couture

September 30, 2009
by annwood

I’m working on lots of  things for the shop including  a small collection of sweetheart birds, one of a kind things, detailed and intricate, elaborate and self indulgent – couture girls, la belle epoch. I’ll post progress photos here and if you’d like to be notified when they are ready you can join the shop mailing list.

couture

dolls

I was working on this girl last night and she reminded me of a story I read as a kid. I must have been about nine when I first read it and I still have the book, a collection of stories, “The Doll That Was Rich” was read so frequently that the book falls open to the exact page I was thinking of: ” On the table in front of them were two dolls, one dressed and one partially dressed. Beside them was an open parcel, full of bits of bright colored silk; and beside that again was a work basket.” I still love the idea of a basket of fancy scraps and somebody to dress up.

More shop news: Just for fun, I’m adding a new section of found things, very small collections of very small things, flea market treasures, stuff I love- like this mini iron and trivet.

ironandtrivet.jpg

The first collection will be up within the next couple weeks – just six little things .

chillingworth

September 29, 2009
by annwood
owl made from black antique garments

“A striking evidence of man’s faculty of transforming himself into a devil, if he will only, for a reasonable space of time, undertake a devil’s office.”

owl made from black antique garments

Chillingworth, finally finished. I’m going to keep making things from the antique bodice he’s constructed from until there is nothing left at all.

a sewing pattern for a dastardly owl

 

 

Find the sewing pattern to make a your own dastardly owl here.


tiny tophat

September 17, 2009
by annwood

How to make a tiny tophat (in excruciating detail).

What you will need: top hat pattern (click to download pdf), black poster board, scissors, manicure scissors ( for trimming the little curved bits),  elmer’s glue, floral tape, large paper clips, a light color pencil, a dowel or something for  curling the poster board  and black glitter.

tophatmaterials

Trace the 3 pattern pieces onto the black poster board and cut them out. I use a large paintbrush handle to curl all the pieces a little as shown below. I feel this step is key to your success as a tiny tophat maker. Next, overlap the edges of the cylinder about a 1/4″, glue, and clamp with a paperclip.

tophat1      tophat2     tophat3

When the cylinder is dry trim off any extra bits you might have so the bottom and top edges are pretty smooth, apply glue liberally to the top and bottom edges and place the brim and top.  I use floral tape to hold it all together while it dries.

tophat4       tophat5      tophat6

When the glue has dried trim off any excess on the top and brim and shape and smooth the brim with your fingers. Use the exacto knife to poke a hole in the bottom and then insert the little scissors to cut the opening.

tophat7      tophat8      tophat9

Paint it quickly and completely with elmer’s glue, give it a roll or shake in the glitter, leave it to dry and brush off the excess glitter with a stiff paint brush or old toothbrush. Finished!

tophatthumb

Hello tiny tophat!

vintage fabric give away

September 15, 2009
by annwood

vintage fabric

I’m doing a major “getting rid of ” here and starting with my big old trunk of vintage fabric, there’s all sorts of stuff in there – I don’t  even  know exactly what any more  but for optimum productivity and mental health  some of it has to go. There are a few big pieces but it’s mostly smallish scraps, it’s all vintage and some bits I’ve had my entire life;  if you would like some just leave a comment to this post that you would like to be included in the drawing. I’ll pick 3 names this Friday, September 18th and email the winners for their addresses.   Also on the subject of free stuff for you I’ll be posting a tiny tophat pattern/ tutorial  later this week.

* Comments are closed, names have been drawn and winners emailed. Thanks for participating everybody! *

diabolical

August 16, 2009
by annwood

I started working on an owl on Saturday made from this ruined antique bodice and someone very wicked is emerging.

I fully intended to make another scoundrel but this guy is so scoundrelly he makes the other look like a pussycat – he kind of surprised me. I already know who he is, a really villainous character, and I’ll tell you his name as soon as he is finished. I also got a massive cold this weekend and spent an insane amount of time staring into the internet. I came upon 2  honest, insightful posts about making stuff and selling it,  one is  by future girl and that led me to another by dudecraft, both talk about money, creativity and motivation.

feather

August 12, 2009
by annwood

I got another surprise package from Stephen Szczepanek ( sri threads) yesterday, so many treasures it’s too much to think about all at once but I’ll share a couple: A single exquisite feather – the picture doesn’t do it justice – it is so soft and iridescent it seems almost liquid, it makes me think of this quote from “The Rings of Saturn” :

“I have always kept ducks,  he said, even as a child, and the colors of their plumage, in particular the dark green and snow white, seemed to me the only possible answer to the questions that are on my mind.”

Some impossible blues – already being made into something. Thanks very much Mr. Szczepanek.

And something else – progress this morning on a new ship.

wire

August 3, 2009
by annwood

I’m running out. I was working on some new bats and spiders over the weekend and  realized that the big spool of wire I got at the flea market a couple years ago, the wire that is ideal for bats and spiders,  the spool that seemed like a lifetime supply when I got it, is nearly gone.  There weren’t any markings on the spool  and I don’t know what it is- it’s pretty stiff  and it’s flat on two sides; if you’ve got any ideas on what it might be or where I might get more or if you have some in your basement – I’d love to hear about it.

play all day

July 24, 2009
by annwood

I’m  pleased and excited to be included in “Play All Day – Design For Children” published this year by Gestalten. I’m also pleased to live in a world where you can have a blast making  castles out of old cardboard  boxes and on top of that! somebody will publish them in a lovely book.

It’s available at amazon now – check out  pages 48 and 49!

And a couple notes:

* Fill in the Blank Gallery is having a cardboard horse making workshop on Sunday, if you’re in Chicago check it out – all ages and skill levels are welcome and it’s free!!

* Henchard and some other new things ( including some ready made sweethearts and  a new set available to order)  will be in the shop sometime next week. If you are on the mailing list you will be notified when the shop is updated.

henchard

July 20, 2009
by annwood

A vehement gloomy being who had quitted the ways of vulgar men without light to guide him on a better way.

(click for larger images)

future owl

July 16, 2009
by annwood

Or raven or bat -maybe something new.

Underneath are some old wallpaper scraps I got at the flea market last week.

The bodice has lots of wonderful hand stitching inside and it has great black glass buttons.   Speaking of buttons -an  almost finished owl with very fancy antique button eyes.

I came across this strange plant a couple weeks ago in a forest  in RI – I’d love to know what it is.

*check the comments for name info – they are called ghost pipes and some other great names.