Saturday, March 19, 2011

Zips, Keys and the swish of paper.

I have actually been quite busy getting some pieces ready for submission for an exhibition and thinking through ideas for another piece, but in-between I have had time for some light relief. If you want a quick fix I have two great links for you.


One is for the best tutorial I have found for putting a zip in a lined bag or purse with no fuss or problems. I used to have what I thought was a simple way but this one is definitely the best I have found and is a video which helps. It is good way to use up bits and pieces of fabric which you have experimented with and on. I made a small purse and a new pencil case. I may try and source some fancy zips; like the ones Melanie Testa uses.





That link could well send you into frenzied activity if you are anything like me and just have to do something creative straight away. So now I have a lovely contemplative break for you, that is if you love the swish and sound of books and handmade paper. Take a look at Susan Mills website, it could make you drool.


I have finally finished the hanging and added keys along the bottom. They are old family keys so it is a bit sentimental. ‘She will need help in the Persian Palaces’, I think there is a fire and her old retainer is off to find the keys to the locked tower- or something like that!


We recently visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and because I was with my husband we looked in galleries that I would probably not have visited, for instance the ironwork gallery, where there is a whole display of keys from over the ages. They were really fascinating. These small keys don't give the clang that you get with larger ones; I know because we have just added some to a hanging at the day centre where I work. There has just been a survey which has, for some reason, found that most homes have a hoard of keys with long forgotten origins.

7 comments:

  1. keys cant be thrown away, even the spare key to the last but one car I had, which was found after Id turfed out the new owners phone number duhhhh
    they are the entrance to something, to somewhere....fab idea dangling them off hangings, love that!
    keys to the heart, the family home, the store cupboard, the tea caddy of old, the slaves quarters in past times, the map lol oooooooooooo all those stories they hold ..

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  2. Love your keys, & purse. Just when I thought I'd seen all the wonderful Colouricious video clips! I think I'd have to sew alon a few times to get it fixed in my head but the instructions did look clear. Enjoyed the Salsa, too!

    Now, I'm a yoga lover & adore the swish & smell of a good book but I must be on a different level to the projector on an inversion thing going on! Thank you tho for the 2 contrasting links ;)

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  3. We have just inherited a box full of various keys from my late FIL's house. We don't have any idea what they fit or what they belong to but some of them are really old. Of course I won't let hubby throw them out as i just knoiw they will be wanted for a future porject or two.
    Are you doing any more Doodles work shops?

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  4. Thank you for your kind comments left on my blog. The tutorial on the zip was great. Good luck with the work you are preparing for submission.

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  5. Thanks for the link to the zip tutorial - I'll try it today!
    Your purses look great & I love the key fringe on your hanging.
    Thanks for your comment - I've entered you in the giveaway.

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  6. loving the keys jackie and also the little purses. Will check out that zip tutorial.

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  7. oh and thank you for the link to Susan Mills webiste; i love love love her little videos of her books! Great discovery; thanks for the link and direction; I knew her work before but i dont think ive ever seen her website. This will be invaluable for my upcoming MA.

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Comments are always much appreciated. Thank you.

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