My summer break 🌞

What I've done over the past few weeks...

Sewing

I made a dress, self drafted bodice and sleeves from my block, which I hadn't done in probably over a year so I actually spent some time doing mockups and finessing the fit which I am fairly happy with!

Henry got me a cute label advent calendar for Christmas and the labels have come in handy to articulate my sewing mindset

I am currently working on a new pair of shorts, but keep getting interrupted...

Getting back into art

I've been having fun doing some digital painting and enjoying seeing myself improve with every piece. I originally started off looking at doing a bunch of dedicated study using things like the Draw a box program but realised that I mostly enjoy doing studies from photos and fanart bullshit instead, so decided that if it keeps me drawing it's better to do the fun stuff. (I had the same revelation with reading where I realised I can spend a year trying to slog through the Important Non-Fiction Book, or I can read a fluffy fantasy book every week instead and actually read more...)

Here are a few paintings I've made in the Procreate app on iPad (which is great!). Top row is the first attempt, second row is the same picture redone after some more practice and study!

Other things I made...

I painted a ceramic cup in my friend Julie's workshop, and it turned out pretty cute. I based it off some traditional Hungarian embroidery patterns

(I still haven't mastered the art of soy milk texturing and latte art...)

In the garden

Making slow progress on our catio, a lot of grass has grown in on the dirt side since I took this photo.

I've had some success at growing blurry turnips which I have pulled up and pickled.

...And less success at growing strawberries which I keep losing to mysterious pests.