Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Art Works (via Mowser)

You can read my experiences trying to learn to fly here.

The dress dyed.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

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I can't stand using patterns because I don't like people telling me what to do.

So, that's how I found myself with a page torn out of a catalog that showed a dress I thought was beautiful that I decided to attempt to mimic using cheap men's white cotton T-shirts and a wing and a prayer.

First, I bought some three packages of T-shirts: 2x, XL, and L. I cut them into thick rings; the shirts don't have seams and that's one reason I used them. Also, because they are 100% cotton, the really sop of the dye and take the color very well.

Then I had to figure out the dye baths. To make the colors gradually shift from a rich scarlet color up to an almost skin tone was tricky. Using rit dyes in scarlet, purple, blue, orange, brown, and wine, and also a little tweaking with watering colors down, I managed to somewhat capture the gradual effect (though not flawlessly). Let me tell you, that was an entire afternoon's worth of work, and was exhausting. Dyeing material requires a lot of hot water and back strain. I washed the dyed strips of cloth and then dried them.

Next, I sewed the rings together, in the order that I dyed them. I wanted the rough edge to overlap on the top of the strip. I also double sewed the seams just in case a seam popped during wear; that would be a little catastrophic, if a part of the dress started to come apart and fall off. I used a kind of zig-zag stitch that is meant for knit; it provides a little give and doesn't break with stretching (as often happens with T-shirts that are hemmed with a regular straight stitch). It took a little longer to sew using the stitch, but the final result was a lot of stretchiness, which was good.

At this point, I had a variegated tube of material. Here's where I wish I had a dress form... I put the tube on over my head, used a wash-away sewing pen, and began making marks to where things like arm holes, neck holes, etc should be.

The tube was huge, by the way. I'd seriously over-estimated how big I was. This meant I ended up doing a lot of wrapping and top-stitching and using darts and such to get it to fit my form. It was really tricky and I have no directions for you other than stand in front of the mirror, wrap and pin, and then carefully take off and sew. It took quite a few try-ons, pinnings, and a few sections that had to be taken in...but finally I had a less tubular shape and a more fitted garment. I also sewed two strips of medium-width elastic into the underside of two of the stripe seams in the back. This helped with fitting it, as well as provide a gathered effect on the back which helps to hide my huge rear-end.

Yeah.

The dress on the model from the magazine is much more attractive, and made from a lot nicer material. But, for a non-sewer and a person who refuses to start with a patter...I think it ended up OK. It'll make a nice summer dress.

Anyway, here is the final product: Front of Dress | Back of dress

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Note: This post was pre-written and published as scheduled. Read more about this here.

Labels: sewing

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Video: Drawing a cartoon.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

This is a video of me drawing the cartoon you can see and read about in this post. I use a variety of pens and nothing close to archival supplies in any sense. My goal in this cartoon is not art that will be framed and preserved, but as an online image. So, I mix and match permanent, gel-based, and pigment pens. I'm drawing on cheap sketchbook paper.

This page contained an embedded video. Click here to view it.

Labels: drawing, video

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Sketch 2: Berlin horse statue.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

Here's another grainy and low-quality video -- my specialty! -- for you to watch if you're interested in drawing. It's similar to the previous video in materials used, etc.

[image]

Labels: drawing, video

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Sketch 1: Prague street scene

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 3 comments link this post

There's no shortage of videos on YouTube that show people sketching. The one I made (rather quickly and crudely) yesterday certainly isn't among the best. However, I always found it fascinating to watch artists draw; I learned a lot about technique and got new ideas just watching them set up a sketch and how they handled the materials.

In the video below (which has no sound), I'm sitting on my bed drawing from a photograph I took when I was in Prague about 15 years ago. You can see it's a new sketchbook, one I purchased recently when I realized my "sketching for fun and learning" had dwindled to nothing and was replaced by "sketching for projects only." I'm using a black "pencil" by Lyra, called a Ferby, which is similar to sketching with a grease crayon or litho pencil. Drawing with a litho pencil is an ideal experience, I've always thought, but the Ferby is the next best thing, much softer than a regular colored pencil but without the excessive greasiness of a litho pencil.

Anyway, here you go.

This page contained an embedded video. Click here to view it.

Labels: drawing, video

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Oriental Trading Company offers art ideas.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Oriental Trading Company, along with offering art supplies, has a blog which contains ideas, projects, and lessons on all things art. Check it out here.

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Labels: art lesson, for teachers, links, misc projects

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Tempera painting.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Many people shudder at the thought of painting with tempera, but trust me, this medium has its own perks. This project sheet will help you fall in love with tempera painting.

Tempera painting project sheet (PDF)

Labels: painting, project sheet

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Make an expandable book.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Get the instructions and project sheet for making a mini-expandable scrapbook over on the Lone Prairie Stuff blog. This is an easy project perfect for gifts or beginning bookmakers. It's also a great way for writers and artists to think of their writing or book art in a non-linear fashion, since this book allows you to rearrange pages.

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Labels: bookmaking, project sheet

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Make something for Christmas.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Looking for gift ideas to make for your Christmas gifts this year? Want to do something different than spend mindlessly, or want to give a gift that has a little more meaning behind it than a "made in China" sticker?

Read more here. Get ideas of things to make here, with an ever-growing collection of links to helpful web sites full of ideas.

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Labels: misc projects, project sheet

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Project ideas to keep you busy up to Christmas.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

'Tis the season to make your own gifts and, with all that's available online, you shouldn't have to spend any money to get those ideas. Here are some great places to find ideas and instructions for things to make for your Christmas gifts this year.

Links:

Fire and Flowers
Lone Prairie Make Something ideas Martha Stewart craft ideas

Labels: links, misc projects

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CD case art project.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Make creative frames and message containers for you and friends out of empty CD cases.

CD case art project sheet (PDF)

Labels: misc projects, project sheet

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The dress dyed.

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Video: Drawing a cartoon.

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Sketch 2: Berlin horse statue.

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Sketch 1: Prague street scene

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Oriental Trading Company offers art ideas.

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Tempera painting.

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Make an expandable book.

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Make something for Christmas.

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Project ideas to keep you busy up to Christmas.

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CD case art project.

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