TAG TUESDAY - AUTUMN OWL

 

  I  love autumn and working with warm autumnal colours, so for this week’s theme of OWLS, I knew exactly where to start.  Last year I tie-dyed some fabric as the base for an Autumnal textile panel.  I used a leftover scrap of this to cover the front and back of my tag, leaving the edges frayed.

Next I painted on the outline of an owl with gold glitter paint, adding a bit of detail for feathers.  (I used Pebeo glitter touch 3D paint)  Behind the owl I drew an oval hollow and filled it in with black marker pen.

Next I attached two die-cut leaves, touched up with brown glitter paint.

For his beak and eyes I sewed on beads and sequins.

To echo the owls golden eyes I have threaded two beaded rings onto the bottom of the tag.  I used ring-size memory wire for these. The tag is finished with a simple gold thread.

 This shot shows the tie-dye colours on the back of the tag.

Here is the front of the tag on a plainer background:

 

 

  The raspberry wine is looking good!  Apple and blackberry wine now too! Cheers!

Bye for now,  Jane xx

TAG TUESDAY - AUTUMN FRUITS & BERRIES

It is harvest time for raspberries at the allotment at the moment and, after a slow start, it seems to be a good season.  This year for the first time I am making Raspberry Wine. I have also made Raspberry Tags.

I used watercolour paper for my tags.  On the first I painted around the edge of the tag with raspberry juice using a raspberry as a sponge/brush. On top of this I have put the instructions for making Raspberry Wine. 

On the other side there is a list of ingredients and a fruit teabag envelope.  I put the teabag in the wine! 

 I will keep the sachet of yeast in the envelope till I need it.

The other tag has been soaked in raspberry juice overnight then left to dry in the sun. It still has bits of dried raspberry on it.  I am using this tag to make notes of any changes I make to the recipe, because I never follow a recipe exactly.  I’ll include dates, etc. so that if this turns out to be wonderful wine I’ll know how to make it again.

Both tags are tied with a raspberry pink ribbon and will be tied to the neck of the demijohn when I do the next stage tomorrow. 

  Cheers!

Bye for now,

Jane xx

ONE MORE CIRCUS TAG

When  I recently went to see Cirque Du Ciel ShangHi, I was totally amazed by the incredible performance of the acrobats and dancers; but most of all I was inspired by the colour, the patterns and the sparkliness of their costumes. 

This tag is inspired by the costume of one of the dancers  in the photo.  The pattern reminded me of a peacock.  It is painted on watercolour paper but I have used silk paints because the colours are so vibrant.  There’s lots of glitter glue too!

Bye for now, Jane xx

TAG TUESDAY - CIRCUS

I LOVED this week’s theme.  I recently went to see Cirque Du Ciel ShangHi. A Chinese circus of traditional and modern elements.  It was absolutely amazing!  The 2-hour show featured acrobatics, ballet, balancing, tumbling, spinning, death defying aerial displays, all set to a heart pounding score of live music.  With amazing costumes, lighting and music it was a Colourful, Sparkling, feast for the senses.  On my tags this week I have tried to convey the experience of being there, ENJOY!  Most are made using hand-painted silk, backed onto craft vylene.

The first tag features the Diablo spinners.  I used large silver and pink sequins and tiny beads for the Diablo’s, and white thread for the rope they are thrown up and caught on.  Sorry I don’t know the technical terms! It is photographed against the front cover of the programme.

This tag features the Hoop Diving routine. It is painted with purple and red silk paints and decorated with turquoise sequins.  For the hoops I have used four brass curtain rings, stitched to the tag. 

The swirly black and gold design on the left is taken from the costumes of the acrobats;  I used silk gutta for this.  The tag is finished with a tie of red cord and black ribbon and gold beads.  I love the vibrancy and  colour contrast of this tag.

This tag features the Aerial Silk Routine, where a performer does an amazing gymnastics routine whilst dangling from the ceiling on a length of red silk !  For this I painted the vylene tag black and stitched  tiny crystal beads for lights all over. I used a piece of painted silk (red/purple) cut on the bias and folded it into place on the tag. It is stitched in place with a few more beads.  Finished with red and black ribbons for a tie.

The music and drumming was an important feature of the show so my last tag is about the drumming.  The tag shows a wall of Chinese Gongs.  I made a golden grid on the tag with gold thread and used various gold buttons from my stash for the gongs.  It is finished with black ribbon and gold thread for a tie.

Here they are altogether.  I’m sorry this post is so long, I got a bit carried away!  I would love to have made more, there were so many inspiring shapes and colours to use; but I thought four was maybe enough.  If the Cirque Du Ciel comes to a theatre near you, go and see it! It’s amazing beyond words!

Thank you as always for your lovely comments, they make my day!

Have a fantastic creative week.

Bye for now, Jane xx