Let's Make Fish : Making Liberty of London Fashionable Fish Accessories

Finally the third installment in the let's make fish series. Sorry for the delay, no excuse really, it is just that this little project just keeps evolving. I am not even sure it is done yet but I really wanted to post it as is for now.

This project really is as liberating as you want it to be. It all started with a desire to make softie version of my crochet covered fish after I realized that there were more than a few children out there in the great big sea of a world with a strong merfish attachment. I wanted to keep the same idea but make them a little safer for small hands and toes and also a little more durable. I also had a little concept playing over and over in my mind about my darling colourful fish talking to me and you about how the only little nets they want to be caught up in are the ones they have made themselves ( with a little bit of help from me or you ). So I started with some little sardine ( that was my model) shaped liberty of london tana lawn fabric fish stuffed with eco stuffing. 

I started with five and when I had them stuffed and lying on the table my daughter asked me why I was making fingers :)

I crocheted a cover for the first two using a method just like for the crochet covered stone fish. The fiber was a very luxurious cashmere silk blend. The combination of the silky smooth liberty cotton and the cashmere silk is just oh so decadent. I embroidered a few little details to the fish face using some of the fabrics natural patterns where possible. 

I really liked the result but was a little unsatisfied that again I made something for people who know how to crochet. It was then that I decided to try to use only embroidery to make the illusion of a net like covering. I used blanket stitches around the circumference until at least two thirds of the fish was covered. I added a little ad lib fabric tail. So now even if you can't crochet you can make yourself a little merfish.

It didn't stop there. Since I don't have any little ones wanting to play with soft fish in my home but I do have three very fashionable daughters, all of whom have inherited their mother's love of liberty fabric I woke up on morning and decided we needed to start a liberty fish fashion accessory trend.

We gathered up some hair pins, brooch pins, large wavy vintage ric rac and some vintage dungaree thick elastic (this was my favorite idea) and after a few minutes at the sewing machine we were ready for a little photo shoot on the porch.  My daughter had fish in her hair, on her t shirt and on her purse.

 Even the kittens wanted in on the latest fashion trend. I even thought I might add a little lavender or lemon balm next time to make them the sweetest smelling little sardines ever.

I am sorry this is such a long post today but I really wanted to let you in on the creative process for this project. I think it makes it a great deal more interesting. Now I am packing up my pretty little sardines and heading off to bed.

Or maybe tail up :)

Comments

[Sonia]

How on earth can you work all day long, and keep creating & making your imagination flood you mind with ideas (and our -readers- mind too !) ?! Do you sleep at night, Margie ? Nanou answered this question of mine, as she said you were a fairy. Now that explains everything !
I love each one of the fishes you made, pins, softies ... everything looks so good. And I realize now that you even thought of people like me who can't crochet ... I would have never thought about blanket stitch, but this is BRILLIANT ! I'll be able to make myself these fishes ! Hurray !
Thanks so much, Margie, for bringing sunshine & inspiration to our daily lives. You're the best oxoxox

[Chrissy Foreman C]

Oh my goodness, these are FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL!!! Iw ant one. They'd be super cute in a mobile ...

[Rane]

Margie your posts are never too
long!! And your little sardines
are charming. We love them!!
I bet you could have added cat nip
and drove the kitties nuts with
them! LOL! I think that my group
will see these and want some too.
They look like the would not
take too long to make... if I can
squeeze the time in to do it.
Hum..... hehehe! Sonia is right...
Nanou too,... you must surely be
some earthly bound spirit...here
to heal the body by day and by
night the soul....yes..I think an
elf you may be...yes a sweet
little woodland sprite. Thank you
for your nimble fingers, and
ever creative mind.
Your daughter gets lovelier every
time we see her... they grow so
fast dont they? And your kitties
are so patient... you are such
a fun momma.
Loads of love.
Rane and hubby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Mathyld / encore petite]

Fantastic ! I love the way you turned these "fingers" (ha !) into very cool accessories !
Your girl looks ravishing and the cat is so stylish !

And thank you for thinking of those silly ones who can't crochet ! (such as me !) Because that would have been too hard to resist to a Tana Lawn tutorial !

x x x
___mathyld___

[joanie]

These are so sweet. I like that you added a blanket stitch version - I already can do that one! Maybe we should start a homemade fish Flickr group, you and Nanou have made a start, I could add some I make with my class. We could end up with a whole oceans worth before long :)

[andrea gutierrez]

whenever i think i have found my favorite post, you up it a notch! i love the softie fish but then i was blown away by the cute little finned-friends in your daughter's hair! those headbands are fabulous!! oh my!!! if ever ever ever you like anything of mine, i would definitely be up for a trade (due to the economy all i have is my art for money, lol)!!

[Nanou]

Oh Margie ! Your fishes are the most extraordinary and the loveliest sardines I ever seen !!! You make my little brain turn in all directions in my head ! Houra for your new fish fashion trend !
(Concerning Sonia's question "do you sleep at night?", I confirm that you are a fairy - you proved it on many occasions -, but I wonder, as you are a doctor, if you haven't invented special pills that avoid to sleep ... If yes, is there any chance to get a little pill for me, just one please ... ?)

[arounna]

this is fun to see your process - it put a smile on my face to see all those lovely liberty fishes. Oh how I love liberty prints - I recently made some little dresses from liberty prints.
thanks for all your sweet comments.

[The Top Drawer]

Adorable! Everything should be made out of liberty!

[viagra online]

i love this fish accessories, looks like a really good way of getting off the routine!