Indilogo Cabin

At a recent Boonah retreat the WMBM dropped off a bag of Indigo and rusty fabrics, dyed with Ankie King and Maxine O'Toole and waiting patiently for me to give them purpose. Indi-logo Cabin was the response and now it waits patiently to be quilted ... probably this weekend. The backing is my favourite piece of dyed fabric to date - the jellyfish  streaming across an endlessly deep ocean.

Beading with Lisa Walton - progress

I can't believe it is week 4 already and the ideas just keep coming ... the sampler takes on a new look with each passing week - I'll be oh so sorry when it all comes to an end - but ever so fired up about the possibilities for the "nested" exhibition ... which seems so far away and will be upon me before I know it.

SAQA Visioning progress in March



Meadow

 Well I finally trimmed up this piece from 2009 and gave it a proper backing and binding - and a little dignity I think.  As part of the SAQA Visioning Project and my commitment to create a body of works or series, Little Sister and I are holding our second joint exhibition  (the first being some 15 years ago, oh my!) and I need to create a number of small art quilts to complement our exhibition of ... nests. Meadow is an experiment in plastic cards, acrylic paint, tissue paper, netting and felt - that grew from the techniques, experimentation and pure letting go I experienced with Playways.

Postcard from the Isle of Man

This is the first ceramic postcard I've ever received - it includes two perfectly round buttons, a hand written message, typed address and a post mark uncannily resembling the artists seal. That's just one side! The reverse is a beautiful pattern of pressed lace ... thank you Faye, I'll treasure it always.

Return of the Little Sister in silk

Little Sister returns from the Isle of Man in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. Today  I decided to interpret a drawing I'd done of her some months ago in beads and silk ... not sure how it will turn out and I'm trying to remember Ankie's advice that "less is more" ... this is possibly the first of a few efforts  to see how the interpretation evolves.   First step was to scan the original drawing, then stitch it (threadless) over the silk and that provided a clue about where to stitch ... the beading is something that seems to be "happening" in no pre-ordained way ... so will put it away until the order or beading thread arrives later this week from Lisa @ Dyed and Gone to Heaven.  Much learning inthe doing.

A weekend in the studio

While WMBM visited "dad-can-you-help-us-lay-the-turf" for the weekend, I was left to my own devices. Save the dogs and chooks (a.k.a. chickens or the girls), there was no one but I to keep me company. We got on just fine. We spent Friday night chilling out in the studio - sorting this and that, wondering about what a particular thing could be used for and having a party in my head. Beading the piece of fabric now known as "sampler" became the focus and after burning the 10pm environmentally-friendly bulb it was lights out on another day. Sleep really interferes with continuity!

Saturday was spent on more beading, and sorting out a large bowl of used tea bags in various degrees of "stain". One or two had gone "too far" and found themselves in the compost - the rest spent the morning drying on a tea towel and are ow stashed in a folder of plastic envelopes titled "Good Stuff". It is filed beside the tissue paper from Colorado (shoes, not State) and I'm desperate to know what the receivers or administrators will do with all that gorgeous world-map printed tissue ... perhaps I should offer to help out?

 

Beadier by the minute

The journal cover is taking shape - one bead at a time. Am thoroughly enjoying learning the the art of beads in Lisa Walton's online beading course - I love being able to take it up and put it down when it suits me and being part of a group that's happy to also share tips, questions, experiences and of course, their efforts. Bring on next week's treasure ....