Calico and Tattered Lace...

There is something extremely soothing and self-satisfying in creating a piece of art with only materials that one already has...as you probably know, I wear the crown, for I am the Queen of Procrastination! There, I've said it! I think about 'doing' all the time, might even talk about it...but more often than not, I fabricate some ridiculous excuse as to why I can't begin...I really don't like this quality in myself, but I recognise it, so I'm halfway there, right?

Anyway, what began with some silly doodles in my little journal, grew into an idea...upstairs in my crafty room, I knew I had some calico, and oodles of lace...hmmmm...

I began by tearing up some calico into rough squares - triangles would also look amazing...then I took everything outside because the weather this week is sensational, and I began drawing straight onto some of the squares of calico with a sharpie pen (love those little suckers). Ooh, I also tea-stained some of the calico and lace, just for a bit of variation.

I also included some original poetry, some well-known poetry, and some quotes which felt meaningful to me. On the remainder of the squares, I sewed some old tatty doilies which I had picked up from the second-hand shop. (Who doesn't love a doily?)

Then, it was just a matter of attaching them all to my tea-stained lace and voila, a cute little tatty banner to hang when next I decide to have tea in the garden...

Next time I decide to make one (don't laugh, it is within the realms of possibility) I think I should like to make a colourful, bohemian looking one with scraps of fabric...

My little collection of mismatched plates and cups and saucers have all been collected by me over the years from op-shops and garage sales, and some have been gifts - I love them all.

I always remember a very dear friend of mine giving me this advice one day over the phone, for I was feeling really down - "Tina, go and make something beautiful. Make a doll and embellish it". I remember thinking at the time - why? What's the point? But you know what? She was right...creating something with your own two hands lifts you to another place...a different state of being. And that creativity doesn't need to be sewing or painting, it could be cooking up a storm in the kitchen, trying out a new recipe, or digging in the garden and planting some seeds...

And on a final note, a wise bear who adores honey once said "You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." So, I'm taking Pooh's advice, and heading down to the beach this weekend with some girlfriends...I will try to take some photos if we are not too badly behaved:) What's everyone else up to?