Romance tea dress

For a while I've wanting to make a dress using upholstery fabric that has been distressed. I've had this fabric for years and have previously used some to make a beautiful 50s dance dress which I showcase on my mannequin at festivals. But I wanted to make a dress with a lighter, more distressed feel. A recent article in Altered Couture spurred me on to do this project.
The Romance tea dress was made using uphlostery fabric and lined using an identical dress in vintage cotton sateen curtain lining. These 2 were sewn together with external, frayed seams. I then randomly tore strips up both layers of skirts, of different widths and lengths. These strips the were then frayed by hand and with a wire brush. Loose threads were left to hand down. A fabric rose was made and sewn to the neckline. The back opening had eyelets applied and was laced with red chiffon ribbon which looks very effective against the paler fabric (I did this after photographing it, will take another pic at some point). I'm very please with the result, very pretty and romantic, but I feel she might acquire more decoration.

Grungepaper and recycled cans

Grungepaper flowers are all the rage on blogs at the mo and UKStampers has hosted a swap of a single flower. This was my first go at using grungepaper and, to be honest, I didn't like the effect of distress inks on it - I don't think it's going to be my favourite medium. I altered the colour with distress inks in spiced marmalade and vintage photograph, stamped a medallion and made the rose using the instructions on the Studio 490 blog. I then highlighted with some orange stickles. Not really very adventurous, and I think it has the touch of a maiden aunt about it!
The other swap I'm involved in is a recycled packaging one. For this, I adhered some foam to a piece of can, cut a bird shape with my sizzix dies and then embossed it with a birds and swirls folder. I inked it with StazOn then adhered a brooch pin to the back. I hope my swappee likes it.

Fabric CJ pages

For the past year I have been taking part in a fabric CJ and I've seen some phenomenal work. I've just opened my returned complete CJ and it is really beautiful - I'll post up some pics next week.
I thought I'd share the last 2 entries I made to other peoples' CJs.
The first is made by applying patterned tissue paper to muslin to creat a fabric paper - this is sewn on to a co-ordinating upholstery background. I then appliqued a tree made from hand dyed organic bamboo velour, cut with a sizzix. The edges are left rough for a distressed effect.
For the second, I was inspired by a trip to Greenbelt. where my youngest son fell in love with the bubble store. I hand dyed organic bamboo velour in shades of pink and purple, then cut them into a variety of circles and appliqued to the navy base with freeform spirals of variegated yarn. Further stitching surrounds the bubbles and beads were applied randomly to accent the design. It's called Bubble Candy.
I greatly enjoyed being involved in the CJ, I learnt so much from all the artwork I saw during its progress.

Bird matchbox

Well, yesterday I finally got a chance to finish an altered matchbox for a swap. The theme was bird or birds.
I used Distress ink to coat the matchbox, stamped in StazOn all over and again in Opalite on the sides (which in places had a weird white reaction with the other inks!) and added Diamond Glaze to coat the top. Inside was also stamped and coloured all over and I added a nest stamp to the inner. Below this I created a little nest of yarns (very fiddly getting this to stick to itself not me). Lastly some milky beads were attached in the nest and some sticks at the sides. I'm rather pleased with the result.

Works in progress

I have done some work recently, honest! A little while ago I made the above super-cute brooches (I make 'hairy' versions too :)). I made the pendant below for a friend, it was very hard to give away:


Last week I made a 'house' picture from collaged art images and crackle paint, with lace, button and patina'd chipboard for embellishments. It's for a swap on UKScrappers - my return swap is winging it's way back here this minute.


Today I sewed the most gorgeous dungarees with oriental trims, I'll take and upload photos tomorrow.

I have 2 other swap things on my 'to do' list - an altered matchbox using the theme of 'bird' and 9 pieces of jigsaw with individual themes for different people. Stamping WILL feature. Watch this space.

My current mission is to do more stamping, hence joining UKStampers (and getting a sub to Craft Stamper, oops!). I want to incorporate stamping into my fabric work and jewellery. I also want to experiment more with masks and stencils, and do more fabric dyeing.

Other stuff

I've not just been sewing, I've managed to make a few trinkets too. A few are works in progress. I've also been customising the bottle tops and keyholes with people's own images. Josephine Baker is a favourite but I also like the green domino.

After the interval...

Haven't been here for 6 months! Eek! However, I've decided to kick start my creativity again by joining a few swaps on UKScrappers and I've just signed up to UKStampers.
So what have I been doing this past few months? well, sewing mostly. Aren't the velvet ones lovely? I love working with cotton velvet, it has a lovely hand and looks sumptious. I've made adult hoodies too.






These cotton dresses are mine, I have a taste for hippy William Morris.