fabric art, paper too

10x12" collage, background is paper with fabric, trims and frays.
I bought the silk print in NZ, tho' it is of Marie Antoinette.

Sachel to carry patterns, ideas and stuff

Made this with lots of coffee stained cotton fabrics, frays and lace.

Tried a new idea or two and left some seams on outside.
The colors are soft and romantic and I had fun dyeing all the trims.

Size is 9x11"

Puzzle code.

here's an idea .
Buy a small puzzle in a museum shop or gallery. Carefully write a letter on the back of it and break pieces apart.
Mail in an envelope and recipient has to put puzzle back together to read the sentiments.
I bought mine at a Da Vinci exhibit.

in the pink

Pretty blooms on my walk yesterday.

Picked up fresh raspberries too and made little rustic tarts.

My method,

make a push in pastry with a stick of butter, a cup of flour and cold water to mix.

Push into tart tins or I used terra cotta.

Mix couple cups fresh berries, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar and splash of vanilla.

Mix with fingers and plop into shells.

Bake hot oven about 20 mins.

Yummy!

Visit the River city , Hamilton, NZ

Very pretty Italian style lane in Hamilton, NZ.
I took my Mum here for coffee and we sat just behind the fountain in the courtyard.

More Art from NZ

the wonderful garden sculptures are created using the tree fern in the bush, upper right, as a model.
Below the center wooden piece is a fantail birdie and next to it a morepork.
These are all set in a beautiful garden gallery.

thanks friends. here are some twizzles to make

I named them twizzles years ago and often create these multi branched beaded twigs for embellishing things.

Brooch on left is made of paper, one on right is fabric and lace.

Twizzles add just the right touch of whimsy.

Birthday, what's that?

yes another one down. I was born in the Southern hemisphere on 21st June, shortest day of the year there.

Always bemoaned that fact . Now, bit of a different story.

Birthday breakfast on the Lanai

Made some French coffee cakes. One is peach and the other is made with currants.

now for a change of pace, Miss Annie.

I did a wall piece using KC Willis techniques.

Made it yesterday, it was all done with machine sewing so gave my hands a rest.

Size is 14x13" and it is made from fabrics I had in my scrap bin. All were coffee dyed.

I really enjoyed creating this.

Parlor doll, a la Paris, yep, I made her.

A doll in the French Mode.

A homage to Marie Antoinette.

It was the gowns, the jewels, the tragic life, all make her a legend.

I am entranced, and love history and romantic stories. Especially if they are true.

She has sold and found a good home.

Knitted and wonderful

These are from a show in NZ
Beautiful garments, hand dyed wool and all are knitted.
Ruffles on the red dress are wired and I remember there were thousands of yards of the knitted strips.

Top of the draped dress is sewn onto Solvy.
Wonderful, the skirt is like scarves hung diagonally.

Breakfast in the Islands

Fresh from the plantation.

Papaya and mangoes all golden and ripe.

Squeeze on some local lemon, put a hibiscus in my hair and ready to face the day.

Ways to finish brooches.

From my collection. years old now.
Gold frame is wired ribbon with a grape metal piece.

Cherub brooch is stamped and has layers added.

Inspiration bracelets

Black and white with repeat images.
Crop them differently and play with composition.

French masterworks are an idea that is timeless too.
Old books of art are a good source to find images.

Tutorial for Bracelets

If you want to put elastic on one project. Thread like this and knot the ends together.
Drop of glue to secure.

The other view I made rustic wire coils to join tiles together and added magnetic clasps to ends with jump rings.
I hope you enjoy this tute, let me know how they turn out.
Buy the Grafix on the net, no problem. i can find it here in the islands.
aloha

Grafix Tute.

Print out your pictures, 9 to a sheet. They should be 2.5 x 3.5", will shrink to about half size.
Cut out and round the corners. You can do it with scissors too.
Punch holes , two on each side.
If you want to join with elastic do all same way.
For a clasp, punch one hole on clasp ends.

Use a pencil or chopstick to gently hold plastic when using heat gun.

tiles are ready to join

One hole either end where the clasp will attach.
The rest have two holes on either side

Grafix tiled bracelets. Tute.

Use heat gun or oven on 250.
It will curl towards heat so keep flipping over.
To cool and keep flat, place a piece of cardboard on top and hold till it keeps shape.
Note that the ends on this bracelet will have a magnetic catch so put the holes apposing each other, one hole on the catch side, two on the joining side.
Good idea to lay out in order you want the bracelet to be made.