Second Quiltie for Unlimited Textiles

There was a little mux up with the partner list on Unlimited Textiles.
Yes, I know I did the partner lists so it is all my fault.
Maybe I should be sacked!

But it did give me an excuse - as if I really needed one - to make another quiltie.

This is the result.
The background is hand painted fabric and the motif is a little needle felted leaf.
Not that you can tell it is a leaf as I have a lot of practicing to do with the needle felting. I still think it is great fun though.

This is now on its way to Patsy or Sandy or somebody ;0?

ATC's

These are my ATC's for the Getting to Know You swap at Unlimited Textiles.

Turquoise is one of my favourite colours at the moment, but as you see I couldn't resist putting in a bit of the the all time favourite purple.

I'm also having fun exploring this method of layering and piecing.
The rocks along the coast here have such wonderful strata. Add that to the beautiful grasses on the hills and fields, the colours and tides in the sea and I think you will see where I am going with this technique.
Lots more to do with it yet.

Getting to Know You Quiltie

This is my quiltie for the Getting to Know You Swap on Unlimited Textiles.

The background fabric is hand painted cotton with layers of sari fabrics and glittery braid. The image is printed on to cotton.

The cotton I use is ready to print on. I cut the photos to size, peel off the backing and iron in place.
I don't usually stitch round the image unless it is left as a photograph and then just for decoration.
I do think however, that if the article was to be worn you would have to stitch the edge.
I get it from Crafty Computer Paper

This quiltie is going to Sandy. I hope she likes it.

Look what I got!

I recently did two great trades but I keep forgetting to tell you about them.
Shame on me ;0(

The first was a postcard trade with Anna.
I've only just started making postcards as you know and was thrilled to be able to trade with Anna. I love the work she does (and she is so hard on herself).
This is the postcard I received.
I love the colours and textures and it even has some of her famous washers attached.
Thanks Anna.


The second trade was with Sue Bleiweiss.
I received this great Wrapfolio with notebook inside and several of her great patterns - including the fab teapot ;0)
The Wrapfolio is lovely and is made in my colours.
The notebook inside has lined paper so is just fantastic for making notes to tell me what I should be doing.
I sent my Pink Flower in a Grass Garden.
I was really pleased with that piece but despite what Sue said I know I got the better end of the deal.
Thanks Sue.

Autumn Daydream

Autumn Daydream is the latest addition to my Etsy Shop.

She is a lovely daydreamer in autumn colours.
Created on 8" x 8" canvas board with acrylic paints, collaged papers and skeleton leaves.



The leaves stamped in the background are the stamps I made when I did Susan Sorrells class.

August Chunky Pages

These are my Chunky Book Pages for August via AlterNative UK

The images are stamped and I received them and a few more in a stamped image swap some time ago.
I really like them but I can't remember who sent them or where they got the stamps.
If anyone recognizes them I would love to know where they are from.

The men in my life.

These are the men in my life.


Roger and mop.
Yes he was cleaning the shed!
To be fair it was because the seagulls had left calling cards.

And of course Fred!
What can you say about such a cute and scruffy dog other than he is adorable ;0)

Hive of Activity!

The room I call my studio has been a hive of activity.
I know that by the way that Roger huffs and puffs when he is playing with his hoover.
I may have mentioned it before but yes, I have a man that likes housework ;0)

It took him an hour this morning to hoover up.
We get thrown out!
Yes honestly. Me the cat and dog get shooed out into the garden.
It's a jolly good job the rain has stopped.
But we are back in now to a clean and tidy studio.
Not sure it will stay that way for long!

Anyway, as I said the studio has been busy and at
last I am excited to say that I have been able to
put some things in my Etsy shop.

As you can see there is a new Grass Garden with a Sunflower and a couple of new canvases.
I have more things to list and I am still working on ideas.

It feels great to be back on a roll and I'm sure Roger will be huffing and puffing for a while yet ;0)

Chunky Book Pages

These are my Chunky Book Pages (4" square) for July via AlterNative UK.
The theme this month was flowers.


The backgrounds are cut from a watercolour painting I did of a vase of flowers. It did not work out very well but did work for these pages.

The images, from Lunagirl are printed on to cotton and ironed to the background.
Hard to see but there is some silk fusion and organza flowers on there too.

Paper Towels???!!!

So far this is as far as I have got with Sue B's Mixed Media class.

There is so much more in this class and I know I will be going back over it time and time again to get all the information.

This vessel is made from paper towels!
Yes I know. I couldn't believe it when I read that was what we were to do.
I've only used paper towels to mop up before - what a waste! Never again will paint spills end up in the bin. They will end up in a project.


Another fun project with lots of uses.
This vessel is about 13" high. I think it would make a fantastic way to present a posh bottle of wine.

Anyone fancy a tipple? ;0)

A Little Book

Onto the next project in Sue Bleiweiss' Mixed Media Class.

This time we were using mulberry bark fibre.
This had already been dyed by Steph Francis, it comes in some fantastic colours.
I got mine from Joggles.

Again another fun project bonding the fibre to wool felt and adding metallic foil to give it a bit of ooomf!

We made an accordion book to go inside the covers.
I folded up the bottom of my pages so now it is just the right size to hold ATC's.
I have left the holder blank so the details of the ATC can be added here.
A storage problem solved!

Unlimited Textiles

**********Thank you all for the wonderful response to the call for new members.
We now have a wonderful, vibrant group, a full sign and a waiting list!!**********

My very good friend Jan and I run a little known Yahoo group called Unlimited Textiles.

We came on-line to keep in contact with our members that had moved away, were now at university or had jobs.
Sadly we have dwindled and would love to have some new members.

The group is textile based and low volume to allow for other commitments.
We like to run 2 swaps per month based on a theme.
For example the theme could be Layers and the swaps could be a mini quilt and a bookmark.

You will not have to do both swaps and indeed you will not be forced to swap - where is the fun in that.
But we hope you would enjoy being in our playground enough to join in share ideas and swap when you can.

We would like all abilities.
Perhaps you have been working with textiles for a long time.
Maybe you used textiles a long while ago and think you would like to get back to this great medium.
You may even have never attempted any thing with textiles but would love a fun and supportive group where you can learn.
If you like to share and create with textiles we would very much love you to join us.

We would like to keep the group small, perhaps limited to around 25 members. This way there is an influx of ideas but we will be able to get to know one another without pressure.

If you think you would like to come and join us in our playground please e-mail me (addy in my profile) for an invitation. Or leave a message here and I will get back to you.

Go on, come and play. Hugs, Alis and Jan.

Box

Our next assignment on Sue B's course was to make this great box.

First we had to make the fabric for said box.
For this we fused all sorts of everything and anything together.

Searching for these goodies was when I found that wretched tissue paper.


I used bits of left over fabrics and experiments
from the organza flowers I have been playing with. Skeleton leaves, threads and fibres were also added.


I used some fabric that mum brought me from
Malaysia for the lining.
I love it it is just me and there was a lot of it so I still have more for other projects.


Next was cutting the box and putting it together.
It should have drawers inside. I have the pieces but just not got round to making them yet.
Promise to show you when I do.



I am thrilled with it and the process. What a wonderful use for the leftovers!
Actually I was so surprised when it was finished that it didn't look like leftovers but designed with care from the very start that I couldn't stop talking about it!


Sue always designs such great and fun projects.

Mixed Media Class

During June I took a class with the most excellent Sue Bleiweiss.
It was through Joggles and the class was Mixed Media Surfaces.

Although I've not been too well recently, I did manage to play and really enjoy this course. Sue is so helpful and never lets you feel out of place for being a bit slow.
It also was a great group of girls on the course and it was wonderful to see their work.

The first thing we did was to make a fabric out of some tissue paper.


I knew I had a stack of tissue somewhere but could I find it? NO!
I could only find this dark purple. When it was painted and stamped though I was pleased with it.
Using my heart stamp here ;0)

It isn't very clear from these photos but I did some free machine embroidery over the piece with red rayon thread. Very regal, purple and red, don't you think?



We made the fabric into book covers.
I edged mine with the same red thread and made a cord with fine ribbon on my Kumihimo disc.
The beads at the ends are made from the same tissue fabric.

I still felt it needed something else so made the heart motif by stamping into air drying clay and painting it purple and red. I attached it with a piece of the red ribbon.

I love the way this fabric feels and am pretty pleased with my journal cover.
Just have to make the pages to go inside now.


The missing tissue?
Yes, it turned up when I was searching round for things for the second project in this course.
Typical!

Mini Cushion/Pillow

This is the last piece I have made for the Personal Symbols course.

It is a mini cushion or pillow depending on which part of the world you come from.

This was great fun and I have actually made a few more since but this is the original.

It measures 8 inches squarish.
I painted the fabric and used my own stamps.
I have been rubber stamping for 20 years so I get a kick out of using my own designs - sorry.

The lines in the center are strips of painted Lutradur used throughout this course and stitched to the cushion. The edges are satin stitched.

This has been a great course I have learned a lot about the things stored in my head and how to get at them. Thanks Susan.

I have a couple of pieces to finish from this course and the fabrics are already painted and ready to go but, I started another course!
That is another story so watch this space!

Personal Symbols Painting

For this part of the Personal Symbols course with Susan Sorrell we painted a background on Lutradur and add some of our symbols to it.

I painted my background with Dye-na-flow paints and the symbols in a selection of Stewart Gill and Lumiere acrylic paints.
I added the details with Adirondack pens.

It is quite large for me this piece at 12" x 15".
It needs a bit more work and is hanging on my wall awaiting inspiration.
I think I will cut it to smaller pieces and use as an overlay and embellish the pieces with stitching and beads.
Probably quilties or maybe postcards!

I like these symbols and see a lot of things I can do with them. Must start writing them down or I will forget!

Postcard Swap

On ANUK, Kari organised a birthday postcard swap.
We sent her 6 postcards and we will get 6 different ones back to send to ANUK friends as birthday cards.

I haven't made postcards for a long, long time and never in fabric, so I thought I would have a go.
These are my attempts ;0)

The bottom two are collage on watercolour backgrounds and the others are fabric.
These came from a piece of fabric that I made for another project.
I really liked this textile but there wasn't enough left for another..... whatever really!
But there was enough to make these postcards - yippee!

My favourite is the one in the middle that you can't see because of the flashback. Typical!
But the lady is holding a piece of lace across her face. I put a sheer piece of fabric across the card to match.
A couple of others have little organza flowers on them.

A lovely project that I enjoyed making and will enjoy seeing the others. The best part though will be sending them on to the birthday girls. What a treat. Thanks Kari.

Book Cover for Roger

At the beginning of June my lovely Roger was 60. He is an unassuming man who doesn't like surprises and gets embarrassed at gifts - weird I know but I love him!

Laura and Toby surprised and embarrassed him by turning up unannounced ( we last saw Laura in January and Toby before Christmas, so it was a surprise) and armed with gifts.
We had a lovely weekend and once over the shock Roger enjoyed it too.

The thing is, what to get the man who says he doesn't want anything?
Well he collects and reads a lot of vintage books. He had said that he particularly liked one of my Africa pieces so , voila! I made a book cover to protect the book or books he is reading.

Yes he was surprised and embarrassed - again - but he is over it now and is thrilled with his pressie.
I just love that man ;0)

Here I am!!!

Well at last I am starting to feel like I am fighting my way back to normality - what ever that is!
But I am on the mend and glad to see the back of June.
Thanks to all who sent me lovely e-mails and good wishes. You really have helped.

Gosh what a June.
It was the wettest in the UK since records began. Sheffield has been the worst hit with major floods. Some people are still not back in their homes and won't be for quite a while.
I'm sorry for those of you who are suffering drought at the moment too. The weather is playing tricks on all of us. Nature will have its way.

So, I have played a little but not much but, am raring to go this week so watch this space!



However, I wanted to tell you about Jennifer Rossetti who runs the Etsy shop nellableu. Check her out!
This is some of her art. Her whimsical style never fails to make me smile and I just adore her cheeky blackbirds. I can almost hear them chirruping to each other.

I got these pieces in a give-away. I consider my self very lucky to have her art in my collection.
Thanks Jennifer.

Thank you!

Just a quick note to say thank you for all the lovely comments you have left here.

I usually answer you personally if I can, but I am sending my apologies for not doing so this time.
I have been out of commission but hope to be back creating and blogging very soon.

Once again thank you for visiting me here, whether you leave a comment or not I really appreciate you stopping by.

Hugs, Alis