Showing posts with label PAPER MACHE DONKEYS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PAPER MACHE DONKEYS. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

DONKEY UPDATE

BON JOUR!

As always apologies for the delay, I am permanently trying to catch up with myself and be disciplined about blogging but it never happens!

Last time, you may recall I asked whether I should give my donkeys a colour wash - thanks for your suggestions.  I made a third donkey a couple of weeks ago and I decided to use a watercolour wash in a pale greyish colour so that it wasn't too coloured.
I made some paniers from a snippet of cloth, as usual from my Rag Rescue stash.  I couldn't for the
life of me decide what to put in the paniers, but, last week whilst I was in France at Les Soeurs Anglaises
for a bijou holiday with Becky, Jone and Oolie I had a sudden flush of inspiration.............. what better than French Lavender?  Mon Dieu! Why didnt i think of it before, I think its perfect, do let me know what you think ..................


I also said I would blog about my second Hens Teeth workshop makes.
On the first workshop made three brooches in total, the first two took most of the day


 Then in the last 10 minutes, I had a flush of inspiration - I love paper and decided to put together scraps of
haberdashery labels and card to make another brooch - it turned out to be my favourite of the day ........

When I went to the second Hens Teeth Haberdashery workshop I decided to continue to explore this theme and here are the results ...............
 
Again in the last 10 minutes I decided to try my hand at a donkey brooch, pinching Viv's glove fingers for ears idea I stitched up this little beauty ................
I finished him off in France last week, tidied up the back, put the pin on and added his eyes, originally he was going to have two press studs but I'd lost one, routing about in my sewing kit I came across the vintage red diamonte - all the girls agreed it was just the ticket!  It would seem that he was never intended to have matching eyes......................... Again it was my favourite of the day!  

I sent the 'saved' brooch to Julie Arkell before I left for France and gave the goldilocks haberdashery brooch to Katie Elliot Armitage and the darning thread one to Dean Spille who had admired Katie's when she took Becky, Jone and Oolie to see him and his lovely wife Billie Spille, I figured Billie could wear it and Dean could look at it, but he did wonder if he could get away with wearing it himself!

Do let me know what you think of my makes, I find your feedback very encouraging!

Oh Yes, here are my delightful Julie Arkell pieces;  'A gentle Stillness', I love Donkeys' and Little Donkey on my recently completed bedroom fireplace, you may also spot the Jennifer Collier lampshade and a couple of Viv, Hens Teeth brooches.  All of which inspire me each night when I go to bed and each morning when I get up.



Love to All
xx Di




Monday, 28 May 2012

LITTLE DONKEY, LITTLE DONKEY .............


Hello!

Here after a long absence are my donkeys, made at West Dean whilst on the Julie Arkell Paper Mache course at the end of January 2012.

After my disastrous creature dressing panics last year I arrived at West Dean with a cunning plan: not to make anything that needed dressing!   Accordingly, making donkeys to take to my hut seemed the way forward!



This is my first donkey, I did crochet him some panniers so he carry his own stuff to the hut!

I loved him so much I decided to make him a companion with a cart to transport heavier stuff they may need ........

Here he is with a cart made from twigs and linen thread, which fastens to his granny square harness - a particularly inspired moment I thought!


I had also decided that it might be fun to make a paper mache pram - that way I could make some lovely bedding using some lovely bits and pieces of fabric which should be too taxing for an amateur sewist such as myself.

Here is the pram (which features large in stories from my childhood as anyone who knows me will confirm!)

I so wanted the pram to be a 'Silver Cross' type with suspension - which I think turned out OK - so as not
to make it too easy for myself it became increasingly important to me that the hood went up and down -
nothing like a technical challenge!  I worked well into the night (and the next morning) and eventually I 'made it have it' .......................
I have yet to make the aforesaid bedding - events rather took over at the end of my course but I fully intend to finish my little pram and will blog the finished item when done!
Now, I have been wondering if I should colour my donkeys?  Or leave them as they are? Just cant decide - suggestions would be much appreciated, I will ponder in the meantime.

I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THE DONKEYS & MY LITTLE PRAM
ALL COMMENTS WELCOME!
xxDi