Like a lot of people probably do, I've been finding out this week about how working at home isn't as easy as it looks! Luckily, the kids will go back to school soon, so I'll have a few distraction-free hours once that happens ;). Hopefully, the house will start cooperating as well - I now know how to fix a garbage disposal, but frankly, I'd rather not have had to learn..
The good news is that we've been making great progress with designs, and we have a bunch of new handpainted images that are almost ready, and are going to be going up either this weekend or early next week. I can't wait to see how everything comes out! Especially the baby stuff, it's sooo cute! It turns out that Mom and I make a better team than even we thought :) Funny how that happens...
We made some investments in new brushes and paints, so Mom's been having a ball trying them out. It's Christmas in July! Now I need to get busy with the digital end of things. :) Better get back to work!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
New Designs at our Cafepress shop!
Hey all, check this out!! We got some new designs posted at our Cafepress shop! Mom and I collaborated on these; she did the hand painting, and I did the digital work. We're really excited how they came out, and will be adding more every day this week.
By the way, we appreciate comments! Drop a line and just tell us you liked the design, or that you'd like it better if (insert change here). We do custom orders and personalization too. Many thanks in advance!
Jessica
By the way, we appreciate comments! Drop a line and just tell us you liked the design, or that you'd like it better if (insert change here)
Jessica
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Crafter's Game
Just had to drop a line about my new favorite game ;), which I have to admit is putting a bit of a crimp in my design time! A Tale in The Desert 3 is the ultimate crafter's game. It's an MMO (massively multiplayer online) game, which means that there are other real people playing online at the same time you are. The central idea of the game is to advance as a citizen of Egypt and as a culture, but the side activities are more fun for me - lots and lots of growing, building, crafting, gathering resources and more crafting. Another bonus: it's also nonviolent - no guns, swords, hacking, slashing etc. here, although you'll occasionally need to slaughter a sheep or camel for byproducts (meat, leather). Even that isn't so bad - no animals are killed onscreen :).
While ATiTD is tame enough for even little kids (my kids love it), most of the players tend to be grownups - while some teenagers play, it's really pretty complicated for kids to manage by themselves.
So no, I'm not getting any kickbacks from this!!, just love the game. Give it a try - as of right now, there's a free download and trial period. Chat with me ingame - I'm Syrianna!
While ATiTD is tame enough for even little kids (my kids love it), most of the players tend to be grownups - while some teenagers play, it's really pretty complicated for kids to manage by themselves.
So no, I'm not getting any kickbacks from this!!, just love the game. Give it a try - as of right now, there's a free download and trial period. Chat with me ingame - I'm Syrianna!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Cleaning your brushes
(posted for Pat)
It is very important to your work to keep your brushes in good condition. Cleaning brushes after each painting session will extend their useful lives. I use Grumbacher brush cleaner, Pink Soap by Mona Lisa Products and Brush Plus by Plaid. In a pinch, I have even used dish soap, but I don’t recommend using it all the time. Brush cleaners have built-in conditioners that keep your brush’s bristles soft and pliable and help them to hold up longer. Ivory bar soap was recommended to me over 45 years ago and I still use it periodically. Ivory is very soft and does a better job than dish soap, but I recommend springing for the specialized cleaner if you can, it makes a difference.
When you clean your brushes, the technique I use is to take the brush and run it under cool (not cold) water, squeezing the bristles with your fingers to loosen the paint. When the water seems to run clear, put a bit of brush cleaner in the palm of your hand and gently scrub the bristles into it, massaging the lotion into the bristles. Rinse well until the water again runs clear. Depending on the condition of the brush, you may need to repeat this process several times to get it fully clean. Strong reds and blues tend to take repeated cleanings to get the dye out completely.
One surprising thing to use when cleaning brushes I found quite by accident. I was trying to clean a brush that had been overlooked and the paint had dried in it, and using the palm of my hand to scrub the brush wasn’t cutting it. A flat seashell from the decorative basket I keep beside the sink worked perfectly though! The ridges on the shell made a perfect washboard for the bristles, and the edge could separate down to the ferrule without damaging them. With very little work, the brush became useable again. If you happen to have a few on hand, give it a try!
It is very important to your work to keep your brushes in good condition. Cleaning brushes after each painting session will extend their useful lives. I use Grumbacher brush cleaner, Pink Soap by Mona Lisa Products and Brush Plus by Plaid. In a pinch, I have even used dish soap, but I don’t recommend using it all the time. Brush cleaners have built-in conditioners that keep your brush’s bristles soft and pliable and help them to hold up longer. Ivory bar soap was recommended to me over 45 years ago and I still use it periodically. Ivory is very soft and does a better job than dish soap, but I recommend springing for the specialized cleaner if you can, it makes a difference.
When you clean your brushes, the technique I use is to take the brush and run it under cool (not cold) water, squeezing the bristles with your fingers to loosen the paint. When the water seems to run clear, put a bit of brush cleaner in the palm of your hand and gently scrub the bristles into it, massaging the lotion into the bristles. Rinse well until the water again runs clear. Depending on the condition of the brush, you may need to repeat this process several times to get it fully clean. Strong reds and blues tend to take repeated cleanings to get the dye out completely.
One surprising thing to use when cleaning brushes I found quite by accident. I was trying to clean a brush that had been overlooked and the paint had dried in it, and using the palm of my hand to scrub the brush wasn’t cutting it. A flat seashell from the decorative basket I keep beside the sink worked perfectly though! The ridges on the shell made a perfect washboard for the bristles, and the edge could separate down to the ferrule without damaging them. With very little work, the brush became useable again. If you happen to have a few on hand, give it a try!
Alternate Canvas of Arizona
Hi everyone!! Welcome to our new home! Sure, it's not much yet but we'll grow. We have potential. Stick with us. Drop us a line and introduce yourself! We're not stuffy ;).
Alternate Canvas of Arizona is my mother's baby, a sideline decorative painting business that she created several years ago with the items she sells at craft shows locally. I'm a recent addition to the business, learning gradually as she passes along the tips and tricks she's acquired over the past 50 years of painting.
Due to a few life challenges, we both now find ourselves at home with lots more time on our hands than previously planned. (Remember the saying about life being what happens when you're making other plans?) Since we now have the time (and unfortunately the lowered income) we decided to take Alternate Canvas to a new level - the internet!
We'll track our progress here, so keep an eye on us! We'll have new stuff to talk about almost every day. Thanks for visiting!
Alternate Canvas of Arizona is my mother's baby, a sideline decorative painting business that she created several years ago with the items she sells at craft shows locally. I'm a recent addition to the business, learning gradually as she passes along the tips and tricks she's acquired over the past 50 years of painting.
Due to a few life challenges, we both now find ourselves at home with lots more time on our hands than previously planned. (Remember the saying about life being what happens when you're making other plans?) Since we now have the time (and unfortunately the lowered income) we decided to take Alternate Canvas to a new level - the internet!
We'll track our progress here, so keep an eye on us! We'll have new stuff to talk about almost every day. Thanks for visiting!
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