Postcards in the pipeline

I "know" I should have been doing 'house things" today,but I was itching to stitch!
So here's a peek at some of my yet to be completed cards.....eleven in all,but you don't get to see the lot-------yet!
I need a whole heap for international postings,so I thought maybe I could do a little cheating....
The wild bird photos have all been taken in my yard in the last couple of months,so I've printed some to fabric and,using Australiana fabric designs have framed the pics with a rudimentary crazy patch.
WHY do I think this is cheating.........because,although the photos are my work it doesn't seem arty enough.
What do YOU think?Would you be happy to receive one of these cards,or would you feel 'cheated' at lack of art work?

The third card....another masked reveller has been languishing in a WISP pile for a few months;
and the fourth: another Christmas card. 

Walking on the wild side!

Barb Stone,one of the members of the Art2MailGroup18,sent me this "Walk on the wild side" this week and hoped I "didn't mind" where she walked!
Not at all,Barb...........vive la differance!
Although I must admit the hairstyle puts me in mind of the Wandjina people.........People of the Dream time!
It's so great to receive so many different themes and styles.
And my grand daughter asks at each visit:
" What new cards this week,Gran?"

So,Barb and others,let's all walk a little on the wild side! 

You've got mail!

From Nellie Durand!
Early in November between visiting Nellie's Blog ,and she visiting mine we arranged to swap Postcards.
(The Link for that was my November 9 blog entry.)

Nellie's fibre card ,which is one featuring Lake Michigan was accompanied by another card
"Passing Storm", advertising a Textile Exhibition featuring her work.

Close examination of the fibre card shows the way Nellie has used curved layering to represent the waves of the lake,and added paint/foam on the wave tops.

A visit to her blog is well worth while, not only for all the techniques she shares with the reader,but to enjoy her quilts and artwork.

Now to attempt a card for Nellie!

How good is this!

When you have such glorious wild birds visit your backyard...........
and let you spend ten minutes or more taking pics of them.
This cock King Parrot was most co-operative yesterday.............spectacular looking bird isn't he!
The hen is quite drab in comparison and more difficult to photograph..........

I'm going to MISS "my " birds when we move to suburbia 

Cups,saucers and pin cushions

I was adding a comment to another blog today,when the penny dropped............
I hadn't added pics of the cup and saucer pincushions I had made recently.
The cups and saucers I found at an op-shop down Potts Point(northern NSW) way, and I don't think they had ever been used.( a really good buy)

In the pic,two sets have been reborn as pin-cushion/brooch holders and the third displays a selection of old cotton reels which I inherited from my mother-in-law;

In the foreground are three "daisy" pincushions............two circles:one of felt,the other of cotton fabric; stitched together,stuffed with wool roving, then formed into a daisy by stitching and wrapping.
Something EASY to do whilst the Cricket is enthralling our menfolk. 

Completed

I think this will be the last Journal quilt for this year, as I have so much else to complete by mid December.
When I started this piece,I had in mind to attempt a sunset over canyon country.
I was hoping for more angles to give the illusion of canyon landscape,but that was beyond my skill.
So this is the result....my accidental landscape. 

Accidental landscape

I had sketched out the layout for my 'canyons at sunset',but along the way,things went pear shaped!
I was hoping for another journal quilt to add to my port folio,but.........not this one.

I'd still like to get the plan to work,but I think it will need piecing and applique rather than Needle felting.
You certainly need sunglasses for looking at this one.
It has a mixture of wool roving,silk tops,silk throwers waste,a couple of (unwrapped )cocoons and a few scraps of wool felt and silk fusion /paper,and yes,I was using my Janome Xpression. 

Haiku postcard.........for Katie

A while back,a CQfriend (Katie) in PA saw a Wip of mine:
I was attempting to portray Haiku verse in a postcard; The Haiku in question was
"Evening hailstones
Beat branches.
Their whiteness."
Unfortunately I think the translation loses something as it crosses language barriers!

Anyway,the upper card is now with Katie in the USA.
The bottom card is my first one.
Both were constructed using white kimono silk with an Imperial chrysanthemum self pattern fabric,some DMC cottons,Swarovski crystals and Angelina fibre
 

Crazy chick!

I'm not sure whether this crazy chick reminds me more of an Emu,or a Brolga!Anyway, ' she' arrived after a flight from the UK.........part of the Art2Mail Group 18 Swap.

Rosemarie ,who sent the card, has used a crazy patched background and appliqued her "crazy chick" onto it.
It certainly brightened my day! 

Fluttering by..........

I'm so glad that I didnt blog the scan of this card,as the photography more truly shows how gorgeous this Butterfly is! This card also arrived yesterday! From LisaM in AL, it came as a swap organised by Art2MailGroup18.

Lisa has fussy-cut the butterfly and applied it to the black and gold backing fabric.
A few hot fixed diamente and simple machine straight stitching really give the card WOW factor.
Thanks,Lisa 

My Crazyquilting Friends

Yesterday's mail delivered two Postcards from "Crazyquilting friends"!
The angel came from RoseAnne in Canada! Very dainty machine applique with a touch of bead and braid to glamourise her.

The Christmas tree and wrapped parcels arrived from a dear friend up Hervey Bay way.
It's funny,but whatever postcard swap on whichever site,we always end up swapping with each other.
Now,how Margaret could say this card is bland is beyond me.........I love christmas trees!
Thank you RoseAnne and Margaret!
This makes three PCs I've received from this group.........remember the burgandy toned one I received from JuliaC last week? 

Christmas is coming

 

These CQed Christmas themed postcards today started on their journey to new homes!
Hopefully they survive the postal systems!
In the last four months,five packages and a postcard have gone AWOL......very disappointing when you consider they all were mailed from the same Post Office and went not only to USA but UK also. 

Textile challenges

 

After attempting a "reverse applique" cityscape that ended up in the discard bin,I tried something simpler:
Instead of the five fabric layers I used in the first attempt,I only used three this time;
I also used a simpler shape: the Kanjii for "tora"/tiger.
All went well until I started using my heat tool for sealing the cut edges.........

Funny,that!The medium edged tool that was unsuccesful on the heavier fabrics was too vicious for the lighter fabrics.
I'll try the fine point next. 

Felted fantasia

 

The beaded fringe I planned around the lower edge did not "work",so I'm quitting while I'm ahead!

Yesterday I felted a few petals and leaves to improve the dimensional effect,and using a hand felting needle positioned them and added a few more seed beads for glitz.

I tried photographing outside without flash to reduce reflected glare from the Angelina fibres. 

The weekend that was...............

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Not much accomplished creatively here,due to getting ready to place our home in the hands of a realtor in the hopes of "moving on".
Our capable daughter took care of the photographic details.........
(if you've got a specialist in the family,USE them!!)
Hopefully tomorrow evening the details will be up on realestate.com.au
(A traumatic time,making the necessary actions to relocate after 22+ years in the one place.)

Anyway,only a little needle punching/embellishing was achieved -- but in the process of demonstrating my new machine to family members a few leaves and petals were constructed to add dimension to my "banner".

In the meantime,a newsletter arrived from Alma Stoller on
Potato Starch Resist Tutorial........and it's well worth a 'look'.
Those of you who are exploring various techniques via Fabric and fibre postcards or journal quilts should enjoy trying this one.
Dare I add that you may even be able to eat the resultant design?

Update on the "banner"

 


Last night I stitched some shisha,acrylic leaves and some beads to my "banner".

I also found that using a camera instead of being lazy and scanning,gives a better result.
Tonight,I hope to dome some hand quilting to give more definition;
I also plan on felting some petals to add extra dimension,as I feel the piece is still too flat......needs the pizzaz added by free standing 3-D effect. 

Nellie's Needles: Art Share Meme

Nellie's Needles: Art Share Meme

Geron Daisies for Gail

 

A close up of a piece I stitched for a friend 

Work in Progress

Today I had another session on my Xpression


I decided to use a printed polyester fabric as the foundation,because my aim was to embellish rather than felt;
In my eyes the irregular fabric pattern was loosely based on tropical flowers and I thought this would allow for trying both silk tops,wool roving and some Angelina fibres.
Being totally new to this form of embellishing/needle punching I must admit to only having the vaguest idea of what I'm doing.........probably breaking heaps of so called rules in the process.

Anyway my plan for this piece is to adapt it to my journal quilt format........
only it will have a shaped base rather than a regular rectangular shape........
like the banners of old!
Once I get it shaped and backed I hope to add hand worked embellishing and doo- dads and make it all just a "little bit crazy" 

Aurora australis revisited

A long,long time ago............
(NO! It's not a fairy story) I was lucky enough to experience an Aurora australis.........the "southern lights",whilst living in Western Australia.
I was probably about 7 or 8 years at the time,and I've never seen them (the Lights)since!

Anyway,those celestial fireworks made a great impression all those years ago ,
and I thought that my (new) Janome Xpressions might be a way to recapture the experience!

Using spiral dyed silk tops by Jacinta Leishman,some Angelina fibres and a "natural" Silk Noil as the foundation fabric, this was my second attempt with the embellisher.
I'll try adding extra embellishing with beads and crystals and maybe some extra fibres.(Angelina and others)
As yet I haven't determined "how thick" I should make the layer of fibres on the foundation,and,surprisingly for a CQer,I prefer "less is more" rather than "lay it on with a trowel".

WHY did I blog this?
Simply because my "reverse applique cityscape" has been consigned to the dump!
My ambitions exceeded my capabilities,and I had to show something to prove that I have been experimenting,if nothing else. 

Monday blues

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About six hours ago I opened this window to make comment on a blog I had visited (ninainnorway)http://http://ninainnorway.blogspot.com/.
However,chores got in the way!
Firstly,after pumping up tyres on our ride-on mower,the mower 'threw' its drive belt........beyond my limited mechanical abilities to 'fix'!
Then the second ride on mower had a flat battery...........my blood pressure was rapidly elevating I can tell you.
Finally I pulled out the third mower,fueled up and pushed it around roughly 3/4 acre.No fun when you're still recovering from severe bronchitis and the temp is low 30s(C)
Next,the fellows that were going to clean the exterior of the house turned up..........
WOOHOO!
Two hours later,half a flooded house(their pressure gun fund leaks in all sorts of weird places)
at least the outside looked sparkling clean,the windows were sparkling and most of my towels(from sopping up thewater) were laundered and on the line flapping in the breeze.
The furniture and plants were restored to their positions on the side verandah........
and it was time to prepare dinner!

So,I never did get a chance to say...................go visit Nina in Norway
and Frederique's "Quilting,Patchwork & Applique" Blog where she shows the steps taken to create her Oiseau Celtique (her hand appliqued Celtic bird)
tres magnifique!!
Now, sadly, I have not made one stitch today,so I bid you all bon nuit as I go to wash dishes and then SIT with a piece of CQ..........my little time of peace and relaxation

BDE sampler

This is the only photo I have of this sampler prior to it being blocked and framed.
Actually it was photographed before I had 'graduated' to digital photography and editing, so my apologies (once again) for a less than perfect picture..which really doesn't enhance the dimensional effect of the embroidery at all. 

Fireworks

The first card from the Art2Mail Group 18 Swap arrived today.
This was from ChristineR of the UK 

Xpressions

Today I finally took delivery of my Janome Xpression Needle Punching machine.

It seems forever Since Emmy told me of her Embellisher,and now.....
big smiles and fun times ahead for this gal!

When I played the accompanying DVD and heard the magic words No rules I thought
YES!!
(For those who don't know me,I'm slightly obsessed with Crazy Quilting and adore the
No rules Rule! )
I've never been truly comfortable with (traditional) Patchwork & Quilting which demands matching points and straight seams.
I like to operate on the
What if,why not ?? principle.

So,after raiding my sewing "trash bag" of fabric and thread off-cuts I chose to use a piece of a discarded satin pillow slip as the foundation fabric
(not a good choice,by the way)

After needle punching some fabrics to the base,I pulled out handsful/handfuls(?) of discarded threads and silk ribbons,laid them on the foundation,
overlaid all with white nylon organza and "punched" the lot together!

I then randomly laid some faux fur knitting yarn and repeated the needling.

Finally,using three small circular layers of organza I attempted some basic 3-D flowers.

VERDICT..........?
I know I'm going to have fun!

That Art MeMe

I see that Jo http://nzjo.blogspot.com/

has succumbed to the MeMe challenge that started I think with Arlee over on !
http://arleebarr.squarespace.com

So far only Emmy of http://emmyschoonbeek.blogspot.com/ has come to play with me

and Gerry of http://sewing-southpaw.blogspot.com/

(although Gerry and I are debating if we post to each other as we regularly visit each other's Blog

Are you confused yet?I know I am: but then it doesn't take much to do that at the best of times.

Forgive all cats......

 

....for they do know what they did!

This great card from my friend YvonneS (she's servant to a cat-person also) arrived this morning.
Isn't it great!

Funny thing is,it was my black Jesse who was "bad puss" earlier in the day.

Thanks Yvonne (& Merlin, who I'm sure provided the inspiration) 

CQed Postcards

 

I'd forgotten how fiddly CQ becomes when making fabric and fibre postcards!
Tidy edges were difficult to achieve;
And knowing that the colours used are not my preferred colours made me even more uncomfortable.

Maybe I'll find TIME to attempt another batch---but truthfully,
I just want to go take delivery of my Janome Excellence and play