Where's Washi?

Do you ever those days when you spend ages looking for something?  You look in the place where it was meant to be.  Then places nearby, and odd shelves and cupboards and drawers.  Then you go back to the original place you looked ...  but all the time it's staring you in the face.  Honestly, I spend ages wondering where on earth I'd left rolls of washi tape and - oh yeah, I'd used them in this box of embroidery threads to keep the spools from falling over.  Doh! 

Someone needs to invent a device where you can type in whatever you're looking for and it tells you 'it's over there!' and sighs dramatically, as if you're the biggest idiot in the world.  

Anyway, enough of this nonsense.  

I've just finished reading this, Rory Stewart's memoir of political life.  I'm neither a natural Tory or a frequent reader of politician's memoirs, but it's a cracking read.  It made me simultaneously feel sorry for MPs.  The good ones who're genuinely trying to do their best for their constituents.  But the book also made me enraged by the less worthy MPs.  The political backstabbing, self-interest, duplicity of them.  Reading this book against the backdrop of the current election is quite something.  I'll vote, but heaven knows who for!  The next book I'm reading is back on safer ground, namely historical fiction.  It's set in Regency England, and concerns a high-society lady detective and a dashing highwayman!  I'm hoping it'll be a jolly romp of a novel and a welcome diversion from all the electioneering.  

I've yet again been messing with painting on fabric.  It's interesting to see the differences when I use arcylics or the Inktense blocks.  The Inktense gives a softer effect, and leaves the fabric itself softer, but you don't always get that intensity of colour the acrylic paint gives.  

I've been continuing to add details to the Moon Dolls.  

A few more stitches here, a few more seed beads there.  

Making those got me thinking about Julie Arkell, folk art, and the deceptively simple dolls that she makes.  So I made another doll, but using pieces of upcycled vintage cloth, taking advantage of the embroidered flowers already sewn on what were once pieces of either a tablecloth or tray cloth.  The bees were added by me.  

I used blanket stitch to attach the felt and went for a softer look for the face than the Moon Dolls.  (Actually, I forgot to add rosy cheeks, so might have to go back and colour those in.)  

Above is the reverse side of the doll.  

I was thinking of making a little knitted pocket for the doll to fit inside, to add to that folksy Julie Arkell kind of feel.  I've embroidered a long flowing plant with green leaves, as you can see, but may add more embellishments once I figure out what I want! 

By the way, if you've not come across Julie Arkell's work, here are some images.  

Taken from 'Home', a small book published by The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre.  

Type her name into Instagram for lots more inspiring stuff (and better quality images.  Sorry, my photos weren't taken in particularly good light.)

I'll leave you with a view of my allotment.  Not a lot of veg growing there ...

Instead, there are endless foxgloves, and lots of happy bees.