Creative Space : This Little Fox

This week...

I've been playing around with my fox screen print design...I've printed her solo, with vines and now I've upsized her to make into a cushion (or two!).

And as of this morning, I now have a market to make for...

Yep, Polkadot Lane, along with the other makers from Curious Bazaar will be having a big double stall at the next Emu Plains Market on the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday 19th January - I can't wait!
And it's just over a week away, so I've got to get busy...really busy...

Lots of creative people linking up here or via Instagram (#mycreativespace) - come say 'hi'!

xx

Blue to Silver Vines

One of my new screenprint designs is my Orla Kiely inspired 'Vine'.

Once I'd handcut it all out, and hubby had bought me some gorgeous silver metallic ink, I thought it would be fun to play with an ombre effect....

And it was! - Fun, that is...

And after the printing, comes the making - a tote bag for Polkadot Lane...

This bag is now available in the shop.

Thanks for visiting!

xxx

Sketchy Sunday : Beginnings

Joining in with the lovely girls at Artsy Ants and their new weekly link up.

This week I have taken the theme, not so much as a base for my sketches, but more in the sense that I'm only just beginning to enjoy my drawing and sketching and designing again.

So, as you may see, my drawings are all over the place in theme but are all going to be used for screen prints, in the near future (I hope!)...

Maybe you've been drawing this last week? I would love to see what you have been up to!

xxx
(Images from my Instagram pics...love Instagram!)

Trying Something New - Stamp Carving!

I have had stamp carving on my 'want-to-try' list for over a year. I even had the supplies & tools sitting in my craft cupboard waiting for me.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to give it a go, because once I started, I actually found it very enjoyable and almost therapeutic with the slow etching away of rubber, and the emerging of my shape.

Materials : Ezy Carve Printing Blocks and a basic carving tool set which I bought from here.

Ok, so this is how I did it....

After drawing on my design in pencil, I gently started carving away the rubber, starting from the bottom, and working my way around...

And I kept slowly etching away until I got the depth and detail I was after.

Quick tip - Be very careful with the face of the stamp (the part used for printing) as I had a couple of nail dents in mine, which I'm happy to fix up after stamping, but am hoping to avoid next time!

Once it was all finished, I inked it up for a trial run...

And ta da! It worked....mostly....

I have another couple of stamping blocks in my stash, so I'm hoping to give it another go soon.

What about you? Have you had any adventures with carving?

Till next time
xx

A belated link up with these talented people...

P.S - I've been drawing, designing and screen printing up a storm this past week....will share soon!

A Sweet Summer Dress

For my sweet niece Amara, who loves the colours red and blue.

Using Simplicity Pattern #3515.

Back soon with some stamp carving adventures.

xxx

Costume Fun - Dame Nellie Melba

In the last week of school, Alannah had a special lunch with a request for them to dress up as a famous Australian, and preferably one from the early 1900's.

When my hubby mentioned Dame Nellie Melba, and then showed her who it was, her decision was made, so 1 Dame Nellie Melba costume was required and quickly (we only had a few days notice!).

Thanks to a very costume-making-savvy sister, and some sewing skills, we came up with this, which flowed over a floor length white satin skirt...so pretty...

The bustle was my favourite bit!

Lana was one happy (and glamourous!) chick.

xxx

Making of a Watermelon Monster

So, it's been a busy few weeks here at Polkadot Lane, as I'm sure it has for everyone.
End of year parties & outings, gifts and costumes to make and holiday plans to fulfill.

But now, even though it's school holidays, things seem to be a bit more relaxed. So I'm hoping I'll be back here a little more often with makings and such things.

First up, I'd thought I'd share the making of the 'Watermelon Monster' which I made for Jude's class party. I'd seen a few of these on Pinterest (oh how I love thee!) and decided to have a go at my own version.

Start up by buying a whole watermelon from the supermarket, and slicing off one end to give you a flat base. Hollow the melon out and stand up on your tray.Draw on your monster's mouth/teeth.

Using a sharp kitchen knife, cut the mouth out.

Then using toothpicks and various other fruits, create your monster's face and hair/head.
(I used sliced lemon and sultanas for the eyes, a strawberry for the nose, and some of the sliced off watermelon base as its hair spikes)

Fill with diced fruit, both in his mouth and on the tray.

And ta da! You will have yourself a watermelon monster, which all the kids will love :-)

xxx