Artists and Illustrators of whom I am supremely jealous

Today I was looking through Drawn.ca and found this lovely gem of an artist.

Dadu Shin

Posted on Drawn is Dadu's tumblr feed of fashion illustrations which caught my eye.

copyright Dadu Shin

Copyright Dadu Shin

copyright Dadu Shin

Then, after going to Dadu's website I found all these wonderful illustrations:

copyright Dadu Shin

copyright Dadu Shin

copyright Dadu Shin

copyright Dadu Shin

Just great work Dadu. Just great.

Ruth

Weighted Blanket Project

I just yesterday finished a project I had been working on for a bit of time. My sister-in-law asked me to make a weighted blanket for her daughters birthday present. I had no real idea of what a weighted blanket was or what it would do. I assumed it was a blanket with some sort of weights in the edges to keep it always looking nice on a bed. So I asked started researching. Well, a weighted blanket is a Occupational Therapy tool for a variety of needs. Some of them are used for adults and elderly who have trouble keeping calm, falling asleep or who need some comfort. The weights are calming, I guess like being held. It's used for children who have ADD, autism, or just restlessness and trouble sleeping. So, I figured, hey, it's a new challenge I'll give it a shot. The beads that are used in weighted blankets are usually polystyrene beads, used in dolls or other fabric toys that need some bulk and stiffness, but also need the ability to move. I ordered ten pounds since the quilt I was making needed to be 6. Size for these blankets are varied depending on the size of the person using it. They also make weighted vests for walking around.

I ordered some very soft yellow minky fabric and tried to come up with how to make it on my own. I found out after I had been halfway through, that there was a much easier way to do this quilt, but alas, my research wasn't very thorough and I really suffered through a much more complicated way at first.

Here's some great info on weighted blankets and a tutorial on how to make one by Craft Nectar. It also has a downloadable pdf pattern that would have kept me from pulling out my hair if only I had found it at first.

The idea was to make an inner layer that held all the beads in 4'x4' squares, to distribute the weight evenly, and then put a soft minky layer, and a satin layer outside it, like a duvet and sew them all together. Here's the beginning of the inner bead layer.

I sewed several strips onto another layer of fabric to make the pouches to hold the beads. I sewed them on one side only, and then began to sew perpendicularly to those stitches to create a grid pattern. 

I began to parcel up the beads per pouch. I did the math and found out that four teaspoons of beads would create the right amount per pouch that would create a 6 pound blanket. 

Here's a photo of the beads after they were sewn in to the pouches. 

I started to glue the sides together after sewing them proved to be disastrous. (broken needles, half filled pouches and a lot of strain and irritation.) After I filled and glued the pouches I waited for them to dry and then sewed them together. I did make a mistake when I tried to use a larger spoon to put the beads in the pouches, I put four teaspoons in the large spoon and the put it in the pouch, after  awhile I estimated how much four teaspoons would be and ended up putting in too many. The quilt became 10 pounds as opposed to 6. It was a bear to sew this thing. The weight was always pulling the quilt off my sewing machine. I sewed thru the bead breaking my needles, and beads, oh the beads ended up everywhere. My house is covered in them. My husband joked that I should have just bought another ten pounds  and just poured them on the floor, since that's what happened anyway. I don't think I will make another one of these quilts, so I really hope this one does the trick.

Here it is finished. It's HEAVY. My husband and I tried in on and it's comfortable and calming, my son hated it. So perhaps there's something to all this after all?

 Here's the back side in the satin. I had to sew the inner layer in to the satin backing to stabilize it.

It's comfy, and the fabrics feel great. But, a word to the wise, if you want to make one of these, do you research, go to Craft Nectar and create the quilt their way, don't do it my way, and take your time and remember it's messy. But, the outcome is great, and if it's what you or your child needs, it's worth it.

You can also buy these quilts ready made, they can go from $100 to $400 depending on size and style. I spend about $80-$100 on materials on this one. So, it may not be cheaper if you choose to make a quilt out of nicer fabric than you can get readymade on the other quilts. Minky is expensive but oh, it is heavenly to touch. It was a good experience for me and I hope it's as satisfying to use as it was to finally finish.

Now onto the lady bug project and back to my lullaby book project. I took a week off during a final for my creating web pages class. I'd show you the final web page that I coded in HTML but it's heinous looking. I am very much a beginner.

Oh well, I guess you can see it. Just don't judge.

http://quiltsbyrudy.webs.com/

It's just the beginning my friends, just the beginning.

Ruth

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous-Stephen Crowhurst

Just found this guy the other day on Notcot.org.

Stephen Crowhurst.

It looks like he's done work for Ford, Diesel, Zune, CB2 and more.

Here are some fantastic illustrations that are just lovely.

Stephen Crowhurst

I can see this as a children's book illustration. There's something about Stephen's work that reminds me of Samurai Jack.

Stephen Crowhurst

I could really love this is a print or a textile. Could you imagine a series of printed fabrics? I would totally buy it. I'm thinking......apron.

Stephen Crowhurst

I want this. It brings to mind 'I dream of Jeannie'.

Stephen Crowhurst

Stephen Crowhurst

Just lovely well crafted work. I hope to see more of Stephen Crowhurst's work going forward. I could see a partnership with Spoonflower the fabric digital printing company, or even a calendar of his work. 

Ruth

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am extremely jealous

Here's a guy I just found today from Drawn. Well, I could say I had found him a long time ago as he's contributed work to Playboy, Maxim, DC Comic and also created work for "Waltz with Bashir", a haunting and beautiful animated film. Many of his illustrations ring a bell with me, I can never quite place where I've seen them but they stick around in my memory.

His name is Tomer Hanuka.

This illustration makes me weep. It's about the lost city of Atlantis.

Tomer Hanuka

 I adore Star Wars. You had me at Dagoba Tomer.

Tomer Hanuka

 I hated this book "the life of Pi", but this illustration is spot on perfect. I might read the illustrated version if Tomer does the lions share of it.

Tomer Hanuka

 Playboy illustration. I swear I only read it for the articles.

Tomer Hanuka

Tomer and Asaf Hanuka

So Tomer  is also a twin, and his twin brother Asaf is also an illustrator. oh Lordy. 

Asaf Hanuka

Asaf Hanuka

Asaf Hanuka

Asaf Hanuka

I'm really amazed by these guys.

Good work, both of you.

Ruth

Artists and Illustrators of whom I am supremely jealous

First,
Lets start with Jessica Hische:

If you've not heard of her then I figure you've not been granted eyesight.

She's done typography as well as illustration for big publications and small design houses. I first heard of her when Design Sponge mentioned her Daily Drop Cap project. I noticed a fantastic book cover the other day. I usually buy books half based on the book cover and half based on the blurb. Well, I just about bought this book simply for the cover itself.

Jessica Hische

Jessica Hische

Jessica Hische

Jessica Hische

Book which I almost bought just because of the cover.

Jessica Hische

Jessica Hische

Lets just say I (heart) her work.

Next:

Annie Wu

An great illustrator. I found her originally from the blog Drawn, I think, maybe it was Art Jumble? It was the fashion illustration for Star Trek that won me over. But then again, maybe it was the illustration of The Venture Brothers. I do love that show...soooo much I'm on my second set of DVD's. 

Annie Wu

 Star Trek Fashion Illustration: Neeto. As a sci-fi nerd, as well as a fashion lover, I approve.

Annie Wu

Annie Wu

Annie Wu

Please go to her flickr page to see the Goldfish Fashion Illustration, and the Virgin Suicides.  It's just nice to see people who really have a lovely style and use it accordingly in super cool stuff. I find that I am running out of good adjectives for cool and neeto. Oh well.

Ruth

I want this watch

Look at this really cool wooden watch by Wewood. I like this so much I would wear it even if it wasn't wood. I just really like it. Crazy huh? If you know me at all, (some of you do) you would know i really like watches.  To buy or look at one of these wooden watches go click on Wewood.

Here's what I got for valentines day from my hubby.

He got me the red one, and of course, the I-pod Nano to go with it. I am so spoiled. Get the Hexband here: Hex

Big thanks go out to DesignMilk, and Notcot.org for posting about these watches.

Ruth

Paper Art and Matthew Sporzynski

I was thumbing through my most recent Real Simple magazine and came across this ad for Sherwin Williams. The artist is Matthew Sporznski. I ripped it out of my magazine and immediately looked for him online. He's been doing work for Real Simple since 2005 and I found a great slide-show if you go there.

Matthew Sporzynski

Real Simple Slideshow.

Here are a few images.

Matthew Sporzynski

Matthew Sporzynski

Matthew Sporzynski

Matthew Sporzynski

I really enjoy his work. But I hadn't made the connection that this Matthew was also the brains behind the amazing Sherwin Williams commercials that started airing this summer.

Amazing right? I really enjoy paper artists. Here's another paper artist whose work I know you've seen.

Yulia Brodskaya: she takes paper and makes masterpieces. I believe this is the art of quilling, that has been around a long time, but she's really taken to another level.

Yulia Brodskaya

Yulia Brodskaya

Yulia Brodskaya

I'm pretty sure that the Neiman Marcus Catalog cover below is also her work.

Yulia Brodskaya

Super Neeto.

R