Embroidery Hoop Tshirt Art

Today I finally finished a craft project that I have been planning for ages. It's a great way to display memories!!

So, the first thing is to grab some Tshirts you don't wear anymore. I used two shirts of Gav's and one of mine- all too small for us and languishing in the wardrobe. All of them have sentimental value- I bought the Beatles shirt on Carnaby St in London in 2010 when we were there with my lovely extra sister Angela. Gavin used to wear the mermaid shirt all the time when we first stated going out. Hugs not Drugs was his shirt of choice when the babies where born. It reminds me of him in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in a huge recliner chair, feeding one of our tiny babies through a nose drip.


OK, so now you have your shirts, get some embroidery hoops. I got mine from Spotlight- they are just a few dollars each. You may have to stop any nearby toddlers from using them as hoola hoops.

Put the shirt between the hoops and tighten the little screw thingy. (Don't LOSE the little screw thingy, like I did, because  it makes the whole process MUCH MORE ANNOYING.)

 Flip it over and cut the excess shirt away. This was emotionally hard to do (I felt like a vandal!!), but if you leave the excess back there, it will be too bulky and it won't sit flat on the wall. 

Repeat with however many shirt you want in your grouping. I have three. Because I only bought three hoops...

I added a little bit of red grosgrain ribbon to the top of the hoops to cover the screwy thingies. I think it looks more finished that way.
So, then all you need to do is grab some sticky hooks (which, lets face it will probably fall down tomorrow, because they are evil. Every time I use them I think, no, this will be the time that they DON'T SUCK.)

 I interspersed the hoops with some Beatles album cover coasters I have been looking for a place for. I love the juxtaposition between Abbey Road and the mermaid...

 The grouping hangs next to one of my paintings- a favourite of Gavin's.

 Old T-shirts, The Beatles and owls may not seem like they would go together, but it works because all of these things mean something to us.

Again, I love this juxtaposition. Funny. Ironic. I'm awesome.


You could also use fabric in the hoops for some inexpensive art. 


So, that's what I've been up to today, how bout you? Do you have a craft project on the go?

I'm a finalist!

I am a finalist in a design competition over at Spoonflower this week. I'm fairly loving myself sick about it...

The comp is called 'Urban Sightings'. Designers were asked to use one of the supplied stimulus images to create a fabric design. 

I chose 'Curve':

And this is my design

I wanted to maintain my design style while still referencing the stimulus material. I thought the curve lent itself to hair and a girls curves. I think I want to make myself a skirt out o this fabric!!

I haven't entered a Spoonflower competition in ages, so I was pretty chuffed to reach the top 45 out of over 200 designs. 

And I would be totally in love with anyone who wanted to head over to Spoonflower and vote for my design. 

You just need to go to this page and click on the Urban sightings voting box on the top left hand side

The just click though til you see my design, click on it and save your vote. Easy! You will have to join Spoonflower, which takes about two seconds.

Any votes would be uber appreciated. Good Karma will descend upon you. And you will probably become more attractive, smell better and maybe even get a bit taller....

AND thanks for all the lovely comments yesterday. You guys are already gorgeous, tall and sweet smelling x x x

Today

Today is one of those days when you say to yourself,
"Self, what the hell is going on here? Why does everything feel like it sucks arse, when it actually doesn't?"
Self says,
"Because you are crap and nobody likes you."
And I say,
"What the Hell, Self? I thought we were in this together???"
Self says,
"I'm just messing with you. 'COS IT'S SO EASY"
When you suffer from Depression, some days it does seems easier to just lie on the couch, play Tetris on your iPhone and try not to think about anything.... Other than why Judge Judy's robe has a lace collar... Is it so she won't be mistaken for a dude?
But just 'cos it's easy, doesn't mean it's the right choice.
But, just because you know it's not the right choice, doesn't make it easier to make the RIGHT choice.....
SO, instead of playing another game of Draw Something, I am writing this. I don't feel like writing. Or blogging. Or making anything fabulous out of felt or fabric or words.
But I am making myself do it.
And then I am going to lie on the trampoline with my little monkeys and look at the sky.
And that is plenty for today.

Happy Blogoversary To Me!!

So, I totally missed my first Blogaversary!! I started this blog on 3 March last year mainly as a business blog- to support Tessie Design Company, which I had just started with my mum.

Since then, I have expanded the content of this blog to include more of my life and also my other creative pursuit, outside of fabric and handbags (like Flowcharts. Apparently, people go crazy in the coconut for flow charts!!)

I also changed the blog name to Tessiegirl. I kinda see Tessiegirl as an alter ego.... like Beyonce and Sasha Fierce, but less lame.

I love my blog like it's one of my kids. The birth of this little blog baby has been awesome.  I look forward to  my little Tessiegirl growing into a surly teenager and telling me that I am "Like, Soooo embarrassing right now!"

To celebrate, I'm gonna do my first ever GIVEAWAY!!!

Tessie Design Company Mini Bag featuring originally designed fabric printed via spoonflower.com and a cute felt flower brooch.

I am giving away a Tessie Design Company prize pack! Yay!!
To enter,
1) Just follow this blog and like me on facebook (if you haven't already)
2) Leave me a comment and tell me something funny. That is all.

I'll choose a winner at random next Wednesday.

I heart blogging, dude.

Looking at my semi-sucky week....

A little snapshot of my week in pictures. I have been making flower pins, drawing, hanging with the little boys and the big boys, making crowns... you know, my rockstar life..


NOT PHOTOGRAPHED:


Me swearing as I reversed into a ute at the shopping centre, while the monkeys shouted, "SING THE RANGO SONG MUMMY! SING THE RANGO SONG MUMMY!" 


Me writing a whole blog post about how awesome the teenager is, moments before The Awesome Teenager came dangerously close to losing his Awesome rating. The blog post may have to wait for a while... The Awesomeness Commissioner was contacted and the judgement is still pending. 


The Lovely Husband swearing at me* when he noticed the broken taillight, while the monkeys shouted, "SING THE HERCULES SONG DADDY! SING THE HERCULES SONG DADDY!" 


The seven-hundredth viewing of 'Hoodwinked Too'


Highlight= Me checking out everyone's blog recaps of the Say Hello Workshop.  Brisbane Bloggers are gonna rule the universe soon!


How was your week?


I'm linking up with Eden's Fresh Horses Brigade. Neigh, dude.




* Edited to add: My Lovely Husband did not swear at me when I broke the tail light. He may have sworn at the situation, which was warranted, but he did not swear at me. He does not swear at me. He is lovely. 

Rocketmen

Sometimes, I feel like a lame mummy. I feel like I am not giving the time and attention to my little monkeys. I am not as crippled by guilt as I used to be. I don't let it eat me up like I used to.
But I worry. I worry that I am not enough for them. Or that the choices I am making for them are not the right ones.
But then we I make them some crap out of nappy boxes and alfoil. And I feel like I am the bestest mummy that ever mummied.
My little boys are happy with alfoil hats and a guitar box rocket. Oh and toothpaste box and button astronaut phones....
They are happy with homemade superhero outfits.
They are happy that I am their mummy.

Curvy Girls are so hot right now...

A few weeks ago, I submitted some artwork for consideration for Curvy Magazine's 8th Edition. Curvy is an annual Australian published magazine featuring female artists from around the world. It is uber cool and pretty prestigious- there were like 1100 entires this year by some amazing chicks.
No, I didn't make the cut. BUT, I was super proud of the pieces I created and it was a great catalyst for some new illustration work. I am also now really motivated to submit work for more publications in the future.

These pieces were inspired by this blog post and also this one. I have been seeking to be more positive and more open to accepting opportunities of late. But I am also more open to saying 'No' and being my authentic self. 
Yes and No can be a tricky balance, don't you find? Both are empowering, and both can be restrictive... 
Man, why is does everything have to be so frickin' complicated? I wish I was like Foofa on Yo Gabba Gabba, where the most difficult thing I had to do in a day was buckling my seatbelt....

Wise up, Foofa. There is some serious shit going on in the world....

SO, even though my submission was unsuccessful, I am really happy with this work, and I will totally be pestering Curvy Magazine next year! Maybe I should draw a picture of Foofa as the first female President of the USA....

I totally Said Hello!!

On Sunday I was lucky enough to be involved in the Say Hello Blogger Workshop presented by Hello Blogger Events.

Holy Blogosphere, Batman! It was AWESOME!


Suger and Dani did a bloody fantastic job of organising this event. So much relevant and helpful info shared by some of Queensland's best bloggers. 


I was so incredibly inspired and motivated. It was just amazing to be in a room with 34 other people who are so passionate and committed to their blogs and their messages. 


Being able to contribute to the day in my own way was heaps of fun too. I made and supplied some props for the photo booth- they went over a treat! 

Lisa from Mrs BC's House of Chaos, Melissa from Suger Coat It, Sheri from Sheri Bomb

Seriously though, who doesn't love putting on a funny hat and some stupid glasses??

Deborah from Debbish and Diet Schmiet, Tracey from Our Life in Blog Form, Renee from Nee Say 

I also supplied a little flower or owl brooch for each participant. It was so cute to see everyone wearing them at the end of the day!! Totally worth staying up til 1am the night before finishing them off!!!

Olivia from Wait Until the Sunset, Alice from Musical Mama and Amy from Accidental Wonderland

Ames' little Sesame almost stole the show... so gorgeous!

(She is dreaming about finding her blogging niche... and whether or not she wants to do a PR review for Huggies....)


Such a great day. I can't capture all the amazing info shared by the speakers here, but my biggest takeaways from the day were:


- Don't compromise your authenticity
- What kind of blogger am I? I need to work it out, dude!
- Be unafraid
- Do what you love and invest in your passion
- It all comes down to content
- Grow your community and ENGAGE.

And, obviously, I was inspired to redesign my blog!! 
Whaddya think?

But the main thing I came away from the day thinking was- I have found my tribe. I feel like I am part of something again. 


Yeah Man.