Fabric Christmas Decorations

It would appear that I am into all things hanging! I have been making these decoarations using fabric and embroidery and I quite like them. I am still really enjoying the process of making at the moment. Getting really involved with something and becoming really immersed whilst creating something, enjoying the process rather than becoming too worried about the end outcome, it is almost meditative. When I say this I think I am more referring to other projects I have on the go but I have still enjoyed them. I have an embroidery that I have on the go (will stick that on here at some point) and that kind of inspired the stitched ones. I can't decide whether they're chickens or camels but a very good friend told me the other day that it really doesn't matter! So its a hanging embroidered thingy, very christmassy!

More Teacups!

Himalayan Panoramas

Just got back from Ladakh, North India and these are a few of the panoramas I took whilst out there. Absolutely stunning scenery, breath taking. I also want to develop some drawings I have been doing of some of the trucks out there into screen prints maybe or some machine embroidery so watch this space on that one. It has also made me want to look back at some of my old work I did based on landscapes, looking at block shapes and pattern and think about developing some ideas based around that again. Some beautiful textiles out there aswell. The handmade shawls of the Kullu valley are really quite beautiful. There are some really interesting co-operatives in place to make sure that the crafts people get a fair price for the work they do. Also discovered an artist I had never previously come accross, a man called Nickolai Roerich. A Russian artist who was so taken with the Himalayas that he set up his permanaent home in Naggar in Himachal Pradesh. Although not all his work struck a chord with me I loved the way he managed to capture the certain kind of light you get on the mountains up there. They really were gorgeous. So all in all, not only a fantastic holiday but so much to think about from a creative point of view aswell.....

Hanging Tea Cups

I have always enjoyed putting plants into things other than a specified pot, I attribute this to spending time in my grandpa's greenhouse as a child and seeing that any type of container with a few holes punched in the bottom could be used for planting up. I assumed everyone had cucumber seedlings growing in their old flora tubs! I think our grandparents generation are great at this, using what is available to fit the purpose. I think this is something our generation are getting back, we are becoming much more aware of recycling and it is for most of us an every day part of life but also there is a definite trend occurring in what I have recently learned has been dubbed 'upcycling'. So, taking something and re-using it but first giving it a bit of a re vamp first. Covering an old kitchen chair in stamps for example. I have had plants in tea cups around my house for a few years now but due to a recent gift, my new favourite toy, a rather lovely Dremel drill I decided to branch out and experiment and these were the result. I'll put some more photos up when I have put some plants in. Also have ideas for some kind of hanging tea cup herb mobile.............will see how that goes.

A plethora of pom poms

Okay, so a plethora may be a slight stretch of the imagination but this lovely bunch of pom poms make me disproportionately happy! Don't know what to do with them but for now I am just enjoying their raggedy squishiness.

Bird sketches

Stamps

Stamps I saved from being stuck on my chair because I thought they were really lovely for various reasons. Particularly like the Helvetia one with the block shapes and simple pattern used to create a landscape of fields and coast, really simple but incredibly effective I think.

My Stamp Chair

I wonder if this could get the whole way round the world..........

Pom Pom on a Saucer

I want my blog to be about things I see, things I like and things I do. I was overthinking what was going to be my first posting on this blog and then I realised that I just needed to take the jump. So here it is - A pom pom I have made from scrap fabric on a saucer I picked up from a charity shop. I did it. I like it. I guess I've seen it now also? Done. tick tick tick. Not as scary as I thought! Phew.