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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I believe in Fairies!

I’ve managed to leave making kittens alone for a millisecond and focus on making a fairy… here is my latest creation:

I just love fairies!

She doesn’t have a name yet. Suggestions would be welcome.

Five pence piece to show scale.

Here she is, sitting on a magic toadstool.

Showing the back of her.

Rather than go for my first impulse to make glittery wings, instead I’ve chosen the simplicity of green leaf wings. I think the green is a perfect compliment to her exotic purple hair. ( I’ve used the same wonderful sequinned-scattered yarn that I used in these cushions to make her hair.)

Her hair is fully attached strand by strand on a crochet cap. Making the wig for the fairy is probably my favourite part of the process.

Off I fly

This little fairy measures 12″ (30cm)  and comes presented in her own little white box.

Available from my Facebook page

Crochet Bright and Beautiful on Facebook

or soon to be included in my Folksy shop.

CrochetBrightandBeautiful on Folksy

Like all my collectibles, she is a one off, original piece for careful ownership. She is NOT A TOY… but would make a great decoration /talking piece and costs £20 plus p+p.

She needs a name.

Any suggestions?

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Clarabelle, the Mustard Moggy.

Recently I’ve been making kittens from crochet.

Here’s a picture of the litter so far. I’ve had great fun making them. Each one has a distinctly different personality; from shy, sweet Twinkle, the black and white fluffy cat who is really dainty, Sparkle the little bit nervous but oh so pretty pure white pussycat , Misty, the grey Persian who hides behind her innocent face but is really a minx underneath to Clarabelle, my brand new mustard kitten who likes to keep her white paws really clean.

Here’s Clarabelle : she’s really a beauty with her big green eyes rimmed in black.

Her little pink tongue is hard at work keeping those sparkly white paws super clean.

She’s even cute from the back:

Here’s another view of her :Like my other kittens, she is 9 inches ( 23 cm) tall and made from fluffy, soft mohair.

She has a lovely white organza bow tied round her neck, finished off with a red flower that has a magic bead in the middle that glows from within when the light hits it.

If you have Facebook, please pop over to my crochet page

CROCHET BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL and hit the ‘LIKE’ button.

All of my kittens are unique and hand made ( by me of course) and no two are ever the same. They are all for sale, looking for loving homes ( not as toys as kittens are delicate, but are collectibles for older children and adults) . They cost £20 each, ( plus £4 p+p in the UK) and come packaged in their own dinky box.

Just leave a comment underneath the appropriate photo on my Facebook page and I’ll get back to you.

They would make a wonderful gift for someone who has everything.

You can’t buy these in the shops.

 

 

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Misty the naughty crochet kitten

Here’s the latest kitty to join the Crochet Bright and Beautiful litter.

 

 

Her name is Misty and she’s a grey Persian . Don’t let that cute face fool you, she’s quite the character. She will be that kitty to present you with a little dead mouse in your slipper in the morning because she loves you sooo much.

Just look at that sweet profile, that cute upturned nose and big blue eyes: butter wouldn’t melt huh? Well did you spot that really curly tail, shaped like a question mark, curiouser and curiouser ?

But when the adventures of the day are over, all Misty wants ( apart from dinner) is a nice lap to snuggle down on and someone to stroke her fluffy fur.

Could that be you?

 

If you want to give Misty a home, she costs £20 ( plus p+p) and comes in her own dinky white box. She measures 9″ from the tip of her toes to the tip on her pointy ear.

Find her over on Crochet Bright and Beautiful’s Facebook page. Like the page and leave me a message under the photo and I shall get back to you.

Eww… what is that on the floor?

MISTY! NOOOOOOOO!

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Bright and Beautiful Cotton Crochet

I’ve not stopped crocheting. I can’t… I think I have a problem ; one that really doesn’t need fixing though!

I do have a serious yarn addiction though. I think it comes as part of the territory when you take up any form of needlework. There is always that particular shade of purple you just can’t quite find, or you stumble upon a very remarkable multicoloured/textured yarn that you really can’t not have.

My latest stash of yarn came from a fellow crochet person I have befriended on Facebook called Rachael. She runs her own business making gorgeous cushion covers and afghans from super soft and bright cotton.

http://www.clevercheshirecats.blogspot.com

She also sells cotton yarn and I’m addicted.

These are my latest creations using her lovely yarns . I’ve just run out and am waiting my next delivery.

 

I call this my rainbow Wee Willy Winky set. Would fit up to 6 months.

For those of you reading this who are wondering if I have the pattern… sorry. I just made it up as I went along. For me, this is the beauty of crochet. It would be pretty easy to work out based on any other simple infant jacket pattern, just change the colours to suit.

Baby cotton flower beanies

I shall be making more of these in different colours and sizes. The Pistachio green one is newborn to 3 months, the Primrose yellow one is 3-6 months.

Rainbow cotton beanie ( fits up to small adult)

Looks fabulous on and is so soft and comfortable too.

I decided to make a matching set for Baby and parent.

So here is L’l Pirate and Big Pirate.

L’l and Big Pirate hat set.

Made from pure cotton in white and navy stripes, this lovely set is bound to put a smile on everyone’s face. L’l and Big Pirate hand embroidered in red and offset with silver coloured skull and crossbones charm.

Big Pirate hat is big enough to fit even Papa Bear.

 

So those are the latest cotton creations. Which one is your favourite? What would you like to see me make next?

 

 

 

 

Naughty Fire Fairy!

The naughty ones are the cutest …

 

Here’s my latest creation, inspired by the flowers that I picked up from the £1 shop. They were bright yellow and orange roses. They immediately shouted FLAMES to me.

She’s adorable don’t you think?

Introducing my brand new teacup Fire Fairy

She’s really dainty and dinky, measuring a mere 8 inches /20cm in length. She fits into a teacup, but she’d rather climb out and go and cause trouble…

Climbing out the teacup , off to find some naughtiness.

Although she has safety eyes and there is nothing sharp about her, she is a collectible rather than a toy due to her handmade nature. She’d make a very lovely friend for an older child .

Peepbo!

She has a sparkly crystal effect necklace in fiery colours and a little silver love heart that says Made With Love. Because she was.

Chilling in her cup.

She has glittery pink and black wings, her legs and arms are pose-able and she has a crocheted flame skirt. Her hair is wild, like flames made of a deep red shimmering yarn and a bright orange flecked yarn.

Flying off for new adventures

She comes packed in her very own white box and can even be purchased with the teacup should you wish.

Ready to leave home.

She costs just £25 plus p+p and is available either via my crochet Facebook page

Crochetbrightandbeautiful on Facebook

 

or in my Folksy shop:

CrochetBrightandBeautiful on Folksy

I love you!

 

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Big Birthday Give Away on Facebook

DUCK! My birthday looms and I’m giving you a present…

 

 

I decided to celebrate my upcoming 48th birthday by staging my very first give away event on my facebook page .

I’m giving away this set of adorable crochet ‘rubber’ ducks

Quack Quack! They want to come and live with you.

made in three shades of pink  to a person randomly selected from those who enter on my facebook page. All you have to do to enter is to like my page from your personal facebook account and then share the giveaway post on your page.

But be quick! You only have three days until my birthday on the 9th of May, then I shall let you know who’s the lucky ducky owner.

Gotta be in it to win it, so get over to Crochet Bright and Beautiful on Facebook  and start sharing.

 

Share the Ducky love!