So, um, I decided to learn embroidery? This was my first (test) project. I figured learning a new skill was a good way to spend a new years eve I guess. Basically I sketched out my design with a chalk-pencil and then just played around with different stitches that were shown in some of my sewing/craft books. Mostly this is just satin stitching but theres a mix of stem stitch, short and long stitch, and other types used as well.

I've since learned that discovering old embroidery books and techniques is really really fun! Its amazing to see the level of craftmanship that old stitching and embroidery required and it brings an awed awareness of the intricacy that the kind of textiles you find in museums have. I hope to use these skills to construct a really intricate traditional costume someday.

Poor little dude has so many names! But yes, made to match with Kero (next in the gallery), same base pattern I'd made with modifications (wings, ears, tail). My crowning achievement with this one ( other than the fact that I got up the nerve to make another of these little fiends) was his tail. You may notice in pictures that the characters tail has a loopy curl in near the end. And using elastic and a lot of patience I got it to look right like it was supposed to! So neat and sproingy.

All CCS characters and designs are copyright CLAMP. I just made the plushie.

Made alongside the Final Judgement costume this little guy took FAR too much effort. I made his pattern from scratch (never having done anything like this before) and used other toys I had and the pictures as reference to make him look right. The result is adorable and I'm quite proud that I made him on my own. Though my mom graciously helped sew some of the last bits together as I was nearing a nervous breakdown trying to get it done for the con. Yay for mom!

All CCS characters and designs are copyright CLAMP. I just made the plushie.

It is hard to tell from this photo that this stack is less than 2inches tall.

Each of these were carved out of casting wax, I did all the work but the process was under the guidance of Letke and with the occasional tips and advice of my classmates. These were my sculptures from the silver course at the Haliburton School of the Arts. Highly recommended, it was a fantastic week.

Materials used included: Cardboard, glue, paint, fabric, plastic gems, plastic beads, glue, plastic bird, cardboard, glue, plumbing pipes, styrofoam balls, tissue paper, glue...

These are all props I made for my one university anthropology class presentation where we reenacted the British Coronation ceremony. My group (also known as THE-BEST-GROUP-EVER, all four of us) ended up choosing the British coronation to disect, analyze, and reenact. I volunteered for the prop committee and got to make these. Did I mention we had the best group ever? It was seriously one of the most fun enjoyable and well planned projects I have ever been a part of. We did really well too, and now I have all the props to be the queen for Halloween or some such events!

Title: "A Linguistic Snowscene" otherwise known as the Eraser Zoo Version 1.2

Made by myself, Kelsi and Breanne after finishing the befuddling thing that was our first Linguistics quiz/exam. Once we had finished we had nothing to do so I divied up my kneedable eraser and we ended up with these. I made the squirrel and turtle, Kelsi the bird and mouse [initially a cow of the same size] and Breanne the adorable snowman.

Reviews include: "It makes me so happy its kinda sad." and "Why don't we have a camera?". So with those thoughts in mind Kelsi made a box, I made a sign and they were carried back to my apartment in relative safety for photographing, woohoo!

Media: Various materials: wood, paint, tissue paper, wire, rocks, twigs, overhead paper and others.
Each block of the display fits together as a puzzle to form the dragonfly's story. Each one represented a level in the maturation of the dragonfly and a reflection to various aspects of world religions. I remember when I got the assignment I didn't have a clue what I was going to make - to represent all the major world religions without directly using any of them? But my brain was stuck on dragonflies apparently. Dragonfly, dragonfly chant thrumming in my brain before I went to sleep. I swear the first 3 parts of the display burst full fledged into my dreams, all I had to do was make them. And figure out the last two. It was fun. The dragonflies are just made out of twists of tissue paper, wrapped in wire that also holds the overhead sheet wings on. They turned out surprisingly realistic. The two dragonflies of the fourth section are just tiny, about 1cm or so, of just wire twists and the plastic wings.

First stage -- hatching, born next to stream and out of water, natural baptism.
Second stage -- Summer, drought, exodus in search of sanctuary.
Third Stage -- Meditation, maturation and reflection. A pause in passing.
Fourth Stage -- Pilgrimage, dragonflies will travel great distances to find a pond, stream or lake to mate amongst the lilypads and reeds.
Fifth Stage -- Death, release, change. What colours could the soul of a dragonfly be?

This one took me a ridiculously long time to do. I'd never carved anything before whatsoever so I ended up carving it out of wax from the specifications of the Egyptian horus sculptures as best I could. I had to specially treat the acrylic paint to get it to adhere to the carving.

This guy is old! I made him back in grade 8, though I'm still really pleased with him. Took quite a while and a lot of research to make it look realistic enough. Then, disappointingly, my first version exploded in the kiln. My art teacher informed me that "no he would not mark my rubble" despite having seen me making the thing for a month, and doing so for other people's rubble. :P Oh well. This version turned out better anyway. The eyes are neat as they're layers of clear acrylic over the black painted eye indents to make a round smooth shiny eye. If I remember correctly, I also painted it with a toothbrush to get the stipple effect.

Live on little guy, live on! ... in your dead, claylike fashion... His little display habitat is actually a decorated beanie baby collector case which keeps him dust free, posed and safe surprisingly well.