.... of a Mother of Pearl cross (or should it be Mother Pearl is cross?)

I've done it again..! I have so many projects on the go at once I'm spinning. Often I don't know which one I should be working on so I end up wasting precious time and not achieving much at all!

I found this in one of my old sketchbooks last night and played around with it a little. Have I mentioned I have a new phone photo app which I am loving messing around with? (probably accounts for some of my wasted time!)

I started stitching this piece a few years ago..... and recently found some supplies online which I have been keeping an eye out for- bulk Mother of Pearl buttons! I can't wait for them to arrive this week so I can pull this out of storage and continue on as if a few years really haven't lapsed! Quite excited at the prospect of actually finishing it! I just need to remember which box, crate or bag I saw it in recently!

... a vintage Deer Head.

I've just listed a couple of vintage items in my Etsy store including this cute little deer head!

I'm gradually getting organised to list more items. I've been working on some more hanging hearts as they sold really well previously and they are such fun to make from vintage household linens and embellish further with embroidery, stamping, fabric features, buttons and beads....! Coming soon...!

Deer Head Ornament (mini mead decanter) listed on Etsy

CheshireSheOak ETSY STORE REOPENED!

I've finally reopened my Etsy store! Such a fabulous site for handmade & vintage items and supplies for creating handmade items. There are so many talented artists and artisans the world over and this is a fabulous platform from which to sell and buy.

I'm so excited to be a part of this again!

Please feel free to click on the ETSY link  on the right hand side of my blog page! I have a OOAK art doll listed and hope to gradually add more over the coming weeks!

Half Time (.....of the mid year)

My name is Sandi and it has been 2 months since I have blogged!

On the flip side I have a (challenging) new job which I am learning to love and am even finding some time for persuing my art. Life is good! 

I'm enjoying the garden on weekends (having planted some winter vegies and annuals). I'm loving sitting by the fire in the evening and am teaching myself to relax! It really is ok to just chill sometimes!

I've dug out my sketchbooks and am enjoying the variety and numerous ideas I've sketched and planned over the years! Resurrecting some projects, the multitude of ideas are leading me down new paths. I will never get them all made or even started..... but it's wonderful to be looking forward.

 Older sketchbook ideas....

Latest sketchbook ideas.... getting excited about starting this one! Royal II

An old idea revisited...... in a much smaller scale!

The original.....

Off to start this one................. seriously! Tonight.

Framed!

All ready for the exhibition!

'THE KISSING TREE'

'ROYAL #1 POMEGRANATE'

'JOURNEY INTO THE LANDSCAPE (ORIGINAL)'

So very happy with how these turned out! Delivered to the exhibition venue on time!

Royal Progress....

I am so pleased with the progress on Royal #1 Pomegranate. It has been such a pleasure to stitch and I am enjoying the colour combinations..... especially the leaves on the right hand side! I have to get a wiggle on though as the exhibition I want to put this in is only a few weeks away...! 

I 

 ROYAL POMEGRANATE #1

MOSTLY COMMERCIAL PRINTED FABRIC WITH SOME HAND DYED FABRIC (VINTAGE LINEN AND COTTON) AND UPCYCLED CLOTHING....

DETAIL  

RAW AND TURNED EDGE APPLIQUED LEAVES

SPOTTY DAISIES

COMMERCIAL PRINTED POLKA DOT FABRIC WITH STITCHED DAISY CENTRES AND LEAVES. SEED STITCH LEAVES.

Royal - New Textile Piece

I have always been fascinated with Pomegranates. They have such a beautiful shape, topped with a sweet little crown. We had a small tree in our country garden where I grew up and as an adult have been guilty of buying them from the supermarket because they look fabulous in the fruit bowl.... with the intention of painting or drawing them. Occasionally I remember to at least photograph them! Consequently they rarely end up eaten either.....

Black and white commercially printed cotton as the background; the pomegrantate shape is cut from a thrift shop top that I sadly couldn't fit into! ...I have satin stitched the seeds and will probably kantha stitch the entire background and finally add some borders.... 

I am imagining a series of these.....

 ROYAL POMEGRANATE #1 (DETAIL)

There are a couple of exhibitions coming up that I would love to exhibit in so I had better get busy and get this one framed. The Kissing Tree- finally completed!

THE KISSING TREE (DETAIL)

I'll post pictures of the finished framed pieces. 

The Fruits of Her Labour

THE FRUITS OF HER LABOUR

A new piece created from a scrap of woolen tweed; hand dyed silk and a segment from an old neck tie. The basic tree has been kicking around in one of my many bags/boxes of fabric for about 5 years! I came across it a couple of weeks ago and it was just begging for fruit (a mix of hand painted, dyed and commercial fabrics); and then leaves..... The binding is my latest purchase; a commercially printed cotton. 

I framed it in time for a gallery opening in Nundle, New South Wales. A great night had by all! Thank you to wonderful hosts Linda and Mark Floyd of Nundle Art Gallery / Volcania Art Glass.

Another New Beginning....

So, the house is half packed up ready for my next move and yet somehow I find the time to stitch. It's such a necessity for me.

Stitching = Destressing + Creativity = Sanity

Hand dyed linen and silk; definitely landscape inspired. More to come once the move is complete: a little closer to Christmas.

....of finishing off.

I have finally finished 'SUMMER OF MY CONTENT'!

 'SUMMER OF MY CONTENT'

It's now ready for framing! The background is a hand stitched patchwork of rust dyed fabric. Pieces of commercial printed fabric were added and embellished with embroidery and raw edge applique. The lace centrepiece is also hand dyed 

'SUMMER OF MY CONTENT' - detail

I went out this afternoon to get a single skein of embroidery floss to match something else I'm working on... Look what I came back with! Fabrics to die for with luscious colours and designs. I rarely use large quantities of commercial fabrics so these will turn up in much smaller portions cut or torn down... 

 Raw Materials for Future Works!

I generally work on several pieces at once... (saves boredom!) with the occasional push to get something finished for an exhibition.

This piece from my TREE OF LIFE series is nearing completion. It was started quite some time ago....!

'TREE OF LIFE: THE KISSING TREE'

More UFO's (UnFinished Objects) coming out of boxes and bags and drawers. They are like old friends. Looking at them with fresh eyes and Spring in my step....!

....on starting afresh!

I have had internet issues for a while now and life has been soooo unbelievably busy I really haven't had time to blog!

I'm back with a new blog name and another huge change to take effect within a few months...  and then I should hopefully have more time to devote to art and blogging!

Here's a little piece I am working on. Well actually it was a single piece but I cut it in half as it just wasn't right! A few hours more work on each and I think they may be ready to frame!

Hand dyed cotton, commercial printed cotton (new and upcycled) , upcycled sari silk, thai silk and hand dyed pashima.

With a Twist

I am busy working on new pieces for my upcoming Exhibition in early November! I am holding a joint exhibition with Lynda Coffey; a very talented artist in many media! The With a Twist Exhibition will be held at Edelweiss Gallery at Dungowan NSW.

We will be showing a mix of older and new work. Works on Paper and Canvas; Textile Art; Jewellery; Upcycled Fashion Design and Mixed Media. A truly ecclectic collection!

My latest piece is developing nicely. I use upcycled household linen, Japanese kimono silk, commercial printed cottons, sari fabrics from India, and hand dyed fabrics. This little piece is titled EarlyBird!

Times they are a changing...........

I've had some massive changes in my life over the last 6-8 months; the most recent being my separation from my darling hubby. It's complicated! ......... and still very painful. We have moved location; I'm no longer rural but living in suburbia. It has it's pluses but I miss the country very much; and our menagarie of pets!
Home and work are within a few km's radius which makes for a limited commute time which is wonderful! I am appreciating being close to shops and services too....

I wanted to add a photo of my most recent piece. I had a similar one stolen from my unlocked car along with some jewellery 3 months or so ago. My own fault. Silly. I was devestated. So many hours of stitching. It was whilst staying at my sister-in-law's house before moving into my current abode.... blogger isn't letting me add a photo so I'll edit once I've posted this....

Update Coming Soon!

I've been away from the blogosphere for a little while now but hope to be back on board soon!

Upcycled Brooches!

I’ve been working away madly making clothes for an upcycled fashion parade to be held locally this weekend! A friend and I have got together and are just having so much fun altering clothes; cutting bits off and joining things back together again. We’ve made some amazing creations and some wonderfully wearable looks too…!

I’ve just finished some upcycled brooches to add to our stall on the night. These have been great fun to make. Until I learn how to collage all 5 images into one; I’ll have to load all 5 separately!

I made these with leftover portions of doileys, stacked circles of fabric (dyed vintage linens & fabric scraps) from the upcycled sewing frenzy here in the studio. I then free motion stitched over the whole lot; added some tails and a little hand embroidery. I stitched a simple brooch pin on the back to finish....

They look quite quirky - and I like quirky!

Click on photos for more detail!

Of the colour Red… plus bitumen!

I promised photos of my new red living room…. Wow! It is a different room and I adore it. I love being immersed in colour as opposed to just splashes of colour or feature walls….. Even the horrid brown panelling painted beautifully (with Antique White USA (Dulux)) It was perfect for all the trim and a built in bookcase near the front door too… I’m so happy with the colour… Red Stop (also Dulux) Love it, Love it!

New living room colour + Mojo!

After!

Before!

I just need a few new cushions and a rug and a throw rug. There isn't much wall space left for artwork...but maybe just a few small pieces...?!

While I'm on the colour Red, this is where I'm up to with my Tree Of Life #2! I still have some little details to stitch on... some tree roots, an edging, some details on the sun and moon I think, and some more hair on bird self (I've gone red again!)

my Tree of Life #2

I tried out the bitumen technique that Gary Reef shared on his site Loving Mixed Media again. I think I’m officially hooked! Here is the first one finished…

Bitumen experiment #1

This one is I used a simple paper doiley and a wall décor sticker thingy as a stencil…

Bitumen experiment #2

This circular one is another old unfinished collage (there’s more of them hanging around the studio that might get a face lift yet!) Not finished rubbing back yet....

Bitumen experiment #3

Eager to try some more!

Meeting a friend to discuss our entries into an upcoming upcycled fashion parade...

Bitumen Mixed Media Experiment....

I haven’t been here for a little while…….but I promise I have been busy; very busy!

We’ve had the floor in our main living area sanded and polished; and the walls painted –red! More of that in a later post…

I’ve been mostly working on another tree of life textile piece – photos later; but I really wanted to link to this amazing Mixed Media Photo Tutorial by Gary Reef on Loving Mixed Media. There's another link to his site in my sidebar too...

When I saw this I just had to give it a go! I used an unfinished collage on a stretched canvas that just wasn't working the way I had envisaged! I painted over it with white paint, added some stencilling, bitumen and more stencilling....

I really like it like this even!

Then started rubbing back into the bitumen with some turps..... WOW!

Not finished yet; Boy am I having fun playing though. The technique involves collage, bitumen, spray paint and stencils…… WOW! Thanks Gary for an amazing tutorial… I might get brave enough to post a photo of my finished piece on LMM! I think I'm hooked on the technique (despite the smell of the bitumen!) and regardless of how this turns out will definitely try some more!!!

Back Soon..............! xo

Done, dusted and delivered!

Yay, not long back from a day trip to Glen Innes to deliver my teapot and a friend's leadlight teapot clock! I got a sneak peek at some of the other entries…. Amazing talent! Some of the ceramic ones were especially creative!

So, I'm going to bore you with some final photos of the completed 'Crazy Glazy Beadpot' !

Crazy Glazy Teapot

Stuffed Felt Construction; beaded with Japanese Toho Beads

Spout- detail

Almost Cuppa Time!!!!!

Just a quick update on my teapot! I may not have time to photograph it again before delivering it to the exhibiting gallery on Monday! I've added the spout! It looks just like I imagined!! Apologies for the poor photo quality....

About 90% beaded!

And here is our latest addition to the Puddleduck Farm Menagerie!

Latest Highland Teddy Bear (We're proud parents for the 3rd time in 2 weeks!)

Back to beading........................................!

I'm a little TEA_ _ T!!

Some more progress on my challenge piece... still many, many hours of beading to go! I'm trying to bead the spout as much as possible before attaching it ; I'm finding the already stitched on handle extremely hard going!

Beaded Teapot - spout still to be attached!

Q What's better than 1 little highland teddy bear baby? A That would be 2 little highland teddy bear babies; they are just so adorable…

A frosty morning last week! 2 baby Highlands!...and 2 proud Mums (3 if you count me!)

...and little Mojo is fitting right in too; he’s such a sweeti! ( I think he's been watching the cats a little too closely!)

Apologies for the spacing and layout in my posts; blogger is really not working that well for me!