UPDATE 2017: Vida! My Custom-made Design Shop

As of January 2017, I have chosen to stop designing for Vida. Instead, I have created a much larger array of beautiful clothing, home decor, and tech products for Society6. Because I am regularly adding more products, visit my shop site often to see what's new!

I now design custom-made clothing for both women and men! The following products I had been offering through Vida but I later found the company disappointing to work with. Although I continue to design merchandise for Society6, below are examples of what my Vida pieces looked like and are samples of what my artwork looks like as wearables.

  

Start looking great in one of my hand-designed works of heart!





See all of my current fashion collections on https://society6.com/kimlawsonart

Life's Badges

Old age is for the lucky who make it there. Our outer appearance changes, we may forget where we put our keys, or mismatch our clothes. But the inner soul remains youthful and eager to proceed in life. 

My poem was inspired by Asian wooden figurines, one being an old man stooped over but looking to be walking on a path.


Life's Badges

My spine is curved forward
And I walk with a cane.

My beard is white
And my head bears no hair.

My teeth are false
And my eyes are a blur.

At times my hands tremble,
My mind draws a blank.

I don't sleep through the night,
But nap in the day.

I can remember being a child
As if it were yesterday,
But today I have trouble recalling your name.

These are the badges
I've earned with my age.

I'm old but not broken,
A little tattered and worn.

My time in this body
May be drawing to end,
But I cherish where it has taken me.

This is a gift.
What a wonderful life!

Let's Make Tissue Paper Flowers!

Making tissue paper flowers is simple and they add plenty of colorful impact perfect for Mother's Day, parties, or just a pretty vase. They can be made in various sizes from a boutonniere to extra large bouquets. 

One of my craft class students walked us through the making of these beautiful delights. Here's what Sandy showed us:

Materials

• Sheets of standard sized tissue paper
• Scissors
• Floral wire
• Floral tape

How to make this

• For a medium sized flower, fold one tissue paper sheet in half

• Fold the sheet again into thirds, bringing the outer edges towards the middle

• Cut the folds so that you end up with 6 squares of tissue

 

• Fan-fold the stack of tissues - starting at one edge of the paper, fold the sheets about 1 inch and crease, then flip the tissue stack over and fold the tissues 1 inch and crease, flip the stack over, and continue until you reach the other edge of the stack. The folds should be even in size.

• Fold the center of the "fan" in half.

• Cut the floral wire into a 10 inch length, or more or less depending on how tall you want your flower to stand.
• Bend one end of the floral wire over about 2 inches.

• Place the center fold of the fan into the fold of the wire and twist the wire around itself to close it.

• Wind a strip of floral tape around the wire to hide it.

• Use scissors to cut an oval shape at each end of the fan. Of course, I don't follow directions well, so I cut my tips into a pointed shape.

               

• Push each side of the fan outwards into a cup-like shape.
• Gently separate each sheet and pull them towards the center.

• Fluff the sheets into a pleasing shape.

To make a large sized flower, follow the above steps but instead of folding the sheets in half and thirds, simply start the fan-fold process and go from there. 

Smaller flowers can be made just by making your tissue stack into smaller squares.

Try using multiple sheets of tissue for a fuller flower or using more than one color of tissue at a time for a variegated look.

How pretty and fun! 

2016 Summer Journaling and Crafts Classes!

Can you believe it? Summertime is coming! And with that said, get ready for new art journaling and craft classes brought to you by your favorite artist...me!

  

Marla's Plate

My classes have been such a success! I've met and been inspired by really great people in these groups. Some of their work is seen here and on a few of my "Make-it Monday's" posts. Come join us as we learn all new projects and make new friends!

Haley's Wreath

Classes have been
expanded to 1 1/2 hours short (because our classes are never long enough for all the fun we get into!), and Saturday morning sessions are newly available (to get your weekend art on!).

Sandra's Journal

Sandy's Journal 

Art Journaling
Art journaling is a great way to explore your creativity, get your thoughts on paper, and enjoy the process of making your own kind of art. We’ll play with different techniques such as line drawing, watercolor, "windows" and pockets, and layering papers. There’s no right or wrong style in this fun craft for ages 15 and up!

Course #100520 --- May 5 - June 2, Thursdays - 6pm to 7:30pm
Course #100519 --- June 30 - August 18, Thursdays - 6pm to 7:30pm
Course #100754 --- July 9 - August 20, Saturdays - 9:30am to 11am

Lana's Sunburst Flower

  

Nicole's Watercolor Collage

Exploring Crafts

Each week you’ll learn a fun new craft project using low cost materials perfect for home décor and gift giving. Projects may include jewelry making, decorating birdhouses, Shrinky Dink fun, garden art, altered books, wreaths, canvas painting, and more! Fun crafts for ages 15 and up!

• Course #100521 --- May 5 - June 2, Thursdays - 7:30pm - 9pm
• Course #100522 --- June 30 - August 18, Thursdays - 7:30pm - 9pm
• Course #100755 --- July 9 - August 20, Saturdays - 11am - 12:30pm

Visit www.concordreg.org for more information and to register on-line. Just click on "Activities", and enter the course number. Questions? Email me at kimlawson2000@gmail.com

Let's make something together!

Students' Bottle Wrapped Vases