Wednesday, 7 September 2011

NOW IM REALLY TINKERING BY THE SEA .....

After a very busy year from February until just before I went to France in July, I am actually able to tinker by the sea! 

At least one day at the moment is set aside to just enjoy making things and it is sooooo wonderful - this weekend I was on finishing off a couple of the paper mache figures I made at West Dean in February on the Julie Arkell paper mache workshop:

My great niece Iris was one of my inspirations - at a year old she amazed us all by throwing her arms in the air and shouting 'hurray' for no particular reason - so I couldnt resist making a paper version of her doing just that...
her little cardigan took me the longest time to make and looks a bit chunky here though it is actually very fine silky thread!  When making again I must remember that action figures look great but are extremely hard to dress with limbs going in all direction - static is good and clothes-shaped is better so next time I will be making very different figures!
Here is a longer view with her sitting on the wall - temporarily - she is going to my niece Zoe, Iris's mum when they get back from holidays.

Next on the finished pile is my angel - again with the benefit of hindsight the wings would have been better made of fabric!  very hard to dress this one.  But I am happy with the end result - here is a front view - at a bit of an odd angle as I was photographing from underneath her! 

Again the dress took the longest time and was made when I stayed with my friend Kay last time, Its raw silk - lucky angel - with silk thread embellishments - her shape and pose was incredibly difficult to sew around so I ended up making a cross-over back design and sewing the dress on by the straps when I'd got it fitting about right! We live and learn do we not.  Here's the back view and a detail of the front embroidery ....

When I'd finished my two figures completely I still had a bit of time to try out an idea.  I'd looked at Danielle's Pinterest pins - follow the link on ragtales.blogspot.com - there is so much to inspire on Pinterest.  One of the things I loved was a paper feather - using a sheet of music and cutting the feathered bit of the feather - check out todolwen.blogspot.com - isnt it lovely:

  Here is my painted peacock feather - I think it holds a host of possiblities!
Have a happy week - Love to All
xx
Di



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9 comments:

  1. Jo Grant13 September 2011 at 15:15

    lovely cottage Di, keep up the tinkering...

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  2. Trina14 September 2011 at 15:16

    Hello lovely Di,
    how wonderful to find your blog and to see the work (now finished) that you started on Julie's course. Your pieces look really good.
    I was googling Julie's jewellery as I will be going back to West Dean at the end of this month - and found myself here! Are you going?
    I hope you are well and enjoying yourself; your beach hut looks fantastic. Hope to see you again one day...but I know where to find you now.
    much love Trina (slow blonde one who sat between Annie and Cynthia!)

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  3. Diane Foster16 September 2011 at 23:53

    Thanks a million Jo, loving your new blog.

    OMG - Trina! I remember you well! Slow blonde one indeed - who bagged the fabulous 'special' dolly as I recall!
    I wish I was going at the end of the month but sadly not I'm back in January with an American pantry violet called Taylor and am much looking forward to specialising in pull toys that won't need clothes! Back at west Dean in feb for the Lucy casson with my great friend Jamie! Please come in January it would be great fun to meet up with you and Annie. Early 2012 is looking action packed already!
    Check out pantry violets blog where there will shortly be blogs about Julies stitching course in France at Les Soeurs which is running as I write.
    Do keep in touch Trina - my email is tinkeringbythsea@googlemail.com - great the hear from u! Xxdi

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  4. Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka22 September 2011 at 12:15

    Dearest Diane, first of all I love your hut!
    What a wonderful place to spend weekend and holidays!
    I must say that you have done very well with your paper mache' characters,
    even if it was hard to dress them;)
    They look splendid and I wish I always felt like the little girl, hurray hurray!

    Talk soon
    XX
    Becky

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  5. Diane Foster30 September 2011 at 16:10

    Bless you Becky! You remind me of my hurray girl (iris - my great niece) especially when things make you happy! I know you will have had a lot of happy time in Paris and Briancon, xxdi

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  6. Trina3 October 2011 at 17:18

    Hi again Di... we missed you at West Dean!! I was so silly...commented on here and then forgot to look again, and so was just hoping you might be there. It was fun - very different to the papier mache course - but I had a wonderful time. (Didn't finish - obviously - but I hope to soon!)
    Sadly not booked on any more courses for the moment but will keep in touch.

    Hope you got to spend some sunny hours in your shed this weekend. What a great place and location.

    much love xx

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  7. Sandie8 October 2011 at 09:08

    Hi Di, I just love your beach hut, just divine. So pleased you can escape and create even if it is only for one day a week. So envious.
    Sandie

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  8. Diane Foster11 October 2011 at 06:51

    HELLO AGAIN TRINA! CYNTHIA POSTED THE WEST DEAN WORK ON PANTRY VIOLETS IT LOOKED FABULOUS! NOT SURPRISED YOU DIDNT FINISH IT WAS QUITE A CHALLENGE TO US NOVICE SEWISTS! HAD A LOVELY SUNNY WEEKEND LAST WEEK - SHOCKING THIS WEEK BUT I STILL LOVE IT THERE.
    SANDY - THANKS A MILLION - IM ON PAPER AT THE MOMENT BUT WILL DOUBTLESS BE BACK TO RAG RESCUE VERY SOON FOR A BIT OF MUST HAVE FABRIC.
    XX
    DI

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  9. Taylor schapiro11 December 2011 at 10:41

    Cute paper mache stuff here. Can not wait.

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