Wow!

I've been plotting for some time now to find a way to be a 'proper' textile artist instead of just someone who makes stuff out of fabric that her friends like and plead with her till she gives them them...

I've known what course I want to do for some time (this one, here) and I've been frantically trying to find ways of funding it. This morning I went to future prospects and used there fundafinder database which has pointed me towards some charitable trusts that might be able to help. So, I get to spend the next couple of months filling in application forms!

I picked up some stationary stuff i needed and some sweets off the market stall that has sweets in jars that you buy by the 100g - god i miss those sweet shops and popped into the local art gallery to see the new show that was on. I haven't been in in a while as I've been rather busy but I was surprised with the reaction I got!

"Hey!Where you been? We haven't seen you months!Is everything ok?I thought you were going to bring some stuff in."
Last time I had been there it had been mentioned in passing that I might like to bring some of my work in. I never for the life of me thought they were being anything but polite! I'm to take some stuff in at the beginning of august!

That gives me a month to get some stuff made!

Where inspiration can lead!

Apologies for my extended absence. After spending a day feeling virtuous looking after my beloved while he was feeling unwell, I then came down with a severe cold. Unfortunatly this was masking a bad middle ear infection in my right ear thats been causing me problems for the last week. Answering the phone at work has been especially painful.

My beloved made sure I got a copy of Stitch when it came out, especially as I haven't been at my most cheerful for the last week or so!

And now, I will explain why why me and Stitching magazines are not a good idea....

The current issue of Stitch has a feature on this amazing doll artist called Patti Medaris Culua and she makes amazing dolls like these.

Ever since reading this article I have been obsessing, and I mean OBSESSING about making fabric dolls....I don't have half the materials I need but I'm already trying to make one.
Hers are astounding and I really wish I could make dolls like hers!
She sells patterns and I hope to buy some at some point soon. I really want to make The Goblin Princess, Olivia and the Tea Time Fairy! Though I think I will need to be at a higher level of skill before I can make those!

She also has a book called creative cloth doll making that I will buy as soon as I can afford it unless someoness feeling especially generous?!

Anyway, I'm currently in the process of making this doll - a freebie pattern on a site I found.

So, early in the week I cut her out, then hand stitched all the body parts. And have discovered machine stitching might have been a better idea...you have to do pretty strong hand stitching to withstand being stuffed.

By midweek I have a doll, who although having very shapely limbs, has a slight problem of looking rather feathery along her seams. I contemplated abandoning her and starting again but after all the work I'd already done I put her down for the evening and went away to think about it.

I came to the conclusion that I would have to stitch around the seams externally making a ridged seam along all the seams. Not perfect but am actually starting to really like the effect! I'll get her put together in the next day or so and then hopefully show her to you on monday....she might even have some clothes and wings by then!

Now.....Why is it so bloody hard to find instructions for making freeform needlelace?!

I promise...

A good sized post soon. Have a bad ear infection which is keeping me away from the computer at the moment!