CIRCUS

I LOVED this week’s theme.  I recently went to see Cirque Du Ciel ShangHi. A Chinese circus with traditional and modern elements.  It was absolutely amazing!  The 2-hour show featured acrobatics, ballet, balancing, tumbling, spinning, death defying aerial displays, all set to a heart pounding score of live music.  With amazing costumes, lighting and music it was a Colourful, Sparkling, feast for the senses.  On my tags this week I have tried to convey the experience of being there, ENJOY!  Most are made using hand-painted silk, backed onto craft vylene.

The first tag features the Diablo spinners.  I used large silver and pink sequins and tiny beads for the Diablo’s, and white thread for the rope they are thrown up and caught on.  Sorry I don’t know the technical terms! It is photographed against the front cover of the programme. Note how the  thread 'rope' on the tag carries on from the rope in the girl's hand!

This tag features the Hoop Diving routine. It is painted with purple and red silk paints and decorated with turquoise sequins to represent lights.  For the hoops I have used four brass curtain rings, stitched to the tag. 

The swirly black and gold design on the left is taken from the costumes of the acrobats;  I used silk gutta for this.  The tag is finished with a tie of red cord and black ribbon and gold beads.  I love the vibrancy and  colour contrast of this tag.

This tag features the Aerial Silk Routine, where a performer does an amazing gymnastics routine whilst dangling from the ceiling on a length of red silk !  For this I painted the vylene tag black and stitched  tiny crystal beads for lights all over. I used a piece of painted silk (red/purple) cut on the bias and folded it into place on the tag. It is stitched in place with a few more beads.  Finished with red and black ribbons for a tie.

The music and drumming was an important feature of the show so my last tag is about the drumming.  The tag shows a wall of Chinese Gongs.  I made a golden grid on the tag with gold thread and used various gold buttons from my stash for the gongs.  It is finished with black ribbon and gold thread for a tie.

Here they are altogether.  I’m sorry this post is so long, I got a bit carried away!  I would love to have made more, there were so many inspiring shapes and colours to use; but I thought four was maybe enough (for now!).  If the Cirque Du Ciel comes to a theatre near you, go and see it! It’s amazing beyond words!

Thank you as always for your lovely comments, they make my day!

I’m off now to see all your Circus Acts, have a fantastic creative week.

Bye for now, Jane xx