Sunday 31 August 2014

Plant Collage and SC20

A collage from a sketchbook.
and the final prompt for the spoonchallenge - selfie [not a good likeness]

The spoonchallenge was a 30 day drawing challenge, although we only got 20 prompts...weekends free.

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Tuesday 26 August 2014

Tast 126, 127 and Handmade Stamps

Tast 126 - Alternating up and down buttonhole stitch
Tast 127 - Beaded alternating up and down buttonhole stitch
Stitched on handmade paper which is orange do you believe? I took the photo in a different room to the one I normally use but it is the same paper as I used for the last Tast stitches I've shown.

Handmade stamps from junk.

I used a used nail buffer like the one on the left and some corrugated card as shown to make a stamp. I just used double sided sticky tape to cover all the sides with the card, then painted them with acrylic paint which was quite messy as I painted all the sides while the paint was still wet.
The grooves face a different way on each side.
It looks a lot better once I painted over it with inks.


For the second stamp I used an old key which I glued to an old thread reel.







Thursday 21 August 2014

Green Bib and Cloth Doll


Another crazy patchwork bib, this one for friend Gill's new grandson. Made with vintage fabrics... one of them I used was leftover from a pram quilt I made my daughter when she was a baby, she's 35 now. What do you think about green for a boy, a change from the usual blue or just not right?
Yesterday we had a fun day at Gill's making cloth dolls, or starting a cloth doll. Gill has made some wonderful dolls so she was sharing her knowledge. This is what I've made so far, a basic head and hands.



Tuesday 19 August 2014

TAST 122, 123 , 125

122 - chained bar used as couching on a strip of tweed.
123 - woven chained bar also running stitch - at the time of doing them I didn't think I was doing them very well so I only did two....but they don't look too bad.
124 - beaded herringbone over ribbon - I found a bit tricky to start with, would probably be easier on an evenweave fabric.
I've used handmade paper as a background on all three pieces.



Thursday 14 August 2014

Tast 119, 124

Take a stitch Tuesday 
Tast 119 - woven trellis stitch with bead in centre stitched on handmade paper.

Tast 124 - closed herringbone stitch, running stitch, scraps of coat fabric stitched on handmade paper. I applied the fabric scraps to help me keep a neat line.
Go to Pintangle to see a neat version


Tuesday 12 August 2014

Tast and SC4,5

Hand printed leaves on fabric, chiffon layers, embroidery and beads.
The stitches on the left include variations of beaded buttonhole stitch (tast 118), beaded feathered chain stitch (tast 113), beaded fly stitch, running stitch.....the one that looks like a caterpillar is beaded vandyke stitch (tast 116). 
On the right is beaded fly stitch and feather stitch to which I applied the beads afterwards.
If you want to learn to embroider or learn some new stitches join in the tast challenge. 

Below are two quick drawings for the 30 day drawing spoonchallenge
prompt 4 - river
prompt 5 - lemon [incorporating hand lettering]

Monday 11 August 2014

Snake

Paper mache, pages from an old book were used for the top coat.



I've been in London over the weekend to see my daughter and son in law.

We were going to go to the London Museum yesterday but the rain was so heavy we decided not to. But the rain decided to join us inside so after mopping the floors I took photos of Audrey the cat.

Thursday 7 August 2014

Paper Mache Fox, SC3

We had a play day with paper mache at a friends house a couple of weeks ago.
My creation started as a fox, I'm not sure it looks much like one now.
 I used recycled envelopes [insides] for the top coat and sequins with drawing pins for the eyes.
It needs putting on a board to straighten it out.



Spoonchallenge  day 3 - tree


Wednesday 6 August 2014

TAST, WIP, SC2

These are both 'work in progress' and embroidery stitches for Take a stitch Tuesday.
The top one is beaded long tail chain stitch [TAST 114] with threaded running stitch.
Below is whipped long tailed chain stitch. [TAST 115] I used ribbon for the whipping and stitched onto hand made paper. Join in at Pintangle.


No 2  Spoon Challenge - Mountain



Tuesday 5 August 2014

SC - Cactus

Spoonflower have launched a challenge - to draw everyday for a month. They will send you a prompt each day. Because of time differences this is yesterday's prompt which I did last night and to be honest it's not one of my favourites.

Monday 4 August 2014

Lace Hearts

I've been invited to two weddings in September so I've made a heart for each couple.
Different laces on a cotton silk background with hand embroidered lettering and a loop for hanging.