Weekly Creative Prompt

Resting, Sewing & Our Weekly Challenge

September 6, 2021 Leave a Comment

I am sitting with a cup of tea writing this. We spent yesterday at a family gathering where we gifted the anniversary journal I made a few weeks ago. It was a nice day but today is my re-coup day and I am very grateful for the current silence in our home.

We are almost fully moved out of our old bedroom. I have 2 small boxes to go through and then a bookshelf and our closet which should go pretty quickly. I am planning to start painting tomorrow as we would love to have the room done in time to surprise our daughter with her new bedroom for her birthday. The painting should go pretty quickly so I’m feeling pretty confident we can get it all done.

For this week’s challenge I realized I completed it without realizing I had! We had ordered a birthday dress for my youngest that she was also going to wear to yesterday’s party. There was an issue with delivery so come Friday (2 days before the party) she had no dress. I broke my “Creative Detox” just a tiny bit to pull up a video tutorial to walk me through making this really sweet dress.

I couldn’t be happier with how the dress came out! It was lined and absolutely adorable. If you remember last week’s challenge was to use a supply you have but hardly use. For me that’s my fabric stash and my sewing machine. I tend to overbuy my fabric when I buy it for a specific purpose and I also tend to sew a bunch and then not sew for a while. So for my daughter’s dress I decided to raid the stash for a pretty fabric with a matching coordinating fabric I could use for the lining. The fabric I chose was also used last spring to make a throw pillow for our bed. It’s bright and happy and looked really adorable on my daughter. I still want to take a better photo of her in the dress but this is what I have for now.

So I was able to use my sewing machine which was collecting dust along with some fabric that was stored away. I do plan on keeping this challenge in my mind to boost my creativity and use up some of those supplies. I want to start clearing out the cabinets and cupboards and get to making more things than I purchase. I also want to start sharing more of what I am making with others how about you? Please do comment below and let me know what item you have in your stash that you hardly use.

Don’t forget to add your links to our link party. If the party is already closed feel free to comment below with the link to your blog post so we can stop by and see what you did for the weekly challenge.

The challenge for this week is to do something with a book/journal theme.

I cannot wait to see what you make! Be sure to add your links to the link party below.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

I’m also sharing this post with my hand sewn dress over on Sew Can Do as party of Cheryl’s Craftastic Link Party.

Tea, Playing with Clay & Still Moving

August 30, 2021 Leave a Comment

I hope your week is starting off magical. I am sitting here with a lovely cup of tea and a pretty quiet house finishing up this week’s challenge. Do you have any creative plans for this week? I find that I do best when I have a list of projects I would like to work on in lots of different mediums. Those are the weeks I feel I have the most creative time and most importantly the most fun with my creative time.

This week I am still finalizing the move from our old bedroom into the new. I was very tired this weekend so I didn’t get it all done as I had hoped however I did make lots of headway last week. I am still hopeful we can have the room cleared out this week and I can start painting. We made some changes on the paint color and are going to use the same color we used in our new room. It’s a soft yellow and I love that it’s neutral enough to go with pretty much any color bedding we decide to put in there. Since my daughter will be starting out in a pink toddler bed I think this is a great color choice and will give her a really bright and happy room.

I am currently waiting for my weekly challenge to finish cooking in the oven. If you remember last week’s challenge was to finish a project that’s been on your table for a while. I have been making a magical dream tree for months now. It’s from a tutorial I found on Jennibellie’s YouTube channel where she made a wishing tree I think she called it. I made the basic mold for this last year sometime and then it sat on my desk. I finally started covering the armature with paper clay this year and I really enjoyed the process. It’s taken a while as I would do bit by bit and let it sit as I thought about the colors I would paint it. Once it was all covered with clay I gave it a few coats of paint and really loved how it turned out. I noticed it could still use a touch up here and there but I just love all the texture and warmth it has.

With the tree completed I wanted to add stars to it that I could write my magical dreams on and hang from the tree and that’s where I was having trouble.

I had made a few using air dry clay but they didn’t come out the best and as I was painting them I was liking them less and less. Today I decided to give my polymer clay a shot and I cut out about 15 stars using silver polymer clay, added a hole in the top for string and baked them in the oven. Even after baking they were still a little flimsy so I covered them with 2 coats of triple thick. To add the string (once they were dry) I used a needle threader and added some white embroidery floss. A few of them tore in the process of me re-punching the holes from where the Triple Thick gathered and I wasn’t too hopeful with them. However once I wrote my dream and hung them on the tree I was really happy with how they had turned out.

On a side note my son had made a clay monster probably the beginning of the year that I hadn’t baked yet. At the time I figured we would be making more polymer clay creations that week and sadly his little monster just sat collecting dust. So into the oven he went with the stars (after a good cleaning). I have to say, I really love the little orange monster. I asked if I could share a photo with you but my son said not yet. If he changes his mind I will be sure to add it.

Don’t forget if you took part in last week’s challenge to share your your link on last week’s blog post here. If the link party has already closed out when you go over please do comment below with a link and share your completed project. I would love to see what you finished!

For next week I thought I would continue with a little broader of a theme and challenge you to use something you already have but hardly ever use. It could be a stamp set you purchased (or stamps in general if you don’t use them much in your crafting) or any medium. It could be a color you have but just never paint with or a set of markers or pens. The challenge isn’t to buy something new but to use something you have but either haven’t used yet or hardly ever use. I cannot wait to see what you come up with!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Cats, A New Creative Space, Ink Blots & The Weekly Challenge

August 23, 2021 Leave a Comment

As I wrote the title for this post I am finding the irony in last week’s challenge word.

As you may remember we have been rearranging rooms in our home and my husband and I just moved our bedroom downstairs this past weekend. Our intention was to make the room pet free and that lasted about 10 minutes. For the past 3 days our new bedroom has been the favorite room in the house for, well, everyone!

I am still setting up my creative space and we still have quite a bit to take out of the old room but I’m hopeful to get that all moved around this week and then next week I can hopefully focus on painting the room for my youngest daughter. I have just started a 30 Day Creativity Retreat so I should have plenty of time. (You can read about and follow my Creativity Retreat on my other site if you like).

I did manage to film a creative corner tour and I hope to get the footage edited and up for you to see and then I do promise to share a tour of my little creative corner in our new room. For now though, I still have some work to do.

If you remember last week’s creative challenge word was: Cats. In all honestly I completely forgot about the challenge until last night before bed so I am a little late getting today’s post up. I had been reading Carla Sonheim’s book “Drawing & Painting Imaginary Animals” and I was really enjoying it. I am looking forward to picking it back up after my 30 days are up but in the meantime I thought I would have a play with ink blots to make my cat.

First, I started with a sheet in my mixed media sketchbook (It’s a Canson mixed media which I love-the one with the blue cover) and I wet the paper and used my acrylic inks to drop colors onto the wet areas. I could sit and watch the colors spread for hours it’s so pretty. Once I did a few splotches I dabbed up some excess water and let them dry.

My hope was that at least one would take shape as a cat.

It didn’t.

They all somehow seemed like Halloween characters to me and so I lightly added some details and wrote down what I saw in each blot. At first I was feeling a little disappointed with my artistic skills wishing I could more correctly convey what my mind was seeing. Then I remembered that this is supposed to be fun and since a cat didn’t emerge the first time I could just go again. So I did.

No cat.

This time I saw a horse and I realized that these were just really fun and great warm up exercise for me to get playing with my creativity. Instead of starting with an ink splotch I decided to sketch out a cat. Initially I thought about looking up an image online then I remembered my Offline Retreat and took a look at the 2 cats snoozing on my bed. (See, the no pets in the bedroom thing was a terrible idea!)

It’s a very childlike cat but you know I had so much fun making it! I loved the black and white look-something I never do and I really enjoyed blending my Stabillo graphite pencil to blur the cat. To be honest I liked it best before I added to it but it’s such a great way to learn and to play. I learned how much I liked working in black and white and with a simple graphite pencil so I am going to be sure and play more this week.

So that is my challenge for last week. For this week I thought it would be fun to do something a little different. Instead of a word prompt I am going to challenge you to: finish a project. Take something you maybe picked up but have worked on lately or maybe something that is close to being done but you didn’t quite get there yet. Pick anything you want and be sure to share your link below and check out some of the other creatives and what they are up to. I will be coming back to this post when my 30 day retreat is up to see all that you have shared. I cannot wait!

I did film a process video that you can check out below. I left in the first ink blot attempts and I would love to hear what you see in the images.

Music by Joystock – https://www.joystock.org

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

The Making of a Mobile Art Studio & Weekly Challenge #4

August 16, 2021 Leave a Comment

I am sitting in my writing spot on a gorgeous Sunday. If I am being honest, I should be making dinner but instead I am enjoying some crafting time and catching up on my blog writing.

It feels so good to me when I make time for my creativity. It can be 10 minutes or 2 hours but carving out time each day to do something, make something, paint something or sketch something makes all the difference in not only my well-being but in the way I perceive and interact with the world. It’s always wonderful to be reminded that the better I take care of myself the more love and light I can share with those around me.

This week I got back into my weekly Artist Dates. If you are unfamiliar with the concept it comes from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist Way where she talks about going out on your own to refill your creative well with something that you love or inspires you. For me it’s usually a drive, maybe a visit to a local garden center, or my latest creation-my Mobile Art Studio. I am just working on editing together some videos and sharing my weekly adventures but if you are interested you may want to check out my new site The Creative Spiritualist where I will be share the whole adventure. (Don’t worry I am still keeping this site going!).

One of the things I have been having a lot of fun with this week is playing with clay. I shared my Self-Care Doll in this post (and every time I look at her through out the day I smile so she really is a bit of magic) and I am delving more and more into the world of Paperclay. If you haven’t tried it you may want to as it is so much fun. You can also use Air Dry Clay which I used for completing last week’s challenge.

You may remember I let my oldest daughter pick our challenge for last week and she chose cupcakes. I knew right away that I wanted to make something out of clay so I pulled out the air dry clay and had some fun. I was inspired by this video where she made a cupcake trinket box. Her box was large and required a few days to dry and as I waited until the weekend for this challenge I didn’t have the time. Instead I made a mini version and I couldn’t be happier with them!

Sure they are wonky and lopsided but to be honest that is something I love out of clay pieces. I don’t know if it makes me feel like a kid again but when I see whimsical, bumpy, lopsided clay pieces I just always smile-and these little guys really made me grin!

I painted the bases in different colors-each one is one of my kids favorite colors and then for sprinkles I used all 3 colors to give it a bit of uniform look and have it feel more like a set. It was a lot of fun and because of their size the clay dried overnight and the paint dried almost immediately so I was able to go through and paint all 3 in about an hour. I finished them all off with a gloss varnish. I did notice when I was taking photos a few spots that need touch up that I will take care of but otherwise they are done and super cute!

Their mini size makes me think of storing something really magical inside. My daughter suggested glitter but I am almost thinking a secret treasure of some kind. I even have some mini crystals that would be perfect for inside.

I hope you had fun with last week’s challenge. For this week we are leaving the food theme behind and going to something a little more cuddly.

This week’s challenge is: Cats.

I cannot wait to see what you make!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Creative Spaces & Challenge #3

August 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

How was your weekend? I did struggle to feel productive at first but in the end I managed to get a lot of work done on my second blog and even some painting on what will soon be our new bedroom.

I was hoping to get a little video tour of my creative space done but if I am honest I am procrastinating. Part of me wants to clean it all up and make it look shiny before I share it here but the truth is this is the way it normally looks! I love having all my supplies around me so I can see what I have and be inspired by them. I also never remember what supplies I have if they are hidden away all neat and organized and I usually spend more time trying to remember how I organized everything that I don’t make much.

So I might just give it a normal tidy and then do a little video for you since we may just start moving as soon as next week and I really want to share my creative space with you. At one time in my life I was fortunate enough to have an office and a craft room. It was a pretty craft room that I planned out so carefully and to be honest-I never used it. Instead I used my office that everything out and messy and where I could see it 🙂

Now that my office and craft room have become bedrooms I have a little nook in my bedroom that I use. I think it’s so important to create and to know that you don’t need much space (or even many supplies) to be creative and express yourself. So that’s why I want to share my little nook with you so that you can see you can create a lot in small space.

I also realized that I have been blogging twice a week which feels like such an accomplishment and I am so happy but I also realized I have boxed myself in a bit with Monday being the creative challenge and Wednesday my project updates. So I may just have to add another weekly post where I can say hello and just share general updates with you. What do you think?

Now on to the challenge! Last week’s word was ice cream and I admit when I chose the word I knew I wanted to make a felt creation. I found a super sweet pattern on Etsy here and had so much fun making this little one. Now, you may see that there are 2 ice cream cones in the photo and that is because as I was making it my son came in and asked if he could have it for his felt collection. So of course he got the first one. I then made myself one for my collection. They came together really quickly and I would definitely recommend this pattern.

Once I finished the ice cream cone I decided to make the Popsicle which is so super cute! I couldn’t be happier with her (and yes I did make a second one for my son as well :). So that was lat week’s prompt.

The prompt for this week was chosen by oldest daughter so maybe we can channel our inner 10 year-olds and have some fun with this one. Are you ready?

Creative Challenge Prompt #3 is: Cupcake

I cannot wait to see what you make! Please join in the link party below and share a link to your take on our creative word.

Thank you for stopping by to visit my site and I will see you again on Wednesday!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Weekly Creative Challenge #2

August 2, 2021 Leave a Comment

I hope this post is finding you well and looking forward to some creative time this week.

Last week, as you may remember, I started this little challenge project and to be honest I am really proud of myself for sticking with it and sharing what I created. I admit that while I love challenges I hardly ever remember to stick with them but I have a feeling this one might be a little different. This week I took part not only in this challenge here but one in Jennibellie’s Ning group. I’ll share with you what I created for that challenge in my weekly round up of projects.

If you saw last week’s post you know our challenge word was “Summer.” I wasn’t sure what I would create when I chose that word but I was pretty sure my kit from the Lollipop Box Club was going to be a part of it. If you are unfamiliar with these kits check out my Resource Section a little further down this page and you can visit the shop.

To be fair everything that could go wrong with this project did! I was doing it at night and none of my tools seemed to work properly and I seemed to be all thumbs. Still I persevered and I am really happy with the result! I ended up making a little hanging piece that I am going to put add a summer photo to. I haven’t decided what photo I am going to use but I want it to be something that sums up what I have loved the most about this summer.

I started off cutting up the box that my kit comes in (I love these boxes and use them for so many crafts!). I used one of the rectangles from the box as my base and painted the perimeter to coordinate with the papers I had chosen. Once that was done I added the heart doily at the bottom and decided I would use the “summer” sticker on top. The white was a little stark and I decided to use the peach colored tissue paper as a backdrop to the black sticker and add a little pastel orange to the heart itself. I was really happy with how they all looked once together.

The last step once everything was glued down was to punch holes in the top and add some white twine to make the hanger.

I am really happy with how this turned out and think it will be a project I do quite often to showcase some of my favorite photos. It adds a really nice handmade and cozy look and is a fun way to display photos. You could even glue photo corners down so you could change your pictures in and out if you wanted.

I did film a quick little process video as well if you want to check that out at the end of the post. Before I go though I wanted to tell you this week’s challenge:

Ice Cream

Be sure to join the InLinkz below to share what you have created and so we can stop by your blog and say hello! Please do comment below if you have any questions or to just say hello!

Until Next Time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by Joystock – https://www.joystock.org

Weekly Creative Prompt

Ice Cream

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