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My name is Melody M. Nuñez, and I’m an artist and a writer. Please look around my website and make yourself at home. I post new blog entries weekly, and hope you’ll subscribe to my blog and come back often! To learn more about me, please view the “About” page…SUBSCRIBE
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Category Archives: inspiration
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
I really enjoy decorating for the holidays, and was excited to change things up a bit this year. We usually decorate with the same items and theme, and I decided this year would be different. Why? I guess it feels like I missed out on celebrating some things this year since I didn’t dress up for Halloween and was sick on Thanksgiving Day with a nasty headache. So, when it came to Christmas I decided to go big. I’m feeling particularly festive since I’ve been cleared by the doctor for full use of both my hands. Hurray! It was a real pleasure to decorate our home for the holidays, and I hope you enjoy what I came up with.
Doilies Everywhere!
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As I mentioned in my Doily-Inspired Mandalas post, I’ve collected a number of doilies over the past few months. One of the lots of doilies included several identical white doilies, and I decided to make a garland with them – to hang over a doorway. I also decided to use some of the larger doilies for wall decor. But first I had to stiffen them. Armed with a mixture I made by cooking cornstarch and water, I did just that.
The eight white doilies are linked together with old-school brass brads. I added some ribbon bows and vintage silver candy molds to add some “pop”.
These three large doilies look nice alongside the window, and the silver floral trim that I glued in the center really added some sparkle to otherwise flat pieces.
This view is from the bedroom, showing the backside of the garland – looking towards the tree.
Our tree has to be elevated up off the ground because of our pet rabbits, and I decided to use a table cloth that my mother-in-law cross-stitched years ago for our “tree skirt”. I love the look of it, and it has a lot of sentimental value.
Our main tree, lit. I left our typical hand-painted tin Mexican ornaments off the tree this year, and used lights, glass bulbs and snowflakes instead. I already had all those things though – the only things I purchased were the doilies used elsewhere in the room.
I found this vintage tinsel star at a thrift store in Kansas in 2009. Cost? A mere 75 cents!
This smaller green tree sits atop our bookshelf. If those star ornaments look familiar, it’s because I shared how to make them in a DIY post last year: Aluminum Star Ornaments! The star atop the tree is – yep, you guessed it – another stiffened doily. I glued an old rhinestone earring into the center of the star to add some oomph. The tree’s base and the the top of the bookshelf were “doilied”, too. :]
Here are the little tree and wreath that I put out in the studio, in the corner next to (and above) my desk. Tinsel rules in the studio this year, but I still have doilies under the tree and under the tiny baby Jesus.
And of course, here’s the Vintage Crocheted Wreath I shared on Tuesday – which is hanging on the inside of our front door.
I wasn’t kidding when I said there are doilies every where! The look I was going for is Modern Vintage, which is how I often describe my artwork – particularly my collages. I love vintage, but want to keep it “clean” and interesting – and I don’t want it to look too saccharine. Pretty, unique, and a bit unexpected – those are words I’d like used to describe this year’s decor. Do you think I succeeded in keeping a bit of an edge?
Do you have a theme that you work with when it comes to your holiday decor, dear readers? I hope you’ll comment and share. Oh, and if you’re interested in the recipe/process for stiffening the doilies with cornstarch, just let me know. I’d be happy to post a link in the comments to the page I referenced when I worked on the doilies.
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in antiques, DIY, holidays, life in general, vintage
Tagged decorating for the holidays, doilies, doily, holiday decor, using doilies to decorate for Christmas
8 Comments
Vintage Crocheted Wreath
Back in October I saw a super cool wreath idea on the blog 20 North Ora. ”Ms. Ora’s” wreaths were made with vintage crocheted potholders and doilies, and I just loved the idea of using beautiful needleworked items in a wreath. So clever! I found the doilies and potholders I needed to make the wreath on eBay and followed the directions on the 20 North Ora blog post with just a few exceptions.
1. I did use a straw wreath as instructed, but covered it with inexpensive white acetate ribbon instead of lace. The wreath I selected is 13″ in diameter at the outer edges.
2. I didn’t use any glue, I just pinned the doilies on with T pins. I like the idea of being able to take this wreath apart and re-make it in a different color scheme/pattern if I want.
Straw wreath covered with ribbon
Crocheted pieces laid out, ready for pinning
Pinned, before the bow was attached
I think vintage needlework is lovely and am pleased with how well the three round pieces and three square potholders came together on this one wreath. I just added a simple bow of aged and tattered lace to finish it off, and it was ready to hang. What do you think?
Personally, I really love that this wreath idea is so versatile. By mixing different colors and patterns you can make themed wreaths for any occasion – Christmas, Chanukah, Valentine’s Day, Spring, 4th of July, and more. Or just choose colors and patterns that will appeal to you year-round and skip the seasonal reference!
Oh, and by the way, if you happen to have any vintage crocheted potholders similar to those on my wreath, aren’t using them, and want them to go to a good home, please keep me in mind! I’d be happy to adopt them. :]
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in crafts, DIY, vintage
Tagged crocheted doily wreath, crocheted potholder, crocheted potholder wreath, doily, wreath
6 Comments
Sketch, Color & Blend!
Remember the doily-inspired mandalas I created in my art journals? I’ve created a few more since that first post, and thought I’d share a recent creation with you. I decided to take photos as I worked, to show the three main stages of my process:
1. Sketch the design
2. Color the mandala with water-soluble colored pencils
3. Blend color with a paintbrush & water
My sketch was very loose and rather sloppy. It’s obviously not precise, symmetrical, or to scale, but that’s not what I’m striving for. I’m focusing on interpretive renderings, more stylized designs, and am just having fun playing!
Thus far I’ve added color with water-soluble crayons or water-soluble colored pencils, but will likely add acrylic inks and other media into the mix in the near future.
I love seeing the colors come to life when they’re activated and blended with the water. Making these mandalas is a great way to try different color combinations.
Are you ready to make a doily-inspired mandala of your own yet?
Please let me know if you have any questions, dear readers!
Warm regards,
Melody
Adventures in Sketching
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: drawing is not my strong suit. I’m decent when I practice regularly (which, prior to this, was only for a few quarters in college), but I’m not a natural. I’m not a whiz. And I’m definitely not a prodigy. But I am an eternal student. I want to continue to learn, grow, and progress until I draw my last breath, so I recently enrolled in an online class focused on sketching.
Please don’t laugh, but this is my first online class. I thought taking the class might help keep me focused on the positive and help keep me occupied after the surgery on my left hand since my right hand was pretty functional by then, and I’m glad I signed up. The combination of video instruction, photos, and text works very well for me, and I’ll definitely sign up for more online classes in the future.
Alisa Burke’s Sketchbook Delight workshop really has been a delight, and has inspired me to take time to look, play, and practice. And while I may never be amazingly fantastic when it comes to drawing and sketching, I will be better. I’ll likely be able to do enough to satisfy me artistically, and to expand my creative output and options. And that’s enough. It’s worth the time spent and the uncertainty that comes along with embarking on an adventure in sketching.
Here are four of my sketch pages from the last month, in chronological order…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into my sketchbook/art journal. Have you taken any online classes that you’d recommend? Please share…
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art journaling, art supplies
Tagged Alisa Burke, drawing, online class, Sketchbook Delight, sketching
4 Comments
Another Look: More Crafts!
Welcome to a new installment of Another Look! This post is designed to share a handful of goodies from my archive while I’m recovering from my surgeries. I hope you enjoy these links, whether you’re seeing them for the first time or have seen them once before. Today’s category is More Crafts! Just click on the name of the post to link over…
Making Greeting Cards from Scraps!
A Chocolate Box Transformed (Your Heart’s Desire)
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Vintage Snapshot Ornaments
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Dyed Coffee Filter Flowers
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Beribboned “Art Saves” Mobile
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I hope you’ve enjoyed Another Look at some of my crafting projects! What have you been crafting or otherwise creating lately? New recipes? Artwork? Enhanced inner peace? Please share…
Warm regards,
Melody
Halloween Costume Idea: The Rotten Tooth Fairy
Greetings! Halloween approaches, and I thought I’d share my costume from last year in case some of you are still looking for costume ideas. I went to work dressed as The Rotten Tooth Fairy, and had a blast putting the costume together! I just have simple (rather fuzzy) phone snapshots, so these photos aren’t the best, but you should get the idea.
Last year, as I was trying to figure out what I should go as, my warped little mind stumbled upon the idea of being The Rotten Tooth Fairy. Far from the lovely, white-winged Tooth Fairy that gathers the baby teeth of children, my Rotten Tooth Fairy would collect rotten teeth from dentist’s offices. You know – the teeth adults neglected and had to have pulled! This Tooth Fairy would be a bit rough around the edges, I decided. Tougher, mangier, and “darker”. With the basic concept in mind I was off and running. Here’s the costume – head to toe:
Hair: Ratted hair and a black headband with a black tulle “poof” on it
Makeup: Black and gray eyeshadow around the eyes, and lots of eyeliner and mascara. Dark red lipstick. Teeth made grungy by smearing black tooth wax on them. (I purchased the tooth wax in the costume section at a party store – Party City)
Clothes: Basic dark gray cotton t-shirt with the collar cut off. The Rotten Tooth Fairy iron-on was created by my talented hubby in Photoshop, and was ironed on to my t-shirt after I printed it onto inkjet iron-on paper. Long black skirt, black tights with snags and runs in them, and black motorcycle boots.
Jewelry: Sparkly black earrings and rubber “barbed wire” bracelets. I would’ve loved to have some teeth earrings, but didn’t get that done in time!
Other “accessories” and details: Long “gloves” cut from dark stockings and then snagged. Black, chipped nail polish. A basked (sprayed matte black) filled with a Milk Duds, a wooden box of “teeth”, a hammer, pliers, and other rusty metal tools. A tooth “wand” that I made by wrapping a paintbrush’s handle with black masking tape and attaching the tooth-shaped backing paper from the iron-on logo from my shirt.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the costume, dear readers. Oh, and don’t forget to brush those teeth! :]
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in holidays, life in general
Tagged Halloween costume, Halloween costume idea, The Rotten Tooth Fairy
4 Comments
DIY: Cosmetic Bags Turned Pen & Pencil Cases!
I recently transformed some clearance cosmetic bags I found at Michaels into customized pen and pencil cases, and thought I’d share them with you. The bags, a steal at 50 cents each, were pretty enough as is – but I wanted to make them at bit more artsy and more durable. I was inspired to use them to hold pens, pencils, and other art supplies, and just knew I’d come up with some fun looks. They’re easy to make, and can be customized a million different ways!
The cosmetic bags – BEFORE..
My customized Pen & Pencil Cases – AFTER!
Basic Instructions:
The first step on each bag was to tape along the two sides (where the bag was stitched) and the bottom. This laid a base for my other tape, and adds extra strength. Next, I taped along the top edge, by the zipper, and worked my way down. In most cases I worked horizontally, but you can tape vertically (up and down) as well like I did on the Washi Tape Case. This project is very loose and flexible, so just play and find what works for you.
Washi Tape Case
I made this case by using three different patterns of washi tape and clear packing tape. I used the packing tape as a base layer on the whole bag, applied the washi tape in a repeating vertical pattern, and then “sealed” the case with another layer of clear packing tape. I’ve put colored pens inside this case.
Silver & Black Duct Tape Cases
I made these cases by taping along the sides and bottom, and then taping along the top and down the bag. The black pen case also has another layer of tape along each of the sides, to cover some of the edges of the tape strips I applied horizontally. The silver case holds my Caran d’Ache water-soluble crayons, and the black case holds my black pens.
Vintage Ledger Paper & Masking Tape Case
I made this case by attaching pieces of vintage ledger paper to both sides of the case using a very strong double stick tape. I covered the entire case with clear packing tape, and then accented the sides and bottom edge of the case with pieces of masking tape cut to assorted sizes. This case holds assorted art tools like small tapes, my XActo knife, pencils, and an eraser.
Now, rather than having bunches of things loose in my “art supplies on the go” case, I’ve got these fun, sturdy, and budget-friendly cases keeping things tidier and more organzied. Woo hoo! Oh, and if you missed my post on how to repurpose a vintage train case into a travel case for your art supplies, please click here. I love the way the case turned out, and it’s really handy – whether I’m just creating here at home or am out and about.
WANT TO MAKE A PEN OR PENCIL CASE OF YOUR OWN?
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I picked up some extra cosmetic bags, in case some of you would like to customize a bag for yourself or someone you know. If you’d like me to mail you one of the unaltered cosmetic bags, please leave a comment indicating as much – and use the CONTACT feature to email me your mailing address. The first FIVE people to comment and email me their addresses will get one of the bags.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments, dear readers. And Happy Fall!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art supplies, crafts, DIY, giveaway
Tagged Duct Tape, pen cases, pencil cases, vintage ledger paper, Washi Tape
6 Comments
Another Look: Art
Welcome to a new installment of Another Look! This post is designed to share a handful of goodies from my archive while I’m recovering from my surgeries. I hope you enjoy these links, whether you’re seeing them for the first time or have seen them once before. Today’s category is Art! Just click on the name of the post to link over…
Collage Basics: Less is More!
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Drawing a Blank? Prompts for Writers & Artists
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My Art Journals
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Still Drawing a Blank? More Prompts for Writers & Artists
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New (Heart) Art!
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From collage and photography to art journals, my work includes a variety of media and materials. Which artistic mediums and materials (including those not shared on my blog) are your favorite?
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art journaling, art supplies
Tagged art journals, collage, drawing, mixed media, painting
4 Comments
Special Guest Post: Digital Painting
Greetings, dear readers! I’m pleased to share a guest post with you today. And who might this guest blogger be, you ask? My wonderfully talented husband, José B. Nuñez! Jose has been an artist since he was a young boy. He excelled in art in high school, graduated from UCSB with a degree in art, and is the Creative Director at Bad Bunny Studios. He’s my in-house tech guru, and shot, edited, and produced my art program’s video.
José is sooooo much more tech savvy than I am, so it seems fitting that his guest post’s topic is digital art. I hope you enjoy his post and art as much as I have! Take it away, José…
I have always enjoyed making art. I’ve worked in many different mediums: oils, acrylics, clay, pastels, charcoal, watercolors, stone and wood – you name it. I like everything about working in each one of these mediums, the texture, the smell, the viscosity; these are all tangible and real.
That said, I must admit that I’ve recently taken a liking to making art on my iPAD – specifically “digital painting”. I first tried it several years back and was not a fan of it. I didn’t think the software came anywhere close to simulating working in any traditional medium at all.
So when I purchased my iPAD to use for photography and video (something I’ll cover in another post) I thought I would try some of the Art Apps. There are many, many drawing and painting apps but after some initial research I decided to go with Procreate and Inspire Pro. They both do a great job of simulating working with real paint – in fact after 10 minutes of working I always seem to stop and look for paint on my hands. Scary!
ProCreate allows you to work with layers – very similar to Photoshop, including changing the blending modes to each layer. Inspire Pro has no layers, but simulates working with a dry or wet brush very well. They both do a great job of blending colors onto the digital canvas. And if you make a mistake, you have several “undos” to correct your last changes. Another plus? You don’t have to wait for the paint to dry!
Inspire Pro, Adonit Pro Stylus
Inspire Pro, Adonit Pro Stylus
Procreate, Adonit Pro Stylus
Inspire Pro, Adonit Pro Stylus
Though digital art apps have come a long way, for me there’s nothing like the smell of oil paints, turpentine and linseed oil while painting. However, if for whatever reason you find yourself unable to work in traditional media or would like to venture into the digital world, I highly recommend an iPAD loaded with these two apps!
Please let me know if you have any questions about the images or apps…
José
*Sunflower image at top: Procreate, Adonit Pro Stylus
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Also posted in art
Tagged Bad Bunny Studios, digital art, digital painting, iPad, Jose B. Nunez
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Another Look: Photography
Welcome to another installment of Another Look! This post is designed to share a handful of goodies from my archive while I’m recovering from my surgeries. I hope you enjoy these links, whether you’re seeing them for the first time or have seen them once before. Today’s category is photography! Just click on the name of the post to link over…
6 Simple Tips for Taking Better Photos
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Harvesting Bounty at the Farmers Market
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The Joys of iPhone Photography
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Visual Nutrition
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I hope you enjoy these posts. Please feel free to comment and share any photography tips you find helpful when you’re behind the camera.
Warm regards,
Melody
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