going wild on scrappy bags

This clearing ... yes, the sewing room ... triggered a rather weird thing.

I suddenly felt like making bags -after three scarves and a vest. It takes some time to work out a model with the bits and pieces of fabric available, all from my treasure chest.



Up to the second - I thought I liked the first one, but now with this material I know what my favorite will be. Have to work out a new model for this as the pieces and scraps have different sizes. I'm having a great time in the sewing room, neglecting everything else now.

just a little something while waiting for real inspiration

A few months ago I decided it was time to clear loads of fabric stacked in my sewing room. Some 25 years ago I used to make patchwork. I grew out of that but the many pieces of gorgeous fabrics where still cluttering the cupboards and drawers waiting for that 'I will need them some day'. But now it was time for a serious clearing.

But ... no ... that scrap, no I can't let go. And this one ... no, this was one of my favorites. and ... no ...

You guess what happened.

While I was brooding on a new series of completely different works I made something I did not need to think about. I copied - yes, copied (not my usual doing) - a work from one of my favorite artists : a Japanese woodcut by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. No sketches, no measures taken ... just a cut and sew thing just by looking at a small postcard which I bought at the Kunsthaus Wien.

I finished the colourful appliqué in a few hours - I did not need to buy any material - but I stretched it on a wooden frame only recently. And, ... I do like my copied art. Bright colours to chase dark moods.

And all the fabrics and scraps? Still cluttering my sewing room.

69 cm x 83 cm
After the Japanese woodcut "Waiting Houses" by Hundertwasser

link to see an image of the original print :

http://www.puckergallery.com/HWG37_enl.html

info on Hundertwasser :

http://www.hundertwasser.at/

info on Kunsthaus Wien :

http://www.kunsthauswien.com/

designing a handbag

While digging in my huge stack of material for revamping chairs, I get new ideas. Yesterday night I felt the sudden urge to try to make a handbag with this lot. I have no pattern, just don't know how this will go. Today I will but a heavy burden on my sewing machine (don't let me down).

Coco visiting Yvonne

Coco Lily in Yvonne's doll's house

I built the doll's house some 20 years ago, using the building plans for the house my late neighbour Yvonne lived in. These wooden houses were built after World War II in the Ardennes-Belgium to house people who lost their homes. After rebuilding new stone houses, the wooden houses were dismantled and sold as weekend and holiday houses. It is in one of these relocated houses that Yvonne lived; a very lively and interesting old lady.

Coco Lily is an Aussie girl with Belgian and Swiss roots.