Latest work

Life is just one big whirl wind at present. I'm getting ready to teach in Berry next week, then Fibre Arts Australia at Easter followed by teaching at AQC at the end of that week. I have so many projects on the go that it's hard to know where to start. I'm loving every minute of it though. It's wonderful to finally be doing something I love for a living.

I've been painting lots of papers and collaging them  on to canvases.

this one has a painted background, not collage

this canvas is all collaged, I also collage around the sides of the canvases

my art quilt is almost finished, I keep adding things but time is running out, so I need to complete the backing and binding.

Thanks for visiting and I hope to post again very soon.

Fabric houses

I'm teaching at AQC in Melbourne in April and the tutors have been asked to exhibit samples of their textile work. Most of mine are in journal form, so I decided to make an art quilt using one of my paintings for reference. It's taking quite a while to do, but I'm really enjoying the process.

I still have lots more stitching to add as well as details to the houses and more people

a detail showing two of the people.

it wouldn't be mine without the sheep

my studio helpers, I can't believe how quickly Monty's growing, he's bigger than Charlie now.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by and for your lovely comments.

Back soon.

Happy New Year

We've just returned from a lovely week on a boat on the beautiful Gippsland Lakes, here in Victoria. There were seven of us on board made up of family and friends. A lovely time was had by all. The weather was delightful, lots of sunshine, although one day it was very windy so we made an escape from the lakes into one of the many rivers, where it was more sheltered. Some spent time fishing, others read books, my husband took photos and worked on writing his book. I did lots of sketching and stitching. Great company, food and wine. Very relaxing.

there are lakes, rivers, islands and villages scattered around the area.

some of my sketching

this is an art quilt I have to have made by April, it's all hand stitched using my hand dyed and commercial fabrics, there's still a long way to go. I decided to use my house paintings as a guide.

Wishing you all a very HAPPY and CREATIVE 2015

thanks for dropping by.

Nearly there

I've been busy working on another painting for a Christmas gift. I think it's finished. I've also added some more decorated paper kits to my Etsy shop. I've been working in my collage journal and I've decorated my workshop table for Christmas, now I'm off to do some stitching.

the new painting, I hope they like it.

more paper kits in my Etsy shop

this is a double spread from my collage journal. I look after my almost five year old grandson on a regular basis, and I'm amazed by his use of words. I decided to write some down the other day in the top white section of the right hand page, not sure if you can read them but they are very amusing

I have two very large tables in my workroom so have been adding a few decorations to keep up the Christmas spirit.

If I don't get to make another post this week have a lovely holiday break and much happiness for whatever you celebrate. Have a safe and Happy New Year.

Thank you for your visits and lovely comments, they really are appreciated.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Creative 2015.

Now I've lost November

I can't believe it's December already. I managed to get in one post for November, I'll see if I can get two in for December.
I've added a bag to my Etsy shop and intend to add two more, some sun printed fabrics to stitch and some stamps. Taking photos of them and writing descriptions, uploading them to my shop all takes so much time, but hopefully it will happen.

I created this piece by stitching lots of strips of fabric together, adding ribbons at the joins, then free motion machine stitching over the whole piece.

this is the front of the bag made from the piece of fabric I created above

the back of the bag

the bright magenta silk mix lining.

the hand dyed doily trim with a vintage belt buckle.

these are some of the sun printed fabrics I'm adding to my Etsy tonight

this is how I use them in my journals, but you could stitch them to canvas or frame them, or add them to art quilts, cushions, bags, clothing etc.

my two studio re-organisers, just when I think I know where things are Charlie and Monty decide to move things around or hide them. Charlie's slowly learning to tolerate Monty, who insists on sleeping next to him whenever he can.

Happy creating and I'll try to write another post very soon.

Thanks for dropping by and for your very welcome comments.

Where did October go?

I can't believe I missed making a post in October, where did it go? I know I was busy with the Stitches and Craft Show, that was a great event, it was lovely to meet so many people who share the same interests. I demonstrated printing on the Gelli plate and sewing a fabric page on my machine. I now have lots more paper kits to add to my Etsy, although five have gone already. I've also added a couple of spiral bound journals. I will have some stamps and bags shortly.

I also taught a two day fabric journal workshop at Sew Bright Alpine Quilting, in Bright, to a wonderful group of students. They produced some beautiful journals, but I didn't get photos, only one of the group.

me with the lovely group of students

some of the papers that are now in the kits

one of the journals

another journal, they both have some decorated papers and lots of blank pages for sketching or journalling etc. They are available in my Etsy

Thanks for dropping by, I really will start to post more as some of the pressure has eased

Craft Fair

I have a very busy couple of months coming up. I'm giving a talk and demonstration to the Mornington Patchworkers in October, as well as being the guest artist (really thrilled) at the Stitches and Craft Fair in Caulfield Vic. from the 23rd to the 26th of October.  I'm making lots of things to have on display, I'll also be doing lots of demonstrations. I'll be teaching a two day Fabric Journal workshop at Bright in Vic on the 1st and 2nd of November, here's the link if you would like to register www.sewbright.com.au/sewingpatchworkclassesworkshops.html
The journals the students made in Berry were beautiful.

these are two of four samples that I'm making for the Craft Fair, they are inspired by Jane La Fazio, they have been stitched onto canvas backgrounds.

this is a close up detail of another piece that will be made into a cushion.

Thanks for stopping by and your kind comments.

Happy creating.