I had a lovely time this morning with coffee, chet atkins and a big box of Japanese textiles. Stephen Szczepanek of Sri sent over another surprise box of wonderful things.
When stuff like this shows up I can’t think fast enough or sew fast enough. Thank you Stephen!!
And the beginning of the new spider system . Spiders take me forever to make and that’s mostly fine, I like making spiders, but it isn’t practical. As I make more I get better at it and things begin occur to me that speed up the process; having the wire cut to length for each part makes a big difference and next I need to make jigs for forming the leg shapes . I’ll probably need help with that.
I’ll show you more highlights from the Sri box later and maybe some new things in progress – I’m finishing some things over the weekend that will be in the shop early next week – some spiders, an owl or two and some little birds, if you would like to be notified when the new things are available please check back here or join the mailing list at my shop.
*p.s. -I’ll also be spending some time this weekend getting caught up on email and if you’re waiting to hear back from me thanks for your patience*
Cloudy days are nice for taking pictures here and I’ve been meaning to show you that antique jacket for a while. It has great military style details.
Mudlarking - I like the word very much, I first encountered it here. That’s me in the photo below, mudlarking my ass off at Dead Horse Beach. I’ve been getting wonderful little bits and pieces found there from the bottle man at the park slope flea market for years, last Saturday I finally got out there myself with my friend Craig. The history of the place is fascinating, you can read more about it here and there is an article about the Barren Island fire of 1906 here.
photos by craig duff
We were there when the tide was out revealing a crazy blanket of old glass bottles and all sorts of other things – everyday sorts of things – old timey trash.
I had a marvelous time.
Thanks to everyone who turned up at last weeks shop update ( part 2 later this week) -things went quickly and if you were disappointed there will be more very soon, I’m already working on several new owls and spiders and bats including another bad owl.
He’s made from the backing of an antique crazy quilt I’ll show you later on and bits of several garments.
I’ve gotten several really old black garments lately.
I think the lace cuffs are going to be spiders.
I love it when there’s a label.
I’m curious about Mrs. F. C. Brown and what she was up to in 1917. Her skirt is very sensible with pockets and a modest train. The fabric is fabulous.
* note on the photo- I’m not giant, the chair is mini – I got it at the flea market a couple weeks ago.
It was fun to try on and I was surprised by how good it felt, the way it moved, the pleasant weight of it and how the little train felt behind me, it isn’t in wearable condition though, and I probably shouldn’t add “wears period clothes” to what I already have going on anyway. I’m going to make a collection of things from it, the first is a mrs. brown spider.
Everything I make starts in a box and then lives there until it’s done. The boxes are for organization – keeping the many little bits for many little projects together and they are also a thinking tool and most importantly a way to start, it is very easy to put things in a box.
I love Twyla Tharp’s book, The Creative Habit. Here’s a little of what she has to say about boxes:
“The box makes me feel organized, that I have my act together even when I don’t know where I’m going yet. It also represents a committment. The simple act of writing a project name on a box means that I’ve started work”
I have different sorts of boxes for different sorts of projects. The clear plexi boxes above are children’s shoe boxes from the Container Store.
This cupcake of a girl’s party dress is from 1910 - it’s falling apart but the lining of almost transparent and tissue thin silk chiffon is in excellent condition, most of the lace is usable too. I tried it on. That was something.
And disturbing looking progress on something new made from this antique bodice:
The incredibly generous Stephen Szczepanek of Sri sent over another package of marvelous bits of kimono and other amazing and inspiring Japanese textiles.
Check out the ” trans generational “ boro futon cover on his blog.
This truly glorious antique underskirt is destroyed in the skirt sense, it’s so fragile I’m surprised I was able to hang it for the photo, but it will make a wonderful foamy, boiling sea for a paper mache ship.
Bird news: the daily bird is back for one week. I’ll post one little bird for sale in the shop Monday through Friday, the time will vary. I’ll post a link here in the side bar each day when it’s ready and also on twitter.
*little clarification – I’ll post a link here in the sidebar but will not be emailing subscribers for each daily bird *
This is Monday’s bird matilde in a pine tree in Prospect Park.
Or raven or bat -maybe something new.
Underneath are some old wallpaper scraps I got at the flea market last week.
The bodice has lots of wonderful hand stitching inside and it has great black glass buttons. Speaking of buttons -an almost finished owl with very fancy antique button eyes.
I came across this strange plant a couple weeks ago in a forest in RI – I’d love to know what it is.
*check the comments for name info – they are called ghost pipes and some other great names.
Tiny top hats, corsages and boutonnières.
And a little blind lamb.
This photograph was a gift from my favorite guy at the flea market -(park slope) and I love it. He stopped showing up in early summer last year. I’ve wondered and asked about him since and I found out a few weeks ago that he died. He took the photo at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island, I’m not sure when- 70’s or 80’s probably. He was a painter and photographer. I only new his first name – John.
Stephen Szczepanek of Sri Threads came for a visit a little while ago and brought me a fabulous present.
Beautiful bits of Japanese indigo and bright floral dust rags. I love them. You can find more about Stephen and these amazing things at his website. I think I’m going to make a bat out one of the dust cloths.
These little birds are on their way to London today for a garden wedding.
I like this photo – I think they look very earnest or maybe sincere. Note on wedding birds/ cake toppers: I’m still making them but not taking orders right now so I can focus on current orders, tackling my massive backlog of email and doing a little restructuring to make everything more manageable for all concerned. If I were to continue without making some adjustments and changes I would certainly lose the rest of my marbles. If you would like updates please join the mailing list or check back here.
This lace and fabric is for some brides and grooms I’m beginning today.
My favorite parts of the bird making process are picking out the fabric and taking the photo when they’re finished. I like the middle parts too – just not as much.
A tattered antique dress for making things. You can click the image for a better look at the dress – it is ideal for making little wedding gowns for birds.
And a pirate – mick and his friend jenny. They will be in my etsy shop at 3 (new york time).
I bought a couple big boxes of old lace and trim and stuff and I’m having fun sorting through it and washing it and ironing it and thinking of things to make.
The photo above is just some highlights ( you can click the pic for details), there are tons and tons of good things.
I know someone who makes wonderful wool bears ( and other things) who’s name begins with E.
I think the little E. monograms (love the dot) would make a perfect signature for them.
This is progress on a pillow I’m making for snow flake dave from a beautiful piece of boro textile he got at at Sri Threads.
I love these and I’ve talked about them before. I’m adding some patches and some “eccentric mending” to what was done many years ago. I like being an eccentric mender; it might be the thing in life I’m most qualified for.
It’s easy not to post. Especially when I get a little busier than is comfortable, but my whole life goes better if I post here regularly and make my bed. So, a post everyday this week to get back in the swing of it. I’ll also be making my bed but not reporting on it unless something note worthy occurs.
For today a photo of part my bulletin board .
p.s. The Ballerina on the little pink stand is for you freda – I’ll email photos of the rest later today.
