Porcelain coffee mug with teeth pattern

🚫 SOLD 🚫

I made a thing!

 

I bought a white porcelain "take away" style coffee mug a while ago with the intention of drawing something on it. I didn't want to put text on it, but I could not settle for a motif for a long time.

Then I decided on teeth, after seeing an old medical illustration.

I was going to add red around the roots of the teeth dripping down like blood, but in the morning after I had left it to dry overnight, the simple black design had grown on me.

I like it a lot, I think the touch of red had been too much. I tend to overwork my art and then I end up disliking it, so it is something I have to be mindful of.

It sold only a few hours after I had put it up for sale, to a man in the US! I hope he will like it :)
 Sökresultat
Webbresultat

🚫 SOLD 🚫

Recension / Review : Blommor och bär mandalas / Flowers and Berries Mandalas / Mandalas Blomster Og Bær

Recension: Blommor och bär mandalas, Målarbok

(For english, please scroll down!)

Illustrator: "Moif" moif@mail.dk
Förlag: Unicorn
Sidor: 32 st
Utgiven: 2012-2014 dansk utgåva, 2014 svensk utgåva
Pris: n/a
EAN: 978-87-92484-99-4

Jag fick denna bok, så därför har den tyvärr inget pris i listan. Men den finns på Lapland Eco Store för 79kr: https://www.laplandecostore.se/sv/articles/2.477.10526/unicorn-mandalas-blommor-bar (ej sponsrad)

Boken har totalt 32 sidor. Motiven som man ska måla är bara tryckta på en sida, vilket betyder att man inte behöver oroa sig för att ens pennor ska blöda igenom pappret och missfärga motivet bakom.

Det FSC-certifierade pappret är tryckt med vegetabiliska färger i Danmark på 200 g papper och sidorna är sådeles tjockare än i de flesta målarböcker jag har stött på. Det gör att man till och med kan måla med vattenfärger / akvarell. Det jag har upplevt är att man ändå får vara lite sparsam med vattnet och inte lägga på för mycket, men pappret är relativt tåligt mot vatten.

Bokens storlek (ca 24 cm lång och ca 21,5 cm bred) gör att motiven är stora och klara vilket ger mycket yta att måla både för små och stora konstnärer. Dessutom så är sidorna lätta att dra ut så man kan hänga dem på väggen eller rama in dem - ännu en fördel att det bara är ett motiv per sida!

Fördelar:

+ Ett motiv per sida

+ Tjockare papper än de flesta målarböcker

+ Fina naturmotiv

Nackdelar:

- Även om man kan använda vattenfärger så måste man vara aktsam med att använda för mycket vatten på ett och samma ställe

Slutresultat:

Det finns så mycket positivt och så lite negativt med denna bok att jag rekommenderar den till alla som gillar att måla (oavsett varför man gör det)!

English!

Review: Blommor och bär mandalas, colouringbook

Illustrator: "Moif" moif@mail.dk

Publisher: Unicorn

Pages: 32 pcs

Published: 2012-2014 Danish edition, 2014 Swedish edition

Price: n/a

EAN: 978-87-92484-99-4

I did not buy this book so that is why I do not list a buy price. It is available at Lapland Eco Store for 79 sek: https://www.laplandecostore.se/sv/articles/2.477.10526/unicorn-mandalas-blommor-bar (not sponsored)

The book has a total of 32 pages. Each illustration is printed on its own page in the book so you don't have to worry about colours bleeding through and discolouring what is underneath. Neat!

The FSC-certified paper is printed with vegetable ink in Denmark on 200 g paper, and so the pages are thicker than most colouring-books with mandala-type motifs I have encountered. This makes it possible to use watercolours in the book. What I have experienced is that you still have to be a little economical with the water and not use too much, but the paper is relatively resistant to water-treatment.

The size of the book (about 24 cm long and about 21,5 cm wide) makes the illustrations big and clear. This also gives a generous amount of space for both small and big painters to creatively use. Additionally, the pages are easy to tear out so they can be hung up on the wall or framed - another advantage with it only being one motif per page!

Pros:

+ One illustration per page

+ Thicker paper than most colouring-books

+ Lovely nature motifs

Cons:

- Even if you can use watercolours you have to be somewhat careful with how much water you use in one spot

Conclusion:

There is so much positive and so little negative with this book I have no reservations with recommending it to anyone that enjoys painting (no matter the reason why you do it)!

Period costume: Edwardian Womens Clothing, circa 1910s day look

The second part of the guide on how to make a costume for a turn-of-the-century middle class person (or how we made it work for the Titanic exhibition)!

For masculine tips on what to wear, scroll down!

Full body

Closeup

Most of the passengers on the Titanic was not wealthy! For these passengers, a two or three piece suit was worn for most occasions. Since it took fashion a while to "move down", the 2nd and 3rd class were usually a few years behind the upper class, but they also kept the fashion for a few years longer.

So you will be surprised that you might already have a lot of the clothing required at home for the period. If you are a 80's buff you might be better off than most, since clothing from that time were inspired by the Edwardian era.

Lets make a break down of the individual pieces of my costume.

Underwear
I had normal panties and a black lace-up corset on underneath. I should also have had on a chemise, but what people don't see doesn't exist ;)

Coat / Jacket
I wore a black cotton cape-ish short jacket on top, mostly because the weather. There was rain on the horizon and I kept it in the car just in case. It works because of the dark colour and the wide cut. As a side note: The skirt and coat does NOT need to match!

Blouse
Try to find something off-white / ivory with lace. Go with a high neck and long sleeves for a modest look. Buttons up the back was a staple, but if you cant find it that is fine. The one I am wearing in the picture has two in the back of the neck. I also think it is made from polyester, where it should be made from cotton, so as long as it looks good...

Skirt

Ideally the skirt should be make out of wool with a full A-line fit in a dark colour. One might wear a petticoat or another full skirt underneath to give it more volume, since moving around is more practical, but it does not mean only those types of skirts were worn. 

Suits back then had skirts with high waists and slim fit. I went for a more tight fitting "hobble skirt", named after the way it impeded the walk, in a more bright pattern suited for the summer months.

Hat
In 1910s the philosophy was "the bigger the better" when it came to hats! Large and wide-brimmed styles made their way on top of most women’s heads, regardless of their social standing.

For 2nd or 3rd class you can use a plain felt, wool or straw hat for the base. Then you add your own touch with accessories such as ribbons, flowers and feathers!

I had a cheap headband with artificial flowers left over from midsummer's eve that I paired with a wide-brimmed, floppy hat that I had at home for a 1910s look.

Shoes
Shoes from the era was boots made out of leather and narrow in the foot and ankle-length with laces up the front or buttons on the side.

I wore a pair of laced up black "granny boots" with a pompadour heel (kind of similar to the ones pictured below). I think they are more at home in the previous Victorian era rather than the later Edwardian, but they are similar enough to what was worn. And who is going to inspect my footwear anyway?

Granny boots were worn from the Victorian era into the 1950s
and got a revival in the 1980s!

Jewellery
Both the Art Nouveau (natural, curving designs that focused on nature) and the Arts and Crafts movement (craftsmanship) had influences on the jewellery of the Edwardian period. It is also famous for the widespread use of filigree; delicate metalwork that gives jewellery a light and ethereal feel. Tassels, bows, wreaths, strings of flowers, and long scrolls were also popular!

Necklace: As pearls were one of the main stones used (the other being diamonds), I went with a long plastic pearl necklace, wrapped twice around my neck, otherwise it would be TOO long.

Earrings began the century as simple diamond studs but were soon "dropped down" with ear hooks. Designed to move and sway, the drop form was popular and I was wearing a pair of plastic drop earrings, turned from clear to a yellow hue with age.

Bag

For the day-look, a simple bag is the most practical for a 2nd or 3rd class person to go about their day with. I went for a leather bag with handle, strap and a hinged closure.

Accessories
Gloves: Edwardian gloves were a MUST to wear at ALL times (except eating or using the restroom). Lace or mesh gloves are the most comfortable for summer. A good rule of thumb is: Short sleeves = Long Gloves (to cover up any skin).
Long sleeves = Short gloves.

I wore a pair of short, white nylon gloves. 

Fan: A nice accessory to have during summer. They were usually made out of lace, but my research didn't tell me which class used them, so I decided to add it as a accessory. Mine was made out of plastic and the "fan" part was paper with a painted decoration!

Make-up
Up until around 1910, make-up was still a bit of a taboo, yet most women did SOMETHING to enhance her looks, like using rouge on the cheeks or powdering the skin for example and performed by most young women on a daily basis.

Go for matte eye-shadows, rouges and lipsticks for the Edwardian look. Since most of the make-up was handmade at that time, it can get a little bit tricky to find the right products for the era, but here is a quick guide:

Face: Light powder.
Eye Shadow: Gold and silver for evenings (nothing for day looks).
Mascara: For darkening light lashes (nothing on dark lashes).
Lips: Red.
Rouge: Applied all over the cheeks.

I went only with a light "dusting" of a mineral foundation on my face and neck to even out my complexion. Keeping it natural!  


DONE! :)

This is what I was wearing to the Titanic Exhibition and how we turned what we already had at home into a 1910 second-to-third-class Edwardian 'day dress' costume for women (or feminine peoples)!

We also got the opportunity to take a "authentic" photo before we "boarded". Here is what it looked like:










Resources used to research the look:
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/easy-edwardian-titanic-costumes/
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/second-and-third-class-womens-titanic-fashion/
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/how-to-make-a-titanic-swim-dress-on-a-budget/

https://www.langantiques.com/university/Edwardian_Jewelry:_1901-1915

Period costume: Edwardian Mens Clothing, circa 1910s day look

As promised, here is a quick guide on how to dress like a turn-of-the-century gentleman from the middle class (or how we made it work for the Titanic exhibition)!

My husband lost some weight last year and it was a perfect opportunity to pull off the Edwardian "Sack Suit" look.

Why the "Sack Suit" name?

Well, in the 1910s men wore suits that were straight in cut and somewhat loose fitting, appearing as if it was a size too big, like a 'sack'. Colours were mainly dark, such as navy, grey and sometimes brown. The fabric was wool. No substitutes!

This is the outfit we put together for him (close-up at the end):

Lets break down the individual pieces a little bit

Coat / Jacket
The modern coat is the right colour and right fit, but it is a bit too short for the 1910 style. In reality the coat would have been longer, almost down to mid-thigh, but since we were working on a a bit of a budget (time and money wise), hitting 2 out of 3 rights ain't so bad! :)

Pants
The Edwardian pants were roomy over the hips and the legs were straight, tapered slightly and cuffed at the bottom, not showing any sock-action. The modern pants my husband have did not fit that way but it was an easy fix with a straight seam on the sewing machine (I did not cut the fabric, just folding it in slightly so it could easily be undone later).

Vest
He is wearing a normal modern black dress vest. If he felt daring in 1910 he could have worn a contrasting colour to the pants and coat. I will call it a half win!

Neck-wear
Since he didn't have a fancy-coloured vest, he decided to wear a patterned Cravat instead to 'spice' up the look. Fancy! He could also have worn a tie or necktie :)

Shirt
Under the vest he is wearing a modern white shirt with subtle striping. Turns out the shirt has not changed much since Edwardian times. Handy that! However, the collars were a bit different. The modern pointed collars work well, but in the 1910's it could also be winged or rounded, so called 'club collar'.

Hat
We were looking mainly for a derby, bowler or homburg hat in felt or wool. A flat cap, also called golf cap or newsboy hat, would also have been appropriate for his second-or-third-class mixture. During the summer months a straw hat would have been preferable due to the weather!

What we had at home was a soft leather (or similar, maybe mocha?) beret, that was pulled into a newsboy cap shape.

Cane
This is the only piece in the ensemble that really stands out and is not period in ANY way AT ALL. It is made out of metal with a spider-web pattern around a big green acrylic bulb at the top. Still looks good, as most of the top is hidden when he has his hand on it and uses it.

Shoes
Normal black dress shoes worked well here, but in 1910 he would probably have worn a pair of Oxfords to the day dress. Spats could also be worn over the shoe to bridge any gap between shoe and trouser. The shoes of 1910 did not have the modern thin string laces, but wide ribbons. I had some ribbon laying around at home and used that. Not wide, but still ribbon!

Accessories
A classic pocket watch with chain.

DONE! :)

This is what my husband was wearing to the Titanic Exhibition and how we turned what we already had at home into a 1910 second-to-third-class Edwardian 'day dress' costume!

I will do a breakdown of my costume in the next post. So stay tuned! :)

Resources used to research the look:
https://vintagedancer.com/edwardian-titanic-mens-clothing/
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/1900s-menswear-clothing-ideas/
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/edwardian-titanic-mens-formal/
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/1910s-mens-working-class-clothing/

A super easy, quick DIY sticker project!

A super easy, quick and simple way to make your own stickers with double sided tape!

1. Take a cut out from a magazine, book or other (here I am using a bookmark)

2. Place the cutout on the "sticky side" of the double sided tape.

3. Trim the edges round the cutout and you are done!

Eco-nomic: If you have several cutouts, idealy you want to space them out so you want as little trim-spillage as possible.

Bookmark

Backside of bookmark

And you are done! Now go sticker crazy :)

Recension / Review Star Wars Målarbok / Malebok / Malebok / Colouring book / Coloring book

Recension: Star Wars Målarbok

(For english, please scroll down!)

Illustrator: Ronan Toulhoats

Förlag: Karrusel Forlag

Sidor: ca 47

Utgiven: 2016-05

Pris: 60kr

Butik: Dollar Store

Denna målarbok inhandlade jag på Dollar Store för 60kr. Den har en bra storlek, ca 34 x 24 cm stor för att ge illustrationerna bra med plats så man kommer åt de små detaljerna på kläder och droider.

Motiven varierar mellan ensides och två-sides bilder. Vad jag gillar med denna bok är att den även ger utrymme för skurkarna och inte bara hjältarna i Star Wars. Man får även helkroppsbilder och detaljbilder, till exempel en bild är endast General Grevious huvud.

Jag har målat med STABILO point 88 och Promarkers. Som i de allra flesta fall vad gäller dessa böcker så blöder Promarkers igenom. Stabilo pennorna syns också, men ytterst lite.

Promarker

Stabilo

Dessutom så är det svårt att se på vissa motiv vad som ska vara vad och ibland, som på R2-D2 motivet nedan, så är kontrasten så hög att det som ska vara en viss färg (i detta fall blått) blir svart. Då finns det inte så mycket kvar att måla som inte är vitt.

Och i vissa fall, så saknas det delar av motivet. Vad hände här?

Fördelar:

+ Stort format

+ Variation på bilderna

Nackdelar:

- Vissa motiv plottriga

- Vissa motiv har för hög kontrast

Slutresultat:

Trots dess brister så gör storleken, antal och variationen på motiven den värd att köpa för priset!

Vad tycker ni om boken? Kommentera nedan!

English!

Review: Star Wars Colouring Book

Illustrator: Ronan Toulhoats

Publisher: Karrusel Forlag

Pages: about 47

Published: 2016-05

Price: around $6.76

Store: Dollar Store

I bought this colouring book on Dollar Store for 60 sek (about $6.76). It has a good size, about 13.3 x 9.4 inches, to give the illustrations enough room so you get the little details on clothes and droids.

The illustrations vary between one and two-side pictures. I do like that this book gives room for the bad guys and villains and not only the good guys and heroes of Star Wars. The illustrations also vary from full body to detailed pictures, for example one illustration is of General Grevious' head.

I tried both STABILO point 88 and Promarkers. But as with most of these types of colouring books, Promarkers bleed through. Stabilo does to some extent as well, but very little.

Promarker

Stabilo

And it is hard sometimes to see what is what in some illustrations. And sometimes, like with the R2-D2 below, the contrast is so high that a certain colour (blue in this case) turns black. Then it does not leave an awful lot that isn't white to colour in.

And in some cases, some parts of the illustration is missing. What happened here?

Pros:

+ Big format gives room for small details

+ Variation on the illustrations

Cons:

- Some illustrations are too cluttered

- Some illustrations have too high contrast

End result:

Despite the shortcomings of the illustrations, the size, multitude and variations on the illustrations makes this book worth picking up for the price!

What did you think about the book? Please comment below!

No affiliation:
https://www.bokus.com/bok/9788771860054/star-wars-malebog-malebok-malarbok/

Titanic The Exhibition in Skellefteå, Sweden, and making edwardian period costumes

The 25th my husband and I are going to a Titanic exhibition held in Skellefteå.

Here is a little bit about the exhibition from their webpage:

" Titanic The Exhibition is much more than just an exhibition. It is a fantastic experience that will take you back 106 years in time. Through the individual audio guide, the exhibition tells countless stories about fates and heroic deeds on board. 

Many stories have Swedish links, as the Titanic’s voyage was at a time when many people emigrated from Sweden to America. This was seen in, among other things, Swedish being the second biggest language on board the unsinkable 269.08 metre long ship. 

Join us on an emotional journey – through stories, photographs and private objects – on which you can experience history’s most legendary ship on its maiden and last journey. 

The exhibition consists of some 200 original objects and many recreated interiors of natural size. The audio guide is available in different languages and is included in the admission.

Exhibition period: April 27-August 26, 2018

Location: Eddahallen, Skellefteå, Sweden 

All historical pictures come from Claes-Göran Wetterholm archive. "

And today, on the 15th, I thought it would be fun to dress up for the event. In period costume.

Oops.

BUT with nice guides available online, we might just be able to pull it though! We are going to aim day dress available to the second and third class at around 1910, most of it which it seems we already have. Phew! Glad I am into more vintage clothing anyway than high-fashion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The guides and tutorials I have been looking at:

The Pragmatic Costumer:

Easy Edwardian Thrifted Turn Of The 20th Century Costume For Under 10

Costuming On A Budget: Edwardian Edition

Vintage Dancer:

How To Make A Titanic Swim Dress On A Budget

Easy Edwardian Titanic Costumes 1910-1915

Second And Third Class Womens Fashion

 1900s Menswear Clothing Ideas

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The tricky (and maybe also fun part) might be the hat. I am not a hat-person, but those time called for women, nay, DEMANDING women to wear them. So I guess I will just have to address that.

It might also be the time to let my inner milliner shine, as I think the hat might be a perfect opportunity to let my inner creativity shine and add my own flare to the costume!

I am thinking that my 1910 second-to-third-class alter ego might spend more coins on her hat than any other part of her outfit, since she most likely could not afford expensive jewellery or fancy gloves. And a hat was a must. A MUST I SAY!

Stay tuned for updates!