ticking off tasks…

one class sample completed!

approximately A5 sized fabric, stitch and paper “recipe/food” themed, simple stitch bound journal

the class will be on Saturday 11th July at “Textile Artistry”, Dromana.

email me if you’re interested as the details are not on the shop website yet or come and see me at the art market on the weekend – the journal sample will be there with me!

xo

in preparation….

Mandy and I have a market stall coming up.  It’s next weekend….

My levels of anxiety keep varying.  Today they are under control, I am under control! ohm…..

Hence, this morning I have a little time to sit in front of my computer and add some pictures of the pieces that I have been putting together for our stall.

All items, if dyed by me, have been dyed in various “vegetable” dyes – ie eucalypt, onion skins and berries etc and are therefore as non-toxic as possible. In some cases I have chosen a pre-loved piece of clothing with a faded colour.  I have overdyed these items with “vege” dyes.

My introduction to the MAGIC of dyeing with eucalypts came from my friend Pamela Farmer who shared her Good Friday a couple of years ago to show me how she does it.  Pamela’s method is definately not a scientific one – pot o’ boiling leaves, bark and nuts + water + fabric/yarn = varying coloured fabric/yarn!  Since spending that day with Pamela, I have begged, borrowed and stolen (well, not really the last one) every book I can find on the topic of eucalypt dyes and lit many, many fires to cook up my own leaves.  I’m totally and utterly bewitched by the eucalypt and its hidden magic!

Whilst we are on the topic of books referring to eucalypt dyes, I want to once again thank India Flint for her incredibly inspiring and beautiful book “Ecocolour”.  I have read it 3 times from cover to cover now and am sure that there will be many more rereads.  Each time I pick it up, I find a new morsel of really interesting information.  I love it….  and I am SOOOOOO excited to be booked into a workshop with the Botanical Alchemist herself in December!  2009 is the one year that I really want to fly by quickly so that December gets here quicker!

And while thanking others, my felted scarves/wraps/runners are inspired by a technique used by Polly Stirling.  I have never been fortunate enough to do a workshop with Polly but by studying other work inspired by her, and with a couple of little handy hints from my dear friend Pamela, I have figured out my own take on her technique.  I really love the texture and colour I have achieved in the felted pieces.

So now, the photos….. I can’t get the light right to take “full” images of the pieces so all the photos are details only.

embroidery and cut back detail on cotton top dyed in eucalypt in my iron pot.

fabrics revealed behind the cut back areas are dyed in a variety of vege dyes.

felted pieces all hanging together.

a blend of nuno, strip and “normal” (for want of a better word!) felting techniques using a blend of hand dyed and commercial dyed wool and hand dyed and commercial dyed fabrics.

felt scrap brooches – some finished, some not!

so that’s what I’ve been up to….

I’ve still got a bit to do!  I hope to have a journal or two and some collage packs to sell too.  I’ll also be “advertising” my upcoming journal workshop in July.

If you’re around, the market is being held at the Mornington Peninsula Community Theatre,

on the corner of Wilson’s Road and Nepean Hwy, on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th of May.

Starts at 9am both days.

Further details available here.

xo

fire in the sky

how can you even attempt to replicate her???

mother nature is a genius

Somehow, without trying, I managed to get a similarity though!

wet hand dyed silk

and finally, a crumpled photo of a new piece for the upcoming market at the end of may

Nuno felt, hand dyed with a variety of non toxic, natural dyes

Back to work now….

Ena Alix May

Auntie Ena was born May 26, 1906.

One of 6 Allan children, 5 of whom served during WWII, I felt it relevant to start with my favourite Great Aunt as my chosen subject for Ro’s “vintage book” workshop on Saturday, ANZAC Day, 25 April 2009.

There was no way I was ever going to finish the book in the workshop – not with all the chatter, eating and fire sitting that is involved in a workshop at Ro’s….  I gave the cover, binding and first page a bit of a bash though, and have come home and finished another little bit.  This class is the long awaited beginning to finally getting my family history hoardings into some sort of semblance…. a little tweaking here and there and I should pull it all together somehow…… eventually!

life and autumn soup

warning….. u need to stand on your head to look at the photos i’ve uploaded.  wordpress is upside down tonite

it’s autumn.  my absolute favourite season.  still, calm days.  mirror flat water. burnt orange and yellow foliage and spectacular sunsets.

last night i cooked my first brew of yummy warming soup for dinner…..

onion

celery

madras curry powder

garam masala

vege stock

butternut pumpkin

sweet potato

zucchini

chop all veggies.  fry onion, celery, spices.  add veggie stock to pot.  add chopped veggies.  cover, cook till soft.  stab blend to desired consistency.  serve with a blob of natural yoghurt and a sprinkle of some paprika.  if there’s a boy in the house, fill him up with crusty white bread as an extra!

 

 

discharge printed on paper

I’m still working on “sunflower”.  it’s a very slow process and gets slower when life takes over.  i’m in a “way too much going on” phase.  too many thoughts about life, finances, upcoming holidays, upcoming family wedding, bushfires, work, naughty visiting dogs, art extension group homework and weight loss! 

on finances:- the house hunting cycle begins….any hints gratefully accepted

on upcoming holidays:- 2 weeks beginning with my brother’s wedding (see next bit), roadtrip from Peterborough to Halls Gap in the Grampians, to Mildura and Stefano’s restaurant, then east along the Murray river to Echuca for a spot of paddlesteamer spotting and canoeing, then south to Myrtleford to visit with Auntie Trish and Uncle Bruce and finally to Alexandra to leave the caravan for those who need it post-bushfires.

on upcoming family wedding – Stu’s getting married!!! My job for the day is to provide the metre long, Murray Cod shaped pinata as a replacement for a wedding cake….. the artist in me cannot do a dodgy job – the stress levels are starting to escalate….. any help here would be gratefully accepted too!

on bushfires – it just keeps going doesn’t it.  I find it really hard to comprehend that there are still fires burning – people are still suffering.

on work – busy, busy, busy!  

on naughty visiting dogs – no names neccessary!  a very naughty dog that tried to bite my husband (seriously and three times…..) and thinks it’s funny to rip plants to shreds while I’m standing there looking at him……  He is quite funny but needs the wooden spoon…..

on art extension group homework –

mmmm bugger – it’s upside down!!! 

on weight loss - for those who are wondering how that is going……  not a drop of alcohol for 61 days + a healthy balanced diet + regular exercise = approx 10kgs lighter!!!  i’ve still got a long way to go but i feel really healthy and virtuous!

stay safe in tomorrow’s predicted horrible, dangerous bushfire weather.

xo

 

a walk in the sunshine….

you’ve all read of my dispair in my past couple of posts.  enough now!!

i took miss tilly and myself for a lovely long walk this morning, in our beautiful peninsula sunshine and i feel much improved today!  i want to thank all of you who sent me emails and made supportive comments – the recent fires have certainly highlighted a huge sense of community everywhere.

i’m very excited to be producing a collaborative artpiece with my friend and mentor Pamela.  we both feel strongly about our country and community and after the recent fires feel that a piece of textile art to honour, acknowledge and hopefully heal will be a helpful part of the process of dealing with such a huge event.  i can’t post any pictures yet – only because there aren’t any, but will do so as an ongoing part of the project.  this is such a beautiful thing for me.  i love Pamela’s work.  she has given me so much in so many ways and i feel really honoured and blessed to be working with her on this.  we will be exhibiting the finished piece so that’s even more exciting!

 

miss tilly

xo

reaction

i reached saturation on thursday.  i don’t want to look at the newspaper anymore.  i don’t want to see any more images of flames or blackened earth, no more distressing pictures of burnt animals or smoke filled horizons.  i’ve had enough now.

i’ve had enough of most things at the moment to be perfectly honest.  i am frustrated with my inability to be of service to those who need the most help.  everything i’m doing feels trivial and of no consequence.  regular donations of money at my local bank don’t feel good enough.

my clients drove me to distraction today, i found myself pulling invisible faces behind their backs and not enjoying one single bit of my job.  

the wind is “boisterous” today.  it is unsettling and evil.  the weather is hotting up again.  surely there’s no more to burn?

last night i spoke with my aunt who lives in my “heart” of Victoria, a place that is very near to where the fires are but not quite near enough to be worried at the moment, it’s my “heart” of Victoria because it’s where i’d ALWAYS rather be.  she’s been wearing her “red cross volunteer” hat all this week and is exhausted.  i just want to get into my car and drive to there.  drive to where i can fold clothes or make sandwiches or answer phones or tick names off lists or clear burnt debris from roads and driveways or to where i can just sit and listen.

i feel so frustrated with life’s “trappings”, with the things that are keeping me here, on the peninsula, with the things that i am so blessed to still have, that so many have lost in the past week.  its not right is it? 

i’m angry that i am even considering taking a far north queensland holiday in april instead of spending my annual leave somewhere that needs help, and sad to know that if i suggest a “working” holiday instead it won’t go down at all well with my significant other.

i can’t even seem to summon enough positive energy to be thankful that those i know and who live in the fire affected areas are ok….. i just feel frustrated that i can’t be near them physically to look into their eyes and hug them better.

i can’t read books to take my mind off it all, i can’t do art and i certainly can’t be bothered creating a lovely meal for dinner tonight. i’m just wading through in a bit of a daze AND I’M NOT EVEN ON FIRE………….

that’s how the fires have made me feel yesterday and today.

sadness

i find myself mellow and reflective today.  tending towards tears rather than smiles.  with the tv screen constantly showing tragedy and sorrow, my concern for others in affected areas not allowing me to turn away, to seek happier thoughts.

the statistics are terrifying. the fires are like an all consuming monster – whole towns devastated, hundreds of homes gone and many, many lives lost and still they burn on, swallowing our drought stricken state in their wake.

 

and then there’s todays date.  a year today.

so, so sad.

i don’t want to start this post by complaining but, oh my goodness it’s been hot!  

i haven’t put my veggies in yet so at least i can’t be sad about losing crops.  my beautiful tree fern is looking a little tragic though.  i’m told it will come back….

the same tree fern back in november was looking so lovely and lush.

on the plus side hot weather calls for a slow down.  needle and thread, slow, deliberate stitches and “sunflower” continues on.  still???? slow, i tell you, slow!!!

 

i've used bits of my rusted fabrics for the boarder

 

 

my first attempt at patchwork is this somewhat "cattywhompus" log cabin! let it be noted that it is totally deliberate that there is not a straight line or even "log" in sight. i have a "cattywhompus" mentor!

 

“cattywhompus”

may this week bring some relief to all who are experiencing the extremes of weather wherever you are.

xo

a perfect tuesday

i so love spending a day with my friend pamela, breaking all the rules, making a mess and enjoying her yummy fresh vegie garden pickings for lunch.

making art with pamela has a somewhat chaotic feel about it.  there are no rules and if there are, why bother paying attention to them anyway??

photos to follow are the results of a day of rust dyeing. i pulled out heaps of fabric from my stash, including beautiful old linen table cloths and a stunning silk nightie, a really old and warn linen teatowel and some scrappy bits of cotton sheeting.  i’ve hung them on the new fence my hubby and i created over the long, Australia day weekend – we knew the fence would come in handy for something!

 

sunlit fence

 

silk nightie and muslin

 

poly something! didn't take the dye nearly as well as the others

some perspective for those who know our back yard! how good is the new fence???

 

stunning australian colours

 

sunflower??

none of the pieces have been through the wash yet so i assume that the colours may not be quite as vibrant once they have.  for now though, i’m enjoying the colour draped over the fence.

my working week begins today on this 40 degree plus day.  the plan was to start a mosaic “sign” for our garden.  maybe we’ll have to retreat indoors to shelter…

xoxo