Hustle and bustle of an African market

Hustle and bustle of an African market is the idea behind this quilt. When they say it's so busy, I reply: it's an African market. All movement is from left to right and back again, so I have added the beads to echo the movement.

I included some strips of Chinese silk fabric to represent the influence that China has in Africa. The machine stitching reflects African design and motifs.

The top visual shows a close-up detail of the quilt, the bottom visual is a full image of the quilt on a purple background.

Completing projects

The weekend started with rain. The sky was this one tone of grey, as though coloured by a lazy designer who couldn't be bothered to add contrasts or vignettes, who believes simplicity works best, and chose the colour to fit his mood. So a bubble bath, a cup of tea and my book. The benefit with this weather is you stay in and get all your projects done OR you watch movies all day. Hmmm, haven't decided yet. But I had already completed one task this morning before I went out for breakfast. A day like this requires something warmer and more nurturing than muesli, like chilli con carne and fried eggs on toast. I didn't need another meal all day. 

Returned home and finished another project, yay. I am so happy with how my tie-dyed throw and pillowcases turned out. I got the idea while I was at Weylandts, basically I copied what the had, made it up in different colours, I think mine looks way better, sorry Weylandt. My grandmother would be able to turn the pillowcases inside out and not find fault. She always said the inside should look as good as the outside. Because I don't have an overlocker I have to do a French seam. When I sewed things up for others I use the French seam but if it's something for me I just use the zigzag stitch. Sorry, gran. Tut mir lead, oma. 

After that the rain and Nora Jones set the mood for the rest of the day. We read and dozed and drank tea. Later watched a DVD and then sorted my DVDs and CDs. Tackled another project but didn't know should I add a patterned strip, should I keep it plain. So went to bed instead. 

25 squares make one square

I tie-dyed each square, trying different styles, then I sewed it all together and after six months I still don't know what to do with it. Giving it away today to someone who is redecorating their home using grey, with natural wood and fibres. Hope they like it, hope they use it.

Wine spill

I tie-dyed a sheet of calico with this gorgeous burgundy. I couldn't wait to share it. I haven't hemmed the edging/border yet, it is just pinned into place. For the border I used a remnant of linen I bought on sale at Biggie Best that I was going to use to make PrettyUglys. It is the perfect fabric. In the flowers there is a speck of the burgundy and the cream balances the centre strip of calico that was not dyed. To keep it or to gift it, that is the question.

From the heart

I am making hearts for Christmas. I cannot make them without the quote by E. E. Cummings running around in my head.

June flashback

1. I bought material to make another quilt. I enjoyed making the one earlier this year. I also want to apply what I learnt to show the improvement. 2. At last I am starting to use all the squares I have tie-dyed. 3. While we were in Durban we walked around the Moses Mabida stadium. I like that it is part of the city and so assessible. They should have done the same in Johannesburg, integrated it better into Joburg or Soweto. 4. Lunch at Weylandt. The food as beautiful was everything else there. 5. I enjoy the zigzag design on these stairs. The metal looks as pliable as a piece of paper. 6. I love the veld grass everywhere  at Freedom Park. 7. Once we were Warriors. This coat of arms, I must assume, once represented pride, loyalty and commitment. 8. Bunnychow at the Oyster Box. I asked the waiter to recommend something and he said it is the best in Durban. 9. Lighthouse at the Oyster Box. 10. Seating arrangement at Moyo. 11. Where we stayed when we were in Durban, on the beachfront. 12. Interior at the Oyster Box. 13. I only had coffee there but another patron ordered another helping of chips to take away because, she said, they were soooo good. 14. Pier at Umhlanga. 15. In bloom, a tree at Tinsel gallery. 16. Yummy birthday cake. Thanks. 17. Entrance at Tinsel gallery. Nikki exhibited her jewellery piece at the student show. Some very lovely stuff. 

As night follows day

I made these quilts for a competition but I didn't make them up to the minimum required size so I couldn't enter them. Boo hoo!

Creative rationale (the full story)

Day - the sun moves from east to west, the light breaks through the darkness (batik material, orange on blue, on the right of the quilt). The colours represent the heat and cooling of the temperature as the sun rises and then sets again, as well as the intensity of the light. The horizontal lines (machine stitching) are the latitudinal lines on the earth. In the southern hemisphere l used more red thread since it has on far hotter climate than in the north. The 'flares' represent the different time zones as the earth turns during the day. The bead work is to show my African heritage. On the right it mirrors the fabric, day breaking through night, blue and orange beads. On the left, orange and white, colours for the setting sun. I chose the white because it represents the glare of the sun as it sets.

Night - moving from east to west (right of the quilt to left), the night starts to seep into the fading light of the day (batik material, orange on blue). There is hardly any true darkness on the quilt because we all try and light up the night. The piece of fabric, navy blue with white dots, reflects intensity of the 'grid' of artificial light we produce. The horizontal lines (machine stitching) once again are the latitudinal lines on the earth. In the southern hemisphere l used more earthy coloured thread since the land is more arid, and therefore green thread dominates the top of the quilt in the north. The bead work is representative of the starry sky. The strip of shimmering material (silver and blue) shows us the milky way, with the bead work concentrated in this area but spilling out across the sky. The movement of the beadwork encourages us to think of the changing night sky. The colours of the fabric get lighter as night fades into day.

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

Victor Hugo , Les Misérables

Proudly South African

At work they want us to wear the green and gold, on Fridays, to show our support for the Proteas during the Cricket World Cup, but instead I have had a little top from the shwe-shwe fabric I bought ages ago. The fabric is printed in SA, I have pinned a SA flag button to it, I am proudly south African, I think I am doing my bit, haha!

DIY mobile for baby boy

Nadine asked me to make the characters for a mobile for her baby's room. She bought the material and I took forever to make up the patterns and sew it all together. But at last it's finished. She just has to assemble it, the way she wants it. I like the elephant. And the fish ;-)

Here and there

Time for nothing else

Well, I have to make 250 PrettyUglys so there is no time for anything else. Everywhere you look there are unfinished PrettyUglys waiting for names, stories and trims. Everyone is as cute as the next. Love them all. Hope they all get to go to good homes.

Happy birthday, Jill

Made this doll for a friend. No, it is not a PrettyUgly. I think she's cute. I hope Jill likes it.

Jean-pant handbag

I made up a little handbag from the leg of a pair of jeans (donated by Trish). I bought the belt at the WW sale.

Shaszee

A girl at the office asked me to make a doll that looks like her to give to her boyfriend for Valentines.

PrettyUgly mugshots

I'm enjoying making all these PrettyUglys. By the end of this month they will have their own website, I'm really excited. More about that later.

the same, but different

Cut from the same pattern, how different do these look. My cute little PrettyUglys.

A PrettyUgly-a-day

My target is to make a one PrettyUgly everyday this year. It's day 28 and I only have 23, hmm. How will it end? Working towards a show in November, hold thumbs.
Have run out of cotton and stuffings, I'll have to rush out and get lots more. Have some PrettyUglys waiting to take shape.

Making babies

A friend of mine bought me a book - We make dolls - and I have been so inspired. Spent the whole weekend making dolls. Although none have been made from the patterns in the book. I haven't named them yet and each will get a separate entry later this week so you can meet them properly ;-)

PrettyUgly: Lambbertee

PrettyUgly: Elwhowease