Sunday 31 August 2014

What Do You Sea?

Hello.  Welcome.  I have been working on a project for Crafty Individuals where this month the theme is Autumn Fashion.  Yep, another month over and I am posting on the deadline again.  I have been working with elements all month stamping, cutting, shuffling them around.  But it wouldn't come together.  So it would vanish under the stash on my desk only to resurface, get rearranged and submerge again into the chaos of paper and card.  Then I realised the problem was two seemingly disparate subjects that I was intent on using.  I mean, really, why not combine ladies underwear with giant turtles????..........

Then yesterday, with time against me, visitors in the house and day trips planned, the ideas all seemed to come together.  I'm hoping to explain a bit about why this has become a meaningful piece to me but I would also like to hear your thoughts.  Maybe it will mean something to you as well.  Or not.  What do you see??



I started making a background page using Crafty Individuals (CI) French Corsets and Oriental Fans stamps relating to ladies fashion.  Hats, bags, parasols, corsets, fans.  I coloured with Distress Inks and Stains in Fired Brick, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold.  Autumn Colours.  So there's fashion and autumn.   I mounted on a Tando Creative chipboard frame and backed with a sheet from one of the CI background paper books.  



And here's the turtle.  I stamped CI A Bright Future onto various CI background papers because I couldn't decide which colour I liked the best.  Then I ended up layering all three together and also onto a piece of black paper to give dimension.  Isn't she gorgeous!  The sentiment is the same stamp set on CI papers cut with a tag die



Some more Tando chippies coloured with Distress Stains.  The letters are a cuttlebug alphabet




Another CI stamp, Seagull Adventure and some fish cut from one of the seaside background papers



Here it is partly assembled with some more of the cuttlebug alphabet letters.  


The finished project.  
  • The save the whales isn't just for whales.  It's for everything and everybody but I couldn't think of a better phrase to engender the feeling of all-ness.  Also save the whales mentality is something I still consider fashionable.  
  • Live, laugh, love.  I was going to stamp laugh on the seagull but he has taken on a more serious persona.  Live, let people live and respect how they live.  And the whales and the turtles.  Love.  When you love there is no room for petty emotions and deeds.  
  • The seagull.  Is he a witness.  Or just a spectator.    Letting things pass by with no thought, deed or comment.   Or maybe he's more sinister.  Just waiting for his chance to grab whatever he wants.  
  • Turtles are so majestic.  Nature, freedom, hope.  And we must believe in a bright future.   



Sorry, I'm getting all philosophical and heavy.  And it's not even midnight.  Maybe it's just a turtle swimming through a load of ladies underwear.  May she swim a long time.  

Joining the fun at

Thanks for your visit.  Big hugs

10 comments:

Jean Hardy said...

Love everything about this Gail and in particular the story behind it! Let's all Save the Wales! Thanks for joining in the CI Challenge just in time, much appreciated. Jean x

Cocofolies said...

What a gorgeous canvas, love all your layers and details, also your step-by-step process!! Thank you Gail for this lovely entry to our Crafty Individuals challenge. Warmly, Coco xx

stampingbowd said...

I love your photos!!! So fun to see the work in progress!!! I love that your art has a story to tell!!! Beautiful!

Lynell Harlow / Dreamweaver Stencils said...

Thank you so much for joining the August as an Adjective challenge at Dreamweaver Stencils. I am so impressed with your creation...WOW!! This is truly a work of art and I am a huge fan of turtles...headed to Hawaii in a couple of days and hoping to see them in a big way.

Kay Wallace said...

Wonderful seascape, Gail! And, a wonderful cause, too!

Sylvie Collet said...

A great theme and a wonderful project!
Thank you for joining in the CI challenge!
Bises,
Sylvie

Jingle said...

This is a lovely project! Thanks so much for joining us for the Anything Goes Challenge on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

Craftyfield said...

Love your frame, not sure about combining ladies corsets and animals but who cares, we're crafters! The colours are lovely and I like the turtle escaping of the frame.

Anita said...

A fabulous project! Thanks for joining our challenge at http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Rosie said...

This is amazing! I love everything about it especially the message! Thank you for playing in our challenge at www.7kidscollegefund.com! Hugs, Rosie