Posted on Leave a comment

Why do I create?

Group of 4 scrappie critters

Another friend, who is a creator like myself posted about why she creates on social media the other day & whilst I commented on her post, I thought that I really ought to share it here too, where people who know me, can read about why I do what I do, because some will no doubt find it interesting.

The simple answer is because I enjoy it, because it makes me happy. I love taking something & making something else from it. The creative process for me is a bit of a puzzle at times, I often start down one path & end up on another, and that entertains me greatly.

I also find it wonderful to know that whilst the process of creating the items I do, brings me joy, they also bring joy to others. To see someone’s face light up when they lay eyes on something I made is wonderful on it’s own. I appreciate every share & comment on social media too. When it gets taken to the next level, where people financially support me, by buying my art, that’s pretty amazing, because that allows me to continue to do what I do & the circle of joy continues.

I admit that I also like the idea that much of what I have created will live on long after I am gone. To leave behind items that are a reflection of my true authentic self, is pretty amazing. Life is fleeing, which is why I believe that if you can find a way to follow your heart, you should do it.

Posted on Leave a comment

May 4th

Most people associate May the 4th as Star Wars Day, but did you know that it is also the birthday of the real Alice? Alice Liddell was born on May 4th (1852). May 4th (1965) is also the day that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland take place. Isn’t that cool?

As a HUGE Alice in Wonderland fan, I love today a lot. I have a modest collection of Alice in Wonderland themed items, including books of course, being that we are a family of bibliophiles. One of my favourites copies of Alice, is the book that I picked up in London earlier this year, which features the art of Salvador Dali in it. I was very fortunate to see his original artwork for the book in Wrocław, Poland, in a special exhibition at the Town Hall in October last year. The glare was awful so I didn’t really get any great pictures, but I did get a couple of overall pics of the layout, which you can see to the left, (you can also select the image, which links back to my Instagram post about it).

As well as books, I have attended many theatre performances based around Lewis Carroll’s characters. I love it that much apparently.

I of course have some fan art & even some prints of the original drawings. One of my biggest prizes is my Alice themed fabrics & fabrics that remind me of Lewis Carroll’s stories. You might have seen some of those fabrics in masks, hanging towels, aprons, bookmarks, bags & other things over the years. I am also working on some scrappie critters which will encompass more of my favourite parts of the story. Some will have noticed some scrappies with mushrooms on them of late, which refers back to my own images of wonderland, pretty cool eh?

Happy Birthday Alice! I think it’s wonderful that Lewis Carroll immortalised you in the stories he penned so long ago.



Posted on Leave a comment

Branding

Scrappie twoemu creations business cards
branded business cards

They’re here, they’re here, they’re here!!!
My new branded business cards have arrived.

After years without any specific branding & a moment where I made my logo but only used it as a watermark, I went to the next level & now I have my own cards with a scrappie critter logo (made by me) on them!

Yes, I do sew other things, but my creative passion is really with my scrappies & it was well & truely time for me to acknowledge that more openly to others. So tadah!

My little square cards are double sided too, but you’ll have to either order something from me or hit me up in person to get a copy & see what it says :0)

Posted on Leave a comment

Schroddy

Schroddy

A few weeks ago, I made this amazing scrappie critter for a friend Lorenzo & posted it to Italy.

Lorenzo had asked if I could do one that incorporated the logo of Schrödinger Hat on it somehow, whilst we were travelling around in Europe and then patiently waited for me to get back & settle in before I made it for him.

I delved into my big piles of misc fabrics & played with a few combos before ultimately settling on this layout. This was in fact the very first scrappie to get a button for an eye & I have to say I LOVE how it turned out. The cats eye’s fabric for one of the legs, glows in the dark, and just had to be included.

The nose & mouth were actually a request from my youngest to add & I knew that Lorenzo would love that she had a hand in the design. I added those features by “drawing” & “colouring it in” entirely using freehand machine sewing, which I am slowly improving on. K2 loved it, so I know that Lorenzo would too, especially knowing it came about because of her.

Lorenzo & Schroddy

Lorenzo has been very gracious in sharing posts of Schroddy on social media platforms like Youtube & LinkedIn (as per image left) which has been simply amazing & I can’t thank him enough.

Thank you for asking me to make a scrappie critter for you Lorenzo & I am so happy to see Schroddy promoting the importance of Sustainability & the Environment. 🌏

Posted on Leave a comment

Events April 2023


Red & blue Pocket Sized Scrappie critter with a mushroom
Mushie – A Pocket-sized Scrappie Critter

I am so excited to let everyone know that I will be attending two events in April. This doubles the number of events that I attended last year. 😆

For those who have been following me on social media, you might have noticed I now have a new size of scrappie critter too, the Pocket- Sized one, which I am very excited to announce that I will be bringing to both events, as well as mix of other sizes.

The first event, I am attending will be at the Spencerville Spring Market on Saturday April 8th. It’s taking place indoors at The Spencerville Arena from 10am – 3pm. I haven’t officially been announced on their social media as attending, but rest assured, I will be there. The market is part of the events organised by the SBCC over the easter weekend. There’s even an easter egg hunt from 10-11am in town that you can check out as well. I haven’t been to an event in Spencerville since Covid, so it will be nice to be doing an event local to me.

I am also REALLY excited to be attending the annual North Grenville Sustainability Fair again. It’s happening on Sunday April 16th from 10am-3pm at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. I love this event so much as it aligns so well with my values. both personally & as an artist. If you are a little bit “crunchy” like me, I highly recommend taking the time to attend. Bring the kids too, they always have amazing activities for the little ones & they have some great talks too. I love it because it reminds me how many people really do care deeply for the environment & it is great for my kids to see that too.

Please note that I will have slightly different stock at each event. My scrappie critters will of course be at both, as will some hanging towels, bookmarks etc but I will only be bringing my current stock of aprons to the event in Spencerville. Aprons will be reduced in cost to aid in rehoming them, although I do ask that people either pay in cash or I am happy to do e-transfers on the spot too, as it reduces my costs in processing card payments. Aprons will be sold below my costs so please if you can be mindful of that, it would be greatly appreciated, as everything I bring to events or have stocked in stores is handmade by myself.

Hope to see some of you at either or both events, and if you do go, please do say a quick hello.

Posted on Leave a comment

April Showers

April Showers

Spring is upon us & what better way to celebrate than to make some fabric art to capture the season.

This piece was created from a drawing, which I then disassembled (tracing each piece onto a scrap of paper from the recycling pile). Then, I rummaged through my BIG pile of small scraps & not so small (for the background) to find the right pieces. To stabilise all the fabric, I used scraps of interfacing, left over from masks & other projects & attached it to the backs of all the fabrics.

I love that a few scraps that most would throw in the bin, turned into this lovely little piece of art.