To all you SUPERMAMAS that celebrate it on Sunday.
I hope you have a lovely relaxing day, with big boxes of chocolates, and pretty flowers, and breakfast in bed.
And not too much mess to clear up after the latter.
Inspiration
Once upon a time..
I used to be a grown up, and do grown up things (-ish)
A few years ago, when my two youngest children were very small. I signed up for an evening art course to stop myself from going completely and utterly insane.
It wasn't this art course .
The art course I'm talking about , was the polar opposite of that art course.
This one was run by Judy Hempstead, who is a very popular local artist. That fact that she is a successful artist, I feel, is one of the reasons this class was so enjoyable, not only did we gain from her vast experience and knowledge, but also she was there because she 'liked' to teach, not 'had' to teach.
This class was a lot of fun. It consisted mainly of mothers with young children who were desperate to get out of the house (we all used to lie to our husbands, and say the class started earlier than it did - just to escape), and a couple of brave blokes who obviously weren't easily scared.
Trips to the local village pub were often involved to continue our intellectual conversations about art (?), and we all passed the exam with flying colours.
I learnt that art and craft are one and the same thing, and never ever to take myself seriously. The niciest thing about Judy, is that if she took a look at the daft little creatures I enjoy making these days, she would approve whole-heartedly.
The above images are from a silk wallhanging I made for part of my coursework, inspired by Paul Klee.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoy silk painting, the colours are so vivid and transulucent, something that doesn't really show up in the photos, because there is still no sign of Spring and the light is CRAP.
I might have to dig those paints out, and have some more fun with them.
Hope you have a happy fun weekend too.
: )
Bracelet
made from scraps of fabric
and odds and sods on my desk
Just a strip of patchworked fabrics (is patchworked a word ?), with things sewn on. I'll post a tutorial next week if anyone wants me to, it's very easy.
In the meantime, HAPPY FRIDAY !
Yippeeeeeee
Yeeee- ha
Woooo-hoo
etcetera.
: )
Scrapwork
I thought it was about time, that I started using some of the trillions of bits and pieces I have left over from other projects. This is going to be made into a wallet,
it's mostly hand-sewn, so it's something relaxing to do whilst watching Coronation Street.
It'll be made in the same way as the others, but a bit bigger.
If you're want lots of great inspiration for using up scraps, look no further than here.
On a different note this made me laugh today, poor Eda and poor Harvey.
Quilts for Katrina
It's full sewing steam ahead, now the children have gone back to school- Oh, the glorious, blissful silence !
I managed to get this finished today for the Quilts for Katrina project.
It was inspired by Amy's lovely contribution and her recent post on redwork, in fact, everything thing that Amy does is inspiring, I am in awe.
The quilts are to be auctioned off on e-bay or etsy when completed and they look like they're going to be real beauties.
Madeleine
Just time for a quick post today, I've been doing a google search on Madeleine, but unfortunately her site is down at the moment and I can only find this link. ( Sorry link won't work properly,click on crafts directory, then textiles then scroll thru' the pages) The quality of the photographs really doesn't show the beauty and detail in Madeleine's work, her tiny perfect stitches have to be seen to be believed .
She is also great fun and I am going to try and nag her to start a blog next time I see her.
The technique is very easy, just find some wool blankets from the back of the cupboard or jumble sale or charity/thrift shop. Tear or cut them into smaller pieces ( mine are usually about 20 x 40" ), and then dye them with an appropriate dye. I use Dylon multi purpose dye.
If you dye one piece at a time using the same pot of dye, each piece will be a lighter version of the last . Just top your pot up with boiling water when necessary. I normally get 3-4 pieces from the same pot.
For the bird picture , you start off with your main piece of blanket and build up your design in layers using any stitch that takes your fancy. In other words you make it up as you go along.
The birdy piece was embellished with sequins and beads, but this one I left as it was ( for a change ! ).
I plan on doing something like this with the children next week, it's a perfect project for them as the blanket doesn't fray and they can use big darning needles and inexpensive wool to sew with.
That's it , as you have probably noticed, I'm pretty crappy at explaining things,so if none of this makes any sense, let me know.
Have a great weekend, I'm going to paint my toenails and put my lippy on, before heading off to a party at the pub tonight.
YIPPEE !
Yuk and yikes
This week I have mostly been re-decorating our sitting room - yuk !
This is something that I have managed to put off doing since we first moved in 6 years ago. Now the children are at school full time , I have run out of excuses and it has to be done .
I did suggest paying someone to do it, but my husband fainted, so I took that as a no.
Everything has needed intensive stripping (boring), sanding down (even more boring), and loads of preparation before the paint can go on -MEGA MEGA BORING.
The children start their six week summer break on Friday (yikes), but, happily, this means I have my excuses back . Thank God for kids.
No time for crafting, but here is something I did on a 'Recycled Blankets' workshop a little while ago.
It was run by a wonderful local textile artist called Madeleine Millington ( what a great name ).
I'll write more on her and the how-to's tomorrow, in the meantime, I have to go wash out the paintbrushes (borrrrrrrrring ).