"Reading Between the Lines of Reycling"

I've been having a little reminisce and looking at pictures of my exhibition for my final major project for my Textiles qualification which was titled 'Reading Between the Lines of Recycling". It was all based around recycling books and I came up with this dress design made from book pages and scraps of vintage fabric.

What made me think was how I still try to use book pages in my designs now. I think maybe it's a sub-concious thing. Going back to my roots. Something like that.

But it did make me want to use MORE of it in my designs. I produced some bird ornaments for the display which were decorated with book pages. I've been thinking of some ideas to re-create these, with a more modern, Tatty Betty twist.

I've done some research and I'm going to get experimenting next week .. watch out for Tatty Betty birds ...

But just like Kate goes with William and Barbie goes with Ken ..

To start Valentines off I made this textured heart cushion using a technique that I learnt whilst studying at college. Not only did it get me in the Valentines spirit but it has now sparked off an idea for a range of cushions for Tatty Betty.


Me and my boyfriend decided that it'd be fun to get each other tacky presents this year. Him being a student and me just being very poor we thought this would be a good idea. Who needs exepensive gifts anyway? You tell each other what you mean to each other all year round, this is just a bonus day where you can say it more, right?!

I found this card from Oodles of Doodles after having already bought two joke cards but I just couldn't leave it there! It was so nicely designed and the words just summed us up perfectly.

The problem with social networking these days is that it gives everyone a platform to showcase what they get on public holidays. Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of doing such things but when you've been good and agreed on not spending a silly amount of money and then you go online and see pictures and status updates of expensive flowers, meals, jewellery, holidays, candle lit baths ... you can't help but let it leave you feeling a bit, well .. flat.

But after the initial grump .. I read through my boyfriends list of reasons why he loves me and realised that that was all I needed on this celebratory day of love, to know that I was loved and appreciated ... and suddenly my stuffed toy love hippo seemed like the most expensive present in the world!

MUG SHOT

I've been working on a range of quirky mugs which read ..

"My tea is always Green" and "My coffee is always black" .. I'm really pleased with how they have turned out and can't wait to have them on display at my craft fairs in March. If they go down well I will expand the range and slogans.

I was lucky enough to have an order on one and they were kind enough to post a picture of how it looks on their desk, I think it looks fab with their cute floral glasses case!

First order with tattybetty.com ..

My first Tatty Betty commission is this penguin applique cushion using a mix of fabrics on pink taffeta ...

One of my 'cutsie' glasses cases was also ordered ...

Each Tatty Betty order is uniquely wrapped in a quirky paper with butterfly confetti ..

Look out for the bookpage butterflies on your package and you'll know that it's from Tatty Betty ..

Browse the online store or place a commission now ..

www.tattybetty.com