Inspire me Thursday

Polka Dots

I have finally finished 1 of the 2 big projects I have been needing to clear! To keep me going through the number crunching I made some time each morning and evening to make stuff, and I have been having so much fun. Over the next couple of days I show you some of my creations, but in the mean time I have decided to take part in Inspire me Thursday again, to keep me making. I have also been working through Keri Smith's 100 things and I am so surprised at how taking the pressure off has let me begin to create in wonderful ways and mediums.

The ImT theme this week is polka dots and I just couldn't resist using paper! It is almost a collage but nothing stuck down so that it can be a moving instillation when a breeze passes over it, hehe he!

I think something is brewing

Meet marie, she was born yesterday while I was taking a break from the commission I am working on this week. I am really enjoying doing tis, so much so I ordered some felt to make up little accessories for them! Maybe when I have refined my designs they will make their way to the shop?

I am also pleased to report that I am filling my journal pages with little bits and pieces and am nurturing lots of new ideas but I am not sure quite where they are leading me yet, but the journey is exciting! I found this site the other day called 43things, where you can list your lifes goals and people can join you and share your goals. I have opted to keep mine private but have printed off a list, yes another one of some of my goals for 2008. It is quite fun to look and see what other people are aiming for, there are another 4381 people wanting to become financially independent! Happy weekend to you all x

Day 9 - Help is at Hand

Della's Yibble Cottage

Made using satin, silks, aqua beads and silver glitter glue

Yesterday the Yibble Liberation Front gained a new member, my little cousin Della. She has been the inspiration for the Yibbles from the start. She is currently working on a little book about them too, creating characters, their cottages and lots of other fine details. So yesterday we met up to do some making with fabric, beads, glitter glue and PVA and she suggested that we made some collage Yibble cottages! She was very clear on how they should look, 1 door for the Yibbles and 2 extra doors for foxes and mice! I had a wonderful time, it has been so long since I just cut and stuck. And I think Della enjoyed it too!

Close up of Della's "Button Collage"

This was my attempt. I have been struggling for weeks to come up with ways to creat the Yibble kingdom and 10 minutes with Della and it all becomes clear! So keep watching, when the Yibbles are Liberated you may well get a little cottage for them too! I would like to say a big thank you to Della for a fab day and all her Yibble help. She asked if I could post her pictures for you all to see and she'll be checking it out very soon, so hello Della P!

I would also like to introduce you all to Eleanor, the wonderful mind behind A good idea on paper. She is a fine artist who specialises in Book art and has a really interesting post about sharing a page from your sketch book. I think this is a great idea, getting to nose into a page of other creative minds and to share the different ways that we all work. Head over and take a look at her beautiful paper dress up doll pages, leave a comment and she'll post up your pages. Get going, I'm sooo nosey and can't wait to see what you are all up to!

This is one of the pages from mine, it is little Olive in Paris! I still love doodling about her and find the different surfaces of the book to really lead me in starange directions. Well I'm off now to walk my pup and get sewing and I'll be back and let you know the date for the Liberation and some more little details. Happy Wednesday x

paper making

Here is how I made the textured paper for the paper flowers:

1. cut a5 sizes pieces of collected papers

2. Chose interesting textured papers and tear, I chose a natural fiber paper and my favorite- doillies.

3. Lay the pieces of torn or cut textured paper onto your A5 collected papers and cover in PVA glue. I found that they dry over night.

I have layered about 20 of these sheets along with newsprint, tracing paper, tissue paper and news print sheets all cut to A5 or A6 size and sewn the tops together and made my own sketch book. I'll photograph it tonight and get it up soon.