UFOs

 

A small section of my work room,showing Works in Progress: "unfinished pieces"

Sad smile. The "Firestorm" will not be completed until "Hands on" is finished.

Then,there is a cushion cover,started in early January for a January birthday.I had forgotten how time consuming and uncomfortable, colonial and french knots are to work on in our humid summer weather!

Add to that, the Crazy quilted Rainbow garden blocks that are lurking underneath those two UFOs in the photo.....and you will realize that I'm not as obsessed with stitching as I used to be.

At least the weather is cooling down: Twenty-one degree C in the house today.....and grey and overcast outside.

Work in progress

 

I have been battling with this quilt for longer that I wished.......it has a mind of it's own,I'm afraid.
Measuring 12 inches wide,by 24 inches long, it was to be for the Australia/New Zealand/Art quilts May challenge.
I DID have ideas of using some prime colours and building it into a combined Sun and Fire theme........
Note,I did say "did".

Somewhere along the way.........
I have used artist's canvas and hot glue to create the hands........
Toning organza has been layered over the orange and midnight blue cottons, and paper flower cut-outs layered in the quarter circle Orange at the top.

ELEMENTS: Fire

A few weeks back I mentioned that I needed to craft a 12.5 inch square representing

ELEMENTS: Fire.

My first attempt is still languishing.awaiting completion as a small quilt.

The second attempt,I once again based around a firestorm through paddocks----
This time,instead of working one one scene, I thought of the burning paddocks as separate entities.

Initially I started with a piece of homespun that I over-painted with orange,scarlet and vermilion to represent the fiery atmosphere.

Using Xpanda print and then later,black Neopaque paint , I built up some fence posts at the foreground of each "paddock"
Before painting the posts,I heat treated them to expand and add a dimension to the piece.
Some posts have glowing embers eating at them.

Using various shades and fabrics(which included,cottons,silks and organza) I added flame shapes,and then using some black cord, some stark skeletons of trees.

I hope the recipients of my cards enjoy.

Now,to complete that quilt!

Paper fabric

 
 
 
 

Paper fabric? Fabric paper?
What's the difference?

Back in 2004 in an edition of Cloth Paper Scissors, I read an article by Breyl Taylor,referring to combining/fusing paper with fabric to make a "fabric",that although it looked

like paper,it could be used like fabric.
Not long after that,I purchased Beryl's book "Mixed Media Explorations" which talked of her method for"Fabric Paper"

Also in 2007, again in "CPS"kelli Perkins published an article on making mixed- media fabric paper......and I was "hooked'!
My first attempts at this process were entered in Virginia Spiegel's "Fibre Art for a Cause" in 2008.......I had just lost my husband to Prosate Cancer,so my theme was "The Melody Lingers on"
and the same motifs (lavender) plus sheet music and shells were combined to produce the pieces I submitted.

Today's "sample uses similar---the same lavendar motif from the original paper napkin,pink,blue and lavebnder tissue paper------and that is where I stopped this afternoon.

Maybe I will add further Lumiere (painted)high lights and other embellishments......who knows?
Come back for a visit......and see what happens!

WiP Elements: Fire

 
 
 


One of Postmark'dArt group current challenge is to interpret the Element Fire as six postcards.

Being Summer in my country I chose to use "bushfires" to represent the element.
However as my idea took shape I could see that so much detail would be lost by cutting this 12.5 inch square into six (4by 6 inch) postcards.
Consequently this will eventually end up as a 12 inch square art quilt.

The background material was a grey patterned cotton fabric that I over washed with vermilion,orange and gold; both in opaque and transparent acrylic paints.

Using Xpandapaint,I then applied the tree skeleton and the fence posts.
I heat treated these and then painted over them with black to represent burnt surroundings.


The next phase,was to paint some Tyvek with Lumiere mettalic gold neopaque paints in my version of flame colours.
The Tyvek was then distressed with heat, and I set about the fiddly process of cuting flame shapes from the Tyvek as well as from some flame coloured silk to applique to represent the firestorm.

As I said.....this is a work in progress!

What do you do...............?

 

When your daughter phones you, and says "she needs a BIG favour"??
If you're a dummy like me,you say "OK baby" and then ask for the details...........

Today,Colleen was driving down a major roadway,when she saw "FOUND"
Being my darling girl,she couldn't leave "Found/Rescued" where he was at risk, could she.........

THEN when he was safely in her car.....practicality kicked in........she couldn't take him home,because Bella the German Shepherd would reduce him to mince-meat.
She didnt want to overburden the RSPCA,because they had just seized some 200 dogs & puppies from a puppy farm...... .Peninsula Animal Aid was closed...........

O GOOD ol'Mum is a soft touch...............nuff said!!

Maybe "overnight" might change my mind...if he whinges a lot.....
but he is one sweet baby (so far)

I have left details with the RSPCA as a "FOUND"
Tomorrow ,when the office opens,I'll contact Moreton Bay Council for details of his registration....and see if I can contact his humans.......

Colleen......I hate to admit it honey......but I hope I cant find his humans......

As I said...overnight behaviour might change my thinking...........

BUT
he is one sweet baby!

(Watch this space)

Ready to mail out

PostmarkdArt: Sunrise/Sunset

 

If all goes to plan ,today will finally see my twelve "Sunrise/Sunset" themed postcards for Postmark'dArt Round 9 being completed.
Shown here,are six of them; the others just need the finishing around their edges.
I leave it to you to decide which represent the two varying times.

For some crazy reason,all the time I've been playing with this theme,the song sung by the character Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" kept haunting me----

So in order to lay that ghost to rest,I have an idea for a mini quilt .....when my committments to Round Nine are in the mail.

Back now to complete the other six cards. Ciao!

RSPCA cup cake day

 
 
 
 


August 17 was designated RSPCA Cupcake Day and several women from a certain government department decided to do their bit for the cause.
Accordingly,last Sunday they got together for a group bakeoff at one of their homes.
(I was the designated photographer for the day,and the above photos illustrate that it was not all work.

Yesterday I learned that the fantastic four had raised (Au) $350.........not bad for an afternoon's effort.

Already they are focussing on the next "cause".......

"Go bananas for Orangutans" WSPA World Animal Week 4-10 October

Will it be a BANANA CAKE BAKE-OFF
a BANANARAMA Karoke session
or a Banana boar race??????

You can be sure that these gals will have FUN raising funds

Reverse of "Do you remember"

 


As promised.....view of reverse of Janice's card

Work in progress

 

This is blogged to show Belle that I am still playing with wool!
Back in 2006 Belle and I attended a workshop on needle felting..and attempting to make figures.
Not long after I received from Belle a n/f postcard featuring a frangipani.
Using a totally different and not at all natural colours,this is my attempt.

Memo to self: it is much easier to use commercially made felt for the background,than hand felting blanks.
Actually the background had been felted for my sunrise/sunset theme,but somewhere along the way..............

I've got mail!

 
 
 
 


As a member of Postmark'dArt
I signed up for the Round 9 swap,and some of the cards are beginning to arrive in my letter box.

First there was one from Franki Kohler based on Elements: Leaves

Franki used a sunprinting method with Setacolour paints,geranium leaves and rock salt.
She is also the author of 'fast fun & easy" FABRIC POSTCARDS published by C&T publishing.....and has some great tips for making mailable art.

The other three postcards are on the theme SUNRISE-SUNSET and are the works of Janice Simpson,Alison Ray and Laurie Walton.

Laurie sponge painted her fabric and added a tatted giraffe reaching for hand stitched leaves.

Alison used hot air balloons against a sunrise...slight padding to add dimension to the balloons and some glitter.

Janice printed a silhouette of a jiving couple and asked "Do you remember"
The other side of the card is very striking with striped painted fabric and list of things to remember from our teenage years.
I'll include a pic of the reverse side of the card in my next blogging.

ELEMENTS : leaves

 

Ready to be mailed to those participating in the current round of ELEMENTS : Leaves

ELEMENTS : Leaves

My brief is to take a 12 by 12 inch square of Fast2Fuse or similar material and create LEAVES.
Whether I make one leaf or cover the entire surface with leaves is my choice.
The twelve inch square is then to be cut into six (4 x 6 inch sized) postcards ,and mail off five of the cards to the others participating.

On the message side of each card I need to describe specifically and clearly the materials and processes used.

After thinking about the challenge for a couple of months,I decided to use one of my favourite themes:
No prize for guessing
that I chose AUTUMN which gave me the opportunity to employ the pressed and dried Maple and Gingko leaves that I brought home from Japan last year.

Using some Homespun cotton fabric and Pebeo transparent paints I applied a wash to the fabric as back ground for the leaves.

The leaves were scanned and adjusted, and finally I printed the scanned leaves to the treated fabric using Celcast fabric carrier sheets.

And that is as far as I have progressed............(watch this space)

Phoenix rising

I bet that Doreen never expected to see this happen.........her CQ block finally completed!

I've been feeling rather bad about the situation,I must admit that Doreen's block has been in my possession for over twelve months....
and apart from a yet unfinished Candlewicked piece.......this is the longest I've ever taken.
My sincere apologies,Doreen

Life has been a bit weird this year-----
I embarked on a TAFE course for Tutoring in Literacy & Numeracy-----and didnt realise just how time consuming that would become,between lectures,assignments,practical classes etc.

Then,my hip decided it "was time" for a total replacement!
The day before surgery four weeks ago,I handed in my final assignment for assessment and accreditation..........
and yes,I arrived home from hospital to find I had received my accreditation.

(I felt very pleased about that)

So Doreen,I then applied myself to your block............I hope the long wait was worthwhile.

My ' creative juices' are starting to kick in again.....after a very long time when nothing seemed to work.
maybe just feeling well has made the difference

I have scanned some Japanese maple leaves (from last year's trip) painted some fabric;
then printed the leaves to the fabric;
and now am ready to try and make some "LEAVES" postcards for a Postmark'dart swap.

Oh! the hip! Just call me Lurch (smile)
Everything is healing well;pain is minimal;
all I need is for the surgeon to give me the all clear so I can go back to driving,walking and swimming.

Sunday lunch

Upper photo: Okonomiyaki cafe in Hiroshima......November 2008

Lower photo: Okonomiyaki at Redcliffe jetty Markets March 2009

Can it really be three months since I last blogged!

I remember how when I first started (blogging) back about 2003/4 I religiously added 'something' daily...........but these last seven months I've slipped badly.

Perhaps now that Summer is officially over (but the weather gods haven't taken notice of the calendar!)

Things may cool down weatherwise and once again I'll get back to my fabrics and fibre creations.

As a Category 4 cyclone "Hamish" is cruising southwards from FNQ (far north Queensland) and it has been suggested we start preparing "just in case"'

I went shopping for a few staples ,then ventured on to wander through the Jetty Markets at Redcliffe.

A lovely day to be by the waterside....the Markets are in the parkland just above the beach,in an area dotted with lovely shady Norfolk pines.

Picture it!

All the tents dotted among the pines and displaying their colourful and delightfully perfumed wares......clothes (Bali style clothing so suited to our hot and steamy Summers)

Crafty things from beading,crocheting,decoupage..........

Food: Jams,olives,olive oil,avocado oils,turkish breads,homemade sweets,fruit,vegetables............

For the soul.....scented candles,incense,essential oils

Greenish-blue water lapping at the creamy sand; The wonderful sounds of three

didgeridoo's throbbing in harmony as one artist kept us entralled with his skill.....

Happy people enjoying the musician's skill.....he was really "on song " today.

And then I found it!

"Japanese foods"http://www.ii-na.com/

run by Kristy & Daisuke Mori.

So this very happy little vegemite had Okonomiyaki for lunch..............and loved every mouthful.

For some reason some reason the photos insist on remaining at the top of the blog.............and I'm so rusty in blogging skills these days I have forgotten how to reposition them.

By the way......the bright pink garnish on the Redcliffe version is pickled ginger.

YUMEDONO

Another model ,replicating the original Yumedono of the Horyu temple in Nara.

This piece was created in 1993 in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of cultured pearls



The Mikimoto Pearl island is just offshore from the city of Toba in the Mie prefecture.

It is reached from Tokyo by a four hour train trip

From Osaka,Kyoto its approximately a two hour train trip,and it costs Y 1,200 to access the island itself.