Denim tree

I was trying to emulate the wonderful Banyan tree here in the islands.

Decided it would be a good class project for a vest.

The vest back is the banyan and the fronts are other local flora.

To begin I made a rough watercolor of a tree in the park and then we used that as a base to figure how to create all the leaves and trunks.

I wanted to make it very textural so parts were cut away and pieced.

To lighten the trunk in parts I used bleach, diluted 50%

Lots of fibers and threads were used for couching and stitchery.

This type of project is lots of fun, never know how it will look when done.

Somerset does it so well.

Here is a photo from my one of my articles in the latest Sew Somerset.

They did a super bunch of photos of my projects, thanks to their expertise.

There are 12 photos with my article.

Page 53 in the Summer issue if you would care to look.

Lavender Pocket.

This is in the latest Somerset studio magazine.

I did it long time ago after a trip to the Sth. of France.

The cover of the magazine is a heavenly blue and so attractive.

Around the Ala Moana shopping center

I did a little walk about in the huge center, getting ready for 4th of July fireworks.

Very festive in the red, white and blue bunting.

The wonderful Mai Tai bar is in the center Lanai, a good place to hear local music and eat great food.

stitchery freestyle

I doodled with the machine over organza pieces and then did ribbonwork garden flowers.

Still experimenting because I try and draw a picture with no pattern, not stopping.

That is a challenge to myself. I always challenge myself with crazy art.

Don't know why, but must be 'cause I am on the Gemini cusp (with Cancer.)

Oh! well, trying to live with it.

another altered Grail book

Had to do another since the previous book sold.

Couple of pages and the cover here.

I built a box to hold it , made from a cigar box. Here is the back of it.

inspiration dolls.

Pretty dolls found at Pier One, and one I made.

The dancer is from a book by Sandra Evertson, love these dolls, I made quite a few and hang them on lampshades and the wall of my 'Paris attic' bedroom.

Would these make cute paper dolls?

I love these sassy gals from ads in magazines or Nordstrom's brochures.

Here are two waiting to be used and two I put on Tyvek purses I created for a magazine.

Been working on the re-cycling show

Earlier I posted some of the Jester's costume.

It is almost done now.

Here is a preview of the Royal princess' costume, all made from found things.

Trashion not fashion.

Berry Tart

I had a small basket of strawberries so decided to make a no calorie berry tart.

It looks so tasty, can't wait to try it.

Have you ever tried this?

I love to color anything and for years dyed silk fabrics in jars like this.

Then saw tie dyed Ts recently and decided to try the same process.

I mixed 1/2cup of 3 Rit dyes. Yellow, brown and dark green.

Wet the shirt or shorts , cram into small container till full.

Pour on yellow dye.

Wait till it trickles down, pour on brown dye, wait again. When it looks full of liquid pour off the remainder to make room for the green dye.

I ran a chopstick down the sides a bit to help the dye go to the bottom.

Leave a couple hours and then rinse and dry.

This can be modified with different colors, how long to leave the shirt and how much dye that is used.

Add lightest dye first then darkest last.

I am now wearing this shirt I dyed yesterday, wish I had processed some shorts to match.

Paper dolls

A friend and I made paper dolls one day.

We had 'Martha' crepe paper which is double sided.

I had some paper I got in Paris, and my friend provided the doll base pattern.

I made the clothes.

We had fun I have to say, now what to do with them?

They look really nice on their stands and seem to be very good dust catchers.

old autograph book.

Found this in NZ, it is pre WWII.

Some of the pages have quaint verses, I copied a couple here.

What a gift these books are. So simple and sentimental, I just love them.

odds and ends from down under

I have a few 'bits' from Oz and NZ, thought it was time to give them an airing.

I love sepia photos, my instant ancestors.

The gowns were so lovely back then.

Not a T-shirt in sight.

Cove along the Posillipo

Here is a stitchery I did of a fishing village.

The background is painted cotton broadcloth.

I drew the lines of the huts with a felt tip marker and filled in with straight stitches and thin yarn.

To make the rocky forground I used padded shapes, old fabrics crumpled, shells, buttons, beach glass, french knots, sea moss, frayed stuff and more.

It is a very dimensional and textural piece. have yet to frame it.

Hope you are inspired to create a scene yourselves, I receive a lot of satisfaction from doing this free form sort of art.

Here is a great tutorial, easy too. My Magnet Board

I like to make magnet boards and have several of these in my rooms.

To create, uses a found piece of tin, you can use a purchased item like this, or the lid off a large cookie tin or similar.

Find them at Emporiums, or Ross stores. Maybe a flea market.

Make magnets by glueing magnet strips onto things like, game tiles, buttons, small tins, photos glued to card or to wooden bits, use dice, bottle caps.

Add other elements to these for a funky look.

Now put notes or family pics onto the magnet board.

My daughter's doggy pictures have been added to mine.

Love to hear if you make this project.

Little gift for Mum

My Mother likes to do 'fancy work', broke her thread clipper however.

I found a replacement and made a clipper holder for it to be kept in.

Don't tell her now, it is a surprise.

Now must create for the princess.

Been into the dye today.

Gathered a collection of princess neccessities for her costume and since they were all white,

I put them all in a big pot of denim blue dye.

Happy with the results and to notice the different fabrics took the dye in assorted hues.

Making costumes

I have a little job, creating costumes for the Honolulu recycling fair.

Everything is made from throw aways and trash.

Several of us are creating the outfits.

The Jester's things are not complete yet, but here is the start.

The birds on a stick will be carried like a wand.

There is a mouse inside the Jester's bag too. Just for fun.

some paper and card crafts

Like playing with paper crafts.

Space is limited here so, I make things to hold things.

Here are a couple , very sturdy and so awfully useful.

e komo mai to the fair

Yummy Crepes at the fair.