Coiled vessel - covered cord

Coiled vessel - covered cord
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is a piece of cord part covered. For my first vessel I have used cotton fabric as I feel it will be easier to handle, but I think more glitzy textiles would not be that difficult, apart from the fact that it would not tear so easily. I rather like the torn edges as they look softer than cut edges.

Coiled vessel - base of vessel

Coiled vessel - base of vessel
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This is the start of the coiled vessel. I have been amazed at how much cord and fabric this method of construction takes. I have gone a little further than this up the sides, but now want to try a little shaping. Wish me luck!

Its been a 'Gunna' day

I was going to post pictures of the coiled textile vessel as far as it has gone, but my father-in-law was admitted to hospital today with a broken shoulder and of course it HAD to be the day my husband's car was in for service, so guess which taxi was called out. By the time I got home and caught my breath it was too dark to take pictures.

Applique flowers

Applique flowers
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is the applique quilt block I am taking on holiday so I can buttonhole down the flowers whilst travelling or talking. I think I will leave the flower centres off until I get home in cast they fall off as Vliesofix tends to peel a little.

I have also made some Anzac cookies in honour of Anzac Day today, a public holiday to commemorate the loss of lives in War. So many nationalities lost men at Gallipoli, I saw a film about it when I was studying History via film at University, such a sad episode.

Numerology

I find numerology a rather complex and odd thing. However, if you are interested here is a link to what your name means.

Coiling

Ok, I can't knit with wool any more, but there is nothing to stop me coiling wrapped cords to make a vessel. I found this idea in 'Three Dimensional Embroidery' by Janet Edmonds. I think I could browse all day through this book and attempt to make just about everything in it. It contains such exciting ideas, and put in a way to inspire you rather than just instruct.

Today I want to mock shibori some more socks if the weather is fine. Maybe I ought to do a little housework too, but that does cut down so much on my playtime.

Postcard, Sunset Beach

Postcard, Sunset Beach
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I live near what the tourist brochures call the 'Sunset Beach' so I have a sort of thing about painting sunsets. The silk background of this postcard is painted with Setacolour and Setashimmer paints. Couched yarns, hand embroidery and beading.

Re-dyeing black clothing

I grabbed a packet of black Dylon today so I could throw it in the washing machine with my black clothing to freshen it up. Only I picked up a non-washing machine type Dylon. After reading the instructions I decided it would work quite well in the washing machine for what I wanted to do. And it did to a certain extent. I have a pair of navy linen trousers that had faded badly and a navy tee shirt. Since I did not mind if these turned out black they went in too, and came out a much nicer and darker navy than they were before. My black things are black now, not washed out looking. I think I will be more careful to read the carton before I buy next time, but was not displeased with my efforts today.

Next I need to re-blue some blue teeshirts, and then I will be all set to face the winter.

Feltazia

Oh you lucky people who live in Melbourne. Another friend has her first exhibition opening on 30 April. The exhibition will be open as a static display after the clothing and millinery is modelled on 30 April. Here are the details:


You are invited to the Launch of our First Exhibition. FELTAZIA the space where costumes of street and theatre meet
Officially Opened by WALTRAUD REINER internationally renowned milliner
featuring a parade of unique hand-felted garments and hats created by Catherine Byatt Joan Stowell
Sunday 30th April 2006 5pm - 7pm
Morrisons On The Park Cafe & Evelyn Library Community Room Wray Crescent, Mt Evelyn

finger food provided/drinks available at bar prices
Entry free

Post-Easter

Maybe it is a post Easter low after all that chocolate, but I apologise for being very quiet this week. I've had a busy week catching up with friends and finishing up one or two UFOs, plus making two postcards for individual swaps.

My friend Britt has just started a new blog. She specialises in needlelace and embroidery, so you might enjoy this blog.

Finished

I finished the third of the charity quilts this morning. I now have 3 lap quilts and 3 baby quilts just waiting for borders. Shirley I had forgotten NZ scquilters made quilts for the Kosovans too. What an enormous job that was for us all.

Good Friday today. My dear husband and I visited our daughter for coffee, then took outselves off to the banks of the Swan River for a picnic in the sunshine. Was a glorious day, all the World and his family were out enjoying the sunshine and their al fresco lunches.

Charity quilt 1

Charity quilt 1
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I spent today making borders for these double nine-patch blocks. I have enough blocks for another quilt, which still have to be stitched together and bordered.

My group made about 100 quilts for the Kosovan refugees who were housed in Perth; it was a monumental task in the time we had to do this. Remembering this, and being aware of the continual need for quilts to help people cope in dire emergency, we are slowly collecting together a supply of quilts all made from donated blocks and fabrics.

Charity Quilt 2

Charity Quilt 2
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Second quilt

Beads

I have been asked what I will do with the beads. Ahh, that is a problem. We have been set a challenge, to use some of these beads as creatively as possible. I do have one or two ideas, but they need thinking through a bit more. These beads I deliberately made rough, but you can make nice smooth beads, and a coating of Mod Podge makes them nice and shiny for jewellery making.

Plastic bag beads

Plastic bag beads
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Plastic bag strips rolled round a satay stick and blasted with heat gun. Embossing powder and gold rubbing paint added to some of them.

Fabric beads

Fabric beads
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I have been to my bead workshop today. These are beads made from polyester fabric, blasted with a heat gun and then treated with embossing powder and gold rubbing paint.

Glasses case

Glasses case
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This is one of the UFOs I promised to put on my blog. I crazy patched and embroidered the flap and most of the back, the piece on the front that is mainly covered by the flap is plain.

UFOs

I have been really bad about taking pictures, but in between moving a bookcase full of books so I can have a telephone point fitted for broadband (YAY) I finished two ufos yesterday. Promise to do the picture thing today.

UFO day

I have been very good today. I stitched the little silk bag together and lined it. Lined, turned and pressed an eyeglass case ready to stitch up the sides and shortened my beloved's new jeans. Mind, I still haven't sewn that dratted button onto another pair of jeans. Needlewomen do not sew buttons on, donchaknow! Well, this one finds it extraordinarily difficult to do. Since the repair has only been waiting a week so far I consider it a non-urgent job.

I am having a problem posting comments on blogs today. Cherie, you can get cranberry tablets for the button pusher to alleviate urinary tract infections. And go for them girl, standard of care not up to scratch for sure!

Embellished bag - WIP

Embellished bag - WIP
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Very much a WIP here. I started this from an idea in a library book, only added my own twist. I plaited yarns, couched them down with metallic thread onto kimono silk. All I really have to do now is sew the bag together, line it, and plait more yarns to make a handle. Goodness only knows why it got put in the 'too hard' basket!

Part of Challenge Scarf

Part of Challenge Scarf
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

The title of this scarf is 'Autumn Reflections', dyed, resist, crayon. Aren't I lucky to receive such a gorgeous scarf in the challenge exchange. It is a lovely long, wide scarf/shawl and has a neat twist in it so that when thrown over a shoulder it will not keep sliding down my arm.

dyerslist scarf challenge

Last Dance of Summer3
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Last year I dyed, appliqued, beaded and stencilled this fabric for a scarf challenge on dyerslist. There have been a few hiccups along the way, including Belle Amoire showing little interest in publishing these scarves, but eventually I received my exchange scarf in the post, together with a cd of all the challenge scarves. All the scarves entered in the challenge are wonderful, I wish there was some way I could show them to you, but it would be against copyright to do this without permission from quite a few artists. However, now I have got over my first gasps of wonder at the scarf I received I will take a picture and post a little square of the fabric so you can admire it too.