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!

June Babies! ....real babies!

Oh, what an exciting day! We have 2 new babies!

Here's the first little guy!

Mojo - a Shitzu Maltese X

(a wee play mate for Cee-Cee)

and the second; a little Highland Calf - born either overnight or early this morning!

Highland Calf

The kids found Mojo at the pet shop this morning. I've been looking for a black Maltese/Shitzu X as a friend for Cee-Cee for a little while now. Not urgently looking; just keeping an eye out looking! I knew I wanted a boy and I knew his name was Mojo..... He's every bit as adorable as Cee-Cee and I know they'll be great mates! He's about 10-12 weeks old.

When we arrived back from town Jon went down to feed the alpacas, sheep, mini horse and cattle some hay; he arrived back up at the house a few minutes later very excited; 'we've got another new addition to the family'! It's our first calf born on our property and we're soooo excited. It looks like a wee teddy bear!

What a wonderous day!

More good news; the recycled art exhibition I wanted to enter the bread tag piece into, has extended it's entry date... so there's a chance I may get it finished after all...... other wise I was just going to hang onto it for next year's deadline!

Still working on the Te _ _ _ t too!

Assuming Shape

Finally this is starting to look like something apart from a pumpkin!

Felt and hobbyfill construction; including handle. Knob is a large timber bead, covered with felt and beaded. Rose decoration not quite complete (urgently awaiting beads to arrive in the post!)

Knob and lid detail

The reason the beading is looking a little random at the moment is that I'm using up the last of the beads I have with the view to infil and cover the T_ _ _ _ _ completely when the others arrive!

Awaiting the appendage that will make it's identity obvious!

Another little something I'm working on; for a recycled waste to art entry; due Friday (this Friday). I only started today... I made a little chart from some X-stitch software I have....

I'm using bread tags and hand dyed recycled rice bags. But I think I'm going to run out of bread tags! I've asked hubby to ask everyone at his work to bring in any they have at home... I need 960 all up... Am I going to get it completed in time? Probably not! Maybe for the 2012 challenge!!!!!!!! Not at all like me to work that far ahead. :) Wish me luck (I'm working Thurs and Friday too)

Back to the bread tags; no mail today (we only get it delivered 3 times a week) Sigh, so no more beads yet.....

Any guesses...?

Still not a pumpkin.... busy working away at my challenge piece. Can you believe I've already run out of beads and have had to order some from the States! I hope they arrive in time for me to finish this piece as I really want to enter something! i have spent many hours beading already - mostly keeping hubby company as he watches TV!

Bottom view! Not a pumpkin!

Detail; Not a pumpkin.

I've finally finished My Flaming Heart piece! I added text, some recycled sari silk ribbon and vintage doilies to the clouds and edges. I'm happy with how it turned out and am itching to frame it! That's the only problem with working as a framer.... I want to frame EVERYTHING!!!!

Finally finished! My Flaming Heart

Detail: My Flaming Heart - Vintage doiley pieces as clouds, backstitch text, recycled sari silk ribbon

Detail: My Flaming Heart - Beading

Working on some other things too... which I'll show progress on gradually!

Trussed and Tied and ready to Dye.........

Sounds a little ominous but really it's all about shibori! Here's some photos of the next stage of the upcycled silk scarf...

Upcycled Silk Scarf

Gathered and tied; ready for the dye bath

It took me a little longer to stitch and gather and tie up than I thought! Never mind, it's in the dye bath now... only an hour or so to wait until I can get it out and remove the stitching! I can't wait to see how it turns out.....

Running stitch, gathered up and tied off - front

Back view of shibori gathers