free time and my indigo cravings

Now that my Interpret This challenge is done I have some time to play. At least untill Monday when the new photo will be posted! I worked more on this...

His 'mane' is nearly done now.

I have been looking over the beautiful indigo that Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth has been working with and while I would love to dye some myself it just isnt something I will be doing.  Glennis Dolce does it beautifully and I do so covet those moons.

Lacking funds to purchase the beautiful indigos I instead took sissors to all the old, torn, outgrown, and shabby denim  I could get my hands on. While modern denim is not dyed from natural indigo it would have to do for me now. What I have now is a wonderful sewn together yardage of indigo colored fabric in shades that vary from deep blue to a medium blue. I was hoping for some of that wonderful ice blue that comes from aged jeans but alas, none to be had here.

So, what will become of this refigured denim? It has a good weight for something that would get a good deal of use. I thought tote-bag. But, no. I am giving it a round of embroidery and then it will be a wonderful pillow.  Here is my test piece of embroidery on some of the fabric. I needed to see how it would work up and if I liked my initial design enough to go on.

And yes. I do like this. So I took my little embroidered patch and put it together with a part of the short pieces of fabric and made a mini bag...

I am guessing that this is about 5 x 10 inches. I gave it a velcro closure and it holds a collection of threads I will be using for the larger pillow. The benefits of having the colors I want in one place and portable, while also having a reference to the sort of design work I want on the pillow top.

Shanghai Circle

         The reveals are in. From Rians' plate of Chinese food...

to this. Shanghai Circle.

Pop on over to Interpret This! to read all about how this one came to be. All comments are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

a tale to be told

 It's the beginning ot reveals at Interept This!  Now as soon as you finish reading here then head on over there to see what Rian and Debra have made of it!
  I have just today finished up my piece and will reveal it on  Friday at noon. Cutting it pretty close this time.
                                    So here is my tale of the Feb. challenge....
First week:
      Photo is of a plate of Chinese food. O.K. Pad of paper and pencil I sketch a quick fairly literal drawing of the plate etc.  Nope, not that. Again pencil to paper..and yet again..you get the drift. A pile of crumpled attempts fills my waste basket.
     Day 2. I go about a different direction with the drawing. more piles of waste. I draw on both sides of the paper, go over previous drawings....arrrgh.
     work is busy. I am tired and don't get back to drawing for a few days. It is now week 2.
A fresh start and I have it finally! I go through fabrics and cut and paint and stitch. I pull out the beautiful satin and take the iron to it and scorch it badly.........My oops is really a great opportunity and my whole idea is changed now!!
 Again a few days go by and I finally find a bit of time to work on this. I fiddle abit and it is well underway now. Then ( dramatic pause and  somber music ) I am hit with one hell of a bad virus. I go home early from work and am sick sick sick. I sleep for two days.  Weak and unsteady  but feeling much better I do a bit more and scale back some of the original idea. Then husband gets sick too.  then the boy gets sick...
Finally we are all back to healthy and I had just enough time to finish this!!!!!
Tune in tomorow at Interept this to see what I finally finished.

I can't show the Interpret This piece I am working on but I can show a bit of this one.

This is just a bit. He is slow going. I am growing quite fond of him however!

To answer the questions about the oil pastels I use. Nothing fancy. Crayola makes these. Wonderfully creamy and easy to blend with water. Portfolio by Crayola.

Kantha stitches

I have been pouring over this wonderful book!

Mistakes that become magic!

Over on Interept this! our February challenge is underway. The subject photo is a plate of Chinese food.

After many false starts and design ideas crumpled and filling the trash bin I came up with the final design. This lovely gold satin would work perfectly.

I pulled out the iron and went to press out the wrinkles...I neglected to double check the heat setting...It was set on High...oops.

BUT. I loved what happened!! The design has been modified and the fabric scorched to an inch of it's life and well under way now. I am loving this 'mistake'!

I just love the way the cardinal is looking at the squirrel. As if wondering who invited that creature to dine with him.

We have a new challenge at Interpret This!  Rian has taken a photo of food from a Chinese dinner.I have been working out the ideas and now have a wonderful pile of crumpled paper sketches...BUT, I think I am thisclose to a design now. There is great potential for ideas in that photo!