Floating through life in a salt water pool

For the past couple of months, I have been struggling through the process of trying to find out why I sometimes ache all over. Many things were neglected during scans, x-rays and examinations, not the least of which was my blog. But, I am back.
Turns out I have arthritis everywhere. This comes as quite a comfort, really. I was starting to think it was all in my head, and fingers, and toes, and elbows and knees.... well, you get the picture.
In addition to medication and a serious attempt to lose tonnage, I am also doing salt water Aquafit. This is a 45-minute work out in a 91 degree therapy pool. So far, I am a fan. It is a great workout, and miracle of miracles, nothing hurts at all as I exercise. Sadly, 45 minutes flies by, I have to get out of the pool.
To keep myself away from the kitchen and the snacks that lurk there, I am spending a lot of time in my sewing room.
Recently, I rehabilitated another dress form, found at Value Village for less than $10. This one is going to be used to hang up my sewing scissors, seam ripper and retractable tape measure.
In its former life, the dress form was dressed in leopard print velvet and red sequins. The effect was regrettable. I could see something better.
I stripped the hideous fabric velvet fabric off the form and replaced it with some linen. I stamped an image on the front and then made a skirt from some green linen leaves. I used some tea dyed crocheted lace from an old pillow case to make the over skirt. The felt roses were just plain fun to do. I cut out a wavy circle of felt and then cut out a wavy spiral patten through to the centre of the circle. Then, I rolled up the spiral, starting at the centre, and secured the rolls using small dots of hot glue. This process proved kind of addictive, and before I knew it, I had made more than 15 roses! I used some pearls and a little charm to further embellish my notions holder.
The neckline sports not only a felt rose, but also some tiny millinery flowers and a crystal heart.
I was kind of sad when I finished this form, but I have many things to get ready for the upcoming CreativFestival in three weeks' time in Toronto. More on that later.
In the meantime, have a wonderful, creative week!
 

Altered reality

This is the dress form I altered to decorate my bit of the table at A Needle Pulling Thread magazine's booth at the CreativFestival in Toronto this fall.
I used a papier mache dress form from Michaels, covered with paper from a cool paper bag I got when I bought a little gift from a boutique in Bracebridge ON this summer.
The dress form is standing on an really old wooden spool of silk thread and it is attached to an upside down little wooden box I found while thrifting at Value Village. The feet are miniature wooden spools wrapped in tiny Tilda fabric scraps.
The tiny sampler was stitched years ago from a kit. The decorations kind of took off from there. I was reasonably sure I had lost the plot when I made the tiny tomato pincushion, but really, making the polka dot glasses (they look a lot like my stitching glasses) was the final tiny detail.
The whole thing is about 41 cm tall.
Now, I am off to do some sewing on deadline. Such fun!
Have a great week, y'all!

Not quite in the pink

These past few weeks have been difficult for a number of reasons. However, last week, I redecorated a thrift store mannequin in preparation for my appearance demonstrating embroidery and embellishment techniques at A Needle Pulling Thread's booth at the CreativFestival this April in Toronto.
Each designer is allowed to bring a small example of their work. I wanted to show abit of what I like to do beyond sewing and other textile frolics.
I found the mannequin at Value Village, just after I received four stamps for donating four bags of stuff. My card full, I was then eligible for a 30 per cent off discount on my next purchase. I was headed for the door when I spied this torso.
At first glance, it was a challenging bit of kitsch. However, my re-create brain was engaged at that very moment. (Sometimes that doesn't happen) I could see the whole transformation in my head. Also, I have a policy of leaving no mannequin behind. So, I picked it up and headed toward the cash. It was marked $9.99 -- which is quite a lot for a thrift store -- and Pepto Pink. However, I had the magic 30 per cent off coupon.
Now, I admit, $7 is still quite a lot for a thrift store find -- and let's not forget the challenge of the PINK! As I reached into my pocket for my car keys, I found $20 in my coat pocket. (I had not worn that coat since last spring.) I know that doesn't make my mannequin purchase free, but it sort of felt like it was because of the hidden $20.
When I got the mannequin home, I disassembled it from its stand and took stock of what I had to do. The fabric flowers had to come off with the assistance of pliers. Ditto the shiny braid. I was left with a reasonably good substrate. I gave it a quick sand to get rid of any residual glue and got to the real work of getting rid of the PINK!

The PINK! was so vibrant I decided to use a dark umber as the base coat before the crackle medium. In my mind's eye, the new colour scheme was going to be a lot more subdued. If you have ever visited Evelyn and Rose, you will understand the vibe I was going for.

Susan has a colour palette that uses white in many incarnations, along with lovely blues and greens. I love the tranquility of that -- it feels like sand, sea, home and happiness to me. Also, I get sort of lost in her blog. Be warned. It is pretty there.

My mannequin was looking much better even with its dark brown basecoat. Once it was dry, I put on the crackle medium. When the medium was dry, I did the first coat of off white paint -- white mixed with antique white. The first round of crackling was quite violent. To tone it down, I added another coat of off white. When it dried, I decided another coat of off white would make the mannequin appear old, but still in good shape. Sadly, I don't think this is the case with humans, but I am willing to suspend all disbelief...

After three coats of off white, the crackle effect was quite subdued. I let the paint dry for 24 hours before using permanent ink to stamp the images on it. This way, the images would stand up to the three coats of satin varnish I used to seal the surface. I am pleased with it so far.

The next step in the process is to create a ribbon, bead and button skirt. I am working on that later on today, but I thought I'd share the WIP.