Monday 4 November 2013

Inspiration: Avoca Blanket - woolen beauty and small challenge!

There are some places you love to visit and there are some things on the "wishlist" you are very happy to tick off. When I was the very first time in Ireland 8 years ago we were visiting Avoca Woolen Mills - which were smaller and less commercial than now. I loved this place: colours, buildings, smell of wool which for me is the essence of ultimate cosiness. I promised myself one day I will buy one of these insanely colourful blankets for my home.
In September my parents were visiting us and we've decided to visit Avoca Mills again. The experience was slightly different from the first time, but I loved it anyway. Again - the magic of colour and smell worked for me:) I took tons of photos - this place was literally asking for it!







Ok, enough...
This time I bought a blanket of course - now way I could resist for a second time! I took it home and after a few days looking at the pattern and color scheme ideas started coming to my mind... For a few days i got slightly obsessed with olive green, brown, turquoise and hot fuchsia pink...





Uhmm, the smell of woolen blanket...
Ok, anyway:
I was looking for the right color palette and elements - finally I decided to play with Distress Ink Pads - luckly I had all the needed colors at home (ehm... what a surprise) and I was ready to create my own, colorful, Avoca-blanket inspired background for my layout! It didn't take me long, really - some old labels, some pieces of the Avoca leaflet, and some hot pink yarn I got from one of my lovely students - and here it was, done!

avoca

I started with Distress Inks, then I continued with layers of paper - Vintage Vanity A4 Pad and Messy Head Collection - some doilies, labels, tags, veil, buttons, even some 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives...


Finishing touches were done with Ecolines, Archival Ink and Threading Stamp followed with a bit pencil doodles. I'm not a master of doodling for sure - but who cares? :)


Can you see this cute little woolen heart in a bottle cap? This is also a gift from my student - Lucky me! It was just perfect for this project!

If only the story ended here. But no!
The same night, using almost the same supplies I created another layout - and - heaven forgive! - I had the will to do far more! These colours and yarn and layers made something bad to my head, really!

you keep me warm



And some details - this time with "Seamstress" stamp from my new collection and more of Checkered Resist Canvas Sheet from Elementals...

Seriously, it was hard to stop.
I have to admit there is one more waiting in a row - but I want you to have a deeper breath after this colour explosion on the blog today:) I will leave you with adorable video about Avoca Mills - enjoy! I hope now you will understand my small woolen madness;)

And maybe you want to try this color palette too? I'd love to see your interpretation!
The colours I used for my Project were: Broken China, Brushed Corduroy, Shabby Shutters and Picked Raspberry. Feel free to leave me a link if you will decide to try - maybe I will have a small surprise for you?
Waiting for your projects!

32 comments:

Sandra said...

Love the photos Finn, especially the last one and I can see that on a canvas or your art journal.

Helen said...

Love the blanket and your layouts are gorgeous, of course!!

Alina said...

Wonderful! Such a great color pallete! I don't remember to see pink in your work and I sure didn't expect to see it. I am surprised you had it in home ;). Anyway, I love it! I'll try this combo also!

Anski said...

Really wonderful pages, love the colours! And those warm and fuzzy details looks so fun! :D

anai.pl said...

Oba świetne :) Moje ulubione kolory i bardzo Ci w nich do twarzy! Też uwielbiam inspiracje, które przychodzą z nieoczekiwanych miejsc.

Joanna Wiśniewska said...

Wspaniale prace i kocyk rowniez :)

Lainie said...

Whoa!! It's wonderful to see you use these colours in your layouts. They are all gorgeous and your doodling is way up there!

GA said...

Love your new palette! Fibers and yarns have always been a passion in my life!

Sarah-R said...

Gorgeous!

Marianne/skorpionen said...

You master everything!! Gorgeous!
And love the photos!
hugs

misty said...

Love them!

Jennifer Couper said...

I went to the Avoca mill shop back at the end of May whilst travelling in Ireland. Truly a colourful and inspiring place and hard to leave behind all those wonderful woollen goodies. I'm surprised you only bought a blanket !! Great palette, thanks for the inspiration

Yasmin said...

You always amaze me!! Love your style and that you master every color and elements! you are a rockstar! Hugs!

Linn said...

Amaaazing colors, I so understand you had a hard time stopping! As usual you make everything look incredible and I love the details and contrast♥

Unknown said...

Love LOve Love visiting your blog!! Gorgeous colors.Perfect match to you scrap art!!

Linda Simpson said...

Fabulous photographs. Thank you for sharing.

Hugs
Linda xxx

Unknown said...

Such fun! Fabulous woollen blanket, great inspiration for your amazing art!

PetraB said...

Beautiful photos and art

Béa ScrapTiwi said...

Wahouuuu beautiful !!

Gigi said...

Oh yes, I love it. The video is great too. I'd love to have one of those blankets!

Peg said...

I Adore Avoca, bought myself a cable-knit cardigan when I was there, hmmmmm.
This colour combo is fabulous, love how you've used it!

Véro said...

Wonderful, I love all theses colors, it is so shiny
Kiss from France
Véro

Dziwolonk said...

Obłędne! Piękna inspiracja :)

Unknown said...

Oh WOW, in my element looking at these pictures, hun, my favourite past-time, next to crafting, is to stroll around curtains, wallpapers etc...love colour me xxx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. I own the most beautiful Avoca cape in my favourite colour purple.
Love you r blanket and the layout
Carol B

betsi said...

beautiful. I wish I had know about Avoca when I visited Ireland. The loom process is amazing to watch. And I am so impressed that you could create something so beautiful from a mere visit there. Also, I like your chosen favorite colors from there!

Mona Pendleton said...

Beautiful as always! Thanks for sharing the link to the store!

Tusia Lech said...

To ja tylko powiem, że w świetle tego, co zawsze mówiłaś o wybieranych przeze mnie kolorach, kontra wybieranych przez ciebie, przecieram oczy :) Że ty wzięłąś za rogi takie zestawienie kolorystyczne? Niewiarygodne :):) Cudne prace :* Irlandia ci służy :)

Betsi said...

Simply the best! Love the colours and composition! Gorgeous piece of artwork! Congrats!

Kyla said...

Fabulous pages and I love the colours. I too love Avoca, I first went there on my honeymoon 16 years ago, I imagine it has changed quite a lot!

I love the dimension to your pages, but can I ask how you display and/or store them as I guess they are too deep for ordinary scrapbooks?

Thanks
kyla

Maura said...

Wonderful!! Love your splashes of color!! Avoca is such a lovely place to visit.

Alina said...

Hi Finn. Here is a layout based on your challenge http://felicitarihandmade.blogspot.ro/2013/11/remember-paris.html.
Hope you like it!
Hugs!
Alina

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