layouts

I had SO MUCH fun tonight. Usually evenings, after the kids are in bed, is my productive/tv watching time. By which I mean I half-watch something I've PVR'd while I do some sewing. I'm currently working on production for the two Christmas craft shows I'm going to be doing in Toronto (more on that later) and while that can be fun it is not always blow-your-socks-off creative, if you know what I mean. Lots of 'production' work, where I've already figured out my concept and pattern and its a lot of cutting/pinning/sewing/turning/ironing/topstitching to be done. It can start to feel like work. Work that I like, but work nonetheless. And since I've already spent all day doing other work (of the laundry/meal prep/meal clean-up/butt wiping/baby wrestling variety) it can be a bit of a drag. 

But tonight I decided to do something different. I'm working on a few new products for the Christmas shows, and had a nice brain-wave the other day while waiting in line at the Goodwill store. All the way across the room I saw a needlepoint picture on a shelf, and had to ask someone to hold my place in line so I could drag the Little Dude over there and pick it up. I have a soft spot for old needlepoint, especially that of the pastoral variety. There is such a nice paint-by-numbers vibe to them, which mixed with the fabric-y/stitchey-ness is right up my alley. Anyhow, I'm going to try doing a little patchwork with them and maybe make them into bags or pillows. But the vintage bedsheets I usually use for patchwork is just too thin to work with them, they need something much heavier, more of a home dec weight fabric. So I went digging around in my boxes of fabric (so many boxes) and found such awesome stuff. Old curtains, velvet remnants from the fabric company I used to work for, weird little odds and ends. And I cleared the living room floor of its layer of toys and just went to work, mixing and matching and taking photos. Having a digital camera is such a great way to work. It really lets you see how they'll look all patched together, without having to actually do any sewing that might have to be ripped out. Anyhow, here are a bunch of things I threw together.

Don't you love that wood grain fabric? Its velvet. So awesome. 

These colours make me so happy together. And I like that thematically they all have daiseys. Or do you think its too much? I'd love some feedback. Karen? Hannah? Any of you other artist/textile/fibres types have input?

This was the needlepoint I had to go across the room to get at the Goodwill. Isn't she delightfully creepy? I'm thinking about chopping her up a bit, so that I can isolate the eyes in one patch and the hands in another. 

This one needs a third element. Maybe something blue or turquoise. I'll have to do some more digging. Either way, I just love the lobster. 

I love this one. I LURVE it. 

But I think this one is my favourite. And see, that needlepoint is of a cabane a sucre! Makes me all nostalgic for Quebec. 

A number of these were in frames, and had to be taken apart (though don't worry, I'm saving the frames for another use, there were some really nice ones) and its always interesting what you find under the needlepoints, and what's on the back of things. This one was so nice that I'm thinking of just hanging it on the wall backwards.  There's just something about the typography and the zig-zaggy thread and those little colour squares. Sorry this is such a bad picture, but I didn't think I'd be posting it, but is seems too fun not to share. 

Anyhow, let me know what you think, if you have any input. Do you think they are too 'much'? Should I try to work some solids in there just to calm them down a bit? Should they be bags or pillows? Or something else? I'd love some other opinions. 

Comments

[hannah]

Beautiful colour synch-ing with all of those! Hard to say with "too busy" question -- depends on final size and form, I think. I could see pillows with patchwork centered and uni-solid blocks around to really make them the focal point and pop -- have fun figuring out what you'll do! Looks like you're well underway (and knowing you, you may have already completed this project and moved on to the next by now...)

[finger thumb]

Thanks for the feedback Hannah! I just finished one of these today. I'm going to try and post it tomorrow.