Best of Blogs award

I have just been notified that the Best of Blogs Award nominations are requested. I have just been to http://www.thebestofblogs.com/nominations/best-knittingcraft-blog and nominated my best of blog. Oh, this is so difficult, several I would like to nominate, but had to choose.

Today I must, must remember to buy some rubber gloves for dyeing. I bought some sale wool to knit a funky teapot and could not get the colours I wanted so bought white and thought I would try out the Procion MX method cold water dyeing for wool. I got the instructions from the Pro-Chem site: http://www.prochemical.com/ So many cool and reliable dyeing instructions here.

WIP Embroidery

WIP Embroidery
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I lightly painted this linen, added some strips of fabric, and am busy embroidering it to blend the fabric in (see the needle?). When this stage of the work is finished I am going to machine embroider over the top, including adding some raised surface work. Just an idea that took my fancy, but for me the handwork is rather slow going!

Crazy Patch

Crazy Patch
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This is the block I took the the Nowra retreat. I have embellished it with mainly bits and pieces and techniques learned there, as well as a few bits and pieces acquired at Canbra. Still a WIP.

Boxing Day

I hope all my readers had a wonderful Christmas Day. We had a very relaxing and pleasant family day, very enjoyable. Perfect weather, not too hot and definitely not cold, a nice sea breeze picked up and kept the temperature down.

I survived!

Yes, I have done it. Survived yet another mad Christmas rush type shopping. If we ain't got it we don't eat it because nothing, but nothing will persuade me near the shops tomorrow!

Getting the meat from the butcher and driving kms to a quiet veggie shed to avoid supermarkets today took up so much time I haven't done any sewing today - aaargh, I feel withdrawal symptoms coming on. I did, though, get some beautiful dragonfly beads in the mail today, aChristmas present from a dear, thoughtful friend.

Little Treasure boxes

Excuse me while I go away and make a few more of these little boxes. So handy for wrapping small gifts and I have several of these I want to pack. So in between shopping for last minute groceries, cleaning and other general housewifely duties I will be making treasure boxes of various sizes. Today I am being taken in a stretch limo for lunch at a classy restaurant overlooking the river, what bliss

Ok, my dog is reminding me it is time to go for her long morning walk, it is just light and I am off to start my day.

Visual Journals

There has been some talk recently about keeping visual journals. The discussion has centred on whether they should be works of art or a ragbag of jottings regarding ideas, swatches of fabrics or threads, whatever takes your fancy. I have to confess there is no way my visual journals (I have a large one for Big Ideas and a small one to carry around) will ever be works of art. In fact I often doubt that my works of art are works of art, but whatever they satisfy my desire for creative expression. Since I can't see anyone in posterity finding one of my visual journals in some second hand bookshop and deciding to arrange to have it printed as a book as it is so interesting and so detailed (somewhat like 'Diary of an Edwardian Country Lady') I have given myself free permission to be as messy as I like as long as there are entries. Onya Arlee!

Christmas box

Christmas box
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This morning I made some little gift boxes. This one is already filled with a bag of gourmet chocolate, jewellery would be good too (opals if it is for me VBG)

Saturday

has been a hot day, and there have been major traffic jams just about everywhere I have tried to go. So I gave up, weasled around the back roads, shopped at a small supermarket and came home. Since the weather has become summery I raided my stash and made a pair of linen trousers this afternoon.

I must also remember to get a cheque in the post to take the Glenys Mann Mini Masterclass in February. The title of the workshop is Message Bearers and the Environment. Gulp! Must start thinking around this title.

Christmas Card

Here's an animated Christmas card to wish all my readers the very best for the Season and for 2006.
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=0263787433
(its ok to play)

Bordered and leaved placemat

Bordered and leaved placemat
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Isn't it nice to have blogging and email friends who help you with projects. One friend suggested a border for the placemats and Arlee at Albedo Design Journal: http://arleebarr.squarespace.com/designjournal
suggested some green leaves would be a good addition. I mulled these ideas over for some time and stencilled the green leaves, deciding that the mats still did not look complete, I got out my fabric pens and added a border thus connecting the butterfly in the top LH corner and the leaves to the bottom right. And yes, this sort of adds completion to the mats and I am happy.

Painted and stencilled placemats

Painted and stencilled placemats
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

After a hiccup yesterday when I spent the whole day asleep, struck down with some virus, I felt sufficiently recovered today to paint and make the placemats for my daughter's table setting. I stencilled a gold butterfly on them for an accent point. They are a bit funky but I think she will like that look.

I should learn

.....to keep my big mouth shut. My daughter and her partner were showing me some lime green plates that had just bought and were saying they could not find orange placemats to complete their table setting. Well, you can just guess who offered to make them some, really I don't think they will take that long, but looking for orange fabric might. But then maybe splash dyed orange would be more exciting tham plain store bought fabric anyway. Perhaps with a computer generated strip of patterning down the side to give them that extra something.

Selling stuff

Well, its fixed, we have the use of a small art gallery to exhibit our creations and the only cost to us is 20% commission to the owner of the shop. We have to man it of course as it is only open on Thursdays, so on Friday and Saturday we will be rostered to be in the shop. I must get that sewing machine whirring away. Julia if you are reading this it is in Freo, will let you know where if you email me privately.

Shibori

I found this site in the UK, Helen does the most beautiful pleated shibori scarves:
http://www.shiborisilk.co.uk/ Its a bit late for Christmas now, but I think one of these scarves would make a nice New Years gift for someone (especially me).

Discovery!

I am amazed at how much I like the look of hand embroidery on satin. I have been working tone on tone on the ring pillow, and the small scraps of satin have the most complex texture and light effects when hand embroidered over. I usually avoid slippery satin as it is so difficult to sew with, but I think I must buy some to play more.

Embroidered block

Embroidered block
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I think the embroidery may not be very clear as I have used cream thread. Have spent about 3 hours so far embroidering. Now I need to buy some backing fabric and ribbon for the ties before I can go any further. To bead or not to bead is my next decision.

Ring pillow crazy block

Ring pillow crazy block
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is a picture of the unembellished ring pillow crazy patchwork block. The fabrics are silk and brocades, with a small amount of embroidered cottons. The cream colours of these fabrics blend together so well.

Ring pillow

I spent a large part of today crazy patching a ring pillow. Why a ring pillow? Who is getting married I hear you say? Well, no-one, but I was looking for some fabric and realised I had quite a few creams and white fancy fabrics. I have said I will put some things in this little Art Gallery in Fremantle and thus I am making quick and easy small things that may sell, when I have a little more time I will be able to be more adventurous. The adventurous bit definitely comes after Christmas, I am in panic mode right now!

Next comes the dilemma, do I embellish this piece as much as I would normally, hand work is time consuming and I am unlikely to be able to price high enough to sell. It really bugs me that when I sell my work I make less than any unskilled labourer, but I would welcome a little extra cash and don't want to clutter my house any more with unsold craft objects. Excuse me while I go out into the garden and scream - it may solve the problem (know that it won't VBG)

Reinhorses

Reinhorses4
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

The other evening my daughter and I dressed her horses up so she can make a Christmas card to send to her horsey friends. The horses were very patient but clearly thought their humans had lost the plot.

Doyley cushion cover

Doyley cushion cover
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I came home from the Nowra retreat with a stash of old doyleys and a huge embroidered tablecloth. Part of this has been turned into this cushion cover. Recycled stuff for sure! I even found a chunk of calico in an op shop sale yesterday for backings.

Blue linen bag

Blue linen bag
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is the completed bag - just large enough to hold camera, card for essential purchases and phone.