I’ve had a few request to do a Jackalope pattern on my Flickr group, Badbird Patterns. So, I thought it was time that I made their wish my command.
Wallah!
Click on the image to enlarge, then right click on the image to print.
Archive for the ‘General Stuff’ Category
April 2013 Free Embroidery Pattern. The Jackalope!
Monday, April 1st, 2013Another kind of dog.
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013(Please click on the images if you have trouble reading the dialog.)
There have been quite a few children’s books about dogs. Lovable, people loving dogs. I’m writing a book about my dog, but he’s a bit different. My boy needs personal space. Strangers are to be seen from a distance and they’re definitely NOT supposed to come up and manhandle his butt. Even if they do it while saying “Who’s a good boy then?”
I can’t really blame him. If someone came up and manhandled my butt and said, “Who’s a good girl then?” I would be VERY upset and prone to physical violence.
Sometimes I wonder if he ‘s seen one to many Public Service Announcements about strangers.
And let’s face it, there is nothing stranger than some children.
When I say children that includes babies. As I’ve said before, in my Christmas story ( http://zuill.us/andreablog/2012/12/06/a-christmas-dog/ ), my dog can’t stand babies but he does like their toys. He’d never hurt a child but stealing from them is not a moral issue for him.
There is a type of child my dog likes. My furry guy likes to be treated like just another kid.
He may not know what is going on but he gives it his all.
There is only one problem with gaining my dogs trust. . .
March’s Free Embroidery Pattern! The folk art design: Heart in Hand
Thursday, March 7th, 2013
March’s free embroidery pattern is an old symbol that I am very fond of. It’s called Heart in Hand. You’ve probably seen it before. Lot’s of folk-art crafters use this symbol. It’s been used to identifly the Odd Fellows organization. It can be seen in cemeteries on headstones of past Odd Fellow members often with the addition of a three link chain underneath it.
The Shakers used it to symbolize charity given with an open heart. I have also seen it used in old handmade valentines.
As always, click on the pattern above for a larger view and to print out.
I used to do photography.
Monday, February 25th, 2013
My niece in her disturbing-lack-of-eyebrow phase.
About 3,000 years ago I used to do Photography.
San Diego County Fair, possibly 1996?
Yes, besides oil painting, watercolor, embroidery, quilting and illustration I did b/w photography. Before you get too impressed please note that I have a lot of trouble counting any higher than 10 and putting my shirt on right side out seems to pose problems for me.
Another niece and creepy rabbit with matching smiles.
These were originally created in the darkroom. I have started scanning them into my computer and working on them in Photoshop. When they’re finished I will be posting them. It’s really fun for me to see these images since they’ve been stored away for 10 to 15 years.
You won’t believe it! A NEW free embroidery pattern!
Friday, February 15th, 2013You know, you guys have put up with a lot from me over the years. First, there was Oil-Painting Andrea, then Craft-Girl Andrea, Stupid-Story Andrea and now Children’s-Book-Illustrator Andrea. What can I say? I wear many hats and some of my hats are wee pointy things with glitter on them, but I digress. I vaguely remember promising to give you, my loyal minions, a new free pattern every month (what was I thinking?) and that seems to have disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle of my life.
But guess what! A free pattern has snuck in! Right under my nose too (it’s probably because of me having a cold). And it’s topical! That’s right, it is! It’s an Easter Bunny. Can’t you just image him hippity hopping into your house on Easter night and depositing his eggs? Oh the joy.
So go ahead and have your way with him. Make me proud!
You can click on the pattern above for a large view.
Nothing should hold you back. Drawing with flaws.
Monday, January 28th, 2013
Many future artist/illustrators hold themselves back by feeling that there is some great deficit in their skills. If you have ever said, “I can never be an artist because I can’t even draw a straight line”, please get someone to kick your butt for me. Who cares about straight lines? I sure don’t! You can’t draw perspective? So what! Wacky perspective is fun! The most important thing is to relax and be your old weird drawing self.
Here are some of my “weaknesses”.
First, I can’t draw a whole scene. I have to put it together in pieces.
Second, I can’t draw figures facing to the right. They always have to face to the left. No problem. I just scan it into Illustrator and make a mirror image. I can actually think of a dozen ways to correct this problem without using the computer.
Third, my perspective is pretty weak. So, I just get it close enough, and people think it’s charming.
So there, no more excuses. Just draw.
And, by the way, the illustration above was made using pieces of the sketch below. This is my extra special art secret, so don’t tell anybody.
New Postcard
Monday, January 14th, 2013
Well, it’s time for a new postcard.
I had an idea that I wanted to go with, which is of a cat-loving little girl with an annoyed cat. I wanted the girl to be totally ecstatic. I wanted the cat to look like that if given the chance he would murder the little girl, and for fun, everyone else in the world.
Now, there is nothing wrong with this sample postcard above but it wasn’t extreme enough. My drawing style is very controlled in this image. (Oh, and thanks Charles for letting me know that whatnot is one word.)
So, I tried to relax. I still knew I wanted the girl in particular to be much muchier, and chubby. As I drew I started to see a character developing that enjoyed.
In the final image I opened her mouth to add to her ecstasy in having a kitty. Instead of inking in the drawing I scanned in the pencil sketch. I tried to not clean it up too much. I think it works.
I would like to thank my sister and my daughter, former love-that-cat-to-death children, for their inspiration. Not to fear though, my adult sister and daughter are now loved by cats far and wide.
A Christmas Dog.
Thursday, December 6th, 2012
Our dog is a Christmas dog. We try to hold off letting him know that it’s holiday time because he can get intense.
Every year he gets the same three presents. A large hard plastic ball w/ holes cut into it to reveal yet another ball inside, a small throwing ball, and a hedgehog that snorts and squeaks.
He has acquired the knowledge that during the holiday season people buy presents that they carry in shopping bags decorated for Christmas. He also believes that the odds are in his favor that the shopping bags carried by strangers might contain a present for him . It’s a number’s thing.
Unfortunately, one of our favorite parks to walk in is next to a mall. There was a “incident” with my dog and some teens carrying home their Christmas shopping. Luckily they got off with just a Nose mugging. (major sniffing)
My dog thinks that babies are boring. He has no interest in them until Christmas because, let’s face it, stealing a present from a baby is like stealing candy from a baby.
And babies don’t know how to play with a Busy Box properly. (I got him a Simon Game from a thrift store one year. He loved it until it broke in about 10 minutes.)
On Christmas morning we have to make sure that our furry boy gets one of his presents first. Otherwise we have a lot of whining and nose pushing. His technique for opening a present is almost surgical. He really would rather not tear the paper. I’d like to believe that he appreciates the effort we took to wrap him a pretty package.
Since he doesn’t like destroying the wrapping paper, if a present is too difficult to open he will whine until we start it for him.
Once his presents are open he is in doggy heaven with the same 3 toys we have gotten him almost every year. We have tried other toys and snacks too, but apparently they were yucky.
For at least an hour on Christmas morning we have this (see below).
Like I said, he’s in doggy heaven.
