Colour me Brown

Using the brown felted piece made yesterday I made these two postcard sized pieces.

Over on Needlefelt_Challenge group,the current challenge is BROWN, so this is to fulfill my part.
The upper card has some brown silk fabric needlefelted to the base felt.The paisley print on the right hand scrap I avoided with the needles to preserve its integrity.

The orange type flowers are deconstructed dyed silk rods with doll buttons added as an extra texture;the vine leaves were couched into position.
The lower card has similar elements: parts of the silk rods and couched (down) brown knitting yarn and more of the vine leaves.
I'm thinking of using the remainder of the felted piece for a small embellished purse or bag.

Now to let Myfanwy over at Nuvo Felt Blog,and the Needlefelt_Challenge group know that I've completed another Challenge!

Yesterday's piece

Our group "Embellisher_Art_Squares" has set RED for it's first swap.

The Art squares are to measure 1.5 inches......less fiddly than the one inch squares!
So,first I needed to make a piece of felt.

Using a square of Dissolve4X,I used the only red I had which was in a spiral dyed wool top called Lorikeet.

Here is the final result,after the needle felted wool had its cold water bath to dissolve the stabiliser.
The dark marks are where the odd fibres of very dark blue snuck in;

I also used some Glitz fibre (I'd purchased from my favourite Ebay seller)just to add a hint of 'bling.'
Now,to see if the maths is correct and I can cut 25 squares from the piece..............

Today's effort..

Once again I had time to use my Janome Xpression.

This time,using a piece of DISSOLVE 4X ,I planned on a piece that (I hoped) will end up roughly 18 by 10 inches when the stabiliser has been dissolved.

I thought that by using my fawn corriedale wool tops I should finish with a felted piece suitable for background in A4 sized quilts,or even for postcards.

Along the way,I got bored with the sameness and decided to play by adding whisps of colour and some Autumn Glitz to add a little sparkle.

This piece has not been 'bathed' as yet,but if it performs as well as yesterday's red piece,I'll be happy with the result.

You've got Mail!

"From one place
Many paths lead
Some are colorful
Some have loops
Some are joyous
Some return you to where you began
But,all paths add to your experience
And change the way you see things"


These words could be describing the upper card,they could also summarise life in general.
The top card (with this message) came to me from Denise S via a swap on the Embellisher_Art_Postcard group!




The second card is from Sandra in Florida and is part of the Artcards group 29 swap.
Sandra's message is a "Study of Angles
Direction?
Your choice!"

The FAT lady has sung

From the piecing of fabrics (the first photo)
to the completed dolls.

Yes,I'm aware that one is missing from the group,but she needs to travel before being unveiled.
As you can see,I've used two different sized face molds........I've been trying to decide which size fits the shape best.

Disappointment

I went out to the back of the house this morning to gloat over my new stencilled concrete slab,and this is what I found.............
A distinct variation in the colour!
We had a light shower of rain during the night,and the change in colour marks the difference between being under cover and being exposed.

To say "Not happy Jan" is putting it mildly..........
I wonder what excuse they'll attempt to fob me off with.
(I'll keep you updated)

Backyard blitz continues

Finally,the weather was "right" for the next stage of our yard make-over!

Not the "Wham! Bam!It's done" like you see on the TV shows:
more a looooooooong drawn-out process like getting teeth pulled.

Yesterday the weather was perfect for cover-creting:
not the strong winds and cold temperatures of earlier in the week,but a gorgeous,sunny Winter's day!

The fellows prepared by covering brickwork and fence with a protective wrap of plastic before cleaning ,then acid etching the two concrete slabs.

I chose a barley colour to complement the brickwork of the house and the pebbles and pavers in the back path.

As you can see in the final photo,
it has given a feeling of continuity,the way the faux tiles flow around the side and rear of the house,
and I'm so happy with the colour.

The next step.........
will be roofing over both areas,and then my (second) mirror and the Sleeping Buddha plaque can be positioned on the fences.


Maybe ,by next Summer,the project will be complete!

What flower am I??

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I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

I like the self diagnosis! How about you?

When the FAT lady sings

The Challenge over on Fiber Art Traders was "What do you see?"
We had been given a shape to convert to a doll which was to represent what the shape conveyed to us.

I kept hearing the FAT lady singing about growing old disgracefully...........
So I naturally thought
RED HATS
and
CQ !
It's been a while since I've played with crazy quilting,so it was a good time to have fun!

There's still another FAT lady being created...........she's a similar colour way to a rectangular piece I'm working on;
but more about that:
later!

Today's mail........

Delivered this beautifully presented ATC from CatherineL in France!
I photographed it against a dark timber table in order to accent the cut-outs in her presentation card.
I received Catherine's address through a Fiber Arts Traders member.
At the time, I did not realise that I would be receiving a card from Catherine,so today's mail was a wonderful surprise.
The card itself has been protected by a clear slip envelope.

I did not photograph the reverse of the card because it reveals Catherine's address.......the printed back also lists the title of the ATC, and the date it was made.
Truly a tiny treasure!

Nj you've created a Monster!

I was not happy with the way my purple lady was developing-------
(I hasten to add it was my own fault--being over eager to get a result)

I've pieced two more attempts for the "What do you see" doll.
These probably wont be put up for swapping either:
I just like to work a project to a logical conclusion.

I admit this photo looks more like a mad woman's breakfast than anything else,and probably all you can see is a hotch-potch of orange and purple-red,but trust me,there are three entities here.

Give me a day or so,and come check out the difference.

Backyard by night

Kayla,who's now living in Darwin,wanted to know how my garden grows................it's about five weeks since she's seen it.
So,this is what it looks like by flash at 8 p.m. tonight;
The glow is the reflection from the cane framed mirror.

Today,via RedcliffeFreecycle.com

I acquired another mirror..........I'm not sure as yet,where precisely it will go...........
I'm still waiting for the grano worker and the patio installers to come do their thing!
I have a 'sleeping Buddha' plaque,and a small water feature,as well as today's acquisition waiting to be "homed"...........but they're not being positioned until the construction is finished

You may ask,what is Freecycle (tm)........it's a group around Australia,whose aim is to reduce landfill by offering products/whatever no longer required by that person.
No charge is made to the new owner........you just accept the offer and pick up the (as is) goods.
It's amazing what can be acquired this way.............well worth you checking it out....just Google "freecycle" and your area.............and help reduce landfill

Destination Denmark

A needle punched postcard.........
Using Timtex as foundation,wool fibres were needle punched to form the background.
Slivers of acrylic felt form the stems and some leaves,with other leaves being of 'Rainbow Pellon'

The smaller flowers are of chiffon and organza ribbon and the big gold flower is a lace motif painted with Lumiere Metallic.

FAT doll

FAT doll
Originally uploaded by curli

I just had to try yesterday's purchase,so another CQed block was made,with the purpose of making a doll for Fibre Art Traders:
the Challenge?
View the pattern shape and decide "what you see"........
NO prizes for guessing what I saw.

Embellished_Post_Card

Embellished_Post_Card
Originally uploaded by curli

Myfanwy H's card for theEmbellisher_Art_Postcard group has arrived !

The working is so delicate......she has needle punched wisps of fibre onto a blue foundation.......puts me in mind of the Summer skies I hope she should be enjoying in the northern hemisphere at the moment.

The three flowers are hand stitched.

We've had RAIN............

.............and aren't the plants enjoying it!

Our rainwater tank is full and our yard can not soak up any more moisture.
Even the front yard which was pretty badly abused with heaps of soil,gravel,timber and an industrial waste bin is recovering.
The dead looking bare brown patches are greening into grass.
Mother Nature can be so forgiving.

The top photo is of a Cordyline fruticosa----one of my favourites with its blend of pinks,green and cream.Behind it is a dark burgandy cultivar and the narrow leaf is a "walking Iris" I liberated from my son's garden.

The middle photo is a combination of an Impatiens in the foreground ,and (yet another plant liberated from my son's garden a few year's back)I'm not sure of the correct botanical name,but commonly called variegated goose foot ,I think.

And the last photo.....Clivea,Draecena and unknown fern.

The draecena and fern languished in pots on a back patio at our original KenMaursCorner in the Caboolture Shire.
They really have relished the relocation.

Through the looking glass

After a few days of rain,glorious rain,the showers held off today........

On the far (southern) fence I've mounted this cane mirror ,
and I love the effect!

"One day" I'll mount a larger mirror that reflects the width of our narrow yard.
In the meantime........ I dream.

Another Clivea has bloomed! (See the tiny splash of orange at the base of the mirror?)
The Draecena,the Cordyline and the Crotons...the orange/yellow splash of colour 2/3s up the reflection are thriving.

An experiment

ATCs and Postcards
Originally uploaded by curli

I'm trying to decide which is the best foundation for use with my Janome Xpression:
This WiP is being formed on a piece of Fast2fuse stabiliser.
So far,I've found that although the firmer stabiliser is easier to manage,I still get some distortion of the shape.
Of course,because I was thinking "postcard" I started with virtually a 6by 4 inch shape,which did not leave much room for error.
I had hoped to add some FME to this piece,but unfortunately,my trusty old Janome developed severe health problems yesterday,so until I acquire another (traditional) sewing machine...........

I also worked on a couple of Australian themed ATCs.........but not with the Xpression.

Colour me Orange

Colour me Orange
Originally uploaded by curli

It seems "Forever" since I've actually contructed a CQ block.
This is for a very special "ORANGE" person..............
Having at last structured the block...........I've used kimono sliks,silks from cheongsam,brocade,and plain old (Patchwork) cottons,now "it's time" to embellish it and turn it into a...............................(wait and see!)

Embellisher_Art_Postcards

Yesterday's mail delivered this sparkling beauty from Suzan W of the Embellisher_Art_Postcard group,where we've been having a swap.

For those of my CQing friends,"embellisher" is a term that resulted from savvy marketting by Babylock when they named their needle punching machine an "Embellisher"!

Being the first cab off the rank,so-to-speak,the name stuck,and whether you own a Janome Xpression like me or in the cases of others Viking and I think Husqvarna also have a machine in the market now,generally everyone says "embellisher"

This swap required that we needle felted a background,then went "wild"!
Suz has used gorgeous ribbons,threads,Angelina fibre(I think) and the lace motif.
Not being a skilled photographer I found this sparkling piece difficult to photograph.but trust me,it's a truly gorgeous card!
Thanks Suz!