SweetMyrtle

hello blog!

hello blog, it's been a while...

i lost my voice there for a moment too.

it still has not returned fully but i thought i would pop by and just say hello.

and also share a few images of my painting explorations.

I am taking a wonderful e-course with the beautiful and inspiring Flora Bowley.

I am learning to be brave with paint.

it is fun and takes a lot of trust. we are building up many layers and learning lots of different techniques. my paintings will change again i am sure... these are all works in progress.

now i have made a little space in my sewing room for painting i am finding it so very theraputic. i am detaching myself from expectations and am fully immersing myself in the process. it will be interesting to see what evolves...

Sewing will have to wait a while longer, though i have recently made a blouse which  i shall tell you about next time as grandmother Myrtle wants to know what i have been up to!

Happy February everyone!

G x

experimental art course

i don't know if you remember me writing here about the fabulous  6 week online Experimental Art e-course i took last Summer with Amelia Critchlow from 101birdtales ? well it starts again next week, Monday 25th April 2011 and  i am doing it again!

I first discovered the course whilst 'blog hopping'  and was so pleased that i did! it really helped me finally give myself permission to 'play' and enjoy the art process and to have some fun whilst experimenting with many new to me techniques.

During the 6 week course Amelia takes the participants, who come from many different countries and disciplines, through various art-ing techniques and exercises in an open, gentle and experimental way.  the lessons are taught via a series of weekly assignments and cover the following techniques:

• wild sketchbook experiments
• experimental drawing
• painting-without-a-brush techniques
• mixed-media collage
• experimental photograph taking
• and an introduction to contemporary art practice and thinking

 you do not have to have done any art before  and it really isn't scary for those just dipping their toes into creating. 

as you can probably guess, i really enjoyed the experimental photography and found it so freeing and inspiring. i do struggle with drawing and painting and i found that these assignments to be especially useful. Collage is another technique which is fairly new to me and i loved all the possibilities in this area... just look at this one Amelia did...

the best thing about it being an online course was that you can follow at your own pace and pick and choose the exercises you wish to do, those that 'really speak to you'. i also enjoyed the 'community' aspect of uploading images to the private flickr site and getting feedback and guidance on them. this part is optional and although it was scary uploading those first pages of my sketch book it was worth it for the supportive comments and encouragement from the group.

 one of my playful experiments

for me the whole experience set me off on a new path. where i have, in the past focused on 'end product' this course has allowed me  to see it all as part of a process, so i do not get frustrated that what i have achieved is not good enough now, but that it is a processs through which i am experimenting and learning.

The course is also packed full of inspiring links and resources which can take you along whatever experimental path you chose, i am really looking forward to some more playing and experimenting next week.

so if you feel like  you want to have some fun and nurture your inner artist child then pop over here for more details and to sign up. it is also worth reading the testimonials here too to see what other experimenters say.

so maybe see you in class?

gx

beginning...

 life often encourages us to grow and  improve with those areas we are already fairly familiar but there is often a fear connected to commencing something completely new.this is a shame as to enter something new with no expectations or preconceptions can be so freeing.

i have many ceramic artist friends and have often wondered about having a go at pottery and just out of the blue last week i finally signed up for a beginners class and i am so pleased that i did as  it is wonderful to enter at a place of no knowledge and to approach the subject in a gentle and exploratory way.

so far i have learned how to create a simple pinch pot.

by creating a sphere shape with a lump of clay and slowly pressing one thumb into the centre a pot can be worked by rotating slowly and pressing with thumb and fingers to create sides to the vessel and slowly this fashions a pot, a pot which bears indentations of the creators hands. these can be smoothed out or left in as desired. there is something quite meditative about pressing and forming a lump of clay. i had an inkling that i would enjoy it and i so did!

my pot from week one is waiting to be fired. this week i took my camera along to document some of  the processes i am learning.

this time i fashioned a smaller pinch pot and put it to one side to harden up a little. when i returned to it i added some coils. these are long thin sausages of clay. think rolling out plasticine as a kid. my coil became so long i had a sudden childish urge to add a snakes tongue and eyes to one end, but i resisted!

this is the pot waiting to have the coils added

notice the top edge is scored and a slip (a liquid clay) added. I also did this to the first coil. this helps the pot and coil to stick together.

here it is with coils added. i wished to curve the pot inwards so each row of coils rested slightly further in than the previous row.

the coils were then smoothed inside and out.  i have put the wee pot to one side now till next weeks class. i have covered so it won't dry out, and will return to it.

i am looking forward to more explorations with clay and will post some of the things i am learning  in my space here or over a my flickr space.

 wishing you all a happy weekend

x

finally did it..

after lots of procrastinating i am now seriously launching my sweetmyrtle site

  

i have had this site for ages but for some reason i have not really got my act together to add my creations. i also have shied away from directing people there too but all that is about to change.

i have decided that i will slowly add  the items that i love to make and eventually some of my favourite photos too.

if you pop over you will find some of my recycled paper and felt necklaces and i have now added some of the flower brooches i shared with you earlier in the week.

 i would really appreciate some feedback on how it looks and whether it is easy to browse. i have also made each price inclusive so there is no postage to pay for uk purchases. could you tell me if that is obvious to the viewer or should i make that clearer? thank you in advance for your support on this.

 the web package i purchased is a very basic one so it does has many frustrating limitations, especially colours and text not changing when i try and change them, but it is easy to add items and to create a wee shop.

I also wanted to say thank you for the lovely comments these past days and welcome to new friends who have stopped by.

and remember to let me now if you are noticing oranges this week and i will do an end of week round up on this wonderfully happy colour x

 p.s. i also have two headers for the sweetmyrtle site (old to me now)  I am thinking of changing it or coming up with a new one. what do you think?

october 1st

well hello to October and hello to you dear friends who i have made through this space here. I hope you are all well and that life is good.

 image taken by my 10 yr old of the changing of the seasons & used with her permission in exchange for  cookies

 it seems that  i disappered for most of September, not intentionally but life has been so terribly busy.  another 'good' busy you will be pleased to hear (though i still have no cooker but not long to wait now!)

Alice and i have run lots of crafty and sewing courses during September and although i am a little tired i have really been enjoying it! I feel very fortunate to be combining two things i love; creating and sharing with earning an income.

Teaching brings many rewards including seeing the look of pride on a persons face when they have mastered a new technique and when they realise that 'they CAN' do it, getting to meet many different personalities of all ages and all the conversation that this brings and also helping me to  challenge myself and allowing me to experiment and develop my own learning so i can share this with others.

it's funny but i remember that as a child i enjoyed playing 'schools' with my dolls. I would make registers and plan lessons.  perhaps this is always what i have been destined to do? I read somewhere  that our childhood games often hold the key to what we may enjoy doing as proffessions as adults. I find this both fascinating and interesting. as a child i also loved making things...

The down side to being busy is that i have not been taking any photos. I got my camera out for the first time in weeks a few days ago to photograph some winter brooches i have been making.

I am so drawn to wools, suede and velvets at the moment. these are the first batch i have made. I have lots more cheery flowers  cut out in autumnal colours ready to stitch up. all the fabrics i have used are either recycled from garments, small pieces from swatch books or remnants, some are vintage too such as the ticking. they are backed with either wool, wool felt or recycled felted woollens and of course the buttons are salvaged too.

I am hoping to add some for sale to my not on the high street shop (if i can remember how) and my own site(s) at sweetmyrtle & aliceandginny (also if i can remember how as it has been a long time since i have added any thing for sale). now i need to work out pricing and sort out some images to upload.

I designed these little flower brooches some time ago now and if you wish to make your own you will find the patterns and instructions in our first book  'Sew Fabulous Fabric'.

The project is also included in the lovely little beginner sewers box set 'How to Sew' . Both books are published by David and Charles and are available  from www.rucraft.co.uk

and if you do stitch any up we would love to see them and if you email us we can also add your pictures to  our flickr page.  (which needs filling up a little!)

edit to add wow i have just seen that the embellishments book  (which the brooch project is in) from the 'How to Sew' box set is now available as an e-booklet 

Wishing you all a happy weekend

g x

raspberry red

we are having a busy holiday with lots of trips and fun adventures.

i am also trying to find some time for experimenting and creating. to give me a focus i  have joined Louises creative color challenge.

this week's colour was raspberry red, so i collected lots of scrap fabrics, mono printed up a piece of old sheeting and mixed in a little wool felt and some stitch and created another cuff.

 

i used a lovely old button and a small remnant of saved ribbon for the clasp. the cuff  is very rough with frayed edges and sketchy stitches, a real departure from much of my past work but i am really enjoying the freedom it brings. i have been wearing it everyday since i made it too and now want to make a necklace to match.

today we woke up early and i continued to experiment in preparation for a junk jewelery workshop i am running next week. my youngest joined me and has made me the sweetest bracelet  from plaited scraps of fabric and suffolk puffs. i am now wearing this instead of my raspberry cuff. i will add a photo to my flickr site as soon as i take one.

i love creating alongside the children but it doesn't always happen so easily and finding time to continue to create and to prep for work can be a struggle during the holidays. i have lots of prep to do for our autumn program too which i am slightly anxious about. i am interested to hear how those of you who have small creative businesses manage to balance work and play during the school holidays? do you balance it well , get childcare or try and juggle it all and end up feeling a little stressed?

for more raspberry creations by other participants see the creative color challenge flickr group here

gratitude and my creative space...

i have written about my creative space recently but i really am so grateful to have it after years of working from the kitchen table and having to clear up before each meal (or not, as often was the case... you know, just pushing it all up one end to find a little space for our plates)

i really am using it more than ever at the moment even though it is very cold in here as we only have minimal heating. most people would probably not find it cold but as a wrote back at the flour loft some time ago , i do suffer from cold feet. So today i am also grateful for thermal socks!

i wanted to share another little area of my space today which is the pin board above my cutting table... this is a practical pin board where i pin up current work, notes , reminders and also inspirations... it is ever changing...

 

at the moment i am working on creating some more necklaces from recycled paper beads, felt and papier mache for a craft fair that i am doing at my girls old school later this week. i have hung a few on the board to remind me to make some more.
the love cushion is a sample for a valentine workshop which i am running next year and the dove wreath was a sample for a wreath making working shop which alice and i ran on saturday which was great fun. 

we had a full class of 12 ladies on saturday who all created a fabric wreath to take home with them.  we supplied a good variety of fabrics and some basic templates to start their ideas off but encouraged them to spend time thinking about their design and to make something individual to them. they created some amazing work and some photos from the day will  be added to the workshops gallery page on the alice and ginny website very soon.

today i am also thankful that the sun is shining and even more excitingly that Paws is now allowed outside. his leg has pretty much all healed so he is off out and being a proper cat again.

I also am grateful for all the friends and support and lovely comments that i receive here at sweetmyrtle. as a thank  you i am going to do another giveaway... this one is exciting for me as it is a huge project that i have been working on with my pal alice... yes... it is our new craft book 'Home Sweet Sewn ' which is officially launched next week.

so  in my next  post i will tell you a little about the book and  the  giveaway... so please do pop back.

wishing you all the loveliest of tuesdays...

 ginny x

p.s. for more creative spaces please visit kootoyoo.

my creative space...

this week i tidied my creative space..

my space is half way up the garden... and in a building which was once used to store all our junk.  when alice and i moved out of our flour loft studio it pushed me to get this space up and running.. with the help of my husband who googled' how to create a raised floor', the room  gradually started to come together at weekends and  on days off. we needed to raise the floor as the space had previously been flooded and we couldn't risk the contents being flooded again . a window was then moved and a new glass door put in to let in more light... this was a project for my husband and his brother (neither  are builders... but both love a challenge!) we also insulated the walls, and clad them in tongue and groove... at one stage it looked like we were creating  a 1970's sauna! a little white wash on the wood brought us back to the present.  the room is still not complete as we need to finish insulating the pitched roof... one day soon i am sure. but it is very workable so long as i keep it tidy!

the space above shows where i sit and design or sew. it overlooks the pebble courtyard section of our garden and a large bamboo plant which sways beautifully with the breeze. i feel so fortunate to have a designated space to work and in which i can  store all my crafty bits and bobs. the girls use the space too and i love it when the three of us are in there together being busy and creating.

when i met caireen back in august at the festival  of quilts she gave me a present which she thought would be perfect for my studio...

a photograph of a wee boat she found on her travels called 'little seamstress'... she  framed it up for me ... i was so touched... i have now found the perfect spot for it on my little treasures shelf...

i love it.. thank you again caireen!

and now my studio is tidy i need to finish the next 4  Morsbags for my giveaway which i shall draw on the last day of october.. so if you would still like to enter please email me or leave a comment.

i also need to tidy the house and remove all the clutter that is now in here from the studio!

have a happy evening!

* for more creative spaces see  kootoyoo's blog

x

junk jewellery ~ workshop

alice and i ran a junk jewellery making workshop this week for older kids. i sampled up a necklace using a couple of techniques....

rolled fabric beads wound with thread to hold into position... these can be made in any fabric though felted wools work particularly well.

and also paper beads ... have you ever tried making them?.. they are so quick and easy to make...here is a quick tutorial...

 

to make some you will need:

~ a thin skewer  ... i found some wooden ones in the kitchen normally used for veggie kebabs!
~ some old glossy magazines... i have 3 copies of elle decoration which i have saved for ages... the spreads are so vibrant and colourful and perfect for paper beads.
~ some glue... i used white glue

method:

1~  choose some colourful pages from the magazine and tear out. either using the width or the length of the pages (this will depend on whether you want fatter or thinner beads), cut some strips 1.5cm wide tapering evenly to 0.5cms. sometimes i cut across the width of the page to give a 20cm strip, other times along the length to give a 30cm strip... experiment with the length and also the width of your strips... there are no rules... see what works best for you.
2.~take the wider end of your strip and carefully roll it around your skewer with the side of the paper you wish to show on the outside... make sure it is tightish but not too tight... ensure that it will slide on the skewer...keep winding the paper around evenly until you get to the last 5cms. add glue to this and finish rolling.
3~ gently slide the bead to the tip of you skewer and with a little watered down glue paint on a glaze... this will help protect your bead and make it a little more durable.
4~ take off skewer and dry... i tape a long thin piece of hemp twine to the side of my work table and keep adding beads as i make them.
5~ once dry, usually after a few hours, make into jewellry!

we also taught the girls how to make simple papier mache pendants covered with recycled papers and scraps of fabric.

the girls at the workshop were all 11 and 12 years old. they were a lovely group and created some great pieces of work..here are a few images of their creations...

yesterday my smallest girl wanted to make a necklace too for her friend's birthday present... this is  her design...

...and today i have been prepping for a workshop next week... sewing softies with 7 to 11 year olds in 2 hours!!.. hmm i think we may have been crazy to come up with that one... we shall see, we have designed the softie in kit form so hopefully it will all be acheivable?! 

 wishing everyone who pops in here a very happy weekend  x

favourite things ~ typewriter... and a request

today i have been taking photos of my beautiful old remington portable typewriter  dated  15.9.30. it  belonged to my great aunt. i remember when my grandfather gave it to me...i was about 1o and he had painted many of the levers and knobs with different coloured varnish so i could work out how to use it. the ribbon is almost out of ink now and i am not sure how to re -ink it... 

it is one of my most favourite things  not only for it's classic design but for the family history attached to it.... my aunt used it daily in her work. i am happy to say that it has never turned into a 'bug' ... if you have seen this film then you will know what i mean...

i love that you can see the upper and lower case letters on the metal typebars...it has such personality and i love the metal click click of  the keys punching the paper. i have typed a few words for my request...

today i met with a friend for coffee (hi julie) and we were discusing our favourite words and how creatively an individual word can be interpreted in many different ways... i have seen how some bloggers have used words in 'wordplay' and find it fascinating and we thought that collecting words would be a good starting point for a joint creative exploration...if you would like to  help please leave a comment including your favourite word or words.. they can be descriptive words , words that inspire you or just banal words that you like... not too rude though please although florence you already know my favourite rude word! we are not sure exactly what we will do with them  yet but i will keep you posted as our ideas develop.

we hope you would like to share some of your  favourite words... you don't need to explain why you like them, though if you would like to that would be great also...  thank you and happy friday!