Cloudy inspiration

wip, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I do have a lot of orders in line waiting for my attention and I AM working on them, but sometimes I have to take a break and follow an impulse. This cloud here is one of those. Got to use this lovely raindrop fabric from Blank textiles, that's been burning on the shelf since I got it. I love the feeling of inspiration, when an idea just pops up and has to be tried out. I think it is a similar rush people get when they take drugs. But don't worry, I don't need any, my brains do their job so well. I also love working as a factory, those days that are just ordinary and grey and all ideas have rained away I am very happy to have a pile of cushion-covers-to-be to take care of. The cloud is going to fly on a cushion too.

Here is another umbrella art quilt for the real optimist :) It's in the shop too.

At last

Lap top sleeve, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I am very happy to have friends that like my creations. Sometimes I am treating them very badly. This lap top sleeve was ordered in October and I finished it today. Sorry Tom! I really hope it fits. Tom is big E's godfather so I decorated it with appliqué of her drawings. His business name is Musta kirahvi (eng. the black giraffe) so a jungle theme was quite accurate. He is also a talented graphic designer and illustrator, click over to see his work! AND he has illustrated Djungeltrumman's record covers, one of our family's favourite bands :)

Interactive project stage 5

Interactive project stage 5 finished, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I want to thank you all for your creative ideas for the interactive project! I got so many good suggestions I decided to count them all in the draw this time. Originally it was meant to be the ten first, but hey, I set the rules and I do want you all to play with me!

The winning suggestion this time was given by paperfish who said: i am seeing her with a bicycle in the picture, like she rode to the country on her bike and in the basket is her fabric stash and her sewing machine is magic and works anywhere! I hope you are satisfied with the result, it was VERY challenging, I have never sewn a bike before. Nor did I think I would be able to draw one. But fabric and thread works wonders with my drawings, it continually surprises me. Click here for a close-up of it.

I am posting the rules here again if you want to play with me, next round is 6/10!

I will:
1. wait until I have got (at least) ten suggestions for the next motive
2. draw one of them
3. do my best to do as you wish using fabric and thread (and buttons?)
4. go through 10 stages
5. draw a winner among all the people who has come with one of the ten first suggestions at any stage

Feel free to join in! Can't wait to see what my next task will be! You can see the whole process in my flickr.

Gertrud and friends

Gertrud, originally uploaded by -syko-.

A quick note to let you know that Gertrud here and her friends are up in the shop, which from now on will be updated on a daily basis. Next week there will be more cushion covers with shoes.

Next post will be on the interactive project. I have been sewing a bike (oh, my was that a challenge)! Have a great weekend everyone!

Ellah-ellah-ellah

Ellah-ellah-ellah, originally uploaded by -syko-.

Sorry for the heading, but I am in a complaining mood today so an annoying hit song fits perfectly. This is a detail of one of the quilts from a small collection of umbrella quilts I made to celebrate the weather this winter... No matter how I try I can't seem to get good pictures of my work. I need more bulbs and lamps. I went to a special lamp store last week and they did not have a single spot lamp with a clip fastening. Nor did they have daylight bulbs. What kind of lamp store is that? Can't wait for IKEA to open here (this Summer), I know they have exactly the practical and good looking lamps I want . I have read a decent amount of articles on the subject of how to take good shots of your work. But it does not seem to improve my skills. And I would prefer sewing to getting to know my camera better. It does not like me. Maybe I should go and see if I can find something for lunch. It sounds like I'm hungry. And it's snowing! AND I have a new t-shirt. Have a nice day everyone!

*edit* Rather than the song above I would like to recommend Charlotte Gainsbourg. I got her CD for Christmas from T and it's been playing in my studio ever since. The music is by Air, another favourite band and lyrics by the lovely Jarvis and The Divine Comedy. What are you listening to? I would be happy for some tips!

*edit 2* I have had lunch and am now reading the camera manual...

Muffins

Muffins, originally uploaded by -syko-.

Todays post is for Stepanie S, who bought the most amazing cupcake the other day and inspired us to bake yesterday. These are more like tiny Finnish muffins than huge American cupcakes. Tip of the day: If you use smaller cups you can eat three in a row without any difficulty.

Stephanie is special to me because she started her blog about the same time as I did, AND she was the first one ever to comment on my blog. And she is very talented. Go see her beautiful blog, she just got written about in Artful blogging magazine.

Here is some cupcake goodness on etsy, if you want more sweets:
hat by Joujoux, tea cosy by Tabidesigns and a felted cupcake by hodgepodgedesign. Delicious!

And, for those of your who are waiting, the shop up-date will start February 1st.

And the winner is Ruth

fairy angel with dots 2, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I am honestly happy that my son picked Ruths' name from the basket in the give away. Ruth is one of the wonderful persons that always takes the time to write nice and encouraging comments on my posts. Thank you! Ruth is an Australian living in South Africa and I very much enjoy reading her blog; Ruth's place, about life in Africa. She also shares my joy for crafting (so this will be a great opportunity to send those scraps for you that I promised :)

I'll be back soon with next step of the interactive project, if I can get through the task I've been given...