Like Vintage Postcards

Well, it’s been an amazingly busy fortnight but have finally got around to continuing with my blog.

The following pictures are from my dolls house series and I hope to use them as designs on fabric for some of my lamps and also as huge hand tinted prints.

The lighting has been a bit tricky inside such a small dark space. But with the use of several flash guns and directional lights,we finally got there.

I’m so happy with the results and love this little set of dolls. I bought them on e-bay as a set, previously loved by one other since the 1950’s. They’re now mine to cherish. Their clothes are original and I think they’re just so charming! Some of my friends think they are a bit scary but they are not! Strangely, I’m not a massive doll addict, it’s only some dolls I like, They have to have a certain charm and some really are scary!!

Two of the photos show before and after manipulation. I played around on photoshop with colours and filters to achieve this look. My goal is to give the feel of an old hand tinted postcard. I have been collecting these for many years and love the soft colours and Sense of nostalgia. The result is good , but I feel I would like to achieve it with hand tinting on top of a sepia print, instead of everything being done electronically. Have sent one off to get printed so that I can check that the grain is not too big when it’s blown up, but hopefully the resolution will be fine.

Will do another shoot on the dolls house when I’ve bought more vintage items as I can create more narratives with more props. A tea set might be nice to begin with!

It’s been a really busy week meeting up with more people to feature on our boboho site and making valuable contacts around the globe, but it’s also been very rewarding.

I still managed to recycle some vintage magazines and books this week Into brooches and bowls for my summer Gallery, will photograph soon so you can see them.

Redesigned and reinvented

The following are lamps I’ve made using previously loved materials. The first was a satin peach coloured Danish lamp from the 40s or 50s. I stripped it completely down and reinvented it.

The see through panels look a bit like net but they are in fact ‘scrim”, a tough material used to clean printmaking plates. I like the contrast between the vintage fabrics and the illustrations and photographic additions, think I might develop this idea further in other works.

I have a small collection of previously loved toys which I’ve rescued over the years, some of which I’m using now in smaller works. The next two lamps have been developed from this collection. The shades are completely handstiched to the point of repetitive strain injury on my thumb! but entirely worth it!

I love the yellow pony, bought on a trip to my favourite town Brighton. I’m thinking of adding a knitted yellow fringe to this one, must scour some charity shops for second hand wool.

The shade for both lamps was made from an old Canadian quilt, the colours are just beautiful and the patterns have a wonderful naivety about them.

These lantern lights used to hang in my sons room when he was little! He’s now 23!

I’ve customised and adapted them using ephemera, French sugar papers, and serviettes. The lights are not as bright now but very atmospheric, which I like. They really took ages to do!

I’ll be continuing this week with my photography of the dolls house and will post later this week. Until then, please take a look at the blog, Hens Teeth, discovered recently with the realisation that it is written by and old friend of mine. http://www.hensteethart.blogspot.com/

She makes the most beautiful things from old scraps of vintage everything and stitches them with skill and love. She also has a link to her Etsy shop for all purchases.