A Use for Those Fabrics

Busy, busy couple of weeks!  But I have managed to put some of the eco dyed and rusted fabrics to use.

I knew I wanted to do another doll or two but something completely different to my usual.  I put out all my doll part patterns, Jan Horrox, Patti Culea etc and a few of my own modified ones and did a mix and match.  

I had been looking at using some ordinary cotton I had tea dyed some time ago but the bag of eco rusty bits kept catching my eye! I really enjoyed sewing in a much lighter weight fabric too. 

Rather than clothe them and hide all the marks that were dyed into the cloth I oversewed some patterns and added a bit of lace and beading. 

The hair is ramie (above) and from a ball of wool I've had for some time with a long staple (below)

I'm fairly pleased with them as experimental but there are still a few tweaks I'd like to do to the pattern parts and definitely the faces.  I liked the mix and match of the fabrics, and that it is using them up, and that they're not actually clothed. 

Talking of a state of undress we have our top off last week!!! Huge celebrations!

We have daylight, air and even a bit of warmth and we can light the fires!! Bliss. A fair bit of the scaffold has come down and is now around another part of the house while they sort that roof out but it's so nice to see out even if it's through the remnants of poles! 

Not a bad view from the bedroom.

And with the windows open... The new View From Our Hill. 

I did take the heading photo some time ago from the scaffolding but it's just as good from the bedroom. 

This past week we've had a lot of painting done and the wardrobes and bedroom furniture fitted.  The house is starting to stay cleaner longer between! The carpets are in on Thursday and the bed surround and divans arrive next week.  I doubt we will be able to move in then but it certainly isn't far off.  

I had a consultant appointment on Saturday and he wasn't very happy with my blood levels especially iron.  He's upped my dosage and if it hasn't improved in three months I'm back in the hospital for a total dose infusion of iron. Lots of greens and red meat on the menu then!! I will hopefully have enough energy to take me around Ally Pally this year though.  So looking forward to that. 

We had a lovely visit on Sunday from someone who is growing up very fast!  

I hope you all have a great week.  

A Finish for some Desk Space!

Well I managed to over do the painting on Saturday and tum started to protest so John insisted I stay in the studio on Sunday.  (You didn't hear me complain!!)  At the moment I can't see my desk.  There's been far too much dashing in and out and not enough production so things have been dumped.  I thought I'd better try and finish a few bits and tidy up.  

I sent off for a kit being sold by Workshop on the Web to go along with one of it's articles by Lynda Monk.  It was using a thermofax screen.  I've never had one before and just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  I liked the process, no I won't be buying a machine, and enjoyed making some leaves. 

These are them painted up pre adding a bit of gold. 

I then stitched them to a wreath I had sprayed into Autumn colours and wrapped with a bit of sparkley yarn. 

I stitched out some extra leaves onto wash away stabiliser.

When washing out the goo I left some in so they would hold their shape when I pinned them out to dry. 

The oak ones were paired up and some wooden beads added.

I then stitched the lot to the wreath adding more beads as I went.  I was after a woodland floor effect.

I think there needs to be a bit more of a contrast somewhere but for now it is hanging out in the porch and I have a clear space on my desk!  Only a miniscule one though. 

Photos are larger when you click.

Running Fast to Stand Still

Thank you for comments and messages on That Was a Week That Was a few weeks ago.  I hope I managed to reply to you all.  I'm sure you can imagine things were a little squiffy for a bit!  I am now feeling ok and will soon be having more tests for the anemia etc.

The build is going superbly well now.  All the underneath stuff has just about been done and there has been some paint put on!  Whooo!! 

Family Bathroom waiting for the next stage.

We have finally moved back into the sitting room and also gained back the family room and a spare room because of it.  That means downstairs is just about there.  

Our en suite and steps up to our bedroom.

Tiles should be going in the bathrooms next week (oh to have a decent bath, something I didn't even manage in Australia!!) and the week after the plastic cover comes off so the scaffolding can be rearranged to do the other side of the roof.  I can't wait to have some proper daylight back in the house!! 

Our wonderful, huge new bedroom finally with windows in it.  John is just titivating the windowsill which hides the TV.  That will rise up in front of the window at the push of a button so it is out of sight most of the time. 

We will also be allowed to light the woodburners then too and perhaps feel warm again. 

We have been very busy with the house and there has been very little time for creating anything artistic.  I have managed to play a little with some of my rusted and eco printed fabrics.  I'm trying to get into the mindset of using these things once I have made them!  One thing I did see in Broome market was a couple of stalls selling eco printed and dyed clothing.  Couldn't believe it.  All rather lovely and I wish I had spent a little more time looking and perhaps buying too. 

Very exciting to see The Quilter magazine arrive this week.  It had the FoQ results in and I'm in it!! 

I had entered Dragon's Ho! in the Art Quilts and, because I was going to be away, I asked Julie of Mixed Media if she would be so kind to photograph it in situ for me.  What a surprise when I received the photo!! 

I was really blown away! 

I was so excited to see it when I returned home.  The judges, Frances McArthur and Linda Seward, had left phenomenal comments and they both gave me 100% Excellent. Only down side is there was absolutely nothing to say that it had won a HC in the parcel. Of course online there is only ever mention of the ones that win 1st place, not even 2nd's or 3rd's get a mention let alone a HC.  I cannot thank Julie enough for taking the picture as otherwise I would really have no idea that it had won anything at all.  

I recently managed to pick this little lady up for an absolute song. 

It had to come from France mind but even adding the £25 postage it was still very cheap compared to what I have seen over here. She's very elegant and beautifully proportioned.  I had been looking at a wasp waist but I thought if I did make something it would be nice if it were actually of a size that someone could possibly wear.  If you've seen the wasp waisted ones you will know what I mean! Don't hold your breath waiting for something to be made though, the house is still first!! 

Finally this week we had the delight of officially welcoming this gorgeous girl into the family. 

Her name is Willow and she is 2 years old.  She's been passed pillar to post a bit in her short life and we fell in love with her.  We were over the moon when our friend let us 'borrow' her for a couple of weeks to see if she would fit in which, of course, she did with no problems.  She now has stability, room, companions and of course our absolute devotion along with the others! 

This week I really, really am going to put my foot down and find some time to go into the studio!  I'm starting to feel fractious.  I have the open studios in the new year and a couple of other showing events to try and find something to put together.  I have also been asked to show at a local gallery with three others in 2017.  A long way off you may think but you know how long textiles take!! Roll on the last nail being hit, the last tile being stuck into place and the last bit of carpet being laid! 

Me peering around the brolly at a recent Dorset Artists barbeque we had at Sculpture By the Lakes thanks to Sarah Broome for taking the photo. 

Have a great weekend!