Wednesday 6 October 2010

Nothing like a challenge to get me creating

I have been back from France for weeks now and still hadn't done any crafting/creating at all. Until yesterday. Thought about it, of course, and in my mind I made oh so many lovely things. Somehow, they never materialised. My friend JJ is still in Portugal and without internet there, so she couldn't give me the needed kick up the butt, and I was finding all sorts of excuses for not starting anything. But last week, Mary from Green Paper came to rescue! I had missed her previous challenges because I spent the summer in France, but I had promised myself to go for the next one. And her October challenge was just what I needed to get me going again.

This was the challenge, to take all three images, or parts thereof, and create something with it -


As I was somewhat immersed in lace and ribbons ( trying to tidy up all the laces ), it didn't me long to decide on a fabric collage. At first, I was going to make a wall hanging, and use one of Dorthe's beautifully tactile driftwood pieces for a hanger. But somehow I ended up making a cushion. No idea really how that happened.

I started by making a digital collage with parts of the three images provided. The girls, of course, they were easy enough. Then I cut out the flower motif from the little image at the bottom and used that to put 'lace' on the girls' collars. I used the wreaths from the green ticket (?) to make a faded border. I added the Eiffel tower as background and the 'Young Parisiennes' title, printed it out onto fabric and that was the start of this cushion -



I had so much fun making this cushion, choosing the laces, the embellishments etc. The top is stitched by hand. I found it rather nice and relaxing to handstitch the laces and embellishments to the backing, much nicer than using the sewing machine. Some of the laces are antique, 19th C laces. I also used sweet little antique mother-of-pearl buttons, crystal bicones, freshwater pearls, tiny little glass beads, single lace motifs and a capiz shell to embellish the cushion.



Now I want to make lots more little fabricy things, sigh, when I really ought to be sorting out the lace and linens etc. and listing them in the blogshop Hmm, we'll see what happens. In the meantime, a big thank you to Mary for the lovely challenge and getting me crafting again!

Toodlepip xxx

25 comments:

Elizabethd said...

Absolutely lovely, clever you.

JuanitaTortilla said...

That's a really pretty cushion. What will you do with it?

I enjoy sewing by hand; I think hand-sewing that lace was treating it with respect.

Can't wait to see what your blogshop has in store!

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

c'est trooop beau ! je ne saurais jamais faire de si belles choses !!!

Angela said...

Your cushion (pillow) is beautiful! I really like printing images on fabric, too. I'm still learning the whole "collage" thing..like what to put where, etc. You've done an awesome job. It is really pretty.
Angela

Me and Ma said...

You are so clever Liz, your cushion is beautiful x

Home and Heart said...

GOOD GRAVY!!! How STUNNING is that pillow!! What a talent you are!! Love it!!

Dorthe said...

DEarest Liz,
how very,very beautifull,it looks like a little dream, with the lace flowers, and the shell, you made a wonderfull cussion,-just like I told you, you would -I love it liz.
Big hug, Dorthe

Serenata said...

Oh wow Liz, that is so beautiful. I wouldn't even know where to begin to make something like that. You are such a clever lady!

Absolutely gorgeous.

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

It has turned out so beautifully Liz. Why don't you sew more? I have no idea how you get your images onto fabric or how to organise one over the other either. You really are such a clever clog aren't you? You shouldn't feel guilty for sewing instead of tidying up. Perhaps you could make some for your shop too. You could charge a good amount for something with antique bits on it.

Debra said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I agree, hand sewing is so much nicer than machine stitching.

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

What a delightful little pillow! It is dreamy and romantic and would look perfect in several places in my little cottage.
It is so nice meeting you!
Jil

Romeo said...

Oh wow! M. Liz this is most beautiful!!!! I am so happy to hear that you have found the time to start creating again!!

Purrs for a beautiful weekend!

Romeo and "her"

Alexandra said...

Wow Lizzy was für eine Arbeit, erst die Collage dann das traumhaft schöne Kissen! Superklasse geworden. Ich wünsch dir einen schönen Tag. liebe Grüße Alexandra

My Creative House said...

Wow Liz your cushion is so very beautiful, love how you've changed images and the lace frame around it so perfect and lovely.
Anni

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Liz, Your pillow is gorgeous and I just love it!!! It's so dreamy and romantic and all the laces you have used are so YUMMY! The Eiffel Tower makes such a great background for the two girls.
Have a wonderful afternoon!
Hugs to you,
Julia

Kim from The Sheep's Nest said...

Ahh Lizzie Lu how I've missed you! Beautiful creation!

Joanna said...

Oh my, this is gorgeous! What a pretty work of art.

Anonymous said...

Well you're just too busy a bee, Lululiz! I've been catching up and what gorgeous concoctions you have sewed up!

Hugs, DIane

Sabrina said...

Just fantastic and very original!!

greenpaper said...

This is GORGEOUS!!! I am so glad your joined in the challege - wow!

woodandfabric said...

oh my!! I love this! Such a wonderful piece of art! Lovely work!
Michelle *Ü*

Barbara Jean said...

Oh so very beautiful!!

blessings

barbara jean

South City Hues said...

Wow...the pillow is stunning!

studio pashnada said...

absolutely stunning

Viola said...

I`m in love, hehe!! So stunning! Have a wonderful and creative week, Liz! :-)