Lotus Flower

The beginnings of my handprinted fabric swap - Lotus Flower

My thought was to do the flower in two colours. The base colour would be the flower and the centre over printed on to the centre of the flower. I just did a quick trial run so see how things would print up. In this instance I masked the centre of the flower with paper but when printing on fabric would just over print.

I'm thinking this would be nice in blue or white might do both.

Still to carve out the seed head.
I've had a real crafty run today in-between driving the children to various sporting activities and friends. houses. I've basically been hiding from the heat under the air conditioner another sweltering hot day.. argghh!
Anyway this is it for the next couple of days as I'm off to work again.

Take Care!
Jules of Little Woolie has a wool giveaway and has opened up an on line shop. Visit her here and look at her gorgeous crochet
Dont forget to sign up for the handprinted fabric swap III.. tab in the sidebar

Wood Work To Necklace

The Golden Ash trees that the council trimmed off recently are gradually being utilized into necklaces. I have recycled beads that I picked up in the op shops and leather strapping bought from Spotlight and linked with clasps that I had from beading. An eclectic mix of natural and recycled goods

The idea of this necklace is to have it hanging off center. It is surprising how light it is. I like the exposure of the leather strapping.

I thought these seed pods beads that have been pyrographed, really captured the colouring of the clothe woven button embedded in the wood disc. The button and the natural colouring of the wood look a little like a flower to me. This one has thin leather stapping and can be tied in a bow to any length

This is an antique buckle and stud, the sewer in me really likes this.

And lastly the large periwinkle disc. I thought that it's size and strong lines didn't require any embellishment, so just some simple leather strapping

I've polished the wood with wax to give a lovely soft feel.

Dont forget to join the handmade fabric swap with Leslie from Maze and Vale.. Click on the button in the side bar for Handmade fabric swap III

Garden Vista and More

A little garden love to enjoy and brighten your day

And some quilt love, just because we can...

And because I have you drawn into a mosaic spell (unlike MOi) a little art display

Lead Astray

Don't you just love it when on a quest for something crafty that you get  lead astray and find something completely different to get involved in ??

Yesterday when I in search of ezy carve rubber stamp blocks at the local craft store and not being able to find it , I decided to ask the assistance for help. Unfortunately they dont stock the rubber blocks and had only just got in store Lino for carving. Whilst standing in front of the lino and silk screening block printing inks etc. I complained about my failure in exposing my silk screen. The assistant informed  me a group of like minded people were forming a group to meet and hear lectures about silk screening and provide an area where people could swap and exchange ideas. I almost kissed the girl I was that excited. I've given her a quick email last night and wait in anticipation of joining this group.
I know I could go to TAFE and learn techniques there but really the only thing I have problem with is my exposure of the screen because I haven't source the correct light bulb and TAFE costs a lot of money. Us cash strapped mothers have to be careful where we place our money bags and what we dedicate our expenditure too. Me I would much rather buy equipment and books, longevity being the key and read voraciously on the internet about what other people are doing

This most helpful assistant,Debbie, also informed if you join up for their store card and spent $30 you get $10 off your purchase. I already had almost that amount and went off and bought a few more items at no extra cost...win, win. Only failure about my trip is that I didn't get what I set out to get and will venture out today for a stamp block.

My latest thrifty find a silver plated English candle stick - really heavy and reasonably priced for silver at $20. And No I do not polish my silver but you are welcome around if you feel like it. I'll provide a nice cup of tea ...

Don't forget to join the hand printed fabric swap...click on the tab in the side bar.

Hand Printed Fabric Swap

I'v e joined a lovely fabric swap with the very talented Maze and Vale. Its still open for participants and has some really inspirational work and tutorials to get you motivated.


To join click on the button in the side bar and it will a take you to Leslie Keatings site

On that note I've started drawing up possible patterns and am taken with the lotus flower and will carve a stamp block for printing in the next few days, accompanied by seed pod

I think the flower would look great in full block colour, even if it wasn't true colour for the lotus flower. Seed pods always wear well on mass and make interesting printing don't you think.
I think the flower would also make a lovely stitchery

Have to go but a block to carve so I can start mucking around with patterning.

SEE YOU OVER AT LESLIE'S......

Sydney

Happy Birthday my darling love Jordana

Wonderstruck !

13

As you can see my girl is a big Taylor Swift Fan

 My modest attempt at recreating a perfume bottle cake. I really do not like playing with icing but hopefully she will be pleased.

 I've just had a quick visit to Sydney whilst David was on a conference, just  a few days of indulgence with Jodana. This is what we did valentines day.. ate cup cakes...delish....

Felt a bit like these whales....
Aren't they spectacular..Glass whales on Darling Harbour, Sydney. This is the second time I have visited them and they still hold a lot of charm to me.

 I love these broglas dancing as well in the fountain - Darling Harbour

Did the wander through the Strand (mall) and the Queen Victoria Building

Roof of the Queen Victoria Building

The Strand decked out for Valentines day

And the Queen Victoria Buildinng decorated for Chinese New Year

Visited Manly Beach

 And Bondi Beach

Home of Bondi Surf Rescue Team . Jordy had to get a photo

Out and about on the Harbour, lot of cruising around on the ferries and David picking out his next toy to play with

Some of the photos were taken on my daughters ipod and are a bit grainy, sorry.

Wood Works

About a month ago our council was chopping off branches to clear the trees from the power lines. A lot of the branches were way to big for me to pick up but I did stop and manage to scrounge a few smaller pieces to play with later.

I thought I would come back and collect a few more bits on my return from  visiting my parents but unusually for the council they had already cleaned up the cuttings. Probably to valuable to leave lying around.

Dad has kindly sliced my branches into disks as requested. These are from a golden ash tree. Lovely white wood. He managed to dry the wood in the microwave of all places!
I now have a whole bucket of disks to play with and grabbed five yesterday when visiting.

Armed with my trusty and very old drill I had a little play with the wood and my collectable jar of odds and sods. I really do collect a lot of  crap! One man's garbage another's treasure.

I've recessed a button in the wood  and a little more waxing will bring up the wood a treat.

 This huge periwinkle was found near West Dutton Bay in South Australia, its the only time I have ever come across these in such a large size. I have jars of little ones but just a handful of these little beauties. I'm yet to polish the wood

Recycling woven cloth buttons, kind of reminds me of a mini city if you look at it the way it would be hanging. I seem to have photographed it side on.

Undecided about this one yet. Collected glass from the beach. Flower???

 Leather strapping to make a necklace, yet to fit some clasps.

Another photgraph just for fun.
Off to work, enjoy your weekend whilst I'm slaving away.