Finishing up before the Festival

Finished roos!

I have managed to finish a number of things in the past couple of weeks. The kangaroos are finished, faces blushing, eyes painted on and the baby's hair bow and heart in place
Then, I made a basket of fabric tulips. I found a tutorial on how to make them, but it is not in English, and though fairly straight forward, I elected to re-draft the patterns to make them easier. I also added a few touches of my own -- I do that with alarming frequency.
This basket of flowers will be coming with me to the CreativFestival this weekend in Toronto, where I will be showing folks how to do a piece of wall art framed in a fabric hoop.
Last weekend, I went to Ottawa to visit my cousins. I made them some little change purses. They got rave reviews, and made me appear terribly clever. I made them small because they are all hikers and walkers. These little purses are small enough to slip into a pocket and could contain enough cash to pay for a little treat like a coffee or an ice cream cone -- a reward for putting in the time to hike.
Now, I am off to finish packing up for the festival. Photos to come!
Have a great week, y'all!

Sewing the tulip blossoms in a chain

Fabric tulip in a basket to welcome Spring

Purses for the cousins' coins

Literally, just limping along...

Birthday purses for some old friends

A couple of weeks ago, I sprained my ankle. It hurt quite a bit. So much that I voluntarily went to the doctor. I even had an x-ray to make sure it was not broken. All this got in the way of my creative pursuits and writing blog posts.
Turns out it isn't a difficult as one might think to sprain an ankle when there are little piles of frozen snow in the driveway, strategically frozen in just the right place to step and twist upon on the way into the car. On the morning I did it, I sort of fell into the car after the slip and twist event. It was not graceful, but at least I was in the car. It didn't even hurt right away.
The pain emerged at the grocery store, and was horrible on the drive home because I had sprained the foot that does all the pedal business involved in driving.
We have had some freaky weather lately, freezing, thawing, snow, rain, freezing and more thawing. Despite all best efforts, there was bound to be some snow and ice to trip me up. And so, I was forced to prop up my foot and ice it down -- 20 minutes at a time all day long. At one point, Sandra came over to visit and brought me some fabric with Russian dolls all over it. This brought great joy, and as usual, Sandra herself cheered me up and swept away my grumpy mood immediately.
During this foot propping, iced-over sprained ankle adventure, I was able to do a lot of armchair projects.

Kangaroos!

First up, are some linen/cotton coin purses, made for girlfriends I have known since childhood. We got together to celebrate our birthdays, so I was able to limp in to the restaurant bearing handmade gifts.
I also finished three ornament designs for A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine's Festive issue, which is due out in August/September of this year. (This is now available in digital format now through Zinio and Apple Newsstand) I can't post a photo yet, but the ornaments I designed are inspired by vintage gift tags. They are embroideries in retro colours, mounted in four-inch embroidery hoops. They can be used as package toppers, gift tags or tree decorations. I had a blast doing them, and I hope the readers like them too.
Then, I fulfilled a long time desire and made a Tilda Kangaroo. This pattern was featured in Australian Homespun Magazine in 2008. The stuffing and construction was just the kind of project I needed to keep me busy and occupied while I waited for the ankle to start feeling better.
The kangaroos are now awaiting their face painting and final touches, and my ankle is less painful now. I found I could even do some sewing at the machine yesterday. Next up: walking outside. But, not today, we have had freezing rain again last night. I think I will keep the ice on my ankle -- not under foot.
 Have a lovely weekend everyone!

A Tiny Tilda bear on a tiny perfumed chair

I finally finished the tiny bear from Tilda's Winter Wonderland.
Now, those little details might drive some people crazy. Not me, I love them. She was a perfect armchair project once all the little seams were completed using the machine.
Next, I am doing tiny bunny.
The bear's little perch is an old perfume bottle from Avon. It is a replica of an old fashioned ice cream parlour chair. The base of the chair contained creme perfume and the top is a pin cushion.
It was included in a pile of things my Aunt was editing from her house, and was on its way to Goodwill. But first, I was invited to rifle through the pile before it went to the thrift store.
Surprise! Buttons and a wooden spool also came home with me.
The Avon bottle even had a bit of creme perfume in it -- until I got it home.
 Perfume doesn't travel well from 1973 to 2013. It was quite a weird smell. Not unpleasant exactly, but not something one really wants hanging around. I scooped out the rest with a craft stick and paper towel and washed it thoroughly. Now it is a benign keepsake of the summer I learned to make my own clothes under the careful guidance of my auntie, who has always shared herself and her talents with me.

Every now and then, I delight myself

 This was a long time in the re-making, but I finally finished the formerly PINK dress form.
I really love the way it turned out.
It is coming with me to the CreativFestival in Toronto next month.
The thing that  makes me happiest about this project is that I finally parted with some things I had been saving for the just the "right" project.
The ribbon rose is real silk ribbon from Mokuba, a downtown Toronto store I only visit once or twice a year. They have little remnant packages -- made, I think just for me -- and this ribbon was in one of them. Ditto the rice paper leaves I made for the rose.
The spool is from the cast of thousands that I dearly love and just enjoy having around. They are a cozy reminder of when I first started sewing on my grandma's old black Singer machine. I hunt them down when I can, people give them to me when they are discovered in the sewing boxes of grandmas and great aunts. Ditto the buttons, acquired from happy button discoveries in thrift stores over the years.
The pencil and the scissors are not real, they are from the jewelery and scrapbooking sections of Michaels.
I am excited to be going to the CreativeFestival with this overhauled lady. I hope that when people stop to "meet" her, they will also want to learn about embroidery and embellishments.
Yep, every now and then, I manage to delight myself.

Close quarters call for fat quarters

Teacup doll rescues cracked cup

We have had so much snow in the past few days there is nothing to do but acquire some cabin fever. For me, that means I make some things and then order some European sized FQs. (I also made the mistake of watching Hoarders, but let's push that aside. If you only order FQs, then it is not actual fabric. Everyone knows that...)
Among my new acquisitions is the new Tilda summer book.
It is in Norwegian, but once you know how to do a Tilda figure, all you really need is the pattern. Also, Google Translate does an excellent job in clearing things up when I can't figure it out.
I decided to also get some actual Tilda fabric to do the Princess and the Pea wall hanging, and there is a seaside girl in the summer book holding a toy boat. It reminds of me of visiting my family in Eastern Canada and playing in the ocean in Nova Scotia.
The howling wind and swirling snow convinced me that I needed the toy boat, so I ordered that too. And, said a fond farewell to the last of my Christmas gift card.
As always, I ordered my stuff from lovetilda.nl

Learning Norwegian

I like to support small web shops when I can, and as I have written before, I believe this is one of the best around. Rian has a good selection, and is always ready to offer a helping hand if you're stuck on an instruction or technique.
Ours is a big world, and it is nice to have a reliable source to buy the things you love. Lots of people miss having a little shop where you can pop in and find what you need, along with friendly service. I really can't stand being forced to shop in big box stores that offer a disappointing selection. My only other experience with a North American Tilda supplier was disappointing, frustrating and very unsatisfactory. (she gingerly gets down from her soap box ...)

Sailing away

As I wait for the weather to clear, I will get busy on "dressing" my mannequin. I started on it the other day, but the mojo wasn't quite right. I set it aside.
I am learning slowly that sometimes, that's the best course of action.
Have a great weekend, y'all!

Here's the hoop-la

I have been working on my hoop-la design.

I have spent the past few days having fun with the kids, who have been on their Reading Week break from school. Even though they are quite mature -- and they frequently tell me I am not -- we  have been enjoying our time together.
What with the shopping trips, having a nice dinner out, and watching movies on TV, my creative time has been a bit sidelined.
However, I did finish sketching out the hoop-la design for the CreativFestival in Toronto this April. I will be showing people how to do embroidery stitches and other surface embellishments at A Needle Pulling Thread magazine's booth.
 This is a lot of fun for me, since I enjoy talking with people, and showing them how to do something they think they can't do. In just a few minutes, they usually gain confidence and after they try a few stitches, they are eager to try more. This is how our ancestors taught the skills we were slowly losing, and certainly, I learned at the elbows of talented older needleworkers. I am glad to be part of the renewed interest in embroidery and surface design, and happy to share what I know with others.
 I like the way my little Tilda bunting flags dress up the design. The next step is to trace it onto linen and tack down the flags using fusible tape. I plan to fix just the very tops of the flags, to create some texture and allow the bottom flags a little "movement". I am considering which colour to use for the script. I was leaning toward red, but I think a deep pink might be nicer on the cream coloured linen.
Have a wonderful weekend, y'all! Who knows? I might even get my mannequin dressed -- as soon as everyone gets back to the books.

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.