Better Together...

 Hand drawn and coloured on a scrap of craft paper

by Amanda McSeveny

Pocket Garden....

So for years I have wanted to submit a painting to the Re- magine Exhibition held by the Hornsby Council but every year I have missed the submission date. I love this exhibition as it is specifically for artist who use recycled materials to create their work. Well, I finally did it!

Late Thursday afternoon last week I was doing some stuff on my computer and it occurred to me to check when the exhibition was. Guess what, I hadn't missed it. The submission date hadn't passed. But guess when it was - Sunday 5pm. I had three days to produce something from scratch and something I was proud of. 

I was faced with a dilemma. Did I not try, because the deadline would mean significant effort and sacrifice of time? Or did I give it my best and see what happened? 

Like many, I have battled disillusionment and disappointment along this journey to chase my creative dreams. It really would have been easy for me to just shrug and say oh well it wasn't meant to be, I just can't produce anything in that time. And this situation would have been just another occasion when things didn't work out the way I had hoped. I would have added another tally mark of disappointment to the wall of my heart.

But I didn't do that. Something in me rose up and said you know what I am going to give it a go. What have I got to lose. 

You have to understand I really haven't painted very much over the last few years. The desire never disappears and I think about it nearly daily. But I really haven't produced much for a while. What was I going to paint. I had no idea what I would do as the submission required photographs to be taken during the process of creating the piece- so it had to be something new as I don't take photos of my creative process.

What is funny is, only days before I had sat down and sketched up a few thoughts and ideas that I had plans to experiment with. It was going to have to be one of those - as they were all I had. So I picked one idea that I felt I might be able to deliver on a canvas that I had, and I sat down worked out a plan of how to tackle it. And guess what....

I finished. 

I got it submitted on time - just. 

I was even happy with how it turned out. 

And to top it all off I got selected to be part of the exhibition - stoked! 

Here it is - Pocket Garden.

 Pocket Garden, Mixed Medium - Work of Amanda McSeveny, 2016

Inspired by the stars - Handmade Original Necklace

 Totally inspired by Maryann Talia Pau's Eight pointed star I spent some time experimenting with some of my own created from recycled fabrics. I am really happy with the result.

This necklace is created from recycled fabrics and ribbons, zippers, gift bag cord, chain and broken jewellery. I am really happy with the result.

What do you think? 

Tassels and Pompoms - that's Beautifullyrecreated!

I love colour. 

I love pompoms and I love tassels.

Here is one of my Beautifully Recreated projects featuring some upcycled stuff that I love.  

Project Next- Telephone Chair....

So this is my project next! She is a very cute little telephone chair. I am looking forward to bringing her some colour and new life.

Watch this space and during a Monday Makes sometime soon she will be revealed in all her Beautifully Recreated glory.

Monday Make's - Upcycled Wardrobe

I am back...

Back blogging...

Back making...

Back on the road to living a Kre8ive Life...

I  hope you can forgive me for my absence and might come on the journey with me again to discover the Kre8ive Life - the life we are meant to live.

I think finally I have learnt that I am NOT my best me when I am not pursuing a Kre8ive Life. More than ever I am convinced that the desire and dare I say it but the NEED to create is in us all and when we neglect it, ignore it, deny it, fail to nurture it we can not possibly be all we were created to be!!!

So here I go again for the millionth time pursuing My Kre8ive Life, and in the process I hope I might inspire you to live yours........

So Monday Makes are back and here is a project that I recently completed. I am so proud of it. I am proud that the vision in my head has been given the opportunity to come to life. I am glad that it works as I imagined. I love seeing discarded stuff - BeautifullyRecreated.

I so wish I had taken a pic of it as it was. Discarded in a council clean up. Rotten feet, peeling pale blue paint, covered in 1970's NRL football stickers and significant structural issues. Now it is a Sunny bright custom made piece that beautifully shows off my upcycled vintage suitcase collection.

TRANSFORMATION PROCESS-

1. Guttered original wardrobe, leaving only the shell

2. Lined the shell outside walls

3. Used original solid timber doors to create internal support structure

4. Added wheels under the wardrobe (as it is now very heavy) 

5. Created shelving

6. Painted internals and distress only the original timber exposing the original pale blue 

7. Returned the original handles after removing the old paint

8. Glued lace to the external walls -like wall paper

9. Added molding to frame the anterior

10. Painted all external walls and molding

11. Fill....

  

Monday Makes - Navy Necklace...

I love birthdays. Not just for the parties but I really love giving gifts. I love thinking about that special thing for that person. I also love making something special just for them.

This is a recent birthday make: Navy Statement Necklace - made from upcycled tshirt material, reclaimed buttons and fabric flowers.

What do you think? I was really pleased with the result and I think it matches the dress perfectly. I think some of these will be heading the way of my madeit store real soon-  madeit.com.au/beautifullyrecreated

Monday Makes... furniture recreated!!

There is something about 'recreating' discarded objects and turning them into something beautiful that warms my soul. I love it! Be it in the form of artworks or jewellery or bringing old pieces of furniture back to life it always seems to make me happy. There is something to be said for a story of restoration! 

This Monday Makes is one such story. Discarded and missing its glass top this disheveled coffee table was left by the side of the road waiting for a council rubbish collection.  It was missing paint, had water damage and had simply seen better days (Unfortunately you are just going to have to take my word for it cause I didn't take a before photo).

But after months of work this is the finished product. It is silver faux metal in appearance.  I am really happy with how it turned out and it does seem to get a lot of comments from visitors.  And no it is not silver leafing it is something that is far less expensive and much more readily available. Even if you are not a crafter you will have some in your cupboards. That's right it is 'tin foil' or 'aluminium foil'. 

   

A piece of MDF was placed in the position the glass used to exist from the underside of the table creating the sunken centre. Mod Podge was used to adhere squares of the 'tin foil', shiny side down. It was stuck down creating generous creases. Once the whole table was covered in the foil black paint was rubbed on to the table and rubbed off to highlight the creases in the foil. Finally it was finished off with several coats of gloss vanish. And there you have a faux metal table.

So what do you think?

Monday Makes.... a necklace for me!

This was a project just for me. Aside from feeding and doing washing, today I felt like I needed to achieve a little something for me. I needed a few moments spent on something that would be medicine for my soul.

And here it is.  This necklace used to be one of my favourite tops but it was looking a little tired, not good enough to wear anymore. But because of how much I loved it I figured it deserved a new life. I love that old discarded things can be transformed and made new.

I also thought this top would make the perfect accessory for my new orange jumper. I love orange, something about this colour just makes me smile.

So, what do you think, a morning well spent? Post me a comment and you could win your own original handmade necklace!!!

Check out more of my works at madeit.com.au/beautifullyrecreated.com.au

Monday Makes... a new little creation!!

Once again it has been way too long since I have been in and around the land of blog. I have missed it. I have missed the inspiration of other creatives and I have missed the disciplined exploration of my own creative journey that blogging provides. Despite not doing much in the way of writing, there has been many a completed project particularly during the 'nesting' phase of my pregnancy.

I must admit I did love the productivity of those few weeks, as the rest of my pregnancy I felt really de-motivated and tired. I will catch you up on my previous months creative projects over the coming weeks as I am really proud of them. But once again it seems time to reenter the land of blog and explore my creative journey in a disciplined fashion.

As I mentioned before in my absence from blog land I have been busily working on a pretty special little creative project... Button 2. She is gorgeous and 8 weeks old already. My 'Button 1' is 4 and for the life of me I am not sure where the time goes.

What precious creations to have the privileged of nurturing guiding. These are my best Kre8ive endeavors!!!

Today's is a bowtie...

Day 5 of 74

'Black and Gray Bowtie Choker'

Green Spring Polka Dots...

This is no 4 0f 74. Only seventy to go!!!! Im enjoying creating new items and the push to finish off half started projects. Making time to do this every day is going to be a challenge but at the moment I think I am up for it.

I made it to day three....

Spring Blooms 3 of 74

2 0f 74 - Spring 2010

Here we are I have made it to day two. Two down only 72 to go. Gee this is going to be easy (NOT)!!!

We all need a good friends push...

Well today is Tuesday and after a challenging chat with a good friend yesterday, who knows me too well (I don't think it is possible for a friend to know you too well - but it does at times make you accountable for the miss alignment of your behaviours and convictions) I have decided that I need to embark on a new creative challenge. This challenge is aimed at giving me back my creative mojo and getting me back on my creative horse and over my self indulgent pity party that my creative journey thus far has not yet landed me at the destination I had in mind.

Welcome to the 74 remaining days of Spring. I am setting myself a daily creative challenge. It is ambitious to say the lest and my doubting self already can smell potential failure on the horizon. But I am going to put it out there and give it a go. Cause I am in need of some new creative direction.

So here it is the challenge is simple. I am going to create a NEW statement necklace EVERYDAY until the end of Spring!!!!!!!!! There we have it I have said it. I have taken it from my head and put it into the land of the web hoping for some other creative souls on a similar journey of creative discovery to keep me accountable. Each piece will be created in my signature Beautifully Recreated style and each will be inspired by the colours and styles of Spring 2012.

And so here she is my first piece:

'Spring Triangle'

Necklace 1 of 74 

made from twigs, upcycled fabric and buttons

She will be available soon at my store -  madeit.com.au/BeautifullyRecreated .

I would love you thoughts about her- 'Spring Triangle' and or my crazy creative challenge.

Monday Makes- More Necklaces...

Wow it is Tuesday and once again I am posting yesterday's Monday Makes! Not to mention the fact that my return to blog land is not going as well as I had hoped. One blog a week I guess is better than none.

So here they are again some gifts for friends. I am really loving creating these necklaces- biggest problem is giving them away once they are finished.

Tribal Stick Necklace - Monday Makes on Tuesday...

Well it is Tuesday and I am posting my Monday Makes post today. I'm not doing so good getting back on the blogging band wagon but I am going to keep pushing through.

I am really excited about today's Monday Makes (on Tuesday) because finally I have executed an idea that has been floating around in my head for sometime now. What's more I am really happy with my first attempt. I am totally looking forward to making more, more, more and hopefully sometime soon I will have some on my madeit store. I would love your comments and thoughts. So here is my statement necklace 'Tribal in Melon'...



Tribal in Melon - after. I hope my friend loves it as it is her birthday pressie.

Tribal in Melon - before

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Ps. Last week I showed you a sneak peak at my Handwritten Scarf here is a finished one for you to check out. Not as gorgeous as the inspiration but I am pretty happy with it and I would be pretty stocked to receive one as a gift. I will continue to experiment with this idea!!!

Another Statement Necklace - Monday Makes

So here is my next statement necklace. I am really enjoying these. Soon oh very soon they will appear in my madeit.com.au shop.

My Creative Space- Holiday Makes.....

Today I am writing this blog from my holidays!!! Im in a lovely little cafe with free Wi Fi on the beach of NSW's gorgeous North Coast.

Our little family are having a ball, and my creative juices are flowing. I am working on some pieces to be arriving (fingers crossed) to my made it shop real soon. Want a sneak peak????

A statement necklace - Monday Makes...

This weeks Monday Makes is a statement necklace which has been  'Beautifully Recreated' from an old tie and some scrap canvas and fabric.

I am really happy with the outcome. I started this piece sometime ago and then as I do moved on to other projects. However the purchase of a lovely mustard coloured top on the weekend provided the necessary motivation I required to complete it.

I was also very excited that after seeing my little creation a friend gave me big bag full of ties. They are lovely and I am excited to give them new life. The compliments I received over the weekend when I wore this piece has given me much excitement about making more, many many more!!!!!!!!!