Highly commended in the Textile category at the City of Melville Art Awards 18 – 26 May 2013
I promised to share my completed Ric Rac dolls here (Aaron and Hannah still have work to do on theirs).
So please allow me to introduce Little Red….
…and Elsie and Arthur Cabbage…
These patterns were so easy to work with, with every step spelled out (Aaron and Hannah were able to work fairly independently on their projects because the instructions are so clear). And Elsie and Arthur's patterns are the best doll patterns I have ever used – I love their shape, and can imagine them dressed up in so many different ways.
Which of Jodie's patterns would you like to make?
Just to keep life interesting, Marcus is now mobile.
That adds a whole new dimension to our days!
After spending the last month trying to coax Marcus to crawl, the older children now understand why I warned them to be careful what they wished for!
This week has been characterised more by distractions that by any kind of diligent effort in the studio. That's the way life goes sometimes, isn't it. When I find it hard to focus on my bigger tasks and projects I try to tackle a few little things – like tidying up the bookshelves, or organising the stationery drawer, or wiping some marks off the walls. That way I can make up a little bit for feeling largely unproductive. Does that make sense?
So while I'm feeling a bit frustrated about any sewing progress this week, I do have an extra tidy house. Hopefully that means I can enjoy extra sewing time next week.
While it has been a different sort of week, it has also been rather nice. I had a sewing friend for three days (and watched her house grow on another day). I also had Caleb home sick for four days, which Daniel and I both enjoyed! I also got to pop out for the opening of the Minnawarra Art Award and thoroughly enjoyed that little outing.
On top of that, I heard that my artwork 'Trike' one a category prize and the Acquisitive Prize at the Australian Cotton Fibre Expo. What an honour!
Thanks to my sewing company, (and play company for the boys), I did at least manage to finish cutting out my latest (large!) quilt. Now I'm eagerly anticipating lot's of stitching next week.
High Spirits 1
© Ruth de Vos 2013
Size: 69cm x 68cm
Materials: textile paint, cotton homespun, cotton linen blend fabric, gingham, cotton batting
Techniques: screen-printed, machine-pieced, machine-quilted, hand-embroidered
And we all love after-school coffee time and play time! That's when I try to slow down for the rest of the day. Well, until the kids go to bed, anyway. I still only managed half a cup of coffee before getting distracted, though.
I hope you had a good day too, whether it was ordinary or not so ordinary.
By the way, I'll be sending out a new newsletter soon. If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so in the sidebar of this blog.
So Hannah and I had plans to sew a Ric Rac doll during these past school holidays. Hannah wanted to make a Kinder Girl, and I was going to make Little Red and Elsie too. And then, when we pulled out the sewing machine to get started, it was a lovely rainy indoor kind of day, and Grandma, who was staying with us, decided to make an Elsie too, and Aaron asked to make a Beet from my first Ric Rac pattern (I still love it!). So suddenly there were fabric scraps and doll arms and legs and pins and stuffing everywhere!
We had fun though. Aaron and Hannah are able to work largely independently now, just coming to Mum and I for quick checks at regular intervals. (It was great to have Mum here to keep them going when I was busy with Marcus).
And the next day, when friends came over to play, the kids were keen to keep sewing, and pulled out Hannah's little Creative Card from Jodie to make some birds. They did a great job, too!
Hopefully I can share the completed dolls soon. They are turning out great!
It’s a Wonderful World
© Ruth de Vos 2011
Size: 180cm H by 200 cm W
Materials: procion fabric dye, fabric paint cotton homespun, cotton batting
Techniques: hand-dyed, screen-printed, machine pieced, machine quilted
Available for purchase here.
This artworks has a sleeve stitched onto the back for hanging purposes, and can be hung using a gallery-style hanging system, or with two screws in the wall. More info including pictures here: http://ruthdevos.com/blog/how-to-hang-an-art-quilt/
View more of my artwork at www.ruthdevos.com
