:: the handmade amoeba ::

Bougainvillea EcoPrinting

2012-02-02T15:29:00.000+08:00

Progression: Parcel of cotton and petals. Frozen. Rolled with a rolling pin. Left out to dry. Opened. Prints. Fuzzy up close. Good takeup of colour. Next time try with soy mordant.

Eucalyptus EcoPrinting

2012-02-02T15:24:00.000+08:00

Progression: Bundles of cloth out of the dyepot. Unbinding. Fabulous aromas. Eucalyptus bound in cotton and wool. Pre-modanted with soy. Not a great result. Even the wool is disappointing. It should pick up plant dyes like a sponge in water. Slight evidence of printing in the last picture, lower left!

Onion Skins

2012-02-02T13:56:00.000+08:00

Progression: From rolled and wrapped bundle of white cotton sheeting and brown onion skins; boiled and simmered into beautiful hues of yellows and oranges.

Instruction: From India Flint's EcoColour and the Prophet of Bloom

Saturday Saunter in Mt Lawley

2011-11-21T15:54:00.000+08:00

More random snappings.
This week coming to you from Beaufort Street in Mount Lawley, Perth WA.
A gorgeous sunny day with amazing clear blue skys.
Stopping off at Elmars for hot shnitzel dogs.
Calling into gorgeous boutiques along the way.

I don't know what all this means. An eskimo perhaps? With bad leg
and a crutch, a giraffe? Missed his head, sorry!
Beautifully painted.

Lots of Art Deco style influences around here. This is a
beautiful mosaic on an apartment block. If I remember
right there is a cafe downstairs... then again, every other
establishment is a cafe.

These can't be original Art Deco, but I think they make the humble
streetlight much more attractive.

I could buy up the shop. I saw 'Zakka' and was inside in a trice.
Everything is so cute. And it doesn't just sell giftware, but crafty bits too.
My haul included a lovely french style handwriting alphabet stamp set,
a decorative zipper that you stitch on the outside of the item to show it off,
and some fabulous washi tape with sewing patterns printed all over... love!
This is Zakka Box.

Such a pretty pooch.
In Zakka Box

Loopopoly woz here!

And Loopopoly did this!

But I don't know who did this.

Aren't they fantastic!
Because it's not too clear in the pic... I'll tell you they're birdies ;)

Saturday Saunter

2011-11-15T11:38:00.001+08:00

Outside Freemantle Markets... somewhat unexpected...

This caught my eye next to the hospital on South Terrace, Freo.

Back to Freo again, but this time in the glorious sunshine. Had a chance to go by myself, woohoo, so I headed straight for the markets - I normally get groaned at for suggesting this! The plan was to window shop only this weekend... payday not until middle of the week! Did pretty well for the most. Hit the vintage clothing shop on Wray Avenue and picked up an overdress (to wear with trousers) for $10... and then spent up at the veg shop a little further up... grabbing a couple of huge pots of herbs for the garden at $4 each!! Then up to the market to find a snack and check out Georgina Mavor's place with beautiful handmade journals. I was rather shy as I wasn't spending so I shall introduce next time around... sorry Georgina!! Do you ever do that... feel a little embarassed that you're not going to buy from a handmade stall, just wanting a looksee? Promise to treat myself next time, honest! One of her journals would make the most perfect sketchbook.

While in the market I achieved the aim of a snack with the best piece of pizza EVER. And it wasn't even cooked!! A totally delicious piece of buckwheat and courgette dehydrated base with a topping of tomatoes, basil, olives, hummous and sundried tomoato puree - divine. Completely raw and bursting with flavour. That was from The Raw Kitchen stall if you're ever there. At $8 a slice it was way more than I'd normally spend, but that seemed to be the going rate for all snacks in the market... but it was a great choice and kept me going until the BBQ in the evening. I might just be a convert to raw foodiness if it tastes that good!

Yarn Bombing outside Wild Poppy on Wray Avenue
Fremantle

These were hanging from the branches of the same yarn bombed tree!

Terrible photo I know... totally didn't see the post - duh!
I was so taken by the colours on the side of the building.

Freo Markets - Fabulous snack stall. They've got a cafe round
the corner in a lovely little precinct too... got to try that next time!

Raw Pizza from the Raw Kitchen! Divine.

Sketchbook Delight 6

2011-11-08T15:57:00.000+08:00

Necklace sketched in fineliner with watercolour pencil shading

Line sketching with fineliner and watercolour pencil
to add shading... rather random shading!

Saturday Saunter

2011-11-07T13:39:00.000+08:00

I just can't stay home on a Saturday. Tried it, can't do it. After being at work all week, doing the school run, going home, dinner, bed... Saturday is the day to get out and about and see the world, or at least a little bit of it.

This week's saunter took place in Freo.* We were on our way to the bike shop to select the bike to replace the one that was stolen a few months back (grrr) and found the same problem the world over, especially on a rainy Saturday - nowhere to park. Correction, nowhere to park for free! Solution, side of the road further out of the centre. Result, we were in a leafy suburb and a short walk to where we needed to be. Even better, the local shops were fantastic, including a fabulous fresh veg shop - very fresh and very well priced for WA - on Wray Avenue. To top that find was an emergency stop off at this shop, Pekho. Emergency? I saw rolls of fabric which just had to be looked at. I can't walk past that! A fabulous shop that I must revisit without darling daughter to have a proper look. All locally made products, and a fabulous remnant of screen printed mossy green linen... that was what caught my eye, and I promise to post you a picture of it later. After being depressed by the offering of a Spotlight visit earlier in the day, my spirits were lifted with this excellent find.

Here are a few snaps of the sights of Wray Avenue... and I'm ultra happy to have seen yarn bombing at long last in real life... just outside Diamond Aps Recycling Boutique.. and another shop pictured below which I completely forgot to capture the name of.. and which doesn't show up well on Google street view.

Pekho Wear and Wares

Decorated windowsills on a boutique clothing shop

Outside the same boutique on Wray Avenue... a delightful piece of embroidery
and applique

Yay, I've seen Yarn Bombing at last!!

How cute are these!

This is inside Wild Poppy's, a delightful and relaxed cafe on the corner of
Wray and South Terrace. I've seen these vintage doily lighshades
in many magazines, and they look fabulous... they're quite large and
en masse they are both boho and chic, standing out prettily against
the dark green and black walls.

* Freo = Fremantle WA

CHOGM comes to PERTH

2011-11-04T14:04:00.000+08:00

Not many words today. Instead I wanted to share some of the images captured from the day of the Great Aussie BBQ held in Perth last Saturday to celebrate the end of the weeklong Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)... some are of the event, others from a wander through the CBD and city afterwards....

Perth Esplenade (Alf Curlewis Gardens)

Wouldn't this look amazing on the hilside below Kings Park
overlooking the Swan River!

Our viewscreen on the Esplanade... sorry about the quality!!

The Queen's arrival at the Esplanade

er, not sure, but he was amazing on the didgeridoo!

there, you can see him on the right of the picture..

Early and Late 20th Century (don't quote me on that one)

This would make an amazing quilt pattern!
This is the new Commonwealth Bank building

This is the old Commonwealth Bank building next door

Style and Pattern

Elephant Kisses!

Mega Flora Chogmosis in the Urban Orchard

Weaving a Peacock's Tail

The Ayres Rock Surf Lifesaving Club
AKA Pinstripe Circus

Indiginous Car Art!

The colours were overwhelming, and beautifully executed.

The attention to detail is just stunning.

My Creative Space

2011-11-03T12:16:00.001+08:00

People that know me know that I don't do jeans. What!!! I hear you gasp... you don't wear what most people practically live in? Nope, never have, but.... maybe will. You see the problem is, I like my clothes to fit and be comfortable. Nothing wrong in that per se, but you see jeans just don't fit the criteria. They have been found to fit where they touch, to gape at the waist, to cut one in half when sitting, and with the trend for low waistlines, well the problem is exacerbated manyfold. The solution is, therefore, to make my own. But then I still can't be sure that when I make them myself that they'll be any better than something off the peg. My dressmaking skills are something not to be desired! At least for anything I make myself. Kiddies, no problem. Me, nah!

So what to do? Well as luck would have it, on a wander through Perth city centre en route from going to see the Queen (think CHOGM here) to Myer I came across Fabulous Fabrics on Murray Street that I just had to wander into, just for a looksee. There, next to the door was a copy of the latest Vogue catalogue and in it was this:

image courtesy of the Marcy Tilton Website

Now I've followed Marcy Tilton's blog for a while and have one of her tops patterns that is still to be made (more on that in another post) and hadn't seen this pattern before... actually what I'd not noticed on the web picture, that the catalogue made abundantly clear, was that the dark longer trousers are made in denim. Click! A very comfortable, loose fitting, but well fitted, pair of jeans - or denim trousers? - is within my grasp as the pattern is now mine!!

I have to confess that now I'm stuck for the denim - I have some but it's very heavy, and not good for the upcoming summer.. so if anyone is in the know about where to get a medium to light weight denim in Western Australia at a reasonable price (ie. not $28 a meter as is a lot of fabric) do drop me a comment.... otherwise it's back to ebay.co.uk.

I have, however, started on a toile. This is, as I gather, the correct way to try a pattern. Not to start out in the final fabric, mess it up, throw it in a corner and sulk for the next three months! So the pattern has been duly traced onto some newsprint paper and cut out, pinned to check fit, unpinned and afixed to some old duvet fabric... and cut out. That is where I am up to. But keep a watch on next week's Creative Space and I might just have progressed some. In fact that is what will spur me on... I WILL have progress some, or a lot!!

Hop on over to Our Creative Space to check out the crafty creativeness that spans our planet this week.

Marcy Tilton's Vogue V8499 traced onto paper

I know it doesn't look like it
but this is the pattern pinned for fitting

Vintage Viking

2011-11-02T14:33:00.003+08:00

Vintage 1970's sewing pattern from Etsy seller CynicalGirl

A great day, much awaited... my vintage pattern from Etsy seller CYNICALGIRL has arrived from America! I saw this pattern and had to have it no matter what! I mean, it wasn't because it was a bag or a rucksack, but because of the picture and the freedom it represents. It reminds of a time when cycling was not battling the traffic in dayglo lycra, but a pleasant way to travel for fun along country lanes in something a little more elegant.

It also reminded me of an old blue army rucksack that I had for Guide summer camps in the 80's which was probably new around the early 70's and was made in exactly the same colour with cream trim (so I think I remember) as the picture above.

The plan? To make this backpack, with one or two updates, and perhaps a colourful lining, in some hefty canvas that will, like the old rucksack, withstand any amount of packing and bashing. And perhaps to put one or two for sale on MadeIt or Etsy.... maybe?

I didn't know Viking had published patterns... but this will be a perfect
partner for my Husqvarna Viking Lilly sewing machine

Never even been opened before...

but it has been now... I love that it's printed on durable paper, not flimsy tissue.

Delightful and clear drawings printed right alongside the pattern pieces.

Hop over HERE for more amazing creativity from around the globe!

Sketchbook Delight 5

2011-11-01T13:43:00.000+08:00

Pitt Artist Pen and Tombow ABTs

Pitt Artist Pen, Tombows and Watercolour Paint

Trying out patterns and repeats... with a bit of shading. Need to fill the page better, but I quite like these. Not sure I'd do this too often... I was getting a little fed up with the green!! Prefered doing the little brightly coloured version... and yes the background shading on the green one is definitely dodgy!! ;D

Sketchbook Delight 4

2011-10-27T15:09:00.000+08:00

I must offer my apologies for this picture. It is not good. It is not really my best! But I like the naive style. I know the perspective is shot to bits and is lying all around the sewing room floor. There are so many mistakes and I know this looks nothing like the original... but you don't know that, and I'm not letting on... ah! oh well!
Practice, practice, practice, go get a glass of wine and do something completely different....

Sketchbook Delight 3

2011-10-25T14:46:00.001+08:00

Next to my rotary washing line there is a huge frondy, shaggy pile of a plant. I've no idea what it is, but it's very graceful if rather oversize. It had been cut down to ground level when I moved into the house last year, but it's now well over 5' tall and more than that around. I've just had a peek around the native flora websites to find out what it is, but still none the wiser... I shall have to take a photo and post it here to see if anyone can identify it :) Meantime, this is a sketch of one of the stems off one of the fronds of this plant. I found it quite hard to get a handle on how to demonstrate the 3D-ness of the leaves.. that some of them were turned over as I put the stem down on the table... so I wouldn't be surprised if some of the shading is in the wrong place!!

B Pencil with Staedtler watercolour pencil highlights

Sketchbook Delight 2

2011-10-24T12:55:00.000+08:00

Moving on to finding a muse, or inspiration, for things to sketch. I have to confess that after having a quick scout around for interesting and unusual items, I ended up with leaves. Not what I planned, but there are so many varieties in the garden it was silly not to use them and give up stressing over finding something 'different'!

This is a continuation of the previous mark making experiment... water colour paints.. all of them from one tin to act as reference for the colour and coverage.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-10-23T13:17:00.001+08:00

No light at the end of this tunnel!

Taken earlier in the year on the heritage cycle trail up near Midland in WA on an insanely bright day! This is an old tunnel on a disused railway line that's great for cycling or walking. The children with us thought this was awesome for rock climbing.

Join in or just take a looksee at today's SSS images over at Hey Harriet

Sketchbook Delight 1

2011-10-19T13:28:00.000+08:00

Click here to find out more or join!

That title reminds me of that dessert I used to love as a child called Angel Delight! But this is no pudin', this is the title of a fantastic online course that I joined yesterday. It's run by artist and teacher Alisa Burke and is stuffed full of videos and ideas and fun. I've just looked at the first lesson all in one go and started putting together my first pages already, which is saying something for someone who is daunted by a blank page, let alone a blank book! I was somewhat cautious as, although I admire and read Alisa's blog regularly, I wasn't sure if it was going to be right for me... but when I sussed that $50 is only around 30 quid, I thought that really there wasn't anything to lose!! And it's been money well spent from the first day. I tried another online drawing/doodling course recently and I found it just wasn't my style... I couldn't get inspired to keep going. Perhaps it's because I see Alisa's beautiful bold and bright work and think that I'd like to draw and design like her, that will make this time more successful. Watch this space.

So here is my starting point... beginning to try out different mark making tools (paints, pastels, pens and pencils...hey all the P's!) to see what effect happens when blended... if they do... and to create a reference book for future use. So these little snaps represent sketching pencils, chalky pastels and Tombow brush pens. I'm so looking forward to trying out watercolour pencils and paints tonight ... I had no idea I'd find this simple, yet vital excercise, so much fun, but it really is!! I think because this is going to serve as a reference for future sketching I should also add a record of all the colours I have in a particular media so I can instantly see which tool produces which colour..

Chalky Pastels - hard to control, but loving the effect.
The black looks more like charcoal.

WH Smith Sketching Pencils B to 6B blended with a finger!
I love the serenity of monochrome
Note to self: get some cotton buds for blending.. fingers get filthy black!!

Tombow ABT brush pens from the Brights set blended with water.
I love the watercolouriness of the yellow/cyan blend on the right!

Time Flies

2011-09-16T12:56:00.000+08:00

Wow, has it really been over a month since I last posted? I hadn't noticed the time flying so fast. It's been manic at work, there's been a rental inspection to get ready for, there's been a new car to buy, there have been things to make for Girl Guides and basically I've not paid much attention to the old blogeroony. I think back and wonder what on earth there is to report... there's so much but at the same time would you really want to know?! And in any case I didn't photograph most of it... oops, going to regret that!

What I can tell you is that one's son is better off to the tune of several hundred dollars after winning a school competition to design the school logo in any media of choice. Of course he chose lego and took inspiration from the Google Lego Logo by Sean Kenney. The resulting model won 8th out of 10 winning places and has been featured in a new advert to go out next week on West Australian TV... I don't know the channel yet but look out for an ad for Murdoch College. Totally awesome kiddo!!

And just to show I have been doing something creative, here are the hands to prove it:

Index Card A Day Nos 28,29,30 and 31

2011-08-11T13:23:00.000+08:00

Doodled in a coffee shop in Subiaco high street... mmm delish coffee, shame
about the cup.. didn't quite look like that!! ;)
Zig fineliners

Trying out my new Tombow brush pens. Oops appear to have
two the same, but on closer inspection there is a minute difference
in which one is warmer than the other... and different

Happy Birthday CJ!

Inspired by Jude Hill's spirit cloth with hearts that have been appliqued
and then little bits of emboroidery added to meld them into the background.
Love her work heaps!
I want to use this now to have a go at building my own cloth.

Index Card A Day No.25, 26 and 27

2011-07-28T15:07:00.001+08:00

Surprisingly pleased with this one! Pitt fineliner and random felt pens.

Started life in black and white with decorated tentacles..
well some of them..
kind of lost interest and filled the rest in with Tombow brush pen colours.
I didn't like the monochrome, but I love the coloured version!
Lettering inspired by The Notebook Doodles' blog.

Started to try out doodling lines as part of the new Doodlecamp
prompt, but I have to say I got a bit bored after the first half dozen!
I thought it was starting to look like curtains for this one, hence
the curtain rings around the red rulling ;)

Index Card A Day No.24

2011-07-22T10:57:00.001+08:00

Doodled while listening to the children read to me. JG is reading Hating Alison Ashley in preparation for studying the play of the book in English this semester. CJ is reading the first of the Harry Potter books. I had a bit of a fight on my hands to get them started on the books. Neither of them are what one might call avid readers - something which is very frustrating to me as I was a bit of a bookworm as a child and still always have a book on the go now. I just don't see them lost in a story in the same way. It's just a rush to get through the story in monotone, and I frequently have to get them to slow down and make sense of what they're reading, to find the voices of the characters, to make the scene come alive. Each to their own eh!?

Oh, the inspiration today is drom the May/June edition of Selvedge Magazine and an article on the St Jude's Gallery in the UK. This is from a fabric pattern which detailed wheat ears and poppies - a classic English rural scene rendered in doodling!

Index Card A Day No.23

2011-07-22T10:50:00.002+08:00

Combining two challenges here!! ICAD and celebrating the start of an online course on doodling run by Dawn Sokol of d'Blogola. I'm enjoying doodling lettering at the moment (can you tell?). Probably because I've always loved hand drawn letters, and I especially love the use of lettering in textile art - which is something I want to develop as I've never had much of a go at it before. My objective with this course is to get more confident with different styles of doodling, develop a standard set of patterns that I can call on to fill in doodles, and to translate doodling from drawing to sewing in some way. I have some ideas on how to do this with applique and scribble stitching... it's more of a case that practice makes one more confident - note I didn't say perfect!!! That's not what I'm after.. I'm looking to find a creative style that works for me, that I can develop and make my own. I don't feel I have that yet. I am still at the stage of needing to look to other artists and doodlers for inspiration and prompts. This will take more time than the space of one online course, but it's a starting point.

And if you're interested in joining the doodling camp then hop on over to the DoodleCamp signup page. It costs $55 (USD) to join, which I think is excellent value for all the course information, videos, givaways and so on. Here is a quote from the signup page which says it all:

"Well, I can’t teach you HOW to doodle because everyone already knows how to do that. Doodling is a form of art but it’s also form of meditation, brainstorming, experimentation, and documentation. I want to help you get your doodle juices flowing. I will post daily doodling prompts (M-F) to the private class blog. There will also be videos on a few different art techniques you can incorporate into your doodling. I will show you how to make a tape-bound journal for the class. We’ll discuss friendship bracelets, friendship sticks, and maybe even cootie catchers! I’ll post sneak peeks at the interior of my upcoming book, Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys (which ISN’T just for boys!). Every student will be entered into a drawing for signed copies of Doodle Diary: Art Journaling for Girls and Doodle Sketchbook, Radiant Rains, and pens supplied by Sakura of America. I will also conduct a discussion about marking tools to give you insight into the types of pens I use." D.Sokol

Index Card A Day No.22

2011-07-20T12:25:00.001+08:00

Zig Fineliner and random felt pens

As you can see I was a bit stuck for inspiration. It was back to Print and Pattern and the art of Kate Seaward for the frame ideas and some of the lettering. I couldn't think of anything to put in the frame that wasn't going to take ages to draw so it was A Blank Canvas... except now it isn't!

Index Card A Day No.21

2011-07-16T23:28:00.001+08:00

Half Way Celebration with Zig Drawing Pen and Smiggle Gel Pens

Whew, just in time, I hope, to join in the little giveaway over at Daisy Yellow to celebrate the half way point in the Index Card A Day ~~Summer~~ Winter Challenge! I'm not sure I've managed a card every day - some days seem to flash by before I've had a chance to grab a card and scribble. But I've certainly been there in spirit I think :)

PS the crossed out summer is because it is decidedly winter down under in the southern hemisphere! Although today was a most beautiful 21 degrees, warm and sunny, every bit a northern European summer!

Index Card A Day No.20

2011-07-14T11:00:00.000+08:00

Pitt fineliner and Faber Castell felt pens

Today's card was inspired by a Stampassions birdhouse stamp that I've had kicking around for years and years. It's one of my favourite images that I often use for gift tags as it has a little box underneath the houses for a name.... so I thought I'd use the little houses and make them large enough to fill an index card. They looked a little lost all on their own, hanging in space, so I thought I'd give them a tree branch.... hope it's strong enough to hold all these houses!!

Index Card A Day No.19

2011-07-14T10:54:00.001+08:00

Sakura and Pitt fineliners; watercolours

Another play with watercolours today - this time just as a quick splash of colour. I was inspired by another ICAD player for the flowers. I'm still at the stage where I need direct ideas on how to doodle anything, so I was on the hunt for doodling flower shapes and for the zentangle style leaves. I'm trying to find the original inspiration, but I just can't find it today - as soon as I do I will attribute it!!

Index Card A Day No.18

2011-07-13T12:39:00.000+08:00

Watercolour paint and Sharpie Fineliner

My first stab at painting a card first and then drawing a Daisy Yellow inspired flower! Maybe I should have taken the paint over the edges, but I was really just messing about without a great deal of thought going into it. The paints aren't particularly good - a set of old WHSmith (UK) paints bought for GBP1.99 is never going to be that great!! In fact I have an ancient tin of kiddies paints (made in England so must be old!) that are way better pigment wise - that's what I used for the red highlighting. Hmm, I think I've a lot to learn vis a vis the painting thing!! ;) Also the Sharpie pen tended to get clogged with dust from the paint surface... will try the Pitt pen next time.

Index Card A Day Nos. 14, 15, 16 & 17

2011-07-10T12:11:00.000+08:00

Sakura Gelly Roll Black and various colour pens
I got bored with drawing in the windows on the buildings
so I decided to fill in the space with trees instead, having
a go at blending a few pen colours to give them dimension.

The darling daughter decided she'd draw some trees too. She did the brown trunks
and green canopies... then I picked it up later and did some outlining
in black and added the darker colours to give dimension... the bird was
mine along with the sky.... sorry CJ!

This is a Hero Arts stamp - I love many of their stamps as they often look
hand dawn not like perfect digital art... anyway, this one is coloured
with the usual Staedtler fibre pens. I added trees to break up the background.

and with this one I used watercolours - hence the more washed out look
and a curly card!! I could iron it flat again.... maybe ;)

This is my first attempt at a zentangle... I was searching for them on
Pinterest and came across a tiny little tute showing how to build up this
very simple pattern. It was called 'a tangleation'. It was ok, easy enough,
but I prefer colour, and am tempted to colour in some of the lines... although
I will have a go at more zentangles, I will probably make them more varied - I
found this a bit boring after a while.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-07-10T09:27:00.003+08:00

I'm going back a few months here to find some good shadows! It's been somewhat overcast recently with a relatively weak sun. I say relatively - the warmth coming from it in the middle of an Aussie winter is any bit as good as that felt during a northern European summer! The feel of the sun on my back on a cool day is one of my all time favourite feelings. The feel of heat just on that spot between the shoulder blades, ahh I can just feel it by thinking about it!!

Anyway, today's shadow shot is brought to you, courtesy of Hey Harriet and the Autumnal sunshine on a fishing jetty over the Swan River in Perth. As the picture above looks more like a wall than a floor, the picture below should help to put it into context. I love the texture of the wood that has been pooped on by birds, washed by river/sea water, scrubbed by Perth's torrential rain, bleached by the sun, and generally mistreated by countless feet. I think it looks amazing, and no other surface could look this good!

Ahh, I am so looking forward to Spring and Summer again.

PS.. the new blogger interface is looking very smart! I didn't know it was changing until I logged in to do this post... I wonder, will it work on the iPad/Pod????

Index Card A Day Nos. 11, 12 & 13

2011-07-06T14:32:00.000+08:00

Sakura gelly roll black with staedtler colouring

This was a go at some fun text using the first quote I found on brainyquote.com. Inpsiration this tim eis from Kate Seaward from the Print and Pattern book. Definitely for hand drawing this style nods towards the classic style of font and then runs quickly in the opposite direction!

Creative Prompt from Daisy Yellow: Block Alphabet

Sakura Gelly Roll and fineliners

Oooo this one's come out a bit out of proportion - I scanned all of today's cards in one go and then cut and pasted from the resulting pdf into Paint and then saved as a JPEG. Yes it's convoluted but is the only way I can think of, with limited tools on this machine, of getting from paper to screen! But it does mean the occasional stretched image!

As you can see it's been a wordy theme over the last few days. Somehow it feels easier to fit some fun around text. However the last one says it all. I think I need to be doing several per day in order to catch up with where I should be. I daren't count up the missing days - but I ask myself where they went. I feel like I'm always on the go with a card - obviously I blinked and missed the intervening days ;)

Hop on over to Daisy Yellow to take a look at the weekely roundup of the fun and fanciful ways to use an index card - you never knew they could be such fun ;D

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T09:34:00.000+08:00

Wordless Wednesday Meme

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-07-03T12:43:00.000+08:00

A reminder of Summer! City Beach, Perth WA

It's a beatiful sunny day outside today, but as it's the middle of winter on this side of the planet the air temperature is quite cool, and the house is taking ages to warm up. I'm off to eat my sandwich in the garden with the sun on my back in the hope of absorbing some of it's heat! Something I could never do in an English winter ;)

Hop along to Hey Harriet to see more shady fun!

Index Card A Day No.10

2011-07-01T22:09:00.001+08:00

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners and Sharpie Black Fineliner

Today it's back to my own postcards after my little cheatie one yesterday! It was a quick scribble really. It was inspired by a picture in a photograph of a living room in the Country Living (Aussie version) magazine. A doodle picture in this style was hanging on the wall. Unfortunately I forgot to scribble down the attribution so I've no idea who it was by. I was in a great rush, suddenly realising I'd been rather too leisurely over my pot of tea at Dome and should really be on my way to pick up the darling daughter from Guides... and I wanted to capture the lovely swirling lines of the artwork. I decided it better to be late than never be able to remember this picture! In the end I made it with time to spare - they were late out!! Eh!

Index Card A Day No.9a

2011-06-30T21:59:00.000+08:00

Faber Castell Jumbo Connector Pens

Today is my day to use a card in hand. Actually, I have to own up and say that this is my daughter's card. It's an invitation to her Girl Guide promise ceremony she had at the start of this term. One of the activities in preparation for taking her promise was to make an invitation so here it is... bonus fact - it's on an index card! Yay!

More cards via Daisy Yellow

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T13:27:00.000+08:00

Wordless Wednesday Meme

Index Card A Day No.9

2011-06-28T15:37:00.000+08:00

Faber Castell Fibre Pens

Inspired by an image of the union flag done in a graffiti/random style. I can't find it now, but it was an amazing piece of artwork. Anyway, I was just chuffed that even my daughter recognised this as a union flag interpretation!!

Hop along to Daisy Yellow for a roundup of last week's iCAD art and see who else is playing along.

In the meantime, before today turned into torrential rain - hooray for the reservoirs - the morning looked like this:

Before the Rains Came

How pretty are those early morning blues and pinks? When I imported the photo into Picassa it was sat next to the index card and I was struck on the similarity of colours!

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-06-26T09:07:00.000+08:00

Time and Sill Motion

It's official: the kids think I am odd: mum takes pictures of walls! Yeah, yeah, "wha-ever"! ;) But I couldn't walk past this shadow could I? It was there, the camera was nearby and the shadows cast by the grid of the security door/insect screen was just too good an opportunity, plus the sun wasn't going to last more than a couple of moments before sinking past the top of the garden fence.

Join in or just enjoy the shadows from around the planet over at Hey Harriet!

Index Card A Day No.8

2011-06-25T22:04:00.000+08:00

I don't really like this card. The roof of the house is wonky and that I think is bothering me. Anyway, no particular inspiration other than wanting to doodle some trees.. and the house kind of fitted in. I don't think I like it because the scruffy tree doesn't fit in ... or is it the round tree?

This was done while waiting, for what seemed an age, for one's darling daughter to have had enough of swimming and want to head off to the cinema. Actually, the cinema was rather my idea.. I found out that Kung Fu Panda 2 was on, and being the first Dreamworks movie directed by a woman, felt it was a must see. And indeed it was a good see. The representation of China, the mountains, the villages etc. was amazing. I so want t visit now to see what it's really like. The artwork is just stunning. It must be the first film I've seen that I either want to go and buy the DVD straight away or, even more unusually, see again at the cinema! Do go, either for the art or the comedy or both! ;)

Running out of battery here... google Daisy Yellow and check out the amazing art on index cards out there...

Index Card A Day No.7

2011-06-24T16:12:00.000+08:00

Triplus Black Fineliner and Colour Pens

Inspiration today came from the latest copy of Cloth Paper Scissors in which Joanne Sharpe gives a workshop in using Copic markers in the art of colouring in with style! I enjoyed working with her style. It was a little outside the box with flowing and random marks, but it did rather reflect the free machine embroidery I love and often refer to as doodle stitching. It offers freedom but does, I feel, require some confidence with the materials. The Triplus fineliner was lovely to use, gliding smoothly across the paper. Smooth pens are vital if they're not to interrupt the drawing flow.

Take a look at Joanne's style in a little video HERE

Find out more about the index card fun HERE

PS.. I am hoping this image is ok - I am using a really low

res monitor today and I can't tell how well the card scanned... will check back later :)

Index Card A Day No.6

2011-06-23T22:54:00.001+08:00

Triplus Colour and Triplus Fineliner black outline

I really must try and take photos during the daylight hours so colours are reproduced properly. This was taken with a bright lamp next to it and the pink is completely washed out.

I started with my doodle of a grasstree and felt it needed to be saying something. Inspiration came this time from speech bubble graphics by Helen Dardik in her 'Forest Conversation' print. Once I'd drawn them I felt they represented the inane chatter of the media, from news to cartoons, headlines and general chit chat, and all that blah blah blah blah blah! If you get my drift!

INDEX CARD A DAY LINK

CurlyPops: 53 Hotties

2011-06-23T22:31:00.001+08:00

Following on from My Creative Space post earlier, do hop on over to CurlyPops and take a look at all of the hotties waiting to go over to the exhibition at Open Drawer in Melbourne tomorrow. I can just see mine peeking out from under an amazing floral hottie :)

CurlyPops: What do 53 Hotties look like on my dining table?

My Creative Space

2011-06-23T22:20:00.001+08:00

I promised didn't I here that I'd remember to get you some final pictures of the hottie before it got sent off to CurlyPops over in Melbourne... so here you have them, a little later than originally stated! And apologies for the quality of the pictures, which were taken in artificial light which casts nasty shadows. I've attempted editing in picassa so they're not quite as bad as they might have been.

This was a fun challenge. I've never made a hot water bottle cover before, and now needing some for our much required hotties, this provided a useful exercise in deciding on the construction and closure design. I shan't be bothering with all the little details, but I like the simple tied closure and the way the bottle can be just dropped in from the top.

The theme I chose for the hottie was 'PreLoved... Still Loved". Inspiration came from a water mark stain on a piece of old calico. It was constructed from pieces of fabric that had served as favourite shirts, parts of skirts, basket linings, and cushion covers. The pieces were roughly patched together to form one large piece of fabric before cutting out the pattern. Seams have been left raw and unfinished. The water stain was left on the front. Holes were made where wear and tear might naturally have happened, and patched and stitched. The binding was handmade from more shirt and upholstery fabric and roughed up around the corners. The tie was stitched in pace and then partly unpicked with threads left dangling. Some of the X on the front looks like it's coming away, and has been partly restitched.

I loved doing this, working out how to make it look really old, really worn, but still loved and used. I think I could have taken it much further, maybe removing stitches from the binding and patching over it in places. I may have another go at this and develop the style. Grungy, but at the same time pretty and vintage looking.

Handed down the generations;
patched;
cuddled;
stained;
worn;
but very much PreLoved...
... Still Loved!

Big apologies for this photo... first it was
too dark, now it's a bit light... uh!

Enjoy more creative spaces HERE

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T14:21:00.000+08:00

Wordless Wednesday Meme

Index Card A Day No.5

2011-06-21T13:14:00.000+08:00

Sakura Gelly Roll and Staedtler Triplus pens

Sorry about the state of this picture. I can't locate my camera card reader just now so I resorted to scanning this on the printer and converting it from pdf to a jpeg... not good for colour rendering, it should be much brighter than this, even though I've tweaked it in Picassa. The reds and pinks are very blue and the blue is just not green enough!!! But you get the picture, te he, !

Inspiration was needed for this card yesterday, and a flick through Bowie Style's Print & Pattern book provided it in bucket loads. This tree was taken from "Earth Song", a beautiful study in pattern by Khristian A Howell and Mary Beth Freet for Heath and Howell Art for Humanity. I much prefer their original - somehow my tree branches went all wonky. I need more practice of this style.

Check out more Index Cards HERE!

Index Card A Day No.4

2011-06-20T22:39:00.000+08:00

Hero Arts Stamp (Script), Random Letter Stamps,
Hand carved house stamps..
and a few triplus fineliner colours.

Glitzy houses... heat set sparkle...

Card number 4... very random, very messy, no theme, just whatever happened to be to hand at that moment. Filling in spaces in stamps, in words, in time. Photo snapped, no editing. Randomised!

iCAD Has Started

2011-06-19T10:31:00.001+08:00

I'm finally joining in! Talk about cutting it fine... signing up on the very last day! I've followed the posts by Daisy Yellow, but up until now I wasn't really too sure. Then at the very last it was a now or never moment! If I didn't sign up now that was it, no chance of joining in the fun.

Which index card today? ;)

So I went out yesterday and found some index cards. And you can see from the resulting stack above that I had trouble deciding which size! There's 5"x3", 6"x4" and a massive 8"x5". I just read the FAQ on DY's site and I think I should really be using the smallest size, but I'm going to see what I feel like each day - little or large! Actually so far I've done one on the correct size and two on the middly size... oh well.... it's creativity that counts ;)

So here we have it. My first iCAD (as I like to put it), or as it should be... Index Card A Day!

Staedtler Black and Coloured Triplus Fineliners

Closely followed, because I have been doing one a day since the 16th June and this is the first post, by cards No.2

World Stamp by Toybox 2003 and Staedtler Triplus Fineliners

and No.3

Make Your Mark, York UK, Stamp and Triplus Fineliners

I thought these looked rather like Eucayptus flowers!

Take a tour through the iCAD challenge over at Daisy Yellow, and even if you aren't playing online, make your own index card art :) Have fun!

My Creative Space

2011-06-16T13:52:00.001+08:00

Inspired by Daisy Yellow - Art Journalling

I KNOW! I promised an update on the hottie cover challenge, and I have been working on it, I promise! But I just haven't finished it yet. I stitched a couple more patches, tried a little Kantha stitch, added some decoration, but really I'm no further along than last week. Excuse? Well none really, well house cleaning actually... another rental inspection this week, and I am determined that said inspector is NOT going to find anything wrong with MY house! Actually I think there may be some comment on the state of the weeds, but I did spray them - it's just happened to rain this week, encouraging more growth.

So this week I've treated you to some of my doodling because I wanted to share at least something! Random mandala style doodles as inspired by Daisy Yellow and some trees inspired by wonderful drawings found at I Heart Prints and Patterns. What I was really doing was trying to find inspiration for a Scout Camp badge - I have to include not only the Scout Trefoil, but also the elements and an australian grass tree with eyes. I was so stuck on this tree with eyes. I couldn't work out a way of drawing it without it looking freaky. And I don't have the resulting doodles with me, but if you scroll down a bit you'll see what looks a bit like a snake with spiky hair. That's my concept. I hit upon it when I saw the logo for Waringarri Aboriginal Arts and immediately thought, hey, they're grasstrees. Looking closer at the (ahem) details, I don't think they are, but I'm not worrying about that.

Trees inspired by I Heart Prints & Pattern

Ideas on the theme of grasstrees and elements

Working on the elements:

water snake and water symbols

Working on the shape of the badge;
but not this grasstree, although what do you think?

This is getting somewhere.
I wanted to include Aboriginal symbolism for a campsite

A gathering of Aboriginal symbolism

See more creative spaces over HERE

My Creative Space

2011-06-09T12:09:00.000+08:00

Apologies for the break in transmission yet again! I seem to have been busy with everything and nothing, failing completely to take photos of significant events, and ferrying children from pillar to post. How is it I take my camera everywhere I go yet I totally forget to take any pictures? Case in point is a double road trip (there and back twice) ove the long weekend up to Wannamal, just the other side of Gingin WA, to deliver and collect scouts to a camp up there, marvelling at the change in countryside as we headed into the Wheatbelt, and ultimately getting so wrapped up in the business of organising the kids that the camera lay forgotten at the bottom of my bag.

What else, oh yes, on the same weekend the children managed to completely lock me out of the car. At what point in their lives do they get that messing about usually ends up in something going wrong? I guess it's not before they're 14! So J was in the car, locked in by himself stopping his sister getting in. She was running about trying all of the doors to get in. Then somehow they both ended up on the outside with the key on the inside and the doors locked fast. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagghh..... Keys, wallet, housekeys, phone, and yes camera, on the inside.... I had nothing.. We were fortunate at that point to be at the scout hut with other parents at that point, and one had a friend in a well known roadside rescue service. But I do worry that something like that could happen to anyone anywhere. What does one do if in the middle of nowhere and that happens? How can it be possible to lock keys inside the car? Who on earth thought that self locking doors was a clever idea??? Who? Hunh? My problem was I put the key down in the car because I didn't have any pockets and I needed my hands free. My solution, I think, is to make a lanyard for the keys so that I can sling them round my neck. My other solution, I am thinking about, is to make small pockets for all of my trousers and skirts that don't have pockets - that's most of them - that just sit inside the waistband... or something - I said I was only thinking here ;)

I'm still getting over it! But in the meantime I've finally started on the Hottie Cover Challenge which is being hosted by the excellent Curlypops. I didn't really have much in mind when I started. I knew I wanted it to be arty but comfortable, even though it's not going to be used as a cover, as far as I know. I've been surfing all over the shop, trying to get inspiration. In the end however, it wasn't a hottie cover that inspired me, but rather a bit of gorgeous scrappiness I found on one of my favourite creative blogs, Grrl+dog:

Grrl+dog @ dneese.blogspot.com

I love whites on whites, I love vintage and worn, and I love layers and little stitches. So with this image in mind I pulled out my scraps and a bundle of calicos and old shirting and patched them together, and cut out the hottie pattern just so. Then I've added some patches, some applique, some stitches, and roughed up some corners. I don't want a pristine cover. I want to see the water stain that shows on one bit of calico, I won't iron it, I won't trim all the ends. It's going to look scruffy and well worn. I'm going to call it 'Preloved : Still Loved'

That's just a little sneak preview. More hopefully next week when I (might just) have finished and before I send it off to Curlypops - I promise to take a picture, I promise not to forget!!!!

Don't forget to hop on over to OUR CREATIVE SPACE to see what's been happening this week!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-25T13:08:00.000+08:00

Enjoy the peace over at Faith Hope and A Whole Lotta Love x

PERTH CRAFT & QUILTING FAIR - ON NOW!

2011-05-18T09:48:00.001+08:00

Are you a crafter or creative, or blogger about creative living, or just plain interested in things handmade and living in and around Perth, Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah, Kalamunda, Perth Hills, Joodalup, and all paces in between and round about.... it's the CRAFT & QUILT FAIR this week and weekend... in fact it's ON RIGHT NOW!

A sneak preview - courtesy of the www.craftfair,com.au

I was alerted by my mother who lives in England! Telling me about something that's happening right here on my own doorstep and I didn't know about it. Maybe it's been advertised, but I guess I must have been looking in the opposite direction until now.

There's a website here with all the useful and relevant information. There's workshops and demonstrations, and of course lots of stalls. IMHO it doesn't look to be as big as the British Knitting & Stitching Show, but then there aren't so many people living in Australia, let alone WA, than there are crammed into the UK.

I shall be there on Saturday (which leaves open the option of Sunday too) and I shall have my blogger cards with me to make contact and get to know people if I can. And I shall be making a beeline for the Embroiders Guild for sure! Ooo I can't wait!

For even more info there's a downloadable pdf right here

My Creative Space

2011-05-16T12:33:00.000+08:00

Patchwork and Denim finally gets made up...
only 4 years in the making!

At long long last the patchwork that I showed you last week has been made into something useful. I gave up on the backpack original idea and have copied my Kath Kidson bag with the addition of a small ticket pocket on the outside.

Will I get inspiration for my next project?

I thought I'd show a little of the inside. To break up the outside pattern and make a neat join with the lining I used a strip of denim/chambray, which I'm rather pleased with. There are a few pockets and a key loop too - although I made a slight faux pas with the lining and attached it at 90 degrees to the outside!! This means there are three pockets in the back and one in the front section - ahem, of course I meant it that way!!

Big W Bargains!!

I don't generally go in for buying yarn as I don't knit - tried it, failed it! I do however do a spot of crochet now and again, just the occasional flower or coaster, and I bagged these little bargains at the local Big W for just over $2 each! I couldn't believe they were 100% wool at that price, but yes... Australian Wool... although they're processed in China (why???!!!!)

Charity Shop Find

I couldn't pass up a chance to dip into the Salvos charity shop at the weekend, especially as I was just next door at the bike shop getting bits for J's upcoming bike hike.. I know I don't really NEED anything, but this gorgeous purple bag just spoke to me. I don't usually go for this kind of thing, but I just think the shape is delightful. The lining is immaculate and has a little zipped purse section too. However it's a bit dull so it may become the subject of a future Creative Space! That's if I can keep C off it - it's purple, it's her favourite colour!

I also managed to find two blankets - pure lambswool as well - for less than $5 each. I was stunned! I shall be returning to snag some more! I will post them another time as they're in the wash just now, but they're huge, perfect in condition, just needing a little tlc on the bound edges... and they were being sold as dog blankets, can you believe!!! I couldn't! One is a pretty blue stripe that will be perfect for C's Guide camp blanket. The other is a strange shade of pale orange. This will be dyed navy or dark green for J's Scout camp blanket. This will save a bundle on brand new camp blankets and will last a lot lot longer than synthetic fleece ones.

And this is finished too!!

Last but not least this little tiny pot is finished. It has feet. It closes. It has closure!

Sit back and enjoy the ride - hop on over to Our Creative Spaces and see more creativity. (Yes, you are not mistaken, this was previously Kootoyoo, but she has now put together a bigger, better and brighter spot for all of our links.... thank you Kootoyoo.... I still look forward to visiting you!

CurlyPops: The Hottie Challenge

2011-05-16T12:24:00.001+08:00

CurlyPops: The Hottie Challenge

Yay, Blogger is working again this week. I tried and tried to link to Cam's post last week, but we're OK now and here's the link to the all new charity challenge to make an artsy hottie cover! I'm off to take a look all over the 'net to get some ideas. I've created a Pinterest board to keep all my inspiration in one place - this is sooo easy!!

Anyway, hop on over to CurlyPops for the full low down on what's happening with this challenge, and be inspired to join in too... there were nearly 50 participants at the last looksee.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-05-08T10:12:00.000+08:00

Shadow Shot Sunday - Point Walter WA

A rather predictable sort of shadow shot I guess, but I loved the way this spit of sand jutted out into the Swan River (Attadale, Perth WA) at the tip of Point Walter regional park. The tide was coming in upriver fairly fast and the sun was almost setting, so it was a point and shoot and skidaddle out of there before we got cut off and it got dark. Twilight doesn't last for long at this lattitude - you get about 20-30 minutes from sunset to dark!

It almost looks like an island in this picture, but I think that's down to the low angle and the pool that has formed in the middle of the spit - great for paddling!

Hop on over to Hey Harriet to see more shadows and join in the fun!

My Creative Space

2011-05-05T14:28:00.001+08:00

My Creative Space

It wasn't what I'd planned to show you this week. I'd got in mind some shots of my creative space as a whole, aka 'The Sewing Room' as it is boldly called in our house - even though not a right lot of sewing takes place there, and it's more just part of an open space, but it's where the sewing machine is poised ready for action at a nanosecond's notice!

This is work in progress, from about 5 years ago when I decided to make CJ a little backpack out of some leftover curtain and duvet fabric. I got as far as piecing together the main body and lost interest. I think it was to do with not really having a proper pattern. It was from a patchwork and quilting book (get you the title later) that I've had for absolutely years and has lots of promise, but somehow I've never really used. I think I realise why it was never used when I started this bag - there are no measurements for the base and 'lid' of the bag and I couldn't be bothered working it out, and so it went on the too difficult pile in the corner of the room.

Well now, five years on and it's morphed from a backpack to a weekend or casual bag, modeled on my favourite canvas Kath Kidston bag. The patchworked main section I'd already made has been backed with cotton batting and top stitched, and will have a flowery lining with chambray handles and details. I shall be putting in pockets and a key holder, and a pocket that has already made it's way onto the outside with a scrap that just looked, well, pockety! There'll not be a base piece for the bag, I shall just sew right across the bottom - easy as pie. Oh, and I've done a spot of hand stitching around some applique hearts that randomly adorn the patchwork. I shall post a few pictures when it's done.. or maybe a little more work in progress for despite the renewed interest I am still struggling to stay focused on it!

Hope you've had a lovely creative week - how about showing it off at Kootoyoo?

A Few Random Things Over Easter

2011-05-03T22:24:00.002+08:00

What a poser!

The Likely Lads!

Parrot City Get Me Out of Here!

The Poultry Vacuum Cleaner

The Texture of Fallen Trees

Who's Lookin'?

To be identified

Amateur Radio Operator and Communications Awards

Heritage Railway Trail Tunnel.... woo-oo it's dark in there!

Water splashing through the boards.

Fishing with one net and four hands?

How was your Easter Break? With one already back to school today and the other back on Thursday, it's flown by at breakneck speed. I had a few days off last week to make it into a full week of leisure and these are some of the things we got up to.

Marapana Wildlife Park near Mandurah WA - the Koalas were an unusually lively bunch and very happy to pose for photos. Unfortunately this park is closing from 8th May and there are plans to relocate it closer to Rockingham in 2012 and open again as the West Coast Wildlife Park. That just leaves Caversham and Perth Zoo within striking distance for the forseable future.

A beautiful bloom picked up in Kings Park... it had been knocked off the bush which I think is a honeysuckle, but I stand to be corrected and educated here. I have a similar plant in my garden and the birds just adore it.

J achieved his Amateur Radio Operator Licence and Scout badge and the Communications badge at a training camp at the weekend. I am very proud of him as it was a course and exam designed primarily for adults, plus it means he is the first Scout in his troup to gain the award and licence for 15 years - since before he was born! So watch out radio airwaves, here he comes!!

A fun off road cycle ride along a small portion of the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail up near Midland and Mundaring. A gorgeous day, not too hot. A barbecue picnic and a leisurely cycle along the trail from John Forrest National Park picnic spot to the disused railway tunnel - which is a LOT longer and a LOT darker than you think when looking in from the end!! And following that a stylish dismount from the bike after a swift decent down the trail access track - aka: I fell off my bike and scrubbed my hands, elbows and knees and bruised legs and hip - owwwch!!! Needless to say there are no pictures of that disgrace!! ;)

A stroll along Point Walter and a stop off at the fishing and boat jetty, watching the waves of the Swan River splash through the boards. I tried to capture the splashes but I just wasn't fast enough. J&C attempted a spot of fishing with a landing net, but no matter how they coaxed them those fish just weren't going to swim in there... not that daft then!

Ah well, back to it then....

What did you do over the long weekend or Easter break?

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-05-01T08:18:00.002+08:00

Anzac Day Parade Cannington 2011 - Lest We Forget

This was an early morning, a tiny bit later than dawn (!), parade down the Albany Highway in Cannington WA to the War Memorial. J was marching with the Scouts of the River Ranges Region, who joined the various dignatories and school representatives, as well as a bagpipe band and brass band, for a short ceremony and service to remember the plight of soldiers in conflicts worldwide, past and present.

A beautiful morning with intense long shadows. J is in there somewhere, but I think he is lost in the glare of the sun just rising above the buildings. Not the greatest position, or technically correct, but I am quite taken with the effect in this instance.

To join in with SSS or to see more go along to Hey Harriet

My Creative Space

2011-04-28T09:20:00.000+08:00

While waiting around to pick up a child from an activity I came across these fallen eucalyptus flowers. So often I see the empty pods lying around under the trees and I wonder what the flowers were like. I'm trying to find some of those bulbous types, the ones that the parrots love so much, with flowers still intact. So these are some pictures of my interpretation of them and thoughts on how to simplify them for embroidery or applique.

CJ arranged the seed pods found in the garden (no idea what they are) along with my eucalyptus finds. The other drawing in the photos is of a sycamore type of seed - it's a lot larger and the tree doesn't look like a sycamore... the leaves are finely divided and the flowers were yellow.

See more Creative Spaces

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T11:59:00.000+08:00

Join in or browse over at Faith Hope and A Whole Lotta Love

I Got Candy!

2011-04-24T12:20:00.001+08:00

May all your eggs be found!

HAPPY EASTER!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T15:09:00.000+08:00

Link in over at Faith Hope and a Whole Lotta Love

I Want Candy!

2011-04-18T23:03:00.001+08:00

So now CJ wishes she could be EB. For those who don't recognise the reference we went to see HOP the movie on Saturday, the tail (!) of the rabbit who doesn't want to be the Easter Bunny when he grows up, and the tale of a man who does! Very funny, reasonable plot, great music, well worth seeing... I'm looking forward to the DVD coming out already!

As a consequence of watching all the egg making antics, CJ was inspired to put together a box of eggs for her class. I thought she was going to just put all the mini eggs and small hollow eggs in a box lined with tissue paper, but it seems she had other ideas... so at 7pm yesterday evening (I didn't notice it was that late!!)... the following scene played out:

And there's more chocolate for the teachers, and yet more for friends she rides to school with that aren't in her class... and there's still a bagful of mini eggs for our egg hunt on Easter Sunday! Ooo the overload!

Enjoy x

(NB apologies for the photos... taken at night with not much light!)

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-04-17T10:04:00.000+08:00

The wonderful thing about Perth WA sunshine is that it's just so intense. The shadows are so crisp and dark. This should make for some great SSS photos! Now I'm back into the swing of blogging, taking photos, and have finally got myself a new card reader so I can upload to the iMac (camera cable mislaid and computer is a pre-integrated reader model!), I am on the trail of the shadow. The difficulty I know will be the choice of what to photograph with so much sunshine - although as I type it is cloudy!!

Yes I've photographed this patio set before back in York, but never did I get shadows like these.

Head on over to Hey Harriet to join in the SSS fun, or to take a look at some wonderful photos.http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Amazon does FREE AUSSIE POSTAGE

2011-04-15T23:19:00.001+08:00

Calling all Aussies and Ex Pats! Amazon.co.uk have an offer of free P&P and no VAT to Australia and New Zealand until mid May... and I reckon this will get extended if it proves popular. This just has to be competition with Bookdepository.co.uk who do free worldwide delivery.

Well I've jumped at the chance as books here in Perth are so eyewateringly expensive. I've not splurged, just gone for books and dvds I already wanted or needed for J and C. Net result is a saving of 45 dollars.... yes it's true. My order of £39.44 equals $63.73 and to purchase the same books in Australia (in a shop or online) would have costed me over $108! No brainer I say... going to go and put together another order once I've thought about my list!!

I wouldn't normally plug big companies here on The Handmade Amoeba, but this is just too good to keep quiet about!

For info, at current exchange rates £25 equals AU$38.81 :)

Photo Feature Friday

2011-04-15T15:36:00.000+08:00

Tricia over at A Rosy Note has just started a Friday blog party that caught my eye. I've been following her blog via my RSS reader and found it to be such a pretty place to be. I can never get happy enough with my layout. This look is temporary!

Well, on with the party, heck it's Friday!!! Here's my contribution for this week.

This is completely unedited and uncropped and unstraightened. I used a Panasonic Lumix TZ10 on AI setting - the one I use virtually all the time! I will be editing this image eventually, when I get that spare moment that keeps eluding me!

Oh yes, this is Coogee Beach, Western Australia at sunset, looking out over the Indian Ocean and the fishing jetty - we'd just come down from there having failed to catch anything! If you are able to click and zoom in you might just see a pellican sitting high up. They are known to us as Lamppost Birds!

To see some wonderful photos hop on over to A Rosy Note!

My Creative Space

2011-04-14T23:35:00.000+08:00

Felt. J made it when we did that stint of homeschooling. I added the stitching a few days ago. Just doodling, playing around with stitching in circles.

What do I do with it now? I have no idea! Have you any ideas?

Visit more creative spaces via Kootoyoo!

My Creative Space

2011-03-04T21:54:00.001+08:00

Welcome to this week's creative space.

OK, I confess, this was a while ago because I haven't done a lot recently... if you saw last week's post.

So this was a bit of something I did for a Christmas present for my parents. J found the eucalyptus twig in Kings Park in Perth some time during the first few weeks we were here and staying at a hotel on Hay Street.

Miraculously it survived being moved from bag to case to a new house, lost and found... and finally being stitched and shipped half way around the planet to England! Hope you like it - I was quite pleased with the way it turned out and really should do another one!!

Join the creative community over at Kootoyoo

Well Hello There

2011-02-26T08:38:00.001+08:00

Hello to you all. I can't believe my last post was back in September. So much has happened that it seems both so long ago, but it could have been just last week.

Well, as some of you already know, I am now in very sunny Western Australia, soaking up the rays and having an amazing time. I've met amazing people and seen awesome sights, and we've only been here since the beginning of October. It's true what they say, the West Australians are very friendly, very welcoming, love to take it easy, and need no excuse to get together for a barbie!!

Despite the size of the state, taking up the largest portion of the country over any of the other states, it has a very local feel. So many products in the shops are made in Australia, and there's a huge drive to promote everything made in Western Australia! Maybe one day I can be part of the West Australian Handmade!! One day.. let me get back into the swing of things first :)

I have to confess, other than the second Great Big Postcard Swap organised by the fabulouly creative Beth Nicholls, I've done very little in the handmade scene. Shameful I know... I am hanging my head as I say it! But! But! But! I've been on the move, I've had to find new schools (three times!), housing, furniture, BBQs (yup priority honest), and much more. There's been Christmas, New Year, J's 14th birthday, ferrying kiddies about the place, Scout events to get to, Guide events to take part in. There hasn't been much time for anything else... well... perhaps there has, but the creative spark really hasn't managed to get used to the time shift or acclimatised to the weather - permanently hot, there IS no other temperature.

And then there's the getting back into blogging. Trust me, I've written post after post in my head, but as soon as I've sat down at the computer it's been a 'nah, not just now' moment every time. The longer I left it the harder it was to just get back into the swing of blogging... I've had things to say, just not the inclination to say it. I can fully understand how people drift out of blogging and why there are so many defunct blogs around... although of course not any of yours! I follow so many of your creative blogs that put me to shame big time... if you're reading and you want inspiration, check out a few of the links in the 'Made in...' sidebars on the left here.

So without further ado, enough of the whiny pom attitude, and back in there with a huge HELLO to everyone out there:

image from technorati

So to start me back into creativity I thought what better way is there than to join in over at Kootooyoo with My Creative Space. I might have mentioned up top that I did have a go at the Great Big Postcard Swap. For reasons that remain unfathomable to me right now, I just latched on to this the first time around, and I felt that the theme of Home just suited my situation. Maybe it was because Beth of Do What You Love lives near to my old home in York UK, but it sparked an idea and so here is My Creative Space for this week... albeit it was a space back in November last year!

I hope you can tell it's the word 'home' drawn as four little houses, with stitched details for the trees and doors (though I wish I hadn't done the doors in retrospect!!)

Join in if there's still time at Kootooyoo or play along next week with your creative space!

Shadow Shot Sunday

2010-09-19T16:27:00.004+08:00

Join in or see more shadow fun at hey Harriet

Our Creative Space

2010-09-10T07:13:00.000+08:00

So we've been homeschooling this week for the first time ever! It's only a temporary measure until we emigrate, but C and J think it's great not to actually have to physically go to school although I think they're missing friends and being part of the new classes. They're pretty good about doing the work I ask of them, although extending activities seems to be a challenge. Such as working on the three times table for C and then doing some Kumon extension pages... bit of pushing required. J too with reading! I think some board games might be rooted out tomorrow, like Equate and Scrabble, perhaps even Wordigo or Snatch.... need to up the competition for the boy - I am really seeing the difference between a girl and a boy working and learning. A girl is much more able to settle down and get a move on, whereas the boy takes longer and needs reminding, but when he does settle he works fast!

Anyway, afternoons have been mostly creative.

Monday was cooking with J making a batch of Spanish (sin) paprika potatoes with a garlicy mayo dip - totally delish.

Tuesday we didn't do arty things as we had been working on a huge game of what is now called Lego City Builder - building a city acording to the roll of a dice to build certain types of buildings. A teensy bit like monopoly without the collection of money or cards, and the game was over once the first person used up their 250 bricks. J developed the rules, and both wrote them up and did a graph to demonstrate the frequency of their different types of building..

Wednesday we made up inks and dyes in basic colours and proceded to to paint papers with mixtures of these colours. Inspired by Decorative Papers by Andrea Maflin (had it years but never used it!) which lists a number of recipes for colours. Wax resists and bleaching were also used to create patterns. Messy but a great long session. Sorry, I forgot to photograph!!!!!

So today I did manage to photograph, and I can show you some of the papers that are now dry.... and the start of the application of them to wooden boxes. These are basic plywood boxes from Ikea which have been crying out for decoration since I bought them about 10 years ago!!

Don't forget to seek out all the other amazing creative spaces over at Kootoyoo!

If you're squeamish..

2010-09-07T06:24:00.000+08:00

... look away now!

At long last the dentist has agreed to take out a malformed wisdom tooth. It's been slowly growing bigger and bigger and bigger for years. The big problem was it was growing out sideways into my cheek. Eeew I know! So as of today I have ghost tooth syndrome where I keep thinking there's something there when there isn't, but at least I won't keep biting the inside of my cheek, yay!

Oh, and if you wanted to see it.... te he... here's there little blighter! J said it was enormous to which the dentist burst out laughing saying it's really quite tiny!!!

My Creative Space

2010-09-03T04:37:00.004+08:00

This week I have mostly been refurbishing some cushions for the bench in my dining room.

The cushions originally had dark chocolate brown Laura Ashley covers that had really seen better days...

thinking about it they must be around 8 years old! The tassles on the corners had long since gone courtesy of kids and cat. They were also a tad too wide and flattened for the bench. So easy to brush them onto the floor by catching them on walkin past! Either that or they had a mind of their own.

So finally after making the feather pads narrower by squooshing the feathers to one side and stitching along the length, thus reducing the width by around 4 inches, and then making new ticking covers to better contain the feathers, these cushions now sport fancy new, and hopefully trendy again, covers... happy now :)

If you get a moment do take a look at all the other creative spaces over at kootooyoo!

Spools... where are they all?

2010-09-01T06:31:00.000+08:00

Years and years ago I had this skipping rope. It came from a heritage museum somewhere in Shropshire. It was constructed of hemp rope with old industrial spinning spools for handles. I have no idea what happened to it, and I didn't treat it with much respect when I had it - I really wanted a new shiny one, not one with old second hand handles!!

When I visited the Bradford Industrial Museum (that one that has tonnes of unused potential that I mentioned in an earlier post) the sight of all those spools on a spinning frame (spinning jenny?) reminded me of that skipping rope, of it's handles. It made me think of a) what a great way to store ribbon; and b) where on earth can I get these spools now; and c) what an amazing thing to sell on etsy or folksy. I did a quick search-see on Google but came up with nothing. Where have all those old spools gone? I realise thousands must have been thrown away, but there must be some out there somewhere..... can any of you help me? Point me in the right direction and push :) (but not to American sites cos of the postage - UK or Aussie please!!)

Thanks ;)

image from 2 Wooden Thread or Yarn Spools

The Festival of Quilts III

2010-08-24T23:36:00.000+08:00

Ok, a little later than promised (yesterday) but here are is a tiny miniscule, and I mean small, portion of the quilts I saw at the show on Sunday (before the camera gave up completely)... the theme here is Science in Art (more detail to follow).

Nature's Fractal by Franki Kholer

Cells Dreaming by Raelene Kwong

Binary Fission by Betty Busby

An amazing city scape - notice the knitting and crochet needles in the detail!

Part of the Summer in the City exhibition.

Some of the rest....

apologies for not making a note of the makers of the last 4 quilts... slapped wrist!!

The Festival of Quilts II

2010-08-23T23:34:00.000+08:00

I was there, I'm sure I was. I've been looking forward to the Quilt Show, as we call it, for months... yet as we left we were stunned how fast the day had gone. Seven hours should be enough to look around, check out the stalls, grab some lunch... no way! It really does need two days to do it justice. I mean, we didn't even take in a workshop or lecture! But we were there, we saw some amazing work, took a few photos before the battery died (yeh, I forgot to check it was fully charged!) and bought a few goodies to get creative with, and came away with heads buzzing with ideas and desires to get going and get making!

Here are some pictures of some of the competition entries. You may notice I prefer 3d objects to quilts, so that's mostly what I photographed, but there was also an amazing exhibition of quilting and science... fractals, cells, viruses, formulae, etc., forming a stunning display - I captured a couple of these along with their descriptions - you may need to click on them to see more clearly! The 3d objects are the theme for this post - the quilts will come later ;)

I shall post pictures of some quilts, what I bought and a bit about the stalls I visited later.

fringe detail from a mediaeval style dress

lots of layering

detail of the jacket above

yummy!

really is good enough to eat!

can you tell what it is yet? I think this was a vessel (a great catchall word!)

there were some embroidered letters in a crossword fashion on this but I forgot a)to write them down and b)to take a pic!

I remember this is called Warwickshire Landscape in Winter. It's by a member of the Embroider's Guild in Leamington Spa. I saw some of her work at Open Studios a few weeks ago and recognised this instantly... I will get her name later - I know it's Jane (something)!

a book featuring burning, fusing, tyvek, vanishing etc...

The top detail of a flower in all colours of lavender and purple, it even smelled of lavender!

Detail from a papier mache cabinet based on the love themes used by tatooists... very cleverly done.

More detail as above

Check back with me later and I should have posted some more pics and news from the show....

The Story of Stuff

2010-08-13T01:36:00.003+08:00

The Story of Stuff

Are you bothered by the production of so much stuff in our shops, so much junk, so much ephemera that merely hits the bin within 6 months? Did you know that of the products we buy each year only 1% makes it past that year?

Well when you have a short 10 20 minutes to spare do hop on over to the above link and watch a delightful little video presentation on where all our stuff comes from, where it goes, and how we can step off the merrygoround of consumerism and onto that of sustainability and recycling... There's something on cosmetics too but I haven't been able to watch it yet.

Enjoy x

The Festival of Quilts

2010-08-09T22:03:00.002+08:00

Sorry - the previous post, now deleted, had problems with the layout - teach me to try and copy and paste from an email!

I'm super excited to be going to this next weekend which will be great fun. Loads of quilts to see and stalls to buy from! My shopping list includes fabrics - Japanese or screen prints - felt and topstitch threads as well as Mulberry Silks which are delicious, and those clear lidded A4 and A5 boxes that are brilliant for storing sewing stuff. It's a shame there aren't any workshop sessions available as it's a really fab way to learn a new skill or just to rest ones tootsies - there's some serious walking and wandering to be done. I will do my best to take some photos of the best stalls, and of as many quilts as possible. I do have a bunch from last year, so if anyone is interested I'll upload them to Flickr. However there are one or two photos on this post.

Info from the Twisted Thread website:

Dates for 2010: 19th to 22nd August

Opening Hours: 10.00am to 5.30pm (closes 5pm Sun)

The Festival of Quilts (organised with the support of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles) has earned a reputation over the past seven years as the largest, most inspiring quilting event in Europe - with good reason! The Festival of Quilts boasts a host of gallery exhibitions from leading international artists and groups; the list for 2010 is outstanding as always and can be seen on our Features page. Over 250 companies will be selling all those hard-to-find patchwork and quilting supplies, so bring your shopping bags! We also offer The Quilt Academy with a stunning programme of nearly 100 masterclasses, workshops and lectures, and the Quick & Easy workshops provide another 166 sessions aimed at beginners.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF COMPANIES EXHIBITING AT THE FESTIVAL.

images from http://www.twistedthread.com/

My Creative Space

2010-08-05T05:50:00.000+08:00

This week I have mostly been sorting things out for C's 10th birthday on Saturday. We're not doing a party because we're planning a farewell bash in September before we move. But that doesn't stop there being stuff to do does it! Prezzies, cake, card, wrapping etc etc etc....

This girl is Club Penguin mad so she's requested a Puffle cake.. ok, cake I can make, buy rollable icing and draw on eyes and mouth... hmm doable just. Then can I find an age 10 card in WHSmith, the supermarket, anywhere? Why is it that every time I go to get an age related card there are hundreds of the other ages except the one I want? Is it me, or is it a consipracy ;) Result, handmade of course! I took the inspiration from this book:

I've not done the cake yet - must get that sorted out tomorrow - but the card is now down and is the subject of this week's creative space, so here is the end result:

Looking at it now in the photo I think the B is a tad too bold in blue, but I was just following the colour sequence! And the puffle could do to be bolder - I don't have a purple felt pen to hand - might do something sparkly on it. Eh, tomorrow!

Don't forget to hop on over to Kootoyoo to see more creative peeps and join in the fun too.

Pip and The Envelope Project Part Trois

2010-08-01T15:49:00.005+08:00

P6230049
Originally uploaded by meetmeatmikes

Woohooo!!! My envelope has arrived at Pip's after all!! I'd been scouring the pictures for ages and even messaged to say it was definitely in the post and had she got it. I still couldn't see it until now... A lot more pictures have just gone up on Flickr and I just spotted mine at long long last right there at the bottom, in the middle, of this picture... there below the red/blue heart and the black one.

It doesn't help that it's plastered all over with a postage label and export label!!! Any wonder I couldn't see it!! I am sooo chuffed it's got there... And it's actually in the window of Meet Me at Mikes :D You can see more of it at my original post here.

Polka Dot Trees

2010-07-31T01:36:00.004+08:00

Polka Dot Trees
Originally uploaded by jessiecutts

I just came across this by Yayoi Kusama on Rabbit With Polkadots and had to post it too... I'm guessing its in Japan, but I'd love to see this in other cities - along the Seine in Paris or the Thames in London perhaps. It's so jolly. Not sure about the graffiti however, but I guess that's kind of inevitable, unless it was part of the art!

My Creative Space

2010-07-29T06:39:00.000+08:00

Crochet and Squeeze

This must be the most crochet I have ever done in my life! The idea is that doing this project will get me into the flow for more creative things because it's all about going round and round in circles so no worries about turning, getting straight edges and all that jazz... I'm not going to say what this is just yet, but here is a preview, and no it's not a helmet for a stormtrooper!!

Oh, the Squeeze reference - I've been listening to Bablylon and On... no idea what vintage but it sounds very 80's.. some good tunes to work to!

Can crochet hooks be taken on 'planes now? I'm sure I read somewhere they were now ok... If so this is mostly what I'll be doing on the flight to Aus (well not this project I hope!!!!).

And don't forget to join in with the rest of the world over at Kootoyoo!

These shoes are meant for...

2010-07-29T06:26:00.001+08:00

... being comfortable!

... brand new Campers - totally flat with cute blue stitching and I'm loving them - if these b*ggers hurt I'll threaten them with stripey socks! All shoes should come with a health and safety warning that they are guarranteed to cause blisters at the first step!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T18:05:00.000+08:00

Time Lapse

Join in the game over at Faith Hope and a Whole Lotta Love

My Creative Space

2010-07-23T22:45:00.002+08:00

I've heard tell that doodling can help the mind concentrate while in meetings.... well it helps pass the time during the bits that aren't completely relevant to me! Not that I do it often - I find doodling doesn't come to me easily beyond circles and triangles. I think I need some practice!! I'd been down to Warwickshire at the weekend and visited some open studios as part of the Arts Week and was inspired by some work I saw by Peter Lovelock who does some amazing line drawings of natural objects, creating texture with pattern, often tiny dots and circles or veins on leaves.... here are some of his drawings from his own website:

Do click and look at the detail, it's amazing!

Have fun x

My First Ever Giveaway Win!

2010-07-22T06:42:00.001+08:00

I've never won a giveaway before, and not for want of entering! But last week my luck changed when I was picked by Helen of Fuel for Body and Soul (I just love that title!) to receive these gorgeous felt weather themed fridge magnets. I met Helen at the Etsy Craft Party back in June, so it was even nicer to win something from someone I know. I was surprised to see the little package on my door mat - I'd not heard anyone at the door. A lovely little denim pouch and pretty felt flower brooch, hiding the gems within.

Here are some pictures showing you how cute they all are.... the ladybirds insisted on trying to scuttle into the flower!

Thank you Helen x

Now I can make that anouncement!

2010-07-16T22:04:00.000+08:00

Last week I may have mentioned that I had a bit of news to share. Well at long last here it is:

We are moving to Perth, Australia!!!!

I had an interview last Wednesday morning, was offered the job less than an hour later, and the visa info started pouring in later that night. However I didn't have the official offer letter until yesterday so I had to hang fire on letting you all know.... it's been very difficult.. I've been dying to share!!

It's all so exciting. I'm so nervous!

I don't have a date for moving down under yet, but the estimate is around mid September. I have no idea what Perth is like, I don't know what sort of house I want, I don't know which is the best school to pick or what sort of holiday clubs there are for children....... I don't know a lot really ;)

I've decided that rather than clutter up this blog, which is meant to be creative, with all things Aussie move related, that I would set up a new blog called Falling Round the Planet, which will chart our progress, things to do, things done, aussie eye candy, window shopping, things to look forward to, things we'll miss, things we'll not miss (this is a bigger list!), and such like.

So come on over to Falling Round the Planet and become a follower so I know I'm not talking to myself. I hope that I can offer a little of my experiences to help others doing the same thing, or even going the other way round and coming Up Top! I welcome comments and questions with open arms and great delight. And if you'd like to add your own experiences send me an email and I will include a guest blogger spot. I know there are some expats in my followers... I know you're there ;) lol.

Have fun x

Shadow Shot Sunday

2010-07-11T04:50:00.002+08:00

Bit of a dig into the archives this week. This picture is a couple of years old now, but it takes me right back to the heat and the dazzle. It was an ultra hot day in Porto Cervo, Sardinia's millionaire (and the rest) playground. Check out the boats in the distant background - they're the size of ferries yet are classed as yachts .... eh, I'm in the wrong job again ;)

Hope you like the shadows... I was taken by the contrasts between those made by the railings and the flag poles.

Don't forget to hop on over to http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/ and join the fun :)

Sent from my iPad

What we have been doing this week

2010-07-10T16:19:00.003+08:00

Sorry, folks, it's been quiet this week! The chief reason is that it's the first week of the kids summer holidays and so due to no out of school clubs running yet, we've been out on day trips from home.... A staycation or homeliday I think it's called... both terrible words I know! So this week we have mostly been doing:

Monday : Tropical World and Harewood House in Leeds
Tuesday : Thackray Medical Museum and The Royal Armouries in Leeds

Thackray

Wednesday : Bradford Industrial Museum and Horses at Work and The Royal Armouries (yes again!)

Armouries

Thursday : Eureka! In Halifax
Friday : Lightwater Valley Theme Park in Ripon

A thoroughly enjoyable week. I surprised myself. I wasn't really up for a week trudging round museums, and I wasn't sure that the kids were either, but we all had a great time. I have to say that all of the above, with the exception of Bradford Industrial Museum, which was a great let down due to lack of information as to what things were and people to explain and demonstrate the amazing equipment they have, are all fantastic places to visit if you are in the area.

I am not one for anything military or weapon related, but The Royal Armouries is in a class of it's own. Really well presented, covers a massive range of world history, and from a design point of view the artwork on the textiles and metalwork is just stunning. We ended up going twice because there is so much there and too much for children to take in in one go, so we did a couple of hours each time which felt about right. I think we will be going back, especially as it's free apart from car parking.

I also think we'll be returning to Tropical World: I could sit and watch the meerkats for hours. They are soooo cute and very funny. I will post a few pi trues later.

My neck is suffering from the after effects of The Ultimate roller coaster ride at Lightwater Valley. I am stunned at how fast and how violent it was, all powered by the force of gravity and a few lifting chains over the course of a mile and a half - ouch!

If you've read this far (well done!) I can tell you that I have some very exciting news that I will be posting about as soon as it's confirmed next week.... I'm dying to tell you, but I need the official go ahead first.... Te he, I love to tease, so check back soon ;) !!

Shadow Shot Sunday

2010-07-04T05:25:00.002+08:00

A lone fisherman under Ouse Bridge in York. This spot is usually favoured by our webbed and feathered friends, but on this occasion they seem to be keeping their distance. If you click on the photo to enlarge you can even see the shadow of his fishing rod and it's little supporting stick. If you've not played yet, join in over at www.heyharriet.com :). You never know you might get picked for the weekly mosaics like I did this week... yippee, thank you!!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My Creative Space

2010-07-03T06:21:00.000+08:00

I thought I was too late to post this week as it's Friday evening here in the UK! Well, I've been mega busy, up to the eyeballs in work and end of year school stuff, like wrapping prezzies for teachers, Miss C writing thank you cards, Miss C's school disco, picking up Master J from the school boarding house, and grabbing a few moments in the sunshine in the park. So what I am trying to say is that there isn't much of a creative space this week, but I did receive some Pondlife + Plankton labels. I'm loving my colour choice of stone and black, and I love love love the fact they've not been cut so I can use them as a ribbon (sparingly!!!!).

Join in over at Kootoyoo with almost 200 participants!!!!

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

2010-07-03T05:52:00.001+08:00

Remember this?

Well on Saturday last a postcard arrived all the way from Bronte NSW Australia, beautifully made by Alex who has a lovely blog over at Buds and Bells. The theme was Time which flumoxed me for ages! I never thought of Time for Tea!! Here are some pictures of Alex's hand drawn card... the teapot is brilliant. She also sent me a little kit from Forever Always Studio for making a mini notebook using a post-it pad and scrapbooking card - totally gorgeous and totally generous! Thank you Alex, I shall have fun with this!

I'm sorry it took so long to post, it's been a very busy week at work and with the end of term!

(unfortunately my camera battery just gave out, so I'll post a pic later of the kit).

On the reverse it says "I hope you like your postcard, happy Creating!"

Indeed I will have a happy creative weekend!

Thank you!

Shadow Shot Sunday

2010-06-27T06:57:00.002+08:00

This shot was taken on a beautifully sunny and warm (it happens!) lunchtime in a tiny little park next to the River Ouse in York UK. I was taken with the repeating shadows of the trees. Here I was playing around with the black and white function on my camera. I couldn't get the exposure right, but I think it works here to create a vintage effect with over exposure on the sky and bridge, and the guy sat on the wall eating his lunch.

Here are a few more pictures taken the same day featuring shadows (that was my real aim).

City Screen Cinema

The Guildhall (I think!)

ditto!

Join in the worldwide fun at Hey Harriet

My Creative Space

2010-06-24T14:33:00.002+08:00

This week I have yet again been mostly finishing projects. This is a cute little basket I made a short while ago inspired by the delightful little baskets from the Zakka Life book (link later).

The basket is reclaimed linen from an old charity shopped skirt, with another cream skirt for a lining... I love the lining as it's got gorgeous line drawn flowers all over it in black with odd spots of stitching. I think the original skirt also had beads along the hem. I altered the handles as I just wanted them to look like tabs, but I made them too long, so they are now loopednover and secured with a shell button on each side.

I promise to edit this later and post some photos of it... I'm working on my iPad here using BlogPress which is rather limited in functionality, although the photo uploader is fast. Be warned that the iPad safari will not display blogger properly. If I want to post from there I'm going to have to learn HTML as I can't use the wysiwyg editor :(

I digressed a bit there didn't I! Sorry, back to the basket. All I wanted to add is don't look at the cotton string flower too closely. I'm happy enough with it but it was made in the days before I poperly sussed how to crochet properly. Instead of putting the needle under the stitch in the row below I was going into each stitch as if I was slip stitching into the first chain... Does that make sense?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The iPad has landed

2010-06-24T06:25:00.003+08:00

Well, it's here, it's shiny, it's very fast, ultra cool. It's my iPad, mine, all mine!

Yay :)

Guess it needs a cover for it now, although chicken willow have some rather tasty looking ones over at chickenwillow, shortly to be uploaded to her shop if not done already. Here is a picture of these cute delights:

Aren't they gorgeous!

Shadow Shot Sunday (Monday!)

2010-06-21T07:41:00.005+08:00

Eeek, nearly missed posting this week's SSS! I've been out all day 'down south' in a very sunny Warwickshire at a brilliant scarecrow and open gardens festival. Puts my little backyard into deepest shame!!

This is a little shadow shot from the aforementioned backyard I took a couple of weekends ago on the (still) warmest day of the year so far.

Join in the fun next Sunday over at http://heyharriet.blogspot.com

Etsy Craft Party

2010-06-19T07:45:00.003+08:00

Well I did it, I went, it was a last minute decision.. Miss C was at the theatre this evening on a trip with her youth theatre group and I was therefore at liberty for an hour or so to do just as I pleased. My choice? To go to the Etsy Craft Party at Pulse in Fossgate York.

I met some brilliant people, one I had already met in blogland - Fuel for Body and Soul - and other creative and clever people.

Some did arty things for a living, others did crafty things for rest and relaxation. Some did painting, some did quilting, others did crochet or applique... everyone had a go at making the party piece - the secret santa matchbox challenge. A paper pattern was provided and all we had to do was cut it, stick it, decorate it, and present it to the person we were allocated to! Funny how that was easier said than done - me and sticky stuff don't mix well!

Cakes and fun galore... Miss C devoured the chocolate cake and I had the best lemon bun ever - because it was delish and dairy free... a win win situation I think.

Here are some of the pictures I snapped during the evening... there were two Helens, two Emmas, a Cat and a Kat, Nadine, Donna (hope that's right), Portia, Louise... and now I have reached the absolute limit of my memory... but at least I will remember you by sight if not by name (red face!!) - Tell me who I've missed!!

I will edit this post during the week for links and better pictures...(sorry, the light levels were low but I hate to use flash!)

The football was on the TV in this corner... shame about the score!

Matchboxes and goodies

The filled secret santa matchboxes

Mine and Miss C's boxes that we received from our mystery (OK those at the table) crafters.

No I cannot confess to having stitched all this tonight - I managed about 5 stitches .. multi-tasking eh? Nah! ;)