What’s so Pinteresting……about fabric designs?

Towards Light… image from flickr.

I am a little disappointed to be showing you another of my boards, full of images that interest me. What’s so Pinteresting is supposed to be interactive. Yes you get me to collect ideas for you!

Anyone want to choose a theme for next time? Just leave a comment below.

In the meantime enjoy my collection of fabric designs, and ideas for fabric designs.

Sting in the Tale

13 year old is again hitting the stage as part of her school musical (or dancical….as I like to call it).

Although she doesn’t have a main part, she is a ‘significant extra’.

If you are able to get to the area between the 29th of May and the 1st of June, let me know and I will arrange a ticket for you.

 

Happy Birthday to me….

Image from Graphic.Jam

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, bring on 42.

Henry IV

Henry 4. Image from Bell Shakespeare.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of seeing my first Bell Shakespeare production.

It was an early birthday present for me and a late birthday present for 13 year old.

Thank you Grani Jan and Fa Fa.

I think we are hooked now……

Who’s up for ‘A Comedy of Errors’ in November?

‘Floor Dancing’ with 6 year old.

“Take photos of me floor dancing.” suggests 6 year old.

“Ok?” says Mum wondering what on earth that is.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4.

“Oh, I get it” I say after the last one…. Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing”.

….and I couldn’t resist a gratuitous cute shot.

6 year old.

 

 

 

I’m inspired by: William Morris

source: The original Morris & Co.

Lately I have been working on an assignment for uni that gave me a chance to revisit and enjoy one of my favourite artists of all time, William Morris.

William Morris was an arts and crafts master….along with Architect Philip Webb. He worked extensively with fabric, wallpaper, furniture and ceramics.

Here is how his official website describes him….

‘William Morris was the single most influential designer of the nineteenth century, and remains today one of the best known of all British designers. This is due to his extraordinary talent as a pattern designer, his colourful and inspiring life story and to his forceful intellect and personality. Morris was much more than a designer; he was a fervent socialist, scholar, translator and publisher, an environmental campaigner, writer and poet.’

Most of you will know his work even of you don’t know his name…. he was that good. His work is still available world wide, and is so beautifully designed it holds it own 150 years later.

Here’s some more for your enjoyment.

“Love is enough” Source: Morris &Co.

from the Morris & Co site.

Golden Lily Print by William Morris. Photo taken from Morris & Co.

Feel inside….and stuff like that.

Our family has been really enjoying this Flight of the Concords magic.

If you are wondering about the lyrics…..here is the extended version.

You can still purchase the single on itunes and the proceeds go to Cure Kids.

Enjoy!

Holiday doona cover.

The upcycled doona cover.

Over the holidays, while her sisters were doing drama and aerialize  weeklong workshops, 9 year old and I had sewing camp together. She is the most keen daughter when it comes to sewing. 14 year old will do some, 13 year old runs a mile, and 6 year old …well I’m not sure about her yet.

9 year old was given a little Ikea sewing machine for Christmas, so we thought it was an excellent opportunity to give it a run. I am planning to review this little machine now we have given it a run.

We decided together to make a doona cover from my stash of fabrics and old clothing in the cupboard.

The finished cover.

Many of the fabrics are significant to her as they are from different parts of her life and  ours lives as a family.

Close up of tags fabrics etc.

This close-up shows fabrics from a baby dress of hers (lace), a shirt she wore when she was a toddler (heart print) and the blue and white spotty left overs from her Alice in wonderland dress I made for her for her 7th birthday.

We tried as much as we could to keep labels too.

Sleeve tabs were kept.

Here you can see fabrics from a shirt of Tim’s (light blue stripe), lace-edging I bought at a garage sale (with my Mum) when  I first moved to Sydney about 25 years ago….. so I guess that makes it vintage ….., and a shirt of mine (blue flowers).

We tried to keep the garments detailing as much as we could….. like the sleeve tabs. 9 year old then hand-sewed buttons (taken from the shirts we had used) opposite the tabs so treasured toys could be held by them.

The finished poduct.

We finished it off by using a flat white sheet to form the back of the cover.

Every single thing….including thread…. we got from the stash!!

It is not quite a standard size and I did help a lot, but she was amazing and now is planning her next project!

Can’t wait to share it when she does.

….a tradition continues…..

…can you see it?

Keeping with tradition, we got up early on Easter Sunday and headed out to see the sun rise.

It’s a quiet little family ritual we do each year now.

I love the intimateness of it.

Reminds me of the few going to the tomb and discovering it empty.

He has Risen!

Easter Sunday.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 86:5