Inspiration Sunday

Browsing the sites and magazines for the Spring trends, I've come across a craft that pops up every season, and one that isn't the most easy to recreate yourself at home (I'm looking at you Kirstie Allsop and your 'vintage/craft home'), making it even more awe inspiring, utterly unique and beautiful. Hand made paper cuts have been circulating the craft artists radar for many years now - but the recent commercial rush of Rob Ryan work has made Paper Cuts more popular. It's something I'm desperate to try but know that my clumsy hand wont mix well with a sharp blade, so I'll leave it to the pro's...


Lydia Crook (I love everything on her Etsy page!)











 





Only a small selection of the beautiful paper cuts on offer on Etsy and these artists are all from the UK only!
I may give it a try in the future, though only if I have a steady hand and sharp eye (and even sharper blade).



the wood for the trees



I've been playing around with my own font/type for a little while, but I've finally settled for this hand written mix-match. The capital letters keep it bold and more of a statement ( but too harsh - and masculine? on it's own), with the (feminine) dainty curl of the I and O to keep it on the right side of hand drawn.

Afterglow

My love for vintage and embroidery has collided from here on out.
Playing with juxtapositions, I've hand embroidered (a traditionally feminine craft) a skull (skull imagery is recognised as masculine while the reference to death can equally be masculine - blood and guts, or feminine - rebirth, 'a beautiful way to die') onto a pink vintage hanky (recognised as feminine both in colour and item).





I love playing with feminine traditions and throwing in something masculine to question whether these stereotypes still exist. Something I've written a million essays on and collected an outrageous pile of books on.

I've free hand embroidered this skull using a fine red thread in the same style had I have drawn the skull. This is a complete one off - both for the nature of the art and for being on a vintage hanky. Designed to be a wall hanging (here I've used complimentary washi tape as the hanky is fairly light and washi tape is great for temporary display), this would equally work framed (although I love the scalloped edge of the material) or pinned to the wall.
This recent work of art is now listed on my Etsy page here. I've had commissions for skull embroidery work before and more are welcome!

Mark Twain

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."

Temporary



Vintage photograph of a happy couple on their wedding day.
A lovely large square in that grainy black and white that Instagrammers dream of.
They deserve a loving home, they're listed here.

sketchbook scribbles



Just some scribbles for future embroidery work.
I was more impressed that my nails matched my pencil.

"In a real relationship, Valentines Day should be every day"



For some it's just nice to get a bar of chocolate off your loved one. Some just aren't that 'lovey-dovey'. In which case, this mini celebration of love would make the perfect card.
"This card is my equivalent of a love letter"
Hand stamped, 3" x 3" mini square card, available here.

Inspiration Sunday - Mister Finch

I always get excited by male textile artists (I've written many an essay on traditionally feminine crafts and the juxtaposition created when men attack the stereotypes) and Mister Finch is making me pick up my needles, get the vintage linen out and forget everything I thought I knew about stuffed animals.
Soft sculpture is great take on faux-taxidermy and plushies for adults. Mister Finch combines vintage materials, open stitched details and celebrated marks and defects within the fabric. These perfectly chosen fabrics are often stained and with frays and open stitching made to compliment the vintage origin of the material.  Moths, butterflies, birds and spiders are all beautifully captured in a mature and delicate way, creating unique sculptures that would look at home in a wonderfully vintage home.














Beautiful aren't they?! I'd love a whole wall full of them. Find Mister Finch on Etsy here.