Warm Woolies

I am taking a little break from painting and am working on some Christmas gifts.  I purchased a number of used wool sweaters from Value Village and have 'up cycled' them into wool felted mittens.  You can check out my Instagram page for a brief clip showing the needle felting design on one of the mitts.  You can find TONS of videos on Youtube, on how to alter an old sweater into new mittens too.

The pattern and the back of one wool mitten with the needle felted design.

An innocent bystander

The completed mittens, wool felt with a cozy fleece lining.  WARM!!

Cleaning Up

Following a great webinar I took part in last week, by Brenda Malkinson entitled How to Choose what to Lose - Editing your Artwork, I got to work editing all of my materials and supplies that I do not use any longer. This may help me to stay focused on a couple of mediums and methods, rather than being pulled off in different directions.  She recommended iHuman Youth Society in Edmonton to donate, good art materials that are cluttering up your studio.  I spent a couple of days packing up my still useful supplies I don't use and brought them downtown.  I had a great tour of iHuman from Steve, the Artistic Director - thank you!  Check it out and then donate supplies or money!

On the topic of cleaning up, I also found this awesome brush cleaner in the makeup aisle of London Drugs recently. Works like a charm on my paintbrushes!  I don't have any makeup brushes (maybe I should) but I am sure it works well on those too!

Scrubba-dub-dub

Hangin' Around the Rosies

I really ended up liking this painting when all was said and done.  Initially I had painted in the purplish, dark bushes behind the roses but took them out and liked that better.  I am now questioning the purple hill in the background, but will let it sit for a week or so before I make any drastic changes.  Nothing I like better than fresh laundry off the line.  This particular clothes line was in White Rock BC, taken when out for a stroll.

11x14 oil on canvas