Monthly Challenge Theme: Signs of Spring

Theme: Signs of Spring 

Hopefully winter is starting to pack it's bags in your corner of the woods (unless you want it to stay of course - I personally can't stand that cold)! In honor of visions of warmer weather, this month's challenge is to search for signs of spring from nature. Search for fresh sprouts, flower buds and seedlings and do something creative! If spring is no where to be found where you live, why not hurry it along? Start your own flower or small plant seedling indoor and nurture them until it gets warmer. Or perhaps plan a spring garden or sketch a vision of what you hope this coming spring will look like. It's up to you!

January Lifestyle Ideas

Here is your monthly dose of lifestyle ideas!

• Buy a new pair of pattern otk (over the knee) socks while it's still chilly
• Stock up on left-over candy canes to snack on or make peppermint bark (bonus: try making realistic tree patterns in the chocolate)
• Make this year's calender by collaging scraps of lace, inspirational photos and delicate fabrics
• If you're crafty, knit or sew a pair of anklets or boot toppers
• Search for antique keys at antique stores, make jewelry or decorate your space 
• Buy a new watch, add charms and accessories to mori-ize it
• Experiment with new types of hats; bonnets, night caps and scarves 
• Try different techniques of braiding to style your hair
• Get a hold of a felt stuffed animal pattern book and sew up a few new friends, have a photo shoot too!
• Start small seedlings indoors to prepare for spring

Ikkicon + Outfit Post

Happy new years everyone! I hope everyone had a safe holiday. This weekend I attended and volunteered doing registration at a local anime convention. Saturday was my mori-day :) I got many nice complements about about my outfit! So here was my outfit and the goodies I got. I don't understand how it all ended up being so much money, but that's anime conventions for you I guess (T_T)

Outfit Rundown:
Hat: Japanese Claire's
Denim Shirt: Mom's
Lace Shirt: Good Will
Belt: Good Will
Skirt: Lowry's farm (Japan) 
Lace Collar: bought on EGL comm
Fawn Collar: Hand-made
Backpack: Japanese second-hand shop
Other Accessories: Hand-made and second-hand

Side view

Close-up/make-up shot

My adorable backpack!

Now onto the spoils~

Shaymin and axolotl plushies

Memo pads, a bookmark and stickers (Siamese cats - get it?)

Keychains

File folders part one - new characters!

File folders part two

Christmas Goodies

Hello everyone! I wanted to share some of the goodies I received for Christmas!

A ouija board, floral bag and a book about Frida Kahlo's wardrobe

Some yummy smelling soaps

A ceramic bunny, cameo, box and James Avery heart knot ring

Close up

A carved wooden box and black Moleskine journal

More jewelry and crane embroidery scissors

A tea cup piggy toy! So cute <3

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Merry Chirstmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my readers! Thank you so much for your support!

Nature Journal

In an earlier post, I suggested making a nature journal. I try be best to practice what I preach, so I've make my own sketch journal. I'm interested in biomedical illustration as a career, so this is good practice for me :) So far, I'm trying to draw all of the organic objects in my room and them move on outside. All of the sketches are in normal graphite.

My journal is a thin kraft paper Moleskine

I found the logo in a LIFE magazine from the 1970's

First page; acorns

Teeth and jaws

Vertebrae

Fish and ocean items

Acorn close up

Jaw close up

Small vertebrae

Fish spines

Earmuffs Tutorial

I realized I never posted any shots of me wearing my earmuffs, so here they are! And while I'm at it, I had requests to make a tutorial. Unfortunately, I have no photos, but I can give a step by step process. I apologize for the complicated-ness of it (>.<) I hope this helps!

Materials:

• Headband or recycled earmuff band
• Fluff or recycled earmuff stuffing + smooth fabric (that touches your ears)
• Faux fur (deer in this case)
• Needle & thread
• Hot Glue 
• Optional: ribbon or other accessories 

 Process:

1. Remove component parts if your are recycling old ear muffs
2. Sew your fur into a "pocket", to where it can be stuffed (but don't close it up)
3. Stuff your fur pocket with filling and add the fabric you want touching your ear, pin everything together!
4. Sew everything together, leaving an opening to insert your head band
5. Once your reach the headband opening, insert the headband
6. If your headband is plastic, glue it to the furry part
7. If it is covered with fabric and can be sewn, carefully sew the two pieces together
8. Make sure all pieces are secure and the fur is securely sewn to avoid loose fluff coming off
9. If your headband is plastic, try wrapping it with velvet or satin ribbon, sewing or gluing it every few inches/cm
10. Sew or glue on little satin bows or flowers etc to the sides

My earmuffs were completely sewn, since I was able yo sew the fur to the fabric of the headband. The bow is also sewn (there is just one).