Wednesday 7 January 2009

Brrrrrrrrr

I hear so many folks complaining of the cold weather. I say.....Oh for goodness sake .... it's seasonal.......it's winter, what do you expect, a tropical heatwave in January! Better than grey, miserable rain. I would much rather have seasonal weather than unseasonal. Our fav pastime ehh, talking about the weather. Mind you it has been minus 8 when I leave for work in the morning, which is very unusual.
I am looking forward to that pretty blossom and daffodils and lighter evenings. Oh dear, sorry I'm off on one again. Change the subject Viv................

I may have been quiet over the last few days but I have not slackened off on my mission to keep the creativity going and not get bogged down with fatigue and then get the miseries!
I have really enjoyed working this textile collage. All fabric and old snippets of all things textile including a page from a 'Dean's Indestructable' Rag Book, which some of us of a certain age may remember from our very early days. So lots of hand applique, embroidery and buttons!!!!







Onto the second piece. This is based on a envelope dated 29th June 1833 can you believe. What does that make it ....176 years old, is that right???? I find it hard to imagine the journey this envelope has been on, so many many years of sitting in various drawers, boxes or maybe attics? And after all that time, it has ended up being used as the basis for a collage and embroidery by a very strange woman, who likes to fill her life with what has gone before!

It even has the old wax seal.

Bit of Liberty thrown into the mix.


We do love our buttons, don't we?






Last but not least, I extracted myself from the car when I returned home today, looked down to see birdy footprints in the snow. I think the pattern the prints have made are wonderful and look like birds flying in the sky. Just lovely!




Thanks for stopping by.x

18 comments:

Greedy Nan said...

I know I'm tired but not so tired that I can't see yet. There are no pictures along with your blog entry. All I see are little red kisses in the top left hand corner. That's not right is it but why ...?

Unknown said...

Lovely pieces Viv - it's amazing how old that envelope is, you've done it proud and now it will get to live on even longer when it finds a new home.

Are we going to be seeing flying birds in your work now? they would fit in very well :)

emma

it seems blogger is being a bit naughty tonight...

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hi Viv,
I can see some of your lovely pictures but not all of them.Your old letter is wonderful and now it will be treasured for ever.x

Jackie said...

Some red kisses and some pictures here too..but what lovely pictures. OOH you are clever..so lovely.

gunnelsvensson said...

Your collage and stitching are lovely! I cant´belive the envelope is so old !!! Where so you find them ??? and yes, we love old buttons :-)
The birdy footprints are so beautiful! And I like the red kisses, maybe thy are for your blogfriends :-)

ArtPropelled said...

I also get the little red kisses in the corners for most of the photos so I'll return later to see if I have better luck. I can see the dear little birds feet though. Exactly like flying birds.

Lindsey said...

Here, here!! We want cold frosty weather in January. It's normal. It drives me mad when people moan about it like it's a surprise - "Ooh snow and ice in Winter. Who'd've thought it!?" heehee

Love the new work. The peice of Deans rag book is lovely. And the garden envelope. One of my ambitions for 2009 is to buy some of your work for me. :o)

btw(reading the quote in your header) did you see the prog about 25 years of Blackadder over the hols? I want to watch 'em all again now, from series 1. Rick Mayall... ooh...

Anonymous said...

Your work is lovely..just lovely.

Victoria said...

Delightful post, delightful creations and delightful little footprints on the snow! Thanks for adding a ray of sunshine on an otherwise very cold, gray and rainy day!

Unknown said...

Oh what beautiful pieces! I just adore that old letter. How amazing. I wish it was cold here, we are indeed in the middle of a heatwave! Would love to see some little foot prints in the snow.
Sophie x

A time to dance said...

I am totally in love with the Deans rag book..which yes I remember...I once dropped mine in the bath!!!!!I am facinated with your work..you mentioned a feature in a magazine in a previous post..where can you get them? love H

Gina said...

That rag book took me back! The patterns in the snow are lovely... and I like seasonal weather too, although that does mean I expect sunshine in the spring!

jenny elkins said...

People complain like crazy in Indiana, the Midwest where it snows and we have ice. I think it just gives people something to complain about. The gray days do mess with my mind though. Love what you are doing with the fabric and collage. I have a whole stack of fabric placements that I am work on, collaging fabrics together using the machine though. I love reading your blog. Got the biggest kick out of seeing your chickens!!! What kind of bird do you think left those track?

Margaret said...

Viv your envelopes continue to amaze me, such beautiful work and wonderful colours, how fabulous to give them a second life, imagine when someonelse pics them up after the next 100 years and the sheer delight they'll bring!!

monda-loves said...

I'm loving the blue envelope - so pretty.

the birdy prints also look like little planes flying in a cloudy sky. I could imagine this as a little mini quilt maybe...

Monda
x

Heidi said...

Oh my goodness! I found you on flickr, then etsy, where the two pieces I loved were already sold and then here! I love your mixed media embroidery collages! The colors and textiles you use are so cool! Any chance you would ever sell any of those neat textiles you find in England to others to play with...I probably wouldn't, but I thought I would ask anyway!
:)Heidi

mimilove forever said...

Gorgeous as ever...and OOO GET YOOO! All published n everythin!

(....can I have your autograph...preferably on one of them gorgeous wee purses..)
x;0)

Hoping you had fabby festivyness n here's to a craftastic New Year! x

Bunty said...

This is a beautiful piece - I think your collage with embroidery, buttons, fabric and paper are so unique and inspiring. I love your work!

Barbara

P.S. I got my new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors today and as soon as I saw your pictures, I knew it had to be your work before I even read it! Many congratulations - again, the work is really beautiful.