There's nothing like a British Summer.....

for being absolutely nothing like Summer!!! Another bright periods(short) windy day. So I shut myself in and made some ATC's which is something I haven't done for a while.

This was inspired by Maggie Grey's "From Image to Stitch",(did I say what a good book this is) it was great fun to make. I messed about with a photograph last week, unfortunately I messed so much I can't remember which one I used now!!! But this is the result. I printed it onto cotton and then added Bondaweb and then Fibre in Form Foils and then two layers of chiffon. I added some machine stitching and applied a little heat. I stood back to have a look. I couldn't think of anything that it would make because of the size (A4) so, on this gloomy afternoon, I turned it into 7 ATCs which I quite like. I intend to take them with me to the EG Eastern Regional Day at Colchester next week and if there are any left to the EG South Eastern Day at Canterbury the following week so if you recognise me, say hello and I will happily give you one of these.

Suits you Madam......

Neki Desu had a story on her blog A Moveable Piece about a salesman adjusting his patter to clinch the sale. Very funny! Go read. This jogged a memory. Does anyone remember the dress shops that used to be, on what was then the "wrong" side of Oxford Street, in London. These shops had entrances like funnels so that if you were looking in the windows you were unwittingly channelled towards the door where a charming (forceful) assistant was waiting to guide you in. One in there you were lost in a barrage of "Oh it's just your colour Madam", "The length is just perfect for you" "You couldn't have a better fit" ......and yes, I swear they were holding in a fist full of material behind you back!

Ommission.....

I forgot to say that the dress for the TIF challenge would proably fit a 2-3 year old. I just worked with the size of the partially made bodice in the bag.

June Calendar Girls 2008

I only managed two cards for Debbi to chose from this month. The first one was made using this
I had taken a photograph of my own hand and I added it to the print, printed on cotton it lost a lot of its vibrancy but I padded it and machine stitched into some of the lines. I added a little tag which said "hand of a friend"

This is the card that Debbi chose

Using the photograph of my hand, again, I altered it in PSP and printed it onto cotton. I added a tiny touch of gold foil from Fibre in Form and stamped the word "friendship" and added the ribbon. You can see the rest of the girls cards here

A Tale of Two Challenges..........

Do you have time?

Sharon's June challenge said "They (stash) are either purchased or scavenged materials that have accumulated over time and as such they often have a story to tell. Or it is possibly more correct to say that stashes are full of stories. The interesting thing for textile practitoners is that these materials can take on another story. They can be made into something new and take on other meanings in someones life.".

At the last EG meeting our lovely Jane, who brings us useful things like pelmet vilene and thermolan, had some bags of bit and pieces which she was selling for the huge sum of £1, of course I couldn't resist, well I needed it didn't I? (Like the proverbial hole). Having seen the colours for Sharon's challenge I challenged myself to use this bag of pieces for the June TIF. (The woman is challenge mad!!!)

When I opened the bag this is what I found.


I I examined them I realised that these were probably all fabrics from a bridal shop.
I spread them out

I had thoughts on weddings that happened and those that didn't and thought about
a fabric book for stitchin fingers but that will have to wait a while
because on closer inspection I found that the one's outlined in red and green

were very interesting indeed.

The one outlined in red was a part of a very small bodice and remined me immediately of Degas' Ballet Dancer

(hold that thought)

The piece outlined in green was some kind of head scarf/bonnet made of organza petal shapes.

I went away to think some more about the TIF challenge. "So this month the idea to think about is stories that are and stories that are possible."

Stories...hmm I love stories. Those that are... the scraps of material. Those that are possible.......the (wedding) dresses. Stories...... my favourite story is still Cinderella. Charming version here.

and there it was I would make a dress which showed the "ARE".. the rags and the "POSSIBLE" .....the ball dress.

The proportions aren't quite right but I was determined to work with what I had, I added some sequins and some gold ribbon for the sash and some eyelets for the lacing but everything else came out of the bag.



This is the Cinderella dress front and back. It was very difficult to photograph but it will give you an idea. Here are a couple of close ups.




It is imperfectly made but it is an idea that could be developed at some time so I will tuck it away until that time arrives.

A couple of links......

This is a better link if you are interested in Maggie Grey's "Image to Stitch"

Thanks to a comment I found the delightful blog of Annette EmmsHer fairy shoes are wonderful and she has a tutorial for a bookwrap which appeals to my love of tactile looking things.

It is apparently Worldwide Stamping Week I found this link onDapple Designs I used to do a lot of stamping and still have drawers of stamps which I use from time to time. I don't think I will have time to take part but I thought the list had some good ideas would be useful for those times when inspiration just won't come be it paper or textile.

Look what arrived today.........

well yesterday really, Maggie Grey's latest book "Image to Stitch" and it is a beauty.

I have only dipped in and out of it but it is full of inspiration and more importantly, information. Could'nt resist a little play last night this is the Calendar Girls 2008 picture for June



yes girls, I have started thinking.......

and this is what I came up with after trying out a couple of Maggie's suggestions.

I have printed it onto cotton,(the colours weren't quite so vibrant so I will have to play with settings).

Now what to do next? ....excuse me I have to go and have another quick read!

Meet my girls........

In the south east of England we are not having a good finish to Spring, the longest day is about two weeks away and we are having to put the lights on at 8pm. YUK. I hate grey, I would rather have storms than this dull, heavy, sit on your shoulders type of weather which seems to have been going on for weeks.

But today a couple of nice things happened. First a phone call to say that a friend of my husband's who had a stroke is now at home and doing fine and then there was my May Calendar Girls Card from Carol

The texture is wonderful and the flowers are like sunshine coming from behind a cloud(I wish). It is a geat addition to my collection.

So in the cause of cheering up.... Meet my girls! Inspired byJulie Arkaell I am in the process of producing these for my golf clubs.

When I showed them to my son he gave me an old fashioned look, "Well, they'll make people laugh" I said defensively....."Or step away" was his reply.
Fortunately they make people laugh, I think they have improved my golf and if not when I make a bad shot who gets the blame....?