This and that

I'm slowly getting things added to my Etsy store. It's a slow process, taking photos and trying to display your items to their best advantage. At top is a necklace that has a very old mother of pearl button as the main feature, I've hand wired it so that it can move freely.
The earrings were made last night from some lovely glass hearts I found in the back of a little gift shop/cafe, Patsy discovered last week. My hubby and I went there for lunch during the week, needless do say I didn't get much eating done, but lots of bead sorting.






I have a very old wheelbarrow, on our back deck, that I painted purple. I 'planted' all these old rusty pieces, including a bike chain into it then added lots of succulents, due to our water shortage. I'm not sure if it's the rust, or lack of water, but they've grown a treat, almost hiding the rusty 'sculptures'.






I'm thinking of teaching some workshops from home either later this year or early next and this is the room where the classes will be held. We often sit and have breakfast or a cuppa in the glass nook as it protects us from the elements in summer and winter. I'll be posting the class details when dates have been set. The first one will probably be a brooch making class in late November.

My other Studio

This is my other studio, where I spend the daylight hours during the week working as a graphic designer. It's not much tidier than my home studio at the moment as I'm working on a very large project, but as everything is computer generated, there's not the usual paint mess and jewellery jumble of home. I was given free reign when I designed the room, much to the horror of the other staff, who said they couldn't possibly work in such a colourful environment, now they all wish it was theirs. I'm very lucky as I have it all to myself, except on occasions when I have to call in outside help. Hope to have more art to show later.

Planning for the next one

The party's over, but we're planning our next exhibition together. This one was very successful and we're planning another one for next year. The photo of Patsy and me outside the gallery was taken in front of this magnificent banner that Patsy put together for the occasion, textiles being one of Patsy's passions. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to visit.



This was one of my paintings in the show. It measures 600mm by 1200mm, quite a large one. Wherever I go of late I've been seeing Chinese lanterns so I decided to incorporate them into a painting. I really enjoyed painting this. I used acrylic paint and lots of layers, building up the colours and adding collage materials, finally I painted in the lanterns.



These are photos of my finished 'Persian nights' necklace made with my fabric beads. I ended up displaying my jewellery on canvases that I painted to suit the individual piece. I was quite pleased with the result. Unfortunately I didn't sell this piece so it may end up in my Etsy store or at one of the galleries.




Back to the Keith Lo Bue workshop. I went junking with Jen and Chris on the Wednesday afternoon and this was my find at The Mill market, a place with lots of individual stalls and great finds. When I showed it to Keith he told me quite a few of his hand made tools came from the insides of an old typewriter, so I'm looking forward to taking it apart, one day.

THANK YOU

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who visited our Exhibition and to everyone who has left comments on my blog re the Exhibition. With my workshop last week I haven't had time to thank everyone individually. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces, and Patsy and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. This one finishes on Thursday but we are already making plans for another one next year.
Now to the Keith Lo Bue workshop. What a talented man is Mr Lo Bue, he's a brilliant teacher giving so much to his students a big THANK YOU goes out to Keith, I finally learnt what so many of the attachments are for that came with my Dremel. I also learnt how to stop my wire from rusting, how to make my own flat and tubular rivets, how to think outside the square, when it comes to creating jewellery. This list goes on.
Jen and I had many ahhhhhh, revelation moments, when Keith revealed the secrets of transferring text and polishing wire, some very simple procedures that had eluded us until last week.


Here are some of the photos from class.




The great Jen Crossley in action being watched by Alison




The days class begins




The three musketeers, Jen, Chris and me. Chris bought the beautiful ring she's wearing from Keith, she was over the moon.




The fabulous class, such lovely people.




Me with the guru himself.




Finally the piece that I'm working on, it came together on the last day and I still have to work out how I'm going to attach it as the back section is a steel plate. I want to make some chain to add to the base. I still have more things to attach to it. I think this will end up on the wall and not around my neck or I could end up shrinking in height and have a permanent stoop.





I need to thank Julia too for awarding me the 'I love your blog' award. Thanks so much Julia, I'm sorry it's taken me a couple of weeks to mention it. I'm hoping I can return to more regular blogging now the rush is over, for this week anyway.

What an Opening Night

This is my room at the gallery around about 4.00pm Friday night. It took most of the day and the previous night to set up. Patsy had another room very similar. It's a lovely gallery with a great atmosphere and lighting.



We invited lots of people but were amazed at the number who turned up on the night it was fabulous, thanks to all you lovely people, they were spilling out the door at one stage. The lovely actress Beverley Dunn from 'Shine', 'Underbelly', 'Flying Doctors' and many more shows, officially opened it for us. It was a great success and we've had quite a few sales which is also wonderful.



More of the wonderful people.



The images on the left are some of my pieces and the ones on the right are Patsy's. Patsy makes these wonderful chairs, some are painted others are appliqued. It was too difficult to show the paintings as they are under glass and the reflections played havoc with the photos.

I've taken this week off as I'm doing a week long workshop here in Melbourne with the amazing Keith Lo Bue. Today was the first class and he really stretches you, but you see things in a different light. I'll post images when the class is over.

Lucky me

What a lovely surprise I received in the mail last week. Elizabeth from Elizabeth creates blog send me these beautiful beads. The glass ones are from Tanzania and are made by HIV/TB patients trying to support themselves. They are amazing, so beautiful in their individual shapes, they remind me of well worn lifesaver lollies. I'm really looking forward to using them with my fabric beads.
The other beautiful beads are hand made by Elizabeth from her decorated papers, they're so smooth and shiny they look like glass. These will be kept for very special projects, and finally there are some lovely tiger eye beads which again will go well with the fabric beads. Thanks so much Elizabeth.



These are more of my fabric beads, this necklace will be called Persian nights.



Another canvas for the show.



This is a fairly large journal that I've made using my decorated papers, pieces of art and blank papers. I've added paper and fabric collage to some of the pages. I have another one almost completed. These will go in the show too.
The photos below are some of the pages.






Finally I've been very lucky and asked to teach again at Artsistic Journey retreat next year. This time it will be held in Sydney. I'm teaching a jewellery workshop and possibly another class still to be confirmed. The other tutors will be Keith Lo Bue, Judy Wilkenfeld, LK Ludwig, Mary Jo Koch and other Aussies Nic Hohn, Rebecca Vavic and Keron Lee. It should be a great event.

Invitation and Fabric beads

Above is the official invitation to our exhibition here. We'd love to see you all, I'm amazed at how prolific Patsy is with her work, every time I see her she has more wonderful show and tell. I'm in panic mode now, trying to make sure I get everything done.



This is a huge ball of cotton jersey fabric that I bought at a garden centre of all places. They were selling it to tie up plants to stakes. Well, never being one to use something for it's original purpose I had to buy it. I love stripes. I didn't know what I would use it for, then I remembered years ago I used to make fabric beads. Guess what the garden tie now is used for. I became so engrossed in the bead making, I was finding all sorts of fabric scraps, buttons and trims to use. I now have enough for three necklaces. I see endless possibilities for decorating these humble little beads. I'm going to make some from my hand decorated fabrics too.





Finally take a look at Seth's blog, he has the Pulse happening again, where he asks artists questions about their art and has some wonderful photos of people's collections. Workspaces are coming up soon. It's well worth a visit. Thanks again Seth.