My creative space

My creative space is not for sensitive people this week...
Please skip my blog if you're one of them.
I just want to share my frustration with you and perhaps one of you has a clever solution to my problem. Well, the thing is that my secret collaboration partner had this fun idea to use a Barbie hand for one of the pieces. She asked if I could make it in porcelain clay.
I said: 'jip, no prob' but hey, did I know Barbie is so stubborn?
Here's the gang...First I thought to use a silicone paste 'cause it gives the finest detail on the mould. But it doesn't work as it's a closed mould, it doesn't dry really well.
Then I decided to make a double mould. Look at that grin on her face... yuk!
Mould the other side...
But it does not com out right. See here all my failures...
But I didn't want to give up. I was tired of seeing that grin on her face so I just pulled her head off.
This time I tried to make a partly plaster and partly silicone mould.
It looks good, so today I'll try if I can make a decent porcelain hand from it.
Many thanks to my secret partner for this lovely idea! I'm having heaps of fun as you can see! :)

Oops, two secret project posts in one week? Might skip one next week then as not to overload you... :)

To know the idea behind the secret project, go read the first blogpost here or click on the label 'the secret project' to see all the posts about it.
Can't wait to receive your guesses but think about it carefully 'cause you can only guess once! :)
You can send your guess to mitsy@artmind.eu and can not change your guess so think about it carefully...

Want to show your creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

The secret project... work in progress

Not much to show you this week, only one thing but it's rather large compared to some other things I have been working on for the secret project. I wonder if my secret partner will be able to use this little branch I made. So not sure yet if you'll be able to see it in her shop.
That's the fun part about this collaboration: lots of surprises for everyone!

To know the idea behind the secret project, go read the first blogpost here or click on the label 'the secret project' to see all the posts about it.
Can't wait to receive your guesses but think about it carefully 'cause you can only guess once! :)
You can send your guess to mitsy@artmind.eu and can not change your guess so think about it carefully...

Flickr favorites

1. tiny houses painted, 2. Teeny tiny, 3. isbn4579111192, 4. lace2

I'm still trying to 'dress' the new space in our home so some things have been getting a new spot. I just put all my books back in our living space - we didn't find any cabinets yet but I missed my books around. So I used old fruit crates to put them in and it just looks very homey. I have had the urge to make teeny tiny merengues for some reason - haven't done it yet but don't they look like you want to eat 'em right away? :)
And I'm longing to just sit and crochet away & look through beautiful books...

Please take a peek at my favorite mosaic from last week. So pretty...

If you like to play this week, make your mosaic and add a link to your blogpost (NOT your blog please) or Flickr in Mister Linky (click on the button below and fill in your name with the link to your blogpost or Flickr picture).
I'll pop over to have a look at yours. Can't wait to see your creations and find new favorites! :)

How to from Heli...

Instead of making a tutorial this week, I wanted to show off a tutorial from HeliS on Etsy. She made this really cool tutorial on how to fold your own giftboxes.
I needed some the other day and decided to make 'em myself and with Heli's tutorial, it was just a piece of cake! I used old wallpaper books 'cause it has nice patterns on it. I think they came out mighty cute!
Thanks Heli, for this fabulous tutorial! :)

Dream in progress... fail

I know I promised to show you a finished Babette blanket this week but alas I have to dissapoint you. I really appreciate all the help I got with choosing a border color.
I did not expect such a big response so thank you for that! :)
Of course it did not make the choice any easier but soon I learned that most people leaned towards the mossy green or red border.
My whole being screamed red so when I went to the yarnshop to get my yarn, they did not have red in stock. Aarrgghh! So I bought mossy green but when I got home I still was not convinced so I decided to just leave it until I have red yarn.
*sigh* so as soon as I have my yarn, I'll finish off my Babette and will show you the result. This still gives me the time to change my mind too! LOL
Anyway, I have not sat still and finished a project that I have been wanting to make since I got inspired by this lovely artist I found via Flickr.
Do you know the feeling of amazement when you find inspiration?
The feeling of wanting to create immediately after you've seen a picture or a project?
Well, this is what this artist did to me. It has been on my mind forever and since my Babette was nearly finished I decided to start it.
This person is called Ingrid from Wood & wood stool. She is a Dutch designer and has an Etsy shop and recently started a blog too so check it out.

Besides, my new studio needs to be 'dressed' a bit more so I thought this would be a good idea to make it even a more happy place. I love the old stools she makes herself but I just took it easy, went to IKEA and bought this Oddvar stool and decided to make a cover for it.
I have to be honest: the corners are not really perfect since I still have to figure out a way how to do it best but I don't mind that they are not perfect. It's such a happy stool that it doesn't really matter.
Since a few friends told me they want to come and play with clay some time, I'll have to make some more. At least I have one ready for Kim from ViltalaKim who will come and play next wednesday! :)

Secret Santa wants to know...

... what do you NOT want him to bring you ...

nothing crocheted ,nothing handknit
(via whatnottocrochet - check this out for laughs)

Pink girlie stuff...

Plastic stuff (via DesignforMankind)Bling-Bling

A cordless headset as my hubby bought me a few years ago.
It went back to the store.

A rubber duck perhaps...

A pack of handkerchiefs
(not even if they are cute as these?)
(via Oh-deeh-oh)

Dishcloths (via peanuttree on Etsy)

A baby/child
(not even if they are cute as this one?)

Life animals
(not even if they are as cute as this one?)

a lump of coal

Knitted socks

Go to NetGranny for all your custom knitted sock needs.
The site hires 20-or-so surrogate Swiss grandmothers to do your knitting.
Simply go to the site, pick “the granny of your desire”,
pay with your “kredit” card and your custom socks will be on your paws in about two weeks.

A voucher for the gym.A weighing scale...

New underwear

Secret Santa is a game played by the European Streetteam on Etsy. The idea behind the Secret Santa is that you make something for a teammember and also receive a gift yourself.
Since I try to organise the game for our team, I get a lovely reward: reading all the questionnaires and knowing all the teammember's secrets! :)
What I also know is that lots of people of the team would like to read them all too... That's why I share part of the answers on the questions in my blog. And even though it's anonymous, it's still fun to read what other people wrote... Hope you enjoyed to have a peek in our team.

My creative space

Remember I made sample tiles a few weeks ago? They came out of the kiln nicely and I'm going to hang them on the wall today. I think this rainbow of colors will look cool on the wall. Will post a picture when I'm done! :)
Want to show your creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

The other day, I received a sweet e-mail from Kylie with an invitation for an artist's exchange.
I usually don't like chain mail kind of things but I just could not refuse this.
Even though I have enough on my plate at the moment, I chucked it all in.
I'll be blogging about the things I will receive...