Kukui nuts

If you have seen the wonderful kukui nut lei in the shops in Waikiki.
Well the green objects are the fruit, when they dry and are opened the nut inside is exposed.
The brown shiny nuts are my lei which I love and wear when the occasion is called for.
The leaves are a local Bay as in Bay rum.

A collection on my dresser

I noticed how nice a vignette the Paris themed items on my dresser looked.
So a bit dark but here they are.
They have been given to me over the years by my lovely daughters x 3.

Batik leaves

I make all kinds of fabric leaves and since I showed some Dior roses I thought leaves would add a bit more.
Use any fabric, batik works well, and double it. I use a small zigzag st. and sew basic leaf shapes.
Next I give them some design with a fabric marker for veins and I draw around the outside of the stitching with a gold marker. This will seal the edges when they are cut.
Cut out with either pinking shears or regular shears.
You can fold a wee pleat in the bottom for more dimension.
For the arrangement I just put some of my flowers and the leaves on the scanner bed.
Let me know how they turn out.

A quick project see below.

Here are some Dior roses from the little how to below.
Three will be for this months give away too.
You know I am nice.
aloha

Have you ever made this rose?

Here is my method for creating this soft Dior rose.
Follow steps left to right.

I make cushions too

Cushion and purse I made for an Australian magazine.
Hope you enjoy the photo.
I do not have any classes on line for ribbon work at present.
Will teach some at quilt festivals next year.

old book I created, stitched binding, Glue less too

Glue-less binding is a neat but tricky technique.
Look for it on YouTube.
Just a matter of cutting and wrapping the papers around cardboard for the covers and then slipping the pages inside pockets. I know that sounds funny, sorry.
The pages have staples to bind them.
Used a lot in art shows because you can make all kinds of interesting layers.
I learned this and other techniques, when I took a book binding workshop at the University here.
Maybe clueless would be a better name?

silk treasure bag

A silk pouch to wear for any occasion.
It has a collage of silk fabric, trims, a picture and luxurious silk fringe.

Torn paper below made into book.

I used the glue-less binding technique to create this small journal using some of my torn paper.
It has 20 pages and a fiber wrap with beads and metal pieces.
I called it 'Harvest', for ideas one may like to save.
Each page has a tab so you can add a letter or small note.
Lined with same paper. Oh! yes all 'green'.

Torn paper background techniques

The picture on left is a collage made with my painted papers, torn and layered onto brown paper.
Other 2 pics. are magazine pages.
They look cool reproduced in different shades and printed out.
eg. fade a lot, use different masks and tints.
Cut up and turn sideways.
Make more strips and add black or gold between.
These are ideas I am playing with.
aloha
Yes, some glitter added to some, natch!

Hawaiian Hibiscus

We wear flowers in our hair in the Islands, but sadly they only last a few hours.
This is my blossom from yesterday.
I walked along a lovely hedge of Hibiscus and couldn't resist placing one behind my ear.
When I saw it today it looked like an art piece, dry and sculptured.
I took these photos and will use them in an altered book I am creating.

I have been busy

Made this for my little grand daughter's birthday.
She loves dolls and puts them to sleep each night with a story and a kiss.
Excuse the rabbit, all I had but it does look cosy.

I have done lots

Going fast my French napkins.
Just put these on my Etsy if you like them.
I do, they look cool in a white jug.

Some ribbon work on a CQ bag

I made this bag for sewing supplies.
The main bag is pale blue print with a panel in center with embroidery.
I am practicing ideas for some teaching I have coming up.
The winner of my give away this time was Veronique in France.
aloha

Little Tute for brooches.

Proceed around the clock from upper left which shows supply ideas.
If trims are too wide, cut up the center and voila, 2 smaller trims just right.
No timtex, glue the fabric layers onto cardboard.
Leave some fabric around edges at first so trims and frays can be sewn, trim some off later.
Sew round and round with gold thread or any other you like.
Hand sew or glue the charms, flowers or other dimensional bits.
I tidy the back with a piece of canvas or linen to finish. Either sew or glue on a brooch pin.
Last pic. in the collage is some brooches I made yesterday.
I keep them for decorating packages, small thankyou gifts and to wear of course.

Ideas for brooches

I took pictures of some I have made.
Use as a brooch on a jacket or add to a collage.
See how to above.

Pink and frilly brooches.

See the Tutorial above.

Let us make a brooch

Tute coming this weekend.
Gather up some supplies like an image on fabric or paper, trims, frays, lace, flowers, a metal charm, square of timtex or similar.
Brooch pin, two pieces of fabric little bigger than the timtex. Gold thread for machine. Glue.
What else? Hmm anything really, beads, or broken jewelry, scraps from other projects.

Snapshots of a purse I am making.

Working on a cream Moire' background I did some embroidery and beading.
I tried to finish it for a challenge with
http://artcreationsfriday.blogspot.com/ but somehow lost track of time.
Thank you to them for the picture, I did not want to waste it.

Some of my Boxes

A couple of my hand made boxes.
Covered with silk and Mokuba ribbons and trims.

Hi-tech tags.

Some more tech. looking tags I made recently.
Love the look, sandwiched between plastic and a touch of glitter added.
To give the look of glass I wanted I dribbled some Plaid Funlites glaze between the layers.
Ball chain my clever daughter's idea.
Did I say, a touch of glitter? Must have spilled the bottle.

another peek

another item you can find in a Somerset magazine soon.
It is part of 2 pieces .
This is a little look.
Something quite different for me!

Coming soon

This is an altered outfit I did for a Somerset magazine.
Just a wee look.

old and dented tin makeover

I found this funky round dented tin and gave it a face lift.
Glued on the labels and then painted the rest with black acrylic using the dry brush technique.
Now it holds my glitter glue pens.

Made some French jugs

Found the white porcelain jugs, tres French!
I added the words with black lettering and will use them to present some gifts for the Holidays.
I cannot find the French look I want here in the Islands, so challenge myself to create it.
I love jugs, or pitchers, as long as they are small.
Something old world and charming about them.
I also like white dishes, very cafe I think!