A whole buch of random

Today I feel sort of mellow, relaxed, almost as if the sun has taken away my bones and turned them into butter. Apart from Tess getting a gas pocket in her hoof things seem to be falling into place. So, back on topic.Today I'm taking photographs, lots of photographs, I was told that yesterday there was a cloud shaped like dancing frog with light beams shooting from its front legs in the sky so I'm keeping a look out for something just as fantastic

First photographs are of our litttle cherub and dragon statue down by the gate.He's supposed to be a fountain but thats still at the planning stage.

Next is a brand new pair of earrings from Gilded Rose Designs, gold wire wrapped red coral with a mystery black stone - soon to be on Etsy. My mind goes straight to Pele, the volcano goddess when I see them but my muse and I may be outvoted

Next is a sight to cheer the world. Willow having a good scratch

Its not a dancing frog but it'll do for starters.

Also the most beautiful summer bouquet of queen of the night butterfly bush, poppies and sweet pea flowers there ever was.

and a prototype of a new pendant range, this one is a green fairy wing embroidered in linen

My mother said I never should / play with fairies in the wood - Etsy Treasury

New Etsy Treasury - My mother said I never should / play with fairies in the wood

Feels Like Autumn - treasury feature

Thank you to RotemZ for featuring my Sweetest of all Yarrow Art Cuff in her new Treasury - Feels Like Autumn

Treasury Feature -Pre Raphaelite Shadows of June

Thank you to JanellyArts for featuring my Girl in the Pre Raphaelite Hat in her new treasury
Pre Raphaelite Shadows of June

New Treasury - Frog Prince

Brand new treasury made before I go off to the land of nod
Frog Prince

Natural Dying - India Flint Inspired Bundles

I've been re reading the blog of the wonderful India Flint, a natural dyer who runs fantastic workshop and creates amazing pieces of fabric and clothes all dyed with natural dyes, flowers, bits of wood, rust and found objects. Seeing as I had dying written on my list today I've started out trying my own dye experment with a fabric dye bundle with a mix of flowers and leaves

I started out with a collection of flora

cherry leaves and butterfly bush

rose petals and marrow flowers

a partial strip ready to be folded

sweet pea flowers

folded bundle ready to be wrapped up

half tied up bundle

Finished Bundle, ready to be boiled

Rusty nails for a mordant

Everything in the pot, ready to boil

I've set it to boil and will then leave it for a couple of days in the water and will unwrap it to see what the result it

Yet more ships

This ship was made from the same felt but this time needle felted with a magical underwater nature scene.

This side shows seaweed in blue and greens with coloured flora.

Close ups of the seaweed

This side shows more seaweed but this time with a fantasic red octopus, a pink squid (that started out life as a plant) and some needle felted silk waste in yellow to add colour

Close up of the felted silk and the octopus

This one was made from metal mesh with a mast and sail and is now hanging next to some wind steamers in the orchard

Ship of Dreams - Finished!

Here, finished and in all her glory is my ship of dreams. She's been lined with muslin and is ready to set sail.

I'm amazed at how quickly she took shape, Everything seemed to fall into place without me having to sit and stare, waiting for her to talk to me. I've already started to think of some other designs and have made quick metal mesh ship and a needle felted underwater scene one.

I took a trip on a sailing ship/my fantasy ship of dreams

Mixed Media Ship of Dreams - felt based soft sculpture

This is a new project, an experiment in 3D mixed media soft sculpture. The aim is to create a ship of dreams, a basic shape that is then lavishly decorated with silk, lace, muslin,buttons,beads,metal,embroidery,salvaged objects,gemstones,shells and all sorts of beautiful things. I started off with a basic ship shape that I made from heavy duty white craft felt, stitched it together with blanket stitch in dark blue and went around the top with some blue and white striped nautical braid

I then took three shades of blue embroidery silk and did some layered stitching to the aft to represent the layers of the ocean

I then started the serious decoration. I wanted it to look like a mix of a shipwrecked luxury cruiser and a something out of an 18th century boudouir.

To start I took some strips of muslin and ruffle stitched them to the bottom to symbolise waves

I then took a shell strip bracelet apart and stitched the pieces to the sides to represent planking and mother of pearl buttons for portholes. I also added some beaded thread and silver beads, beautifully tarnished into black

I then took ladder sari silk in greens and blues, bright yellow silk waste, more MoP buttons, cream lace, coloured glass beads and a brass rings and clear charms to decorate the sides

The Forward is the most lavish so far, bits of bright saffron yellow silk waste and green and blue ladder sari silk have been stitched to each side with faux pearls,brass rings, petrol beads, silver beads, log shell strips and red seed beads

So this is what I have so far

The next part is to add more embroidery, a ships wheel, an anchor and more trinkets

Romance Is In The Believing - Treasury List

Thank you to Caitlihne for adding my Pale Knight top to her new Treasury List
Romance Is In The Believing