Edible Delights - my cooking experiments

People who know me well know that I hate waste - not only in textile art (I use up every scrap) but also in general.  I love to cook and I use up every bit of the fresh ingredients I buy - I rarely buy pre made meals etc.  I am also a Pizza-holic :-) I have decided it is time to record my foodie experiments so have created a new blog rather than filling this one with food - if you are interested pop over to Edible Delights - my cooking experiments by clicking here.

More bowls - including 2 sets

More bowls

 

Bowls - again

Yet more bowls: This makes 50 so far!

New Bowls

New Bowls:

Cord making - thread only bowls - a background

I have been making cords since the late 1980's.  I made an African Neck piece from cord as one of the pieces for my City and Guilds Part I - see below:

I have continued to make cords and use them in many of my projects - especially my costumes, Now that I am using up all the left over cords I have made over the years to  make the bowls  I have been finding cords in various boxes in my work room - like these:

Today I came across this mega ball of cord :-) !! Not sure when I made it or what it had been intended for but obviously it was never used - I wonder how many rainbow bowls it will make :-)

The ball on the left measures 12 metres (I was able to measure it) - mobile phone to show scale -  I have no idea how long the big one is.!!

Post 900 and a challenge for you

This is my 900th post!!!!

To 'celebrate' I would like to set anyone who reads this a challenge - I would like to sell my thread bowls and need to find somewhere that would be willing to sell them for me - so my challenge is - if you find a venue willing to sell my bowls for me I will make you a set of 3 special thread coil bowls - in different sizes.
The challenge is open to anyone and the more 'winners' the better :-)
Thanks in advance for your help.

Change of mind - Jacket

Back in August I started creating a piece of background fabric to make two jackets - see post here .  I have completed the piece for the museum jacket - that's on hold at the moment.  The second much larger piece I recently dyed - however the blue colour did not come out as dark/grungy as I wanted.  It has however come out rather a lovely blue.

 This fabric

became this fabric.........

So I have changed my mind about a Steampunk/post apocalyptic jacket. I am going to make a 'Boro' Jacket instead - once I have cut it out I am going to spend many happy hours hand stitching to make it look like the Japanese Boro Jackets of old - like this one.

Yet more thread bowls and now paper rolling

To continue the creative therapy I have made more thread coil bowls but I have also started paper rolling and making boxes/bowls - these will probably become Christmas presents so don't tell :-).  They are not only fun to make but a lovely way of recycling junk mail, therapeutic and relaxing.

 

More thread bowls

No - its not becoming an obsession!  It is really a) relaxing and b) I am enjoying making thread only bowls - last post I showed you the first 7 - here are the next 21 !!!!!  I hope to sell them before Christmas.  Any suggestions of where I can sell the would be gratefully received. :-)

Depression - Therapy

Depression, even in a mild form is now more accepted – talked about and relief sought by those struck with it. The idea that work, family or just life in general actually might affect each other to cause ‘stress’ in a variety of forms began to emerge in the 1930s. Occupational therapist organizations formed and basket making was practised as occupational therapy in mental institutions, Hospitals and other organizations for the disabled. Calling someone ‘a basket case’, was used to mean they are crazy, or at least mentally unstable.

The practice continued well into the 1970’s. Now other cognitive behaviour therapies are favoured, however – the act of being creative is still encouraged. Although it may make some people laugh- basket making is still valid as a form of creative therapy. When ‘making’ anything – the mind is focused on the ‘doing’ without thinking negatively around the item or what others think. It causes a feeling of success with the outcome and is a small step in the right direction in recovering as sense of purpose and well being.

The photos are my latest bowls.  Paper and more recently thread only!

Reviving a apron

Do you have a favourite apron?  I do - I have had it for 40+ years! I use it in the kitchen and for art work. It started out white and has been over dyed several times over the years. Now it has started to get tatty - the ties are frayed and it has at least two holes! So today I covered the holes with pretty patches and re made the ties ! Given it more years use !

New Jacket x 2 and update

Update -I am still not in the best place at the moment but I also know it will take a long time to get back to normal.  Good news - I have sold my Pfaff ! Whoop whoop - so glad it will be going to a good home - to someone who will use it to its full potential.

I have started work on two jackets. One a Steampunk jacket for the museum exhibition and the other a Steampunk/post apocalyptic jacket !!  So far I have made a start on the background fabric - below is a photo of the piece which will be the side panels of the museum piece - it measures 112 cm x 85cm.  The other is a sample which I will use to work out colours for both jackets.

I have also started the background fabric (which will be the same) for the whole of the second jacket but this piece measures 150cm x 2.5 metres - so this is going to be a long project!!

Update - finished the sample piece - measured 35cm x 44cm - cut in half - one piece for each jacket.  The first one then looked like this..

And dipped in this.....

however currently looks a little dark? Hope this idea works! When it's dry I will be stitching into it too.