behind the scenes

There is too much for me to put into words happening in the last couple of days. So ill talk about that later as nothing is written in stone yet. I will say that it involves a hunt, some boxes and a huge list.

Several weeks back when I had production aplenty these photos got sidelined. You may have noticed some masculine looking cushions in the dairy crates at market? Well... they were designed by the Mr. In my blurb at the sidebar I mention that we 'patchwork together when the mood takes him'. This was one of those times.

Something from behind the scenes.

rose street artists market

Saturday was the first time we would be at Rose Street Artists market.

 But before I tell you about that 'first', I admit to being nicely anxious about meeting a certain mother of three little girlies. The wonderfully earthy Kate from Foxs Lane. A first of a different kind. It was splendid to finally say hello in person, Kate, and next time maybe we will have longer than fifteen minutes? Perhaps without my Bren looking at his watch? Well, we were late setting up so just as well for me that I have my own personal white rabbit.

You might need to call me Eliza Dolittle from now on because by George I think ive got it.

After I have finished setting up for market these days, (the last two weeks, that is), I am really, incredibly satisfied with how everything looks and feels. Finally, finally.

I have also, in a small way, become a stockist of sorts. I have a talented friend who is unwinding some knitted old pure wool jumpers, hand dying them with vegetables and plants, then crocheting them up into little peoples bonnets and beanies, headbands and hairties. 

The Mr had his artwork at the entrance but we both conclude he needs to take the plunge now and get his own stall. Anything to spur him to do artwork rather than watch tv will be fine by me. 

And these here are the Mr's cushions you are seeing!

We spent all of friday morning and a bit too big chunk of the afternoon (I should have been concentrating on eskimos) doing a range of larger sized ones made from embroideries we brought back from our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last year. They are hand embroideries from the hill tribes and we both fell in love with them. We have a whole suitcase full and intend to offer these as homewares in The Textured Leaf Shop.

Me, im just sticking with these patchyworked ones for now as they are so enjoyable to put together. But then in saying this I do have another simple but beautiful idea for an accent cushion for the bedroom so I guess I lied.

I have to admit having Dorothy Bills quilts (hanging on the left) makes me look like im a fully accomplished quilter. Eleesa does the most amazing job with her wares and she was going to come to sew/play today but neither of us were organised enough to follow through. Ill let you find out what ive been doing instead in my later-on-today post. 

'See you in two weeks when the kids are back at school, Eleesa!'

Lucky cushions are not heavy as the dairy baskets alone are awkward to load and unload and I dont know if I would have enough energy to cope by myself when im so tired from late nights spent restocking. I really, really need to get to bed before midnight, at the very least before a market. A meagre four hours sleep this time, the Mr woke at five to get the youngins from the airport and I couldnt get back to sleep so got up and proceded to make more things.

Apologies for the glut of posts regarding markets these days but I truly need to document to keep me going.

When I kind of get 'over it' on certain days I have recently taken to looking back over the year to see how far ive come and it is helping me focus in lots of different ways. 

There will be a shop update later on today too but right this moment im off to play in my newly half empty house. More to come.

Happy house zsuzshing to you all!

patchwork cushions

Oooh id forgotten how captivating patchwork could be. The colour, the detailed interest in the cloth, the smallest pieces of silk scarf, the possibilities of the mixing are a delight for both my eyes and fingers after a long absence. Two days of joining not knowing if it will be as easy as it once was. The easiness in which I once worked hasnt returned, a different approach was needed. Beginning as I used to by arranging in coloured rows didnt help me, well, begin.

I needed to mix and not match as a jumping off of sorts as I admire others who subdue their palette.

This was me trying to not be as colourful.

today im working on

In my studio today I happen to be working on custom orders for etsy. Yes, even though im trying to get some more summer samples done for the market this weekend, etsylife goes on. I still enjoy the creative drive I get from doing custom items, especially for repeat customers.

Here is a cushion mix ill be making for girls rooms. I may have to keep one of these for Mali.

My son sourced the gypsy cloth. Hes definitely a 'finder' of the unusual.

Whatever I specifically ask him for he seems to find me. Odd.

I adore these deep olive greens for girls rooms as it seems to go with a lot of diverse looks. It could be made pretty with more pinks or you could go towards bohemian, even oriental.

Here is a more surfer island look. I would put this in my boys rooms

even now they are older as it still says 'fifties' to me, probably because of the seersucker element.

Later today I may have something special to show you.

I just have to figure out exactly how to do it as ive never done one before.

My hint being it might be something youll want to join in with.

saturday

I got up early as I really need to do some housework.

This is what happens when I sew for the day. Yep, I know that was Thursday.

Well it looks like I kept sewing Friday all day too, okay!

Maybe I should start with the bedroom.

I still havent got control of the market chaos in the studio since last weekend.

My sixteen year old has been re-building his skateboard on his bed.

Ive been ignoring the dishes all day.

This stuff belongs somewhere else

But ive just finished these right then, yay 

while making five teenagers banana pancakes and blogging about my morning!

Happy Saturday y'all!



living room textures

The living room for Spring

A couple of new ones added to the mix here at the Textured Leaf home.
 It was sunny today, just what I needed so I have been in the garden.
While coming in for a cup of tea I stumbled across this over at Flea Market Style.

my creative space

I dont know why, but ive been going a bit cushion crazy.
I thought id give you a mini-tute on how to recycle your old flat pillows into two really plump modern ones. I have a trick up my sleeve when stuffings are lumpy and have 'had it'. Youll soon see why I have so many cushions around. I never throw old pillows away.

stuffing number one

stuffing number two

step 1. Take two tired pillows and ignore the fact if they have different stuffing.

            Cut them open after washing and throw the old covers away.

step 2.    Tear open the flat pillow from the inside out to expose the fresh inner. Feel for lumps and pull and stretch until its double the size as you want two cushions, not one and a half.

(if you get tired of step 2 just go faster)

You should end up with about half a dining table size piece of wadding

step 3.   Get your favourite cushion size cover to use as a template and cut two linings for two cushions.

I used scraps of white thrifted tablecloths that I had saved for a rainy day. It measures 35cm by 55cm and I love how it looks like a miniature pillow.

step 4.    Place the linings in single layers over the wadding to see if you have stretched it large enough. You may have to just tweek it at this stage to make it go the distance. Cut out around them so you end up with the same amount of lining size to wadding. (I cut two long pieces of lining and folded them each in half to make one cushion per piece. I did the same for the wadding.)

step 5.   Sew the linings together to make your cushions

and stuff the wadding into each side so you end up with a hole in the middle. The bad side of the wadding faces inwards and the good should be on the outside closest to your fabric.

Step 6.     Place stuffing number two into the middle to plump it out nicely until youre happy. I fit nearly half of the old pillow into each of mine. If you are doing large 60 cm cushions you will use half for each definitely.

step 7.    Stitch the ends together while folding the hem inwards to make a neat edge and youre done!   Unless you did one at a time like me and you still have one to go.

Make the other one quickly so you can do the fun bit now ... covers.

I took my inspiration from here

I used recycled blankets for backs and a striped weave I have been coveting for way too long.

I had bought the stripe as scraps and the pieces had to be joined together down the centre.

I like the happy accident of the seam though. In fact I love it!

OOps, I almost forgot to say thanks to Kirsty at Kootoyoo for hosting another inspiring day!

I love the dress Elisha at MonetPaisley made from fat quarters. Check it out, and all the other inspiring Gals over on Kootoyoos blog.