A Day With Boo

When Boo and I get together we put our girly on, dust off the good china and play dress ups with such fabulousness that we are the envy of those who observe us.

Morning Tea

A whirlwind visit this time. Much to be discussed, tea to be drunk, wonderful food to be eaten, fabric to ponder, gin to be sipped.

Boo and Boo

I swished in my two piece setacular. With black parasol and flouncing skirts we spent the day together.

Vintage Fabric Heaven

I was bequeathed vintage fabric. Liberty and corduroy. Silks and prints. Oh. My. Gods. I was a drowning girl waving.

The Look of Pure Joy

I have so many plans. Such gratefulness.

Two Piece Setacular

One day I shall visit my Boo in Berlin. The scenery may change but our extravagance and mischievousness never does.

Vintage Boo

Curtsey.

Pips xxx

PS. To my benefactor Ms J, the fabric is much loved and shall come full circle. I have plans. Promise.

I love the idea of packing a bag for a quick get away. Granted, all the necessary frocks and shoes needed wouldn’t likely fit into this neat little overnighter, but that’s where tote bags come in, don’t they?

So, if (or maybe, nay when…) I catch that international flight (first stop Berlin, then Paris, then Glascow) I will be flaunting this as my carry  on. Actually, I’d be happy to take it on a domestic flight. Tassie maybe? Or train. Train is good. Does anyone want to have a sleep over? I make a lovely house guest PLUS I make cake.

The Girl in a Teacup

I love screen printing and the idea of creating my own fabric however I don’t have nearly the time nor the talent to have it as much more than a hobby for the time being. With practice I’m getting better and I have endless images and sources of inspiration on Pinterest fighting to find proper form on paper and linen.

The Girl in a Teacup

This young lady has been bouncing in my mind for well over a year and only recently came out to participate in a photo exposure/screen printing course run by the gorgeous Nicola Cerini, of THE handbag fame.

Because we were photo exposing onto a screen instead of paper cut stencils I was able to create a finer image that once tweaked I was really happy with. I drew my girl a few weeks before the workshop so I was confident with the image (really not good at drawing on the day, so many ideas and such poor hand/eye coordination!) and it took several attempts plus the enlistment of my french curve to get her right. Exhibit A below shows you a little of how artistically challenged I can be at free hand. I work much better when I have an image to view directly and draw as opposed to an idea in my head that I can’t translate onto paper. Rulers and Pinterest are my friend!

Exhibit A: The Girl in a Teacup – The Creative Process

So much success with the screen printed girl on the day, plus my possible branding of The Girl in a Teacup created on the WordSwag app, and a floral print gleaned from some 1950’s vintage fabric. I was so happy with the way everything turned out. The floral print has been use on my two piece setacular (only a year late, but it looks amazing. Watch this space!)

The Girl in a Teacup

Nicola also generously offered to have our work made into one of her world renowned bags. I admit to having several in the past, and always wanted an overnight bag but never could commit to the purchase. The opportunity to have my own work made up in one of her designs however? That, dear friends, is why we have credit cards.

The Girl in a Teacup

Because she looked a little, well nude, I took her home and frocked her in some Liberty and created a little flower work at her feet to add a little more dimension.

The Ins and Outs and Straps

I also had a handbag made up for my Parjie, that is well loved and being used everyday. On reflection I should have ordered a handbag as well. I’m hopeful that maybe one day it might happen. In the meantime I’m going to work on printing her on a tote bag, and extend that out to Liberty pillow cases. I have a small idea for an Etsy shop and have enlisted the services of my dear manager to set me on the proper path to sewing, printing and making a little money from what I love to do.

Parjie Bag on Nicola Cereni Printed Fabric Covering My 1800s Winged Back Chair

I’d love to do another workshop for screen printing. I think this whole business of practice is something I need to start doing. One image a year could easily be doubled if I put in the effort, surely.

So here I am, embarking on a little adventure with my girl on my overnight bag. It’s quintessential, trying to be grown up, posh lady kind of style. Suits me perfectly.

Now. If only I had somewhere to go…

Curtsey

Pips

* Please note, not a sponsored post. I purchased and paid for the workshop and bags. I have always loved Nicola’s work, and it was such a wonderful day to do what I love with such wonderful people. If you get the chance and want to learn how to print, highly recommend!

2015. Greetings and salutations. How are you feeling? I’m ok, hanging in there. Thinking that this year should be better than 2014. Not my best year. Sad face. But there remains dresses to be made and printing to be done. Things are looking, if not completely up, about 20 degrees higher than sideways. Which means my head is off the pillow.

A quick look at my photos shows that I haven’t been stagnant for the whole year, even if it felt a little like that. Looking back, these are some of my favourite makes of the year.

One of my major achievements was finishing the family rules. I swear on a 1922 Sears catalogue that I started out with excellent intentions of it being a quick short term project, yet I managed to stretch it out for a year and a half until the final rule was painstakingly cut out and craft glued onto the canvas one week ago. They were up on the wall though during the creative process, and I was often helpfully reminded by the family that they were not yet complete. Cutting out each individual letter with a craft knife was more time consuming than I anticipated and possibly easily avoidable. Next time I will work out how to print the words onto pretty paper and then mount onto the canvas. Saves bruises, blood and the odd swear word when I sliced through paper and flesh or it is pointed out that I have misspelled a word.

Family Rules

The rules originally came about from grateful time. I tried to introduce grace to the dinner table and it was quickly pointed out that as a non religious person it wasn’t really appropriate and we needed to find our own ritual to give thanks for the many things that we have. Thus, grateful time was born. It quickly had to be limited to three pieces of gratefulness per child after B1 and B2 spent half an hour listing all the things they were grateful for and dinner became cold. We still on occasion have one of them be grateful for the pocket knife that Bruce was given a year ago that he uses at work. Usually scrapping the bottom of the barrel, but it makes us laugh.

Family Rules

The longest rule, “if you feel sad or frustrated take a deep breath and go back down to happy” is the least useful one in practice, even I can’t incorporate it when I feel that way, but it sets a good example of how breathing can calm us down and refocus. Well, that’s what I say when I’m trying to make the boys take their deep breathes. “But (sob) I (sob) can’t (sob)” is the usual response, which I have to say I understand.

So, no big resolutions for me. I will continue to do the best that I can, and make the most of what I have (that includes my fabric stash which is quietly whittling away and the patterns that I’ve yet to trace off. Yay!).

Here’s hoping that many of the next 365 days for you are filled with threads, liberty and happy kitties.

Curtsey.

Pips

PS B1 and B2 were not overly impressed with the “less TV” rule, but will often break out in dance for no particular reason to meet the “dance like no one is watching” rule, often during dinner, after grateful time. How I love them.