Dollhouse Project Progress

Progress on the dollhouse is going slowly but surely.  I am going to spend the rest of the day in the studio, so hopefully I will get a lot done this weekend.  The picture above was a test photo playing around with the lighting and furniture.  

I've also finished the flooring for the other half of the downstairs and re-installed the stairs.

 The furniture is also slowly coming together,  I've figured out how to make the furniture upholstery look a lot more streamlined by using stretch fabric around thick pieces of craft foam.  It doesn't have the bulky look that dollhouse couches tend to have. 

Last, but not least, I've been finishing the cutting and installing of the sideboards to really give the rooms a finished feeling.

Dollhouse Carpet Installation

Over this week I've been getting a lot of little loose ends tied up with my studio work.  I did a lot of painting, but don't have a lot to show for it yet.  I like to have a bunch of projects going at once, and bounce back and forth between them.  It is a slow process sometimes. 
I did get the dollhouse carpeted though!

I used ultra-suede fabric for the carpeting, and it turned out really well I think!  It was easy to cut, and lays nice and flat. 

I just glued it around the perimeter just in case I ever have to take it out. 

I've still got to put in the sideboards to really finish it off, but this is a huge improvement over the scuzzy towel carpet that was in there beforehand!
Lastly, here is a shot of the flooring I did earlier installed in the dollhouse:

I love the way it turned out.
Now to finish the furniture....

Muah!

I love my cats, 'nuff said.

Other than spending time with them, I've been plugging away on my show!  I'll have some things to share within the next few days. :)

Materiality Show @ ARC Gallery

This last weekend Nate and I went to Chicago for the opening of the Materiality show at ARC Gallery. 

We had a good time, and got to talk to some really great people.

This is one of my pieces from the show, titled 'Three Sisters"


I have a crush on this piece - 'Field of Flowers' by artist Kristi Kohut

The show was juried by Jeanne N. Long, an Independent Curator and the Associate Director of Special Exhibitions at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and,  "explores the place of material in contemporary art practice, encouraging innovative approaches to working with material-including but not limited to traditional domestic crafts, fibers, building materials, found objects, and trash."
The show will be up until the 27th of this month, so if you are in the Chicago area, make sure to check it out! 

A few of my favorite things...

I found these little guys at the thrift store last week.  I could not resist.  They now sit happily overlooking my drawing desk.
I love vintage ceramic figurines.  Especially ones with gushingly adorable eyes that say 'if you do not take us home, we will cry the rest of our little lives.'  When I am done with my thesis work, I kind of want to paint these guys, just for fun. :)
I've been slowly getting things together for the show, and am hoping to really pick up the pace over spring break.  It will be nice to concentrate solely on my work for a few days. I've also got to get cracking on writing my thesis paper- the rough draft is due soon.
Oh, and then there are these:

They are the frye knockoffs from Target - I was going to get myself some real frye boots as a graduation gift to myself, but when I saw these for $12 on clearance (!?!?!?  I know!) I could in no way resist them.  They are really nice too - the leather is really sturdy and easy to break in.  I am in love.
Lastly, I wanted to show you a knitting project I've been working on:

It is going to be a cowl that you loop twice around your neck.  I was inspired by Jenny Gordy's Cowl that she posted on her blog.  I usually stray away from variegated yarns, but with the ribbing I actually like it a lot more.  For mine I used yarn that I recycled from a sweater - an UGLY sweater.  I feel like I am saving the yarn from a sad future as a boxy variegated sweater, that in no way could flatter any figure.  This project has been great because it is so mindless.  1x1 Ribbing - I <3 you.

Home: A Collaborative Exhibition with Guerra De La Paz

This last Thursday was the opening of the Home installation that I've been helping with for the last week or so at the Jack Olson Gallery on campus.  Here are some shots from the rest of the installation and the opening:

Busy as a Bee

The last few weeks have been a blur of activity! 

Last weekend I attended the annual CAA Conference in Chicago, and stayed with my good friend Marianne, who is also in her last semester of grad school (and just as stressed out as I am right now!)  We had a good time, and did some major catching-up!



This week artist duo Guerra De La Paz arrived here on campus.  They are going to be here for the next 10 days working collaboratively with our class creating a livable home within the Jack Olson Gallery.



We've been busy building walls, roofs, and furniture - all using re-purposed materials.



The gallery opens up on Monday, we are going to be working hard this weekend!



Good thing there are a ton of hands working together on this!



Each student in the class is also making an individual object or furniture piece for the installation as well.  Here is the start of mine:

Dollhouse Flooring and Furniture

I wanted to share some of the furniture for the dollhouse that I've finished.
The tiny easel!  I don't even own an actual easel (sad) it is one of those things I've always wanted but never had the space for. Hopefully that will change soon!

A coat tree:

The frame for a couch - it will have a seat cushion at some point:

And floors!

I used a birch panel which I scored with an exacto knife (which was much harder than I thought it would be!) sanded smooth, and then stained.   

As of now, I've just done one part of the floor, and still have to install it in the dollhouse.