Making Sleepy Eyes

Welcome to the first of my new weekly "Tutorial and Tips" series. I'm still pretty inexperienced with blogging, but I want to be able to share more about myself and what I have learned on my self taught creative path.

I realized very quickly that hand embroidering eyes was not my strong point, it took (and still takes) me forever to get the perfect eye. I decided to plastic eyes and it was a great fit, but something wasn't quite right, they lacked that little extra bit of personality. The sleepy eyelid was the solution and it took quite a bit of trial and error to get it just right, but we'll skip that part and show you what I do now. 

This is Norbert, he's my Lil's best buddy and I am charged with fixing him while she's at camp. Her little brother decided he was in a destructive mood and peeled off his eyelids.

Next to Norbert is an Elmer's "Craft Bond, Extra Strength" glue stick. You need to use this or the "Extreme" glue stick because they will create a strong wash resistant bond, normal glue will just wash away. I also prefer a stick to a liquid glue because it has very little to any mess.

I like to use my thumb to measure the eyelid, just cut around it does not need to be perfect.













Check the sizing before you add the glue, as you can  this eyelid is a little to big. Trim away the extra, but make sure you don't trim to much. It's better to have a little to much then not enough.

Get that glue on to the back of the eyelid.

Place on your creatures eye.

Smooth the eyelid out over the curve of the eye, be sure you get it all the way back so the fabric connects. If you have sewn on or button eyes you can tuck it behind. While the glue is still new move the eyelid around until it get an expression you like.

There you have it some personality packed sleepy eyelids!

I hope you found this helpful. Come back for more tips and tricks, along with some peeks inside the creative chaos I call home.

Thank You

Naomi 

Quiet Momments

With Seamus dozing in the late afternoon sun as I put the finishing touches on his shell.



NimblePhish is back up on Etsy!

I have a handful up right now, the rest are coming this afternoon. Expect new directions for the non-jointed designs, kits and more as the day progresses...oh and did I mention they are all on sale :) All patterns are $2 off and I'm working on bundle discounts.
Happy May Day Everyone!

Time to Breathe

The shop is taking a small rest as I piece together all the new and mend the old and find myself again. The past several months have moved so quickly, much like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, I am lost. What was up is down, what was down is up and the space between is still spinning, but it is time I find my feet.
I am taking these few weeks to mend past mistakes and explore new possibilities. The shop will be coming back, but changed (for the better, I hope) and I will be here, everyday, to share my adventures and explorations with you.
Thank You
Naomi

Pink!

Who doesn't love pink, really.

This pair have not yet been named, I'm going to let their mommy-to-be do that. As sad as I will be to see them fly off to their new home I am grateful that I had the opportunity to bring them into the world.

A much needed dose of beauty

After the all the tension surrounding the last few weeks I was in dire need of a major dose of beauty and family and good things all around. This weekend was exactly that, I wish I could have taken pictures of all the amazing sights my eyes feasted on, but I will tell you, sunset across the Pacific on a cloudless day and the greens of spring rolling across California's farm land are truly breathtaking sights. My eyes and heart soaked up so much beauty, I feel renewed and awake again, it is a good place to be.

 

I do promise some pictures of my new creations in the next post, with my inspiration renewed I expect many great things ahead.

 



100 days

 It has been 100 days of change here at the NimblePhish home, as wonderful as they are drastic. The titles that defined who we are as a family for the last 10 years are now gone. Though there were moments when I doubted, this puzzle has finally beginning to come together and show exactly how incredibly blessed we have been through this transition. I can't express in words how grateful and humble I feel today.

 We move into the new house in just two weeks and I am eager to begin making it a home.