Pages

Friday 29 July 2011

No more worries for a week or two...


Finally it's here, my long anticipated family summer holiday!  We're off tomorrow to France, (just east of Paris in fact!), for ten days.

Sadly that means blog withdrawal symptoms for me but hopefully I'll come home with loads of ideas and photos to make things from!

Bon Voyage!

Monday 25 July 2011

Four Letters for the Birthday Boy,

(as opposed to three cheers!)

The finished letters, alongside a (old) photo of Alex.
It is my Godson Alex's fifth birthday on the second of August and I like to make things for him while he is still young enough to like having things made for him.

Anyway, I bought these letters at the shop I work in.  I liked the shape of them better than some I have seen in other shops so I was really pleased when we started stocking them.

Alex is nuts about anything with an engine (planes, boats and trains) so "Thomas the Tank Engine" is a favourite.  I was lucky enough to get the "Thomas" fabric in the sale so it was considerably cheaper than normal, however all four letters covered with it proved to bit a bit much when I began experimenting.  Because of this Ibought some plain patchwork cotton in blue and green shades to match the colour of two of the engines in the books.

Looking on the internet at other examples of fabric covered letters I didn't like the way that fabric was inclined to bunch around corners and other "issues" I could see other people having.  Vaguely remembering an article I saw in "Making" magazine last year I cut the shapes of the letters from cereal packet cardboard before starting.  I could then use PVA glue and strips of fabric around the outline of the letters and then cover up the edges with the fabric covered cardboard cut out on the front.  I am really chuffed with the effect and I hope that Alex loves them!


A for Alex
Detail of the X showing the "false" front.



Happy Birthday Alex xxx



Tuesday 19 July 2011

Dick Whittington- Village Panto 2011

It is an incredibly long time ago now but Panto went off beautifully.  It was a hilarious week for all concerned (audience, cast and crew!).  I was so proud of my two performers and the Parrot held up pretty well!

I designed the sets and painted most of them with a small team of incredible helpers and they seemed to be well received too. I have asked them to choose a panto without so many scenes next year though (five full backcloths, four partial ones plus flats was a tall order and had to be started in October!)

Olde London Towne!

Action Parrot -Take 1
Alderman Fitzwarren's Kitchen...and some unusual sausages!

All singing, all dancing Parrot (and Hubby!)
Action Parrot-Take 3
All aboard the HMS Lollipop!
Waiting nervously in the wings.
The Sultan's Palace






In the Jungle
The FANTASTIC back stage crew!

Anyway, as promised, some action shots courtesy of our show photographers...