New Work, New Blog, New Shop

Here is a sneak preview of some new work and projects in the pipline. It will mean a new blog and finally opening a shop so stay tuned! Hope everyone has a happy and safe easter.

New Works

A few new works in the pipeline - one is a belated birthday gift for a friend and the other is for a grant application. Will post finished works soon. Very mysterious - I know....

New Work - Phryne Fisher Doll

I have been meaning to put up these images for a while but had to wait until my sisters birthday came as it was a gift for her. I made her this doll based on a character from a series of novels about Phryne Fisher - a female detective from the 1920's. Written by a lady from Melbourne by the name of Kerry Greenwood. Below are some details and process shots. 

Say Hello to Edith (or Edie for Short!)

Well I have finally finished my doll for Softies for Mirabel which is organised by Pip at Meet Me at Mikes. Softies for Mirabel is in its 4th year and is an event where heaps of arty/crafty types send in their handmade toys to be donated to children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use.

More information on the Softies for Mirabel project can be found here or if you would like to donate directly to the Mirabel Foundation click here).

Also you can go to the Softies for Mirabel flickr group here to see some of the great creations already made for this year and years past.

Oh - and Edith was adapted from this pattern by Hop Skip Jump

It feels great to have finally made something new!

Now I need a new project.........

Pin up Your Doodle Exhibition

Woohoo - my Pin Up Your Doodle submission made it in time and will be a part of the Pop Up Bar exhibition opening on Thursday 18th November (6pm-1am) and the exhibition will be running from Fri 19th - Sunday 21st November.

The bar is located at Donkey Wheel House,  673 Bourke Street Melbourne.  Am hoping to pop into the opening before heading off to see Baroness and Metallica - another wooooo!

Softie for Mirabel

Every year Meet me at Mikes organises a fundraising event where lots of makers and sewers send in their soft toy creations which are donated to the children of the Mirabel foundation (more info on how to join in here).

Last years effort was pretty miserable and still not finished so this year I am determined to make and finish something to send in for a good cause.

Last night I was inspired to start my Softie for Mirable project and below are some of the process images. Thankfully my friend Thouraya sent me this pattern by Hop Skip Jump a while ago which i adapted a little bit because i'm not that good at following patterns so did a few bodgy things that are thankfully hidden under that clothing!

All she needs now is a cardy, something for the hair and some shoes!

Pin Up Your Doodle Submission

I found out about this project a little while ago called Pin Up Your Doodle. I was a little dubious and worried on first clicking the link! but as it turns out it is a fundraising event organised by a non-profit bar in Melbourne Shebeen opening soon to support projects in the developing world.

The aim of the game is to submit your doodle, illustration or sketch and they will be exhibited and auctioned at the Australian Cenre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne.

More information is found at their website or blog. Submissions must be in by the 1st November.

I was thinking of submitting the above image I did at the first art/craft group meet up I started with some friends!

Audrey's 1st Birthday Invitation

I made this little bird to go with our bride and groom for the wedding cake but it has ended up doubling as the bird in Audrey's birthday invitation's. Made the cake from fimo, with dolls house furniture and Cristina Rae paper as the wallpaper behind.

BOOM!!

My work space has exploded - look what happens when I try to clean. I think there is method to my messy madness that I shouldn't mess with. Things have gotten crazy busy around here - have returned to work 2 days a week so have even less time then before! Meanwhile we run out of Internet downloads while i am at home all week so no blog reading and inspiration all week - I was a little scared to open up google reader - was worse then i thought 1000+ blog posts to read - i think I need to cut back on the following here. Oh and I think my wisdom teeth have arrived - i am so scared to go to the dentist but this ache in my jaw is going to get the better of me soon.

I found this fox I had drawn and photocopied onto acetate for a project at RMIT that was going to go on a silk screen but never did. I decided to use it to decorate the house. The photo's are Polaroids from out trip overseas last year. I wanted to submit the photo to this great new flickr group Craft Fox started by Liz of Lino Forest but I don't think it is crafty enough. But you should check it out - some great foxy works there.

Here is a sneak preview of my latest work - a little tangerine something coming your way.

7 Inch Record Wedding Invitation

Finally after much anticipation and waiting for invitations to be delievered I can now share with you the finished product of our wedding invitations! Inspired by our love of music, we decided it would be cool to attempt to make a 7 inch album cover into a wedding invitation - little did we know how big the production would end up being but we had so much fun doing it. I initally made the birds for the top of the wedding cake, the bride was made of scraps from my wedding dress and some sample beaded fabric we didn't end up using. The groom was made from an old dress of mine. The wallpaper and floor were papers designed by Cristina Rae who has some beautiful work and an amazing shop in Collingwood. We decided to personalise the invitations by selecting out a variety of 7 inch records from our local record shop 8 Mile High in Thornbury and tried to send something that they might like to listen to.

Above is the back of the album cover showing the details of the wedding -we tried to make it look like the back of a record (Katherine if you are reading this - you can probably tell that I am using your invitation - but keeping it safe till you return xx). Below is an image showing the insert we produced for further information for guests.

This image below is where my inital inspiration came from for the album cover. I just loved this when I found it via the Style Me Pretty blog. It was taken by The Nichols a husband and wife wedding photography team that photographed the most beautiful photo's of the most beautiful wedding here.

(image source)

This is a shot of the album covers in production - I think I now have RSI!

Shot of the birds in their set (notice audrey in the frame behind them!)

Soon I will upload some more images to my folio here of more detailed images of the birds. I am also looking to use the set and birds to produce a wedding congratulations card for sale but will keep you posted about that.

Some Random Things I have been Making

Below are a few things I made over the Christmas period apart from trying to finalise wedding invitations. I have also finished them but can't post them up until I have sent them out to a few people who might read this blog. It has to be a surprise!

These are some snowflakes made from paper doilies that I might use for decoration for the wedding. Got the idea off Design Sponge here.

This was Andy's X-mas stocking I made for him, Audrey has one too - still haven't done one for myself - maybe next year!

And lastly this was a headband I made for Thouraya's daughter Amelie of Amelie and Atticus (Audrey is modelling) for Christmas.

Merry Christmas

In the spirit of Christmas and seeing as it is Audrey's first, I felt i had to make her a Christmas Stocking. The photo's aren't too crash hot but you get the idea. All made from found objects and recycled fabrics which I was happy about!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas.

xx

Waiting at the Alter

Well the Groom is ready and waiting for his big day. The bride should be along shortly, she just needs some legs to walk up the aisle. Playing around with a couple of shots here for potential invitation images. Plenty to do and running out of time!

What have you been making?

Playing along with Meet Me at Mikes - What have you been making? Have been ploughing away at trying to make the bride and groom toppers for our wedding cake and it is doing my freaken head in. I can't seem to get the veil working right - she looks more like a nun bride at the moment.

Also trying to make a cat for the softie for Mirabel Charity for Meet Me at Mikes. It's better then the first attempt but still has a ways to go - it's my interpretation of a cat! Was initially trying to do green cat eyes but opted for the much more super friendly brown eyes.

What have you been making?

Frozen Chook

Anyone for a frozen chook!! - this is my lame attempt at trying to make a cat!!