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.
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.
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)
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. 🌏
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.
These two little scrappies have been a favourite in our house, since I completed them on Saturday, February 6th. I honestly didn’t expect the enthusiasm I’ve had from the kids for these two, but every day since they were made, they have checked on them to make sure they’re ok & hoped that no-one would buy them.
The one on the left is comprised of a heart shaped piece of fabric that I came across in velvet (it was given to me with some scraps a friend had) & given that it’s February, I thought that it would be perfect to finally do something about it. I had thought of adding it to a much bigger scrappie, but decided to embrace the heart as the full shape. It was an instant hit.
The little red scrappie with a heart was also popular, due to it’s size, colour & the heart on it.
They really did make the perfect valentines day gifts to my kidlets today, who were incredibly relieved that no-one had bought them from my site. I am so happy that the kids appreciate gifts that are handmade, the way that they do.
Each scrappie, I create has a story behind it. I have had a few people mention how they appreciate it when I share the stories behind my creations, so I am going to try do that more, starting with this newly adopted one.
As with all my scrappies, no design choice is random. This one was created when I had requests for pink & purple scrappie critters.
The butterfly “ears” (ribbon) relates to my connection to the Deaf community. Did you know that butterflies are deaf & are used a symbol of deafness? Whilst I am not Deaf, I have several friends that are. In fact, one of the reasons that many of my Scrappie Critters didn’t have any “ears” related to my connections to the Deaf community. Of course, I have since changed to including “ears” on many of my scrappies, with the belief that just because one has ear’s, arms or legs, does not mean that they are anything more than cosmetic & that we should not just assume that everyone has the same abilities because they look outwardly the same as ourselves.
The firefly motif relates to summer & the joy that they bring. I’m glad that I have been able to share the joy in catching & releasing fireflies with my children. There is something quite magical about a bug that has a butt that lights up, don’t you think?
This one has 2 legs, but no arms, this design choice happens often & it has to do with the fact that my arms are a frequent source of pain, due to chronic issues with subluxations etc, as a result of having EDS. My arms are often a cosmetic & yet very painful feature, so they are often a lacking feature on my scrappies. This one has legs, but don’t be fooled, it doesn’t mean they work any better.
The choice of patterned materials, for the legs, hold personal meaning too, especially the strawberries.
Strawberries are a wonderful sweet dessert, which are such a treat. I love going strawberry picking with my kids & the desserts & fresh jam that follows. My husband’s parents used to own a strawberry farm in Australia & when my mother in law passed away after a long battle with cancer, I inherited not only her sewing machine, that I still sew on, but several other items that she created with strawberries emblazoned on them. So, now when I create something with strawberries on it, I think of Caryl & the love the she showed me, in the short time I knew her for. The memories of those that we hold dear in our lives, do in fact live on.
The leg that features flowers, mostly daisies, in a hippy style, is very much a reflection of me & my the love of nature that my family & I have, something that I like to think my scrappie critters also share.
I love that each & every scrappie critter I make, is made to be uniquely imperfect, with their differences embraced & celebrated. They truly are a joy to create.
Farewell little scrappie, may you bring much joy to the little one you are destined to be with & may you both enjoy the adventures that await. 🙂