This week I’ve been busy making paper roses for a picture I’m planning to hang on my sparkly pink wall. I asked for some some help from my friend Gill and my Mum because they’re really fiddly and they take ages to make.
Here’s a photo of the work in progress. When it is finished I’ll take a photo of it on my pink sparkly wall once I am back up in Scotland.
On Friday, after work I found a few of my textile pictures which I had made as part of my GCSE Textile project at school. One of them, a cupcake, was in my scrapbook and I decided to use it to create my second framed picture. The cupcake case is made from felt that I burnt fabric onto using the Margaret Beale technique, (I watched her husband demo the technique at a craft fair), I machine embroidered over the top and used beads to decorate. I started to decorate the picture mount using Sizzix cut outs and it needs a bit of something in the top corners and down the side I think and maybe some added glitter, what do you think ? 🙂
My final picture frame is made for a gift. The centre piece was made as part of my exam using newspapers and sticky tape in a soak process to take text off the printed paper, stitching, netting, beading and I added some wire that I twisted in to springs along with other embellishments to add interest and depth.
I really enjoyed doing textile classes, here’s a picture of me in my final GCSE exam design; a top (that I’ve just remembered is still at school), it started off a dress but I grew in the two years I was making it and it got too short to be a dress 🙂 There were thousands of beads that had to be sewn on which took forever. You can just see the bag that I made to go with the dress which I still use now.
Quick update : I have just found another picture of the bag that I made as part of my project so I thought that I may as well post it too 🙂
Finally, on Thursday I took inspiration from http://magicvintagespy.com/ and went to the local charity shop Age UK and managed to put together this outfit below for £20 (dress, hat, gloves and necklace) for a 21st birthday party of my friend Jess. The theme was fashion through the decades so I chose the 1940’s. I certainly generated a few quizzical stares when I got on the train and I wasn’t wearing the hat and gloves at the time so imagine the reaction if I had done that 🙂 The only problem is that my calves are still aching today after spending the whole of Saturday evening dancing the traditional Scottish dance the Ceildh (pronounced kay-lee) amongst other dances.
I will be working in the sales office for the next two weeks to provide holiday cover but tonight Russell Lomas offered to accompany me on some new pieces I wanted to rehearse so that I could get some practise in. The session went great and my new repertoire is starting to take shape ready for my new College term.
I love your creativity, and really love that picture with the newspapers. As for your outfit, you look like a character from an Agatha Christie book! Brilliant!
Hi Marie, that’s good, the pictures are more vivid in real life I think the glass took away the intensity, I think I’ll try to re-do the photos tomorrow without glare 🙂
In England they do a lot of murder mystery events and I always thought I’d like to act in one of those. I loved my outfit too 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
hi charlotte just been talking to your nan carol she is so proud of you but you are very much like your mum who i have known for a lot of years .charlotte you have got a fantastic voice good luck to you xx
Hi Barbara, thank you for visiting my blog, its great to hear that Nana is very proud of me, thanks for your good luck wishes and Im glad you think I’m like my Mum she’s a great role model.
I’ll be visiting my Nana on Saturday so I’ll tell her you commented, hope you get chance to pop back to check in on my progress.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Like your GCSE top!
Thanks Martin, it was based on a butterfly theme, the shoulder straps and front panel were all beads, I had a set of beads when I turned 11 as a gift from my primary school friend Anousha and I think I used nearly every bead. The panels were sheer with burnt fabrics and embroidery with skeleton leaves burnt on with beads to look like butterfly eggs – I was very proud of it. Although the yellow satin couldn’t have been more difficult to work with.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Love you pink hearts and flowers
Thanks Stephen, its a work in progress, I had an idea to fill the whole box with flowers but after making the first ten in our lunch break I might have to reassess 🙂 lol.
Charlotte
Near me is an industrial warehouse where they sell so much stuff for the craft world, and you could do so much here in your lunch hour – instead of making every thing yourself – but being the designer you get to manage the design! (And probably produce a few pieces)!
Here’s the link!
http://www.excelsiorwholesale.co.uk/
Steve
Wow, good thing that place isn’t near my Mum, Nana and Gill we wouldn’t see them for a week! I prefer to use all their machine dies and papers it saves me a fortune :). But this place is a good idea for Christmas gift ideas thanks,
Charlotte
Wow, you are truly gifted with artistic talents Charlotte! I’ve been wanting to make my own handmade tailored suit, so seeing this makes me think that one day I may be able to actually do it. Cool stuff! Keep sharing! 😀
Go for it Ryan, a good way to start would be to buy a large suit from a Charity shop and then adjust it to practise and don’t be upset if it goes wrong the first time, you could always use the material again 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks Charlotte! I think you have the right idea! 🙂
You are amazingly creative!
Thanks Rod, we always did lots of craft projects at home and were encouraged to recycle and experiment, however, Tom my youngest brother wasn’t best pleased with my new world project, as I glued all of his plastic astronauts to a landscape, and his collection of star wars light sabres he’d collected from cereal packets because they were bright, I then drilled holes for cocktail sticks that I stuck multi-coloured Barbie shoes on the ends of and wrapped wool all around them so he couldn’t use them anymore. After all female astronauts would need their shoe collection in space – priorities. It still makes me laugh now thinking of his reaction.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love the paper roses!
They do look really cool but Im a bit dangerous with the hot glue gun! They need hot glue though to hold them quickly, I tried silicone gel but they unravel unless you hold them for ages. They certainly make an hour pass fast!
Best wishes
Charlotte
haha! Your comment about the hot glue gun made me laugh. Thanks for the smile.
Your art works are fantastic. You look so lovely in the last picture.
Awww thank you 🙂 I love dressing up, I always have, the lipstick was my Mums but she hardly ever wears it.
All the best
Charlotte
Wow you can carry off such different looks.
My wife loves thrift stores ( which is nice for me because of the savings. ) When I was a computer consultant the company Christmas party included them chauffeuring us to a hotel and putting us up overnight after the dining and dancing.
We attended one night and my wife was stunning in a dress she picked up for $1.00 at the thrift store. I wore a tux and how we smiled when people complimented her…
Thanks Bill. It’s how comfortably your feel in what you wear and how confident it makes you not what it costs so I totally agree with you.
I always give my unused or outgrown clothes to the local charity shops too if I can’t revamp them.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I always felt a warm smile overcomes any fashion mistakes.
My dance teacher Zoe used to say that about tap too, a big smile covers up many a slip 🙂
It’s awesome to see people use all their talents. It makes them all the more beautiful. 🙂
Hi Sheela, you have a lovely blog; I loved your picture of your sister and her husband. Thank you for visiting 🙂
All the best
Charlotte
This is crazy cool!! I was originally supposed to enroll in art classes in school, but they never fit so I was never able to take them to my disappointment. I try to be creative at home, but often when I start a project I stop half-way with the fear of messing up something that has so much potential!! Any ideas?!? Thanks!
Hi Rozez, love your blog name you chose for yourself. My friend Gill goes to a craft class every Thursday after work and makes two cards, using a different craft technique, that’s a good way to get started in art classes if you just want some inspiration. I make lots of homemade cards to give out as Thank You and Birthday cards; I sometimes stitch items on to cards or do a little painting and put them on for a unique card idea for someone’s special birthday. I often mess up craft projects because my imagination gets carried away and I see something new I want to add and have to adjust, you just need the confidence to think that as long as you like it that’s all that matters 🙂
Hope that gives you some ideas,
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you!!
Your artwork is gorgeous, and I like your dresses too!
Thanks Alisa and I’m glad you liked them, I went through a phase of sewing beads on plain t-shirts after my textile project, I must find that bedazzler tool I had 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very creative and you look sweet and lovely!
Thanks Janice, I got some sticky picture hooks for the frames that stick on the wall and you’re supposed to be able to remove them with no holes or damage, I hope they hold the picture frames 😉
All the best
Charlotte
How delightful!
Thanks Dan, glad you like them. I have always enjoyed working through my ideas, as it is great fun to see where they end up 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Just awesome!
Hi Beate, I love your crochet and your knitted cats, a crochet flower or twenty would look great in these picture frames from Ikea 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks. You are right about the flowers.
I love your paper roses! I make mine out of old novels/books I don’t read anymore or I buy from second hand places. The last project of mine was I glued the roses all around a lamp shade. I will post it one day for you to see. I love that lamp! You are very creative. And your dress/now top is adorable. I can only imagine how tedious it was to sew each bead. Hand washing only right!? ;P Happy day to you Charlotte!✿ Koko ❀
Ooh good idea Koko, I’m going to cut a couple of roses out of magazines to see how they look. I like the idea of the lamp shade I have a beige one I don’t like – good idea. The yellow top changed about six times as I saw different craft techniques. I made the material in the stripes, circles, bag and shoulder straps on work experience in the textile department at Manchester University using their print and design computers, you’re right about the beads, I have a confession the purple ones are glued on ;). I doubt it would even hand wash I’d probably have to steam clean it but they were more concept pieces and certainly gave me some good ideas to enhance plain tops.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love your various craft projects. The hearts are adorable! I love the fashions of the 40’s and I love your outfit.
Hi Linda, I wish I could claim the heart was my creation, it was from a mixed material craft pack from a craft fair but they certainly add an extra something to a picture. I got lots of compliments for my outfit on the night so that was fab.
Best wishes
Charlotte
The craft and outfits look great – a feast for the eyes. And I’m sure you had a lot of fun crafting with your mum and friend.
Hi Angela, Gill has loads of cutters and ideas; she goes to lots of classes and shows so she has great techniques to show me, she’s just started up her own blog ( http://gillyh1.wordpress.com/ ). My Mum makes sure I finish what I start and provides lots of whacky ideas.
All the best
Charlotte
They are fantastic..!!
Thank you, the lovely bright photographs on your site have given me some great ideas for natural colour matches 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
You have a beauutiful blog ! I really like it. And thanks for following my blog !
Thanks Charlene, good luck with your creative world blog.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow! You’re talented. I love the hearts especially.
Thank you 🙂 I love your gravatar image of Maid Marian. I must admit that although making the roses is time consuming it is definitely worth it when you see the finished pictures.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I agree, I plan to make one too and give it to some of my friends.
Is there a step by step in making it?
By the way, you’re so creative I really love your roses, the hearts, your yellow dress and even your picture with the dark dress, hat and gloves. Totally love it! 🙂
I’ll do a step by step with the final pictures when I hang them 🙂
Thanks for your interest, its good fun.
Loved the art work very fun and the outfits so cute 🙂
Cheers
Benjamin
Thanks Benjamin, quite a lovely compliment from an artist I respect and admire 🙂 I love the colour and light in your work, it is very emotive.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Why thank you very much, I really appreciate that. 🙂
Benjamin
Gorgeous and talented! I love the art work and your outfits!!
Thanks for visiting Etta, I love your make up tips. I really need to work on the Smokey look, I always look as if I have two black eyes 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
The artwork is beautiful – I love that last one to death! I also adore vintage and the 1940’s is one of my favorite eras.
Hi Marey, I love your movement photography too; especially the photos of you in the pink wig. Some of my photographs didn’t take as well as I hoped, I think it was the light reflecting on the glass, I think I might try to photograph them again. So if you have any tips on how to eliminate reflections in the glass then I would love to hear from you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Not sure if you used flash or not, if you did, try getting some good external light on them and not using the flash. Other than that, glass is tricky for sure. I never wear my glasses in my photos if I can help it for that reason! I didn’t actually notice any reflections in these shots so they all look good to me! 🙂
so pretty! I am inept at crafty stuff but this looks lovely.
Thank you 🙂 Your cooking is a work of art. I like the idea of your husband’s lemon meringue pie in that long loaf shape it makes for easier cutting and more for sharing.
Best wishes
Charlotte
good thing I am a stubborn old coot it took me a while to figure out how to leave this comment. On the west coast of Canada there are artists who use Cedar bark to make Roses.
I’m so glad that you managed to sort out leaving a comment, I love to get feedback. I love the idea of roses made out of bark, I’d bet they’d look great in Stephen Hughes wooden bowls ( http://we-love-wood.com/ )
All the best
Charlotte
This is stunning, such beautiful work!
Hi Samantha, thanks for visiting my blog, I haven’t travelled much, my parents still live in the home where I was born and it was a real adventure moving up to Glasgow in Scotland for me. It is a real compliment to get such a nice comment, your artwork is stunning too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
These ideas are so creative! I love the cupcake picture, the textures are wonderful, and the embroidery detail is subtle and really enhances the overall image. Lovely, Your ideas are inspiring!
Thanks Cally. I had great teachers at High School who encouraged me to be very experimental, although when I turned up for the timed exam with my soldering iron to burn the fabrics on to the felt and a face mask to protect me from the fumes; there were raised eyebrows and I was made to sit near the window alone 🙂
All the best
Charlotte
Hahaha, good for you for daring to be different 🙂
What is the soak process you used to get the text off the paper?
For this picture I used Scotch tape (adhesive tape), put a piece over the newspaper text and then put the piece of newspaper in hot water for a few minutes, when I took it out I rubbed the newspaper away and it left the text stuck onto the now clear tape. For larger projects you can do it with a bigger piece of that clear sticky book covering plastic.
All the best
Charlotte
great creativity and isn’t it so nice to just sit and be creative… not always to be on the move… thanks for sharing Barbara
Hi Barbara, I do like to just listen to music and craft as it does force me to sit still for a change 🙂 I also love it when I give out my handcrafted cards and people like them.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Pretty flowers!
Thanks for visiting and commenting Noony, I didn’t know where Laos was so I looked it up, in between Vietnam and Thailand. Do you ever get the chance to go back to Laos to visit as it is a long distance from the States?
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hello! My mother goes frequently, but I have only been once. The flights are expensive and it also seems like a waste of such a long journey unless you can stay for at least a month. I don’t think I could get away with being gone from work that long! 🙂
Love your work.. it looks so intriguing. I have a desire
to try more of mixed media and seeing your work
has inspired me.
Thank you.
Hello Jean, I’m glad I’ve inspired you, I love looking in the Internet and finding new inspiration, one of the great things at learnt from Textile art was planning inspiration boards.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hey charlotte, love your bag! Beautiful design. Very whimsical! Keep creating more 🙂
Hey Neha, I just wish I had more time for making more bags :). I love machine embroidery and having unique items, good luck with your new blog.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you! Have a good day 🙂
Charlotte, the pictures are looking great, love the roses one. I think there is enough on it ,fab. The 3rd picture would look nice with some pocket watches on ?
Ilove the last photo of you too.xx
Hello, I’ve made another fifteen roses today I got carried away, I want to fill a whole square.
You best keep an eye on your pocket watch collection that is such a great idea lol.
Thank you it was a very exciting day and the preparation for the party was half the fun 🙂
Charlotte x
Love the flowers! You’re so creative. 🙂
I got my hands on some Stickles sparkly glue to put on the edges of some of the roses they look even better now 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Cool! I want to learn how to make those 😀
Love the top that you made! Very cute and so creative.
Hello Marijane, thanks for your visit and lovely comment.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Loving the paper roses. I’ve been meaning to have a go at making some but thought they looked a bit too tricky for my limited skills!
It’s easier with the die cutter I used, rolling them tight and holding them onto the hot glue without burning my fingers is the tricky bit.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Haven’t used a glue gun since secondary school – and there’s a reason for that… Think I might stick to admiring your efforts (pardon the pun)!
You’re an incredibly talented artist in a variety of mediums. The shirt you made reminded me of something a fairy or fairy princess would wear (but I prefer the colors you chose over the traditional fairy pink).
I’m visiting to thank you for following my blog and to share some blogger love.
Hi Sharon, thank you for the lovely message, I went to one of my birthday disco parties in a pink dress all my friends bought for my birthday, fairy wings and a plastic tiara, while they all wore dark colours lol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love all these “crafty” pictures – you’re really talented! 🙂 Definitely a yes to glitter for the cupcake picture frame; maybe some mini cupcakes or cake slices on the sides?
And your 1940s outfit is very cute and very “you” – love it. 🙂
Hi Stephanie, funny enough Gill bought in some mini cup cake stamps and cutters I’ll give them a go tomorrow.
🙂 that’s nice thank you,
Charlotte
Great minds think alike, huh?
Lots of fun stuff here. Love it. Did you just use decorative scissors to cut the papers you’re using in the first two shots? Really like everything in this article!
Hi Cheryl, I used a die cutter for the Big Shot, I have made roses before by hand ripping out the spiral shape the trick is to make sure the paper is coloured on both sides.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award! http://curlsandcouture.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/liebster-award/
Thank you for your award nomination, I love your blog.
Best wishes
Charlotte
These are beautiful articulations of color and design and they appear so clean as to lend them an even greater character, which is that they don’t appear to have been created. You have such a complex mind and yet a lightness of being.
Thank you Mario, I’ve never thought of myself as complex, what a fabulous compliment, there is a saying that Sopranos need spare room in their heads for resonance (well that’s my excuse when I’m being dizzy) lol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You must be complex, your expressions of beauty are refined and perfect. The friends you keep, the realms within which you exist, speak of a rarified glamour of sophistication and charm. For a moment, I did graphic design for the San Francisco Opera. Among those people is a delightful goodness, which I can see in your relationship to your mother.
I love love love your art! Especially the paper roses. Keep it up! We want to see more!! And thanks for the follow!
Cheers Jackie, I will.
All the best
Charlotte
Charlotte you have special touch and great art work keep it going well done.
Thank you so much Doron, I just produce work that makes me happy, I love your paintings especially The Recital 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte thanks, I am not surprise why, hope to listen to you live at least once… super voice!
wow they’re all very pretty, but I especially love the roses! what kind of paper do you use to make them?
I just went through Mum’s paper box and pulled out the pink paper and card, there was a small piece of sparkly pink vellum I wished there was more of that. The thicker card doesn’t fold as well.
I will put more details in another post but briefly you can cut out a circle, then roughly cut out a spiral, from the centre roll it around the end of a pencil, put a bit of glue on the tail, let the spiral relax slightly then hold it on to the glue 🙂
All the best
Charlotte
I appreciate the tips, thanks!
Gorgeous flowers! Your art is so fun and beautiful.
Thanks Ngan that’s a lovely comment.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love your outfit. Blue dress with white hat and gloves! 😀
It was a good find, the lady in the charity shop was surprised as I’d found all the bits I needed all over the shop 🙂
That’s a really lovely outfit, and below £20 too! That’s pretty awesome! 🙂
Hi Cecilia thank you :). That’s a fab review for your cd Lost I wish you and the band every success.
Best wishes
Charlotte
My, you are super talented! I love it all. Absolutely gorgeous!
Hi, good luck with your fearless blogging :). I’m glad you liked my blog. All the best
Charlotte
Haha, thanks! No worries, love your creativity and awesome skills.
Wonderful stuff!
I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award!
http://jakekuyser.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
THE RULES:
1. Display the Award Certificate on your blog
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who nominated you.
3. Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award.
4. Link your nominees in the post and let them know about their nomination with a comment.
5. Post 7 interesting things about yourself
🙂
Thanks Jake I am very grateful you nominated me :). I’m glad you enjoyed my blog, all the best
Charlotte
Your collages could make impressive greeting cards.
Thank you I make lots of cards, I really enjoy it.
Best wishes
Charlotte