Victorian Steampunk Meets Halloween!

Hello All,

                If you have been looking at the PaperArtsy blog you will have seen this

 slightly weird corset style belt and the happy Halloween style stamping.

Pity I don't have the waist for it these days!

I promised to post the details of the pattern so that you can make one yourself. It really is

very easy, I just wrapped some paper round my waist to get the shape.

Cut out the pieces (3 plus 3 in reverse). I have placed the pattern on the 1inch squared

background for easy copying. To fit, the long length of each piece should be extended

or reduced to measure half your waist measurement plus half an inch. The two pieces

will be joined at the back with a half inch seam. Obviously the lacing at the front allows

for some expansion!

Sew the quilting lines as shown, and then all round the edge. the raw edges are covered

by the lace edging or can be bias bound.

5 eyelets are inserted on each piece, half an inch in from the front edge.

Am happy to answer any questions if I have missed something :)

And you don't have to sew.....

Bye for now, Penny.

Zentangle Inspired Quilting

Good evening all,

On Saturday I am giving a workshop for the Isle of Man quilting group

"Mannin Quilters" on Zentangle inspired quilting. It is a free machining

workshop, doodling in thread. Free machining is a brilliant way of designing

on fabric and I actually find drawing with the needle easier than with a pencil.

Anyone can do it .....but it does take practise like anything else.

A small wall hanging as an example.

And a cushion with 49 different patterns

For inspiration

Should be a good day!

And the next project is......

To replace this rather tatty Viking pennant for the House of Manannan museum in

Peel. Some serious double sided appliqué......mmmm!

I love a new challenge.

Bye for now, P.

Pearls and lace and work in progress....

Good Morning!

                      I really need to make more effort with the blogging. the problem is (now for

the excuses) I often work on projects the take a lot of time to complete, or that are made

in advance for later release, such as the PaperArtsy demo samples.

 What I need to do is perhaps aim to showcase work in progress, or the smaller

"that's too insignificant for blogging" things.

  This is the latest museum costume, based on this portrait of Countess Charlotte

(1599-1664), wife of the Earl of Stanley.

 It will be seen at Castle Rushen in Castletown (Isle of Man) as part of the current

 "History in Heels" season, featuring prominent women in history.

    This next photo is a sneak preview of another  project in progress.........

      I haven't done any goldwork embroidery for ages so this is a real treat!

     Anybody out there into Cosplay? Am thinking of branching out into a bit of fantasy

     costume making, so watch this space.......

                Bye for now, P.

A Bit of a Rush This Week....

Hello All,

                 there's nothing like a very short deadline to challenge the creative mind, and

this week a last minute call from PaperArtsy to illustrate the possibilities of some of their

newly launched products certainly gave me that challenge!

                 I have to say though that the images are generous and detailed so it wasn't too

bad really and I am pleased with the results :)

 Leandra's subtle colour choice turned out to be inspired

I should loosen up and play with my art materials more often, it's surprising what happens.

There are lots more examples on the PA blog tonight so take a look HERE.

Bye for now, P.

........And Back in the Room!

Well Hello people......it's been a while I know.

Sometimes the motivation wanes a bit, and blogging inspiration is difficult to find.
Practical tasks take over, too mundane to write about. And there's the "when I have
finished this I'll have so much time to do....." Er, no.

So to catch up...

My PaperArtsy project this week involved "Hidden Objects"

Messages in silk and stone. It's an interesting theme and well worth a look at what the
others have come up with so far.

With my practical hat on I made this snazzy waistcoat by request

and then played around with Zentangle stitching to get back into the free-machining
flow,

in preparation for a workshop for the Mannin Quilters group in September.
The motivation thing is so much better when you have PURPOSE (and a deadline).

And there's some interesting costume making coming up :)

Back to the practical.....giving the dog a haircut

He didn't want one.

Bye for now, P.