Sunday, December 23, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Thanks so much for supporting Paravent in its first year... what a year 
of changes and new beginnings! I'm looking forward to 2013, how about you?





Hope you have a fun and safe time! :)

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Creative Space: a new neon

It started by chance... two balls of wool glimpsed next to each other and a smile 
from me... yes, they'd look fabulous together. More time passes as I contemplate 
just which pattern would work best... and finally a finished piece.






I keep wondering when I'll be at the end of my neon fascination but then I see that 
fine line of neon against the linen (pic above) and realise it's still as strong as ever.

New neon cushion is in the shop.

More creative spaces can be found here.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Empress' new clothes

Sorry I haven't been around for a while. It's the crazy season here... end of year 
madness with so many things going on. I've also had my big girl go off to China 
so there's been a bit of pointless fretting too. But then suddenly I had this idea... and 
I began measuring and cutting and sewing... and I made myself a dress and a top.




The idea was to have something cool to wear in the meltingly hot temperatures we've 
been having but, as always, it seems I can't get away from being the queen of black ;)
It's a silly vanity, but I sewed some paravent labels on them too.
So many things I should be doing instead...

Hope the beginning of your holiday season has been fun :)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Creative Space: Matching Blankets

There's a lot going on at the moment and I haven't been a good blogger, or IGer or 
anything-er really. One thing I do have to show though is a work in progress. My 
sister-in-law is having a baby really really soon and I've been steadily working on 
matching mumma-bubba blankets for them both... and this is what I've come up with...


As you can guess, she loves blues. The trick was to come up with matching designs 
that were nonetheless distinctly adult and child versions. I'm a big fan of Lucy's ripple
so I went for an ombré effect for the adult one and candy stripes for the child.

(The ombré blanket has been folded up which is why those ridges are there)


I haven't finished the baby blanket yet (have to get more of the navy wool today) but 
I'm hoping that they'll both be done and ready for posting as soon as the baby arrives.


I've just realised this photo is the back of the work, but you get the idea ;)
I'm so nervous about whether she'll like it or not... here's hoping...


I've also made her a portable change mat out of Marimekko oilcloth, that 
fabulous big flower design of theirs, again in the blues. You might have
seen this pic on my IG a couple of weeks ago...

(night photos... sorry!)


Hope you've had a wonderfully creative week. It's such a busy time of year, 
isn't it? You can see more creative spaces here.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Christmas Ornament Swap

It's been ages since I took part in a swap... I'd forgotten how fun and nerve wracking 
they can be (all at once!). Don't get me wrong, it's been great but I always find it so hard 
deciding what to make and then there's the performance anxiety when you start seeing 
all the amazing things other people have done ;) 


My recipient said that she likes Scandinavian design, so I decided to 
try my hand at a Dala Horse... like this one (below)...


After a couple of REALLY bad attempts at freehand cutting, I sought out a 
pattern for the shape online and found this one (below) here...


At one stage I thought I'd finished but then I saw some amazing ones on the Creative 
Space meme and realised I was going to have to try harder if my recipient was to 
be happy, so I began doing different strand widths of embroidery to give the design 
some depth...


... and I did a bit of block printing for the saddle etc. 
Anyway, it's done and I so hope my recipient likes it.


Are you taking part in Christina's Xmas Ornament Swap too? I can't tell you 
who my recipient is but I'm happy to report it's all finished and ready for posting :)


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Creative Space: Embroidered Tote

You may remember from ages ago some fabric that I was working on...
layering and embroidering, playing until it felt right. Well, I've finally 
finished it and have made it up into a tote for my shop.



I decided to use a black linen for the backing and it has an internal pocket
for keys and phones and things.




I'm trying to build up the stock for my shop, hoping that will make a difference.
I went to an Etsy shop critique meeting at the last Finders Keepers Market
and one of the things suggested to me was to build my numbers... apparently 
having 12 items in your shop is a magic number to being noticed ;)

There's loads going on with the My Creative Space and A Month Of memes over 
at Kidspot. Pop over there to find more creative spaces and join in the fun :)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Giveaway Winner!

Just a quick post to say Jillian from Deux Chiens et un Garcon is the winner 
of the Paravent / Ouchflower Macramé Panel giveaway. Congratulations Jillian! 
and thanks to everyone who entered :)


Monday, November 12, 2012

New in the shop

Have you ever had a week of creative explosion? I can't quite work out what's 
happening here but I seem to be churning out a lot of stuff. It's pretty weird...
nice weird though ;)


I'm going to string out the show and tell (sorry) because next week may be a 
drought... that's how it goes, isn't it? So, this is explosion 1... a finished bag.


With boxed corners... of course :)


It seals with a magnetic clasp and has a sizeable pocket for keys etc.


Because of the panel size it turned out quite long, so I made the adjustable strap 
quite long too to keep it all in proportion. I'm thinking it could be a yoga bag. 


My daughter was kind enough to model it as a yoga bag for me. 


I'm liking it even though it is a funny size. Anyway, it's in the shop :)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Creative Space: Ombre Blanket

I've been steadily working on a ripple ombre blanket for a few weeks now.
First photo at two colours...


It progressed nicely through three colours...


and then four colours...


I'm up to the fifth and final colour now...


Desperately hoping the intended recipient will like it and starting to have misgivings 
about the second colour... what do you think? To me, it suddenly dulls the whole blanket.

Wondering if I can somehow take out the second colour and invisible stitch the natural 
and the light turquoise together... has anyone ever tried this? 
Risky business ;)


See more creative spaces on Instagram here and join in yourself here.

Also, there's a giveaway a-happening from the crafty collaboration between 
myself and Pippa from Ouchflower if you'd like to enter :)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Giveaway!

 It's such a wonderful feeling when people like something new you've made.
Pippa and I have been so overwhelmed by the support our crafty collaboration has 
recieved that we would like to have a giveaway to say thanks :)


The prize is this mini wall hanging in natural linen screenprinted with the Paravent Atomic Flower 
and finished with a fabulous Ouchflower chartreuse hand dyed ombré macramé fringing.

To enter, we ask that you are a follower on each of our blogs or Facebook liker of each 
of our sites. Next use the widget below to register yourself in the giveaway and Bob's your uncle!

The giveaway is open from Tuesday the 6th of November to the 13th of November 2012.
Australia only - sorry :(





Monday, November 5, 2012

Crafty Collab 2

The second in the Paravent / Ouchflower series of wall 
hangings is ready... yah! :) You can find it over to Pippa's shop. 
Also, number 1 is now available at the Paravent shop.



Pippa and I have a surprise for you tomorrow... 
so don't forget to pop by.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Creative Space: a MoF and a Blanket

Feels like Thursday has come around very quickly this week... Only one 
MoF (Month of Finishing) project has been completed this week – the 
Isometric Cushion in Summersky...

I've also been without a computer and have taken the opportunity to do 
some more rows on the ombré ripple blanket... 


There's also been a development on the Ouchflower / Paravent collaboration 
too... we have a first born! Pippa has finished the macramé fringe on the first
panel and we're very excited about it :)


What have you been up to? You can see more spaces here.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Crafty Collab

It's an exciting day here in Paravent land... do you remember I posted about 
screenprinting some panels for a crafty collaboration with Pippa from 
Ouchflower? Well, we have a first born! and we are both squealing a bit with 
wonder and delight at how it's turned out.... isn't she a beauty? :)

 


We've taken something we love (for me, screenprinting and for Pippa macramé) 
and put them together. Pippa has hand dyed her twine in a chartreuse ombre for this 
panel. I am just in awe at how Pippa's macramé has transformed my panels. Just 
look at the skill, detail and artistry in these knotty wonders...


There will be about eight in total... all different designs... and they'll be divided 
between our shops in time for Christmas.


Stay tuned for more, and if you haven't visited Pippa's blog yet, pop over and say hi :)