Mrs. Moody .....

Meet  Mrs.  Moody.  I have always loved Lynne Hoppes art work,  particulary her faces (portraiture).  Recently she had a tutorial on her blog (sept. 20th) to explain the process she uses to create these wonderful characters of hers.  I've been meaning to have a play and today was the day!!! 
Lynne uses mixture of pencils, oil pastels, gouache, watercolor and many other mediums (she's very brave) and she very generously explained exactly what we needed.
Back in 2009 I was in an altered book Round Robin.  I found an old book,  "The Greatest Thing in the World" by  Henry Drummond and sent if off.  The problem was there were only four of us participating in the RR,  so there were still MANY empty pages.  I decided this book was perfect for me to practice faces.
Mrs. Moody came about due to a reference on the page I used  of the 'Messrs. Moody '....  
Lots more practice needed,  but I loved incorporating the oil pastel, gouache, watercolours etc.  Lots of fun, smooshing them around, smearing and generally having fun... thanks Lynne.http://lynnehoppe.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Moody. (click to enlarge)

I have been haunting the Opportunity Shops (charity shops) lately too.  Finding some old books and fabrics.  A couple of weeks ago I found this lovely still life painting.....I am quite taken with still life.  Of course I had to buy it ($50).  I just love it and have it hanging in my bedroom.  I think it will be in the lounge room soon, where I can see more of it.  It is oil on hardboard by Ellen Mileo (1934-2006)  a real TREASURE for me.  I am trying to find out a bit about the artist.

"Cyclamen and pomegranates"  by Ellen Mileo (oil on hardboard)

I have been doing some crochet too.  I've been enjoying crocheting this scarf for a friend of mine ...arent the colours glorious.  They make you happy ....and it is coming along quickly as I'm always wanting to get to the next colour in the variegated ball of yarn.

crocheted scarf.

Thats all for the moment.  I know I've been away from my blog for a while, family commitments make it hard sometimes,  but I am still quietly creating when I have the time.  It's great therapy.

BE  SILLY

BE  HONEST

BE  KIND

Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Bye for now,

JACKY  XOX

a star and a spirit ....

Today I met with my patchwork friends (first Monday each month).  We've been meeting for over 20 years ....quite often lately there's a lot more chat than stitching! 
I follow Jude Hills blog and have been doing the Magic Diaries workshop.  I've been a bit quiet on the stitching front for a while,  so I thought today was a good chance to pick up my cloth again and get a bit of stitching done.

I have always admired Jude's wonderful story cloths and the non traditional way she often approaches her quilt making.  I have always loved patchwork stars,  so I began with a primitive style eight point star..just eyeballed the points and then invisibly basted (all as per Jude).  I was happy with this relaxed version of the eight point star.  Still lots of stitching to be done....that can come later and at this point I have quite a few patches completed. Maybe I need to start thinking about the size and placement of these patches?  

.

When I was visiting my son in Switzerland last year I started this piece.... my sunflower spirit.  Often my husband and I walked through the amazing woods near my sons home...there must be spirits live in those woods,  they were so magical.  After one such walk my little spirit was born.  Still a bit of stitching to be done on her.

I think she will fit in well with my cloth.  I am sure there will be more spirits and beasts to join her soon.

LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE,

SWIM IN THE SEA,

DRINK THE WILD AIR.

-EMERSON-

Jacky  xox