tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56039724335891076482024-03-05T04:40:52.742-08:00Bluebell WoodMainly exploring Corded Detached Buttonhole in Elizabethan Embroidery - as well as general art history research into this decorative style (especially Celtic, Saxon & Viking influences). Oh, and the odd piece of knitting, crochet, sewing or tatting...Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-18286116585415107782023-06-28T02:36:00.003-07:002023-06-28T02:36:47.485-07:00Small things and big ideas<p>Hi everyone </p><p>I hope your lives are restored to former lockdown frenetic activity, as mine is.</p><p>This year is a big year for me in more ways than one. I looked back over my diary and was pleased that many goals had been attained but no sooner do you jump a hoop, than another hoop presents itself for the challenge. I think my attitude to all this STUFF is much better now and I feel positive about various tactical manoeuvres. Remaining positive and finding new things to learn and test yourself makes the daily grind of existence far more enjoyable. Recently I’ve achieved much more objectivity about my goals and where I really ‘live’. I live in my head and my head is a secluded space that is all mine, but the outside world tries to gain admittance to that space, but never will, because I am bound in a nutshell and count myself king of infinite space and all that…</p><p>Ok so everyone knows motifs are a big thing with me, as well as miniature. So I made this ‘Fairy House’ recently for my DD. The plan is to make some more and sell them on Etsy. Sorry to sound commercially minded, but since thieves commandeered my YouTube monetisation account, I’ve had no money for books or materials.</p><p>I tried to sort out this theft from my YouTube videos, but they ask you for the address of the miscreants and how am I suppose to do that?</p><p>Things like that make me sick, but you know what, life is too short and I’m trying to get over this blantant misappropriation of my funds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAnYVq5aUQGe56380hh_sDvy2mbHTRJMMdARcQyXZ4-NrbMlVX97GlZilnOX71fqfkSg3n8IL1PIFhfl8Uvxdx1ZvbFzoj-G5cJFeggJYFmI7QJtpezJJ-r9JllO1T71WlONSme5qigJzotIzDktSX7du5DUzbqudJ7DkBk5EfOMOwxrDPdsRNnr3KtE/s4032/FF7E0431-4756-485B-9A73-5036EFC1A0C8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAnYVq5aUQGe56380hh_sDvy2mbHTRJMMdARcQyXZ4-NrbMlVX97GlZilnOX71fqfkSg3n8IL1PIFhfl8Uvxdx1ZvbFzoj-G5cJFeggJYFmI7QJtpezJJ-r9JllO1T71WlONSme5qigJzotIzDktSX7du5DUzbqudJ7DkBk5EfOMOwxrDPdsRNnr3KtE/s320/FF7E0431-4756-485B-9A73-5036EFC1A0C8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The inside is decoupaged with A-Z map of where she hopes to live one day….call it a dream box….</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7wTyDOp2tJSJnJiE_J7PmRpD7UQuW8olEk23AYTzS9v6KOB6Iav1X9ky9BaAMr9OZJgClWo4DGbkGVC2oj43A7pQbNNTLiHJUBl_pU7CxfCw2EEQZ0muopbp_zoZdSsUZ3B3Gcz2xjRPWy2CmrBlWL8yxkBrCyRIx8VULeJoZ5ICCchHqUpcy1yliDM/s4032/D31D9E30-A793-4D71-82D3-278213955A1C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7wTyDOp2tJSJnJiE_J7PmRpD7UQuW8olEk23AYTzS9v6KOB6Iav1X9ky9BaAMr9OZJgClWo4DGbkGVC2oj43A7pQbNNTLiHJUBl_pU7CxfCw2EEQZ0muopbp_zoZdSsUZ3B3Gcz2xjRPWy2CmrBlWL8yxkBrCyRIx8VULeJoZ5ICCchHqUpcy1yliDM/s320/D31D9E30-A793-4D71-82D3-278213955A1C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>A dream box box comes from the idea of a dream board and that is something that really works psychologically on a person, if you ask me. I went to one of the Rich Dad Poor Dad lectures run by Robert T Kiyosaki and they suggested it. </p><p>I bought the wooden box, painted it with gesso, then decoupaged it with a paper napkin, after finding the scale I needed, then embellished the top with various schmonzes…(now there’s a word for Google translate to knot it’s underwear over).</p><p>I think the big thing to remember when you decoupage is to spray the image with hair lacquer first, so that the colours don’t run.</p><p>Apart from that I’m knitting, working through my book 365 cakes and making soup stock. The land I took over has suffered 40 degree heat and then 3 weeks of solid snow, luckily on two plants died and they were so fragile, I wasn’t surprised. </p><p>I bought yet more power tools, they taken up a lot of space but they do save my hands, especially my thumb joint which gets weird now and again. </p><p>Favourite stitch at the moment = Double Colonial Knot, perfect for small projects!</p><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-8096700646408648472022-08-02T00:49:00.001-07:002022-08-02T00:49:48.933-07:00Mini chest in situ<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTszPjl8MbFIRKiU7SUyyTAJ-P17hs8YO2VExc_sZHIHJ5fyBwZ26jAU6Odm8e_R8rVvg10wsE8vw4ylNlbgtYdxknDk2mKtJAHhRL_duHU1DonO619kVgVUK2QhUVcZFlMCpc5uQgTnSfRC5_pYccRG5jONz_gTYK-BuXjwpsrCQjGifTJSBj4f5/s4032/9237AD84-32A6-406E-9533-CF34816C1FAB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTszPjl8MbFIRKiU7SUyyTAJ-P17hs8YO2VExc_sZHIHJ5fyBwZ26jAU6Odm8e_R8rVvg10wsE8vw4ylNlbgtYdxknDk2mKtJAHhRL_duHU1DonO619kVgVUK2QhUVcZFlMCpc5uQgTnSfRC5_pYccRG5jONz_gTYK-BuXjwpsrCQjGifTJSBj4f5/s320/9237AD84-32A6-406E-9533-CF34816C1FAB.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hello friends </p><p>I cold welded the legs onto the chest with a 2mm layer of cold welding J B Weld an American product that I cannot stop raving about since I fixed my 20 year old ironing board.</p><p>Ok so In the real world, you know that awful place with traffic jams, queues and bad hair days, the powers that be have decided that I need to launch myself as a commercial artist…. What do you say to that? The terror of the blank canvas is an understatement for starters, then on top I have so many other things on the go. But, and it’s a big but, the cogs have been turning on this topic for some time now and I’m gradually working larger and more 3-d. There are other challenges too, but they are drivers, rather than detractors. But the main thing is, that being creative and finding new ways to get things done is the best kind of freedom, IMO.</p><p>So my head is currently in about fifth gear with what I was thinking about in the background that now needs to be given more life.</p><p>So I’m working on the second mini-chest now and have been turning ideas over in sketchbooks etc for about a month. The heatwave we’ve been having with no air con in the house has slowed things down.</p><p>I know I want to laminate collage again if I don’t use oil paints but on the other hand chest 2 could end up with flat oils, I don’t know yet because I need to make samples and see which I’m most happy with.</p><p>Because basically I employ myself and I’m not always sure how well I can do something but will have a go at virtually anything, within bounds. I can see the mini chest in my head and I can turn it around and change it, but then the reality has to match it or beat it. If cannot do either and it ends up a disaster, you find even a disaster can offer up some hope or hint at a solution. Like when my ironing board collapsed under the heaving pile of domestic bliss, little did I know then that cold welding would springboard me into the world of furniture upcycling! </p><p>Oh well I have to go now….</p><p>P.S. The Celtic dog needs a background now of laid silver thread. The mermaid needs a new head to be stuck on, so that piece will need to be more 3-d, which is good because the sun and sky could be a lot of fun that way. I’ve been alternating lots of my clothes because I wanted to save money, but when other family members found out what I was doing, they started giving me their things too!, I was knitting a beautiful French jacket for myself, well that’s on hold too. I would like to paint my shed, but think I will only manage the sleepers around about. The Path I planted up is looking good but involved a lot of watering this year. </p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-24592716280578383162022-07-08T01:50:00.000-07:002022-07-08T01:50:35.737-07:00Handles fitted and now for attaching the feet<p> So pleased to say here are the handles …</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx3ANM05H7G0a27GJ4xujt6HCe_7A3XIWBRiEYdobOyjXTbXpHrGXo61v0lekAW8xKJKfYkRN0zW78gBBSdEwA6Z71I9wbukiRwhB6b7BGwAMYnlzKl0I4YW5UdBoLhtNIBcE1zAnpI9X7RVzW6Og4k1KAA4JN6LYLrgaDHQpXhwIAEvuEXx8LTze/s2048/6B586F94-F6C7-4F59-9617-7948F196BE4B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx3ANM05H7G0a27GJ4xujt6HCe_7A3XIWBRiEYdobOyjXTbXpHrGXo61v0lekAW8xKJKfYkRN0zW78gBBSdEwA6Z71I9wbukiRwhB6b7BGwAMYnlzKl0I4YW5UdBoLhtNIBcE1zAnpI9X7RVzW6Og4k1KAA4JN6LYLrgaDHQpXhwIAEvuEXx8LTze/s320/6B586F94-F6C7-4F59-9617-7948F196BE4B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Ok so the handles were really ok to fit in the end. However, the feet have been giving me problems. I need to delve into the friendless world of carpentry to get those right. Nothing makes me more annoyed than furniture you are scared to move because the legs are precarious. I want hanger bolts M6 size and T- nuts M6 too. </p><p>I have to go now because I had a really bad night where I think my parents gave me Covid. I’ve been coughing for most of the night and feel like a zombie today, oh dear the effort of it all! Also our road is regularly visited by a very large badger that raids our food waste bins the night before bin day. I have met this outsized miniature hippo of a badger face to face, I don’t know who was more scared of who but let me tell you they are weird looking close up, to be sure. His coat was very coarse and his head was the most odd shape, but saying all of that, his Mammalian gaze was just as engaging as a cat or dog. I was pleased to see he was so big and fat and wondered how old he was. I put him at about middle adulthood because his shoulders were immense. No cat or dog walks around with shoulders like that! Well of course I shrieked when I saw him and he jumped in surprise which made me smile afterwards, but I didn’t hang around because I felt uneasy at the thought of his dental profile and jaw strength, kind of thing. I have a very very vivid imagination. Not that it does me a lot of good, on a day to day basis, but at least I can make it serve me well for these artistic projects.</p><p>I came across an old sketchbook the other day where I had scribbled “I hate art”. I remember doing that, because I could see what I was sketching and I remembered that my friend had almost head butted me in a car park, because she was getting divorced and I sketched various trees at her allotment. I never saw her again and I forgot all about the trees, but I remember thinking that art had only really caused me pain and didn’t get me any money, made me lots of enemies and consumed large amounts of time that could have been spent studying to do medicine or accounts, my two other loves. </p><p>I’m going to stop there because I’m starting to get weepy, which is so feminine and stupid. </p><p>If I had been born a man I would have had the strength of my convictions etc, instead I have been “born into the slavery of being a girl”. </p><p>Anyway, there are two things that I have never felt or experienced in any way, one is being bored, the other is being lonely. Which I am noticing now is extremely useful.</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-13680832187716563002022-07-07T02:43:00.000-07:002022-07-07T02:43:54.469-07:00Faux patina update<p> When they say ‘the material suggests’ it really means go with the flow…so I did.</p><p>Turns out this chest of drawers has a subtle theme and is about the memory of dreaming as a kid….more later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9322l_DOaxsjzbFQ-6Nh3SxsOTDotSkmkzsohb8G-iBIxeAOu8fOKkRL7hunRATBUuv2Qh3PO2YY9c2Mie6YZyzYA1vowPSPL_6gndPaw-Z-6dQh3d__eHWvXsx9Amkp4dOqt-c1mZj7Ue15XkCOmb1GWktacoIJYAlrWwkXUJpG0hpEv3P2CleS4/s2048/3B0C83B4-F2A0-4F97-A76E-7140B2679216.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9322l_DOaxsjzbFQ-6Nh3SxsOTDotSkmkzsohb8G-iBIxeAOu8fOKkRL7hunRATBUuv2Qh3PO2YY9c2Mie6YZyzYA1vowPSPL_6gndPaw-Z-6dQh3d__eHWvXsx9Amkp4dOqt-c1mZj7Ue15XkCOmb1GWktacoIJYAlrWwkXUJpG0hpEv3P2CleS4/s320/3B0C83B4-F2A0-4F97-A76E-7140B2679216.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLgqMaEB3nJI36SD01BwgsWxZnKt1slqFEPfehD1VTFFF_OfPwBseZGuteW1HeBwnyUNzSOLlL6VVNIz78l7RgqYHiQtgjBogUJHAQpIho0AmvKJ2CzRb0LVOescc2sfq2tjBlOF9fa3Ifk2q23K0UNgjcebyHLTUi-aSuX7oJ_7lWG4mPTmyGeb-/s4032/85906CDA-02AE-403B-B966-58757F5EA7B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLgqMaEB3nJI36SD01BwgsWxZnKt1slqFEPfehD1VTFFF_OfPwBseZGuteW1HeBwnyUNzSOLlL6VVNIz78l7RgqYHiQtgjBogUJHAQpIho0AmvKJ2CzRb0LVOescc2sfq2tjBlOF9fa3Ifk2q23K0UNgjcebyHLTUi-aSuX7oJ_7lWG4mPTmyGeb-/s320/85906CDA-02AE-403B-B966-58757F5EA7B1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So the drawer fronts were distressed with sandpaper and made to look vintage. As I worked away I couldn’t help associating the look and feel of old maps with old worn atlases that we used to have in school and that’s when I decided the edges of the frame should look like old school desks. So then I worked away at distressing the front of the drawers with felt tips, paint, a Stanley knife and latex paint to look like old school wooden rulers and desks. I really like that association and it makes me remember dreaming in school of all the places I hoped to travel to in years to come.</p><p>Then when I came to do the legs, I decided to use a metallic paint that lends itself really well to pearlised patina. I arrived at all these decisions basically because I had certain problems that I had to address, especially as the piece has to fit in my bedroom. I didn’t want the little chest to come out too far forward in the sense that the colour was too saturated and bright. </p><p>Then after all that gold paint around the top and the sides and the aged map, I realised the feet or legs had to somehow link up with the crystal handles and pop as it were. </p><p>What do the feet remind you of?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbwiDu8dK3cLKzwpZLrCQIMZbux9AEWcq649Hy626VzcWvFbZMjMnkd2AIgkm6RDot_gm0YvKjD0yb9f57JD9FEaRBMeCtMO8Cvn3TraUDBcXc0t3WlB0dA3Wq6jHN5Eax0glj9GXi9klQHXPqOGNb-DtGUdkSatL2awmwZmoTjrFJJdG_aEae_GG/s2048/700EFB4A-63C9-42DF-8FFC-DF527DCB1E10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbwiDu8dK3cLKzwpZLrCQIMZbux9AEWcq649Hy626VzcWvFbZMjMnkd2AIgkm6RDot_gm0YvKjD0yb9f57JD9FEaRBMeCtMO8Cvn3TraUDBcXc0t3WlB0dA3Wq6jHN5Eax0glj9GXi9klQHXPqOGNb-DtGUdkSatL2awmwZmoTjrFJJdG_aEae_GG/s320/700EFB4A-63C9-42DF-8FFC-DF527DCB1E10.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Correct, merry-go-round horses at Fun Fairs! I think that association is something I just couldn’t ignore and so I maxed that one out.</p><p>So now my big thing is varnishing the piece, fixing some edges down with stronger glue, then attaching the feet and handles.</p><p>Alas, the template I made for the drawer handle holes was far from perfect and I had some cold sweats with those. I still need to work on that. </p><p>I am breaking down each section to be worked into half hour slots. I find this really helps me to make consistent progress and dispenses with indecisive paralysis, because all the thinking time is done away from the item. If my template had been completely symmetrical then I would’ve finished by now. I’ve marked up the top and bottom of the template now, so hopefully for the next set of drawers I won’t have all this bother.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAwFi5-wyGgpu8RUg-2axL5ZQ_8Ok13E7Ub2v6ZMboVAPOtWPTa5jpz-NhHh6d2Bg-0emLES1VP8xl-oA4NoOO-lCcVm47Jm34xJwRHryNJ0RanBVlZcgoQPcEoTLCI5pEeqOimxyGpXDPOYUYra8716y1epGnnWvIxDnSdawJZEFHPkaCBw1r8mI/s4032/E01FE4AE-E66C-4F7F-8202-300F0F4224D1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAwFi5-wyGgpu8RUg-2axL5ZQ_8Ok13E7Ub2v6ZMboVAPOtWPTa5jpz-NhHh6d2Bg-0emLES1VP8xl-oA4NoOO-lCcVm47Jm34xJwRHryNJ0RanBVlZcgoQPcEoTLCI5pEeqOimxyGpXDPOYUYra8716y1epGnnWvIxDnSdawJZEFHPkaCBw1r8mI/s320/E01FE4AE-E66C-4F7F-8202-300F0F4224D1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-8354110264539195372022-07-02T14:55:00.000-07:002022-07-02T14:55:11.488-07:00Faux patina gold chest of drawers<p> Ok so things have moved on. Here is the finished surface. It took four sessions to build up the complexity. I used various tools and different light sources. The more I worked on it, the more it looked like metal. Halfway through I worried I would never pull it off, as they say, because it began to become muddy. That’s when I realised I was working light to dark, dark to light, dull to shine, then shine to dull, then finally back to shine, if that makes any sense. I like the way the tissue paper texture no longer looks like paper but the undulations, crevices and fissures of a prehistoric intergalactic explosion, as in how all gold was originally formed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wCgihrPPrNP2MPEk1b-1B5Tywm6-c_rTKKXFRxDam3cP2Sve9UmRk89wLMAYxWyDRFuqeHwtSjhG9jj0w01_ju3jYsDMIknlN7hdIHQrdSimW_9Bs7rc9jcoTnQ7b7dw2ouKVbeCitK0G0vx7iBJkuycIE_rVvm1Z2NiEglei1sThp0aDU7Ii5Xi/s2048/FC024ACE-E586-461D-8911-2F2B5E26389F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wCgihrPPrNP2MPEk1b-1B5Tywm6-c_rTKKXFRxDam3cP2Sve9UmRk89wLMAYxWyDRFuqeHwtSjhG9jj0w01_ju3jYsDMIknlN7hdIHQrdSimW_9Bs7rc9jcoTnQ7b7dw2ouKVbeCitK0G0vx7iBJkuycIE_rVvm1Z2NiEglei1sThp0aDU7Ii5Xi/s320/FC024ACE-E586-461D-8911-2F2B5E26389F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Now a funny thing happened to me twice, if you eva….</p><p>I showed a guy a photo of the Celtic dog while we were having dinner with our families in the country and he didn’t believe it was embroidery??</p><p>Then two weeks later I go to the coast with my friend and show her the picture and she too cannot understand or believe it’s embroidery, at which point I started heartily laughing.</p><p>QED ppl !</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-63359351946684202352022-06-27T01:38:00.003-07:002022-06-27T01:38:49.175-07:00Celtic dog & Spanish Turron<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> Bit more progress. I like the way the head reminds me of Viking figureheads. I need to do the next leather section very carefully and decide if anymore black outlines need to be enhanced.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauTvi-itRtvw3DMwgl24fZAWinzGlZOPjZfBwzHLtcHW2_Y-i1pLk2_lmh360LTL-quTDMGwZmdoPkVltOXSkxB-31kIndXIbyZCd6FiC-BEUpH-TcMqFUkStxilnidxFKlw-qC22lWjfNFEtIcbEsd1gLx9OD5AluJh_ziS11WJVMDC2Lyfj5oZF/s4032/3FEE533A-5DCC-419C-AE03-227520B10DBD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauTvi-itRtvw3DMwgl24fZAWinzGlZOPjZfBwzHLtcHW2_Y-i1pLk2_lmh360LTL-quTDMGwZmdoPkVltOXSkxB-31kIndXIbyZCd6FiC-BEUpH-TcMqFUkStxilnidxFKlw-qC22lWjfNFEtIcbEsd1gLx9OD5AluJh_ziS11WJVMDC2Lyfj5oZF/s320/3FEE533A-5DCC-419C-AE03-227520B10DBD.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y9CWMUsU-vzjpvGCz20fejir0NC2cszzqFhAS9_W0o0XNjEdXaM3Vl8RMIrCusKLgceYbuuPfDJSWsLzeJ4aN7p6YMZ4oJopPXm8G-79T7BLkgt-wwCUPEvkwjH_97RX3Vp_2FEdstpbNnR0QbtbVObnSuh8AMfgn1QHwq27QWGChrC1cIeLYKWz/s4032/50292AA3-A153-472F-87CA-AB85CBB5D7D8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y9CWMUsU-vzjpvGCz20fejir0NC2cszzqFhAS9_W0o0XNjEdXaM3Vl8RMIrCusKLgceYbuuPfDJSWsLzeJ4aN7p6YMZ4oJopPXm8G-79T7BLkgt-wwCUPEvkwjH_97RX3Vp_2FEdstpbNnR0QbtbVObnSuh8AMfgn1QHwq27QWGChrC1cIeLYKWz/s320/50292AA3-A153-472F-87CA-AB85CBB5D7D8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQbXle6dBCTw0daORKDMMJz0bbf2eB3hPisbyDfxyCkI-PRhXcTXR7NRIC60lVtb2EvoR587VXb_-knGn6CgUglL1r4m2ku78vOGJRNmcD9VEirzzYcet4XVAwDZO0V8Yzt9RI15zEPwR-yeqCMs1HMR-jsHgKNYh3SVL9I0XJk-S5GKEOLBnV7Xq/s3724/C70B8E22-83ED-4965-B932-AA13FEB21B2D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3724" data-original-width="2096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQbXle6dBCTw0daORKDMMJz0bbf2eB3hPisbyDfxyCkI-PRhXcTXR7NRIC60lVtb2EvoR587VXb_-knGn6CgUglL1r4m2ku78vOGJRNmcD9VEirzzYcet4XVAwDZO0V8Yzt9RI15zEPwR-yeqCMs1HMR-jsHgKNYh3SVL9I0XJk-S5GKEOLBnV7Xq/s320/C70B8E22-83ED-4965-B932-AA13FEB21B2D.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also made some almond, egg white and oil Turron at the weekend. I hope to do a YouYube video about that but as it’s the Summer and there is so much to do. It’s a very old Persian recipe where you form ‘nut dough’. The taste is insane. It took me a fair while to perfect the recipe, I used an Alicante praline, which I then ground down and then made a Turron blando, or Jijona recipe. You are boiling the sugar syrup till the last stage of plastic, just before it becomes glass. Then you allow it to cool for 10 mins, then you roll it with all the other ingredients. It’s very similar to Halvah with one last essential difference…..more in the video </div><div><br /></div>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-10352306895188424622022-06-18T01:38:00.000-07:002022-06-18T01:38:25.213-07:00Faux patina bedside table with lion’s paw legs - stage 3<p> No time for many words today….Ok so I used a wallpaper knife to trim down the very stiff excess edges all around the item. This is very easy to do as long as you hold the blade at 45 degrees to the edge and use the edge as the guide. It’s a lot of fun doing that part, but needs practice on the back first.</p><p>I made a template with my tri-square for my drill holes, as it saves so much time. As you can see in the picture below, I didn’t remove the original handles, I simply turned the drawers round and used their reverse.</p><p>The legs and the handles that I chose for the piece (pictures next time) cost me about £20. The original drawers cost me £11 at IKEA. I left the product code label on in case anyone wants to try to source them).</p><p>I decoupaged (PVA glue to drawer, then over image while all still wet) this vintage map that I bought on Amazon (link provided next time) in sequential order, so I can jumble the drawers or have them look like a proper map depending on mood. I think this way whatever people say, I am ready for them…</p><p>For all decoupage and wallpapering you need to smooth the surface down after glueing. For the decoupage I sized the image first with a thick layer of glue that I then wiped off with a soft cloth, waited two minutes and panted over it again with a proper first layer of glue. I find this creates a very smooth surface to leave to dry. Creases and quasi bubbles do reappear whilst drying, but you shouldn’t touch those, as they will smooth out in the later phases of drying, </p><p>I don’t think I will glue anymore layers, but will polyurethane varnish ( water based so it’s labelled ‘Quick Dry) as I love the results with that product, as the item will be chip and scratch proof. As I did for the recent cake table (see last post), where in the end I varnished it 3 times. You can varnish so quickly if you maintain a wet edge and use a very soft brush. Can I say, I also did a light sanding before each varnish layer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7JRdnQhKtRfMOC4n5zJyeAvrdUzABBzoMb3nLrxtzHrfLTyIZduFnxvq0yOJf2fm-FJjgLYHpWOB5I0e6UVHvBUIlkRH-CuobI1CHBeeEa1TBM_En9tW5M_OnZmS8APDoe4N_zCPDdK0Iigzepb11n-c767dLid0toQHTnH1Ogb567GL0EgD6Bs/s4032/5D73AF85-5290-47B2-9FFE-62FBC7A0D1D4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjK7JRdnQhKtRfMOC4n5zJyeAvrdUzABBzoMb3nLrxtzHrfLTyIZduFnxvq0yOJf2fm-FJjgLYHpWOB5I0e6UVHvBUIlkRH-CuobI1CHBeeEa1TBM_En9tW5M_OnZmS8APDoe4N_zCPDdK0Iigzepb11n-c767dLid0toQHTnH1Ogb567GL0EgD6Bs/s320/5D73AF85-5290-47B2-9FFE-62FBC7A0D1D4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g7jnmxssL5MN1D7VuSdvq3YGpxWrn6mcVbdRssyW2VKWyE-u4fBlU90eRiOZOBhr87w07tzSwEg-kbqgIp57WRumk3l2MHguDbrKgJID6fvWls_v5F1iQpFpu92ekh84jQszSr2TtJfC7n8QJDHSxETHPubhTR4TDba1uEm9a_O-JcbpSTkyUXEB/s4032/8E557545-7058-4624-97DC-747969E1FA2F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g7jnmxssL5MN1D7VuSdvq3YGpxWrn6mcVbdRssyW2VKWyE-u4fBlU90eRiOZOBhr87w07tzSwEg-kbqgIp57WRumk3l2MHguDbrKgJID6fvWls_v5F1iQpFpu92ekh84jQszSr2TtJfC7n8QJDHSxETHPubhTR4TDba1uEm9a_O-JcbpSTkyUXEB/s320/8E557545-7058-4624-97DC-747969E1FA2F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4fR1mV7X8lr-UEEQaqXnj_utz7IJRf_eJjFbvCxv1XeRPYpN8RhhLqjLhAkxR27h73-yHN2gUqbRbrKmhEoGXhpvENae3_bS7B8wink_A71V_9PNizs6ZuRsuI800CWsV7jjkwwg3YluPIWkTMvVIcYnZaH6W4QbJ3HVmD4s1HvbxkAUf8KU8_0w/s3724/042EF003-6BDC-436F-ACD2-9A0A770A71CA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3724" data-original-width="2096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4fR1mV7X8lr-UEEQaqXnj_utz7IJRf_eJjFbvCxv1XeRPYpN8RhhLqjLhAkxR27h73-yHN2gUqbRbrKmhEoGXhpvENae3_bS7B8wink_A71V_9PNizs6ZuRsuI800CWsV7jjkwwg3YluPIWkTMvVIcYnZaH6W4QbJ3HVmD4s1HvbxkAUf8KU8_0w/s320/042EF003-6BDC-436F-ACD2-9A0A770A71CA.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGXqv3UuqMh0xyNICdvQBgkmj-XUZWhKvMPbWTEMd9XRLM6rZmUNBexFxtw8b8pV7xLSIHRKOZBtFtxUlQ829UeHwbO4jSAR5l8Zlg7pvpctdjhQi3BGaKCB1P3TZGfNgK7E_NefDfOOyTV8MTRi76fNFSDtAxcwvX-tmJ53EbN9U6t0YZFRNAMkz/s4032/E3587DC3-71C5-4D0E-9E6E-779AE84A9485.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGXqv3UuqMh0xyNICdvQBgkmj-XUZWhKvMPbWTEMd9XRLM6rZmUNBexFxtw8b8pV7xLSIHRKOZBtFtxUlQ829UeHwbO4jSAR5l8Zlg7pvpctdjhQi3BGaKCB1P3TZGfNgK7E_NefDfOOyTV8MTRi76fNFSDtAxcwvX-tmJ53EbN9U6t0YZFRNAMkz/s320/E3587DC3-71C5-4D0E-9E6E-779AE84A9485.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS0kW4ObKvaVF048g0IYqLveuUOXXYkNt8TN58U8r2aDj8i8YhAf2mEecu1uhuBXLV9XGpMk03jkhoDnjCCt7QTk6Ct_23fE6zUSjo18lFdg2TVlwEhpBXjM7jN6Z7RlP8mvAmSgFNZ4Zjxg83suerQe9Vv0MBG-vgWlHoCCQkJ0hyMer9zGkRTvc/s4032/FD79D234-3377-47AA-B30B-94FF5602F032.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS0kW4ObKvaVF048g0IYqLveuUOXXYkNt8TN58U8r2aDj8i8YhAf2mEecu1uhuBXLV9XGpMk03jkhoDnjCCt7QTk6Ct_23fE6zUSjo18lFdg2TVlwEhpBXjM7jN6Z7RlP8mvAmSgFNZ4Zjxg83suerQe9Vv0MBG-vgWlHoCCQkJ0hyMer9zGkRTvc/s320/FD79D234-3377-47AA-B30B-94FF5602F032.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-36011144680183839102022-06-16T00:32:00.000-07:002022-06-16T00:32:28.292-07:00Marie Antoinette cake table finished<p> I am pleased to say this small occasional table is finished. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BUfKI3zVy5wx2mPn9TqCL7JtiDaxAwfjmxzAV_5Y3QjoxLPcAzeCTSJeqIadt8X5YA5MWx5AMet5F3J0vTXGdpg-W_582qYl711P_20kMcM1AQ3Pi-QDsbycRrb6xTFwRR57a41W4YJqycvEbPsKCKV5PolIU968a2pm-Yr4VvgBl_QQpjjNDI4p/s2048/8313766E-9E25-4989-AC05-1368BCB581A3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BUfKI3zVy5wx2mPn9TqCL7JtiDaxAwfjmxzAV_5Y3QjoxLPcAzeCTSJeqIadt8X5YA5MWx5AMet5F3J0vTXGdpg-W_582qYl711P_20kMcM1AQ3Pi-QDsbycRrb6xTFwRR57a41W4YJqycvEbPsKCKV5PolIU968a2pm-Yr4VvgBl_QQpjjNDI4p/s320/8313766E-9E25-4989-AC05-1368BCB581A3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q-ySaADhhENtdLOeRLy9YUIN0TOw_fMDStfoqrRzoJFfVooXHPRY7JNmSqQrMd7VCKuVy4-LW4p7dkQMe7ZlPtydDLiVCop0Gg1nU4dvrm8YDEdR5RWITt_gulolHj_WX3cxn5bXV_uCds-UjFJksx7pESBnkGP_AgxYUTmla5TLjtWh1saLuUPf/s2048/E59FFF77-3570-403D-B824-3AF3E6F41E46.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q-ySaADhhENtdLOeRLy9YUIN0TOw_fMDStfoqrRzoJFfVooXHPRY7JNmSqQrMd7VCKuVy4-LW4p7dkQMe7ZlPtydDLiVCop0Gg1nU4dvrm8YDEdR5RWITt_gulolHj_WX3cxn5bXV_uCds-UjFJksx7pESBnkGP_AgxYUTmla5TLjtWh1saLuUPf/s320/E59FFF77-3570-403D-B824-3AF3E6F41E46.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I decided on Matt clear polyurethane varnish which allows most of the chalk paint patina to remain visible. The shells took much much longer than I imagined but I think the overall reproduction feel to it works, which is a nice reward for all my efforts.</p><p>I am very excited about something else on the horizon now…. what can I say, Pinterest is responsible, don’t blame me, blame Pinterest….more later…</p><p><br /></p><p>g2g xx</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-53893818784624356602022-06-14T06:55:00.000-07:002022-06-14T06:55:42.598-07:00Celtic dog 4 & other stuff<p> Ok ppl, here is a close up of current WIP and the area photographed is one inch square !!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkj2VKL3O4zXL6yBimGqMxb_8q5sWDytuo5RruxpVnxNfJ8otynIt7yZKbLpER7Jr-cpqJViif7EtpwRb3QSio5wG3-lXSHNueve6RMgKGEm1oYuWwghXdsa0FdvPJuFN1lPN8vXDXaj81eDtrjhdtNfWjvRBpNvi-86nXPlEWdbLmwswDb0Umobi/s2048/708C14E1-D650-4E97-A566-0A4DCE1C9403.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkj2VKL3O4zXL6yBimGqMxb_8q5sWDytuo5RruxpVnxNfJ8otynIt7yZKbLpER7Jr-cpqJViif7EtpwRb3QSio5wG3-lXSHNueve6RMgKGEm1oYuWwghXdsa0FdvPJuFN1lPN8vXDXaj81eDtrjhdtNfWjvRBpNvi-86nXPlEWdbLmwswDb0Umobi/s320/708C14E1-D650-4E97-A566-0A4DCE1C9403.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueAIW92B8muJWd9yJiKiTmUHoxpT425Mu35PKnNUkluKEhhQhvOH3wj7iuWPESshtJTvOncQMRuutKyLOf1y7iR-ruX9CXJ9Y-meXFt8OO_0-2KnnX3ZKo1mQoy3sXDblJVRQS6Q-m_EJcP-1UwG4x2wk7iqk5Wh4M7nRZjLQnLZ8Mp049SmwFL06/s2048/E3CE37E1-6395-4DAF-8BC0-9B97E540D5AE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueAIW92B8muJWd9yJiKiTmUHoxpT425Mu35PKnNUkluKEhhQhvOH3wj7iuWPESshtJTvOncQMRuutKyLOf1y7iR-ruX9CXJ9Y-meXFt8OO_0-2KnnX3ZKo1mQoy3sXDblJVRQS6Q-m_EJcP-1UwG4x2wk7iqk5Wh4M7nRZjLQnLZ8Mp049SmwFL06/s320/E3CE37E1-6395-4DAF-8BC0-9B97E540D5AE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I gave him a black collar with gold studs, to suggest a leather article. Although very little leather work survives, Celtic, Saxon and Viking leather work was very ornate and there are a couple of examples on display at the Ashmolean museum. I’ve couched some silver thread too. Will be doing more of that but will probably bulk it up somehow?</p><p>Next is the progress I recently made with the Marie Antoinette garden cake table. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFjQbjDbO6K4a0q5wC1S_gI9K361GZTfTv38Jbdn5cUwgA65uUo4ZN-_gzzo_rZHzaH8XLAr44BapjPQGVhGKJlojdzG7QOoaUfgWL48mTIKL8ooNDTGBx-hM1lUf7ilLIAfvq7xV-wqGyiOc95yALjO5P0SFecDzjauGk_UqfA75hCKS8l04derX/s2048/9C6C20BA-6852-48C8-819B-F2AB60B3EF20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFjQbjDbO6K4a0q5wC1S_gI9K361GZTfTv38Jbdn5cUwgA65uUo4ZN-_gzzo_rZHzaH8XLAr44BapjPQGVhGKJlojdzG7QOoaUfgWL48mTIKL8ooNDTGBx-hM1lUf7ilLIAfvq7xV-wqGyiOc95yALjO5P0SFecDzjauGk_UqfA75hCKS8l04derX/s320/9C6C20BA-6852-48C8-819B-F2AB60B3EF20.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Next is stage 2 of the bedside table with faux patina.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mnx7q4fXafb1PEU1nBbITQGkUOpkng0f5a-glzq-C0ztwFMZL4NjP4gMR_b80kon3ZaBolPFrj0FLgiZKAL9f49jn_8SJtkrYG59TDk9PNaL7IrBPnAb1Hdidq7-kP_PVYyTD7Vn-vTwyg6BDzmRoY1SJQrFIWgCkTDGFvhZHfvUaYPRmgOgUypn/s4032/CCACA2DE-F885-4E73-B7DF-E0D2EBDB552C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mnx7q4fXafb1PEU1nBbITQGkUOpkng0f5a-glzq-C0ztwFMZL4NjP4gMR_b80kon3ZaBolPFrj0FLgiZKAL9f49jn_8SJtkrYG59TDk9PNaL7IrBPnAb1Hdidq7-kP_PVYyTD7Vn-vTwyg6BDzmRoY1SJQrFIWgCkTDGFvhZHfvUaYPRmgOgUypn/s320/CCACA2DE-F885-4E73-B7DF-E0D2EBDB552C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So I BIN Zinssered it as a base layer for wallpaper. I used 1000gms paper, which is lovely and thick. I made sure there were no air pockets and will wait the full 24 hours before I cut that to size. </p> <p></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-91336188468968939922022-06-13T00:24:00.000-07:002022-06-13T00:24:49.749-07:00Celtic dog 4 and next item to be upcycled<p> Apologies ppl, but no time to speak….</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIOcK7Tgu6ocBeVWrH_LRpFtarBpgN4hRQFOBqEQzvkoiKE9x2jN8snT02pI4AbdnUATz9bGHkna_VSpTN70MZ7JDPx1le6cVeIPTPYkqN9IeULeBoW4_GtOAPWiWEJV5s2HkXnLNzdi4lwZ3CPrBn6PNFzw1bDc6dG6n01wzBfd8Z_Vx4iVZX7VO/s4032/5A5945D1-3E01-4651-90EA-EB5069B8B79B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIOcK7Tgu6ocBeVWrH_LRpFtarBpgN4hRQFOBqEQzvkoiKE9x2jN8snT02pI4AbdnUATz9bGHkna_VSpTN70MZ7JDPx1le6cVeIPTPYkqN9IeULeBoW4_GtOAPWiWEJV5s2HkXnLNzdi4lwZ3CPrBn6PNFzw1bDc6dG6n01wzBfd8Z_Vx4iVZX7VO/s320/5A5945D1-3E01-4651-90EA-EB5069B8B79B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pu_LOIAWB13jO9-XXpkQs_GKkg2R8hx7BJFSS5-Wlad3tcS6SFYY-V0L05--rtgdF6HrdAxjRA75f-iqku48pUQ0yMMnWk0-jOGlzOOZeDE7DSA_1xJs3OkY5Kx5NMicxwHJIEBE1V5JlyO3LYG2qeiKBhgiE_lbeZNXq9TRcHi_2QP2G-p7rfMA/s2048/C06EA8A9-ED77-4CC8-B565-3A6E77908DBC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pu_LOIAWB13jO9-XXpkQs_GKkg2R8hx7BJFSS5-Wlad3tcS6SFYY-V0L05--rtgdF6HrdAxjRA75f-iqku48pUQ0yMMnWk0-jOGlzOOZeDE7DSA_1xJs3OkY5Kx5NMicxwHJIEBE1V5JlyO3LYG2qeiKBhgiE_lbeZNXq9TRcHi_2QP2G-p7rfMA/s320/C06EA8A9-ED77-4CC8-B565-3A6E77908DBC.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-45744331599842146562022-06-08T00:46:00.002-07:002022-06-08T00:46:57.418-07:00Celtic dog 3<p> Ok so here is the progress I made re all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENf8NF7JipwHp9YLmIlQoPba5WTutew4Ix_na7FIXIaj-N4WuR8lUO_oiK-oSpQ1bPA5tNxLHRexrYogu_ogu1DST8Yw1iA9FRMJjn7DehQOxRyDBl9SQcNqzARIUdDRQkkU0gmEIx5SFXfh81cOqoik0N0gNz-LXZIzB6ty2O8e9BAzookCv41vO/s2048/5A96F3AE-C214-496B-B229-86349B87C682.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENf8NF7JipwHp9YLmIlQoPba5WTutew4Ix_na7FIXIaj-N4WuR8lUO_oiK-oSpQ1bPA5tNxLHRexrYogu_ogu1DST8Yw1iA9FRMJjn7DehQOxRyDBl9SQcNqzARIUdDRQkkU0gmEIx5SFXfh81cOqoik0N0gNz-LXZIzB6ty2O8e9BAzookCv41vO/s320/5A96F3AE-C214-496B-B229-86349B87C682.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6yf0KipX_GkvO2gPk-oYqUD0HSltAy80bQ1LX-57iWRyInXCsSpGFBediuzra0paqJJSgAddHf8iB7USZWU6ZNUYeZxHSFe3JEckP4qVE7YeHGDtMuEVpKflO_IA2k4X-jTlQM22QGNtVe69f0hZbdns531rMbCSI6DDFOlkroNbRUeefKfUKZ1S/s4032/28054FCD-BB7E-4DE1-AA0B-FAF199AAF935.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6yf0KipX_GkvO2gPk-oYqUD0HSltAy80bQ1LX-57iWRyInXCsSpGFBediuzra0paqJJSgAddHf8iB7USZWU6ZNUYeZxHSFe3JEckP4qVE7YeHGDtMuEVpKflO_IA2k4X-jTlQM22QGNtVe69f0hZbdns531rMbCSI6DDFOlkroNbRUeefKfUKZ1S/s320/28054FCD-BB7E-4DE1-AA0B-FAF199AAF935.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAUYaWXB5LJSJgUyiHI8IgU7O9ncM1tf4iHCBAy-33CosXQM44Plqva_Zgi60QpbPrcrHMyzVciFrOQ4Kan2ZanCXv1hcmkV4MpSwsWXP-oTgJJTDjx1eBOU9Aw_m3njzeHsSK_yIoeTJwCpKKWN-7d0xkzkfmef9peZpmPlQ44xcJCHlyYqbJp0H/s2048/F786F768-8C2B-401A-A561-184405B99D27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAUYaWXB5LJSJgUyiHI8IgU7O9ncM1tf4iHCBAy-33CosXQM44Plqva_Zgi60QpbPrcrHMyzVciFrOQ4Kan2ZanCXv1hcmkV4MpSwsWXP-oTgJJTDjx1eBOU9Aw_m3njzeHsSK_yIoeTJwCpKKWN-7d0xkzkfmef9peZpmPlQ44xcJCHlyYqbJp0H/s320/F786F768-8C2B-401A-A561-184405B99D27.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I decided to spread wildflower seeds around this wasteland that I’ve cultivated, to which I will add wild bird seed. I’ve done this before at my mother’s and it works. Basically in the bird seed is a lot of wheat and as wheat is a nitrogen fixer, you find everything benefits that is growing nearby.</p><p>I decided with the door to strip the lacquer off the furniture and polish it. Although this means in the winter it will tarnish much more frequently, I just prefer the brass to look like gold and not like it did with the yellowed lacquer. Removing the lacquer to get back to the bare metal was easier than opening a bag of crisps - you basically paint it with neat nail varnish remover aka 100% acetone. </p><p>Then the stumps were so heavy, they broke the handle of my garden refuse bag, so there’s another job added to the list.</p><p>Not over the moon with the Celtic dog progress. Looking too predictable. Will be pulling some out and adding more blue.</p><p>Oh well have to dash off to hold down the day job. I will be visiting an archaeology museum soon, that should be good…</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-92127219833990792882022-06-06T01:35:00.000-07:002022-06-06T01:35:13.269-07:00Celtic dog update 2<p> Here is the next instalment and the original design that I flipped. </p><p>The colours I decided on were inspired by The Book of Kells.</p><p>I’d like to draw your attention to the two areas of solid filling worked in opposing directions, where you can clearly see how densely the stitches stack up and create a very flat surface that reflects a sheen, or light, even with the very cheap cotton I’m using. Also, I’m noticing that if you work in one direction the stitches look more like mini chain stitch, but if you work in both directions, as they did back in the day, the stitches look more like split stitch and stack up even more densely.</p><p>The work takes a long time because each stitch covers 3 strands of ground fabric. Sharp points, curves and straight lines can all be worked easily. For the dog’s paws I had to go into the previous stitch, instead of the end of it, to create even tighter curves, which is also something I picked up from staring at Opus Anglicanum work in close up for a long time.</p><p>The black outline is a guide only, I’m still working out if I want that to be more apparent in the end? </p><p>I seriously underestimated how long this piece would take and had hoped to finish it for the Diamond Jubilee, as the first kings of England were Welsh.</p><p>Remember ppl, it took three women 25 years to complete a set of vestments for the Pope back in the day….</p><p>I’m working in sections now, instead of long lines, as a way of seeing faster progress but it’s not as hypnotic to work as the previous way of working. What I will say though, is that even though it takes a long time, it’s very very addictive - so be warned!</p><p>My personal view is this stitch most likely came to England via Byzantium religious textiles and not from secular French purses. </p><p>Apologies if the photo’s aren’t clearer, my hands are a little unsteady due to painting my front door and sledge hammering about 12 tree stumps the last two weeks. I’m so pleased both those arduous tasks are finito.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5PH6AM8TzTLJzqSELIoNWbLdUfLnQ77Z_XS_ByXWXlYFsAlgPttQJbwj0FAnD-EftQbRXVakyOtlfGs8naDV36obUZToDZPbnZ1EQQ1Xi2hJ1im9k041GBYXvgePWpH6ziYZ2vJhiBj9__WPQKSOpQymaj6hMnWz3CwA5XELBAPYaTpBk0yt5onV/s4032/0C7C70F0-4D1B-469A-8FE5-E88AF955F2F7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5PH6AM8TzTLJzqSELIoNWbLdUfLnQ77Z_XS_ByXWXlYFsAlgPttQJbwj0FAnD-EftQbRXVakyOtlfGs8naDV36obUZToDZPbnZ1EQQ1Xi2hJ1im9k041GBYXvgePWpH6ziYZ2vJhiBj9__WPQKSOpQymaj6hMnWz3CwA5XELBAPYaTpBk0yt5onV/s320/0C7C70F0-4D1B-469A-8FE5-E88AF955F2F7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUnir-yEF5Z0T5sKn0IUAvsusxAfoDUCujfOO8RzvgGf2-C47MNAE-Jed1H3CL_1TAw2bjnVeha6aCtYLO5krH6RICQ4op7Bao0nSd78xSqTIVPJjyTWjm-LHgevlN6wUUbRIagzUx4qfd9n8Okm9L2JECI2jZbQqqzjPRhcJ7MgyeEhcHs-8kkLK/s4032/C0C3095D-B6FF-4A6F-B571-849C93BC5196.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUnir-yEF5Z0T5sKn0IUAvsusxAfoDUCujfOO8RzvgGf2-C47MNAE-Jed1H3CL_1TAw2bjnVeha6aCtYLO5krH6RICQ4op7Bao0nSd78xSqTIVPJjyTWjm-LHgevlN6wUUbRIagzUx4qfd9n8Okm9L2JECI2jZbQqqzjPRhcJ7MgyeEhcHs-8kkLK/s320/C0C3095D-B6FF-4A6F-B571-849C93BC5196.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-91003987756428221072022-06-02T03:52:00.000-07:002022-06-02T03:52:44.513-07:00Celtic interlaced dog<p> WIP using Opus Anglicanum Stitch </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0lwCEB3lZkmz96elunDDo-MsDal7WgwaZDL5LA4mYV7rC9Y73WClLxjLWgpNwH60_OOVfgTTEoP-Cyc6j_jI4FaKuCMJUpVD6RA_JWUSaasHgS7rn1V-U33-nydOyuTtZuOURCdmnyn_VMEfRhDRe48eluL6XlppfIiZx9Kky9k6xTAIxAG-Yboa/s4032/5366550D-EBFA-427D-989F-EFFA371FC0A0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0lwCEB3lZkmz96elunDDo-MsDal7WgwaZDL5LA4mYV7rC9Y73WClLxjLWgpNwH60_OOVfgTTEoP-Cyc6j_jI4FaKuCMJUpVD6RA_JWUSaasHgS7rn1V-U33-nydOyuTtZuOURCdmnyn_VMEfRhDRe48eluL6XlppfIiZx9Kky9k6xTAIxAG-Yboa/s320/5366550D-EBFA-427D-989F-EFFA371FC0A0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-89459484242180894212021-11-04T01:05:00.000-07:002021-11-04T01:05:36.296-07:004 new pdf patterns in the pipeline…<p> Hi friends!</p><p>What a Summer….</p><p>Ok, so further to my last post where I mentioned working on some stitch mechanics etc, I have managed to take those discoveries into design mode and have had a really great time bringing things together into a file of untidy, but logical conclusions. </p><p>So as a taster, here is one of the patterns I have designed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tB-Mx8Wsbc/YWgB8kHDPZI/AAAAAAAAD9s/wN7qK5L2reAxv0-OidVw-sTT5nmKnHDagCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DDDD3056-9E71-4F12-80C7-D6F2AEC57B89.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tB-Mx8Wsbc/YWgB8kHDPZI/AAAAAAAAD9s/wN7qK5L2reAxv0-OidVw-sTT5nmKnHDagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DDDD3056-9E71-4F12-80C7-D6F2AEC57B89.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>And here is the WIP…</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ninHfRcgNy0/YYOQ3tq7h8I/AAAAAAAAD-o/yMv4VSbgnfcyw4OkcwX1RdkIUmiDnqWAACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ED627D5F-4223-4327-BB9B-D3B20FD1E87F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ninHfRcgNy0/YYOQ3tq7h8I/AAAAAAAAD-o/yMv4VSbgnfcyw4OkcwX1RdkIUmiDnqWAACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ED627D5F-4223-4327-BB9B-D3B20FD1E87F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Ok, so it’s a needle book with an purpose-built space for your thimble. </p><p>However, while working on this pattern I was reminded of a design element that had intrigued me about four years ago…you can guess the rest….I went off on a trajectory for a few months….this always happens when I trace my thought processes back and realise something needs to be clarified, especially if there are confusing instructions ‘out there’. Then the other thing that happens is that once the scale of the work is set, then other ideas that were ‘free radicals’ before, suddenly become very useable and concrete. Namely miniature 3-d roses. </p><p>I have to go now because I have to complete a course that will enable me to gain promotion in the day job. I don’t completely detest my day job, but I am a bit grumpy at the present time with sloppy co-workers and their destructive social lives. Of course I am the one that has to pick up the proverbial slack and work even longer hours to keep the ship on an even keel. Enough about reality, which is not something I tend to discuss much on here because art, creativity, inventions and intellectual progress are far grander ideas….</p><p>Wish me luck ppl, I need it!</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-24884297987515982272021-08-09T02:19:00.000-07:002021-08-09T02:19:10.363-07:00To be or not to be…<p>Dear stitchers and artists,</p><p>I managed to spend three hours, on and off in single-minded pursuit of stitch mechanics on about 5 stitches I had been working on for the last two summers. I had my notes to hand and, my by now, very cramped doodle cloth, and away I went.</p><p>Because reality was close on my heels, I had to really go into ‘the zone’ with regard to working out, noting down, photographing and testing hypotheses. I was so desperate to get to the bottom of certain areas of ambiguity I was almost in a parallel universe of concentration and one-ness. It felt really good!</p><p>It worked! I mean it paid off, I got my answers. Feeling encouraged to battle on, I tackled all 5 and wrote up my notes. </p><p>The notes are not tidy, yet, but at least they are all there and have been improved, tested and ticked. </p><p>Ok, so Danish Stitch is actually the basis of a stitch that I think I’ve invented? That sounds weird but it’s true.</p><p>I was desperately looking for a knot stitch that would end with 4 spokes, I thought I found it with Danish stitch, but I now see in the second ‘flipped’ stage of the stitch, I had actually introduced something quite different that changes the symmetry and weight of the stitch. The end result is a stitch that has a circular centre with 4 anchor points. These anchors offer up huge range of possibilities for spokes into which you can weave, or stitch extra design elements to mimic natural forms more convincingly.</p><p>How I got there is another story altogether and one that involves a video on YouTube that I cannot for the life of me find, that was produced in another language. I often watch videos that are not in English because I don’t actually need to hear them but to watch them. In fact for most of my technical learning, I will turn off the sound and play music instead, as I find the speech in videos os often very distracting and even frustrating..</p><p>Result is, I found a stitch that provides a basis for many, many possibilities with regard to miniature flowers, especially. Oh what fun lies ahead ppl…..</p><p>Here is a photo of Barbados that is my favourite. Just look at that jade water just calling you to dive in and float without any effort with a Daiquiri in your hand resting on your tummy…..hahah!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klSfIwvcGH4/YRDwuc3UE-I/AAAAAAAAD8c/DX9kM2hlgqEPCZmVj0c1gM74wzyOuke8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C6538466-9597-4808-BF7E-3D6CB5DDFE6B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klSfIwvcGH4/YRDwuc3UE-I/AAAAAAAAD8c/DX9kM2hlgqEPCZmVj0c1gM74wzyOuke8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/C6538466-9597-4808-BF7E-3D6CB5DDFE6B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-44107133779553901812021-08-06T01:05:00.001-07:002021-08-06T01:05:59.528-07:00New pdf patterns in the pipeline!<p>Hey ppl, it is good to be back!</p><p>Ok, so I had been digging and digging and planting and generally transforming that patch of land, then to my complete amazement the grass started growing back! So that has reduced my workload by about 40%.</p><p>For the rest I’m planting shrubs, perennials and wildflowers.</p><p>So while I was resting from my labours, it occurred to me that I needed to locate some notes and diagrams I had set aside about a year ago…..oh no, you can guess the rest…..yes, in my tired state I basically turned everything upside down trying to find this pattern….</p><p>After 3 days of mayhem, I found it! You can imagine the relief….it’s like euphoria really?</p><p>I had been working on this pattern for about 6 years, on and off. It brings together tips and tricks from a wide variety of old and often international sources. But most of all, it’s about me making connections with stuff that could provide longed-for solutions to embroidery creations.</p><p>Remember, for most of my childhood I lived like a nomad out of a tiny suitcase that contained all my often miniature precious items. So ‘miniature’ and ‘cute’ have been two hugely important concepts for me.</p><p>So this pattern is of a rose, with a bud and some leaves. The thing is tiny and most of it is completed with one thread, but the 3-d parts are in two threads.</p><p>Then, while I was looking for all these notes, which were placed so safely away I could not find them for three days, as explained above, I found notes for two other patterns that I plan to sort out and offer for sale as instant downloads on my Etsy shop.</p><p>Now one of these sets of notes is about Danish Knotted Stitch. I came across this stitch in a very old book at my local reference library. You see the knot in a lot of places but you don’t see it done……um, correctly.</p><p>Sorry folks, but facts are facts. The Danish Knotted Stitch is square shaped, yet in most places, you see it as a triangle.</p><p>In my view, that is because the central ‘flip’ in that knot, it often not understood, and dare I say then fudged and hence it remains a triangle. The knot is square in its proper form and in so doing provides a huge potential as the centre of a flower.</p><p>I am actually fascinated with how to produce a Corolla in embroidery, as there are many ways to do it, and so many stitches can be adopted. However, because I adore botanical drawing and water colours, I have always wanted in embroidery to get as close to the truth about plant anatomy as I could, so I invented a new way of doing a Corolla, well two actually but I’m happy to stick with one. </p><p>So future pdf pattterns I hope will be:</p><p>Mini rose & bud</p><p>Corolla 1</p><p>Tendrils 1</p><p><br /></p><p>More about that later…</p><p><br /></p><p>So where am I with the table…..well the scrolls are just that and I have to practice how to do them, first coiling to the left then to the right. I thought I could simply italicise the two circular sections, but just lately I’ve decided the whole lower section of those shells have to be reminders of the sea, rather than reminders of plants. I could try black brown and gold, or light brown and gold or very pale pastel shades with gold highlights. Not sure yet because I need to be more relaxed to cope with all the choices.</p><p>Have a great weekend xx</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_BC4QMo5k0/YQztTPQ4XLI/AAAAAAAAD7s/dXBIqLyZzQ4Jf_QzIT8djyDzyhugI2VuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5B636C1F-808D-4C1D-8E82-7AF210F59535.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_BC4QMo5k0/YQztTPQ4XLI/AAAAAAAAD7s/dXBIqLyZzQ4Jf_QzIT8djyDzyhugI2VuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5B636C1F-808D-4C1D-8E82-7AF210F59535.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-60576027876878862912021-07-27T00:19:00.000-07:002021-07-27T00:19:02.680-07:00Close up of the solution<p>See what I mean? This is a lot of detail to convey eleven times in a 2 x 1.5 inch space…will have to do some thinking….ouch!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hg-ZgzhfJLw/YP-ydqfuPlI/AAAAAAAAD7A/C48TZCyrAm4TC-bJlEONWt2NCfZz8bbTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/009C1324-99B6-44E3-8487-CABC1959872F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hg-ZgzhfJLw/YP-ydqfuPlI/AAAAAAAAD7A/C48TZCyrAm4TC-bJlEONWt2NCfZz8bbTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/009C1324-99B6-44E3-8487-CABC1959872F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> As you can see the ‘knobs’ are not symmetrical.<p></p><p>Luckily I’ve found a painted mould and the exact same unpainted version.</p><p>In the painted one they have used gold to highlight….</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-54054452867567086522021-07-26T12:53:00.002-07:002021-07-26T12:53:51.657-07:00Houston we have a problem<p>Hola Friends!</p><p>Long time etc… Been mighty busy, have taken on something not huge but not tiny.</p><p>In so doing, I’ve had to reassess certain technical problems that were kind of bugging me.</p><p>Basically, the Mermaid’s eye has to come out. It’s too heavy and simply wrong.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFyeKQlx8-4/YP8Ln1aNggI/AAAAAAAAD6w/X33u3rz-TuU1XwwI9AORS1Zk8IM1AmrPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/08611940-9F77-41A0-B184-77A2973B12B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFyeKQlx8-4/YP8Ln1aNggI/AAAAAAAAD6w/X33u3rz-TuU1XwwI9AORS1Zk8IM1AmrPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/08611940-9F77-41A0-B184-77A2973B12B3.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Then I realised that the Rococo shells were not to my liking. I painted them individually from a drawing, whereas I should have worked from a photo of the the 3-d object.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6ehTxcfrDs/YP8MaDxnjCI/AAAAAAAAD64/LtPLvDmNABcI4mJqRUjIfYqMs3-QtjeSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B67B03B0-C1C4-4B1A-922E-07B25CED66C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6ehTxcfrDs/YP8MaDxnjCI/AAAAAAAAD64/LtPLvDmNABcI4mJqRUjIfYqMs3-QtjeSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/B67B03B0-C1C4-4B1A-922E-07B25CED66C2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I like more than I dislike overall, but what I dislike is so in my face, it has to go.</p><p>I need to completely understand what those holes at the base of the shells are doing, as they are not convincing in my opinion. So I washed all of them off and it’s literally back to the drawing board.</p><p>But the good thing is, they were easy to paint, in that you keep turning the table top to paint the next and you get into a therapeutic rhythm and before you know it, you’ve completed the circuit.</p><p>OK, so because I believe we throw away too many clothes and the planet is choking under the weight of all this waste fibre, I decided to alter and up cycle my clothes. I find this a very satisfying thing to do, because it saves so much money. So I’ve sorted out four pairs of trousers, a pair of shorts and a blouse. </p><p>On top of that, I’ve taken on a project that is not going to last forever but it’s going to be intense for a while. Basically I took over a derelict piece of land. I walk past this strip of land many times and about 6 weeks ago I was appalled at the state of it. So having successfully created a wild flower meadow at the front of my parent’s house, by simply throwing mixed wild bird seed at it every Saturday, I realised that if you want to stuff lots of flowers in, you really need a bit of wheat in there too, as you need it to fix the nitrogen. In organic gardening you always stick in your nitrogen fixers in what they call companion planting.</p><p>I did that in my own garden and hence I now have a jungle that I have to hack back now and again. </p><p>Can I say, I know that as I work on this derelict patch of land people are looking at me thinking I will regret what I’ve started, because the soil is so poor and it’s not even flat. But what they don’t realise is that with organic gardening, you can turn barren soil into a good growing medium in next to no time. Forget lugging home sack after sack of compost….all you need is a good compost heap from which to make compost tonic and add volcanic ash and wood shavings and you can grow what you like in next to no time.</p><p>Oh well I have to go because ‘Always Hungry’ has announced his tummy is rumbling…</p><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-29706468477239887582021-06-23T01:00:00.000-07:002021-06-23T01:00:18.173-07:00Rococo table 7<p> Well, things have changed with the table. After painstakingly cutting and painting all those shells, I realised they just didn’t work and it struck me I had missed a trick….</p><p>Basically, the background colour presented an opportunity in its own right….in that the paint contains plaster, so painting directly onto plaster is either a wonderful way to revisit the past e.g. Frescos, or it’s a null and void sell out to darling acrylics.</p><p>Well of course I went for the more difficult option of Frescoes and can I say, what wonderful medium….ghostly and very forgiving!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hR2bYAjRz1o/YNLp3lgneGI/AAAAAAAAD5s/Pp4P8PicCuk-jpsgABylAvWSqel2A2_TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4B3A593F-95CB-4EF0-B450-3529191DB1E9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hR2bYAjRz1o/YNLp3lgneGI/AAAAAAAAD5s/Pp4P8PicCuk-jpsgABylAvWSqel2A2_TgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/4B3A593F-95CB-4EF0-B450-3529191DB1E9.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-41021714535850529792021-06-21T02:19:00.003-07:002021-06-21T02:19:23.388-07:00Rococo table 7<p> I tidied up the legs over the weekend, they are almost finished, just one more coat of gold furniture paint needed. It is much easier to paint them having dismantled the table and if I had done that to start with I would have saved about 4 days. However I needed to see the table assembled to make final colour choices, so I’m not going to beat myself up about that.</p><p>I found a really nice gold foil for the background on Marie A, but it does include the name of the chocolate and some cute embossed tiny horses. I’m OK with that, because the gold is perfect for my purposes, so that is a ‘fill’ as per the script of Margin Call with Kevin Spacey, which is a film I’ve seen now about 38 times. </p><p>Then I painted the shells about 4 times with 2 golds. I’m a little concerned they are quite flat looking now and am toying with the idea of making them more 3-d? I’ll do an experiment and see what happens. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwQ8kAFyf_E/YNBTNDaO_eI/AAAAAAAAD5A/N6SbZiQiHXUaCuCZsoe_irUzV6cSROpdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8BCFCD29-E92A-42E9-9815-CB2CCEE931CF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwQ8kAFyf_E/YNBTNDaO_eI/AAAAAAAAD5A/N6SbZiQiHXUaCuCZsoe_irUzV6cSROpdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8BCFCD29-E92A-42E9-9815-CB2CCEE931CF.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mqv-GJwrUU/YNBTMvmmrgI/AAAAAAAAD48/W5K-6djF9kwTrZ2lskI_YyVq76rFtckTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/966BFBE0-D34A-464B-AF50-5A29A0793970.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mqv-GJwrUU/YNBTMvmmrgI/AAAAAAAAD48/W5K-6djF9kwTrZ2lskI_YyVq76rFtckTACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/966BFBE0-D34A-464B-AF50-5A29A0793970.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNII0BHN9xQ/YNBTNCOER6I/AAAAAAAAD5E/KRxNkylcnJkONIDuGI0-iINIEOFfqmZSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/966022C1-A37E-4C0F-A936-DA4E9564B7A3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNII0BHN9xQ/YNBTNCOER6I/AAAAAAAAD5E/KRxNkylcnJkONIDuGI0-iINIEOFfqmZSwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/966022C1-A37E-4C0F-A936-DA4E9564B7A3.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Apart from all of that, I covered yet more of my boxes lying around the place. I found it much easier to use a sponge roller to apply the school PVA on both the paper and the surface. I also watered the PVA down a bit because it was drying super fast. I think the beaded box looks quite Chinese now, which is Ok but unintentional. This was because I didn’t quite have enough floral paper and so had to include as protective gold border. The beads are very clever, they are not beads at all and so there is no snagging threat. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGZBBYHsH3k/YNBULtbxdFI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/jphsDxJEtO86lrAuLEeDlQMypQgNQ7ejgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BE25942D-BE0B-4C2A-93C2-40A526895797.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGZBBYHsH3k/YNBULtbxdFI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/jphsDxJEtO86lrAuLEeDlQMypQgNQ7ejgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/BE25942D-BE0B-4C2A-93C2-40A526895797.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv9VTwgO0f4/YNBULtroxGI/AAAAAAAAD5U/Lvpfgq5WWOAds7do0MBNpYzbLbkfC99aACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ED69B40A-E077-4E34-AB2E-E9A0DEB7CD2A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv9VTwgO0f4/YNBULtroxGI/AAAAAAAAD5U/Lvpfgq5WWOAds7do0MBNpYzbLbkfC99aACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ED69B40A-E077-4E34-AB2E-E9A0DEB7CD2A.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I need to finish the table this week, because I need to make a start on the chest of drawers. For that I bought legs from China, which are very well made and fit for purpose. I worry a lot about these projects before I start them and constantly work on them in my head. I think the sides of the chest will be aged bronze patina, which is very exciting but if it’s not really enough, sort of thing, I might apply the gold so that it looks like faded gilding, now that’s going to be hard, but not impossible, especially if I use a sponge. </p><p>To quote from Margin Call again “Well you’ve gotta come out of the gates storming, no swaps…”</p><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-20035280369249495522021-06-17T09:02:00.000-07:002021-06-17T09:02:23.185-07:00Rococo table 6<p> Hi everyone,</p><p>I must admit I have been a little distracted by the gorgeous weather and just how many coats of paint you can apply when working outside.</p><p>The other thing that happened was I had a massive, really massive tidy up. It did me good to find old favourites and become enthused by materials that I stashed with good intentions but neglected ever since. Then something happened to me, where suddenly a lot of ‘stuff’ that was languishing appeared to me like shimmering oases in the desert, whereby I could see the finished item, at long last.</p><p>So after that I took on more and more stuff, boxes, paints, tools everywhere... I’m pleased to say quite a few things have been sorted out.</p><p>Ok, so the table is basically finished design-wise. See photos below. I painstakingly cut out 11 shells in thin card to paint....you guessed it: gold. I used my Fiskars knife, which is a wicked little tool and makes me want to make more of these things. The area between the two circular designs worries me a little, but if I think it needs a bit more work, I’ll just cut out more decoupage characters and stick them on... I have a lot of them! Painting the finished table with a coat of satin varnish will be interesting, but I’ll use hairspray as a fixative first on the images and hopefully there won’t be any colour runs...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP5fUvDjEoY/YMtr25lHhBI/AAAAAAAAD3o/oqo6E6KXnwohrtd4u-rsODQqWG3PEOKcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9A3EA1B4-9971-4E21-BC0B-36FC54E00A4E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP5fUvDjEoY/YMtr25lHhBI/AAAAAAAAD3o/oqo6E6KXnwohrtd4u-rsODQqWG3PEOKcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9A3EA1B4-9971-4E21-BC0B-36FC54E00A4E.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqNRs5KcGEc/YMtr2xrGcjI/AAAAAAAAD3s/_5zPVlo5I8UIh4U_VYI7rveJLD2O3lnmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F682B7AA-2DE7-46FC-A315-26F5838B5AA6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqNRs5KcGEc/YMtr2xrGcjI/AAAAAAAAD3s/_5zPVlo5I8UIh4U_VYI7rveJLD2O3lnmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F682B7AA-2DE7-46FC-A315-26F5838B5AA6.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>I took the table apart to tidy up the legs and made a third arm to rest them on while drying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SvkBrQX5JU/YMtxDBnQ98I/AAAAAAAAD4Y/jEVnVVbZkJQMPLl-Dx1XL-iwKS0gS9uPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/95619633-AE06-4B59-9606-D51D41E66A03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SvkBrQX5JU/YMtxDBnQ98I/AAAAAAAAD4Y/jEVnVVbZkJQMPLl-Dx1XL-iwKS0gS9uPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/95619633-AE06-4B59-9606-D51D41E66A03.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I covered a heart shaped box, it’s actually quite large but so lovely to glimpse in a stuffed cupboard. It’s a gift. Completing the lid gave me a whole stack of ideas for seascapes and golden sunsets etc. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TUkrD2W9B-o/YMtsdrqr4aI/AAAAAAAAD34/H6uNG4W9QGEaUi3OD3xsY8oEYh43bZw1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DD4913C5-01EE-465C-BE3A-230A795DF7F6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TUkrD2W9B-o/YMtsdrqr4aI/AAAAAAAAD34/H6uNG4W9QGEaUi3OD3xsY8oEYh43bZw1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DD4913C5-01EE-465C-BE3A-230A795DF7F6.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hw9FsSRsimE/YMtsd0sonmI/AAAAAAAAD38/8dHMbDt9BL4FMRmI-VtD3sWXliEjgtOpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F27D1B79-1A69-4E92-B64F-F28846772070.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hw9FsSRsimE/YMtsd0sonmI/AAAAAAAAD38/8dHMbDt9BL4FMRmI-VtD3sWXliEjgtOpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F27D1B79-1A69-4E92-B64F-F28846772070.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>The great thing about crepe papering the top was it makes the paper much more durable. I covered it horizontally because the pink paper which is divine had to be used the same way because I only had one sheet. The paper looks like embroidered fabric, which is so adorable p. It cost £2.50 a sheet about 10 years ago from Athena.</p><p>Then I painted another box with Rustoleum Pearlescent spray paint, over eggshell. I don’t have a picture of that, but in amongst it all I did an automatic colour drawing of a person that popped into my head.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7ZU1C1lBuU/YMttwuXWR9I/AAAAAAAAD4I/NeQ8YLOnHDUqO450O9lhV8Zx_nZem83iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DCC5B876-8302-4D75-BEDA-B38CDB3D598A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7ZU1C1lBuU/YMttwuXWR9I/AAAAAAAAD4I/NeQ8YLOnHDUqO450O9lhV8Zx_nZem83iQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DCC5B876-8302-4D75-BEDA-B38CDB3D598A.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Then I painted another box with a rose stencil or stamper, again by Rustoleum and decorated yet another box that was housing paints.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpXn2FDgvlc/YMtue80VTTI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/CywfW43LQhY9_F-OIhFMoVSvvAj1iczHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F6D43A26-3C4D-456D-88E0-D5700B0B734A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpXn2FDgvlc/YMtue80VTTI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/CywfW43LQhY9_F-OIhFMoVSvvAj1iczHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F6D43A26-3C4D-456D-88E0-D5700B0B734A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-52235058599258410592021-06-11T13:10:00.000-07:002021-06-11T13:10:11.214-07:00Rococo table 5<p> Busy busy busy....</p><p>Ok so here is the colour of dreams. It’s Rustoleum’s Belgrave, chalk furniture paint and it is absolutely perfecto. When wet it is darker than you want, then when it dries it is soooo beautiful.</p><p>But, there is always a but.... it is such a vibrant blue, the shells I made looked very wrong for it. So I decided as I’m trying to suggest mouldings, I would just use thin card.</p><p>Then I had to sort out the green stripes I mentioned. Luckily my Fiskars knife thingy proved to be a very good investment. So here are the pictures and hope you like them....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZDMfLss-NE/YMPCoLWY7MI/AAAAAAAAD24/ZIqKKRSNDPIZrcrRZSBXmqbAIBtfsavYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1F0C0135-9D4B-4497-B5D1-B0D8631224A8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZDMfLss-NE/YMPCoLWY7MI/AAAAAAAAD24/ZIqKKRSNDPIZrcrRZSBXmqbAIBtfsavYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/1F0C0135-9D4B-4497-B5D1-B0D8631224A8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qv9nn3tkoyjeAxcsQgw68WhHEqGwsa89gvRCEgyZUdR5W1U94yCkQi5xQaRQMZasFdGvazZnD6QiZXx9KwTt0mwAd0h0HjewqcTOU-0EGew6c8gnSL1sdaikwIyp5_UzLQMuY3Hq2oE/s2048/95A1D7E8-EF95-4DAD-8E1E-1D3B9F9E925A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qv9nn3tkoyjeAxcsQgw68WhHEqGwsa89gvRCEgyZUdR5W1U94yCkQi5xQaRQMZasFdGvazZnD6QiZXx9KwTt0mwAd0h0HjewqcTOU-0EGew6c8gnSL1sdaikwIyp5_UzLQMuY3Hq2oE/w300-h400/95A1D7E8-EF95-4DAD-8E1E-1D3B9F9E925A.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXFbER2cGRw/YMPCoHBq0SI/AAAAAAAAD28/ROm017Po0yInt7RMoQw5TYlV0ZAQymjIACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/369C29FC-411A-4DA8-9C8A-D63169225CE9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXFbER2cGRw/YMPCoHBq0SI/AAAAAAAAD28/ROm017Po0yInt7RMoQw5TYlV0ZAQymjIACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/369C29FC-411A-4DA8-9C8A-D63169225CE9.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-33024073065481044632021-06-10T01:04:00.000-07:002021-06-10T01:04:20.595-07:00Rococo table 4<p>Well, that’s the last time I say I expect something to be easy. The stencil at the bottom is the one I’ll use. It’s not as precise all over as it needs to be, because all I was after was a time-saving device for the relationship between all seven sections radiating from the centre. I will be hand painting the rest. Considering I have to paint 16 shells, TG for stencils. I also made the stencil less symmetrical because Rococo does not use symmetry. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUuUy-maWk0/YMHDvSJtNWI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/IwZtr7rTB_k3WlA49dp7VymdHxhWEiXlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B287C540-77FA-44E8-B823-90DE909F9376.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUuUy-maWk0/YMHDvSJtNWI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/IwZtr7rTB_k3WlA49dp7VymdHxhWEiXlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B287C540-77FA-44E8-B823-90DE909F9376.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjDhWfkk8XU/YMHDvJbCFxI/AAAAAAAAD2U/NafzoXQU1pk8yGDFhLFXj1eVmLodw62ugCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E7B17C7C-35B1-4152-9673-68CC8863B2E7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1153" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjDhWfkk8XU/YMHDvJbCFxI/AAAAAAAAD2U/NafzoXQU1pk8yGDFhLFXj1eVmLodw62ugCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/E7B17C7C-35B1-4152-9673-68CC8863B2E7.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Ok so the table has changed colour from the green you can see above. I faithfully copied Italian paint, where they used layers of scrumblimg and then some ochre. I ended up with this, which was nice but just not peaceful enough for tea in the garden. So I stripped it and painted it white again with undercoat and will top coat it later today, hopefully. The final colour is going to be heavenly, durable and a unanimous decision between me and Alwayshungry. </p><p>The shell motif was going well, then it was not. I couldn’t find my modelling knife and virtually turned the house upside down and inside out trying to find it. Anyway, it’s all sorted out now. So the shell will be half hand painted and half stencil. If it doesn’t look as I hope it will, I will re-think that detail. The main problem I have now is this new colour that the table will be.</p><p>Then there is the background green stripes around Marie problem, that has to go. It occurs to me that I could paint a gold background, which would be so nice, but I’m keeping my mind open on that, as she may need some sky instead?</p><p>I coated the stencil in nail varnish to make it waterproof, as I don’t want it to become soggy and limp.</p><p>It’s very hot in little England now and that makes we want to tidy up, big time. I seem to have a lot of miscellaneous items in the wrong places and I’m a person that if I can’t find something in under 05 minutes I start to get very grouchy. Thank Goodness for plastic crates!</p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-77719997855844431942021-06-06T01:54:00.000-07:002021-06-06T01:54:26.081-07:00Rococo table - stage 3<p>Hello eager revampers, </p><p>Not content with the way the design was going I thought the problem was due to the legs but then I realised all roads lead to, and from, the central image of Marie Antoinette. </p><p>While trying to figure out how the top will relate to the legs, I painted the whole thing brown, as a base layer for Wax Resist technique. Because the table has to look old after it’s painted, I decided to achieve the patina I really will need to bash out about a bit with various implements, not least of all my wire brush.</p><p>So after it was painted brown, I then had to about making Marie look more like she was hand painted. The great thing about inkjet prints is you can move the colour around with water colour paint, applied in thin washes. Being careful not to get the paper too wet. First I sorted out some colours by using my best pigments, then I toned down the highlights, then I neutralised some colours, then I used a gold pen, then made all the darks darker. You basically go on like this to try and make it all more 3-d.</p><p>Feeling Marie had been sorted out by being made to look less flat and more 3-d, it gave me the idea that the shell design for the outer circle of the top design needs to be painted 3-d too. I don’t have a problem with 3-d per se, because it incorporates lots of tricks, or illusions. So I found an image of a period shell but it was too abstract for this piece, but I liked the dimensions. So I traced around it with a ball end thingy, went over the shape with graphite, and then within this framework I superimposed another image of a shell from my phone. The thing about Rococo is they abandoned lots of symmetry, so motifs like this are actually easy to repeat because they are forgiving. The problem of how to fit the shells, that lie on a horizontal axis, within in the circle is not going to be a problem, I hope, because I shall make a template of the whole thing first with baking paper. </p><p>I’m very excited to use massive dollops of gold paint. To date I have about 4 different gold shades, which will come in handy because I don’t want very much flat gold. I cannot yet see the fully finished piece in my head because I always wait to see how much I can exploit the materials. I also want drama and that is always a bit uncertain but very very exciting. I also must keep within budget....so no more decoupage images!</p><p>As I give the table more thought, the more serious this endeavour becomes, which is great because I have a lot of stuff going on at the present time and wrestling with design ideas really takes my mind off the things that are going on in reality. As Hitchcock once said “No one really wants reality”. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFiPyzqlKu8/YLyGGdhlrmI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ipnQDzUR5JwJ1yVIUHQ4_1TB2ino0EfrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0713AA9F-677A-4BCF-92FD-3D0FEC7BDDE9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFiPyzqlKu8/YLyGGdhlrmI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ipnQDzUR5JwJ1yVIUHQ4_1TB2ino0EfrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/0713AA9F-677A-4BCF-92FD-3D0FEC7BDDE9.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZUaWwW7cHI/YLyGGNQVQHI/AAAAAAAAD1U/qEiCsBzIE0owmWpNmaQzqcpr3BvwJBZ_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/34873455-8506-4C17-A0E5-1048C9170992.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZUaWwW7cHI/YLyGGNQVQHI/AAAAAAAAD1U/qEiCsBzIE0owmWpNmaQzqcpr3BvwJBZ_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/34873455-8506-4C17-A0E5-1048C9170992.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmyrzbu4FdU/YLyGGYBg66I/AAAAAAAAD1Y/uj_KhMmsSR42Jy5cENhIzXH1lz3sGOkrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BC5682EC-EF38-4C64-8B99-66185DD48192.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmyrzbu4FdU/YLyGGYBg66I/AAAAAAAAD1Y/uj_KhMmsSR42Jy5cENhIzXH1lz3sGOkrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BC5682EC-EF38-4C64-8B99-66185DD48192.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5603972433589107648.post-11155040994181667092021-06-03T16:02:00.000-07:002021-06-03T16:02:58.657-07:00Rococo table - stage 1<p> Ok so work has begun on this little table. I bought some decoupage images from Etsy and have started to place them and think about what I can do with this piece. </p><p>I decided the colour palette will be from a famous painting of the period. I also looked at crockery and clocks to give me ideas. Invariably when you image search you end up with images from the Rococo revival and I don’t want those, nice as they are.</p><p>So then, quite by chance I stumbled upon a picture of a Rococo side table photograph by an antique dealer in Amsterdam and then I realised that was the missing piece, in my thinking, as it were, because now I have a patina template to work with. So now I’m pretty clear as to my layers, under-painting colours and where and how to distress it. I’m going for wax resist method on the edges and wire brush and sand paper for other bits. </p><p>So I primed the table with Zinsser BIN, which as you know is my go-to paint for revamps and refurbs. The stuff is amazing, but you have to clean your brushes in Methylated Spirits, because of the shellac.</p><p>I did two coats of that and painted the underside of each level too. This was after I washed the table all over with Soda and white vinegar with a dash of washing up liquid. Then rinse it. The soda kills any mould or fungus. Its an old table that I bought at a boot sale for £2. It’s a mass produced reproduction that was made in China. I bought it to use in the garden to serve tea and so I’m going with Marie Antoinette ‘Let them eat cake’ loosely speaking, sort of thing. </p><p>So the first couple of images I bought in Ye Olde Etsy were um....duds. That was a shame because I am on a budget. However as my ideas progressed I realised how much work was involved and so thought it warranted two more digital downloads. I thought the images were priced fairly but the taxes seemed steep?</p><p>Let’s get back to work....remember people, Adam accepted his fate when he knew he could work....work IS our salvation!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiPK_IOOHWk/YLlYhMjKJ0I/AAAAAAAAD0M/NE90raSVsds2NQUW0EkwzHa0fVFj4YeLACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FFF5438A-EF94-4626-A648-746FF5F7016B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiPK_IOOHWk/YLlYhMjKJ0I/AAAAAAAAD0M/NE90raSVsds2NQUW0EkwzHa0fVFj4YeLACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FFF5438A-EF94-4626-A648-746FF5F7016B.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrBXFhtqfTk/YLlYg9Pn7WI/AAAAAAAAD0I/5QFtX5CaFrU-H9c9sC3k4ARcjwmUQWMQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2F317AF8-D0B4-4D8E-8A61-2F16BAE4B7CC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrBXFhtqfTk/YLlYg9Pn7WI/AAAAAAAAD0I/5QFtX5CaFrU-H9c9sC3k4ARcjwmUQWMQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2F317AF8-D0B4-4D8E-8A61-2F16BAE4B7CC.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Beth Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00160368186306629601noreply@blogger.com0