Minus Sun

25 09 2011

design book

Here is the preview of images from the design book in which I have a double page spread.
The book is going to be launched at the private view evening of Handmade in Britain Chelsea Show 2011, 27-30 October. I will have a stall there as well as at Renegade Craft Fair at The Truman Brewery, 8-9 October.

So, this is the book cover.

This is one of my pages, photo taken by me.

And this is the other page written about me. Photos by Matthew Booth

And these two images were taken by Matthew Booth for the book.

Book credits: Handmade in Britain & Vivays Publishing

15 09 2011

cuff making workshop

I and Circus are planning an embroidery workshop combined with yummy food from Brixton Village’s independent restaurants/cafes. The first (I’m just saying because I hope there will be more) workshop will be a cuff making workshop! As it is almost autumn, or winter even, it’s going to be felt cuffs. I have made a few samples, one with a cross stitched logo and blanket stitching, and another with random patterns at one edge. I would make them more elaborate but it’s for a workshop which is probably going to be about 3 hours so these are what I could do in 2 hours each!

05 09 2011

Fashioning the Future Awards finals

My entry to Sleep Tight: doll quilts and beds contest was unsuccessful… However, I’ve submitted my work for the finals of Fashioning the Future Awards. This is how I packed all the garments with my handmade hangers, the research folder, the portfolio pages, and the fabric sample book into the canvas box bag I’ve made. The results will come out in November so I’ll just simply forget about this until then.

I’ve made an extra garment so here are some images with the details.
This one is called the Crochet Diagram dress.
starting the crochet from the fabric edge

embroidering the diagram of the adjacent crochet stitch to the fabric section

Each of the crochet border is crocheted in different crochet stitches:
double, half treble, treble, and double treble

Crochet Diagram Dress front

Crochet Diagram Dress back

And here are the rest of the garments which I’ve made before.
Tailor Dress front

Tailor Dress back

Smocking Process Top front

Smocking Process Top back

Smocking Diagram Skirt front

Smocking Diagram Skirt back

Time Capsule Dress front

Time Capsule Dress back

29 08 2011

New York purchases

I’m back from my trip to New York and Chicago. I’ve bought more than 20 things in total! But here, I will just share the tools I’ve bought for my work. All bought from a yarn shop called “purl” in Soho, New York.

Actually, I must tell you about my incident in Chicago before that. I and my parents went on a 2 hour boat tour to see the amazing architecture and the huge lake. It was great but really sunny. Of course, I was wearing a hat, covered in sunblock and my new linen scarf but I felt a bit dizzy in about an hour so I decided to go downstairs, inside the boat to stay away from sunlight. When I stood up, I fainted and that was it. The girl who hates the sun had a sunstroke. I was carried downstairs by my dad and a crew member and lay down for the rest of the tour. I managed to walk out of the boat but when I climbed the stairs(why so many stairs, now?) to get to the street, I went off again and was taken back to the hotel by taxi. Now, I’m fine but my foot which I had to drag for a few days is still recovering from the bruise/scratch I got then! I must get used to sunlight a bit more or never stay in sunlight for too long, which shall I choose?

another pair of gingher scissors for myself
5 inch knife edge craft scissors.

I thought this one has a cool design.
“The self-storing scissor” from Bryson

simple and smart, made in Germany sounds always promising
rolled tape measure from hoechst mass

vintage model thread cards from Sajou
I originally went to “purl” to buy this one!
Sajou does many vintage inspired things, so nice.

09 08 2011

things for me and her

This one is a sewing machine cover I’ve made from one of my toiles to replace the plastic one which came with the sewing machine and broke. Glad I’ve made my toile useful. I didn’t know what to do with it.

This one is a elastic band with a silk crocheted bow I’ve made for my friend as her birthday present.

I’m going on holidays for 10days so I won’t be posting anything for a while but I will be back!

01 08 2011

time to be sociable

I’ve made my “Minus Sun” facebook page. The link is right above this post so do have a look and “like” my page if you don’t mind… I will be posting photos, news, and links to any publicity I get. You may have noticed that I’ve also added a “Tweet” button and a “Like” button to my blog posts. Tweet and Like as much as you can and keep me happy.

31 07 2011

Sleep Tight: doll quilts and beds contest

There are one bad and one good news with my competition attacks. The bad news is that my Hand&Lock embroidery competition entry didn’t go to the final round…But the good news is, my Fashioning the Future awards entry has been shortlisted for the finals! I originally thought that I failed in this one as well but it seems like it was just a delay in the judging process. I will have to submit the actual work by the end of August so I’m going to make some more garments. Wish me luck.

So, here it goes again.
This is for Sleep Tight: doll quilts and beds contest held by the International Quilt Festival and Selvedge magazine. I’ve entered into the art quilt category(there are doll&quilt category and traditional quilt category as well). My quilt becomes a functional chess set when flat. The chess pieces made of yo-yo quilts are able to be inserted into the squares to become part of the quilt when not in use.

burning half of the squares to make them dark

Each square is embroidered with the code of its board position.

When attached together like this, each square has triangle pockets at the corners so you can insert the round chess pieces.

finished chess board

making the chess pieces with beads and sequins

the complete chess set

chess game in action

Each side of the players has a wide pocket where they can place the pieces they’ve taken.

And I almost forgot that it’s supposed to be a doll quilt and bed…

chess clock for the pillow

27 07 2011

Limited prints

Jewellery pieces, illustration cards, postcards, and these A3 limited prints will continue to be sold at Circus. They will be limited to 10 copies each. They are signed and have handwritten garment descriptions. Stamped with logo and the date at the back of the mount board.
No.0 the Controlling Girl

No.1 the Suicidal Girl

No.2 the Sensuous Girl

No. 3 the Smart Girl

No.4 the Cultured Girl

No. 5 the Self-Conscious Girl

No.6 the Dreamy Girl

No.7 the Amusing Girl

No.8 the Passive Girl

No.9 the Solitary Girl

logo stamp and made-on date stamp

27 07 2011

more jewellery

At Circus, I’ve been selling rings, bracelets, brooches, and buttons since June but I’ve started doing cuff links and necklaces from this month as well. I will take some hair slides and earrings this week to the shop and see if they’d like it.

I’ve started using glue gun to attach the brooch base. I think it looks nicer.

the necklaces
made of plastic silver beads and silk thread
the two shop ladies at Circus liked it and each of them has one

cuff links
They told me there was someone wanting cuff links so here they are.
I had no idea how they are used but now I know because I learnt it from a youtube video.

hair slides
I’ve made some and been wearing them myself since I don’t see people wearing hair slides and thought they won’t sell. However, a few people mentioned that they would have them so they will go to the shop as well!

earrings
I personally don’t wear them because I think piercing ears is painful and don’t want holes on my ears(or anywhere else) but the fact is, most women have piercings so here they go.