Archive for September, 2010

The Art of Burlesque

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010



Exciting News!!

I’m the sparkly brand new Branch Director and Host of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School in North Wales!!

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is the little New York art event that has become the world’s premier alt.drawing movement.  Started in 2005 by artist Molly Crabapple, the concept is simple.  Artist’s draw glamorous burlesque dancers, compete in contests, and win wacky prizes. From it’s humble Brooklyn beginnings, Dr. Sketchy’s now has over 100 branches around the globe, including Los Angeles, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and Melbourne.

When many artists think “life drawing,” they think of sterile rooms, bad lighting, and bored, silent, models with nary a hint of personality.  Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School North Wales is here to change all that.

As most of you are aware who visit this blog know I love to fuse art & fashion, creative costumes & comedy in my work and Dr. Sketchy’s will bring all this to life!

Picture below of the Dr. Sketchy Event in NYC featuring Raquel Reed

This new venture ties in perfectly with the Extinct Design,  like its fabulous cool older sister, one that wears corsets…

When the occasion calls for it I will be selling vintage, upcycled and recycled costumes, clothes and all manner of accessories at the events, hopefully fuelling the rise of an ever confident breed of young lads and ladies in whatever state of undress…
First  ever Welsh Sketchy will be taking place in the newly re-furbished Scala Cinema, Prestayn on 28th October 2010!
A celebration of Samhain, Out with the Old & In with the New!
That’s what All Hallows is to me!

And guess who’s going to be there….?

The Breathtaking, pulse-raising, and occasionally fatal *ANNA FUR LAXIS*

also introducing headstrong, mystifying , wayward ways of *MISTY FIANT*

Go Book yourself some Early Bird Tickets £8.50 (advance ) via paypal to heather@extinctdesign.co.uk

£10.00 (on the door)

Do bring your sketchpads, pens n pencils although we’ll have plenty to dish out on the night!

Drawing is for everyone! Do come and have a go!

www.drsketchynorthwales.co.uk

www.drsketchy.com

Cocktails & Kimonos

Sunday, September 26th, 2010




Had a lovely night last night at the Vintage Dressing-Up Box Party, sweet-tasting snowballs and showcasing my newest Guest Designer Fashion label – Pretty Plum Sugar! Guests were invited to try on the mix of silk Indian print kimonos, tunic tops and wraps as well as vintage items to create their own looks.

Had lots of fun too with the Hair Boostias! New “do’s” in minutes so simple and easy to do!

Pictured above wearing the highest Hair Boostia are a couple of last nights guests the lovely Donna & Janet.

Thanks to all the girls that came!

Next ones booked for 22nd October.

Do get in touch if you’d like to come along.

Heart Handmade – Sept ‘10

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

So pleased to be featured on the Heart Handmade Blog! Read the rest of the post here.

Ma Calling – Chiffon Scarves

Sunday, September 26th, 2010


Hello,

I give up. I have been trying to buy Chiffon scarves online and only found one outlet. I know it is difficult to get them near me. I am not sure if they still sell them in Cardiff Market. That is a long way to go, but needs must. Will have to keep on looking they are there I know. There are lots of search results but not for the product I want.

I wanted them to add on a background for my Lamppost pieces. I had one but now I need another two.
My mother used to wear them in the old days. She used to put one over her hat to keep it on when it was a windy day. I can remember hairdressers using them to keep your curlers in when you had a perm. Oh grief! What an image that has dredged up. Me in curlers!!

There are lots of uses for a chiffon scarf. You can layer them and produce colour changes, trap pieces of threads and materials underneath and embroidery on top to produce interesting surfaces. You can also melt and burn them to produce crunchy textures. I wanted a few black ones to layer to create a shadowy effect for my lamppost. I am sure there are lots more effects one can create too.

When I started using them in my embroidery projects you could pick them up very reasonably in charity shops but it has been a long time since I have seen them about.

I think I will phone Ghee she might have some in her stash of stuff.

For Chiffon scarves.

Love,
Ma

Sammys Super T-Shirt!

Friday, September 24th, 2010


Did you ever see this back in the day?
There was one amazing summer where my big sis and I watched hilarious badly acted 70s films, that were predictable even to our young minds but fascinating all the same. It was for like watching a Famous Five or the Magnificent Seven books live on my telly.
We’d sit drinking squash and eating rich tea biscuits and laughing at the antics of those kids that were our age up to on TV. From everything to tracking down a burglar to a super-magic t-shirt!

Sammys Super T-shirt was the one film that stayed with me the most… Wow! The power of clothes (I was always a child who could see things on different levels) I was so delighted to find a batch of vintage tiger t-shirts recently, white tigers face printed on soft navy background. Check them out here!

Ma Calling – …about those Ties

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010



Just had a look at your bow ties and that smart Dr Who Matt Smith. Dr Who in his second and third regeneration had a thing about the bow tie too. It spans space and time….

Filmed in Wales you know.

Thought I would find out when they became popular and of course Wikipedia had the answer.
They originated with the Croatian Mercenary soldiers in the Prussian Wars. They used sort of scarf to keep the neck of their shirts closed.

Can get cold in those Prussian winters. Ooh ..I bet they looked smart.
The upper class French always quick to spot a classy accessory adopted it and called it the cravat from the French (because they spoke French) for Croat.

Balzac even wrote a book about it according to Wikipedia. Must look that up!
Now the puzzling bit , like the chicken and the egg, did the cravat evolve into the necktie and then bow tie or did the bow tie come first and the necktie?

Something to ponder on.

I personally go for the bow tie first then the neck tie but do not rely on me I can’t even win the lottery. Must buy a ticket!

Wikipedia also mentions our Doctor Who wearing a bow tie also Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) from Eastenders.

Up to the minute and in vogue and who can resist a man in a formal Black Tie (bow of course) and all those soldiers in their mess kit. Enough to turn ones head!

Love,
Ma

Beehives, Bumps and Boost up dos!

Monday, September 20th, 2010





The Powder Room is open for girly chats, secret potions and lotions, kiss curls and compliments, relationship chats and plenty of hairspray…

First items into The Powder Room are these new Secret HairBoositas I’m so excited to bring you this product as it stops all that ratty backcombing FOREVER!! Be kind to your hair and give it a boost! Get that Beehive honey look that everyone from Bardot to Barton knows is instant sexy, instant cool.

In four different colours, Co-Co Brown, Natural Black, Blondie and Honey Blonde.


Each pack contains 5 Hair Boostias, 2 extra small, 1 small, 1 medium and 1 large. Will full instructions on how to fit them!

To welcome everyone to The Powder Room I thought I’d start with a competition!!

Win a Hair Boostia (winner gets to choose her preferred colour)

To enter please join my Facebook page and let at least 5 of you mates know about Extinct Design and all its forgotten treasures by getting them to sign up to the page too!

For an extra entry add me on Twitter

Comment on the post below with your e-mail address when you’re done :)

Competition Open to all. Closes Friday 4th October. I’ll be posting the winners name on the following Monday.

Good Luck!

The Time Lord Has Answered…

Sunday, September 19th, 2010


WHOOooooooHOOoooooooo!

I was so incredibly excited  to receive a postcard from The Time Lord himself!!! I practically “Whhoooooooooooohoooooooo”ed the place down when it arrived this weekend!
Look you can tell he wrote the address on the envelope too!

Want to see what I sent him? Check out my Bow Ties are Cool post.

Sailorettes, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll – Sept ‘10

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Very excited to be inlcuded on the Sailorettes, Love and Rock ‘N’ Roll blogsite.

Do go and read about my influences, starting and running an online vintage business.

My Top 5 Vintage Shopping Essentials…

Friday, September 17th, 2010

To read my entire Guest Blog article visit Shopaholic

Vintage Life – Sept ‘10

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

So incrediably thrilled to be included in Issue 4 Vintage Life Magazine its a fabulously produced vintage fashion, hair, lifestyle fest!

The super glam Vintage Life Magazine full of nostalgia and all things vintage and retro.

Features Editor Lisa Evans:
“Vintage Life Magazine is a magazine aimed at revisiting and rekindling the wonderful years gone by – bringing those memories alive again! From style and fashion, hair and make-up to house and home, toys and collectables to music and film, everything great about the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s through to the 70s – all in one great magazine!”

Take a sneek peek at the current issue

Ma Calling – When Crafting Goes Bad…

Sunday, September 12th, 2010



Having a rest now after a few stressful sewing moments.

Had a lovely time last night. Great seeing everyone again.  Boo was very complimentary about Extinct Design website, she said it was very user friendly.

There were some lovely pieces of work brought in to Sewing Group. Isn’t it amazing how imaginative people can be? Some new members joined and a few more to join over the next few months.

I had some help with my new project and it was suggested I make a series of three panels taking the colours from light blue / grey to a deeper blue colour. So I thought I will do that. (Keeping with my Lamppost theme of course.)

I set about sorting out my work after lunch and did some designing and colour ways. I photocopied the design full size and coloured it in and sorted out areas to embroider.

(I was quite smug because I had just the right size frames to mount the three panels on and I had three of them too. I bought them from The Works a while ago and knew one day they would come in handy. They are normally sold to paint on.)

Perfect.

I sat back to look at the three drawings of the panels, then disaster struck!! One of the panel boards slid down behind the radiator. Now I know I shouldn’t have propped them up on the radiator, but there you go, I did.

….

Well I have been about an hour (with a tea break) trying to get the rascal back out.

First I tried sliding it. That did not work because of the wall brackets on the radiator.

Then I thought I would poke it back up from the floor with a stick (ya know the old Knitting needle trick!) However, knitting needles don’t bend.

Tried a plastic tube I was keeping to use for a bag handle …too bendy.

Tried my feather duster. No hope!

Looking around my craft room for inspiration and I thought I can do this. If early Man could move stones from Wales to Salisbury Plain I can get this board from behind the radiator! I need this board!

Then it came to me…. string!

I found a piece fortunately the right size. (no time to muse on the how long is a piece of string that I need to do this jokes)  Using my brain now I thought, if I could get it to attach to the board in some way I could drag it back up. So I pinned a safety pin to one end and tried to tie the string to the radiator grill at the top (after all I did not want that to drop down there as well).  That did not work- pin not bendy!

So I lassoed the string around my workroom table leg (I have seen this on Cowboy films) and lowered it down.

I lowered the other end down and attached a peg to the board and threaded and tied the string to it. Pulled.

Oh no! Guess What? The  space was too narrow for peg and the board.

It is always the simplest things that work best. I tied the sting around the board!!! And yes came up behind the radiator, no problem.

Glad to have got all that off my chest. All I wanted to do was sew.

It is right though simple things do work out best in the end.

Lesson learnt.

I have been looking for some books on Tatting on Amazon a little disappointed at what I have seen but will look again more carefully. I am sure there is something I have missed.

Gina has got some nice ones on her site.

Have to go now.

Love,
Ma

Ma Calling – Lampost.

Saturday, September 11th, 2010



Hello!

Off to Sewing Group tonight. (Must mention Extinct Design to all the other sewers…)

So today I have been catching up on some of the things I planned to do this Summer! I set myself a target of two projects. I have to have targets otherwise I am hopeless. (I even have targets for house work and that is another story of targets not met.)

I think I showed you my Lampost. Have some photos for you to see.

Taking it along to show the girls! I want some ideas on how to hang it. Would like an iron curtain rail but I need a short one with fancy Iron twists. Hmm………

I have been mulling over what to do next. I have started another piece, a panel based on the same photograph and I will either make a bag or a cushion from it. I have thought of using shapes created in the photograph and the patterned stitches on my machine. I want to keep to limited palette of greys. I do have a problem with puckering where the heavy stitching draws in the  fabric but I have decided to go with it because I quite like the effect and if it does not work out I can always cut it up and re apply it. Often they turn out the best pieces.

I think I will use machine threads I have I have a lot of Madeira threads from other projects to use up.

In my use it up mode today.

We are hoping for a few new members. We began a few years ago when a group of us completed our City and Guilds Textile courses. We are hoping to put on an exhibition.(plans to be finalised soon!!) We based our work on photographs we took around Cardiff Bay.

We meet in a Church Hall lovely space and good lighting. It is in a nearby village so not far to travel. We are a self supporting group and have lots of ideas how to develop.

I was taken with the reflections in windows especially of the old Victorian type street lights. Cardiff Bay is a great place to go for inspiration for all types of Craft. Actually it is a great place anyway. Lots of lovely restaurants and lots to see. It also has Craft in the Bay a good place to visit too.

I will let you know how everyone has got on over the summer. I know my friend Ghee  has been working on an experimental piece. I am waiting to see if Boo has completed her project too.

Pa said he is looking forward to this evening too . Don’t know why?

Love
Ma

Ma Calling – The Art of a Good Coffee Shop

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010


Just a quick one. Just got back. Thought I would give you a nudge.

Pa thought we should get out today, he said it would do us good. As we pulled up outside Asda… he got the look! So he offered to take me to lunch. After popping into the giant superstore for a few things and spending £90 we walked over to the Cafe.

Now this Cafe has an Art Gallery attached. This pleased me very much, because I love to look around the lovely exhibitions they have there. They also make great homemade cakes which pleases your Pa. The gift shop also full of original gifts too. After all Christmas is coming!

Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Cwmbran has been going for a few years now and is one of our favourite places for tea and a snack.

They were in the middle of setting up the next exhibition today. It is called Portal Series 10. There is a private viewing on 11th of September 12pm to 2pm and then I assume it will be up and running.

I was a bit disappointed not to be able to see the new exhibition. However….. as I had to walk through the room  to go to the toilet I caught a glimpse of some of the pieces that were being set up. (It is ok no one saw me). Lovely Stuff………

Must go back!  Well worth another look.

I picked up the blurb for you and it says that is

“an exhibition of work of recent graduates  exploring weave, textile, ceramic ,jewellery and photography questioning the motives, processes and preoccupations within contemporary applied art”.

Sounds good to me.

Llantarnam Grange has a web site. (http://www.lgac.org.uk/) worth a look .

Love,
Ma

Book Of Green – Sept ‘10

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Ma Calling – Tatting

Monday, September 6th, 2010


I have been thinking back to a few years ago when I was on a bus tour and where two ladies behind me were chatting. I could overhear them I was not listening intentionally of course! Well, it was a long bus tour and it was before my ipod days…

One of the women was saying she sat by a lady on a similar tour who was tatting. She went on to say that for the whole of the tour the woman wanted to teach her to tat. Ooh! , I thought, I would love to have sat by such a person and learn how to do that. At that moment I did not have the faintest idea what tatting was.

The lady with the loud voice ( ok I strained to hear what she was saying next ) said she told her(straight) she could not think of anything so boring as tatting. I thought that was a bit mean and I am sure it is lovely. My interest or nosiness was peeked, right peeked.

On returning home I decided to find out exactly what this tatting was. I got out my Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework (don’t laugh it is a good book and was all I had) and there was Tatting. Yesss!  I went and bought a shuttle,(in red) why I am telling you that I do not know and I found some crochet cotton.

The next dark wet day, a day a bit like today in fact, I sat down by the fire on a bean bag (again why do I need you to know that too, but it sets the scene) and learned to turn the knot. Several hours later and piles of bits of cotton on the carpet I managed it. I had not made anything but had learnt the basic stitch.

For the history bit. It is a type of lace making popular in the early 19th Century .However there is some evidence it goes back when the Fishermen started their net making. I suppose it all evolved from Knot making ..it makes sense to me. Lace was expensive to make so tatting was a cheaper alternative. Wikipedia has some notes!!

For the technical bit. It is made up of one knot (and yes it took me hour to learn it!!!) It is called double stitch. It is worked in groups over a single thread and pulled up into rings and chains and these are joined into larger groups to make motifs. This might sound like a crazy explanation but it is not easy to explain .You do need someone to show you or get a book with good pictures in.  Once you get how to hold the thread you are away. However if you pull and you have not made the knot correctly it is difficult but not impossible to undo and start again.

It is well worth learning how to do it because you can make some lovely things.

If you want to learn more there is a society called the Ring of Tatters they have a website. I think it is time to get excited about this old craft again.

There are not many books about tatting and some of the things I have seen are a bit twee for me. I must remember this was a popular craft in Victorian times! You can make beautiful jewellery with it and I think it is now time to go with modern ideas with an old craft and reinvent the wheel or the ring.

love,
Ma



Check out doit101.com for a good how to!

September : This Months Must Have

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

I’ve chosen this dress for the September Must Have as it reminds me of late summer senoritas, the cool late summer nights that still have that sweet smell in the air of al fresco eating and holiday romances…

Pretty pleated skirt, would look amazing teamed with black patent Mary Janes…

Find it here extinct design

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