Be my Valentine?

Some weeks back I experimented with calico,various tissue wrapping papers,diluted glue,Angelina fibres and Lumiere paints,to produce some rather bright paper/cloth?

Remembering that I'd committed to a Valentine Postcard swap,I thought I'd "play":
These photos are the result resulting collages./postcards.

The first pic features some fine pink bridal lace and a lace motif behind black bridal tulle.

The second and the third cards feature two fabric prints made and given me by my friend SandieW.

One is framed with some cream braid from my stash and gold butterfly stamping;

The next,a sepia toned print is framed with lace from my CQ stash and ruffled ribbon floss.
A fine blue organza bow anchors the lace and floss.











Finally,another lace motif heart with more Angelina imprisoned by black bridal tulle.
All cards are edged with a multi-coloured blanket stitch.


I hope the recipients enjoy my attempts.

Enough,already!

"Autumn blues"
Leaves in the Autumn come tumbling down
Scarlet and yellow,
Russet and brown.
Leaves in the garden are swept in a heap
The trees are ready for sleep.


Finally,I am getting closer to the finishing post:
Will I add a few skeletonised leaves,or will I accept that it's "enough,already!"

S.E.X.

Today,my friend Pen and I had our weekly day 'out'.

Pen/Penne is not only a recognised potter in Australia (google :Penne Jefford to see some of her magnificent works)
but also an artist with paints and collage.

Lately she has turned her talents to fibre art and oh boy! is she widening my horizons!

Today was our weekly 'day out' and we ventured up to Spotlight (a bit like the USA Walmart)
I went: to only buy some quilter's muslin/scrim,and some black bridal tulle.(smile)

Just recently I used some larger/coarser netting (no way I could call it tulle) and was really disappointed with the results.

But I came away owning some shades of green,brown,blue and grey.

Because Pen is shepherding me towards landscapes, and I've just completed an "Autumn" theme, I purchased fabrics which I hope will produce an Australian landscape.
The two books featured in the pic are one by Australian Gloria Loughman "Luminous landscapes"
and "Color on Paper and Fabric" by Ruth Issett.

I've already washed and folded the fabrics and have a vague idea HOW I want to use them.....dare I say I have another shade of Autumn in mind.

That Challenge....again.

This afternoon I had another "go" at 'Autumn Blues': adding more of the Challenge Angelina,which I fused to some Nasturtium silk Organza I bought when I killed my plastic at Robyn Alexander's "Colour Streams" last year.
I thought that it could be used both sides to represent Autumn leaves and the flames of a bonfire consuming the leaves.

Unfortunately,my pile of leaves looks more like a discoloured Pointsettia flower........too tidy!

But I wanted a 3-D effect with the leaves being able to hang away from the background,or even turn to show both sides.

Maybe when it gets to be permanently in a vertical position (read wall-hanging) the leaves will fluff and dangle as I visualised.

I did do a little surgery on the main piece: it will now be a 10 inch square when finished.
There are some other bits 'n bobs to be added,but,because they're delicate and require hand stitching,they will be added when this is backed and bound.

Happy birthday Belle

I hope that Ozpost did their job today and delivered this card to a special lady!

This was the result of my paper making attempts a couple of days back.
Not as classy as the paper fabric card I received from belle,but made with love and filled with good wishes.

How does your garden grow?

We've had non stop rainshowers since Boxing Day,and the moisture and heat have sent the garden into growing mode.
Everything is so lush and green.

Don't you love the varying shades of green in the Poinciana tree over the back fence?
Unfortunately it didnt have a heavy flowering seaso and what blooms there were ,were soon destroyed by the strong winds we had in December;still,just behind the Poinciana is an African Tulip tree which brings delight to the flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets that feat on its blooms.

I must remember to take a photo of my "Poor man's beans" (dolichus lab-lab).I had forgotten how rampant their growth pattern can be,and I planted six instead of one seed.

My neighbour reckons they're growing like the day of the Triffids! (remember that film of about 30 years ago?)
As long as we (my neighbour and I) have a good crop..............!!

Paper fabric revisited

For some reason this photo did not appear in the first entry: This is stage two,after the lumiere paints and the green acrylic had been added

Paper fabric

Because I'm awaiting delivery of goodies from both The Thread Studio and Ebay,I've taken a breather from my Autumn pieces and thought I'd make an attempt at paper fabric.

In Issue 12 of CPS mag there was an article on a paper quilt----
and as I've received cards from my friends Belle,and MaureenG that stimulated my senses,
here I am today,with homespun,Acrylic glue,tissue paper and sundry bits and pieces.

I tried to stay with the KISS principle but even so I nearly messed up--
like not realising how quickly glue saturated tissue paper will dry in summer!
Consequently I did not achieve the bleeding of the acrylic paint into the tissue layers as much as I 'd hoped.

So the first photo is of the layered and glue saturated tissues (white,pink and green) and the strips of lavender mulberry paper that I added (hopefully) for further texture.


The second stage,was where I added Lumiere Sun gold metallic and Pearlescent pink paints in the hopes of adding a bit more pizzazz.


I can feel more postcards coming on.......

Autumn blues

These two pieces represent an attempt at a foundation or back cloth for a small quilt I'm trying to construct.
Stage one: shows the layout of colours I hoped to work with.

I must admit that I didnt achieve the effect I was chasing,so in an attempt to mute the colours,I overlaid a pice of black tulle (netting) and added some leaf shap quilting outlines to hold the sandwich together.
Yes,it needs more stitching for definition,but I'm not happy with the over-all effect.

Back to the drawing board I guess.............maybe smaller,more muted pieces will work better.

Moodlu revisited

Trawling through my album for shots of the two Silky Oaks
aka A.Grevilliea Robusta that grew along the front bounday at Kenmark,
I found these pics of(from top to bottom):

Gloriosa Lily..........the thicket resulted from one seedpod picked up on the ocean side of Bribie Island about 12 years ago.

The Tibouchina.......self sown by own of the visiting birds;A beautiful plant with its mauve pink petals.

and

Clerodendrum thompsonae/Bleeding Hearts:
the latter was given me back about 1976 by my friend Rosa, and has followed me through several relocations.
I'm very happy to report 'she' has settled in well at her latest home.

For the last twelve days or so we have been experiencing a reasonable amount of rain.
Many areas have been hit by floods and others have power outages due to today's thunderstorm.
Thankfully all is well at KenMaursCorner.

The colours of friendship

It took emails from a couple of friends (Thanks Gail and Judy) to make me realise how long that I'd neglected updating KenMaurs Corner.......
December 11, 2007 was the last update.

My apologies to those friends who thought I may have crumpled .....
I'm still here;just doing my usual summer (mental) meltdown.

I had a wonderful family Christmas with my son,daughter and their families,and once again thanked god for blessing me with such good people.

My darling sister in law is fighting her battle with bowel cancer....surgery just before Christmas and she is as feisty as ever.
She had planned to be with me over the holiday period,but that was not to be:hopefully in a couple of months we'll set that right,whether in Queensland or Western Australia,it will happen!

Now,for your delectation and delight :
I present "The Colours of Friendship"!

These six inch "quilties"/blocks have been trickling into my mailbox over the last two months.
Organised ,(I think) by NZJo and maybe Jan C aka mrs_Mik

I have once again been overwhelmed by caring people around the world,and can only hope that I have personally thanked them all for their concern.

Maureen B, MaureenG,Margaret P,Monika ,FlorenceM,MarjaV sent cat themed blocks.
Jo in Nz,Hideko,NormaH,MargaretP and Emiko also sent blocks.
I know I've missed someone out,but when I refind my notes I will acknowledge you.

Thanks to all my friends for your support and here's wishing you all a happy,healthy,satisfying 2008

Then there are the batching of "Caring hearts" that have been sent me by Gail (the Caring Hearts co-ordinator) on the Craft Forum I belong to: There are some 24 blocks which need to be set and quilted in the future.
I did get as far as arranging them in some order,but Christmas and family intervened,and it's back to the drawing board!

Two weeks today

 
 
 
 

.......and I'm only "just ready" to mail out cards!
Here are several of what I've been playing with:
The star shaped ones have needle felted back grounds;
One oval card is foundation pieced,and the final one,a postcard features fabric,vinyl and christmas tree motifs

Work in progress

These two WiPs are destined to become

These two works in progress are destined to become three compartment handbags.........WHEN I can get the 'right beads' another braided frog fastener,and more braid for the handles.
They're quite a nifty pattern:
four sections,all the same size and each section consisting of a) a floral outer fabric
b)pellon for batting and
c) a toning lining/inner fabric.

Once I put my old brain into gear regards the way the third pocket is created,it was plain sailing;
I'm now tempted to raid my stash and see what other fabrics I could audition.

Christmas is coming

Christmas is coming
Originally uploaded by curli

......and yet another slow WiP gets completed.
This santa was worked using a rayon thread and a punch needle.
It measures 12 by 14 inches

Eighteen more sleeps

...........and Christmas will be with us!
Having been in a bit of Limbo lately,waiting,waiting,waiting for tradesmen to turn up as promised;
and with my little car "in" for some panel beating and a re-touch,
I've managed to complete a few jobs around the place!

(what a satisfying feeling)
I added the border to "Silent Night" and framed it today;
I also completed a couple of postcards for friends,and need to complete a couple more,as well as add handles to two cute bags.


This year , I've decided to have a living Christmas tree:
and the lemon tree in btween the two back patios is "it"

I've used only solar powered lights so far,but feel that when the family descend on me,there will be modifcations made.

As for pre-Christmas baking...............nada!
The rangehood fell out of it's mounting due to incorrect mounting in the first place........and the tradesman that "promised" over two weeks ago......still hasnt finished the installation..........
men!!

Christmas is coming (still)

Mr Blogger thought six pics were too much to upload,so here are the final two of the six that I planned on blogging:

The first one., is postcard size is a dyed felt background with Rainbow Spun for the tree,
gold ribbon floss used in the bobbin of the machine and tree motif and mini stars behind clear vinyl.


The green card measures about 7x5 inches and after needlefelting the red background,
I made three snow storm baubles.

Christmas is coming.......

A lot quicker than I want,so I've been playing with some card making:
Most are postcard size,but the first one is a WiP,featuring Rainbow Pellon,P&Q fabric ,some felt and some of the wee sequins I bought from Robyn at ColourStreams down Mullumbimby way.


The second card I was trying to make a snow storm effect........
(you know,those ever popular balls you shake and create a snow storm)

Next is a CQ'd Santa .........seems forever since I did any handwork or CQ.

Finally , a tatted snowflake motif on star fabric;
Along with the motif I've added wee stars and sequins ,
all held in position with a layer of bridal tulle.


Now to start on some handbags
and a redwork hanging for moi!