like I won't be getting my kit back. The realisation hadn't sunk in on the day (happened about 5pm) but on Thursday I couldn't concentrate at all. When my insurance company rang about my claim they managed to reassure me a bit though - as long as I have photos of my stuff then that's proof enough for them.
What Happened Next : Commissions
On the same day I got two commissions and sold two dolls (which is strange in itself!). Both dolls have been sent to their new owner, one was a commission and the other was a doll I listed just after her commissions which she snapped up because she said she just had to have it.
That's riiight, I finished the cat-dragon commission!
I'm really proud of how it came out. The fur was a little crispy, next time I'll just find a matching colour I think. I'm especially pleased with the furry mane and the green spray at the end of it's tail - both from the feather variety pack I got from Lakeland Fly Tying. I would never, ever have bought feathers like that but they really were useful!
The Future : Work
The two new commissions are very different. One is a magpie/snow leopard gryphon and has been painted and varnished. He looks great, but the paint is shiny and the matt spray I bought is terrible.
Because both my cameras were nicked I can't show you progress photos. (it feels like I'm missing a limb) But I'll take him into uni on Tuesday and rent a camera. If the insurance company can't get me the exact model then they send me a cheque, which means I could maybe reconsider my initial choice and get a Canon instead. I do like the Nikon d40 though, it was humble and did the job well.
While I was writing this I got another commission from a pal on DA. Here is what she would like, I think it looks awesome:
I'm thinking about using bird fur for the green sprays and I love the gold scales. She said the design is based on a kirin, which is cool because I haven't done a water horse since the Kelpie.
That commission is third in line though, here's what's coming up next:
Woof! Really exciting.
Also apart from those I have a little fun art trade going on with Claire Borwell over at Fish & Bird. She's ma homie, and I totes love her art so she's painting me a picture all for me and I'm making her a doll all for her. The animals I got yelled at me were "COCKEREL, MONKEY, DUST BUNNY". I haven't sketched it out but my imagination is running wild.
As For Uni...
Just don't get me started...
Talk to you later compadres!
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Bad Case of the Moonies
When I started sculpting with fimo it was in the usual over excited manner I begin every project: running around frantically gathering supplies, telling everyone I know about this brand new brilliant thing I've discovered and then dive-bombing into the deep end. I love the deep end of the pool, I spend hours there. I used to think I was an otter when I was younger. Wait is this literal or metaphorical?...
Anyway I start everything fast. Usually if something isn't meant to be it'll get dropped within a few months. Like the owl hats and quilts ; I don't sew much anymore. Sculpting though... Now that's the future.
If only I could get rid of these stupid moonies.
These are moonies. This is a bad case of the moonies. This made me kick my oven and storm around my flat in a foul mood for half a day. This was a perfectly baked sculpt going in for it's third go when my oven decided to have one of its hissy fits and cranked itself up to 200C.
The temperature knob span off a few months ago and our landlords keep saying they've fixed it. We have an oven thermometer but I'm not going to crouch in front of the oven for half an hour just to make sure it doesn't suddenly jump to 200C. (Actually I am contemplating that now - cup of tea and some sewing, it'd be like watching telly.) I'm sick of not being able to eat roast chicken, I'm tired of being unable to heat pies, but most of all I'm furious it gives my carefully sculpted creatures moonies.
Moonies happen when polymer clay is exposed to extreme temperature change (as far as I'm aware) and sometimes when there are air bubbles under the clay. Considering my cat had been baked twice already and come out moonie-free, I'm putting it down to heat...
I'm hoping that sanding them down a bit and then painting with acrylic washes (which I was planning anyway) will hide them well enough. BUT SCULPTORS BE WARNED! There be nothing as terrifyin' to a man as the dreaded moonie....
Okay enough about that. This week I sold another doll! Hooray!
The goat is going to the Netherlands.
I also finished another doll whom I love and want to keep. He is the gorgeous fluffy Vindur, the moon gazing gryphon...
He's based on a harpy eagle and a lamb, more eagle than lamb though. You can go to his Etsy listing for more pictures and also if you feel inclined to give him a new home!
My next doll is going to be the opening picture, a commission from a BJD maker in France. Here's the sketch I'm going by, she asked for an eastern dragon crossed with a cornish rex cat, with purple, girly pink and grass green colourings.
The WIP picture is that poor moonied doll you saw above. I have sewn the fur and plan to dye it some more tomorrow evening and maybe paint it too, then glue on the feathers and extra bits on Tuesday. Can't wait. After that I'm going to start another doll. I bought a variety pack from Lakeland Fly-tying and HOBOY it's so awesome, got some really beeeaaauuuutiful feathers. And despite Vindurs wings being quite small I used two whole saddles to make them - so I reckon this pack will go fast...
Okay off to bed now, over and out comrades!
If you have a custom doll request or question then don't hesitate to contact me.
maddington.bear at gmail.com
Anyway I start everything fast. Usually if something isn't meant to be it'll get dropped within a few months. Like the owl hats and quilts ; I don't sew much anymore. Sculpting though... Now that's the future.
If only I could get rid of these stupid moonies.
These are moonies. This is a bad case of the moonies. This made me kick my oven and storm around my flat in a foul mood for half a day. This was a perfectly baked sculpt going in for it's third go when my oven decided to have one of its hissy fits and cranked itself up to 200C.
The temperature knob span off a few months ago and our landlords keep saying they've fixed it. We have an oven thermometer but I'm not going to crouch in front of the oven for half an hour just to make sure it doesn't suddenly jump to 200C. (Actually I am contemplating that now - cup of tea and some sewing, it'd be like watching telly.) I'm sick of not being able to eat roast chicken, I'm tired of being unable to heat pies, but most of all I'm furious it gives my carefully sculpted creatures moonies.
Moonies happen when polymer clay is exposed to extreme temperature change (as far as I'm aware) and sometimes when there are air bubbles under the clay. Considering my cat had been baked twice already and come out moonie-free, I'm putting it down to heat...
I'm hoping that sanding them down a bit and then painting with acrylic washes (which I was planning anyway) will hide them well enough. BUT SCULPTORS BE WARNED! There be nothing as terrifyin' to a man as the dreaded moonie....
Okay enough about that. This week I sold another doll! Hooray!
The goat is going to the Netherlands.
I also finished another doll whom I love and want to keep. He is the gorgeous fluffy Vindur, the moon gazing gryphon...
He's based on a harpy eagle and a lamb, more eagle than lamb though. You can go to his Etsy listing for more pictures and also if you feel inclined to give him a new home!
My next doll is going to be the opening picture, a commission from a BJD maker in France. Here's the sketch I'm going by, she asked for an eastern dragon crossed with a cornish rex cat, with purple, girly pink and grass green colourings.
The WIP picture is that poor moonied doll you saw above. I have sewn the fur and plan to dye it some more tomorrow evening and maybe paint it too, then glue on the feathers and extra bits on Tuesday. Can't wait. After that I'm going to start another doll. I bought a variety pack from Lakeland Fly-tying and HOBOY it's so awesome, got some really beeeaaauuuutiful feathers. And despite Vindurs wings being quite small I used two whole saddles to make them - so I reckon this pack will go fast...
Okay off to bed now, over and out comrades!
If you have a custom doll request or question then don't hesitate to contact me.
maddington.bear at gmail.com
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Awesome Discounts!
Since the DD I've had a lot of people asking about custom orders, which is great! The only problem is they've only been asking and as a jobless student I feel I need to provide a little incentive to make the deal sweeter.
So I'm proud to introduce to you, my wonderful readers, excellent commission discounts especially for you!
Click here to visit my etsy shop and put these fab discounts into effect!
10% discount for blog readers, just put CARELESSWHISPER25 in at the checkout!
10% discount for repeat clients.
Free gift with purchases over £50/$80! Secret goodies, yay!
Customs are at a fixed £40 + P&P. P&P charges range from £5 within the UK to $11 for the US.
With 10% off that's only £36 + P&P!
Wow sweet deals and massive savings!
So what are you waiting for? Go and buy some dolls! Or that song by George Michael will continue to haunt you. I'm never gonna dance again/the way I danced with you-hooo
So I'm proud to introduce to you, my wonderful readers, excellent commission discounts especially for you!
Click here to visit my etsy shop and put these fab discounts into effect!
10% discount for blog readers, just put CARELESSWHISPER25 in at the checkout!
10% discount for repeat clients.
Free gift with purchases over £50/$80! Secret goodies, yay!
Customs are at a fixed £40 + P&P. P&P charges range from £5 within the UK to $11 for the US.
With 10% off that's only £36 + P&P!
Wow sweet deals and massive savings!
So what are you waiting for? Go and buy some dolls! Or that song by George Michael will continue to haunt you. I'm never gonna dance again/the way I danced with you-hooo
Monday, 7 February 2011
Competitions
A little update
Waa too many competitions and group challenges and stuff!
I'm going to make a little list of some I plan on entering/partaking in to keep myself all in order
Winged girl and her winged companion competition
cool fairytale competition, which I can't enter but will do anyway
Alphabestiary - what an awesome portfolio filler theme. really cool creatures too
Create by week stock challenge
I just put four armatures in epoxy too so one
otter
goat
deer
something to do with this:
Also I got a Daily Deviation on deviantart a few days ago! Hooray! Fame! Sort of.
Waa too many competitions and group challenges and stuff!
I'm going to make a little list of some I plan on entering/partaking in to keep myself all in order
Winged girl and her winged companion competition
cool fairytale competition, which I can't enter but will do anyway
Alphabestiary - what an awesome portfolio filler theme. really cool creatures too
Create by week stock challenge
I just put four armatures in epoxy too so one
otter
goat
deer
something to do with this:
Also I got a Daily Deviation on deviantart a few days ago! Hooray! Fame! Sort of.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Bad mood bear
Been in a horrible mood the past week because of feedback and things. I think I'm all ranted out though, everyone in the class is pretty angry.
The long and the short of it is that I have to decide what profession I want to follow and then aim for it! Simple right? In theory yes but I really want to work in the movie industry sculpting and casting special effects. Which has nothing to do with illustration ):
So I'm going to get a low grade and my tutors can't help me make my portfolio. All by myself... Don't wanna be... Ahem
Well anyway I keep trying to pull my socks up and get on with it but I'm finding it hard. It's okay though, if I keep pulling my socks up occasionally someday they'll stay up and I'll be fine again. For now though I'm procrastinating going into uni again by venting here.
I find making creatures is the most soothing thing I can do right now. I made a gryphon and he looks great apart from a bizarre small head - I keep blaming his floofiness but I think that's avoiding thinking about how it's probably my bad sculpting. I took photos and wrote notes throughout the whole process so there is a tutorial in the works. I wrote a good half of it yesterday. Here's a sneak peek.
It's about 30k pixels long at the moment though which is mad.
I ordered some marbles the other day and they arrived. My initial idea was to polish them up a little then take a cast to use as a mould for making eyes but some of them are so beautiful I might just use them as eyes themselves! That means some big creatures in the pipeline...
I sold three creatures in the past week. Odette, the floofy hamster griff, the blue Stiltikins commission and Dikdik! Dikdik, the first cool creature I made has been sold to an amazing BJD artist in France who is very excited about getting him, which is lovely. He'll have a great time being surrounded by beautiful naked BJD girls.
Right got to pull my socks up again, I WILL try and keep this journal alive.
Over and out
The long and the short of it is that I have to decide what profession I want to follow and then aim for it! Simple right? In theory yes but I really want to work in the movie industry sculpting and casting special effects. Which has nothing to do with illustration ):
So I'm going to get a low grade and my tutors can't help me make my portfolio. All by myself... Don't wanna be... Ahem
Well anyway I keep trying to pull my socks up and get on with it but I'm finding it hard. It's okay though, if I keep pulling my socks up occasionally someday they'll stay up and I'll be fine again. For now though I'm procrastinating going into uni again by venting here.
I find making creatures is the most soothing thing I can do right now. I made a gryphon and he looks great apart from a bizarre small head - I keep blaming his floofiness but I think that's avoiding thinking about how it's probably my bad sculpting. I took photos and wrote notes throughout the whole process so there is a tutorial in the works. I wrote a good half of it yesterday. Here's a sneak peek.
It's about 30k pixels long at the moment though which is mad.
I ordered some marbles the other day and they arrived. My initial idea was to polish them up a little then take a cast to use as a mould for making eyes but some of them are so beautiful I might just use them as eyes themselves! That means some big creatures in the pipeline...
I sold three creatures in the past week. Odette, the floofy hamster griff, the blue Stiltikins commission and Dikdik! Dikdik, the first cool creature I made has been sold to an amazing BJD artist in France who is very excited about getting him, which is lovely. He'll have a great time being surrounded by beautiful naked BJD girls.
Right got to pull my socks up again, I WILL try and keep this journal alive.
Over and out
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Ah
So hi, I forgot to write in this for a while! But here's what I've been up to:
I've been desperate to make some huge crazy fun creatures but OH WOW is fourth year eating my days. Although I know after Christmas (nay - after December 8th) I'll have LOADS more time on my hands.
Interim show is possibly going to be on the 3rd of Dec, my tutor doesn't know yet but I'll keep you posted.
I'm doing this so I don't have to think about my dissertation. ): Procrastination bad!
over and out
I've been desperate to make some huge crazy fun creatures but OH WOW is fourth year eating my days. Although I know after Christmas (nay - after December 8th) I'll have LOADS more time on my hands.
Interim show is possibly going to be on the 3rd of Dec, my tutor doesn't know yet but I'll keep you posted.
I'm doing this so I don't have to think about my dissertation. ): Procrastination bad!
over and out
Friday, 21 May 2010
Potato - Day 12
Thought I might blog on my tattie a bit too.
I threw him in Dan's lemon tree pot after it started sprouting little white hairs to annoy Dan but it ended up growing leaves so I have planted it in a beautiful bin bag outside Rob's window with a couple of others (that haven't made an appearance yet).
I threw him in Dan's lemon tree pot after it started sprouting little white hairs to annoy Dan but it ended up growing leaves so I have planted it in a beautiful bin bag outside Rob's window with a couple of others (that haven't made an appearance yet).
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Oh Yoga & Jamboree success
So here's a nice long ramble to stop myself from playing Oblivion all day.
I was cleaning the bathroom and all of sudden the mother of all cramps hit me - you know those ones where they actually knock the breath out of you? I had to stagger to the kitchen to gulp down some anadin but we only had the stupid dissolve stuff and it took too long to dissolve and after swallowing that I realised I hadn't had breakfast. So, seeing stars, I choked down an apple and then walked around in circles like an insane horse.
In that lucid, pained state that I was in I decided enough is enough and I have to really start working on my health. I tried to fit into my beautiful orange dress again last night after a month of dieting and it still won't zip up around the bust *sob sob*. All this worrying about my weight is unhealthy anyway! It's probably just adding to it!
Unfortunately living in Dundee poses a continual deterrence to physical exercise. I don't want to go running next to horrible roads with busses roaring and seagulls threatening to attack me round every corner. So what else can I do? Home exercise, yes... Okay what I'm trying to say is that I am lazy and would really like a calm form of exercise and I have been eyeing yoga for a while so...
Yoga!
It's just an idea but we'll see how it goes, I can't see me tying myself in knots any time soon but I know it will improve blood circulation which helps to carry oxidants and things around the body - right? So I'll be healthier in mind and body.
So I'm going to try a 30-day yoga starter. Poses and breathing techniques, I've written down a basic daily routine to work on. By the way aren't all these names just fantastic? Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Tadasana, Urdhva hastasana... Awesome. So I start with pelvic tilts, then some cat-cow poses (that name isn't so great), then urdhva mukha svanasanaanadbn.. (downward facing dog ha ha) etc.
I really wish I could afford to eat all these super healthy foods all the time. I guess hummus isn't really a bank breaker but it's the variation in diet that is so important. (This is making me hungry.) Celery and salads... I think I might work a good diary into this blog too but considering I currently have 7 followers (hi guys!) it's really more of a personal therapeutic thing at the moment anyway. I can come here and chat to myself and work on my wordsmithing at the same time. Maybe in time I'll get insights and comments, critisisms and conversations going but until then I'm quite happy.
As I write I'm watching a very trippy yoga film Rob downloaded for me, a bunch of very healthy beautiful people wearing white and purple in "tree pose". They're in some sort of white-sanded never ending, space age desert. "The trick is to look at something that's not moving and not let your mind move. ... Keep heavy, stay rooted, grounded. If you start to sway, don't give up. Trees... Swaaaaayyyy... Stay grounded..." haaa haha, amazing
I downloaded some Jonsi and Alex to chill out to and I dabbed myself with some lavender essential oil. Feeling zen, but I'd feel more zen if my room wasn't such a mess. I was going to do that until I got crippled by my womb. I may attempt to yet...
On a completely different note, apre-paux of nothing, I got a freaking CASTLE in Oblivion! It's one of the add-ons Rob bought and you fight a few bandits and are rewarded with your own castle with guards and servants and a personal trainer and everything. I'm feeling particularly awesome in that game, although my combat skills are RUBBISH. I haven't been training them though, my alchemy is wicked and my security is not something to be sniffed at, but when it comes to actually fighting something... Well it takes me about half an hour (in game) to poke a boar to death. Mitch, Dan and Rob are so very tired of watching me fail so I feel a bit bad playing it during the day, maybe I'll sneak on tonight.
Now that the Jamboree is over I really have to work on my online presence. I'm going to work on my Folksy and see if I can get a few sales on that of my beasts. But FIRST I have to make more beasts and before THAT I have to clean my room. I really wish I had a big chest of drawers to store all my fabric and paints and supplies, it's all in strategically placed tesco bags and boxes on the floor at the moment.
I've been watching a bit of Gok's How to Look Good Naked With a Difference - he's helping disabled ladies feel and look beautiful. The first episode is so touching, a lady in a wheelchair who is gorgeous but can't look at herself, he makes her feel amazing and it's so encouraging to watch! Watching him boost someone elses confidence boosts MY confidence for some reason. And he ALWAYS makes me want to have a proper wardrobe clean out and a bit of retail therapy after the program's over.
I suppose I should mention the Jamboree and how that went! It was AWESOME. I haven't worked out how much I made yet, I need to tidy my room first (I've said that so many times in this post I think once I'm done I'll ACTUALLY do it). But it was a considerable amount. My badges sold really well, people loved them! A lot of people asked what they were and how I did it, some people got very excited about the resin. Everyone LOVED the creatures, especially Dikdik. Y'know I didn't sell any of them (apart from Wolfface) but I felt so good from all the compliments I got about them. One well known artists - this is really exciting - said I was an inspiration! He was really, really lovely and didn't recognise me from when he gave a talk to our class a year ago but I was just like a little excited fangirl haha.
Half way through the night (about five or six hours in total) they got some live artists to do their stuff. One guy makes music using only a gameboy. It was brilliant! I didn't realise he was doing it live until he came and spoke to me for ages and left, the girl next to me explained he was doing it and I was just stunned. He was so good! And so lovely!
I had a really awesome night, it made me feel so, so good. Oh and the best seller were Rob's baguettes! They sold out! And it was word of mouth that did it too which is REALLY exciting. One person bought one, shared it among friends ("you HAVE to try this!") and then three or four people come over and buy one or two each... He made a comfortable £20 from that. I didn't get one because I wasn't allowed thought but everyone assured me they were delicious.
SO a brilliant night. Here's a lovely photo Joanna Montgomery of the Skinny mag took of my bizarre blobby honey cupcakes.
And if you go here you can watch a "Superfly on the Wall" documentary of the night. Chemosit is in there along with my floral shoulder for a bit!
So siiigh. My cramps have gone hallelujah! The therapeutic blog post triumphs. Now I shall tidy my room and go and buy some plants, yes.
Over and out!
~Mads
I was cleaning the bathroom and all of sudden the mother of all cramps hit me - you know those ones where they actually knock the breath out of you? I had to stagger to the kitchen to gulp down some anadin but we only had the stupid dissolve stuff and it took too long to dissolve and after swallowing that I realised I hadn't had breakfast. So, seeing stars, I choked down an apple and then walked around in circles like an insane horse.
In that lucid, pained state that I was in I decided enough is enough and I have to really start working on my health. I tried to fit into my beautiful orange dress again last night after a month of dieting and it still won't zip up around the bust *sob sob*. All this worrying about my weight is unhealthy anyway! It's probably just adding to it!
Unfortunately living in Dundee poses a continual deterrence to physical exercise. I don't want to go running next to horrible roads with busses roaring and seagulls threatening to attack me round every corner. So what else can I do? Home exercise, yes... Okay what I'm trying to say is that I am lazy and would really like a calm form of exercise and I have been eyeing yoga for a while so...
Yoga!
It's just an idea but we'll see how it goes, I can't see me tying myself in knots any time soon but I know it will improve blood circulation which helps to carry oxidants and things around the body - right? So I'll be healthier in mind and body.
So I'm going to try a 30-day yoga starter. Poses and breathing techniques, I've written down a basic daily routine to work on. By the way aren't all these names just fantastic? Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Tadasana, Urdhva hastasana... Awesome. So I start with pelvic tilts, then some cat-cow poses (that name isn't so great), then urdhva mukha svanasanaanadbn.. (downward facing dog ha ha) etc.
I really wish I could afford to eat all these super healthy foods all the time. I guess hummus isn't really a bank breaker but it's the variation in diet that is so important. (This is making me hungry.) Celery and salads... I think I might work a good diary into this blog too but considering I currently have 7 followers (hi guys!) it's really more of a personal therapeutic thing at the moment anyway. I can come here and chat to myself and work on my wordsmithing at the same time. Maybe in time I'll get insights and comments, critisisms and conversations going but until then I'm quite happy.
As I write I'm watching a very trippy yoga film Rob downloaded for me, a bunch of very healthy beautiful people wearing white and purple in "tree pose". They're in some sort of white-sanded never ending, space age desert. "The trick is to look at something that's not moving and not let your mind move. ... Keep heavy, stay rooted, grounded. If you start to sway, don't give up. Trees... Swaaaaayyyy... Stay grounded..." haaa haha, amazing
I downloaded some Jonsi and Alex to chill out to and I dabbed myself with some lavender essential oil. Feeling zen, but I'd feel more zen if my room wasn't such a mess. I was going to do that until I got crippled by my womb. I may attempt to yet...
On a completely different note, apre-paux of nothing, I got a freaking CASTLE in Oblivion! It's one of the add-ons Rob bought and you fight a few bandits and are rewarded with your own castle with guards and servants and a personal trainer and everything. I'm feeling particularly awesome in that game, although my combat skills are RUBBISH. I haven't been training them though, my alchemy is wicked and my security is not something to be sniffed at, but when it comes to actually fighting something... Well it takes me about half an hour (in game) to poke a boar to death. Mitch, Dan and Rob are so very tired of watching me fail so I feel a bit bad playing it during the day, maybe I'll sneak on tonight.
Now that the Jamboree is over I really have to work on my online presence. I'm going to work on my Folksy and see if I can get a few sales on that of my beasts. But FIRST I have to make more beasts and before THAT I have to clean my room. I really wish I had a big chest of drawers to store all my fabric and paints and supplies, it's all in strategically placed tesco bags and boxes on the floor at the moment.
I've been watching a bit of Gok's How to Look Good Naked With a Difference - he's helping disabled ladies feel and look beautiful. The first episode is so touching, a lady in a wheelchair who is gorgeous but can't look at herself, he makes her feel amazing and it's so encouraging to watch! Watching him boost someone elses confidence boosts MY confidence for some reason. And he ALWAYS makes me want to have a proper wardrobe clean out and a bit of retail therapy after the program's over.
I suppose I should mention the Jamboree and how that went! It was AWESOME. I haven't worked out how much I made yet, I need to tidy my room first (I've said that so many times in this post I think once I'm done I'll ACTUALLY do it). But it was a considerable amount. My badges sold really well, people loved them! A lot of people asked what they were and how I did it, some people got very excited about the resin. Everyone LOVED the creatures, especially Dikdik. Y'know I didn't sell any of them (apart from Wolfface) but I felt so good from all the compliments I got about them. One well known artists - this is really exciting - said I was an inspiration! He was really, really lovely and didn't recognise me from when he gave a talk to our class a year ago but I was just like a little excited fangirl haha.
Half way through the night (about five or six hours in total) they got some live artists to do their stuff. One guy makes music using only a gameboy. It was brilliant! I didn't realise he was doing it live until he came and spoke to me for ages and left, the girl next to me explained he was doing it and I was just stunned. He was so good! And so lovely!
I had a really awesome night, it made me feel so, so good. Oh and the best seller were Rob's baguettes! They sold out! And it was word of mouth that did it too which is REALLY exciting. One person bought one, shared it among friends ("you HAVE to try this!") and then three or four people come over and buy one or two each... He made a comfortable £20 from that. I didn't get one because I wasn't allowed thought but everyone assured me they were delicious.
SO a brilliant night. Here's a lovely photo Joanna Montgomery of the Skinny mag took of my bizarre blobby honey cupcakes.
And if you go here you can watch a "Superfly on the Wall" documentary of the night. Chemosit is in there along with my floral shoulder for a bit!
So siiigh. My cramps have gone hallelujah! The therapeutic blog post triumphs. Now I shall tidy my room and go and buy some plants, yes.
Over and out!
~Mads
Saturday, 15 May 2010
A small update
I MADE CUPCAKES!
Practicing for the Jamboree. They're honey cupcakes with honey icing, and were very delicious but too honey-ish. I think the next batch I make will have a lemon cream cheese icing instead of a honey icing -- it was too sticky too, if people were to eat them at the Jamboree they'd get sticky blue fingerprints all over everyones work- nightmare.
BUT they were yummmmmy
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Experiments
I getting really panicked for the Jamboree. It's on Monday and I'm going to be in Glasgow most of the weekend. Do I have enough? Do I have too much? Should I make more owl hats even though it's so hard to sell them? So instead I decided to calm down and look at it as a fun time, it's nic-nacs I've cooked up.
So in light of that I made these harbls, haha, they're great. They're weighty and fluffy and stupid but they look so silly lying around the sitting room.
I also tried out a new pattern for making gryphons! And thus the monstrosity was born:
Bear with me! Imagine him in lovely colours with a soft, luscious coat instead of that hideous, cheap black rubbish. Yeah? Maybe?
It was an experiment with needlefelting to see if I could make manes and plumes and whatnot and I can. They're rather firmly stabbed in! Now I just have to make one I'm actually happy to sell hehe
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Moo Cards! & I passed 3rd Year!
My mini moo cards have arrived and promptly been turned into tags. In retrospect I sort of wish I had designed a blue one but hey, noted for next time.
Also bails and necklaces arrived yesterday so I made bottle cap necklaces!
I wonder if they'll be popular, a few people have suggested making necklaces of them and now I have. We'll just have to find out at the Jamboree...
In other (exciting) news, I got a B2 for third year! Celebration! I had a B2 for the mid crit but I managed to get my research and development up a couple of notches. I'm so pleased. Especially considering this time last year I JUST scraped a C3.
Aims for next year: A.
Rob bought Rock Band Beatles and 2 so now my good crafting intentions are being tainted by singing loudly and playing a fake guitar.
And finally, there was an awesome, AWESOME market in town today. I wish I was a millionaire.
~Mads
Monday, 3 May 2010
Finished Badges
The badges are up on Etsy! I had to stick the pins on with araldite and that stuff is hardcore. But hey at least the bottle cap and the pin will never lose each other. It's like a love story where the lovers are bonded with epoxy adhesive. Awww...
Anyway I had loads of fun with these photos, apart from destroying my knees. I forgot about my vine, it's a great prop. I was going to use satin again but the vine is better.
These are for sale for $4 over at my Etsy shop or come and find me at the Dundee Jamboree on the 17th of May to pick one (or two!) up with no shipping.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Badges
Badges... Or necklaces?
This is a photo to show you HOW MESSY I am with resin. I said to myself yesterday "when I make these badges I'm going to be really careful with my resin, don't want it going EVERYWHERE like last time". I partly succeeded in that I didn't get it on the table, just all over the baking tray (and my trousers). This is because I was using chopped up plastic bottles as a resin mixing recepticle instead of a pouring... thing...
Resin is tricky stuff. All these badges have SO many tiny bubbles it almost makes it look cloudy sob sob. I heard holding something hot over them makes the bubbles rise and burst but I don't have anything hot other than my hairdryer and that makes the resin go everywhere.
Also this was the last of my resin, the remaining few drops, so about quarter of my carefully peeled, baked, glued and 1st layer of resin-ed badges won't get finished unless I buy ANOTHER 600g tub, and that would last me forever. And I don't have any more teeth, and although they are cheap I'm not sure if I should make a GAZILLION more badges or not...
I don't know if this is enough for the Jamboree or not. There are 27 here and I have a few rubbish ones from the last set, I just ordered a butt-load of mini cards from Moo as display holders...
Nevertheless, whether I do buy more supplies or not, my favourites out of this lot are the two top left, the blue floaral Liberty print. The white fabric went see-through so now it's beautiful swirly blue flowers on a slightly pearlescent shiny background. Awesome.
In other news
OWL HATS! Loads of them! These are for the Jamboree too but they are on my Etsy page until then. And THESE ONES HAVE POMPOMS! Woooo! They took forever to make but the price is still $30/£20. Bargain.
I tried to make one with lining and FAILED miserably. ):
The badges will be for sale in a few days, once the resin has set properly and I've glued the pins on.
Over and out amigos!
~Maddy
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Creatures
I was relisting my etsy items and thought I'd go the whole hog and take some photos of the rest of the "family". So here they are, in chronological order!
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Owl Hat Sale!
For those of you who follow me on etsy, deviantart and facebook, I'm sure you're sick of hearing this but...
OWL HAT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF ETSY FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES! THEN IT GOT BOUGHT!
So I'm a very happy bunny. I drew an owl to celebrate.
Nothing matters anymore! Dissertation? Pah. Assessment? Meh! I sold an owl hat on etsy! Hooray!
Wolfchild
I think he's a bit chunky but getting closer!
Oh and I got a twitter, http://twitter.com/magweno
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Hideous Failure
So I didn't succeed in making a cool thing
But I did learn a lot!
The steel shot I bought to weigh these things down works a TREAT! I think I'll try making some out of felt and fur, the fur will be more forgiving when I glue round the face. (This one with the cotton was such a hideous failure I hastily covered it all up with some ribbon.)
I'm not deterred! These will be great.
Friday, 9 April 2010
DaWanda
So hey I just opened a new DaWanda shop! I've been lurking in the etsy forums and the favourite topic of conversation is generally how everyone's sales and views have tanked since the 7th of March (or near that time). It's kinda funny, that's the day I started up my shop on Etsy! I haven't made a sale either though, and I find my pageviews tend to rely on whether or not I've posted in the 'critique' forum.
Anyway to try and make sales everyone says get a twitter, start a blog, make a facebook group... All well and good but as it is there's only one person following this blog, haha! (Hi!) So made a twitter (Magweno) and picked up this blog again but I'm not going to make a facebook group. I think that's for the pros...
So I'd like to start following some other artisan's and illustrators blogs, I found a couple on LupinHandmade's facebook group but for some reason others seem a bit elusive.
Anyway that's my introduction for anyone coming along.
I'm currently working on making some strange baby-owl face beanbag/plush things. Here's a photo of what they look like so far...
Hehe, a bit weird. But I think they'll make a nice affordable alternative to the full art doll creatures in my etsy shop at the moment.
I went home for easter and we went to Puddleduck Patch, the local quilting and craft shop, for some lunch. They have some new GORGEOUS vintage bundles on sale, and I just couldn't resist despite being incredibly poor at the moment. My lovely mum bought them for me, aren't they sumptuous?
Loooovely!
I'm also working on my children's book for the Macmillan competition. I have four spreads, the title pages and end papers to do, then I have the four colour images. The title pages and end papers won't take too long to do but I am worried I won't get the coloured images done to the standard that I'm happy with. Should probably stop rambling on Blogger and go and do some work, eh?
Here's a sneak preview of spread 4.
Smiling is Dragonfly's favourite expression...
Finally I played a bit with some hand lettering for my new DaWanda banner, I made it my blogger banner too, what do you think? I'm quite pleased with it.
So I'm going to go back to browsing etsy and dawanda now - I may introduce myself. And hey if I pointed you here, leave a comment, say hi!
~Mads
Anyway to try and make sales everyone says get a twitter, start a blog, make a facebook group... All well and good but as it is there's only one person following this blog, haha! (Hi!) So made a twitter (Magweno) and picked up this blog again but I'm not going to make a facebook group. I think that's for the pros...
So I'd like to start following some other artisan's and illustrators blogs, I found a couple on LupinHandmade's facebook group but for some reason others seem a bit elusive.
Anyway that's my introduction for anyone coming along.
I'm currently working on making some strange baby-owl face beanbag/plush things. Here's a photo of what they look like so far...
Hehe, a bit weird. But I think they'll make a nice affordable alternative to the full art doll creatures in my etsy shop at the moment.
I went home for easter and we went to Puddleduck Patch, the local quilting and craft shop, for some lunch. They have some new GORGEOUS vintage bundles on sale, and I just couldn't resist despite being incredibly poor at the moment. My lovely mum bought them for me, aren't they sumptuous?
Loooovely!
I'm also working on my children's book for the Macmillan competition. I have four spreads, the title pages and end papers to do, then I have the four colour images. The title pages and end papers won't take too long to do but I am worried I won't get the coloured images done to the standard that I'm happy with. Should probably stop rambling on Blogger and go and do some work, eh?
Here's a sneak preview of spread 4.
Smiling is Dragonfly's favourite expression...
Finally I played a bit with some hand lettering for my new DaWanda banner, I made it my blogger banner too, what do you think? I'm quite pleased with it.
So I'm going to go back to browsing etsy and dawanda now - I may introduce myself. And hey if I pointed you here, leave a comment, say hi!
~Mads
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