Revisited

This is a wall hanging that I made sometime ago and felt it wasn't quite right so I revisited it and now feel it is much more together. Now for some hand stitching to add embellishment. It ones of those that started with my hand dyed fabric that I just loved the colours and didn't want to do anything with! But then felt it needed something extra.

I found these the other day in my stock! So gave them a bit of an upgrade and listed them on folksy.

I am glad I got the hen and duck houses painted yesterday, slower to heat up and not as warm today.

Now tomorrow I have set the morning aside to make a pair of curtains for my sister. Not a big project regarding size but big because we have chosen to put interlining in them and use those eyelets in the top. I can not and must not put this project off any longer!! No I have written it I am committed!

Projects

It is such a lovely day - just right for painting the hen and duck houses for winter, so no time for sewing.

I did have a play yesterday using the Sue Dove tutorial that is in the months Workshop on the Web edition. I have only got as far as the prep work. Still it is an idea by the bread bin and now deliberating how to move it forward.

Summer

I have been rather busy these past few weeks, away for the weekend, catching up with children who have returned from working abroad, organising surprise parties - with the help of niece and children and husband- for a sister who deserves some good times.

So although I have been still sewing and knitting they have been repair and alterations rather than new projects. This seems to have been the first day that I have had the house completely to myself.

Anyway, during the holidays my niece went off to America with a shopping list that included Kool Aid. After tracking it down in a grocery store and not the art shop!

I had read about this stuff and Quilting Arts had a feature on it. If you want the info leave a message and I will forward it to you.

It really was the easiest dyeing I have done. When the satchet was opened my mouth started watering!! The fabric absorbed all of the colour with no colour loss on rinsing.

The outcome is rather blotchy in places but once it has been embellished they will disappear.

I wonder what is in the powder? To leave fabric with this deep colour, it looks rather like the orange that the Hare Krishna wear. In the photo I don't seem to be able to capture the depth of colour.

Purses and Hens

I bought these frames a couple of weeks ago and finally got round to making the purses. I still have the beads to add but I will have to do that tomorrow morning, when the light is better and I feel like taking the time.

This is where I bought the frames, www.nicolemdesigns.com.au

I have also included photos of Colin our cockerel. Not quite sure what is going wrong but despite having five females to choose from we don't have any chicks.

PRINTING AND MAKING

I have an ongoing piece of fabric that I am printing, here it is in its current state. I think it is missing some red tones, so that will happen next week. It started off as experimenting - not successfully - printing with gelatine.
Also been doing some sewing. Made a couple of I pod/ mobile phone cases which are for sale on www.folksy.com. Also been developing the chicken doorstops. I think they are finished and now need photographs.

Have a good weekend.

Artists Sketchbooks

I have just put two more Artist books for sale on www.folksy.com/items/5341
I was really pleased as I had a sale on Friday night of one of the books. A good way to start the weekend.

I have been practising doing the gelatine printing as featured in this months Quilting Arts, but somehow I am missing something as I am not ending up with the beautiful prints that are illustrated.
I have found that by painting on the gelatine it leaves an interesting textured print.

Currently turning my chickens into doorstops, waiting for my daughter to arrive home with the bag of sand. I think stuffing them with recycled plastic pellets would be too expensive.