Vintage Tea-towel Table Cloth

A recent thrift score find

resulted in the acquisition

of 15 (ok, actually it was 17)

vintage tea towels.

The tea towels were a large chunk

 of someone's well looked after collection

 As they travelled around Australia and abroad, 

she (must be a lovely woman don't you think)

purchased a linen tea-towel.

I have great plans for my tea-towels (insert evil laugh).

Today I embarked on a desperate quest

 to rid my house of  TACKY, CHEAP

 Disney placemats given to my children by relatives.

Bloody princesses and #$*!ing BEN 10

I really hate, hate, hate

marketing to kids!

So,TA-DA

I made a tablecloth.

Here it is unironed.

Not so amazing its true,

but I'm loving the colour and the kids

can learn some geography while they

scoff their bangers and mash.

All the tea-towels feature Queensland destinations.

My all time favourite though is 

pineapple laden 

"Sunshine Plantation"

Does it get any better than the Big Pineapple I ask you?

I know what you are thinking...

a table cloth doesn't solve the need for a

 wipeable surface.

And so, the final touch....

the plastic cover.

I love how the plastic reminds me of those granny sofas protected by plastic.

Can it get more kitsch?

Well, yes I'm think of adding a red pom-pom trim.

What do you think?

Now onto the cushion.

My Embroidery Learning curve

I have been teaching myself 

free-motion machine embroidery

and really enjoying the process.

This is my chronological embroidery journey.....

So that's is it in a nutshell.
Some of it is on Etsy and some I am putting in
Reverse Garbage's upcoming exhibition
"Thread Count".

If you want to keep up I post much more regularly on Facebook and instagram (elle and lou).

Free Motion Embroidery: 1st timer

I've had a hankering to try my hand at something different.

So I purchased a new foot for my machine

and began to have a small play

 with some fabric sample discards.

 Not to sure where this was going,

I glued it onto some more sample fabric

from Reverse Garbage.

Working over the print with some more

stitching added some much needed detailing.

Time for framing in the hoop.

Finishing the edges.

Fabric glued.

(Note to self- but some more bull dog clips)

Amazing stories:

I'm actually happy with it!

(I might even put it on my wall)

I'm

Here's cheers to 2013 -cherishing this time

Welcome to the New Year!

(even though we are already 8 days into it)

In Australia it is school holidays .

We have been catching up with many family and friends with afternoon barbies and long lunches.

To not be concerned with time and dates

 is indeed a rare treat and to be cherished.

My studio has been neglected,
my sewing machine abandoned,

my creative life paused.

This afternoon, 

I ventured into my studio and

 opened a shoebox.

 I found some bunting I began roughly six months ago.

I think I have forgotten how to stick to a task,

or perhaps I never quite got the hang of it.

 Today I made another 4 triangles

 and so I am a step closer to the end

of this project.

I will finish this bunting before my holidays end,

 but I intend to cherish my

freedom from the clock for as long as possible.

Halloween Bunting Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered my halloween giveaway, Steph took it out!

Thanks too to my likers on Facebook 

and supporting me here too of course. 

Since I have been blogging etc

 I have met some great people,

 and been inspired by many more. 

so,thanks!

3 Little Kittens Bunting in a Book

The Three Little Kittens

 story has always been a favourite with me.

So when I happened upon this 1974 Golden Book publication it was destined to become "Bunting in a Book".

I did leave out the pages of the mother cat

 spanking the kittens over her knee, however tempted I was.

I can't wait to find out where this bunting is destined for-

hopefully a sweet little nursery or child's room.

I'd like to think that the new owner will end up loving this story and much as me.

  

I'll bring this bunting and other "Bunting in a Book"

 to the BrisStyle indie Designers Market 

on the 14th July in the heart of Hamilton, Brisbane.

Birthday Cards and Movie Moments

Yes, here I am

 days later and still working on my 'Birthday Issues'

My actual birthday came and went I am proud to say without a tear nor tantie.

 The same cannot be said for these

 beauties of the silver screen:

Bette Davies

 (...we love you- I always think of the Madonna song Vogue)

Audrey and Katherine Hepburn

and Catherine Deneuve.

Oh Katherine is it oh so bad?

Here's hoping that someone out there shares my slightly distorted sense of birthday humour, either that or my girlfriends are getting these cards for quite some time.

On the flip side..

Hope you are having a Doris Day!

Birthday Issues

My birthday is a in a couple of days.

It isn't a significant one -  just one of those in between years.

These are the ones that I like best!

The birthdays that end in zero come with the pressure that you simply MUST celebrate in a befitting manner.

Lots of people, lots of food and drink,

lots of organising, lots and lots and lots of stress!

Its enough to give you birthday issues.

Joan Crawford -Birthday issues

I was a lot like Joan Crawford when I turned 40

 (minus the glamour unfortunately).

 I'm over the trauma drama now of course,

really... I AM!

Joan is part of my new range of cards entitled 

"Birthday Issues". I've been really enjoying making these cards in the lead up to the BiDM markets in July. I have a little chuckle as I collect the melodramatic images.

Hopefully the recipients will see the humour in the drama too.

What about you?

Ever had a Joan moment?

La Dolce Vita is up-cycling

Now call it opportunistic BUT,

 when the kids are at school is my best chance to...

 ... go through their rooms and throw out crap

- they are such hoarders!

If you have a daughter,

chances are she went through PPP

 (plastic pony phase)

A word of encouragement:

thankfully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I think my daughter has pretty much outgrown them.

Yesterday, I found this forgotten plastic pony carry case and couldn't help myself

-maybe I can be a hoarder too.

I soaked off the filly brand info and was left with a super  icky sticky but funky green briefcase.

"Movie Classics" has been featuring

 regularly in my up-cycling work lately.

A trim and a tweak,

 some glue and some sealer and...

La Dolce Vita!

Translated:

The Sweet Life or 

The Good Life

Ticket wallets fit perfectly- La Dolce Vita

Linking Elle and Lou here:

http://cheapcraftymama.com/pin-it-and-win-it-7/#comment-1199
http://www.releasemecreate.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com.au/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.craftionary.net/

Maths meets Art: Bunting to stimulate inquiry

When it comes to maths my mind is a black hole.

Simply put:

Algebra + me = coma

Sound familiar? Is this you? Your child? 

Well, I used to think this way and

 I thought I was super crap at maths.

It ends up -I'm not too bad actually!

How do I know?

Well I married a Maths teacher!

So many people consider that Maths and the Creative Arts
are at opposite ends of the learning spectrum.

I wish to assert an alternative and less common belief,
 that just as music and maths are intrinsically linked,
so are visual art and maths.

In my Art classes I teach about measuring, fractions,
how to visually divide an image, how to frame,  angles, pattern, tessellations...(big breath)...
the golden ratio, sequencing, perspective...
Do I really need to go on?

So if I can teach all this,

 why did I think I was so rubbish at Maths for so long?

Maybe it has something to do with the unimaginative approach of my Maths teachers from

 some 20 (a-hem) years ago.

Maybe it has something to do with

 the notion that Maths has an image problem,

 especially with girls.

So when the library staff at Mt Alvernia College,

 an all girl's school in Kedron

commissioned some maths bunting I jumped at the chance!

How exciting to potentially engage young womens' maths inquiry through the visual arts! 

I hope that when the girls' eyes wander

 that maybe they will begin to wonder....

"What does that have to do with Maths?"

"Is Maths connected with that?"

Any inquiry is good as it is the beginnings of engagement. 

Who knows?

The girls might even come to the conclusion

 that maths can be beautiful,

(something my husband has been telling me for years).

Envelope for Maths Bunting

Extra education for no extra fee:
In Australia we call the subject Maths not Math as they do in America.

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Ethikl and me: Ethical Consumer Marketplace

Ethikl + Elle and Lou 

 A couple of weeks ago

I let out a big sigh....

and then a "wow!"

I had stumbled upon Ethikl.

Stumbled, head first with a big eco-smile on my face.

Finally something for consumer conscious people!

It is fairly new, so to fill you in-

Ethikl is a fair trade,

 environmentally focussed,

 online marketplace.

It is based in Cabarita QLD, but is truly international!

I am really excited about this concept.

It is a relief to find like minded artisans and and naturally I wanted to be part of it.

Look at these fabulous vintage style bikinis from 

Miss Fancypants

 Lally's upcycled typewriter bracelet

really push my vintage lovin' buttons (ka-ching)

Earthfully is a truly original store.

I mean you can't get an Aboriginal Family at Kmart or Target

(although you should be able to)

and I love their baby charms- cutie pa-tootie!

So, inspired by stores such as these

 I opened an Elle and Lou store

and last weekend I had my first sale.

That IS exciting no?

Something as good as this is hard to keep to yourself,

so check it out and spread the word.

It can only be good for the planet and that means us!

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