Invention Series Umbrella Man

I love inventions and especially those from long ago. This is such a simplistic design and one that apparently didn't quite make it to the mass market. But I like the idea and it would certainly come in handy today as we talk on our cell phones and send text messages. However, if a gusty wind blew in one might be sailing away, rather then walking!


Umbrella Man comes adorned with a bowler hat and gray eyes. I can imagine him walking down the boulevard during a light rain shower, tipping his hat at a passerby.

All of the garments and umbrella were hand embroidered/woven. The umbrella alone took six hours to create. The spines are created with thin copper wire which allows the umbrella to be shaped and provides the 3D affect.

After carefully cutting each garment away from the "frame" arranging the pieces in the layout.

Detail of the woven garments.

A shot after everything was stitched and embroidered. Umbrella Man is 4.5 inches tall and fits on a 9 x 12 canvas. His face is a mere 3/4 inches! Is contoured and includes hand embroidered features.

My wonderful hubs created this beautiful frame after I merely stated that I wanted copper to over lap the canvas in the front. He did his magic with the distressing, aging, making the L brackets and finding just the right screws. Then he put it all together and came up with this lovely frame. Now I can't wait to create the next in this series, just so he can create his magic!

Umbrella man can be found in my Etsy shop. Along with the creation, I am making a small booklet that shows in greater detail how I created this piece as well as a couple of funny stories that happened during the creation.

An Elegant Victorian Boot Hand Embroidery Art

I was playing around with some designs and decided that I wanted to create an embroidered boot. I love the 1860s. The fashion, writing, history so I did some research on clothing. After doing that research I designed this Victorian boot. I can easily see a lady, Northern or Southern, slipping this boot on and taking an evening stroll. Or, going on a date with the newest beau.

I plan on offering this in a kit, or a pdf pattern only, and digitized to sew out on an embroidery sewing machine. This design is only 3 1/2 x 3 1/2.

Check Waterrose Handcrafted Obsessions in the coming week for these choices.