Sofa Cover

You have a sofa, but it's stained beyond cleaning, or torn, or peeling, or you'd prefer that none of these things happen (it's a concern! especially when living with pets!)
You need a sofa cover! But it's hard to find a cover that perfectly matches your furniture. And a blanket just won't cut it. You could have in done by a furniture repair place, but that would be expensive and a schlep to move your sofa all over the place.
Time for DIY.

You're going to need basically all of the measurements. In fact, I suggest drawing the thing and writing the measurements on the drawing.
But then you get to choose your fabrics! Anything you like! It's like getting a whole new sofa personalized to a tee!
I used fluffy brown and cream for the pillows.
cut cut and stitch stitch and you're done. It takes a while but it's worth it. Nemo certainly loves it.
And the sofa is saved, at least for a little while longer. :)

Cheburashka

Also known as Topple in some English translations, Cheburashka is an adorable little animal character from an originally Russian children's show. It has also gained popularity in Japan.
He first appeared in a box of oranges. :)

He's a character from my husband's childhood, so I made him this as a Hanukkah gift.

I bought the fluffy cloth at the fabric store nearby, and with this type of fabric hemming is unnecessary. I put together each body part and then attached them, and then attached the orange. The facial features and the leaf are actually painted on with nail polish, and they're doing great. It gave me a lot more control over what they looked like as opposed to using some kind of beads, and a lot more precision than it would have had if I had sewn them on. Altogether I'm happy with the result, even if I could have done it a bit more evenly shaped a second time over.

Fox facepaint

Well, I found my costume fox ears and tail from last year, and decided to have some fun.
The materials i used are whatever stuff I found around the house. Some old eye-pencils, eyeshadows, talcum powder, blush, some kind of face cream, face powder, mascara.
took a long time but it was fun and i enjoyed the result. The top of the face was oranger than it looks in the pics, and the bottom of the face whiter than it looks.

more pics under the cut

Painting of a Puppy

This watercolor marks the first painting that I have done in a very long time.
I'm pretty happy with it all in all!
I used watercolor paints that had been given to me as a birthday gift a few years ago.
 (People seem to thing that everyone who is creative can paint. I don't understand why they would think that. All they've seen me do is doodle.)
As well as the little cup of water, the plastic bowl for mixing, and a pretty crappy average sized paintbrush. In retrospect maybe I should have used a few, not just the one.
It's drawn from the perspective of a puppy looking up at you from way down on the floor, while you are standing up. I'm not sure that's obvious in the picture... Also, since the puppies wouldn't sit in place and I didn't feel like painting from a photo, it's from imagination.

 

more pics under the cut

Origami Dragon

This is a Thing. It is possible. I HAS A PAPER DRAGON.
A friend gave me this awesomeness as a gift, made during their stay at my home while we were elsewhere. They enjoyed their stay, enjoyed all the dogs and the peace and quiet that allowed them to study, so they made this for me and I shall keep it forever and ever and ever [i has a dragon!!]
& this friend happens to also be a genius at all kinds of complex puzzles.
Lookit!

isn't it so awesome???

Nail Decals

Fedoraharp gave me some really awesome homemade nail decals. I have been using them constantly. Here are a few recent ones, more will come I am sure.

Just look! 

I CAN HAVE AWESOME THINGS ON MY NAILS LIKE SPIDERMAN AND MINIONS AND THERE ARE MANY MANY MORE AND THEY ARE SO AWESOME YOU WILL SEE

Bracelet themed nails

This woven/braided design with light blue, green and dark blue is based on the adorable little woven rubber-band bracelet in those colors that my little brother made for me a few days ago. He's a great brother and a sweety, and also talented at making awesome bracelets! Take a look! [other planned posts coming soon]