Thoughts from the Bus Stop

Etsy Love: Some Days Are Rainy

Vintage umbrella	'Some Days...' badge	Happy Raindrop pendant
Holly Hobbie fabric	Vintage raincoat	Umbrella earrings
Rainy Day print	Knitted hat	Man In The Rain photo

Tree brooch for Tree

Tree brooch (c) Kristen Bailey, 2009

This is a birthday present for my friend Tree (Katrina). I wanted to make a tree brooch, and I found some green felt leftovers from the bag I made Rachel from her ruined jumper, which was perfect for foliage!

I'm quite pleased with it - might try and make another to sell. Had a quick look on Etsy under 'felt tree brooch' and there are some gorgeous examples, but there isn't one quite like mine already. I love it when an idea and a fabric come together!

Vinyl Junkie

Sunglasses case (c) Sugar Lust | Pouch by Miss Alison

I am in the grip of a fresh infatuation... vinyl. No, not records... upholstery vinyl made into cool things like bags and purses. It's shiny, wipe-clean, hardwearing, doesn't fray and comes in loads of bright colours - even glittery colours - what's not to love?

Of course I haven't yet tried working with it myself. That's on the 'to do' list. But I've already bought three gorgeous things via Etsy... and have my eye on more.

My first purchase was a fab robot motif sunglasses case from Sugar Lust (above) - perfect for me and my robot love.

Then I came across Miss Alison's Etsy shop, and her great 'bent stripe' pouches. Would she make me a bespoke in my favourite colours? Of course! So I'm the proud owner of a turquoise pouch with hot pink stripes (above). I've also got my eye on this Seagull Pouch from her website.

The starry pink beauty below is winging its way to me as I type. It's by Julie at Majesty Inc, and I love it. Great colour combination - and I love five-pointed stars as a motif.

Camouflage at the Imperial War Museum

On at the Imperial War Museum, London from 23 Mar 2007 to 18 Nov 2007, Camouflage examines the impact of camouflage on modern warfare and its adoption into popular culture:

"Find out how and why a revolution in camouflage occurred during the First World War; how teams of artists and designers were employed to conceal and distort everything from soldiers to battleships and how camouflage concepts and designs have influenced contemporary art and fashion from street-style to couture."

This has sent me off Googling to find the snazziest camouflage items I could find. So far I've found loads of Camouflage stuff on Etsy.com, camouflage duvet covers (sand, blue or pink), camouflage undies, a toilet seat, baby clothes, some bitchin' shoes and knee boots and this rather tasteful party frock. Classy.

See also:
Wikipedia: Camouflage
TATE etc: Art, Culture and Camouflage
Color Crush: Color Study - History of Camouflage

Clayton Bailey's Robot Sculptures

Robots by Clayton Bailey via The Tech

I really need to start making robots. I sewed one in felt ages ago, but I want to make robots out of junk. Maybe not to the scale of California-based Clayton Bailey's work - this guy uses everything from coffee pots to fridges.

I came across him on The Tech's Robotics site (check out the 360 degree panoramas of his studio and his yard - now there's a garden I could go for!). PS: Great moustache, sir!

These are great too: Bennett Robot Works

My latest Etsy order has just arrived - this tiny chap made from electrolytic capacitors by oBVIoUS FRoNT...
	...and I've got my eye on a Mini Robo from The Blockheads.

Robot Love on Etsy

Prints © Cricket Press | Necklace © Atomic Glassworks | Corkbot © Moonshine Bluebirds

I am of course buying far more on Etsy than I'm selling, and my current 'thing' is robots. There's the gorgeous turquoise glass robot necklace made for me to order by Atomic Glassworks, a stunning set of robot letterpress prints by Cricket Press and my new desk buddy, Corkbot, courtesy of Moonshine Bluebirds. I think I'm in love...

Lego Flowers

Yellow Bloomin’ Bowl by Marie Worre Hastrup Holm, 2006. Photo: Ester Segarra

I love this glass bowl because it's been covered in LEGO flowers. Brilliant. Part of this weekend's International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge, incorporating the British Glass Biennale.

And as a result of Googling 'lego flowers', I've just bought a Lego Flowers Necklace by Swank, off Etsy.