"Inspired" Canvas

Next month, May 13-15, is Donna Downey's Inspired 2010 event. I will be attending as a vendor and teaching some mini classes where we are doing a really cool plaque in metal for the cover of a book or as a wall hanging. Anyone can attend and just take the mini classes and shop with the vendors, or sign up for the entire experience and take classes with 6 really creative teachers.

Donna sent out her camera bags to the teachers to have them decorate, send back and they will be auctioned off at the event. I think the proceeds are going to the Haitian Relief Fund.

In today's TTV I show how I proceeded along this journey. Now let me tell you something about this journey. When I start creating something, I usually have no idea of where I'm going. I'll come up with an idea, think it's brilliant, start it, discover it sucks, rethink idea and hopefully come up with another brilliant idea!

I thought this idea was brilliant. I was going to rivet the bottle caps to the canvas, that didn't work. Then I was going to sew the pieces onto the canvas with my gorgeous fibers and have them dangling all over. Now that was a brilliant idea...however...the execution of such sewing SUCKED BIG TIME. I would have needed to start that part of the process last year. Plus my cute little fibers won't go through canvas that has been painted 45 times. FYI painting canvas 45 times tends to make the canvas feel like cement, which makes it hard to sew, which makes it a sucking big time bad idea. Was I going to quit....heavens no, I'm just going to keep going until I take my "Big Ass Craft Knife" and shred the the bags to bits. I won't actually do that as I would need to do another bag and well you get the picture of my predicament.

The saving grace to this project will be what's in the bag when it's auctioned off. I'm still working on the bag as this is being typed and as soon as I have it done, probably this weekend, we will take more pics and post them as I have to send the bag out next week to Donna.

So, what is this week's giveaway for posting a comment to this post, well someone will win the other canvas bag. Now before you get all crazy be aware...I've already started the painting of it...but I promise to stop. You can see it in one of the photos of the "real studio" post last week. So, it's all ready to have all sorts of stuff added to it and I've done the base coat! Who knows I may even throw in some bottle caps! The winner will be picked on Friday evening. Have a great week.

Comments

[Ruth Ann Landry]

A real bad-ass camera bag, Cheryl...I wondered what those things were in last week's photos...see I was really scoping out your stash! I love the idea of altering canvas but don't know if I'm ready for that quite yet. I know I'd give that yummy orangy bag a nice home until (and yes, after,) I could figure it out! What I'd really like to know is how long did it take you to get all those layers of paint off your hands? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Marlene Moore]

Love all those bottle caps ! Well I love all the stuff you do who am I kidding !

[Debby]

So glad that a master such as yourself has great ideas that do not turn out as planned. That gives us "other people" hope that we can create art too! But that is the joy of creating as you never know where it will take you.

[Linda Coppolino]

Good or bad, we're all learning and appreciate your inspiration!

[Lori]

What a great idea! Love the bottlecap idea! That's a lotta drillin'!

[Elaine]

Love the bottlecaps! I think everyone creates like that - most people have an idea of what the end will be like but happy accidents get in the way!!!

[Jan Hoefler]

I need to start hitting the beer instead of the Vodka to get some different caps...
Oh, another 'out loud' thought....

Cheryl "I" would finish this piece. Really. AND you could come to my studio & I promise to clean..... Really I do.....

[peggy mcdevitt]

Love the fact that you show things when they are not turning out as expected or turning out at all. You will pull it out so don't worry, give it a day and look at it again. Some of my worse art projects have turned out to be my most inspired pieces, of course I say a lot of bad words at it while I am trying to save it. Love the video today, like always. You inspire me. Peggy

[Susan Chong]

It is nice to see that there are so many "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" artists out there. I often have churning ideas in my head for months, only to be disappointed in my execution. Later they turn into a very different, but not bad project! Sometimes even better than what I originally planned. :) I do have to say, however, that I have tossed a few projects in the trash bin.
The caps and bag turned out great! I loved the video and look forward to more pics of both bags!
Thanks for the inspiration.....!!!
xoxoxooxoxo
Susan Chong

[Mimi Martyn]

Oh, yes, I want the 'other' canvas bag!!
Great ideas.
Mimi

[geezee]

I really loved the camera bag when she showed it in a CHA video for paperclipping. So you gonna pick on the winner on Friday or you gonna pick the winner on Friday? Pick on me, Pick on me.

[Roxanne]

Cheryl, it looks like you had an accident on your hands, you really should wash up more! Hey, you didn't have Megan in the video to rag on ya, so someone has to.

[Robin Myers]

Hey Cheryl I have about 200 more bottle caps in my studio if you need more. Or you can just pick me for the gift and I will rivet them on for you :) Love Ya Lady! You Rock!

[Angie Hall Haviland]

FUN Project and great video!! Hope you have a GREAT week to, Cheryl!

[Lisa]

LOVE your bags!!!!
Thanks for being real & showing that not ALL projects turn out as planned nor perfectly the 1st time.
I usually assume everything artists create turns out perfect the 1st time they make it -- very friggin annoying.
LOVE your creative space -- the space of a REAL artist!

[Kim-Florida]

I LOVE that I am not the only person in the world who seems to back into a final piece. I mean I always (OK usually) start out with this AMAZING idea (in my head), start working it (compare it to the idea in my head) and throw my hands in the air, shake my head (like that will adjust the thoughts) try to "fix" what I have done to match it to the original thought (in my head) and in the end . . . . the head and the hands NEVER (OK hardly ever) agree. It is good to know that I am not the only inner conflicted person in the world!!!!! Thank you if for nothing else (but there are a lot of other reasons) thank you for letting me know I am not insane (or should be in the same unit)?

You rock keep it up!!!!

[Ashley]

Reminds me of those bottlecap necklaces my kids love! I am sure whatever you do will be amazing...it always is...and is always something my "accountant" mind could NEVER come up with!

Have fun at the Inspire event!

Ashley

[Cindy Felisberto]

Your process sounds so like mine - brilliant ideas that become dim in execution - only to be revived by another brilliant thought...
One hopes.

[Dani Larcom]

Ooooh! Mama could use a brand new camera bag! What better for a crafter's cmera than a camera bag like that?? They really are cool Cheryl!!

[DeannaC]

Love how you improvise as you go along. Whatever you do always turns out beautifully so that process really works for you!

[susan socotch]

"It's the Journey...Not the Destination" And isn't that what ART is all about??? [I think so anyway!] How wonderful is it to have the freedom and talent to 'morph' a piece into something totally different from its original! WOW!!! Great job Cheryl!!! I truly admire your ability to be a 'free spirit' as you create...You have really inspired me with this video! Thanks so much!!!
susan

[Tiffany Robbins]

Gosh if i could get that new T1i Canon Rebel that would look so stinkin cute in a canvas bag. Who am I kidding ( I already won once and my DH won't hand over the credit card for the camera). I'll just keep dreamin.....ah, ooh... One day!

[Ink-Pattie]

I'm guessing you attached all those bottle caps with magnets. That would be easy...easy to erase all of your digital photos from your digital camera in the camera bag. What DID you do??? You don't have to tell me--just send the bag and I'll see for myself.

[Bev F]

Great ideas. I am another one of those "one step at a time" artists. You never know where you will end up.

[Deb S]

Glad to know you had such fun experimenting with those blasted caps.

[Bonnie Belk]

If you can't say something nice, say something positive. I'm positive the finished camera bag will be amazing. The unfinished camera bag definitely needs a little more "processing" to be fully "developed." I'm withholding judgment - but based on this photo alone, I really won't mind not winning!
;-)

[Stamperino]

Keep repeating this---it's not important if your great idea turns out perfect--just KEEP GOING. Many of the things I've done that weren't what I started out to do I've liked the best.

[Leslie]

Great learning lesson - keep going!!!

[Sharon]

Love the camera bag, love the idea of working on fabric. Great to see that all of your ideas do not turn out as planned, alot like mine...but we keep on going until we like it. Missed Megan this week, Would LOVE to own the camera bag.....

[Andrea M. Harris]

love the bottle caps--would make an awesome belt if they were strung together--or--maybe jar lids like you did with the silk flowers--strung togehter with metal rings (saw something like this on a craft video--can't remember which one)

You are the bomb!

Andrea

[JeanneLee in MD]

Cheryl , what a cool tool you have to drill into those bottle caps....you are such a creative soul using bottle caps on a canvas bag!

I love the distress look and would take this 40+ layered bag!

[Holly McMannes]

Cool canvas bag with the bottle caps. Cheryl, you have the "midas touch". Everything you make looks great and fabulous. Keep on creating.
Holly from Nebraska

[Lisa]

What a fashion icon anyone one who was lucky enough to win that would be the envy of everyone. Love it.

[Lesley]

Cool Bag. Cool flexi drilly thing too!!

[Barbara Albrecht]

Lordy Lordy....I'm sooooooo glad other people create sucky s_ _t!!!! It's funny reading how so many have the same problem...I sure do!!! My problem...I put the sucky project up to "step back" and forget it's there...it's hell getting old...LOL!!!

If the sucky camera bag would love to come to my messy studio it would be soooooo happy!!!

[PamS]

Very cool bag, good luck with the sewing and shredding!

[Georgia]

Those bags are sooo stinkin' cute and I love the creativity that went into decorating it. Now, it just needs to come live at my house....

[Octavia]

I knew I was saving my bottle caps for some reason...mine are from black cherry soda & mojitos. I keep them in a container by my microwave...hmm...what could I possible stick them on???

[connie hunley]

Lady--You continue to amaze me. These Taco Tuesday videos keep my inspired to metalize everything. Keep em coming

[marcia]

to hell with putting a camera in there, that bag would become my TenSecondsStudio transport system (a TSSTS if you will), stylishly carrying my little project with me to work on wherever I get stuck waiting.....

[Debbie Barnhill]

Lookin' good Cheryl!! I have a few ideas for that bag!!!

[Cindi]

How fun it would be to win a handmade bag!
I think bottle caps make wonderful items.
Happy Earth Day! Many thanks for the another
chance to win something fabulous from you!
Cindi

[SuZeQ]

LOVED the video but missed Miss M ...

[Eileen Bellomo]

I love the bottlecaps, and am happy to hear that I'm not the only one whose brilliant ideas sometimes just plain suck. Big time.
Thanks for sharing.
Eileen in NYC

[Edie Malin]

Lemonade anyone?? :)
Can't wait to see what you turn it all into!
edie

[Lori Northon]

Did you try using a sewing awl to punch little holes through the "cement" canvas before trying to push a needle and thread through? A sewing awl can be a rather indispensible tool when it comes to stiff or thick fabric. FYI Dremel has an attachment for their drills that converts their drill into the same sort of "pen" drill as what you showed us in your video. Only difference is your's has a foot control and with the Dremel you still use the actual drill to control the speed.

I know you can take criticism, so I'm going to be honest with you, because I'm definitely not liking the looks of the copper-colored camera bag. As an artist, I hate it when people view my work and tell me how great it is when I KNOW it sucks. So, here's the bad news: It looks unfinished, it's pretty ugly, and it's not your best piece of work by a long shot. The good news is that more often than not it isn't the final result that's important, but the mistakes you made, what you did or didn't do to correct those mistakes, and what you learned along the way.

I am loving the "other" camera bag so far. It looks like you airbrushed a couple of colors onto the canvas. I love how the natural color of the canvas is peaking through and becomes a third color. And was that some coordinating flowers in the container next to the camera bag? I hope you show us the "other" finished bag.

[Cheryl Darrow, Artist]

Dear Lori,
Thanks for being so honest. I was having a totally shitay day and you brought a little sunshine into it. Now I just want to go kick it, slash it, and stomp all over it. Oh wait, I can't that would mess up all those wonderful bottle caps, but wait, it's not finished and I'm still working on my little copper creation. Lori you have spurned me to new heights and wait til you see what I do!

[melanie]

I love the idea of the bottle caps with the bingo numbers inside. The camera bag came out great! Very inspiring!

[Kathy]

Ok, Lori was honest and I respect that, but don't totally agree. I wouldn't have thought copper would have created camouflage, but it definitely did (I love copper so that broke my heart) - can't wait to see the cooper creation you're working on. I like the bottle cap Bingo numbers idea (is there a hidden message too - can't imagine you didn't "write" something for this project), however, thought maybe the Appletini metal would have given it more pizzaz.
I'm anxious to see the other bag - wish I could go to Donna's INSPIRED, but not that lucky this time. Have a wonderful time - I hope you share some pictures with us. Are you going crafter hunting (or should I say lurking) in that neighborhood as well? Who knows, maybe they'll be making metal mold inspired bottle caps too? wink-wink.

[Carla H.]

Oh, Cheryl..I was wondering when I would see the drill come out to make sewing holes in that stiffened canvas..that would have been a bugger to sew cutesy bottle caps through. Great finished bag you blogged! Way to go. I guess I didn't read last weeks post, so continued reading and had the best laugh about your spaces and then reading all of the comments, made my day and my very clutter spaces feel normal! I identify with all of the comments..happy creating week!!