ULLABENULLA

Feathered Tea...

I am enjoying the embroidery of Renie Breskin Adams, especially this one...  Wouldn't you love to have tea with the birds?

Birthing An Alligator - Part 1

When I think of Alligators I think:

*Big

*Powerful

*Frightening

*Primal (thank you Lea for reminding me of this!)

*And in the case of my 'Alligator Wall' - Fun!

So why work on an Alligator right now?  Well, partly once I assembled my 'Alligator Wall' I felt it needed something down in the lower left hand corner...  But I suddenly realized that there is Much Much more to this project then just creating a filler for my wall!  

I have been wanting to get back into TEXTILES for quite a while now.  Textiles is my background, I spent years learning about, playing with and creating with it in the form of wearable art.  I made dolls for many years and loved  'dressing them' the best.  Teaching at the CASTLE pushed my art much more towards PAPER.  I love paper!  But there is something really deep inside of ME that needs to work with fibers and textiles.

So I have started an Alligator...

Not just any alligator, but a BABY Alligator, and I thought you might enjoy hearing about my process as I take this leap back to my roots so to speak.

  

I spent some time looking for a nice Alligator silhouette, and decided I liked the one shown on top of this post the best.  After finding the image, I enlarged it 250%, so its more life-size.  In reality my enlarged version measures about 25 inches from nose to tail.  Feeling the need to stay 'sustainable and green' I also decided to only use fabrics and materials that I already have.  I first cut out the basic Alligator shape of a nice raw cotton batting.   Then I lay this on top of a shrunken wool sweater and traced the shape to re-cut.  But this time I cut the shape about a 1/4 of an inch smaller all the way around.  I'm totally in a grove now, not really thinking why - just doing...

My reasoning for using creamy whites here in the beginning has to do with my love of the 'White Alligator' that lives in San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences.  He is a real beauty and a true must see!

Next I stitched the two layers together with a darker thread, outlining the shape.  I worked fast, and left the loose threads.

At this point I truly wasn't quite sure how to proceed.  After letting it sit for a few hours, I decided to go back to one of my favorite techniques when I was in school - Reverse Applique.

"In reverse applique two layers of fabric are used and the top layer is cut away showing the fabric underneath."

As tempted as I might be to let it be finished now, I still feel it needs more.  I found THIS IMAGE while doing some computer browsing yesterday and something about it just struck a chord!  Partly it was the colors used, but also the simplicity of shapes.   I pulled out my box of Fabric Scraps and started digging - looking for colors that spoke to me.

After finding a few pieces that seem to say Alligator, I began cutting them into tiny squares and circles.  I also went through my button box and dug out a large handful of tiny mother of pearl buttons - harking back to the White Alligator who inspired the initial coloring.  

  

Now the fun part, how to use these little bits and pieces...  Here is what I have lain out so far.  I don't want the initial Applique cuts to disappear, yet I do want something NEW to happen.

I'm feeling inspired by how my embroidery threads happen to be arranged.  Haphazardly but in a definite color range.

Thats as far as I've come.  

I am finding it profound that I chose a 'Baby Alligator' to do this project.  I see this as a Baby Step towards going back to my fiber roots.  I hope you enjoy hearing about my process and following along on this new path...  

More Soon!  

Embroidered Garden...

An antique stumpwork masterpiece garden via Each Little World.

Rabbits and Cabbages - Oh my!

With Easter around the corner, I am loving this textile design by Thornback & Peel!

Circle Exchange in France...

How fun is this?  A 'CD' circle exchange, sponsored by Nathalie Locquen in France!  There is something so complete about a circle, and seeing the variety and scope here, makes me want to see an entire wall filled with these lovely little creations!!!  There appears to be a 'theme' each month, and if you are good with a Translator it seems as if you could join in the fun too!

(link via Histoires de boites a couture)

 

Mourning Hairwork Designs in honor of 'Day Of The Dead'

For 'Day of the Dead' I have found these amazing images of Hairwork Mourning Jewelry from the NY Public Library Digital Gallery.  I have always been amazed at how intricate the Victorians could weave human hair!   (link via Fed by Birds)  

Emerging Illusions Fashion Fantasies!

Once a year in the spring, San Francisco plays host to The Emerging Illusions Alternative Fashion show.  Designed to showcase up and coming fashion and costume designers from the Punk, Goth and Industrial scenes, its a tour de force of creative inspiration!  I love the grab-bag feel of these outfits.  Bits and pieces of fabrics, zippers, lace, and trims, deconstructed and then reconstructed into costumes any fashion Magpie would adore!!!  Link

One More ~ MONSIEUR REINAERT SCARF

Just because its so clever!!!  By MVOS, and for sale at Green Grass Design!

Medical Sampler or Art?

Sometimes we find beauty in the most unexpected places...  This is an amazing Surgical suture sampler, circa 18th century, from the Zurich Medical History Museum in Switzerland.  Just look at the variety of stitch techniques and detail, all appropriate for different anatomical regions and types of injury.  If you put aside the use, and look at it purely for design, it's quite stunning!  Link via Bioephemera. 

  

Fibers and Fairytales!

I am still stumbling over using different computers. Now I'm on Husbands laptop... No access to my photos yet, but at least I am not crashing everywhere I visit! Here are a couple of truly amazing handbags by Ema from Japan! I LOVE her sense of whimsy and eye for details! (link via We're All Mad Here!

A Beautiful Agony

In need of something different to wear? How about something by Reem Alasadi? I am loving her ripped and torn looks, and of course her use of gloves and doll heads! How does she describe her latest collection?

"Diaphanous and distressed, a short silhouette constructed with strict attention, ethereal soft sexy movements layered with dark edginess. Precious re-used lace and treasured metal trims liberated from a loved dress, convey a personal history. A fleeting glimpse from a romantic sepia-toned time, promised within the emotional savagery of aggressive street styling. Victorian forms in leather & wool, bustles and shoulders, drenched beads & lace. Why shout your message when you can retain some mystery, a whispered promise.............. this is our beautiful agony."

Surely one cannot get more romantic then this? 'Born in Iraq, raised in England... From her market stall on London's historic Portobello Road, she teaches others what English eccentricity is all about: her Arabic roots push the envelope of exotic mixes even further by using fur, lace, cotton knits, stained linen under-skirts, embroidered pantaloons, dolled-up camisoles, and curious mementos suspended from stiffly-starched shirting collars with ceramic wooden beads, protestant jet strings, and catholic streams of crystal with shreds of matte cotton haberdashery and macrame, to compose floral fragments of visionary jewelry...' (See more Here and Here)

A Pastoral Dollmakers Gift!

It was last October that dear Fine Pigg chose my name out of 'The Old Top Hat' for Christine Crocker's 20th Anniversarie Celebration! Then to top it off, (pun fully intended!) Christine asked me if she could make my PRIZE in colors of my own choosing! Of course I said YES! I told her I love old faded colors, roses and greens... So of course I was thrilled yesterday when a box arrived from Christine with my own personal 'Antique Worn Velvet Pinkeep' within!!! Beautifully handcrafted with rose printed bark-cloth, pink polka dotted tulle, and luscious antique velvet berries on top of a lovely hand-turned wood stand, I could barely wait to encrust it with my favorite pins! It now sits proudly on my dressing table, looking like a splendid dessert topped cake, delivered straight from a Fairy Bakery! THANK YOU CHRISTINE, for treating me with such BEAUTY!!!

Tea Towel Purse...

Hannah Lamb
Having always loved the textile work of Hannah Lamb, I picked up some purse frames Online a couple of years ago. I must have spent days trying to figure out how to sew a purse that not only would fit into the frames but also open up wider then a fingers width - with NO success. Well yesterday, my dear friend Judy and I decided we would put our heads together and 'figure it out'! After about two hours of feminine swearing and fiddling with patterns Judy went on line and found This LINK! We knew the solution would be easy, we just didn't know it would be that easy to find on line. I decided to use a wonderful PINK French Tea Towel that I bought from Quel Objet a while back to make my first purse. It went together with ease, once we had the pattern-drafted. The most difficult part of making the purse was attaching the fabric to the frame. Rather than gluing the fabric into the frame (didn't know what kind of glue to use?) I bought a small rubber mallet to gently pound it together. It slipped quite a bit and I had to re-pry it open a few times and re-hammer. I think this is something that one perfects over time - at least I hope so. I made a small stuffed handle but wanted the option to add a long strap later, so I attached the handle with buttons on either side of the frame. I'm quite happy with the outcome, and look forward to playing with lots of different shapes and fabrics in the near future!!!

Here is a photo of the purses made by Hannah Lamb that inspired me...

Patchwork Furniture!

Patchwork is back again, and in a BIG BRIGHT and BOLD way! Just look at these interior pieces by Squint Limited! I love how they have taken the current love of French furniture and made it even more modern with bold patchwork! Wow!!! (top image via Bodie and Fou)

Collars and Gowns

I love the work of Karen Halt, and actually did a post on her earlier HERE. She not only creates lovely textile pieces that are painted and then coated with beeswax, but then paints her art in new settings... I am particularly drawn to her 'Collars with Torso's'. Three dimensional little paintings that have a figural base. And the colors and illustrations of her 'Gown by da Vinci' positively sing!!!

Sunday Inspiration!!!

These delightfully whimsical illustrations are by SARAJO FRIEDEN of California. I love her vibrant and energetic sense of line, and how she has added embroidery touches to her illustrations! Who can resist birdhouse crowns or pockets filled with laughter? So fun!!!

Felted Whimsy From Japan!

Recently I received a delightful email from a woman in Japan. We quickly discovered that we have very similar interests and she sent me a list of links to Japanese artists which she felt I might be interested in. Naturally I loved them all, and will share them with you here over time... But as always happens when I start looking at new links, the paths lead me elsewhere, and I end up somewhere entirely different. Such is the case here. Somehow I discovered the site of Yuri Puri an amazing felter from Japan! Her work is truly delightful, like stepping into a wonderful fairytale! Her pieces are often large in scale and full of color and texture - truly a feast for the eyes! ENJOY!!!

What Every Gothic Romantic Should Have...

(Chair by Douglas Little for Barneys)

Little Shoes For Little Feet...

I just love these sweet little strawberry shoes found in Nishale's Art Shop on Etsy! And who can resist this little felted 'elf hat'??? Adorable!

Fanny and Odette

Sometimes I discover an artist whose work takes my breath away... Fanny Crenn - muse, artist and creater of Les Bijoux D'Odette has me swooning in desire and admiration! Fanny lives in West Brittany, France, and Odette, the central character in her work, lives in her heart! In Fanny's dexterous hands, old photos and ephemera, antique clothing and textiles, leather gloves, and other small objects are transformed into beautiful 'reliquaries' filled with memories and romance. Her small wearable pieces are like tiny textural nostalgic scrap-books... Her sublime clothing reminds me a little of the princess in the fairytale Furball (a very refined version of couse!)- wearing bits of this and that and looking absolutely wonderful! We are Lucky indeed that Odette inspires so much!!!