Tuesday 30 December 2014

Hand Sewn Satin Evening Bag


As a Christmas project I decided to sew an evening bag. The design was inspired by an Art Deco lampshade that would have otherwise been thrown away. In fact, I upcycled a beaded panel from the shade by turning it into an embellishment on the back of the product. 
The shoulder bag is made from hand-quilted and beaded scarlet satin lined with a gorgeous patterned cream and red cotton poplin. The style of the bag as well as the embellishments were influenced by Art-Deco, in particular the design of the beaded lamp shape.

Detail on front of bag with flap down
Back of bag showing upcycled embellishment and quilting

Detail of hand-beaded and quilted gusset
Detail of the lining of the flap and magnetic clasp 

Detail of gusset and shoulder strap made
 from a professionally manufactured
 chain which I shortened to suit my height
Base of bag showing detail of Art Deco- inspired quilting

Photograph showing the lining of the evening bag inside a
 zipped pocket for security



Tuesday 2 December 2014

Hand Painted Plate

I hand painted this plate with a hint of a Christmas theme using ceramic paint. I have depicted a winter holly leaf at the top and a summer flower on the bottom rim to act as a juxtaposition. This paint is dishwasher safe once it has been set so I will be able to use the plate again and again without it fading!





Monday 1 December 2014

Textile Art - Sea Scene


I created this piece of textile art using free-hand machine embroidery, beading and hand embroidery. The sea scene that I have sewn depicts light rays shining into the depths of the ocean and the ripples at the water's surface.


Complete scene of the ocean



Detail of beading, hand embroidery and free-hand machine embroidery

Thursday 10 July 2014

Upcycled Lampshade

Here I have presented the final stunning hand printed and beaded upcycled lampshade which I made from a dark green metal frame with a plain black lampshade.

Suede covered lampshade with metal frame
spray painted white 
Detail of the printed and beaded wild flowers

Detail of alternative angle of the shade

Detail of alternative angle of the shade
View of an alternative angle of the shade

Detail of hand printed flower heads and stems



Detail of beading over printing

Double-sided Vintage Pinny

Side of pinny with pale floral design

Detail of pinny pale side

Detail showing lined pocket

Duck egg blue side of pinny

Detail of duck egg blue side of pinny

Detail of frills lining pinny edge



Tuesday 24 June 2014

Embellished necklace

Felt necklace with hand felted texture, beaded felt flowers and
machine stitched felt leaves
Detail showing hand stitched home made felt layered to
create a textural background




Detail of beaded felt flower
Detail of large beaded flower
and leaves

Sunday 15 June 2014

Fabric sculpture of spring emerging in a winter garden

Felt bluebell growing from a dead leaf-littered garden floor 
Details of hand made felt plant
beaded with painted wire centres

Detail of leaf with beading and hand made felt texture
Detail of beading and wire centre of bluebells

Viewpoint 2 of complete sculpture

Detail of leaf litter made from painted, beaded felt and hand
printed leaves with machine embroidered details

Leaf litter detail 2



Modroc sculpture of dying flower

Complete plant dying as a result of human damage to the Earth

Details of the stitched fabric and modroc flower petals

The modroc leaves are hand stitched into
and fabric leaves are machine embroidered 
Littered modroc base representing the detrimental impact of
humans on the beauty and fragility of nature
Flower detail of shaped modroc and fabric stiffened with glue and wire



Detail of the modroc base representative of littered soil


Sunday 23 March 2014

Modroc sculpture

Here are a selection of photographs of a 3-dimensional modroc plaster sculpture of dying hydrangeas growing out of a log that I recently created:












Friday 21 March 2014

Textiles sculpture

Here are some photographs of a 3-dimensional fabric sculpture of a dying hydrangea plant that I recently created: