Fancy Window Lady cuffs up !

Rubanesque in Dublin's Powerscourt shopping centre gives artists and designers each month the chance to showcase their work in a prominent window in their shop. I was thrilled to be given the month of April to exhibit a selection from my queenofcuffs.

Then came the task of just how best to display the pieces  .   .   .   .   .
I admit to a terrible weakness for 'overkill displays' you know the kind that squashes as much as possible into the space. But I am told less is more and really I should know better !
When displaying my work at the lovely Marlay Park Christmas fair I realised that not everyone is familiar with fabric cuffs. Some people looking at them asked me if they were garters! So I felt I should display a pair just to show how they were worn. I decided a life size lady was needed to show them off. Not being prepared to sit in the window for a month 'a la Amsterdam lady' I had to find a substitute.
I bought several lovely images of Edwardian ladies and through trial and error and printing faces and hands on my home printer, I choose one. For a few days my studio was like the XFactor as I stuck the images on the wall trying to pick. Having apologised to the rejected girls I sent the winner to be printed onto a foam backing and cut out to shape.

I placed a glass bell jar on one of our sitting room tables to finish the look.

I look forward to getting feedback from passing views - and hopefully opinions.
If you are in Dublin in April please drop by Rubanesque and have a look.
Say hello to my lady and why not have a look at the lovely ribbons in the shop.

Titanic Anniversary thoughts

There is sooooo much at the moment about Titanic it is starting to get to a 'tipping' point of interest!
I have recently heard people say that they have heard enough about it - seen enough about it - seen too many TV series etc etc !! So I started to wonder - firstly why is Titanic so much taken to heart - why is this sad event so ingrained in our minds that it has become a story we all know and (mostly) do not tire of hearing about? Also, where is the line to be drawn of 'good taste' with Titanic? I admit I have linked some of my lace cuffs and pendants to the ship in my etsy shop by the titles I used. This is because of the Edwardian lace and images from that era I had incorporated in these pieces. I hope I have done this tastefully - but can't help feeling - just a little  - that I in my small way am also cashing in on the tragedy. I respect many of the links to the anniversary and see how they are still keeping the memory alive but now and then I see items that border on the 'not such good taste' and that makes me uneasy. Is the real tragedy lost in the tragic glamour?
The fantastic Belfast Museum tells the story - Titanic parties, unless carefully done, might miss that.