Way back when I started the Sofs adventure in 2008 I use to say that I love vintage with a modern twist. Also that I was into old with a digital flair. Well, I still am today. I have an ETSY vintage boutique that keeps getting better and better and my vintage sewing machine collection keeps growing. Plus it is now joined by vintage tvs, typewriters, cameras, pottery,etc.. 

Looking back I found this post on my 'old blog'. It's talking about the first vintage machine I got. Also this post I wrote about my first brother pink vintage sewing machine! (see picture above) 

​I have many more today and most are for sell and/or for rent as props for events or photoshoots. 
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Last week I found a Morse pink and today I got a queen pink. Yes, a queen sewing machine, how fun!! Check it out..

I have been dreaming of owning a laser cutter but for many reasons inclufing the financial side of things, I have been waiting. If some of you follow my adventures a little you'll remind that I have been making wood decoration objects using my scroll saw instead. I actually love the scoll saw still however I now also LOVE my glowforge! They have a porogram that can get you up to $500 off if you purchase with a code. (I didn't know that but I wish I had!) If you use this code, we both get some perks! Use it if you want to buy one. Also Here is a free template pattern to get you going. Check out of shop for many more patterns and also some ready made wood objects and more! Thank you and happy making. 

Share what you make with our templates on our insta SofsWoodLand for a chance to win free stuff! 

I find myself reflecting on how I used to compete in all 4 disciplines when I was a alpine ski racers and, that now that I am a maker, I still have the need to be involved in 4 types of disciplines. I wonder what this all means??

Regardless of the meaning (and for fun) I am trying to match what I do now to the 4 alpine skiing discipline. 

Let's start with my most enduring discipline as a skier was and is 'Slalom' as seen in picture above. I would have to say that 'Fabric Sphere' is my Slalom in many ways. 

My most exhilarating discipline was 'Downhill' which both excited and scared me at the same time. I would equate this to 'Paper planet' mainly because the possibilities are both thrilling and nerve racking sometimes. I just don't know if one life time will be enough for me to make all the things I dream of!!  'Super G' is next and is sort of an off-shoot of downhillin some ways. That is definitely my 'WoodLand' as I fidn the procees of designing and choosing the objects to make similar to that of designing my paper models.

​Finally, my most elusive discipline when I was a racer was 'Giant slalom'. I would say that this is my 'Illustration Orbit' because I found that you either had the giant slalom rythmn or you did not (a bit like Slalom). If you didn't, you had to spend more time getting it just right. I think that illustartors are often a one disciple kinda artist and concentrate their careers on being great at it. I do it cause I just love it however I acquire the skills on a slower timeframe since I am dividing my attention with all discipline. I don't really mind as I just love it and it makes me feel well. 

That's it, just a little fun comparison. Do you have a similar thing going on?..

I am preparing what is my biggest order thus far and while I am sitting amongst a huge pile of paper, I am pondering on the nature of things. More especially I am pondering about how paper is made, and where it comes from which made me think of trees and forest. It just happen to coincide with a big clean up I just did where I found a whole bunch of pictures of my younger years spent in the reforestation business.

​In conversation I sometimes mention my time spent as a ski racer because of the lessons it has taught me, however I think that my time spent as a tree planter and lumberjack (jill) has taught me as much. If I think of time spent, I must have spent about 7 to 8 years as an athlete and I spent 7 years in the forest, either planting trees or thinning the existing plantations. Similar amounts of time however I would say that in my 7 years in the bush, I have never worked so hard physically and been put to the test emotionally. 

I would say that partially the paper we use is in thanks to thousands of young people like me who spent whole summers working their bun’s off! 

Le marché éphémère de la Gare Windsor a Montréal 2018 organisé par le collectif créatif mtl a été un événement féerique et magique pour Sofs Designs. J'ai rencontre des gens incroyable et j'ai entendu des millier de 'Wow chèque ça' !!!  Je suis reconnaissante de cette belle expérience et je suis heureuse de partager ma passion et émerveillement avec un si grand nombre de gens.

What's more was the level of enthousiams that everyone had towards my small business wishing me luck and encouraging to keep going. One more reason why being a maker and artisan producing producst locally is so exciting and gratyfying. I am very thankful to everyone who came by to see my and soon to be thier little paper creatures. Until next year or until my next show. Check out where we'll be here.  

MERCI / THANK YOU 

Dans le monde des fabrications papier on voit toute sorte de chose, et on voit aussi des choses géantes! Ça fait longtemps que je veux essayer de faire un 'papercraft' grandeur réel mais je n’étais ni certaine du comment et ni équipée pour le faire.

Petit à petit j'ai recherché les façons de faire et surtout les outils et matériaux nécessaires. Le reste est facile.. Quand je dit facile, je m'explique: Une fois que je me suis équipée du bon papier (carton de 160 lbs) et d'une imprimante format grande impression, le reste est une question de bricolage.

Construction du beau sapin de 5 pieds:

Et donc voici ce que j'ai eu besoin une fois en possession du parton (imprimé sur 41 page de grandeur 13 pouces par 19 pouces):

Un couteau à lame d’environ $ 12 (acheter bureau en gros)

Un tapis de coupe auto cicatrisant qui m'a coûté environ $45 (acheter bureau en gros)

De plus, dernièrement j'ai changé de technique et utilise du ruban double face avec un
distributeur de ruban double face. C'est un peu plus dispendieux avec une valeur qui va entre environ $25 (le rose) à $75 (le rouge). La différence est dépendante de la largeur du ruban utilisé. Pour les gros modèle comme celui-ci, j'ai du acheter un ruban 'heavy duty' et donc j'ai aussi du me procurer un distributeur plus gros. Pour la plus part des projets, le rose fonctionne super bien. (acheter sur amazon.ca) Le coût du ruban est quand même important et donc pour un gros modèle comme celui-ci, j’ai du utiliser pour une valeur d’environ $20. (acheter sur uline.ca)

Par contre un bâton de colle à $4 fait bien l'affaire aussi! Mon favoris c'est le rouge, le pritt:

Et c'est tout,.. le reste est manuelle mais simple. Il faut en faire un peu à chaque jours et petit à petit les pièces du patron sont coupées et 'marquées' (je prends l’endos du couteau avec une règle et je glisse sur les lignes pointillées.) En passant, marquer les lignes à plier est une partie important. Un peu tannant mais ensuite tout ira beaucoup mieux!

Le reste, et bien, c'est comme un mélange entre faire un casse-tète et une peinture à numéro. Il suffit de trouver les numéros qui vont ensembles, donc 1 avec 1, 2 avec 2...et les coller! VOILA le résultat: à chaque fois époustouflant!!

Si vous voulez aussi en faire un Vous êtes capable, j'en suis sur!!
​Faite-le entre amis avec du bon vin et de la bonne musique. (Peut-être pas trop de vin pour celle qui coupe les pièces du patron! )