Doodles and dancing

I've been making an effort lately to try out some new techniques and play around a bit more with stitching, painting, applique and embroidery. There is so much inspiration out there it's hard to know where to start!! I shall be consulting the Stitchin fingers for help!

I had a play about yesterday with some fabric paints. I haven't touched them since I bought them of my course tutor about 5 years ago. This was the resulting sketchy doodle..

Freehand machine embroidery over fabric paints

It's still a work in progress, I'm going to finish stitching with the machine and then adds some handstitched details and texture. Sketchy but fun.

Also, some further adventures of the magpie!. This is the little chap I sewed for M a few months ago. There are more pictures on this post.

 

Our kitten (soon to be my mums) was rather interested in Mr Magpie..or Sparkle as Miss M calls him!

and finally, a few pictures for my Raindrops and Daisys Greenday Link up. To take part you just need to share a few pictures on the green theme and you can check out lots of other inspiring pictures from around the globe too.

Beautiful Tribal Bellydancers

 I took these picture a few weeks ago at a Hafla (Bellydance Party) that I went to. The Tribal Dancers always have the most beautiful costumes. Here's another..

Their dances are really Earthy and powerful and I always feel quite moved when watching them. They are gorgeous ladies! What I love about Bellydance is that it celebrates the beauty and power of women and its just REALLY good fun to do!

yet another lovely rainbow! We've had a lot lately!

 Sorry this has been such ecclectic and long post, my brain is a bit all over the place at the moment!

Hope you are well and happy!

Love Dotty

xxx 

Lovely lovely things..

 A random post but had to share the loveliness of People Trees latest collection...this dress must have been made for me..I love the colour, the cut, the Owls...ooh the Owls and that it Organic and Fairtrade..phew thats a lot of love for a little dress. Unfortunately my bank account does not love the dress so much..so here's to dreaming of the beauty (and hoping there just happens to be a super sale with my size left..hmmm unlikely me thinks!)

People Tree | Orla Kiely Red Owl Dress

I know its shallow and I'm generally a ranting anti capitailst kinda girl..but damn those eco ethical clothes pushers are good!

Dotty

xxx

Butterflies, flowers and cows!

I've had a little flurry of sewing activity over the past few weeks as I've been asked to make a few pieces for friends. There was this little beauty I made for a friend as a gift for her mum. I really loved making it and I think I'll have to make me one too!

 

 

 I got quite carried away with the butterflies which I'd originally planned to put just on the ends of the scarf. The front was linen and the back was lined with some gorgeous blue polka dotty fabric from the Moda range. I made a matching card too.

 The other piece was a cushion cover based on this photo I took a month or so ago. I was pleased with  how it came out beacuse freehand sewing can be quite unforgiving if you make a wrong move! I think I captured some of their expressions quite well!

and I made this as a birthday present for the lovely lady. It's made from the most amazing fabric from Villa Nova. I need to get hold of some more of it...I LOVE it!  

 

and another flowery shot from the Eden Centre..

 What a flowery girly post indeed! It's been good to have a hobby that involves being indoors because the weather has been pretty awful this Summer..wind, rain, wind and more rain! We managed one night camping, a barbeque and two trips to the beach but I've been happily tinkering away in the house most of the holidays. I am such a home bird!

Well my lovelies, take care and do let me know if you have any ideas of something you would like to have made..I'm more than happy to take on commissions! 

Dotty

xxx

oh and a final note...this is my 94th post and I'm planning a little giveaway for my 100th post so keep an eye out!! 

Hafla fun

Last weekend me and my Ma and little Miss M went to a Halfla (bellydancing party). It was the first time I've taken M to anything like that and she loved it. I also plucked up the courage to dance my first dance in front of the group.

The Hafla is basically a big get together of all the bellydancing groups around our little part of Cornwall and Devon. Each group does a dance or two in front of the other groups, and its beautiful to watch as there are so  many variations of dancing. One of my favourites (apart from our little group of course!) is the tribal dancers.The music is hypnotic and their moves are slow and graceful and very strong. They also wear the most gorgeous outfits, many layered skirts and tribal tattoos!

Gorgeous Tribal bellydancers

 My first dance! (I'm hiding at the back on the right, wearing a purple top)

Its a bit daft but I jumped up to dance (a last minute decision) and then got really nervous and was shaking like crazy, apparantly you couldn't tell!

 And here M and her friend watching the show

and M, who was so shy at the beginning decided to do her own show in front of everyone, they were all clapping and cheering her on. She had some pretty good moves, I was most impressed!

Bling bling ka ching! 

Wishing you all some blinginess, wiggles and sunshine in your day 

xxx

The other scarecrows!

Here are some of the other rather demented scarecrows on display at the Port Eliot Fest...

we didnt win any prizes..boohoo but Im not surprised, some of the other ones were brilliant ad must have taken hours The Martin Scorsese one was my favourite!

There were some beautiful gypy caravans at the festival, you could hire them to stay in for the weekend (a bit pricey for the likes of me though!).

I loved the birds painted on the little doors on the back of the caravan. Talking of gypsy style...here a pic of my new/old dress! Thanks Mrs P !

I thinks its 1970's, the fabric is fab. Ive intentionally missed out my face as I didnt get in til 4.30am last night..and frankly I look a little worse for wear today! It was a good night!

Peace x