Poppies 2

Poppies 2
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

It looks like I have been painting like a crazy, but these were all done over several months, I am incredibly slow as a painter! Another poppies, this was a learning process for me, learned too how framing improves the look of each and every painting I have done.

9 x 5 Exhibition

These pastel paintings are entered in the 9" x 5" Exhibition run by the Pastel Society next month. For anybody local the Exhibition is called 'Little Gems' and will be held at Pictures Plus Gallery, 7/13 Cressall Road, Balcatta between 9-16 November, 9-4pm during the week and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Earth Covering - Mixed Media

Earth Covering - Mixed Media
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

You will have seen this postcard before. I liked it so much I had it framed and intend to put it in the 'Midland to Ellenbrook' Exhibition to be held by the Ellenbrook Art Society in February.

Japanese RR blocks

Japanese RR blocks
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

I have just sent these blocks off to be embellished by my friends on Southern Cross Crazies. It is good to be involved in a round robin again, these blocks will travel the eastern states and New Zealand for the 6 of us in the group to embroider.

Paper Fabric Workshop

This is made in the same way as tissue fabric. In this case I am using knitting patterns and pictures torn from a free craft magazine. You can mix fabric with the paper, I cut up some knitting I will never finish and used that to add texture and interest. A pair of knitting needles may be attached when I have finished embellishing. Any paper can be used as long as it will glue. Newspaper, hand made paper, gift wrap, magazine articles. When the glued paper and fabric has dried you can paint, sponge, stamp, anything you can think of to embellish before you stitch. The knitting piece I have done will need to be covered with bridal veiling and stitched down firmly since I think I will use it to make a book cover.

Making Tissue fabric

I've been struggling to get blogger to put the photos in the right order, but think I have won this time!
I like to colour the base fabric in case it should show, also you might want to leave pieces uncovered for whatever reason. The first picture is of calico drip painted with Setacolor. When the colour has migrated how I want it I dry the fabric and in this case, because I want a lot of texture I do not iron. Paint the calico with diluted PVA glue, make it quite wet to give a lot of adhesive power. At this stage, before putting on the tissue paper you can lay down threads, basically anything you can stitch through without breaking your sewing machine needle. While the painted calico was drying I painted a piece of tissue paper with acrylic paints. I happened to use a bit of tissue from a shoe box, but you can use gift wrap tissue, some is nicely patterned. I decided to apply the tissue torn up to hide the brush marks so tear and press into the gluey fabric, painting PVA on top of each torn piece as I go, making sure the edges of each piece are glued down well.
If you want a smooth finish you can apply your tissue in one piece over nicely ironed base fabric. It gives a beautiful leather like finish.
Leave to dry and you have a nice base fabric to embellish.

I'm back, yet again!

What a saga this telephone business has been since I moved. After eventually persuading Telstra to connect my phone and getting an ADSL link which is compatible with the smartlink security system, I thought all was well. But the cute little guy with a complicated electronics set up did not wire the filters up correctly and my phone line cut out. Had to wait 4 days for Telstra to come out and fix it up, so am just crossing fingers...........

I have been asked to do a workshop on Wet Canvas on making fabric paper, so have done both this and tissue fabric and will be putting them up on this blog when I manage to catch my breath.

Needlecase RR

Needlecase RR
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

My crazy patchwork round robin needlecase has eventually returned home. I made the background with an assortment of mainly silk scraps, including a small piece of silk velvet ribbon that has a treasured place in my stash. Still have a little left, I am glad to say! Now I have to set to and actually turn this piece of work into a needlecase cover.

Thanks to all my friends on sourhterncross crazies who did the work on this crazy patch base.

ATC's

ATC's
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

Like my new business cards? Not that I have a business, but it is fun to make these with my name and phone number printed onto a backing of photographic paper. My sewing machine is not too keen on the idea, but with a bit of persuasion will make the attempt at a decent stitch.

Artopia has been very busy, even yesterday which is major shopping day and lunching out day saw quite a few people come through. It was good to see we are not working in isolation and that there is a huge textile art skill base in W,. Australia.

Journal

Journal
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

Another piece that will be going to Artopia with me today.

closeup

A Fragile Landscape closeup
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

This is a close up of A Fragile Landscape.

A Fragile Landscape

A Fragile Landscape
Originally uploaded by Maureen1

After long lonely months I am back minus a husband and with a new email account!

This is one of the pieces I am taking to Artopia tomorrow. Artopia is an event which lasts about two months in different venues. Artists are invited to throw open their studios to the public to meet and discuss their works. Our textile group was invited to join this event with a group of textile artists in a nearby city hall.

This work is paper fabric, painted, stamped and hand embroidered with my hand dyed threads. I then beaded it using beads in local woods, gemstones and glass beads. It was great fun to do, a lot of work and quite difficult at times, but I am happy with it.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.