ad libitum

SUMMER RESPITE

I'm at the end of a delightful summer vacation and I think this photo (with a boost from Photoshop and my Topaz filter program) captures the beauty of my trip.

NEW FILTERS TO PLAY WITH IN PHOTOSHOP

I recently purchased some new Photoshop filters (Topaz Lab) and have spent this morning playing with pictures I took yesterday in Chaddsford, PA.

This is the front of the bed and breakfast we stayed in.

Below is an old building on the grounds of the bed and breakfast.

It was a beautiful day and people were canoeing on the Brandywine River.

AN AFTERNOON'S WORTH OF NATURAL DYEING

A few years ago, I took a class from Lorri Scott in the natural dyeing of fabrics (by the way, if you ever get a chance to take a class from Lorri, do so). I love the idea of using leaves, flower petals, and rusty objects to color my fabrics. A few weekends ago, I spent the afternoon dyeing muslin with rose petals, maple leaves, onion skins, rusty nails and other bits, and blueberries. Below are some of the results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIME FOR A NEW PURSE

A while back I painted,  printed and embellished fabric squares.

Below is a fabric square which I later embellished with buttons (and a few snaps).

Below is the fabric square which I embellished with beads.

I decided it was time for a new purse; so I used two of my embellished fabric squares (for the front and back), one painted square (for the sides and bottom) and a fat quarter of fabric printed from a scan of the beaded square (for handles, top and pouches).

Below are some views of my new purse.

I forgot to take photos while I was putting the purse together until the very end when I was sewing in the zipper top. I add zippers to the tops of my purses now because I've lost some things that fell out of open topped purses.

 

Below is a view of the purse - trying to show the front, back, zippered top and straps. The fabric I used for the straps and top is a printed piece of fabric professionally made from a scan I took of the front panel (I used Spoonflower). Also, because of the delicacy of the bead work, I covered the front panel with matte gel; it's an experiment to see if the gel will keep the beads from getting broken or ripped off from the purse.

This is the back panel. You can see where I embellished the fabric with buttons - and I also put buttons on the base of each strap - to tie the front and back together.

 Here's a view from the top.You can see the lining (I used commercial fabric; it has two zippered inside pockets) and the two pouches I made from the remaining fabric from Spoonflower.

It may sound strange, but I'm really happy to be back to using a purse I made myself. For the past two months, I've been using a store-bought purse and it just doesn't seem right.