From Trash to Trainers

I shared this article with my Textile students, so I thought I would share it here to:

Adidas Make Sneakers from Ocean Trash

Adidas are working with an organisation called Parley for the Oceans to create a recycled sneaker made from discarded plastic and illegal fishing nets.  In this way, not only are Adidas making good use of recycled materials and helping to keep the oceans clean, they are also finding a use for nets that are confiscated from poachers:

"The Sea Shepherds, a sea-bound environmental activism organization, captured roughly 72km of illegal gillnets after tracking illegal poachers wanted by Interpol off the coast of West Africa for 110 days."

Here's a description of how Adidas will use recycled materials in the project:

The shoes’ uppers will be created with recycled plastics and actual green net fibers, while the base will use other sustainable materials. Adidas has been accused by Greenpeace of environmental pollution in the past, so this will hopefully represent one of many steps in the right direction. The shoes may or may not be produced, but they vow to start using recycled fibers by early 2016.

Check out the whole article at Bored Panda using the link above!

Sea Gypsy

You know those Home Sweet Home samplers that you see? You know how you expect to see them? Well, I decided to put my own spin on it. This was how Sea Gypsy was born. My home is not really bricks and mortar. My home, I suppose, is a cruise ship. It is a different one every time, but it is home for the space of time I am on it. When I am between contracts I go back to my parents house to visit, granted, but it's not really where I live anymore. I don't really live anywhere but the sea.

I took the Home Sweet Home concept and fit it to my lifestyle. Instead of using the usual house motif, I used a ship. Sprawling mountains range behind it and the sea swirls around the hull.

I used a verigated thread that reminded me of the art work on the side of the first ship I worked on (and, actually, the ship I just got off of). I experimented with waste canvas so that I could cross stitch the recognised phrase down the side of the ship, as if it were the art work itself. The rest of the piece is my usual embroidery, bringing myself and the traditional together.

This piece is simple in both it's style and execution, however, the meaning behind it is quite complex and full, particularly to me. And that's what art is really about.

Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! Some Sweden!!

.... did you see what I did there?! I used a Abba song while talking about Sweden..... no? Just me then? ok.....

Anyway! I only got to go to Sweden once while we were there, but we made our way to Stockholm and saw, as always, awesomeness on the streets there. Take a gander!

Fun shaped buildings in interesting colours


I love the spikey-ness of this statue


And here it is on fabric... stitching idea maybe?


Swedish fountain gargoyle!


I loved this embroidery store window display, unfortunately it was Sunday so it was closed :-(


Interesting shutters


I loved the tapestry in the back of this store that was based on carnivorous plants


Just really interesting window displays in Sweden!

Love it! ♥

Medieval Tallinn

Visting Tallinn, Estonia made me want to sew. The medieval town had such gorgeous colour combinations and styles that I just want to depict it in stitch. Estonia has a love of wool, so while there I bought some hand dyed wool which will undoubtedly make its way into my pieces. Here are some of my favourite sights...

Winding streets passed castles and inns


A page showing the way


The handmade guild - I saw some gorgeous stuff in here


Random graffiti


A shadowy figure creeping down the street


Such gorgeous colours!!

Only a few more places to report on in my Europe round-up, then we'll get back to some sewing - promise!!

Ra Ra Rasputin!

Wow - that was a long break! Sorry about that! I had the cast change over from hell on my boat and just when we thought we were done a new show was introduced so I have to fit and alter 25 costumes in 24 hours.... got it done in 17 because I'm a rock star though! Anyway, here's the post about Russia I promised so long ago and hopefully posts will be more regular from now on *blush*

I think I've taken the most photos in St. Petersburg. There are so many beautiful buildings to see. The whole place is full of palaces, more than you can see in just one trip. When I was at school I remember doing a history project about Rasputin and his strange involvement with the last Tsar family and his even stranger death. I was lucky enough to go to an exhibit about this event and learn more whilst in Russia. If you don't know the story of Rasputin, look it up - it's a really weird tale!

The Winter Palace, now the Hermitage Museum


The Summer Palace


St. Isaac's Cathedral - that's real gold up there!


Random painting hanging in the street that's been... um.... added to...


Outside the Church of the Spilled Blood


Inside, the Church is decorated entirely with glass mosaics


Inside one of the coppolas

I feel some art coming on.... :-)

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside... in Germany

Our second port is Warnemunde, Germany. Warnemunde is a cute seaside town, and of course there is lots of beer! Here are a few of my favourite shots:

I love these fold out beach chairs, they look amazing lined up along the beach


The lighthouse and Teepot building


They like to build fancy sand castles here!

Next post we'll travel to St Petersburg and some of the amazing sights I have seen there!

The Delights of Copenhagen

Let's begin my travel posts from my time in Europe - starting with Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen is our home port, which means this is where we pick up new passengers at the beginning of the cruise and crop them off at when it ends. Here are some of my favourite sights...

I want to take this guy home with me!


Whenever I go into Copenhagen with my Production Manager we are on a mission to find flowers - like these, gorgeous!


I found this sign outside a shop - I think it needs stitching up sometime soon




The one thing I wanted to see in Copenhagen was the statue of the Little Mermaid - here she is!

Copenhagen has some beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets, but it also has a gorgeous arty feel. I saw two outdoor art exhibitions here in one day - posts about those to come!

Next post we will visit Germany!

Oh The Things I Have Seen... In Europe!

I have only been on this European run on my cruise ship for two cruises now, but I have already seen so much! I have blog posts planned for each of the places I am visiting - here are a few of my favourite photos so far from those places!

Copenhagen, Denmark


Warnemunde, Germany


Tallinn, Estonia


St. Petersburg, Russia


Helsinki, Finland

I know, I'm mean keeping you in suspense like this :-) But I still need to see more. Plus I have a few posts about some amazing art I saw in Copenhagen for you as well - you are such lucky readers!

My internet still sucks though.... but I get to see this and share it with you!
More soon when a connection can be found :-)

On An Adventure in Europe... And My Internet Sucks!

I know I've been MIA for a bit - I've been moving in to my new cruise ship which is currently in the Baltic Sea. Apparently the internet connection sucks out here so I won't be posting as regularly, but I will when I can. For now, here's a pretty picture of St Petersburg until Ige the chance to really update you on my Baltic Adventures!!! Enjoy and I'll update you soon! ♥

Beachcomber Necklace

I made this piece in the same way I made my Sea Gypsy Necklace. As I wasn’t going to sell my Sea Gypsy necklace I figured I could use the same look with this piece of worn shell I found in St. Kitts. It conveniently already had a hole in the top, which made me automatically believe it had to be made into a necklace. I used the pre-existing hole to create a wire shank and added a swirl at tie the piece in with my other work.

As with the Sea Gypsy necklace I gathered together pale hemp cord, wooden and glass beads. I used five strands of hemp to make the main cord, threading the wooden beads from Miami on all five strands. I threaded the glass beads from New York onto a single strand so they nestled between the others partially hidden.

I like the dramatic affect of this necklace – the central piece is chunky and bold, while the hemp is finer, hiding the smaller, more delicate glass beads.

This piece is currently available for sale in my store here