Sunday, April 15, 2012

Grey Day Dyeing

I've been out on the back porch dying some fabric. I'm trying to get a purple/dark blue/grey effect for some backgroung fabrics and have used Procion Navy (MX3R), Deep Purple (no number - it depends where I get the dyes; Kraftkolour do give the proper numbers which is excellent) and Black MX2R.


Underneath, I used purple, navy and Yellow (MX8G), so there should be some green there as well.

The weather is perfectly autumnal...cool crisp mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. A butterfly dropped by as I as taking a photo of the fabric:


About to send off another activity for Creative Quilting...

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Ironing!

A gorgeous Autumn day outside, so what did I do? Ironing! Well, not the normal, run of the mill, type ironing, but the 'I've got some fabric for a new quilt that has been washed and needs ironing' ironing.

Much more enjoyable!!

Needless to say C&G is still going nowhere...it's like every time I have a go at a new activity, it goes horribly wrong and I don't know what to do about it. Went to the museum again, and the photos are very ordinary, again; pages bleeding into each other and spoiling the work that would've been ok, etc, etc. It would be nice to have some help, but I think that I'm the only one who can deal with it. I think that I'm kidding myself that I have any creative bones in my body at all. How did I ever do the Art for the Stitch?????


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Another Sunday...

Another lovely Autumn day! I think it is my favourite season. The mornings are sunny, but crisp, and the afternoons warm up to a very pleasant day.

Gardening entailed killing more harlequin bugs...a never ending job this summer! I also started to clear out the vege patch ready for some winter plantings: broccoli (purple sprouting, if I can get it!) and some cavalo nero. I thinned out the carrots, so hopefully with have some pretty coloured ones, soon.

I made some paper this afternoon. Can I say, not too many scraps go a long, long way! Hopefully, it will be dry by the end of the week and I can try some waxing (thanks, DMTV!).

 The 'studio' bench (in reality the billiard table!) still looks like a disaster:
However, the magazines have been sorted through and given away, so the spring clean is on its way!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

A funny day!

As I was reminded this week (thanks, Amo!), I have been absent from the bloggersphere for quite a while now! A few reasons...firstly, had to find a way to change my email address on this blog (VERY difficult!!!) and i've only just succeeded today. It's only taken me a month! One has to be very creative in the questions one asks blogger help!

I have been cleaning out my stash today, Can you have too much stuff?? I have turfed a lot of scrappy fabric which realistically will not be used. Magazines are a bit harder. I will admit I am a hoarder and have copies of Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors (not to mention Studios, Stitch etc.). QA dating back to about issue 5 or 6 and CPS all issues. I really need to edit my collection, but don't want to send them to the recycling centre. And no, I don't have any friends who would like them! :( Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted. As for Aust Smocking and Embroidery, at least I only have the copies with dresses I made for Allison...should I take the individual patterns out though?

Congratulations to Amo on completing Design Matters C & G Creative Quilting! Check out her fantastic work at their Creative Quiltmaking gallery. I'd have put in a picture, but not sure of the copyright issues. My C & G work has been nonexistent, though I feel that with starting to clear out some 'stuff' (wool to go next!) it will help clear my mind to get back into it. I've had the images of butterflies, but will need a return trip to the museum for some better photos and some drawing time. 

I have at lease done some sewing. I made a top from the book ShapeShape:


I love Japanese style. The unusual cut and manipulation of fabric is beautiful.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

ICT!!!

Today has been a day spent dealing with technology! Whilst the Mac computer is great, changing internet providers and as a result email addresses had been a bit of a pain. I hope that I have changed all the important accounts and links, but am sure that I've forgotten some. I also hope that I am able to keep using this blog, as I can't seem to totally change my email address for signing in and that blogger is a forgiving system!!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

New Year!

Having been absent from the blogger sphere for a long time, it seems a bit strange to be back! Things piled up during the second half of 2011, but it is a new year and I have felt able to return to the creative things that I love.

I have been working on creating some rubbing plates for City and Guilds, using the shape of a saw handle in the Melbourne Museum.


I wasn't sure about the pastel/paint version, but as it dried it looks ok:

Poor old Angus has an old dog's back at the moment, so lots of TLC is required. Kenzie, however...too much play is never enough!