Labour of Love!

This afternoon I began masking out areas ready to paint the pink stripes.  Not that you can see it here, but I also hand drew a large ice cream cone between the window and the door.

I was still doing it after dark!  That's enthusiasm for you!  I must admit I'm getting more confidant!!

Still painting

I am still putting coats of white paint on the van and have injured my shoulder in doing so.. I think it's just a strain.  Very excited to be almost ready to paint the wording and decoration.  I bought the pretty paints for that last night!

I will post pictures as soon as there is something interesting to see!!

First Day Painting the Van

It was a very hot day today so I decided to erect my market gazebo to give myself a bit of shade while painting!  I was so nervous to begin this.. it was like taking a deep breath and cutting into some expensive material to make a dress.  But like dress making,  once you start everything is ok!

My daughter and I were able to get the first coat on most of the vehicle, and this particular side now has two coats.  It's ready for the next stage.

I measured out and stuck together some newspaper to use as a template.  Tomorrow I will continue with this...

Van design

First step is to take lots of dimensions...

Last night I drew up a plan of design...

and today I sanded and touched up many rust spots with anti-rust.  I also began masking handles, window and reflectors.  Tomorrow I will begin to paint!

My most ambitious project yet!!

This is what has been distracting me.. I will be painting this big old Mercedes van for my daughter's ice cream business!  Trying not to feel too intimidated!

Not much time...

Life seems to have hindered my art production lately.  I have been doing some traveling, some house renovation and working on a business venture with my daughter.  I have, however, been playing around and experimenting.  Below is a sign I am working on.  It's meant to be a decorative piece in its own right.  As you can see I haven't written anything yet... always the hardest part for me!

The next few photos show an experimental doll I am making and thinking of taking to the Unleashed market in Nundah, Brisbane, this weekend.  Of course I may not finish in time...

Usually when I make a cloth doll, I produce the figure first.  This time I am painting first and will then sew it together.  Will let you know how I go!

Chocolates

English Quality Street chocolates in a hand painted gift box.... on sale at Morayfield Handmade Expo tomorrow!

Snowy pumpkins and chocolate boxes

Finished the pumpkins today!  Glammed up the large paper mache pumpkin with more opal glitter and glued the gold stems onto the velvet mini pumpkins.  I added gold leaf to the stems to give them extra shine!

These colourful boxes were a pleasure to paint!  They reminded me of gorgeous chocolate boxes from Santa's workshop or Willie Wonker's chocolate factory!  In fact, I think I might package chocolates in them... perfect gift!

By the way, I was asked recently if I still painted more serious work... and the answer is not for a while. 

 I have been absorbed in this light-hearted happy work and have put the more 'serious' paintings aside for now.  If you would like to see some of these large paintings check out the posts 'Such Good News' and 'Long, long ago'.  They also appear in some of the photos I have shown of my market stall because I often hang them up behind my tables.

Snowy pumpkins

I finished the Princess pumpkin and decided to add some small white velvet pumpkins.  They still need to have their stems attached!

In between pumpkin-making, I have created more bright treasure boxes!