My new best friend

My lovely friend Caroline suggested I start using Pinterest as a way to promote my design; so about three months ago it began.... 

At first I thought it was such a time sucker, but I have ended up finding it so inspiring.  I admit, to sneak a peck at the boards a least once a day.  It is just such a great way to collect images to inspire work, craft activities, dream home ideas and products that I like.  I thought I would share with you a few wonderful patterns I have been collecting.  

If you would like to follow my pins, here is the link: http://pinterest.com/lovebellap/

   

Flower Field by Heather Moore of Skinny Laminx in Cape Town South Africa 

Wallpaper from Wayne Hemmingway vintage collection 

Surface design from Shapes and colours

Vintage cotton fabric from 1974 - Johnny - Tapete from www.vintage-wallpaper.com

Colour expirations - Rusty - origin unknown

Greenfield Hill from Free Spirit 

 Lola design silk fabric from Curtain-up UK

Otto design Wallpaper from Curtain-up UK

Waratah as Art

I had a wonderful mothers day on Sunday, although I didn't get that sleep in I was hoping for the little ones were very beautiful excitedly handing me their gift; a wonderful book 'The New Artisane' by Oliver Dupon.  

I was up late the night before painting some art for a gift to my mum. It has been a very long time since I attempted a large painting and I only had one piece of recycled paper, some poor quality paints and some brushes which I think Jasmine has chewed on at some point, so considering the obstacles I was happy with the result.

I based the artwork on one of my embroidery designs.   I always paint the designs for my wallet artwork to scale then scan them into the computer to refine for the embroidery machine.  To scale the artwork up I made the image the size I wanted then printed it in sections 

Using my trusty light box I penciled in the lines I need to follow during painting

I choose the colours to go with the rug in my mothers hallway, mum has been asking me what to put on the wall to tie the room together so my hope was that this painting could do that job.

I had planned to make the colours gold, burgundy and orange but somewhere along the way the orange became pink.... 

The finished work!

Oliver and Jasmine were so excited to give such a big gift, it took all three of us to carry it to 'Nanny' 

Mum was really happy with it, it looks great with the style of the house.  I feel quite inspired to paint more pieces and see were I can take it

Hope you had a great mothers day, mum 

xxx

Shibori

I felt quite inspired by this offering by Akira at Sydney Fashion Week this week, it had me rereading my much loved Shibori book.  

I have not really tried my hand at Shibori since university but I find it to be such a magical resist dyeing technique.  

  

Here are a selection of some of the wonderful effects that can be achieved with Shibori dyeing 

This board clamping technique is one I have tried; it is simple to fold. See the below illustrations showing the folds, once clamped in the boards ( elastic bands work well to hold it in place) just dip it in the dye and leave to dry.  When dry, take apart the board, unfold and enjoy the magic.

This silk  Kimono "Pampas Grass' 1977 is just beautiful

Silk Kimono detail. 1978 , just amazing

Shibori The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist dyeing by Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, Mary Kellogg Rice and Jane Barton