INSPIRATION IS A WONDERFUL THING!

When I was at the Rachel Hazell workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises in July this year we visited the local brocante warehouse - Ali Baba's.  I found a box of old (and rather moth-eaten) toys which I thought would suit Becky (see Vintage Fairy Tales blog).  Now the 'souvenirs Nicole' would definitely not have suited everyone, however, Becky was delighted by them.


Amongst the souvenirs - can't help thinking there is a tragic little tale behind them - was a Dougal of Magic Roundabout fame - fair enough he had definitely seen better days. Barbara one of the American workshop attendees was horrified by Dougal and amazed, firstly, that I had bought the box, and, having bought it was actually thinking of giving it to a friend!   


I spent many happy days telling Barbara that Dougal was going to be hidden in her room, her case etc.  A couple of days after we returned home, I got an email asking where Dougal was - he was still in France waiting for Becky, but I decided to make Barbara a Dougal of her very own.


Here, is the original Dougal .........

not a very inspiring start you may think - but that of course is the magic of inspiration ........ this is what he and Barbara inspired me to make ...........

I'm really pleased with how he turned out and I'm hoping that Barbara will be happier with my version than she was with the original Dougal!  I sent him off a couple of weeks ago and he has just arrived Stateside.

What do you think?  All comments welcome

xxDI

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