Inspiration

A Modern Quilt for The New Puppy

Posted on May 26, 2012Posted in CraftsTagged fabric8 Comments

I have not been able to write here for a couple of weeks. I have a big project going on. And I am not talking about this quilt!

I am talking about the owner of the quilt!

She is my new beagle puppy Stella! As you can see from the pictures, see appreciates my hard work for the quilt.

I made the quilt from scraps that I found in the closet. I used to make a lot of quilts many years ago. Then I stopped. The reason was the lack of time to make really artistic detailed hand embroidered quilts and the lack of inspiration to make traditional ones. But now I have found a new trend: modern quilting! I am so excited!

Stella wishes a long and warm summer to all of you! See you soon!

Painting With Wool

Posted on April 27, 2012Posted in CraftsTagged yarn9 Comments

For a long time I have believed that the most valuable things are those that you can make yourself from start to finish. The question is only, where to start. This project was a very special one as I started with natural white wool. I had the idea of painting with fiber and I thought I could take a layered approach as what I have done with papers.

My first step was to dye the wool by painting colors over it. Here’s one of the rovings I dyed.

Then I spun the wool.

Here’s some of the finished yarn. With spinning I added “painted” layers.

Then I chose the pattern. I could have designed it myself but I find so perfect one I decided to go with it. It’s Stockport by Sarah Hutton from Rowan magazine nr 46. I chose to make mine it a little longer to really show off the yarn.

When knitting the sweater I made random stripes, another layer of paint. I think that the result really proves that the layered look can be done with fiber too!

Some Things Never Change

Posted on April 13, 2012Posted in Music & LiteratureTagged decorated papers5 Comments

My favorite time in a normal working week is Friday night. That’s when I turn the music on, grab the pens and brushes and start creating.

I often think about deep and complicated but the music I listen to is very ordinary pop. It really does not go along with my visual style. What I need from music is to create a kind of shield around me, assure that I can do it. It’s been like this for tens of years.

Speaking of time over 20 years ago …

These two old paintings are hanging at my home and I watch them every day. What I did then was pretty much the same that I do now: listen to bad music and get into a flow state. Back then I had just discovered cubism and some new hues of color. These paintings remind me how people stay same even if the years go by. New thoughts will appear, new colors and shapes will be discovered but the true identity stays.

Faberge Revisited

Posted on April 1, 2012Posted in Crafts, SeasonalTagged decorated papers, foam egg4 Comments

Now is the time to grab those handmade patterned papers and make your own Faberge eggs! I used the smallest scraps here!

I began with a polystyrene egg and covered it with gesso. After the gesso had dried I glued the paper scraps with matte medium. Then I drew few extra doodles on it and added some faux jewels.

The stand is made from used tealight candle tin. I covered it with paper and added a decorated ribbon on it.

You can’t have too many details here! The more the better!

Have a creative Easter!

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