Monday, June 22, 2009

Computer frustration .......

I have so much to share with you all, but my computer has been playing up for weeks. Sooo frustrating. I cant even upload any new photos.
It was supposedly fixed, but can hardly even load a photo for my blog (even an old one).... thus just one meagre offering this week! I made this bird ATC for a friend well over a year ago, but when I flicking through my photo folder I came across it and thought it might be nice...I still like it. Naive, whimsical and simple.
When we have this computer fixed I have plenty of photos to upload, but at the moment, it just wont "play".

I've had visitors (my arty mother in law), I've received some wonderful art mail, I did a workshop in sketching and gouache. I've been out and about .... so plenty of news later.

I've been logging on and checking a few blogs when I can, and leaving comments where it allows me. At least I can still access your wonderful blogs this week.

I hope you are all having a wonderful, creative week. As the ATC says..."Create Joy"

Jacky xox

Monday, June 8, 2009

Pink and Grey....

I am taking part in another fabric book swap as you know. The page below is made for sweet Sesga who lives in Wales. The theme for her lovely little book was pink and grey. The pink fabric is an Amy Butler fabric I purchases earlier in the year when my sister and I went to "An Evening with Amy Butler" in Melbourne. front of page
back of page

I really enjoyed working on these pages for Sesga and was able to use some lovely fabrics that have been gifted to me recently. Many from the lovely Dot and also one from Kasha on this back page. Love the texture the tulle and voile piece from Kasha has added to this page.



Sampler by Jude Hill
Isnt this piece beautiful? Recently I purchased this sampler piece from the etsy shop of Jude Hill. I was thrilled when it arrived in my mailbox and was just overwhelmed by the beauty of this piece in real life....beautiful, soft, recycled fabrics. Lots of intricate stitching, a real treasure. There is a real spiritual quality to Judes work and I love visiting her blog, Spiritcloth.Tinkatink thinks this quilt is for her!!! sorry about the photos quality but a dark and miserable day today. Not good for taking photos.
I have actually been inspired by Jude to pick up a WIP and get back to it. Last year three of my patchwork girlfriends and myself made up all these snowball blocks for a quilt for my son Matt (arent they are lovely friends!!!). I had made up the blocks into strips, but hadnt joined the strips... BUT, this weekend I have nearly finished the quilt top. Now I just have to come to a decision as to the border, pieced or plain.



This photo shows the blocks before I started joining the strips and the colours show a bit better. Must say....I'm not used to working with these earthy, muted colours. For such a long time I have been using lots of bright Kaffe Fassett colours.

I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend. I know I have enjoyed visiting a few blogs today to catch up with what everyone has been doing over the weekend.
I will be without our computer again for most of this week. It has to go back to the computer guy as its playing up again and needs something re-installed. I'll be back visiting as soon as it returns though.
Jacky xox





Monday, June 1, 2009

Wonderful weekend ....

Apart from the fact that I have a dreadful bug at the moment (head cold), I had such a lovely weekend. A group of us girls (art girls that is) get together at each others homes every six weeks or so for an "art catch up". The house was abuzz with all of our chatter and we whiled away five or so hours before we knew it, discussing everything under the sun and having lots of show and tell. Showed off my knitting I have been doing for Grrl for her latest installation. I'm getting there Dneese....
Arent these fabrics scrummy...a lovely gift from my art buddy and fellow fabric addict Dot.

A gorgeous sunshiny pansy, a gift on Saturday from the lovely Patsy.



These are some more gifts from my art buddies on Saturday that I thought I might make into a Klimt Doll for myself. Some beautiful fabric brads from Dot, gorgeous brown silk taffeta and silk hand dyed ribbon from Julia, and the beautiful buttons were part of a gift from Ro. So many goodies get shared around at our get togethers!
I truly had the loveliest day... thank you Dot, Ro, Julia and Patsy for making the trip out to the farm for the day... it was lovely to have my friends at my home.


Beautiful bird ATC I received in my swap with Gaby. Now if any of you clicked on the link on my last post....heaven knows where it sent you as I made a typo. Try again, should work this time and Gaby's ATC's are beautiful.




Now my friend Lynne has asked to see more of the pages from the Nic Hohn journal I received, so here are some more for you Lynne.




It rained hearts and love.






Sing sweetly in the Morning
Of blessings in the dew.








could almost hear the silence







It was a bright, sunny day;
her first daffodils were in bloom,
"They're going to be a picture" she said happily.
Beautiful pages, I hope you enjoyed them.
Believe it or not I had much more I could have showed you this week, as I have been stitching a fabric page for my friend Sesga for our swap....but.... I forgot to take photos before I gave them to Dot on the weekend. Luckily for me, Dot is going to take some photos and send to me so I can show them on my blog soon.
Also, Dot embellished the most glorious piece of handmade felt and mounted it on watercolour paper for me. Unfortunately my photo turned out a bit blurry once I uploaded it, but I will take another for my next post as it is a very special piece you must see, lots of wonderful detail.
Anyways, I think this post is quite full enough!
I hope you all had a lovely sunshiny weekend...hope you got to spend it with some of your friends too.
Enjoy your creativity.
Jacky xox