I’ve fallen out of the blog rhythm, gotten postaphobic, so to get myself moving again I’m sharing one of my new terrariums and a couple favorite treasures I picked up on the beach at dead horse bay lately:
the current state of affairs
Besides this blog, lots of things around here have been neglected and are in need of attention ( including email – if you’re waiting to here back form me hang in there – I’ll be catching up this weekend). My little victorian fishbowl terrarium ( a truly inspired gift from my sister becky) has slipped into chaos and disarray. Maybe I have a little too – we are definitely both a little extra dishevelled. I’ve collected some moss and tiny plants and will correct the terrarium situation this weekend. Next week I’ll be back with some new boats and owls and spiders and other stuff in progress. For now here are a couple recently finished things pictured with the gowns they are made from and inspired by:
And be sure to checkout BHLDN’s new decor line – it’s beautiful and I’m flattered to be included.
busy in the bird department
I have been pretty occupied lately with this group of birds. They’ve been finished, packed and shipped off and later this spring, for the first time ever, sweetheart birds will be available someplace other than my shop.
I’ll let you know where you can find these limited edition birds very soon .
spring regatta
miss tulip gown
This dress turned up here in brown pieces – I’m not even sure how it really goes together. I soaked it for days and days and then had lots of fun pinning it into a dress shape. The under and over skirts are weighted and the overskirt has a lovely tulip shaped hem.
I’m making some things from it now – I’ll show you next week. I’m also working on a new kind of little boat -they’ll be finished and in the shop next tuesday .
paper mache teacup pattern
A paper mache teacup pattern to mark the 5 year anniversary of my blog, my experiment. A perfect time to say thank you and give you a present.
There is a template you can download here.
And lots and lots of photos and instructions. If you do make teacups I’d love to see and you can use #annwoodpattern on instagram or leave a link to your photo in the comment section below.
What you need:
- Click here to download the template
- paste – I use golden harvest wheat paste ( wall paper paste)
- light cardboard – cereal or frozen pizza box is great and a bit of thicker cardboard for a base
- newspaper – it’s nice to have different colors
- scotch tape ( not the invisible gift wrap stuff- the shiny sticky stuff)
- glue – elmers, glue stick, hot glue – whatever you like
- pencil, scissors, exacto knife, and paint and brushes, glitter, fabric – whatever you’d like for decoration.
Click the photos for larger images.
Cut out the templates for the teacup, handle and bottom and trace them onto your cardboard. I had the best results with a Kashi frozen pizza box. Cut out your pieces and very lightly and gently score the the teacup where the dotted lines are on the template with the BACK of your exacto knife.
Make a very tiny snip – really tiny -just a 16th of an inch or so where the sections meet. Next bring the bottom sections together one at a time and tape together on the outside (the printed side). Then turn it over and taper the bottom inside. Do this for each section – always taping both sides…….
treasures from sri
Stephen Szczepanek of Sri Threads sent over another surprise package of magnificent things. Exquisite, inspiring things, thoughtfully chosen and gathered and kept for me that just magically appear on my doorstep. Here are a few highlights.
There are fragments of garments with wonderful surprise linings.
And beautiful wear and eccentric mending.
I already have owls in progress and I’m thinking about using the blue silk bits below for spider bustles and some new flowers I’ll show you soon. Thanks you, thank you Mr. Szczepanek!
a valentine for you
A fancy valentine, for you to print and make and give. Download a zip file here with images and some instructions. Just print the images on card stock and follow my instructions or come up with your own stuff.
Happy Valentine’s Day! And if you make one I’d love to see – you can share a photo here.
velvet
I like velvet and have been on the lookout for it lately. This antique jacket came with the bonus of owly eye buttons. Lots of them. There are 6 on the back as well. You can click the image for a better look.
It looks like it has come for a visit – lounging on the couch. My BRAND NEW couch that I will go on and on about later, it’s been a saga ( you can see a bit more of it here). I like the lining fabric too – there is some wonderful mending I will preserve however I use it.
shadow land
This was a wonky little experiment, something I made to entertain myself one evening lat year. I came across the photo while doing some organizing last night. Here is a look at the shadow casters:
deconstructed gown
I’ m making some one of a kind fancy girls from this antique ball gown. I used most of the large sections of lace for the pip and estella set and it’s almost gone. Now I’m using the chiffon and appliqueing tiny motifs I cut from the lace that is too damaged to use.
The under skirt of that gown was kind of a surprise, after several days of soaking years of grayness away it’s a beautiful pale pink and blue floral tulle. I’m making a little troupe of blue ballerinas from it.
tatters
This wonderfully tattered and incredibly fragile antique dress arrived last week. All the silk is shattered, but beautifully shattered – almost as though it’s transforming itself.
