Is it art block or something else?

Hello hello,

These past few weeks haven't been the highlight of the year when it comes to creating artwork. It's not that I don't have a ton of ideas or even a ton of projects to do, it's just that I really haven't been feeling it. I find myself making excuses for pretty much any sort of project right now; even rearranging all the furniture in my room sounds more fun than starting the next sewing project. And that's awful seeing as I love to do that.

Onto happier things though, right? Here's what's been going on this past week:

Last Sunday I was in California with my cousin Amelia. While I had the excuse to make everyone drive in for my grandma's 70th's birthday, my ulterior motive was to get a photoshoot done for my upcoming magazine interview with Katie Dean. It's the first time in my life I'd ever had my makeup done, it was Amelia's first time doing someone else's face makeup, and it was my first time getting professional photos done. Now, I'm sure Amelia doesn't call herself a professional, but just take a look at her work (I linked it in her name above) and tell me otherwise! She's fantastic. My cousin Lynee helped out with makeup too.

[on deviantART]

What I can tell you about makeup is that I wasn't enthused to go about learning how to do it myself. It took about half an hour to apply everything and it was so many steps... and even though I was warned it might feel a little cakey it totally didn't! It didn't feel like I was wearing anything at all. The mascara I could feel - it was sort of sticky on my eyelashes and made them, well, noticeable. Usually I'm not aware every time I blink! The lip makeup was also very strange feeling... sticky perhaps, but also very.. well, the same as the mascara really, it made me really aware of the shape of my lips and every time I moved.

The experience itself was amazing though, that all aside. I really wanted to look natural for the photos. I knew, since its something so important for me, that I wanted to look my best and that I'm rarely happy with how photos of me come out. I also didn't want to look like a Barbie doll in the end photos, right? I wanted to look like me! Amelia and Lynee did an absolutely beautiful job with my face, I couldn't have been happier. For the very first time I loved all the photos of me! Goodness, it's hard to pick favorites out from the whole thing!

As always, I never leave California without a new set of projects to do. My aunt gave me some antique fans and a purse to repair.

The purse is bead knitting or crochet, which I have no idea how to do. I might be able to cheat it though and stitch the pieces back together with the help of Mom. The strap will be an easy fix but the hole in the edge is probably caused by the metal clasp rubbing against the fibers. In any case once it's fixed it'll only be for decorative display as I'm not sure using it would be wise.

The two fans are smothered in perfume. I mean, I couldn't work on them because they were giving my mom and brother a headache when I brought them out. The first is an abalone shell structure with hand-painted fabric and lace. Most of the spokes are broken and its missing the closing half of its shell. The other is made up of carved bone (probably?) and is physically disintegrating as I handle it. I'm going to save the structure and give it new fabric.

As a backlog of the things I have planned for the immediate future but haven't felt an ounce of motivation to tackle: ocean dress, mystery dress, Princess Peach (pattern 50%, need more beads), monochrome Eumelia, GraniteFire pattern, Xstitch Peacock, and a new unpacked-but-unstarted Xstitch Butterfly.

Come back motivation, I miss you.

Ashley Mae
Pinky