Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend? No, it’s handbags.

Handbags, evening bags, shoulder bags, clutch bags or even a big old tote bag, us ladies sure are suckers for a something to keep our bits and pieces in.

Here in my incarnation of c.Art, I’ve been busy making more bags, each one unique, as befits the brand.

Marilyn Monroe once famously sang ‘Diamonds are a girls best friend’ but I beg to differ. I think a handbag is much more useful and can be just as pretty as a string of sparklers . I combined the glamour of the image of Marilyn Monroe in this  dusky pink evening bag .

The back of the evening bag reads: ” I’m a failure as a woman. My men expect so much because of the image they’ve made of me and that I’ve made of myself as a sex symbol. Men expect so much of me and I can’t live up to it. “  A quote from the screen idol herself, showing her acute self awareness and burgeoning Feminist thinking.

This bag was snapped up as soon as I’d made it. Others similar could be ordered.

From one great woman to another, here is a shopper made with a kaleidoscopic image of the wonderful Frida Kahlo. With hand painted green leopard print and heavily embroidered and handpainted image , this shopper bag would turn your shopping trip into a very special occasion.

Lined in pistachio green satin with a magnetic snap closure and a zippered inner pocket, this bag is stylish as well as practical. 

To order your own bag or to see what I’ve currently got in stock, head over to my website www.iheartcart.com

or if you’re a Facebook person : www.facebook.com/c.Artbags

Welcome to the World Wide Web ! iheartcart.com is live.

Hooray! I’ve finally done it.

I’m so excited to announce the launch of the brand new designer , build-a-bag, wearable art, handbag art extravaganza website , iheartcart.com.

It’s been an  interesting process, as in the search for relevant key words for SEO ( search engine optimisation) I’ve realised that maybe I’ve created a product that is fairly unique. There aren’t any keywords that pop up in the key word finder that can possibly describe what I’ve created. It seems that turning paintings into handbags may be a fairly unusual concept. Maybe for a reason… maybe I’m crazy ? Who knows. All I know is I’m so excited to follow my passion. I’m going with the flow and making these bags feels so right. Whether it is a small evening purse that has poetry embroidered into it like the Lady of Shalott bag and an image on the front

or a Harris Tweed evening clutch purse with a vintage postcard image crafted in graffiti style or another evening purse bag , this time with the fearful Medusa image from Caravaggio.

Or if it is a large bag that you are after, a big statement , well there is no bigger statement than a tote. Especially a tote bag with a Gustav Klimt image on the front.

So if you are a fan of art, are looking for something completely unique to make a unique statement, looking for a bag like no other, then pop over and see the new website www.iheartcart.com

 

Bags more bags

It’s been a long time blogging , I’ve been busy in my spare time when I’m done with puppets, establishing a brand new venture. It’s called c.Art  , the concept being artworks that you carry around with you in the form of bags. Here’s my latest creations:

 

“Babies”

 

This one is called ‘Babies’.  It is a clutch bag , again painted canvas with top stitching details and embroidered text. This bag is painted in a beautiful shade of soft grey to compliment the drawing .

The text reads: Father asked us , ” What was God’s noblest work? Anna said, ” Men,” but I said “Babies”. Men are often bad, but babies never are. A wonderful quote from the classic novel , Little Women , by Louisa May Alcott. This quote perfectly sums up my thoughts on the ‘empty vessel’ theory that I believe children are. We hold so much responsibility for filling them with the right stuff.The image is drawn from a silverpoint engraving of an infant by the great Leonardo Da Vinci.

 

The inside of the bag is lined with baby pink , and the bag is fastened with a magnetic snap. There are two compartments inside the bag to organise your things nicely.

 

“Kiss”

The next bag is a handsome beast. It is a ‘man bag’. ( I’m not sure what else to call it) although of course, it isn’t restricted to men. It is designed to be worn across the body, the wide canvas adjustable strap with it’s smart satin bronzed buckle, holding it nice and secure. It has a flap front, featuring a beautifully distressed and deliberately drippy image of two lovers kissing, just emerging from the shadows.

The gender of the couple is not at first clear, but on closer inspection , the two lovers are both male.

 

The quote : “Make me immortal with a kiss” is from Christopher Marlowe.

 

I wanted to invoke the beauty found in decay , the accidental masterpiece found on a subway wall, the dark excitement and freedom and tolerance found in the urban sprawl in this piece. The bag is in muted shades of grey/sepia and is selectively over sewn to emphasise elements of the design.

The inside of the bag is equally handsome. I’ve lined it with the most beautifully sumptuous wine coloured satin. It has a lined front pocket under the flap and a zippered pocket in the lining. The bag is fastened with two magnetic snaps .

 

“The Eye “Make up Ba

 

For something a little different, here I’ve made a make up bag in pale flesh tones with a big detailed embroidered eye .

 

It’s lined in pink pearly pvc and is fastened with a chocolate brown zipper.

 

 

 

So, what do you think?

 

 

 

I’ve been working on the website, hopefully it will be up and running soon.

 

 

 

In the meantime, to keep up with all things c.Art, head over to my facebook page for regular updates.

 

c.Art on Facebook

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Bags of Art/ Art of Bags

I’m still busy making bags in my new incarnation of c.Art ( craft meets Art / carry Art).

I’m intermittently working on the website too, it’s not ready yet, but soon, dear friends, soon.

Here are the most recent completed bags.

First here is a clutch bag made on the theme of Mercury.
The image is painted from a detail of a painting by Tiepolo of the Roman God Mercury . Words across the bag are from that god amongst rock gods, Freddie Mercury. I think it came out beautifully. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Next is a bag especially created for a singing goddess, the wonderful Miss Baby Sol. I first came upon her spectacular self when she was guesting with the amazing Lazy Habits.

Here she is singing with the Lazy Habits boys.

She is currently supplying splendid backing vocals for the lovely British Diva Paloma Faith. She won’t be long in the background, I’m sure , as she is destined to shine like the star that she is. Here’s her bag, based on an image by Steve Coleman of Three Images. I can’t wait to hand it over to her.

Next bag is another version of the ever popular Tea Party clutch. This one is version number 3 and features a white chihuahua and a lady wearing a wonderful ship fascinator created by the lovely Bink of the wonderful Pearls and Swine. If you like pretty things , do yourself a favour and pop over and see her work. You will thank me.

Oh I’ve got so many more, I think I’ll save them for another blog post. Don’t want to spoil you .

Would love to hear your thoughts. If you were to have a bag represent you, what would it look like?

To keep up with my progress do head over to my facebook page.

c.Art on Facebook

c.Art: where craft meets Art.

The Mona Lisa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I know. I’ve not blogged for ages. I’m not going to apologise, I’ve been busy, very busy. Now don’t fall over with shock, but my latest project has nothing to do with crochet. I know, shocking, isn’t it? I thought I’d give my hands a break and go back to my roots of painting . I studied Fine Art ( painting)at art college way back when.

Back in the day when I was a young lady, I worked as a scenic artist for the Cape Performing Arts Board in South Africa. I spent my time tacking down massive canvases in warehouses and sloshing around horse glue size with a sweeping brush , preparing the backdrops for various operatic and theatrical productions.
Sometimes I would have the honours of actually painting the massive canvases too.  After all, my audition to get the job in the first place was having to paint a replica of the Mona Lisa, in poster paints for a production of Annie. The painting was a success, so much so that it was stolen by someone on tour. I learned to spatter with 8 ” decorating brushes like a pro, often having to ‘break down’ a copy of a Rococco painting  on the instructions of the set designer , as it read too well from the audience. Breaking down involved spattering great gobs of paint over a beautifully detailed painting- heartbreaking thing to do.

Fast forward 20 odd years and I’m back spattering on canvas and painting replicas of gorgeous pieces of art , except this time, instead of being on a huge scale, these canvas are tiny. And they are being turned into bags.

My new venture is c.Art.

The name stands for craft meets Art, or carry Art. Also you cart your stuff around in your bag.

The basic concept is turning paintings on canvas into bags . Most bags feature an image or two combined with appropriate embroidered text.  But words are not enough to describe the bags. You need pictures . So here they are:

This bag was made for a huge Aaliyah fan. It’s not terribly representative of the c.Art style but it was a commission.

Another commission, this bag truly showcases the c.Art style. Here we have a grafitti inspired image with words chosen by the client embroidered on to the bag.

Note the drippy, spattered canvas over written with text: that’s the c.Art style. All the bags are lined in luscious satin and fastened with magnetic snaps.

Here’s a bag made for my muse as a gift, the brilliant, creative, performance artist Marnie Scarlet. This is the back of the bag featuring appliqued flowers and a portrait of her in one of her costumes. This was based on a photo by the wonderful ML Imagery.

Here’s the front of the bag featuring a portrait of the great lady herself , based on a photograph this time by Helene Jaspers.

Detail of the stitching and glitter .

This bag is a tribute to a legend, the late, great Bruce Lee. Here’s the inside of the bag showing one of his wonderful quotes:

And here’s the front of the bag, with another one of his quotes. Image based on the famous cracked mirror scene of Enter the Dragon.

This next bag is a clutch bag , an adaptation of one of my other bags, this time featuring a cat rather than a dog. The bag is lined with satin , with a zippered inner pocket and magnetic clasp.

Sometimes I make from other materials, this time from a beautiful pearly pink pvc. This is based on a graffiti version of Frieda Kahlo.

This clutch bag made from the same pvc, this time with a very graphic image .

This drawing , by my eldest daughter, inspired  all of the bags. I transferred this drawing onto a bag made from some old oil paintings of mine , cut up to make a tote bag for her 21st birthday.

This was how it worked out.

She was very happy with her gift.

Here’s a small evening bag based on the famous painting of the Lady of Shalott.

Painted on canvas and lavishly oversewn, edged with red satin, lined with black satin.

The back of the bag features a verse from the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson of the Lady of Shalott. The bag features a crystal topped frame and  a red silk cord.

Here is the Medusa shopper. This bag was my fastest seller, purchased only minutes of it’s completion. It was sold to the wonderful artist Sue Kreitzman.

I call this one the Mercury clutch, featuring the God Mercury and words by the God Freddie Mercury.

Another bespoke  bag , this time for a gentleman who chose this rather lovely quote to be featured inside his bag:

and this one on the back :

This is the front of the bag, a composite image of all of his passions: capoeira , architecture, jazz and the sea.

I think it came out rather well. I also unwittingly created ‘Debrixton’, the blue canvas fabric  , similar to Denim but not created in Nimes ( De Nimes) hence Debrixton.  Get it?

Some of my bags verge on the ridiculous, but splendidly so. Another bag for the fabulously adventurous Marnie Scarlet. This one is called Nell. E. Phant and features a detachable elephant trunk. The images are based on photographs by the splendidly creative Tigz Rice Studios.

Trunk on and trunk off.

This bag is made in soft pink pvc with velvet straps , canvas portrait applique and artificial flowers.

This bag was another commission . I call this one Optimism.

Another bespoke bag, this one features a stylised portrait of the client.

This next bag was specially made as a gift for my partner. He’s crazy about a certain character…

On the back is a quote from Bruce Lee. ( elaborated by Royce Da 59)

Here are two clutch bags. The first with the dog is my own personal bag, the second a version for another client, featuring her cat, Bowie.

Close up of the original tea party bag, based on a wonderful piece of graffiti.

So that’s it for now. I’ve got so many ideas in store, I almost don’t know where to begin.

I’ll be back to show you more.

Oh, if you’d like to follow my progress with the bags, do head over to my facebook page www.facebook.com/c.Artbags

There will be a website soon. I’m still working on it.

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Me? A crazy Crochet CAT lady? It’s a funny old life

It’s been too long since I wrote in this blog, and for that I apologise. I’ve been rather busy. Too busy to even snatch the odd half an hour it takes to write a blog post. So what have I been busy doing you may ask?

Crocheting. Lots of it. Why have I been crocheting? For fun? Well, yes crocheting is an endless source of amusement for me but it’s not that.

I’ve been selling crochet goods in a few shops and have had quite a busy time just keeping up with restocking.

I’ve sold the original Batcat to a lovely lady called Dee in the USA .

I’ve since made two more versions: this one for Alex in Australia and his girlfriend Sophie

and this one for a man called Dan in Canada. But Batcat’s aside, it’s been rather busy for another reason.

I’m crocheting lots because of a cat. Not just any old cat, but a miracle cat called Anakin. Anakin the Miracle Cat is a beautiful cat who lives in the USA.  He is rather a popular boy, not just because he has remarkably handsome features  and a personality to match, but also because he is rather special, being born with no pelvis or back legs. But don’t feel sorry for him, here he is climbing a Kitty Condo tower quite happily.

Isn’t he remarkable?

Well it all started for me when Anakin’s ‘grandma’ contacted me on my Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/CrochetBrightandBeautiful) to ask if I’d create a crochet version of her little kitty for her daughter. How could I say no? So I did.

And here is how he turned out. and this is how Anakin responded to his crochet doppelganger.Well, he poses so well next to him don’t you think?

Well since Anakin, I’ve been flat out hooking, making pet portraits for people all over the world, from Norway and Denmark, to Australia , Canada , USA and of course, right here in the UK.

Here are a few of the lovely kitties ( and puppies) that I’ve had the pleasure of recreating.

As you can see, I’ve been a busy bunny. I’ve come quite a long way since I wrote this first post about my ambivalence towards making cats…

http://dianespuppetsproducts.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/cute-kitty-crochet-cat/

So, if you know anyone who is looking to have a dear pet immortalised in crochet or you are looking for that purrfect gift for a pet lover, pop over to either my Etsy shop (outside the UK) or for my UK people, my Folksy shop. There are links there to order either a cat , dog or a Diva Dolly. If you have other pet critters you’d like me to make, just drop me a line. I love a challenge!

 

Stepping through the looking glass

This gallery contains 9 photos.

    Things have been really exciting recently. My crochet work has taken a brand new direction. Complimenting the bright and beautiful crochet goods I  have been making over at CrochetBrightandBeautiful  I have stepped through the looking glass that I … Continue reading →

Performance Art inspires Crochet

I’m a granny.

I crochet.

I’m also an artist and performer.

You can’t put this granny in a box when it comes to crochet. I make granny squares but I also make art.

An unfinished baby, sewn in velveteen

I’ve always loved performance art and have long been a fan of the late, great Leigh Bowery.

Pushing boundaries of body image and beauty.

His life celebrated in the West End musical Taboo, he in turn inspired another one of my heroes , painter Lucien Freud, who used Leigh as one of his biggest models.

Lucien Freuds masterful work.

I’ve recently discovered performance artist Marnie Scarlet through  a mutual friend, the wonderful painter John Lee Bird who had recently painted Marnie’s portrait as part of his Before Encore exhibition series. Please drop by this wonderful man’s site and support his art. If you have a few spare pennies, maybe you could help him reach his sponsor target. It’s tough for artists right now, all Arts Council funding has been scrapped this year because of the Olympics, so if you care about art, show  your love. Here’s a link to his blog for more information and examples of his fantastic art work.

Marnie is an extraordinary creative soul and I feel she has taken Leigh Bowery’s legacy of playing with taboos and body image and expressed it as a strong woman. Be warned though, most of Marnie’s work is not suitable for those under 18 or who are easily offended.

After totally falling in love with one of Marnie’s incarnations: A Mexican Day of the Dead character, I was inspired to make a crochet version of her.

So here she is, I’m rather stuck on her.

Isn’t she lovely?

Every detail faithfully reproduced, right down to the high heels!

Look at her posing

Such a sassy lass

But wait, that hair style looks familiar…

Where have I seen that look before?

Oh yes, that’d be my work ribbons . I’ll avoid the matching skull face for work I think…

I think she ties in rather nicely with my sugar skull brooches

Available for sale in my Folksy shop.

Marnie the dolly is not for sale right now. I think I may make a range of ‘Scaries’ to go with my fairies, so until I do that you can’t have her.

She’s MINE!!! Nyeh, nyeh , nyeh, nyeh! ( Sorry came over all silly there)

But the brooches are  for sale, only £6.50 each for handmade , every one unique .

Head on over to my Folksy shop

CROCHET BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

if you’d like to order one.

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Sofa Art

Have you ever considered that your home could be your own personal gallery? Your sofa is an excellent place to showcase your taste and colour sense. I feel that you can tell a lot from the cushions on a person’s sofa.

With this in mind I’ve created what I believe to be little works of art for your sofa.

Inspired by some beautiful soft yarn that is the colour of heather and peacock tails and features tiny spangles of magenta sequins that catch the light in a magical way, I crocheted these cushions.

 

The snuggle of cushions.

I wanted to make a set that coordinated with each other but were individual compositions in their own right.  They are all 15″/39cm square , are backed and lined in cool black pure cotton and feature an envelope fastening plus button tops that keep the cushion pad nice and snug.

Showing the back of the cushions

 

The pad is fully removeable and the covers are washable but hand wash only as they are delicate. ( Like all crochet goods).

This cushion features a tassel

The cushions are for sale as  a set only. They come with pads and cost £65 for the 3. They are one of a kind , unique , original, handmade art for your home.

Available to purchase on my Facebook page Crochet bright and beautiful. If you don’t have Facebook , just leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

 

 

 

Dog portrait

I’ve been commissioned to paint a portrait of a friend’s dog for a gift. I think it’s turned out pretty nicely.

It is 20 x 30 cm and is acrylic on stretched canvas.

His name is Diego and he is the cutest little Staffordshire Bull Terrier ever.

I love my blue bone

I take commissions for portraits of pets or people.

If you are interested in having your own done, email me on thebabyfairyfifi@hotmail.com and put PORTRAIT as the subject. There is a week turnaround on all paintings and a 20x30cm acrylic on canvas costs just £50 plus p+p.

(I will need a selection of jpeg photos to work from.)

 

 

 

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