New Fabrics

I have been having a play this weekend with some different colours and created these 1yd pieces. I can really see potential in them. I will be putting them on my Dyed & Gone to Heaven website today if you are interested too

 

Office Art

I want to thank Brenda Smith who has had the patience and perserverance to help me do my own bllog banner. She is a STAR!!

I always complain about the lack of inspiration in the office environment but today was proved wrong. This makeover was the result of well loved boss moving on and her staff took the opportunity of her being away for a few days to do something special to her office.

Everything was still functional but covered in aluminium foil - check out the keyboard.














It was the best thing I have seen in the office for a long time.




























I also noticed a sculpture created with upturned leftover coffee mugs - it made my day.

The Rain has Gone

We have had the most wonderful few days of rain after months of nothing. My garden has responded with a daily explosion of bulbs which I had forgotton about.
Of course the opportunity to get some dyeing done could not be taken for granted either.














While it was raining I started a new quilt and wanted to use hand painted silks. Here are some of them. I am quite pleased with how they turned out and it gave me the opportunity to use some of the paints and stencils and other bits and pieces I have been hoarding.

Susan Mathews Workshop

I have always loved Susan Mathews work and as I am not usually drawn to naturalistic work that is surprising . Her use of thread and textures is incredible and she is well deserving of the awards she wins.



















I have just spent two days doing her Drawing with Thread Workshop and had a wonderful time. The first day was spent devloping skills of thread drawing to create line and texture and techniquest to draw some of her signature images of Australian plants like gumnut blossoms and bankias. This is my sample piece.















Day Two was spent taking an image and using these skills to draw it with thread. This photo of a gerbera was my starting point and by breaking it down into smaller elements created these small postcard size pieces.

They are still not finished as they have lots of stamens and pollen to be added but I thought I would show you anyway.
They will probably become part of a larger piece but if not I think they would make wonderful smaller works.

Obsessions Run in the Family

I have, unjustly I feel, been accused of being obsessive with my bead collection. I would like to point out that I am not the only one in my family who could be considered obsessive.
















My sister collects snow domes and this is just a fraction of her impressive collection. All have been collected in their place of origin by herself or friends or family. This shelf is one of many which she displays all around the house to give enjoyment and variety.















My bead collection is (practically) contained in a mere few drawers. OK maybe more than a few but still far less space than the average quilters stash.














These are just a fraction of my husband's book collection which (not obsessively of course) are all in alphabetical order and catalogued in a spreadsheet which he carries on his PDA.















Now I ask you - did I stand a chance??

Back in the Country

An opportunity to teach near my sister's home was all the excuse I needed to spend a couple of days in the fresh air near Canberra.
On the way we stopped at a house I remembered from last spring with it's daffodils in bloom and it was still a spectacular display

I left the blind open so was awoken early by the spectacular sunrise





Of course the kangaroos are still plentiful in the paddocks.

A great frustration when visiting my sister is going into this room in her house (only about 1/4 of it shown here) which cannot be used for anything except storage because of serious damage to the ceilings and walls. The house belongs to the government and will be demolished one day so there is no need to maintain it. This room is just crying out to be my studio with the enormous window looking out onto the paddocks below.