Quilting

Well I have the picture, now to finished it off, without wrecking it. What a dilemma!

How to keep the intergrity of the picture, while still being creative with the quilting. I guess the colour of the thread will take a big part. Always something to think about.

I must go to the hardware store now. I need to make the table wider. grrrrrr

xxx

This is a photo of me!

Taken on monday night, at a family party, and after about 6 glasses of wine! hiccup!

My father in law is very swift at topping up glasses, so younever really know how much you had! But it's all fun.

xxx

New Work

Yesterday I had a fun day dyeing fabrics, washing them out, drying them etc. And the results are beautiful.
I used Melody's lazy dyeing techniques, and I am very happy with the results.

I used some of the fabrics to make this piece, which will be for sale when finished. I am very pleased with the colours, very striking.

I never thought I would get into dyeing fabrics, but I am glad I have, as this is part of the whole art process, I feel, and I doubt that any mass produced fabric, would give me this result.







I made this wall hanging for my son. He found this fabric, as a panel at Spotlight, and I cut it up and put some borders on it, and then yesterday, on my newly setup quilting machine, I quilted in the black area. You can't make out the quilting, but I used a black, grey, purple and green varigated thread, and it looks great. He will be very pleased when he comes home from his Dad's house tomorrow, as it's only taken me about 6 months to finish it. The quilting machine wasn't set up, so I couldn't do the final touch.

Change of mind again...

Well, not really a change of mind, but changing the current idea, and go back to this one later, maybe.
I am doing a journal quilt, with a group of art quilters here in Australia and New Zealand. I have come up with the idea to do musical instruments, being played, or just part of the intrument. We have a few at home. My daughter plays the flute, we also have a piano, guitar, and my son has just started learning the viola at school. That should be fund to listen too.. ekkk ekkk ekkk.
I'll post pics soon.

Where does the time go?

On Tuesday, I borrowed my mother's dressmaker's model, and plan to make a dress for an upcoming Ball. Do you think I can find some time to get out in the studio to work on it. I have some cleaning in the house this morning, and then I am out there. Many ideas for some quilting artwork in my brain, just have to get it into fabric.......

This is one of the fabric pieces I dyed the other day, I just love it.
I started with a kitty litter tray, (new one!!)
Into this I put my washed and folded fabric. The piece is about 2 and a bit metres, and folded to sit flat in the tray. I mixed up some red yellow and blue dyes, and starting from the left of the tray, I put a line of blue, a line of red, yellow, blue red yellow. and let it sit for about an hour. Then I rinsed it in hot water, and threw it into the washing machine and washed it. (what else would you do with it in the washing machine!) Then hung it on the line. Is that not the best moment ever, when you hang it out. I was so excited. The colours are much more vibrant in real life, but I am sure you get the idea.



I had to show you this picture, it's a sunset from the other night, and it was just stunning. The piture is looking though the trees on the south-eastern side of our property, just gorgeous.

Sewing Clothes

I have a ball coming up at the end of March, which is always very exciting. I looked around for an outfit ot wear, and there is really nothing around, fashion at the moment is so tacky, and it's just not me. I was telling this to my grandmother in law, great lady, 92 years old this June. She knows I sew, and has a quilt I made for her, and she told me I should sew something myself.

So yesterday I headed down to spotlight to look at the pattern books. there isn't much in those either, but found a nice hulter neck dress. So I bought that, and some fabric to give it a trial run, as it has been a very long time since I sewed anything wearable. I just grabbed some very oldfashioned looking fabric, and that will make a nice summer frock if it works out. I'll post a pic when done.

I have to go shortly to watch Jess play tennis, her first interschool match, it's very exciting, I love watching my kids achieve. Then I will do my workout for today, which is a 20 min run and 30 min walk, I am not very good at running yet, so I really only do a jog/walk/jog/walk.

Must get going

xxx

The Studio

Okay, here is the big picture that everyones been waiting for. The studio! It is still being painted outside, but nearly done. I wil be spending the next hour moving the remainder of my gear from my walk in robe, to the studio, I am sure that this will make Craig very happy. Me too I think, I hate clutter, and it's been very cluttered lately, but not for long.

xxx