Sampling

 Sampling for stitch. Using unbleached very soft calico as a base I stitched in stranded embroidery thread.

Running stitch, overcasting to make a pleat and then more pleats with running stitch going both ways to form a checkered texture.

The top one is really soft and lovely to hold and the two lower ones look fabulous on the reverse side.

Much more subtle indication of the lines with the blue still showing through. Still a lot of texture.

Postcard for travel

 

Postcard for my friend Rebecca who is a member of Broadstrokes. This year we are sending a postcard to other members on their birthdays relating to travel. The travel we cannot do at the present time, travel we have shared or spoken about or travel yet to come.

So this represents a place that both Rebecca and I think fondly of as we both have lived there for a number of years , mine early in my childhood and Rebecca later on for work committments with her husband.  The back ground is a vintage paper guest hand towel . My mother purchased packets of these in the 1960’s and sent to relatives as gifts. So I acquired a packet unopened from an Aunt when clearing her house. They really are too beautiful to use for a hand towel in the bathroom .

I added some cotton fabric, a vintage NZ stamp and the greeting in text at the top. 

Rust dye

 I attended a workshop run by Grace Cross in the last weekend of June. Three styles of rust dyeing or at least using iron to make prints or colour onto fabric and paper. We used chemicals only for one technique and even though it gets glorious golden colours I am not wanting to continue to use this method. However I have made some wonderful samples that I will use some way in collage or small pieces. 

Scroll book

Painted with black acrylic and pink Australian Salmon Gum from Matisse. Joined together into a long scroll with lots of stitch. More stitching to come as the story evolves. To be continued. I have a wooden spool that it fits around. 

But at the moment I am enjoying seeing it without the need of a support . It stands alone and I can add to it as the inspiration comes. I have added two little bugs 🐜 as I couldn’t resist adding to the story line.

Tiny Treasure

Finally received back my Tiny Treasure and it’s receptacle made in a swap through ATASDA. I made the wee angel ,from a broken ceramic head and a sparkling wine metal cage. With a bit of fabric, lace beads and wired wings she was sent off to Maria in NSW. Maria made the drawstring bag for her to be kept in. These were then on display in Sydney.

Canberra Art

 I can’t work out how to get to the bottom of a post to edit, very frustrating so I have decided to just make a new post of more art in Canberra. This time from the Australian War Memorial. The last photos are the natural art on the streets. The eucalyptus trees are so different from those in Brisbane , large and Lucy with that still fresh and new feeling which is how I see a lot of Canberra as. In Brisbane the trees are smaller, tougher, less impressive and not as showy. 

Art in Canberra

A four day visit to Canberra on the weekend was not only filled with ‘official duty’ but I soaked up as much art as I could. 

First the obvious place was at the National Gallery of Art. Where there was an exhibition from Renaissance to Renoir. Magnificent. Then Australian women artists. These included Margaret Preston, Jenny Kee, Mira Mora and Inge King.

Jenny Kee from the 60’s - 70’s