​I only ended up working on a few small sewing tasks this week. I like when I get into a rhythm when stitching, but it got tiresome quickly when the threads would tangle up. I mostly added small details to existing pieces and cut some felt for projects that needed it. I also sketched up a few outlines i want to use for future plushes, i just didn't get the chance to print them. I may re-visit these next week if I get a second.

I also spent time doodling a bit & spent some more time planning the big painting. I think it’s something I need to do on a daily basis again. New ideas felt so much easier to tackle when I spent more of my time drawing. The last sketchbook I’d carry around filled up quick, and I haven’t gotten another since – I think I’ll change that.

I’ve been thinking about painting often this week. I think I’ll work on the new big canvas and a few others if I get a chance after work. I want to spend more time cutting into my pile of half-finished wood-panel collages, etc. It’s getting so close to done, some just need so much more time than others. I want the work that comes after this week to come from newer ideas. It's fun finishing these projects i never saw to completion, but I'm wanting to spend less time on crafty pieces. I'll still work on them occasionally, but my mind has really been on painting and elevating my abilities in hand-drawing. It's where I started, and where i think my interest mostly lie. 
So plan is to finish what lingering projects I can, and spend next week working on new projects and ideas.
I'll do my best and see u next week  

thanks for stopping by this kind of confused blog post
xoxoxo
​kenz 

p.s I’ll be updating the site and the stay a while page for June in these next few days, so check that out if you’d like <3

p.p.s with summer around the corner I think of this song often. It makes me feel like anything is possible

ok bye <3

I had a lovely time on my trip! I visited Maine, New Hampshire and Michigan. The change in scenery was super inspiring. I loved to see rolling hills and saturated trees- it was a pretty sight everywhere we went.

Some recommendations from my travels (In the Portland, ME & Rindge, NH & Detroit, MI area)
- Portland museum of art was so fantastic. I visited on a Friday evening, which was perfect because entry is free from 4-8 pm! I got far more than I expected from my visit: 3 stories worth of captivating work from an array of mediums. They even have a little cafe downstairs  : )
- I got an Ube dream from Matcha mood and it was heavenly. I wish I could've tried everything on the menu, i'm sure all of it would've been just my taste <3 Super cute storefront, great service and a fantastic drink. 
- For dinner I ate at The Porthole and had a lobster roll and it was fantastic. Seating on the water and dinner was too good. would go again. 
- I experienced sunshine and blue skies most of the trip until this destination. I got the full gloomy and windy experience at the Portland headlight. I went when pretty much everything was closed, but it was worth it for the views. I rolled down a grass hill. would go again.
- I knew I'd be recommending this before even going, but the Cryptozoology museum was a such a good time.  Lots of lore and fun artifacts. I fell in love with big foot. 

-For lunch during my brief visit to New Hampshire I stopped by Emma's 321 Pub and Kitchen and had the Beet salad and fried goat cheese balls - it was the best salad I've had in a while. Cozy atmosphere and was seated in a room overlooking the nearby wood and creek. Just outside is bridge leading over the water. would totally go back.

- I had been to The Motown museum once before in probably 2012-14? It was a great experience before and it was this time too! Such a a beautiful setup all done in efforts for the preservation of the label's rich history and cultural importance. I truly can't believe how much of this chunk of history still exists. My group's tour guide was so great and it's clear that love and appreciation serves as a foundation to this exhibit and experience. 

​I’m changing gear! I did some tidying when I first got back and realized just how many sewing projects I never got to finish. Lots of small dolls and plushies-  I think most of them should be pretty straight forward and I should be able to finish most, if not all during the week. Most of their elements are cut, and just require a simple stitch.
​
With this week’s project plans I’m really thinking of how I went through a felt doll-making phase in middle school. I’m vaguely remembering one I did with a black dress, long black hair and button eyes. I wish I had taken more pictures from that era, I think they were pretty cute projects. During this time, I learned a lot from the book “Cute book” by Aranzi Aronzo. I checked it out often from my local library. Below are some examples of the style.

They contain a lot of super cute tutorials and a lot of helpful techniques for hand-stitching projects. I think most of the basics i know i picked up from these. The characters featured are also super cute : )
I’ve also been thinking more about learning to use a sewing machine lately. I have a few articles of clothing I plan to draw on and embellish, but I’d love to sew alterations for some too. I'm sure i mentioned this already. Maybe a sturdy, entry-level friendly, second-hand sewing machine is (or should be) in my future?

thanks for stopping by and thanks for the welcome back hug
xooooooxooooooxoooooooooooo
​
- mac <3

​Of course, like clockwork, my attention feels split between my current hopeful project that barely exists, and a new one that doesn’t really exist at all. This nonexistent project doesn’t even really have a basis yet, I think I’m just feeling extra inspired by this and that. I won’t go into detail now, but I’ll work on some outlines while I’m out of town these next few days. Maybe the start of another new project ​¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This week I also got the chance to finish up a personal tee shirt project. (ignore the cat hair) Letters were stamped, then painted with bleach. Enjoy and watch the video it’s based on if you hadn't already.

​Also speaking of wearables, in case you’ were curious about the purse I was working on: it’s been finished and is in the right hands <3 Maybe this'll be my motivation to tackle my stack of blank purses once I'm back :)
i'll see u week after next 

​Thanks for stopping by
X o oxoxo ox
kenz

​It’s been a minute since I’ve gotten excited about a painting and for that, I totally blame my tendency to overwork pieces until I’m sick of them. I just want to have fun with this one.
I had planned to finish my apparel projects from last week, but didn’t get the chance; there isn’t a whole lot to do so I’ll probably finish those in the coming days.

Outside of the new painting project I do have a few larger canvases that need some big changes. I’ve been putting them off because the changes will definitely entail doing some erasing and starting over, but I think now’s the time since I have some motivation. I’ll share some progress pictures soon - for the canvases and the remainder of my wearable projects. 

​also completely unrelated, but did you guys hear Domo is making a comeback?? It was announced on the Domo HQ Instagram page. Idk what this means but I thought I’d share.
I'll keep it short today <3 Til next time

Thank you for stopping by <3
Xxxxxooooo
- Benzie 

I focused on wearables this week! I finally picked up a purse project for a friend I’ve been meaning to work on. I think I had a lot of hesitation in starting it because of it’s polyester finish. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make the design stick, but I think I figured out a good combination. I sketched the initial layout with pencil, outlined with POSCA markers and colored in with angelus leather paint. To finish, I used a spray acrylic sealant. I’m still adding to it and testing durability as I go, but It’s nearly to my liking and I’ll probably finish it this week. The surface of the purse was a little unforgiving as far as mistakes go- even pencil didn’t come up right away with a magic eraser so sketch marks are gonna be visible, but I think overall I’m liking the turnout. I don’t do it as much as I should, but I love painting purses. I think it’s because the room for margin of error is smaller and that durability is kind of dependent on materials, that I don’t find myself following through on started projects. I’ll try to be less worried about making mistakes. I have a hanger in the closet full of blank bags I have yet to start on. 

​I also did some drawings on clothes from my closet. These don’t often have a deadline, so I just kind of work on them when I feel like it. I did get inspired by my many iterations of that old picture of myself so now I have a tee shirt of the line art. Feeling proud of most of these. Also finally doodled on my canvas tote bag

gonna spend the first half of this upcoming week finishing more apparel projects and the second half working on a painting. It's a project that's been on my mind for a while and I don't think I can put it into words yet but i'll post when i've got more. 
i'll keep it short and sweet <3

thanks for stopping by
༝༚༝༚
- benzie 

I had a medley of things to get done this week. Two pairs of my platform shoes needed some repairing, and I decided to fill the rest of the week with odd projects- I picked up a project for a friend I let fall completely on the back burner. I needed to do some planning for that, but plan to start execution later today, and am hoping to be done by the end of the week! I don’t want to share too much yet, but I’ll probably end up posting it once it’s finished to my liking. It’s a medium I haven’t practiced in a bit, and I guess I just hope it turns out how I’d like it to.
Alongside planning I did a little doodling in my sketchbook. I also made a small felt cat for a friend. I haven't made a felt toy this small but holding it in the palm of my hand made me want to make a little calico one for myself that looks like Pina. 

Fixing my shoes this week made me consider adding more to them besides the repairs. One of them is my favorite pair of knee-high boots. The faux leather started peeling at the front and back seam – it’s been so hard to make them look put together again :( I know faux leather may not be the ideal contender for saving but I hate to think about just trashing them so I think I’m gonna try a few things. Angelus leather paint wasn’t giving the desired effect and neither has the leather finisher (to seal the peeling). They’re entirely black but I even considered re-painting? I don’t know, I ‘ll probably try to figure out the peeling before committing the time, but maybe it’s worth making them my own

I also re-built a stack of clothes of personal clothes that I’d like altered/designed. It’s like I just finished the last stack yesterday ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Not that I mind more projects at all. I feel like even if I’m just adding a little text, I like to wear the apparel that much more knowing I added to it. I’m pretty much always adding stuff to the tops in my closet, but don’t often alter my pants/bottoms, so I’m also hoping to pick out a pair of mine to work on. I may plan out a design, but part of me really wants to just draw/stamp on them in my free time so I don’t overthink it. I guess we’ll see once I choose a pair
​
I’d really like to learn more sewing techniques or sizing alterations. I’m only familiar with sewing by hand, but wouldn’t be against learning with a machine in the future. I don’t have one now, but know how helpful they can be alterations. I want to be able to alter whatever I put my mind to
I think that’s all I’ve got planned, but if more comes from the week, you’ll hear about it <3
Thank you, as always, for stopping by
love yourself first
​
X  o  oxo oxo ox o oxo oxoXoo oxo XoOOO oXxoO O oxo oxox
- kemzie