She-Bird Stage 3.....finally.

She-Bird stage 2..."the golden glow"

Joan Walsh Anglund books

I found myself in Cheadle on Friday afternoon, and as well as collecting some leaves and Autumn falling's from the ground to make pretty pictures, I also pickled up this pair of oh so twee childrens books from the Oxfam Books Shop! I think I am in love......

Here is some info about the author....
(1926-) Joan Walsh Anglund became successful with her first book, A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You, in 1958. She's been making books featuring these same round-faced mouthless characters ever since, and her popularity continues to grow. There's something ineffably sweet about her creations, which are based in large part on people and places in her own life-- particularly on her children Joy and Todd.

The illustrations are so cute and perfect, I would so love to get hold of a picture to frame, I may scan one in and make my own.

Pinocchio

We all know the story... wooden puppet come to life and despite guidance from the beautiful Blue Fairy (Braschi) and the love of his father, Gepetto (Guiffre), Pinocchio's curious spirit leads him into on wild adventure after another, an enchanting and magical journey.
I love it... my parents brought me back this lovely puppet from their travels...

Papier-Mache Models

As I said in my last post, I have been working on a papier-mache model of my she-bird character in the Fairy Tale Collection, here is the dried model awaiting paint and costume...

Also Col has been working on one of his own, quite a creepy creature....

New 'Fairy Tale' Collection

I've finished a few new projects but haven't time to take photos and scan them in yet as I started my new job as a SEN teaching assistant last week. After re-discovering Julie Arkell at the Ruthin craft centre I've been looking at doing some more artsy based work, in particular a collection of mixed media projects based on fairy tales.


(C) Handmade By Halo 2008

This is my first piece, a collage using a papier-mache background, layered with paper, wool, wire, fabric and felt for the details, I made most parts separately. I am really happy with the results!

I have also began stitching some small felt banner scroll's with quotes from fairy tales, which are to be used across all my pieces as a narrative to the theme of the piece.

(C) Handmade By Halo 2008

My new project is to be a papier-mache 3d model of my bird character used in the collage, for which I am using mesh, newspaper, paper, acrylic paint, fabrics and other.

More coming soon....

Mirror mirror on the wall....

I inherited this mirror from my mum a while ago, but it was just varnish wood, very dark and very boring! I'm not a fan of varnished wood, unless its highly polished, so I decided to buy a Vintage gold paint which worked really well...it looks like an antique now, and I love these peacock feathers, which give it a real 1920's glamour feel!

Folksy Shop

Now stocking my recently made fabric flower brooches!
http://www.folksy.com/shops/handemadebyhalo

New Sketches

I have been working on some sketches for my new fairy tale themed characters/stories I plan to make for xmas, I am planning to create some mixed media pieces based on these ideas. I was really inspired by the work I saw at the Ruthin Craft Centre, and I've always had a passion for a dark fairy tale.

Business Banner

I started knitting a summer scarf back in April with some lovely Jaeger ROMA wool I got on sale at Hobbycraft. Unfortunately I didnt pick up enough and the scarf was very short, so I decided to turn it into a banner for me to use on my craft stall! I used some ribbon lace for the trim and cut up an old shirt for the lettering.

Lace

I went on a lace and ribbon hunt, and see what I found... oooooo

Ruthin Craft Centre

Whilst in Ruthin for the weekend we visited the newly opened Ruthin Craft Centre its a great building, very modern, and is home to three galleries, six artist studios, a retail gallery and residency workshops. It is very similar to Manchester's craft centre in its aims. The exhibition that caught my eye was Andrew Logans magnificent jewelled portraits of Gandhi, Sian Phillips, Zandra Rhodes and Maria Callas and all of the dazzling sculptures he has created! I loved how the Mosaic tiles and glass twinkled in the gallery creating a really magical atmosphere! His work has a great sense of humour also, which makes you smile as you walk around the many portraits on display. As well as sculpture there was a large amount of jewelry on display, which is also available to buy!

I was also very happy to find work by Julie Arkell on sale in the retail gallery. I discovered her work at the knitting and stitch show in Birmingham last year and fell in love with it! Julie has created a world of people, creatures and surroundings from papier-mâché and mixed media including wool, fabric and old jewelry. Her 'Folk Art' creations are a joy to look at and a real inspiration to any crafter! I love the fairytale themes and handmade authenticity of her work and one day hope to be able to afford just one piece of her papier-mâché world.

Crafts & Castles

This weekend my fiance took me on a Romantic weekend break to stay in Ruthin Castle in North Wales, It's a beautiful building, with alot of history and we spent alot of time exploring the grounds and taking lots and lots of photographs...

Pin pin pin pin......

broaches_sets, originally uploaded by carolinejhm.

Based on the broaches I made at the Manchester Craft Mafia's Lo-Fi DIY event, I made these 4 felt and fabric pins. They are so easy to make and so cute! x

More photos here....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27295460@N05/sets/72157606664118132/

manchester craft mafia night - brooches (1)

manchester craft mafia night - brooches (1), originally uploaded by ladyfort.

Lo-Fi DIY High

So.... I went along to the Manchester Craft Mafia event 'Lo-Fi DIY' tonight, and had a great time, I just wanted to post some piccies of what I made there....




I found it a great way to meet like-minded people who love crafting and talking about crafting, I really hope this becomes a more regular event....and I will be there with 'buttons' on!!!

Photos from the event:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladyfort/sets/72157601821066212/

Smarty pants rag dolls....

I like smart people, I love smart kids.... thats why Im really liking my new Sleepy friends... 'Prim and Proper' and 'Smarty Pants'

New Ideas.... rag dolls

New ideas Book

I'm going to ........Lo-fi DIY!

A brand new crafting club for renegade boys and tearaway girls who want to make things happen.

There’s a special old-fashioned world of homemade fun to be had out there you know!

Lo-fi DIY is all about having fun, sharing ideas and making new friends. We like picnics in the summer and cosy handmade mitts in the winter.

Come and join us on Tuesday 5th August between 6-8pm at Manchester Craft & Design Centre in the Northern Quarter.

£3.50 will get you a comforting drink and snack from the cafe to help you settle down to it.

Please confirm your attendance to the email below. If you would like to know more about the night or need some ideas for a first crafting project please email us at nico@opheliabutton.co.uk

Lo-fi DIY is brought to you in association with manchester craft mafia
Thanks to the guys at Manchester Craft & Design Centre too.

Sleepy Pirates

The Sleepy Pirates are all packaged up and ready for their new home with Pirate Jake, my cousins little bundle of joy....

Fashion Icon - Audrey

Fashion Icon - Audrey in the making

I was bought this book for my birthday in May and havent got around to making anything yet! So I decided to try one out, and Im going to make Audrey for my friend Jo, which I know she will love, I have a list of others to make from friends so I better get knitting...

Progress...

Pirates in progress

Felt pirates for my cousins little angel....Pirate Jake! They still need stuffing and the finishing touches....

Russian Doll

I have had an obsession with Russian Dolls since I was a little girl, my gran used to collect them and promised me that I would inherit them. Sadly I didn't and I have no idea what happened to them. Ever since I have been attracted to them, and anything with the Russian doll pattern, which seems to be around at the moment. Anyway, I have been wanting to try this out and it worked pretty good, i made the pattern myself and its made from felt and some bits and pieces I had lying around such as buttons and small fabric flowers! I think its pretty cute!