The Making of a Princess

I had a little shopping splurge last shopping trip. It has been a little while since I have bought some new clothes. I managed to find a couple of new items that I can wear out or at work. I also found a few items that are going to be perfect for casual wear or to wear when I am being more active. When thinking about clothes, I tend to move towards shades of blue, green or brown as I know that these colours suit me. I felt particularly adventurous and ended up buying a fluro orange top - stepping a long way out of my colour wheel! I go through a similar process when I am creating my lovely 'princesses' as each of them are different.

I love creating each 'princess'. I love starting with bits of old book page, then cut and shape it to create a girl image. Before too long a new princess is created with her own style and personality. There are many things to think about. I thought that I would share some of this process with you ...

Firstly, I think of a theme which usually incorporates the background colours. I think about 'What emotions or qualities do these colours evoke in me?'. With my latest princess canvas, when I looked at the pastel pink and emerald green colour combination, I thought of 'kindness', 'welcoming' and 'gentleness'. 

I then sketch my princess in my Art book, keeping these qualities in mind. In this instance, I thought about 'What would a kind, welcoming, gentle girl wear? What would her hair be like?'. I also think of a suitable quote to match.

When I am finished developing my background on my canvas, I then begin 'creating' my princess. I cut out all aspects of her body, clothing and hair out of book pages and layer them on the canvas and adhere them. I then paint her all white. I then make the dimensional aspect to her clothing. In this instance, I created the pleated ruffle that would highlight the bottom of her dress.

 Before I do much more, I need to paint my princess. I think of a colour that compliments the background and use it for her dress, ensuring that it matches the fabric component of her dress. I then add the skin colour, ensuring that it compliments the colour chosen for her dress. At first I made my princess' skin colour too warm which clashed with the blue/green, cool colour of her dress and I had to alter it. I find it amazing that each of my princesses have their own colour wheel too!

I then add her hair colour and her rosy cheeks. I finish my princess off by adhering the fabric feature, drawing details and adding shadows/highlights. I then have my finished princess.

I painted this princess canvas on a slightly larger canvas, giving her a little more room. If you wish to view this canvas or anything else in shop, please click here.

Thanks for viewing!

~ Jen.

P.S - If you have enjoyed reading about what happens 'behind the scenes' at Tupsy Turvy Designs, why not become a 'Golden Ticket Member'? It is FREE and membership entitles you to regular updates, exclusive sales, discounts and opportunities. Simply click here and enter your email address. Easy! I look forward to sharing more ideas with you soon ...

Home, sweet home! New home canvas designs

Some days are busy ... I have decided to go back to my day job two days a week since both of my boys are at school this year. Due to my organisational side, I have timetabled my time, so that I can fit in my crafty work, housework and any preparation needed for my day job during the week. Needless to say, I am working very hard with the time that I have on the days that the boys are at school. On my working days, I have to be very organised so that dinner can be on the table, homework done and the house clean with the very little time that I have when I come home. However, I am enjoying it! I am loving the big blocks of time that I have to get work completed. I am also enjoying the couple of days allocated to me with my day job - keeping my skills in touch.

Home is a place where I work. Home is a place that I organise and clean. Home is a sanctuary from stresses and worries. Home is a place where I nurture my family. Home is a place where I can relax and enjoy my own activities. Depending on our circumstances and focus, home may look very different, but there may be aspects that are very similar.

I have added to the 'home' canvas design by creating two different looking ones, both sparked by a custom order...

I wanted to create another 'traditional' looking house - one with straight sides and triangular roof, however, this one has one central chimney, rounded door and one rectangular window (complete with lacy curtain).

The second one is a little more modern in design, with rounded roof and small circular windows (with little lacy curtains).

Both have been created to add a little decorative, homely warmth to a house and a reminder that we are blessed to have a home to raise our families, to play in and to relax in.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time ...

~ Jen.

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Congratulations!

Hi Friend,

The search is now over ... Congratulations to 'Fiorella G'! 

Thank you to everyone that participated. Choosing a successful applicant is always tricky, so thank you for your support. 

Stay tuned another search mid year! 

Thanks again.

~ Jen.

P.S - If you would like to keep in touch with exclusive offers and discouts, why not become a 'Golden Ticket Member'? It is FREE! Simply enter your email address, when you visit here.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide Full of Handmade Goodness

Hi Friend!

It is sometimes tricky to find something special and handmade to give a loved one. For those that participate in Valentine's Day, or simply like to find a beautiful handmade gift for a loved one, Madeit has released a Valentine's Day Gift Guide, making gift giving a more simple process.

This year, Tupsy Turvy Design's has been lucky enough to be featured in Madeit's Valentine's Day Gift Guide. I wonder if you can spot the item. To view, simply click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Jen.

P.S - If you would like to keep in touch with news and what Tupsy Turvy Designs' has been up to (and be entitled to special discounts and exclusive events), why not become a 'Golden Ticket Member'? Membership is FREE and is simple as clicking here!

2016 - Brand Representive Search

Hi Friends,

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year and are ready for 2016. 

Something that is new for Tupsy Turvy Designs is giving chosen supporters the opportunity to gain unique giftware at half price by choosing a Brand Representative. The details are listed below ...

Tupsy Turvy Designs is on a search for their first 'Brand Representative'. The successful applicant will have a six month term as Tupsy Turvy Designs Brand Rep. They will be required to buy at least ONE product over this six month period at a heavily discounted price (50% off). They will be then required to take high quality photos of this item displayed. If the item is a gift, they will need to take a photo of this item where it is displayed. These photos will be used on Tupsy Turvy Designs social media platforms (Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and also on the blog. The chosen Brand Rep may also be called upon to share their view about the chosen piece (only a couple of sentences of feedback). The Brand Rep will be welcome to purchase more than one item during this six month period, still at 50% off (maximum of three items at this 50% discount), however, there will still be a requirement to take photos of these items displayed. The Brand Rep will also receive a 10% off code to share with family and friends, so that they can also purchase a product from Tupsy Turvy Designs' web store at a discount price during this six month period.

To have the opportunity to be the first Brand Rep, applicants will need to take a photo of a favourite room or area (eg. kitchen, lounge room, study, retreat, etc), which will show their quality of photography. Professional photography skills are not a requirement, simply the ability to take a clear, neatly styled photo. At this stage, I will begin with one Brand Rep who can commit to a six month period with my decision based on the choices of photos presented during the call-out period.

If you believe that you can fill the requirements listed above, feel free to email me your photo. Applications close 4pm (Central Australian Daylight Time) 25th January 2016 and the successful applicant will be emailed and will also be announced on Tuesday 26th January 2016 on Tupsy Turvy Designs social media platforms.

All the best!

~ Jen.

P.S - If you would like to keep in touch with amazing discounts and exclusive opportunities to purchase unique, personal and handmade giftware, why not sign up to be a 'Golden Ticket Member'.

It is FREE and you will receive 10% off of your first web store purchase. Simply click here!

Pale Pink and Emerald Green

It's been a while since I have used some pink in my creations. I must say, I like pink in moderation as I am not as fond of combinations that use excessive amounts of pink. Despite this slight aversion to pink, I have made it the base of my colour combination. I didn't want too much pink, therefore I decided to add shades of emerald green to add some coolness to this combination.

The spark of this colour combination was a photo of a door. The photo consisted of a deep emerald green door that was the entrance to a pale pink dwelling. Whether it is the influence of this photo or of the colours themselves, these colours seem welcoming, kind and gentle.

As you can see, I have started making jewellery items using this colour combination. I also have another 'princess' canvas, a 'home' canvas and boat canvas in the pipeline that will reflect this gentle and kind mood.

I can't wait to share more of these items with you. In the meantime, if you would like to view jewellery items in store, please click here.

~ Jen.

Calm Seas and a Boat Canvas

 I am a 'river' girl at heart. From a young age my family and I have holidayed on the Murray River and as a result I have grown to respect the river, learn about it and appreciate the area. Time away in this area thoroughly relaxes me. For a week I feel like I am away from the 'real' world.

Occasionally, we travel from our home to Adelaide and as a result we cross over the Murray River. If it is a while since we have spent time away on the river, I look at the river longingly as we cross over it and mention to my husband that we should organise some time away on it.

For some people, the sea is their desired place to dwell in, near or around. They enjoy the sound of the waves flowing into shore and the smell of the salty air. Mind you, it is also the ocean and the air around it that can spawn ferocious storms. The place of relaxation and peace can quickly transform to a place of fear as mighty winds, rain and waves are created and strength is required to bear the brunt of the storm until it passes. Isn't that similar to life? One minute there is celebration and comfort in the everyday and then troublesome times brew and swamp us. They eventually blow over and life returns to its calm self. The refreshment of being able to totally relax in a favoured area (such as by the river or by the sea) helps to rejuvenate energy to cope with the everyday pace of life and troublesome times.

This sailing boat has been created using fabric that is adhered over thin pieces of wood to make the sails. The mast is a rolled up book page and the bottom of the boat is a shape cut out of a book page that have been painted. The words that are adhered on the canvas are "May calm provide strength for stormy seas". All of this is then adhered onto a backgroud that uses various painting techniques. This canvas is part of the chocolate brown and light blue hue range.

Wishing you all smooth sailing!

~ Jen.