[The_little_didgee]

Willow, I really like those leaves. They would make nice candy bowels or decorations for a table. I cannot think of the proper term for that right now.

I can see the bottom leaf (the one resembles a maple leaf) in a greenish color with red, orange and yellow highlights.

Originally Posted by The_little_didgee

Willow, I really like those leaves. They would make nice candy bowels or decorations for a table. I cannot think of the proper term for that right now.

I can see the bottom leaf (the one resembles a maple leaf) in a greenish color with red, orange and yellow highlights.

Thank you! I'm torn between white & delicate and autumnal colours, but I don't know how to paint them properly so it doesn't look garish. :/ maybe I could practise painting on paper until I get the technique right...I just don't want to ruin one...

*Willow*

Originally Posted by Erti

Christmas gift is a good idea. For your parents?

Depends on how many I make, but yeah family & friends. One of my friends said how much he liked them so I was going to give him one left white (that's what he preferred) for his birthday in November. I was thinking as table decorations for little nick nacks or sweets or jewellery etc.

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

Willow are you firing these or just using craft paint? If craft paint thin it out a lot and it will look really delicate like watercolor and you can do something called dry brushing to pick up the highlights....for dry brushing pick an accent color either white or brown or black and you wipe you brush until it's dry and no paint is coming off easily then you run it over the surface.....a small amount of paint will come off at the highlights but use an old brush for this part as it can ruin the brush....I used to paint crafts like houses and ornaments for Xmas that way.....they came out really sharp. You an experiment with just a leaf print without the extra bowl work for practice....but you really highlight the contours and lines that way....

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

Willow are you firing these or just using craft paint? If craft paint thin it out a lot and it will look really delicate like watercolor and you can do something called dry brushing to pick up the highlights....for dry brushing pick an accent color either white or brown or black and you wipe you brush until it's dry and no paint is coming off easily then you run it over the surface.....a small amount of paint will come off at the highlights but use an old brush for this part as it can ruin the brush....I used to paint crafts like houses and ornaments for Xmas that way.....they came out really sharp. You an experiment with just a leaf print without the extra bowl work for practice....but you really highlight the contours and lines that way....

Thanks for this! I've got craft group tomorrow though (well technically in about 12 hours) so no time to practise. I've never really painted much. I always hated getting dirty (didn't particularly enjoy working with the clay as it was initially very sticky, and I hate gunk on my hands!). It's air-dry clay so no firing needed, and I bought some poster paint (just standard kids craft paint). Idk if clay needs special paint...I don't think so cos I'm sure we just used the normal stuff in art class in school... Idk. I'm finding it hard to care tbh. This craft group is such a pain...I really cba. Though I'm sure I'll feel embarrassed tomorrow for being out of my depth :/

I made some more bowls yesterday as a form of distraction and I was thinking maybe metallic silver paint...idk. I'm doing craft stuff but I don't really feel enjoyment. Today I was putting together decoupage toppers for Xmas cards, but it just felt like I was ticking another item off my to do list, rather than enjoying myself. Oh well!

Hopefully tomorrow isn't a complete disaster :/

*Willow*

I still haven't gotten around to painting my leaf bowls, but my brother broke a big one I made (grrrr he's not even supposed to go in the craft room) so I have one I can practice painting now.

But I made this on Sunday as an example for my craft group Monday:



It's supposed to be an owl, though it looks more generic bird than owl, and I stuffed it with dried lavender that I picked from my Grandfather's garden. I made a set of 3 templates for my class and I'm going to make the other 2 as lavender ones for my friend for her birthday.

I'm actually quite pleased with it because I'm not very good at sewing. It did take hours to make though with my tremor and blurred vision, and I had a headache from concentrating, but I'm pleased with myself for powering through until the finished product.

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

I still haven't gotten around to painting my leaf bowls, but my brother broke a big one I made (grrrr he's not even supposed to go in the craft room) so I have one I can practice painting now.

But I made this on Sunday as an example for my craft group Monday:



It's supposed to be an owl, though it looks more generic bird than owl, and I stuffed it with dried lavender that I picked from my Grandfather's garden. I made a set of 3 templates for my class and I'm going to make the other 2 as lavender ones for my friend for her birthday.

I'm actually quite pleased with it because I'm not very good at sewing. It did take hours to make though with my tremor and blurred vision, and I had a headache from concentrating, but I'm pleased with myself for powering through until the finished product.

*Willow*

That is beautiful willow-----I really love it and the fabulous colors....

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

I still haven't gotten around to painting my leaf bowls, but my brother broke a big one I made (grrrr he's not even supposed to go in the craft room) so I have one I can practice painting now.

But I made this on Sunday as an example for my craft group Monday:



It's supposed to be an owl, though it looks more generic bird than owl, and I stuffed it with dried lavender that I picked from my Grandfather's garden. I made a set of 3 templates for my class and I'm going to make the other 2 as lavender ones for my friend for her birthday.

I'm actually quite pleased with it because I'm not very good at sewing. It did take hours to make though with my tremor and blurred vision, and I had a headache from concentrating, but I'm pleased with myself for powering through until the finished product.

*Willow*

i think its really cool that u do this craft group.

[Loial]

Cooked myself a meal tonight, first in a while. Lemon sole with some tatties from the garden:

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

I'm actually quite pleased with it because I'm not very good at sewing. It did take hours to make though with my tremor and blurred vision, and I had a headache from concentrating, but I'm pleased with myself for powering through until the finished product.

*Willow*

Wouldn't know you aren't very good at sewing looking at that, it's really nice.

[junkDNA]

Originally Posted by Lawscot

Cooked myself a meal tonight, first in a while. Lemon sole with some tatties from the garden:




Wouldn't know you aren't very good at sewing looking at that, it's really nice.

looks good.better than what i had. (microwave mac n cheese lol)

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

That is beautiful willow-----I really love it and the fabulous colors....

Thank you! I really love red, orange & yellow together. My bedroom as a teenager was those colours. I find them very cheerful.

Originally Posted by junkDNA

i think its really cool that u do this craft group.

Thanks Junk. They seemed to enjoy it. And I took fabric glue so they could be glued if people didn't fancy sewing. I know a couple of people can sew, but I'm mindful that people have tremors and difficulty concentrating etc. I know that I find sewing difficult.

Originally Posted by Lawscot

Cooked myself a meal tonight, first in a while. Lemon sole with some tatties from the garden:

Looks yummy! Well done for cooking! I don't really like cooking because I find it very stressful.

Originally Posted by Lawscot

Wouldn't know you aren't very good at sewing looking at that, it's really nice.

Thank you! It took a very long time, but I'm pleased with it. Hope the other 2 turn out so well.

In other good news, my best friend has finally set a date to come and visit me right before Christmas. I haven't seen her for 3 ½ years so YEY!

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

Basking in the sun among my plants

[Sometimes psychotic]

Just picking up a brush and painting without a drawing is the best

[radioactive1]

Originally Posted by blackwhitered

I got kissed by a koi at the koi pond!


Here's a pic of my dog (who still lives with my dad... I miss them.):

I used to love seeing the Koi when I lived in Hawaii. I have a Beagle that looks just like yours. .

[radioactive1]

I'm thankful I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I have to remember that when I am confronted with all the ugliness in the world today. I grew up near Ferguson, Missouri so all the violence happening there is really affecting me emotionally. I just have to thank God for what I have, like my human and animal children.

[worthit]

I woke up with all 4 cats on the bed. That's a comfy cozy time. They don't get along during the day and 2 are bullies.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Got a new reversed orchid from the grocery and a hyacinth is blooming in my bulb basket...

[worthit]

Must smell nice!

[StarStrike]

I've got something to be happy about this Christmas. This Christmas I will spend it with my mum on boxing day. So it'll be my first Christmas with her in ten years.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by worthit

Must smell nice!

It does...luckily there is only one though they are pretty strong...

[newtus]

whats boxing day?

[neil w]

the day after xmas though no one can tell me why its called that for sure

[newtus]

heres the drink i made for my dad.
its hot cocoa with whip cream on top
and then candy cane bits on top.
and then the pic below is the candy cane bits i bought.

Originally Posted by newtus

whats boxing day?

It's 26th December. Not entirely sure because there are a few stories about where the term came from, but I think the most common story is about a collection box that used to be put in churches over Xmas in the Middle Ages that was then opened/distributed to the poor the day after Xmas. Nowadays in the UK, Boxing Day is just a bank holiday (as well as Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

From the plant store.....very cheerful