1930s Carver revamped ...

At left is a chair I renovated a few years ago. Originally a 1930s 'carver' it was the only one of the set suitable ie. it hand arms ! It was sanded down to bare wood (oak) then hand painted in a variety of different neutral colours before finally being "sponge" finished. Once completed it was varnished for durability.

The seat was also 're-vamped' using some dressmaking fabric - the only one I could find that blended in the hall where it was to be used. 

However, now after moving, its likely the seating will be renovated again to better suit the room its to be put in - more news on this over the forthcoming year.

Sponged arm

Sponged ladder-back

Sponged ladder-back

Make Do & Mend ...

This is the 1940s-style pouffe/footstool made a few years ago as a textile experiment of patchwork-smocking-quilting combined. It was made as a result of some research re: WWII 'Make-do-&-Mend' & has been worked using period techniques from the time. It utilises a variety of authentic textiles & haberdashery as well as 'left-overs' in my own 'stashes' - it also was filled entirely in old stockings & pop-socks collected together & then cut into small pieces. For this reason, it is very heavy & ideal as a seat! The outer 'skirt' is detachable both for cleaning & decoration to change its appearance (more pix if you click here).

NOTE: Currently I'm on an artistic journey which involves recording all my works - past, present & into the future! Because of my background, I also like to revamp & renovate items (very Make-do-&-Mend and Recycle !) & often find it extremely challenging. If you click on this link, you'll find some of my recent works gradually appearing. Ultimately it will include a wide range of things from small decorative items to home interior decoration.

Cathedral window finally found !

Although still not 'in the studio', I've been working on the computer/external drive today & found a lost image of the above. It was an experiment in 'cathedral window patchwork' worked a few years ago - turned out to be rather heavy! I'll be adding more details about it later but felt I had to add it here as its somewhat important to what I'll posibly be doing WHEN I'm back 'in situ'.

Artwork finally starts !

Still hard at work on the computer with leg resting & a bit better. I'm not in the studio working although I did quickly get in at the weekend to try & find a book ... but unsuccessful!

All week I've been busy on my first piece of 'creative artwork' - all being done on the computer for visual concepts (... at this stage!) If you'd like to find out more about the image above, then:

click here

A Testing Time !

With feet up & resting, I'm unable to physically be in the studio at the moment although I am electronically & digitally!! Today I've just finished testing a small project related to stitches ... I made it several years ago & am considering resurrecting it. It's a book & is based on crafts & textiles of the WW II  'Make-Do-and-Mend' period.

Here's the 'frontispiece' of the book - if you'd like to read more about it, then see my blog entries as well as a YouTube video.