Challenge for 2021

 My textile art group , Broadstrokes, is doing something a bit different this year as we are all exhausted from the Margaret Olley inspired work we made for exhibition in 2019. In 2020 several of our pieces flew to France to be in an exhibition there but unfortunately because of Covid this was canceled , so they all flew home again.

So now for next year, firstly we are making a postcard for each members birthday. The only stipulation is that the theme is travel, which we all enjoy but are of course restricted from for the near future. 

Oops I have posted off this first postcard for 7 th January without taking a photo. I meant to add one here.

The second challenge involved each member ‘putting out there’ what they intend focusing on for the year. We will be held accountable at each meeting as we all know what the individuals chose. All the others who attended the last meeting of the year have had their challenge documented, but as I wasn’t there I have t done so yet.

So , what will it be. Working in 3D making vessels, finishing works in progress, exploring more art journal work, doing and participating in Jane Dunnewold ‘s Creative Strength Training Community for 2021, researching and reading to gain knowledge, stitching , working through and completing all the online workshops and classes I have enrolled in over the years but not completed. 

Started that already with this piece from a Wendy Brightbill class, The Poetry of Stitches

Mixing the media

 A new page in my journal. Using dyed tea bag paper, tracing paper, acrylic paint, pastels, charcoal.

I am really enjoying using asemic writing to add an extra dimension to the layers

.

Christmas collage

 I have been busy making a postcard for a member of the Broadstrokes Textile Art group so am unable to show it until she receives it in early January. We are doing a birthday swap of a postcard among the 9 members of the group. And as we have all missed out on some form of travel in 2020 , ‘Travel’ will be the only stipulation for the postcard. 

It got me going on some other small collages. The Christmas tree I made for a friend and the little nativity collage was some play and doing just because.

Christmas Angel

 Today I made this wee angel for Harriet’s first Christmas. I first made up this angel for my Advent calendar in the 90’s. Made a few also for gifts . All I needed to make it up I had already and after a bit of digging , and searching through my studio it came together easily. The blue is a ceramic pair of wings with holes to stitch it on. I purchased years ago but never got around to using . So perfect for this special project. The hanging cord is either from my grandmothers or great-grandmothers sewing basket. 

For years I made an angel each year for the tree and the anticipation of my daughters. I named them all so there was an Angelica, Christi, Eve, Gabriel, and Maria. This one is Harriet.

Collage with stitching

 I have worked this on a piece of canvas from a standard A4 size canvas pad. It was easier to stitch through than I thought it would be. It kind of slid through as if it was greased.  I was not able to use a hoop but am amazed that it all went on without buckling and now lies flat, because of course with stitching into paper there is no unpicking. 

Pieces of fabric and painted papers from an old book. 

Birds in my coffee

          I had a dream there were birds in my coffee,

                       Birds in my coffee....yeah

Inspiration is everywhere if you open your eyes and look. Many turn to the wonders of nature...the flowers, leaves , trees, landscapes of beach or mountain and small creatures with feathers or fur.

This morning while having a leisurely breakfast I noticed this wee bird on the side of my coffee cup. So simple yet what a lovely image to stitch.

Watch this space .

Three Cherubs

 I had this card for awhile and loved the image. Here I have added the three faces . Baby Harriet, Alanna and Brett.

Collage, but really not much to it but what a sweet image.

Altered image of a detail from ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’.

Three Cherubs ( detail) by Philippe de Champaigne  (1602-1664).  Possibly painted in the 1640’s for the Abbey of Notre Dame at Quincy , near Tanlay.

Tomeshi

 I made this wrapped stone for my lovely Okido yoga teacher Carina. It is inspired by the Japanese tomeshi Stones that traditionally would be placed to indicate that a place or pathway is ‘out of bounds’. Sort of a keep off the grass sign but in a much gentler way as well as decorative, peaceful and in a less is more sense of the Japanese aesthetic. 

In Okido yoga the same poses are used some different ones , different techniques and self massage into small muscle areas such as feet and face. We use wooden rods like broomstick handles to walk on to wake up and massage the feet, roll it down the back to find other muscle areas of tension.

The stone was from the school grounds where I met Carina as we worked together there. 

It has a vintage mother of pearl button and I embroidered 2020 the year we had yoga on the banks of the Brisbane river at Yeronga. Under trees such as a giant Moreton Bay fig, and magestic  eucalyptus with bird sounds and wind in the leaves always around us. So peaceful.

Okido is a Japanese style of yoga and is more playful and holistic.