Still alive!

Although I’m still going through a lot of internal changes, I don’t stop creating. I have to create just as I have to breathe. I just forget to share the results.

First of all, I discovered a new brand of sock yarn, which fascinated me with quality and beautiful patterns. In combination with a single color yarn I improve the original patterns even more (hopefully). I have no evidence, as I hurried to give the finished socks to the right friends.

However, I keep knitting. Currently, I have a brutal color combination on the needles, but it will fit to my new shoes perfectly.

At the same time, I went through another wave of soap mania. Since September, I have been creating one soap after another. Tiny batches, different recipes. I discovered a passion for soaps with deep earthy energy. My top three include walnut soap, rosehip with cloves and cinnamon, and rosemary with cocoa. No essential oils, just careful work with basic herbs and plants.

For the first time, I also experimented with adding dairy products into soap. I was excited by the silky consistency when I used whey. Goat or cow, both are fine, but I prefer liquid not dried whey.

In my last recipe I used goat kefir, which fit perfectly with the chamomile inside. I can’t wait for the soap to ripen and I’ll wrap myself in the soft foam of it.

Last, but not least obsession is painting on t-shirts. I caught the second breath. Perhaps I will please some good souls with a nice gift.

By the way, taking picture of a white t-shirt is a worse nightmare than the whole painting!

Hoping you have beautiful autumn. Stay strong, creative and healthy!

With love, Ivana

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A bit of flowers

I finished the floral skirt and T-shirt finally! And it seems that the young fairy is satisfied with the result, hooray! I was quite nervous before the package was delivered to her and before I received the feedback. So, here is the result!

 

Unfortunately, combination of a bad light, old camera and shaking hands doesn’t give a very sharp picture. That’s why I put the T-shirt painting under scanner to get more details. Painting effort is visible, hopefully the improvement comes with practice 🙂

Actually I have a dilemma. My first two floral attempts on fabric were more realistic, then I gave my painting more freedom. So far, I can’t decide which way is more mine. I don’t have enough distance for such a decision yet.  Of course, I need more practice, but your opinion from outside could help.

My very first attempt was a birthday gift for my long-term friend. Tulips were a clear choice from the beginning. I made a ton of sketches in watercolor, but when I actually painted the T-shirt, I was so nervous, that the result is a bit cramped. Plus it was the first experience with the special fabric paints, which behaved absolutely differently from watercolor. Knowing all the obstacles, I wouldn’t call it bad, but what you say? My friend is not the type openly excited, her feedback didn’t say much.

The second attempt brought me more joy – when painting and reading feedback from the recipient. I had a happy accident when the brush full of red paint fell on the white surface of the T-shirt on a completely inappropriate place. And that’s why I decided to paint the grass below poppies. Lucky decision, isn’t it? 🙂

The third floral attempt needed to be more abstract, perhaps because of the cold spectrum called for use. I had a little doubt, but the young lady was satisfied. It fits to her, doesn’t it?

Last, but not least was the daisy set of skirt and T-shirt as above. After that, I got into lack of white paint, the canvas of the skirt was extremely thirsty. And before the new paint arrives, I could think of a new floral project. To be honest, I already have the background. I sewed two black T-shirts on top of each other and got a long summer dress, perfect for painting. I started thinking about tropical flowers, but I’m not sure yet. What do you think?

Beginner’s uncertainty can be annoying, I know and I’m sorry.  But I quickly jumped into unknown waters, so I appreciate navigation of experienced lifeguards. Thanks!

Love, Ivana

Leaves mania

Recently, I’ve been practicing how to paint leaves, spending many hours and several nights doing so. To catch the routine, I endlessly shifted from the light touch of the tip of brush to a wide stroke and smoothly back.

It took me a while to get beautiful delicate leaves of natural shapes and colors in transparent layers. Then I was so excited, that I would like to show the result on the street 🙂

A mixture of joy and pride make me think if it could be arranged somehow. YES! I could paint leaves on a T-shirt! Who cares that working with watercolor is not the same as working with paints for fabric! The idea was there and I wanted to make it happen immediately.

The colors arrived before T-shirts, so my impatience made me paint some panties first. Good practice that stimulated my eagerness 🙂

Finally I painted a few T-shirts with the same motif in different variations of colors. Fortunately I have friends to help me wearing them 🙂

Next time I will be challenged by flowers, because a young lady surprisingly asked me to paint a T-shirt plus a summer skirt for her as a set. She looks like a dancing fairy, so flowers are a must. Hopefully I won’t disappoint her confidence in my beginner skills, but I’m already looking forward to the painting that will be seen in the gallery of life.

So far, here is a picture of some T-shirts and panties with painted leaves, taken by my shaking hands.

Love, Ivana

Painted by Pebeo Setacolor that are more challenging to mix than watercolor 🙂