Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Castle Gormenghast

Another swap item I shouldn't be sharing... but I will... because I'm cheeky ;)

This time a representation of Castle Gormenghast from the Mervyn Peake series.


Here's his description of it:

"They sprawled over the sloping earth, each one half way over its neighbour until, held back by the castle ramparts, the innermost of these hovels laid hold on the great walls, clamping themselves thereto like limpets to a rock. These dwellings, by ancient law, were granted this chill intimacy with the stronghold that loomed above them. Over their irregular roofs would fall throughout the seasons, the shadows of time-eaten buttresses, of broken and lofty turrets, and, most enormous of all, the shadow of the Tower of Flints. This tower, patched unevenly with black ivy, arose like a mutilated finger from among the fists of knuckled masonry and pointed blasphemously at heaven."


If you've never read the books they are beautifully written. Truly, astoundingly, pretty and witty but certainly not everyone's tastes. And that's ok... I can't even count the number of titles I've seen on 'Books to read before you die' lists and rolled my eyes. Life would be awfully boring if we all loved the same things :)

Monday, March 24, 2014

221B update and a terrible something


No. 5 in the series of 221B Baker Street tins will be listed on etsy tomorrow. (UPDATE: the 5th tin has sold). It will likely be the last one listed for a fair while. At least one more time will be available for purchase, for the time being reserved for the Undershaw Preservation Trust, to (probably) be auctioned when they are ready to accept donations. I'm not sure when that might be... if I knew, I pinky swear that I would tell you.

Work has slowly started on another set of tins. This set will be even more limited than the last and I'm turning my attention to horror. Besides being a big fan of sweet daydreams and fantasy... I freely admit to enjoying a bit of bloody fun.

Anyway, I'm still working out the "this and that's" in my brain (which takes ages upon ages)  but I have started with this gruesome thing:


I think it'll be a fun piece when complete... if my brain and fingers can agree to get along. :)



The Tiniest Teacups

A friend gifted me a collection of tiny tea cups and saucers. In my dimly lit studio, late into the night, I set to work filling them with little flowers, mossy cottages and handmade toadstools.



They measure between  2.25" and 2.75". They are quite tiny and rather precious.


Now, available in the etsy shop.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

A pretty pouty something

This month's kit at Alpha Stamps is all about feminine, frills and corsets. I've gussied up a plain wooden plaque with the March kit supplies and few extra bobs and made something perfectly suited for a quiet corner of a boudoir.


Did you know that the word boudoir come from the French verb bouder, meaning "to be sulky"? You can hardly blame those poor gals for being a little pouty... having to wear corsets all day and afforded so few bubble baths. Sulking would be completely understandable! Still, there is something so very pretty about the blasted things ;)

Materials
March French Corset Kit 
Embossed Paper Oak Leaves
Purple Iris Paper Flowers*
Antique Brass Wreath
Vintage button
5 x 7" plaque

Peace, Love and Art

When Graphic 45 asked if we might make a little something in the name of peace I hoed and hummed and thought about how busy I am... and then I shook my head and slapped myself silly. Of course I'd be honored to craft in the name of peace and spread a little love!


And so I created this small altered canvas to hang as a hopeful token for peace for our friends in the Ukraine (sending loads of love to fellow design team member Olga!) and all areas affected by war and strife. What a beautiful world it would be if all people lived with dignity and respect and without fear of war or retribution.


More pictures and more fabulous peace projects by Annette Green and Rhea Freitag on the Graphic 45 blog today.

And here's the supply list... you know... if you want to spread some love too xoxo

Friday, March 21, 2014

Adventures and abandonments

First thing's first.

My friend is moving away to become the event coordinator for a polar bear habitat. I know. Isn't that the craziest dream job title ever? Anyway, I made her this little brooch to send her off with a sweet 'goodbye and good luck!' as she embarks on her new adventure.


The supplies come from Alpha Stamps... go... look at all the pretty things... make stuff!

The quote is her favourite, from a poem by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings. Here is the full text:
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
Now on to the abandonments. If you aren't familiar with art abandonment, the nitty gritty is this: make something then leave it for a stranger to find. It can be a lot of fun and a very freeing experience. The group I belong to is HERE on facebook.



I haven't participated in a while but I picked up this bunch of frames from the thrift shop, gussied them up and filled them with little collages. This weekend they'll be hidden here and there with a tag, waiting for lovely curious people to pick them up and take them home. Here's the finished pieces...




Hopefully they'll each find a nice home.


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Wishes, Moons and Miles

I was thinking about someone far away the other night and it made me just a little sad. I'm one of those strange souls who prefers solitude, but my heart ached just a little bit from the distance nonetheless.

When I stepped outside and looked to the moon and stars above... well, it was a comfort to know that we share them.

So I set to work on finding some sweet words to convey that sentiment and created this little collage to bridge the miles.


Vintage papers collaged on chunky canvas. The piece measures 4" x 12" and is listed HERE.