Sunlit Air

Sunlit Air

At the moment I’m loving words – phrases from a book, something someone might say or a piece of poetry.  For me  – The Sunlit Air is a phrase which seems to capture something wonderful.

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

The Moth

An assemblage of another time captured in a small vintage tin, which is 16 cm long, 12 cm wide when the tin is opened, 6 cm when closed.

The Moth

I found a lovely little book of poems by different poets which has inspired my next few pieces, this one being  The Moth by Walter De La Mare.

The Moth

Isled in the midnight air,
Musked with the dark’s faint bloom,
Out into glooming and secret haunts
The flame cries,

‘Come!’Lovely in dye and fan,
A-tremble in shimmering grace,
A moth from her winter swoon
Uplifts her face:

Stares from her glamorous eyes;
Wafts her on plumes like mist;
In ecstasy swirls and sways
To her strange tryst.

Walter de la Mare

Story Time was made at the same time as Blossom and Dewdrops; I photographed them together but had not intended them as a pair; however, I did think I might list them both on Etsy at the same time. Then Tom said “if they’re not a pair, no hurry, list one on today and the other tomorrow”. So, we listed Blossom and Dewdrops on Monday night. Why do I listen to him?

Story Time

Blossom and Dewdrops was bought shortly after she was listed and, as you might have guessed, the buyer immediately asked if Story Time would be for sale soon.  We listed Story Time last night and, yes, she was bought by the same person who bought of Blossom and Dewdrops.

Story Time

It’s great to have such enthusiastic buyers, but thanks to Tom they’ve now paid two full amounts of P&P when they didn’t have to. It’s not a big problem I can easily refund the difference.  Tom is a great help but sometimes…………

I found a beautiful vintage cotton tablecloth with lovely pastel coloured flowers embroidered on, so was inspired to make these two little dresses.  I’d read the words blossoms and dewdrops together somewhere and knew I wanted to use them on something,  when I saw these beautiful embroidered flowers I knew this was the piece as they were so spring time. I’ve also sewn little silk and muslin inserts into the dress which remind me of hanky style dresses from the twenties.  This  got me to thinking of the new ”Great Gatsby” film that is coming out and I have an old copy of the book, so am thinking that will be on the cards after I’ve finished a few other little pieces.

Blossoms and Dewdrops

Small 25cm long, 19cm wide, paper fabric assemblage.

One small, three dimensional, simple, white cotton dress with a book paper stitched bodice. The skirt of the dress is formed from gathered strips of differing white cottons, one is from a vintage embroidered tablecloth another is from the cuff of a cotton shirt – which has the words Blossoms and Dewdrops embroidered on. The dress is decorated front and back with buttons and some smaller pieces of ruched fabric. Hanging from the hem of the dress is a small teapot.

Blossom and Dewdrops

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Another fairy tale inspired piece, this time from the brothers Grimm.  This is my twist on Red Riding Hood – the wolf is her companion.

Red Riding Hood walks through the night time forest

This wire and papier mache sculpture stands 28cm wide, 33cm high and 22cm deep.

Red Riding Hood with her companion

The figure is made from wire and papier mache, accompanied by the trees and her wolf she rises out of the book from which they are formed. Her hair is made from a soft viscose material which is gathered and ruched, then falls into a long plait. Her dress is 100% cream silk, with three buttons down the side. Flowing behind her, the vibrant red cloak is also 100% silk.

To find out more about the authors – the brothers Grimm and the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages – the authors or the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other fairy tales freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg .  If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try Amazon – Little Red Riding Hood

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

The Swan Princess

Latest addition to the Etsy shop, is this assemblage comprised of a wire an papier mache figurine accompanied by a cast metal swan on the stage of a mock theater.

The Swan Princess

Inspired by the mythical creature of many tales and legends, who shape-shifts from human form to swan form, this piece owes its origins to the story of the Swan Maiden.  Folktales usually adhere to the following basic plot. A young, unmarried man steals a magic robe made of swan feathers from a swan maiden so that she will not fly away, and winds up marrying her.

To find out more about the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages -the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other fairy tales, freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg . If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try this list at Amazon The Swan Maiden

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Getting this one up in plenty of time, a free calendar desktop wallpaper for May. To make it your desktop wallpaper, left click the image to see a larger version, then right click that image and choose “SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND”.

Free May calendar desktop wallpaper. To make it your desktop wallpaper, left click the image to see a larger version, then right click that image and choose "SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND"

Some time ago I made another art dress entitled The Swan. This one was made as a commission piece, you would have had to be quick to spot this one on Etsy, she was only up for a few hours.

The Swan - Art Dress Assemblage.

The Swan - Art Dress Assemblage.

Small 18cm long, 21cm wide, paper fabric assemblage.

One small three dimensional ballet style dress. Tailored and stitched together from old pleated book pages and white cotton remnants. White feathers and small beads decorate the dress with the edges being touched with silver leaf. The inside of the bodice is also covered in silver leaf.