Tutorial: Sequined Sugar Skull Hairclip/ Pin

 

 It's been a while since I've written a tutorial, but I thought with Dia de los Muertos right around the corner now was a good time. I LOVE shiny, sparkly things. Sequins is #1 on my list of favorite sparkly objects. Growing up my mom use to make sequined pins for every holiday. I loved to watch her make the pins. Every now and then she let me help out. I must say I've improved over the years. (Last year I made 2 giant sequined pieces.) Once you've gotten past the first few sequins it gets super easy, you can zone out in front of the tv for a while and just keep going.

 To make your own sequined hairclip/ pin you'll need the following:

White pre stiffened felt

Black sticker felt

Extra fine beading needles

Clear seed beads

Thread- black & white

Ball point pen

Scissors

Pin back

Hair clip

Sequins- 

8mm white

8mm black

5mm black

5mm purple

5mm teal

5mm orange

Glue gun

Pattern

 Step 1: Draw the image onto white felt with a ball point pen. (Ball point pens are best for drawing on felt because they write smoothly and do not bleed.)

I Love Comic Books!

I know it's probably something you don't hear girls say very often, but it's true. When I was younger my dad would buy me comic books. I'd look through them amazed with the illustrations, truthfully I didn't always read them , I just LOVED the illustrations. I'm a fan of both DC and Marvel comics but Superman has always had my heart. When I was in high school I would practice my drawing skills by drawing the images from my comic books.
This summer I took my kids to the comic book shop for the first time. I think I enjoyed it more than they did. I'm actually looking forward to them going back to school so I can head over there and really look around. I didn't purchase any comics, I went on a mission to find a Munny figure, which I did.
Back on track, comic books, I love them. I MADE ONE! Two actually. My mom had been telling me that I should write a book about my Cucuy characters. I had a few customers mention how cool a comic about my characters would be. I finally sat down and started drawing. At first I was going for a children's book, building off the story line my mom had in mind. I just wasn't feeling the story book format. That's when I decided I had to turn the story into a comic book.

It's not a full size comic book, but a cute little mini comic book. I've decided I'm going to make it a monthly series. I have two completed as of this week. Issue #1 has been for sale in my shop for a few weeks. Issue #2 will be for sale September 1st.

I'm growing addicted to creating them. I have the story line for Issue #3 in my head. I hope to have a chance to draw it out this weekend. I also have a few other series in my head, I think  Luchamals (masked wrestling animals) will be next.

Meet Mr. Longoria

I've been very busy the past few weeks. Jumping from one project to another gets exhausting. I plan on sharing some pictures of the work I've been doing but I thought that today I would share something else. Today I want to tell you about Mr. Longoria, aka the other half of Studio Longoria, aka Aaron.
He has been very busy lately too. Aaron does woodwork. He started a few years ago making small items, mostly crosses. Really beautiful crosses.

 

Recently he has started working on a larger scale. Last week he made this awesome cabinet for my studio. It holds all my paints, brushed, pencils and other supplies, it also doubles as a table.

 Today he finished up restoring this cool sewing table, turning it into an accent table. It's so pretty, I'm sad that I have no room for it in my studio or I'd keep it for myself.

Here are a few more pieces he's made recently. 

A hair on hide bench for his mom.

 

 A book shelf to replace the book shelf that mysteriously fell over and broke when no one was around (except the kids.)

 I've got to give it to him, for someone who is self taught, he's doing an awesome job. He has more projects planned. I can't wait to see what else he come up with. 

Fingers crossed it's a new kitchen table.