I promised, last week, to share with you some Textile Art, made by yours truly. [grins] – So, Ladles and Jellyspoons, may I introduce … The Copper Topped Lavender Mob.
Three enchanted mushrooms mounted on a piece of aged, half round, wood which was cut and sanded smooth for me by Mr.Cobs.
The wood was treated and sealed, and then finished in a way that I love – it has a soft sheen to it and it’s as smooth as a baby’s you know what! It has a beautiful softness and warmth about it, and picks out the various shades of natures gift.
The mushrooms began life as part wire armature, with a selection of fabrics which go through a process of: washing, – dying, – staining, – then a lot of sewing, followed by colouring with a type of fabric paint, and finally, finished with whatever I felt the mushrooms needed in order to bring them to life. Everything is sewn by hand – even the gills (on the underside) are all hand pleated and stitched into place. Likewise the frills on the mushroom stalks are sewn and stitched in place by hand.
It’s not a quick craft, but it’s certainly one I’ve fallen deeply in love with.
The end result from all the work and an abundance of patience, is something magical, normally seen only in The Land of the Fae.
Although they look quite solid – they actually aren’t. They do have a gentle stiffness to them – after all, I needed them to hold their shape and be the piece of artwork I wanted them to be. But when you touch them, they have a ‘give’ or a slight ‘bounce’ – just like the regular mushrooms you buy from the supermarket or greengrocer have.
The green stuff clambering over the wooden base … isn’t moss… well no actually, it is, but it’s not real moss. But the stones and stone chippings …. well they are real. As are the trail of teeny tiny oak tree leaves. Yes, they really are real. How did you harvest oak leaves so small? [I hear you ask] …. Well, what else would you expect from the Land of Fae? Tiny fairies, tiny trees, teeny tiny oak leaves. Naturally!
The ‘Copper Tops’ aren’t real copper (of course), the fabulous colour comes from them being blessed by the Sun. These mushrooms grow in the woodland areas of The Land of Fae, and like nothing more than stretching their necks right up, in order to catch some of the sun rays, ~ from which they get their coppery sun tan!
Oh, and of course … as artists of the world do … the Copper Topped Lavender Mob are signed on the underside of the base ….
…. and the Union Jack nestled in the base is there to show they are UK mushrooms, produced in the United Kingdom by a UK artist!
These photographs don’t truly show the incredibleness of this little gang of three, the pictures don’t share their magic; nor their extraordinary twinkles which happen when the light catches various parts of them; neither do the photos share the unbelievable glow they have! I roped Mr.Cobs in to see if he could capture their amazing magical glow which my camera couldn’t….
Mr.C took the Lavender Mob outside and perched them on the bird bath, hoping that the natural light would enable photos to show exactly how lovely they are. Sadly it didn’t work. It would seem that only the naked eye can see these majestic little creatures in all their glory.
I had the most amazing, enjoyable pleasure making these wondersome creations and they encouraged and motivated me to continue my journey with Textile Art.
But … the next magical makes are to be shared another time, for I’ve kept you here more than long enough.
The Copper Topped Lavender Mob have already gone to their forever home. Daughter No.2 saw them and fell in love with them, so they now live with her, and her husband, and my magical grandson, Little Cobs. And it’s the strangest thing. but I feel bereft. It’s kind of like having a child leave home. I miss their presence.
But … now it’s time to go.
Hmmm ,,, – hang on – … there’s something I’m forgetting … [thinks] … oh crumbs! It’s the JOKES….
These are the Jokes Folks!
What do you call a parade of rabbits hopping backwards?
A receding hare-line!
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What rhymes with Orange?
No it doesn’t.
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Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl dinosaur go to the toilet?
Because the ‘p’ is silent.
~~~ ❤ ~~~
I’ll be back with some more Textile Art in the next blog post – only next time it will be something a little different. Thank you so much for coming and sharing a coffee moment with me. Have a beautiful Monday, and a truly blessed week.
Much love and and a bunch of squidges ~
The Art of Cobwebs 