Into The Woods Character Sketches

Here are some sketches I did for an upcoming musical theatre project. More info to come!

New project

Here's a sneak peek of my next project. Definitely a work on progress (or more accurately, work in not-started-yet), but exciting all the same!

Home Improvement: Chevron Lamp Shade

Okay first things first who remembers the show Home Improvement?! I used to watch it ALL THE TIME when I was a kid and I thought it was the funniest thing in the world. I hope I'm not as derpy as Tim Allen in my own DIY endevours, but either way I think all my "home" posts will start with that title.

SO ANYWAYS

I just moved and I'm still missing a bunch of furniture. I mean it. I literally only own one chair right now. While I'm waiting on all this furniture, I've been making small changes to things I already own. Basically I've been giving myself busy work because I'm so impatient about everything else. But I digress. Today I re-decorated an old, boring, plain lampshade and I thought I would share the results!

If you want to know how I did it, it's actually pretty easy, if a little time-consuming.

Start by measuring out the top and bottom diameter of your lampshade, and dividing that measurement into 4 and marking those quarters.

Once your quarters are marked, join the top marks with the bottom marks with a ruler and pencil. Then divide those quarter marks into two and then those sections into two again. Now you have a bunch of equal sections that are evenly spaced around your lampshade.

Next, use a clear craft/sewing ruler (I know it sounds dumb to specify the type of ruler you should own, but I promise you will not regret purchasing one of these babies. I have 4 different ones and I manage to use them all. They are the best, and the longer you use them the more tricks you'll find they have) to mark out a line that is angled 45 degrees to one of your section lines.

Again use your ruler to replicate that line 1/2" above and below your original line, then again and again until you reach the top and bottom of your lampshade. Then move on to the next section, where you will be repeating these steps but making sure that your lines are going in the perpendicular to your first section. Then do it all the way around until your lampshade is covered.

Although you want all your lines to stay pretty uniform (I kept mine 1/2" apart but that's up to you), it's more important that your chevrons line up together. So it's okay to cheat a little bit, like so:

As you can see, the line I'm about to create doesn't line up 100% with the line below it, but it does line up perfectly with the other section's line it will be creating a point with.

Once your lines are all drawn, colour them in! I used a light blueish grey sharpie for it, but you can use whatever you want. I like markers for this because they won't block out the light like a thicker paint would. However, that could be a cool look too, so again, it's totally up to you.

And now you are done! I also coloured the top and bottom border of the lampshade with a darker purply-blue colour. I know that you can see some of the marker streaks, but I actually kind of like that look, so I'm fine with it.

Here's the finished product:

Have a super day!

marianne.

Top Ten: Summertime

Top thing I'm excited for this summer:

1. Moving out of my apartment! No more roommates, just me and my man.

2. Graduating school! Officially! Forever!

3. New job as a summer camp supervisor. Which means I get to work with awesome people doing awesome things right by a lake all summer.

4. Not having to save up money to go to school! I will still be saving money, obviously, but it will be great to not have to save up for a 8 month dry spell.

5. Reconnecting with old hobbies. Like playing guitar! And making art for myself!

6. Making new hobbies. Like running? I've been considering it lately and I think I may give it a shot.

7. Discovering a new part of the city. Moving means changing neighbourhoods, and I can't wait to see what this new place has to offer.

8. Seeing old friends! One of my greatest friends is moving to Toronto at the end of the summer and I CANNOT WAIT.

9. Starting my Etsy store. I'm so excited to get SoManyJets started in earnest.

10. The weather. Obviously. Because I'm sick of wearing tights all the time. Although talk to me again when it's 30+ degrees out and plenty humid.

Joan: at the gallery

here's a sneak peek of Joan all set up. More to come!

Joan: on my way to the gallery

some assembly required.

Joan: pinned together

now I just have to clean her up and make sure all this stays up on its own.

Joan: paint day

I've been doing nothing but painting for the last two days. here we are with the two base coats done, ready for some distressing.

Joan: bodice beginning

The shape of the bodice is starting to come together! Can't wait to get it painted and ready.

Joan: waiting for glue to dry

I swear it doesn't look like much now, but all this will amount to something. Hopefully something awesome. stay tuned for more!

Joan: On the dressform

looks like the base layer of Joan is pretty much finished. Still lots to do, but hey, progress is progress!

Joan: progress

Here's what I'm working on today: pop tab chain mail!

Joan: Sketches!

Here are the sketches for Joan! I can already tell a couple things might have to change, but I do like these so I thought I would share.

Future posts will cover materials and methods, but first up: pattern drafting.

Joan: Research Part 3

Now that I've spent days looking at suits of armour, I thought it would be an important next step to look at gowns. I am building a dress after all. Here are some wonderful pieces of Haute Couture inspiration from Dior, McQueen and Gaultier.

Some of these I like for the silhouette, some for the lines, the styles or even small details. But all of them are absolutely beautiful. Stay tuned for sketches, coming soon.

Joan: Research Part 2

Here are more fabulous photos of armour that I found from three separate books: A Short History of Costume and Armour: Vol. 1, Knights in Shining Armour and Arms and Armour. The books are wonderful and the photographs are stunning. Some of the detail shots will be so helpful in creating Joan and figuring out how she fits together.

I think the last scan is my favorite. After all, I guess it's fair that knights in shining armour get bored too, sometimes.

The post covering part 1 of research is here.