but what's it for.........

Hi there (looking shameful),

Apologies for long absence. Where does time go?

I have not been totally idle, just had a few practical dressmaking jobs to do and a bit of travelling.

Now back on track and ready for the next "Cutting my Coat" project.

First a quick word about choosing which direction to go. As a Jack-of-all-trades with a very low boredom threshold, I tend to flit about between mediums, following my muse (when I am lucky enough to have one!). The people I admire most are those who absolutely know where they are going and just DO IT.

Quote Mum:   "That's nice..........but what's it for?"
Me:                 "It's not FOR...........it just IS"

But still most things I do have a "FOR".

Today I randomly picked out two things to start with

The box I picked up in the charity shop as a possible altering project. The stamps are Dylusions
from Art From the Heart.
Hopefully this will develop over the next few days.............

Print it. Paint it.

              Hello again folks.

                              First a confession......... Had a lovely trip to the NEC in Birmingham

              last week to the Sewing For Pleasure and Hobbycraft show. Plenty of inspiration

              and just a little bit of retail therapy. The odd thing might appear in my creations in

              the next few weeks.

              In the mean time...... fabric decoration. An excellent way to produce a design on

              fabric is screen printing. I have always been put off in the past by the mess (not

              a dirty hands person to be honest!) but then I saw a demonstration of printing

              using screens produced by the Thermofax process. It is so controllable,

              economical and easily done on the kitchen table. I love the possibilities for

              drawing and printing my own designs.

              It starts with a line drawing. Small infilled areas are ok but too much blocked out

              does not really work well. This is then burned onto a mesh and hey presto.

                 Screen printing fabric ink is then squeegeed through the mesh onto the fabric

                making a clean sharp printed image which, when dry and iron fixed can be

                coloured in with fabric paint.

                Silk is my favourite, closely followed by linen and cotton. I love to work with

                natural fabrics. So here are some examples..........

                                           

              And on a smaller scale, purses...........

                These things can be addictive!  Maybe it's time to start an ETSY shop?

The Singing Ringing Tree

             Hi there, welcome back!
     
                      Very much enjoyed the paper fun this week and pleased with the result :).

            A few weeks ago whilst randomly browsing in a shop I spotted a glass cake stand.

            The lady at the counter asked if I make a lot of cakes............ much laughter :). I

            have given up trying to explain these days that rarely do I buy anything for its

            actual purpose. It's easier just to nod and smile and scuttle home inspired.

            I think my brain works in 3-d. I like to take a flat piece of paper or fabric and build

            something. As it grew, the "Singing Ringing Tree" came into my head..........a

            creepy fairy tale that people of a certain age like me will remember seeing on

            black and white TV. Not creeped by this though.

         
              The papers are mostly from Graphic45 Secret Garden collection, die cut and

              added to a pre cut tree shape and base (painted with Fresco paints), and

              trimmed with braids and Prima roses.

              Unfortunately the tree grew too tall for the glass cake stand cover.......but never

              mind.

                            And now........

 
                                                            BIG BROTHER

Bring Me Sunshine.....

             Hi there,
   
                          pardon the absence but (and here comes the excuse!) there was

             SUNSHINE and well I just had to be out in it.

             It was too good to miss. I have however finished this

           It is not best shown on the mannequin as the whole idea is to squish everything in,

           but my live model is away at university and it certainly won't fit me!

           So after all that sewing what next? Something papery methinks........

         

         

Procrastination.......

.........is the thief of time!

               Blog week 2. What to do? The choice of project is overwhelming.

               Paint the front room.

               No more procrastination! ( such a good word :) )

               Why not begin by finding a U.F.O.* and making it a W.I.P.*

               One of my interests is making costume for amateur drama, living history,

               or just to wear.

Photography by The Studio Colby.

              At the bottom of a drawer I found the beginnings of

               18th century stays (boned bodice) that had been waiting (for ages) to

               be decorated and constructed.

               Think fabric paint for this. Birds maybe............?

           

                So far so good.

                Will update with the finished bodice soon as!

                * U.F.O.     Unfinished object.
                * W.I.P.      Work in progress.