Sarah Smiles

February creations...

I am really into the simple running stitch lately and have incorporated it in a few of my recent pieces.  I was doing a little reading about this oddly cool stitch and found that it is used a lot in the traditional art of making kantha quilts.  These quilts are made from old saris and have the most amazing colors and the stitching I love.  I will buy one one day, it is just so hard to decide which one I want.

Here are a few recent pieces.  The stamping on this piece below reads "Tomorrow is what you make it" - thought a lot of my children that day, I think.

This is a work in progress for my good friend Annveig.  The running stitch and a combination of colors and fabrics I am really pleased with.  This piece will have only a small patchwork/collage part then will also incorporate a city scape and some embroidery.  Really enjoy making this one.

Made this one quickly today after just randomly seeing that some of these fabrics would be brilliant together.  I have been making quite a few pillow cases lately.  So easy and fun to create.

Here are some hearts I made for my children for Valentine's Day.  They were happy although Cornelia thought she should open it and there was some discussion as to which was a better word "Amazing" or "Fantastic", but I think we got it settled.

finally got my groove back...

A few pieces recently created - such a great feeling to start to create after the long holiday. 

Using my lovely bits of fabric from Vietnam, plus pieces of an old obi belt I picked up in Kyoto and other handprinted fabric pieces.

This is a strange little piece of text with stamps on it - got it in Beijing and it looks like it is a text from the Mao era - many interesting classically communist images on the stamps.

This one is my favorite - it is a recreation of a drawing Cornelia did when she was 5, I love the pictures she did at that age - imaginary creatures and lots of swirls :).  This piece also incorporates the Vietnamese bits I am in love with.

first time selling in a Korean art shop...

After nearly 6 months, lots of confusion due to language problems and change of management at the shop, I am finally selling 4 pieces and some placemats at the art shop @ the Busan Citizens Hall!  So many talented artists and amazing pieces of art at the shop, it is so fun to be a part of it.  Out of nearly 100 artists I am one of 2 foreigners, there is a Japanese artists here too.

 

 

 

This one is my favorite, I kinda hope it doesn't sell!
 

Placemat.  Funny that the shop displays ceramics from one of my favorite Korean artists.  I have to send her this picture, she might invite me over for some tea?! :)
   
 

off to the frame guy...

A few images of the most recent things I have made, working a lot in preparation for the sale I will have at the next BIWA lunch on Oct. 13th.  Working to create a collection of pieces for a sale or market is such fun.  The hardest part is to limit it to only a selection of things.

 

 

 

The clouds I will frame in small acrylic boxes.  The idea for the text on the clouds came from my own need to remember certain things during the course of the day.  I get so focused on whatever I am doing, and sometimes I need to relax and think of the bigger picture.  
  

first handbag ever....

For so long I have been wanting to make a fabric handbag/tote and finally I did on Tuesday and it only took a couple of hours and was so fun!  I happen to have the most perfect sticks for the handles.  A big shout out to all those hard working people who write craft books, such inspiration to be found in some of them!! 

 

new work....

I have been drifting away from patchwork themes these days, trying to loosen up and go in a direction less strict, but I got these new fabric bits from umbrellaprints and just had to put some to them together with some bits I already had and this is how it turned out - I did this last night after the children had gone to bed and I think it is my favorite.

I am actually not entirely finshed with this one yet, but I am really pleased with the disorder of the whole thing

 

I am going to do a bunch of these and the point is that they will be little daily reminders that can be hung on doorknobs and hooks or stuck to the fridge.  I am trying to be more mindful and aware of the moment, this actually reminds me to breathe.

   

Again, my chair motif.  I never get tired of the chair - for my it symbolizes reflection, creation, connection to others and appreciation for what you see
 
 

This is the first time I used this quilting technique using my free motion sewing machine foot

 

Crazy stitching with a sea monster :)

 

My Busan inspired buildings continue - so many variations possible.  This one is mounted on a simple wooden board covered with traditional Korean rice paper.

 

A little experiment with watercolours and stitching. 

 

french knot piece finally (almost) done...

I started this project this past Easter after we had been to Tokyo.  There I had seen an amazing exhibit at the National Arts Center.  Totally inspired, I came home and started embroidering french knots on this lovely piece of hand dyed Korean silk.  

I wonder how many hours this actually took me, must be 40-50, hundreds and hundreds of little knots.  There were moments when I just couldn't continue, it was at times really tedious.  Not sure if I will do lots of these kinds of pieces, but I did really like how it turned out.  There is something organic about it and it is lovely to touch!

I'll post again when I decide how to frame/mount the piece.  I think this one might go in my new kitchen at home, same colors.
 

braided fabric necklace...

I have had this idea to make a braided necklace for a long time and yesterday it finally took shape.  This is the first one, so next time I will do things a bit differently, but I am pleased with this 1st try.  The green bits are velvet and the purple square parts are from my lovely friend Vic - I love when people pass their scraps on to me and I end up making something I love with them!

Saturday morning...

Outside is windy, grey and foggy, the waves are so intense coming up onto the beach so it is even cozier to be inside this morning.  Good coffee, sourdough bread toasted with butter, happy babies still in pajamas and no big plans for the day!  

I've been working a lot these days and this last week has made me so creatively focused.  I am starting work on a big piece (2.5 meters long, broken up into 3 panels) for my good friend Nalini.  I really want this to be an amazing piece so I've been searching for some unique inspiration and always seem to come back to Alabama Chanin.  Their style is imperfect and rough yet exquisitely delicate and well made, so cool!

 

  
Also the work of Cathy Cullis inspires me to think of putting materials together in a more deconstructed, rough way - and her expertise with sewing machine drawing is really amazing - love it!  

 

 

latest created bits...

Had the great pleasure to spend the afternoon at Claudia Shau's home to learn about jewelry making!  I have made some pieces but never knew how to fit the clasps or how to make earring and now, I know!  So, inspired by her cool style, I made two rings and a pair a fun earrings. 

 

 These are two small pieces I made recently.  Now they are Gaby's - we did a fun art trade, her pictures will be pictured soon, they are at the framer, I hope she enjoys them!