Happy New Year

Still busy packing in preparation for the big move. Have intentions of tackling the kitchen this weekend and hopefully preparing some hand sewing. Will make a start on ring cushions for my 2 step daughter both of whom are to be married on the Gold Coast in March. Hope to post the beginnings of these soon.

Mixed -Media Demonstrations and e

Christmas, Moving, ATc's

Christmas is looming inbetween packing for our big move I have found time to
begin on my ATC's for the Birthday swap organised by Kate North . A couple of days
ago I spent time putting together layers of satins , sheers and angelina , stitching layers
together using free motion and computered machine stitches then fusing with a heat
gun. Whilst this process was going on Robin was at the computer he upon smelling the
melting fabric thought the computer was about to blow up.
Today its my intention to prepare fruit for the plum puddings , cakes and fruit mince pies
ready for a big bake tomorrow.. thats all inbetween packing and going to work. It will all
happen or that's what I keep telling myself..

On the Move

We have sold our home here in Geelong and are in the process of buying
the leasehold for a motel in Stawell , Victoria.
At this stage we takeover the lease on the 2nd of February, 2009.
The move from our home takes place on the 9th of Januaray, 2009, which
means almost everything will be stored in container or two for the 3 plus weeks.
At the moment inbetween packing I am sewing madly in preparation for committments
to swaps for 2009. My workroom will be the last to be packed up, I have spent the week placing all my fabric and embellishments etc into zip sealed plastic bags then into large
plastic containers which I am hoping will make it easier in my spare time once running the motel
to access when I have time out to enjoy my hobbies.

Christmas ATC swap organised by Diana

ATC's posted off to New Zealand for Christmas

Swap

Australian New Zealand Journal Group

Man and the Enviroment. Used photo transfer technique of

rubbish washed up on our beaches and waterways...which was adhered

to a painted background embellishing with plastic and distressed lolly wrapper , netting to show the problems man creates when he throw rubbish into or near our waterways.

March: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group, 2008

Theme: Bolt from the Blue/Rhapsody in Blue/The Bluebells of Scotland

Blue Frog bolting from the blue. Background created using angelina fibres with blue fabric and paints. Flower made using water soluable fabrics and machining. Beading and other embleshments used.

November : Sunday Machine Embroidey Group, 2008

Theme : Somewhere over the rainbow/Pot of Gold at the rainbow's end

Background of wool pieces on blue fabric overlayed with black netting.

Rainbow Lorikeet created using fabric pieces which I have then used

free motion machine embroidery to form plummage. I then overlayed once again with black tuille and used free motion machining to create banksia flowers.

October: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group

Theme: In the Pink/Pink Elephants/Blush in a Maiden' Cheek.

Elephant created using free motion maching and embellished using same,

machine stitches and beading. Background pink velour which has been

embellished with fabric, beading and machine stitching.

September: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group, 2008

Theme: Brown as a Berry/Brown's Cows


Brown being one of my most unfavoured colours created a
challenge before I even began thinking abouting my creation for
this month. All that came to mind was our outback and the
colours that we often see in brochures etc. The background was a piece
of well worn white flannette sheet that my mother gave me for
dying purposes which I have painted using water and silk paints then
added a piece of felt for the beginnings of my rock and pieces of wool for the ground which was overlaid with black tuille on which I have
using free motion machine embroidery to finish and embellish.

August: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group , 2008

Theme: Peaches & Cream/ White as a Ghost/ Snow White

Muslim manipulated to form snow for background with the leaves on the tree created by using a sheer white organza which was then sewn using free motion maching . Tree trunk created using free motion machine embroidery. Work embellished with beads and sequins to create the illusion of snow falling .

Sunday Machine Embroidery Group

August Colour Theme ( Peaches and Cream/ White as a Ghost/Snow White)

The beginnings of my August work for the machine embroidery group I belong to ..

August Journal Quilt 2008 :Aus/NZ Art Quilters

Theme: Blooms/ leafy

Blooms created using glue gun , then hand stitched in place as I found out by trial and error that the machine needles weren't compatiable with glue breaking and clogging up. Leaves created using layers of green synthetic fabric and soldering iron then stitched into place using free motion machining. Background fabric created using ink jet printer and hand quilted

July Journal Quilt :Aus/NZ Art Quilters

July Journal Quilt . Train Tracks across our beautiful country, Australia

Theme: Maps and Outlines

Created by placing a map of Australia on fabric background depicting the terrain and climate of Australia. Red sequins used to mark major Train Stations across our continent using fabric and wool. All Quilting hand stitched.

Plastic Inchie Challenge.

Top Row:
a. Background painted with black Xpanda print , then gold lutradur
applied and distressed with heat gun.
b. Painted background with heavily painted tyvec (heavy weight)
which has been distressed using a heat gun.
c. Bubble wrap painted with gold paint then ironed onto
background, emblished with Angelina fibres wrapped in
glad wrap and heat distressed with iron.
Middle Row:
a. Background packaging from chocolate box ,
embellished with ripple plastic from biscuit package and plastic gold bead.
b. Background painted fabric embellished with plastic from chocolate box.
c. Background ironed green cellophane embellished with inner moulding
of chocolate box and gold sequin.
Bottom Row:
a. Background Lutradur embellished with gold cellophane
which has been heat distressed using a heat gun.
b. Painted tyvek (medium weight) applied using steam iron
embellished with tyvec (light weight) and Angelina fibres heat
distressed using steam iron.
c. Painted fabric background embellished with
gold cellophane which has been distressed using steam iron.

ATC's

Butterfly ATC created using fabric cutout and embellished with beads.

Elephant ATC created using stamp and beading.

ATC Landscape Challenge Aust/N.Z Quitlers Group

Landscape ATC's .

From Top:

Great Barrier Reef Island, Aussie paddock.

Dandelions in Paddock, Springtime Wildflowers Aussie Desert

Uluru, Desert Sunset.

June Journal, 2008 :Aus/NZ Art Quilters

Theme Fire using metalics and wire.

Strips of fabric used to represent fire then stitched with

red metallic threads on a black background which has been

distressed with a bamboo skewer dipped in White King Gel.

July : Sunday Machine Embroidry Group , 2008

Theme: Purple Prose/ The Purple Emperors/ The Purple Iris

Purple iris's created using fabric pieces and machine stithing, background free motion machining , dress on lavender lady made by using water soluable fabric and lots of machining.

May Journal: Aus/NZ Art Quilters

May Journal using recycled Mr Men tie and

fabrics from scrap bin. Titled Around and Around Time Goes.

June: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group, 2008

Theme: Goldilocks,/Straw into Gold

Have used an Autumn theme to create my June piece.

Background created using pieces of wool which was then topped with

fine gold netting to keep in place. Tree trunks formed using

free motion maching . Leaves were created by backing a

variety of fabrics with visoflix cutting out leaf shapes then

free motion machined into position.

May: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group 2008

Theme: Green go the Rushes Ho/ It' not easy being Green/ Green with envy.

Green fields . Variety of fabrics used, hand died lace,

tree created using Romeo dissovable fabric, wools and free

motion maching.

April Journal: Aus/NZ Art Quilters

Aprils Journal for Australia/New Zealand Group created using

painted visoflex to depict a dream. My dream to fly over the Pyramids in a Hot Air Balloon.

Go Green

Now 2 weeks post op hysterectomy . life is a little restrictive for now, unable to drive a car for another 2 and half weeks so have lots of time on my hands .. saving my energy for when my recuperation time ends .. my partner who leaves here at 6 am and arrives home at 7 pm has been very helpful with cleaning along with my daughter and Robins's sister. As I had a few weeks notice was able to prepare some applique on a Christmas Quilt for me to blanket stitch the first few days home , it is now ready to be machine sewn together , backed and then I will hand quilt . Great therapy.

After re reading my Quilting Arts Magazines this week have decided to try the Go Green 5 inch Journals, though I think monthly or fortnightly rather than weekly, already this week have a collection of recylcables and of course lots of bits and pieces in my sewing scrap bins. Spent time this afternoon cutting up 5 inch squares of pelmut vilene in readiness to produce my first Go Green Journal tomorrow .

Next week it's my intention to attempt Aprils Journal , have no idea yet other than I will be painting visoflix and will take it from there..

Kathryn's Inchie Challenge/Swap:

Top: Jennie Strachan ,Annie Laing

Middle: Debbie Baker, Kerrie Bowles

Bottom: Linda O'Keefe, Fiona Calvert

Thanks to Kathryn for organising the swap and also for her inchie. Looking forward to displaying inchies in a frame sometime soon. A wonderful sample of inchies to begin my collection. Thankyou ladies.

ATC's recieved in No-Theme Swap.

Top: Carol Dorrell, Annie Laing

Middle: Amelia Ruscoe, Carol Cottingham

Bottom: Diana Bahler, Rayna Shore.

Many thanks to Diana who arranged to swap and to the ladies who have added to my collection.

April: Sunday Machine Embroidery Group, 2008

Theme: Red Letter Day/Seeing Red/Red Letter Day

Various layers of chiffon and netting used to create sunset effects in sky.

Ironed cellophane under plane red chiffon used to create water, then machined to create final effect.

ATC's for Aust./NZ

swap. March. 2008.

March Journal : Aus/NZ Art Quilters

March Journal. Travelling the long

road. Depicting a Sunday drive through the bush. Hand quilted , some beading and torn edges used to depict ground cover and trees. Folliage on trees created using two layers of organza ribbon. Road from suede fabric.

Inchies for Kathryn Robertsons

Beige Challenge.

Inchies for Kathryn Robertsons

Beige Challenge.

February: Sunday Machine Embriodery Group, 2008

Theme: (Twilight of the Gods/She Walks in beauty

like the night/As night follows day)

I have painted silk using Jo Sonja paints . Trees formed

by stitching on Romeo water soluable fabric. Fence and grass free motion machine embroidered . Work then

covered with fine black tuille with machine stitched edges.

February Journal : Aus/NZ Art Quilters

February Journal

Created using scraps from appliqued quilts made over the years then machine stitched using variegated metallic thread.

February Journal : Aus/NZ Art Quilters

Journal Quilt as posted on the Australian/NewZealand website.

January, representing a season. I have called mine Summer Harvest. The background is painted Tyvec which has been over sewn with free motion machine embroidery. Trees made using Romeo water soluable fabric. Bales created using lutrador then machine stitched.

Elephant

my version of a famous Australian Poem. My Country written by Dorthea Mc Kellar.