Friday, March 30, 2012

Day 89 :: Thursday March 29 :: Ottawa

Work only with bubble wrap or any other packing materials you have on hand.

Before today, i never knew that cutting/gluing a bubble envelope could be this much fun! Since my ultimate frisbee team was playing in the IID league championships tonight, what better to make than a crown? Funnily enough, each team had a player blessed with the last name 'King' – leading to much friendly trash-talk about who would emerge as true king of IID.

The crafted crown:

Congratulations to Mack for the win – and graciously accepting the fame and fortune that modeling for my blog will undoubtedly bring him!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Day 88 :: Wednesday March 28 :: Ottawa

Make something only using stuff from your workplace or office. If you don't work, use items that are usually found in an office. 

Since i work in a print shop, i really wanted to do something using more interesting materials than pens or paperclips... so i snuck into our production area between two press runs, climbed on our large 4-colour press and made these little stars from the cyan ink lying in the receptacle. To give an idea of scale, each star is roughly 3 inches across – and the ink had the consistency of molasses!


Day 87 :: Tuesday March 27 :: Ottawa

What can you do with a candle? Try using the drips from a lit candle to make an image, or use an unlit one to draw on a porous surface, then make the image appear with watercolor or ink. Or, as always, feel free to experiment.

I used two lit/melted-down tealight candles, and discovered pretty quickly that there was a definite learning curve to candle-drip art. After making a lot of messy nonsense and having to pause in order to scrounge around for more cardboard, i finally nailed it with this feather. The added spray on the side was done by dipping a finger in the melted wax and flicking it over the cardboard (a harder method as the wax hardened almost immediately).


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Day 86 :: Monday March 26 :: Ottawa

Decorate a cake, pie or cookie. Store-bought or homemade frosting can be used, but sprinkles, powdered sugar, and other toppings are fun to work with as well. Document it being eaten.

I failed on this one :( I went to the grocery store after work, but forgot to pick up any toppings! I didn't have anything suitable at home, so could only decorate my maple cookies with a drizzle of maple syrup. It was still deliciously fun to snap this series of photos.




Day 85 :: Sunday March 25 :: Ottawa

Work with words. Make an image with just words or letters. You can cut them from magazines, draw them yourself, or print out words on a computer to work with.

Confession: One tabloid magazine was hurt in the making of this assignment. I now have a star made of many, many stars – could this be called a constellation? :)




Monday, March 26, 2012

Day 84 :: Saturday March 24 :: Ottawa

Keep it clean. Use a bar of soap to make something new. You can carve it with a knife, use it to draw, break it into pieces, or even make bubbles - just have fun.

Soap again! It was a challenge to do something different from Day 61 – so instead of carving the soap from the outside, I went for the inside this time. I also used an xacto blade instead of a potato peeler. Quite happy with the results!


Almost done:


Finished!


Friday, March 23, 2012

Day 83 :: Friday March 23 :: Ottawa

Make a visual pun. For example, a handbag made out of hands.

It's a fork in the road...


Day 82 :: Thursday March 22 :: Ottawa

Create a new kind of utensil. Functional or not, document it in use. 

Okay, so this isn't exactly a new concept... but have you ever wanted to pick up something and found that those large salad scoop thingies are just too, well, large? Here is the solution! Mini scoop thingies, now affectionately referred to as 'The Mini-Cheese Picker-Upper'.


Thursday, March 22, 2012

Day 81 :: Wednesday March 21 :: Ottawa

Make something out of erasers. Kneaded erasers are great to mold, standard pink erasers can be easily carved, and straight pins can be used to attach them to each other.

I learned tonight that standard white erasers are also easily carved. With the help of a few paper clips, I now have a tiny mobile :)




Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Day 80 :: Tuesday March 20 :: Ottawa

Try dyeing! Work with food or fabric dye. You can try traditional tie-dye methods or just paint it on. Experiment with unconventional materials.

Since my sister's the queen of tie-dye, i thought i'd go a different route for today's assignment. I liked the idea of food dye – and craving pancakes, this felt like a perfect medium. I first poured batter into a pan, added a few drops of dye on top then made patterns using a chopstick. Since the coloured side was the second side to cook, the result was a surprise every time. Not only pretty, but delicious too!


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Day 79 :: Monday March 19 :: Ottawa

Walk through an alley or along a small road and pick up discarded materials to work with. Don't be afraid of a little dirt – just be careful not to cut yourself.

As luck would have it, I work two doors down to a paint-your-own-ceramic store, and we share the same back alley/garbage disposal area. Walking around it today, i came across a ripped garbage bag with pieces of unglazed broken ceramic spilling out. It was much more appealing (and clean!) than the other junk scattered around the bins, so i used the pieces to make this star... and left it there for others to enjoy.


Day 78 :: Sunday March 18 :: Ottawa

Make up a name and write a back story for a stranger you see today. Bonus: Create something based on what you've made up and give it to them.

On our way home from ultimate earlier today, we pulled up at a red light at a deserted intersection. Waited. And waited. A white car pulled up behind us.

John Doe was deep in thought, both hands on the wheel of his beat-up white hatchback, looking straight ahead. It's hard work to blend in every day, to appear innocuous, to avoid letting anyone in on his secret – that he really is Caped Dude, night-time crusader and vigilante. He's congratulating himself on the mustache, because who would suspect an average-looking guy in glasses and mustache? This is the perfect disguise, and blends right in with the local bureaucratic crowd. Movement from the car ahead caught his eye – a tall asian guy in a black ballcap suddenly jumps out and runs over to press the pedestrian signal. John shakes his head... don't these punks know that this is the longest light cycle in town?!

Then the light turned green. He turned right, already planning the night's activities.


Day 77 :: Saturday March 17 :: Ottawa

Work with shredded paper. Use an actual paper shredder or simply cut paper into thin strips. Maybe even give quilling a try.

Quilling?! I had to look it up... turns out it's the art of using thin rolled strips of paper to make an image. It was fun to give it a try, and here's my quilled star!





Day 76 :: Friday March 16 :: Ottawa

Make something inspired by and/or that fits on or around an ear.

After pondering this one for a while (and wondering how bedazzling my headphones would turn out), I opted instead for a stop at The Sassy Bead
- time to make some earrings! For those not familiar with The Sassy Bead, think beads of all shapes, colours and sizes; as well as all the supplies you need to transform these beads into one-of-a-kind custom jewelry creations. Fun!

Amaru and Lisa were eager to help and answer my questions... I chose my beads (pretty blue birds) then Amaru guided me through the actual making process. It was quick, easy and fun - I can definitely see myself going back for more. Thanks ladies!






Friday, March 16, 2012

Day 75 :: Thursday March 15 :: Ottawa

Get some chalk and work on the sidewalk near your home.

The stars really aligned for this one: the street sweeper went by on the sidewalk last night, and the forecasted rain held off. Yay! I couldn't wait to get home after work to doodle my first hopscotch game in years. Imagine stones crossing a stream... and yes, i played it afterwards!




Thursday, March 15, 2012

Day 74 :: Wednesday March 14 :: Ottawa

Be bold. Go to a store that you frequently shop at or a restaurant where you frequently eat and ask what they'll let you make there. You'll probably do better with a local business than a chain store, and if you're sharing your project, they'll probably appreciate the publicity.

There was only one place in my mind as soon as I read today's assignment! Before work, i walked over to my favorite little neighborhood bakery: Life Of Pie. I often have lunch there, and their scones/cupcakes/cookies are to die for. And since today is Pi(e) Day (3/14), where else could i go? :)

Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling very bold and so didn't mention anything about the assignment while buying a double berry scone (just-out-of-the-oven warm... *drool*). Sitting by the window and making this little cupcake out of scone crumbs and pieces was both fun and delicious.


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Day 73 :: Tuesday March 13 :: Ottawa

Work with the gravel, sand, or rocks available near your home.

This book really doesn't understand the word 'winter'... Thankfully, there's a crate of de-icing sand in the lobby of my apartment building, and I was able to swipe just enough to create a miniature zen garden in the bottom of a Tupperware container. 




Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Day 72 :: Monday March 12 :: Ottawa

Use all of the shoes in your household to make something, or work on a single pair of shoes that were destined for the thrift store.

Confession: I own a few more pairs of shoes... but there was only so much space in my hallway to create this shoe star! Note the lack of heels – definitely comfort over fashion for me. 




Monday, March 12, 2012

Day 71 :: Sunday March 11 :: Ottawa

Time travel. Make something that seems like it came from another era in history.

On this beautiful spring day, how could I not give the car some fun retro Caddy fins?


Day 70 :: Saturday March 10 :: Ottawa

Work only with numbers today. You could make an image using numbers, make something into number shapes, do something involving a calculator, or ...?

I played in a one-day ultimate tournament today, and originally thought about doing something involving people's numbered jerseys. Unfortunately, i forgot... oops.

Back home later at night, a friend unexpectedly stopped by. We hadn't seen each other in quite a while, and I decided to commemorate the occasion by having us each make half of this little zero. Yes, that's my creative book in the middle :)


Day 69 :: Friday March 9 :: Ottawa

Make a puzzle or make something using pieces from a puzzle. 

I went to a concert tonight and got this promo card featuring the opening band, All Sons And Daughters. The colour scheme/design of it seemed to beg for cuts, so cutting it up into a puzzle was a fun way to remember a great show!


Day 68 :: Thursday March 8 :: Ottawa

Create something with papier-mâché. You can buy papier-mâché pulp and kits in art and craft stores, but it's super easy to make, so why not give it a try? 

This book keeps throwing me back to childhood! For the first time, instead of starting with an inflated balloon as a base, i followed the book's suggestion and balled up some newspaper to get a basic star shape. Then came the fun/messy/gooey/sticky part (followed, of course, by the not-so-fun cleaning part), and ta-daah! Another star for my collection.


Friday, March 9, 2012

Day 67 :: Wednesday March 7 :: Ottawa

Write a ten-word science fiction story. Bonus: illustrate it!

Oooh, another 10-word story! This one took about five times longer to illustrate than it did to write – thanks to a friend who suggested Star Wars to go along with the ultimate frisbee theme of the last few days. Done! Apologies to the non-frisbee geeks who might not get the joke :P


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Day 66 :: Tuesday March 6 :: Ottawa

Go grocery shopping and pick up something new specifically to work with. Extra credit: Make the work at the grocery store itself. (Remember to buy anything you've radically transformed!)

The grocery store I pass on my way home is always a zoo in the early evening, so I stopped at Shoppers instead. I slowly went up and down each aisle, pondering its contents and possibilities, and of course stopped in the seasonal aisle... Mmm Easter chocolate!

Maybe assembling a Kinder Surprise can be considered too easy, but I considered it meant to be: there is a star on my little toy boat's sail!



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Day 65 :: Monday March 5 :: Ottawa

Work with only the classic tangram shapes.

Aaaah, tangram!! This book is really all about reviving all those things i loved to do as a kid :) After playing with the shapes for a while, and realizing that the blog was due for something ultimate-related, I present: dude laying out for a score. Yes, that bottom triangle is a cone!



Monday, March 5, 2012

Day 64 :: Sunday March 4 :: Ottawa

It's all about you. Incorporate yourself into whatever you make. It could be by wearing the work, by creating a self-portrait, or ...?

I was chatting about tattoos the other night with friends, and someone wondered when I'd get a BigFish logo done... don't worry mom and dad, it's just Sharpie :) 



Day 63 :: Saturday March 3 :: Ottawa

Behind the mask. Create a unique mask with whatever materials you like. Bonus: Document yourself or a friend wearing it.

A tight Saturday schedule meant not much time for doing anything fancy. However, this post-its-and-birthday-candles-on-glasses creation was a huge hit at birthday girl Mush's party - and Sparta was even crazy enough to light it up!


Day 62 :: Friday March 2 :: Ottawa

Make something with your dinner before you eat it.

After a stressful week, friends Brent and Julie were happy to have me over for dinner... and even happier to help with today's assignment by contributing ideas and the candle in the middle of this little spring roll/pad thai campfire. Delicious!



Friday, March 2, 2012

Day 61 :: Thursday March 1 :: Ottawa

Use only things you find around the bathroom to create something. Extra credit: Make it in the bathroom!

Today was another throwback to my childhood years... It's been a very long time since I carved a soap. Who knew potato peelers worked so well? And that my hands would still smell like Irish Spring soap five hours later?!

The world needs a bit more love... This one is dedicated to you, you, and especially – you.



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Day 60 :: Wednesday February 29 :: Ottawa

Make something that casts a shadow and document only the shadow.

Happy leap year! So this may not look like much - I cut out snowflake shapes in paper (yes, it's snowing again) and lit the paper with a flashlight. The resulting effects were quite cool - and very difficult to capture with a smartphone camera. These were the best from a dozen pictures!



Day 59 :: Tuesday February 28 :: Ottawa

Mix and match. Work with two materials that generally don't go together, like markers and bananas, or leaves and binder clips.

Markers and bananas?! Done. As a kid, I had a book called 'Le zapoyoko'. The story revolved around a contested Scrabble word; in the illustrations, every object was made using the letters of that object's name. Somehow, this popped into my head as I was staring at my banana... resulting in this. Since the book was french i used french too!