Sunday, 29 December 2013

The Silly Season ...




... got sillier round here ...
but no way did I forget to send Merry Christmas thoughts, vibes, wishes ...
to Each and Everyone of YOU in blog land.

☺ Hoping your Christmas was as magical as mine ♥ 

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

I WON ...

Did I tell you I won ?
The beautiful Briar of Sunday Collector asked ...
What dish makes your Christmas table special?
I wrote about our family tradition of Christmas Pudding ...
I WON ...
a Freedom $250 gift card ...
AND 
 Freedom sent me this ...

gorgeous surprise ...
a tea set for 4 ...
as well as the gift card ☺
Thank YOU Freedom & Sunday Collector ... 
tea & scones coming up ☺ 

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Screenprinting workshop = free & fun ...

Haven't thought about screen printing since school days ...
so the opportunity for a free workshop sounded like fun ...
loved the studio ...
the old bath for hosing down screens ... 
what an old work horse ... 
Three Masketeers set to emulsify screens ...
let the games begin ... 
excited to see this gorgeousness ... 
we were like kids trying colour combinations ... 
I'm colouring this piece with Fabric Colour pens ...
very cathartic ,,,
when complete it'll be my 2014 diary cover ...
loved every minute of the workshop!



Saturday, 5 October 2013

On being an Introverted Extrovert ... Take Note!

Once upon a time I was told I was an "introverted extrovert ...
I scoffed!

After retiring from the fast lane ...
I found & liked me.

I'd never analysed this self ...
simply enjoyed being me ...
now it all makes sense ...
TAKE NOTE!

Courtesy the very gorgeous, very wise Grrl HERE Grrl HERE

Friday, 4 October 2013

Monday, 30 September 2013

Hector Vera + PMC amazement ...


Recently I did a refresher Introduction to Precious Metal Clay 
hosted by Hector Vera 
the most generous tutor I've ever known.
PMC never ceases to amaze ...

this ...

became this ...

then we treated ourselves.  
  

Saturday, 17 August 2013

Dr Ray Seidler = Friend, Mentor, Family GP for 35 years = there's no words ...


Last Monday's Sydney Morning Herald wrote ~ HERE

Working in the Chevron Hotel Kings Cross in 1978 ...
I cut my finger ...
the bar manager sent me up the road to his GP ...
he stitched my finger ... 
the story began!!!

Ray became our family GP.

Long before he'd ever thought about addiction ...
long before anything and everything he became so well known for.

We were on the same page.

For 35 years we shared secrets.

We listened to each other when life gave us the shits ...
we frequently took too long with a consultation ...
we were like a pair of naughty kids going over time ...
purposely irritating the surgery receptionist and the waiting patients ...

there's no words ...
my heart is heavy ...

  

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Latest Creation ...

Recently amongst a $5 op shop jar of "broken jewellery" ...
I was flabbergasted to find this tassel ...
identical to one used on a necklace I'd sold.

Left side is a key bracelet created by my dear friend ...
Art by Canace

Right side is an antique tortoiseshell bracelet from my collection ...
a tortoiseshell pipe cleaning tool from my collection ...
and found crystals embrace the tassel.

The connecting chain is made using re-bar wire.

This is a treasured keeper.

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

When I grow up I want to be Louise Saxton ...

The Design Files featured Louise Saxton ...
my heart skipped a beat when I saw her work again ...
flummoxed, flabbergasted ...
you decide ...
 Louise uses 'reclaimed needlework' ...
aka doileys, embroidery etc ...
attaching her creations to tulle ...
using only lace pins ...
‘Major Tom 2010 – After John & Elizabeth Gould, c.1848′.
by

there are no words to describe such beauty ...
Louise inspires, motivates, leaves me speechless!

Monday, 15 July 2013

THE WEEK THAT WAS = Loving ...


Peering at puppies

Bread back on the shelves

Fun ...
love this view ...

New shoes ...
Memories ...






Saturday, 6 July 2013

Nifty Plier Storage ~

~ loving this nifty plier storage ~

Aussie's will find it at Fishpond.com.au = $25.99 Free post ...
or on ebay or at your local Farm supplies store.

 
In the US they're a mere $6.42 each on ebay!

Have you guessed yet ~ it's a flip top chick feeder?

I saw it HERE

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Textile Tales & Woven Journeys = Done ...

In 2003 after graduating with a Sociology degree ...
I went in search of my creative self.
Browsing in Basement Books ...
this gem fell off the shelf at me ...
it was like coming home ...
Judith Baker Montano gave me goose bumps ...
I'd not seen anything like it ...
I was infatuated ...
I devoured the book ...
I searched online ...
there was a huge network of like minded women...
who adored Crazy Quilting ...
there was life outside academia.

Life long friendships were made ...
creative opportunities happened.

I created this 'block' purely from the book ...
and recalling the childhood stitching skills ...
my Grandma's had given me. 
 Ten years on this textile & my story is included in ...
The impact this work has had on my creative journey ...
makes me grateful & blessed.

Wednesday, 26 June 2013

Textile Tales & Woven Journeys Exhibition am featuring on July 29 ...

"Textile Tales & Woven Journeys" part of Open Marrickville Festival .


Have been involved since inception, have a textile in the exhibiton, plus will give a short talk on the textile plus present a fun & easy craft workshop on Saturday ~ all details below!

Hope to see you there.


Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Absent but not idle ...

Sincere apologies for being such an absent blogger.
You've all been constantly in my thoughts.
 
From a mere "how come there's no women's shed?"...
"Inner West Women's Shed" was formed on April 17, 2013. 

First of many tasks was to create bunting ...
some of the women each volunteered to create a letter.
The bunting debuted at a community expo last week.
Pop over & check our Facebook page ...
I'll be back blogging now the dust is settling!

Saturday, 11 May 2013

My Singer sewing machine drawer wall + 14 Drawers in 2 days = Before & Now ...

 I've been de=stashing ...
my embarrassingly disgracefuly cluttered creative corner ...
with an idea using ...
the drawer units I already had ...
combined with sewing machine drawers! 

Found these in a store yesterday ...
scored these online on Thursday ...
these are currently in the post ...
as a gift from a dear friend ...
who knew of my quest!
 Here's how it used to look ...
then it got crazy ...
(this is when the de=cluttering had started)...
this is how it is now ...
almost finished ...
loving my little studio/workspace/creative corner.

The finishing touch ...
will be the addition of the gorgeous 14 drawers!

I'll be back when it's complete!


Saturday, 27 April 2013

A Self Discovery Journey = Paper, Glue, Collage, Art theory ... not for me

The workshop I've recently been doing ...
became a reminder ...
that paper, glue, collage and related ...
is not for me! 

Drawing this exquisite floral arrangement ...
caused me brain damage ...
 drawing then a collage of the said arrangement ...
made me want to scream ...
again ...
not for me ...
the origins of the leaf ...
now that was fascinating!!
The task was making a collage on ...
"What brings you joy?"

If you know me it's the same old story ...
LIFE!

The task gave me no self satisfaction ...
I was eager for it to end.
BUT ...
all was not lost!!

The facilitators were divine, well informed, patient, gorgeous ...
the venue was superb ...
the company was interesting ...
the journey there each week was most enjoyable.

It was a learning experience!

I discovered ...
I don't like working with paper. 

Drawing, cutting, pasteing, collage is kids fun ...
the sticky gluey fingers were yuk ...
that spoilt everything else I touched ...
I loathed working with newspapers ...
I was irritated to the enth degree!!

BUT ...
In the end I wasn't disappointed ...
it had been a journey of self discovery.

I was blessed & priviledged to experience ...
the knowledge of the tutors ...
and grateful for their genuine warmth & sincerity!

Now please pass the pliers ...
there's a new roll of re-bar wire with my name on it!
  

Thursday, 25 April 2013

My ANZAC Heroes ... age shall not weary them ...


April 25 is the day we remember our ANZAC heroes 
My maternal Grandfather fought in France in WWI ...
here he is 1916 ...
the sight of that little dog makes us smile! 

In WII my Dad served with Fortress Engineers ...
he was in Darwin when it was bombed ...
he told horror stories that tormented him for too long.


My Bro served with the Signal Corp ...
in Malaysia & Vietnam ...
he never recovered from what he saw and experienced ...
it all finally took him from us in 2001. 

Age shall not weary them nor the years condem
at the going down of the sun
and in the morning
we shall remember them.

Monday, 22 April 2013

Art by Canace for Moi ...


In upstate New York lives Art by Canace ...
my Dearest, Darling Friend ... 
who creates like I yearn to.

Look what I received today ...
a gorgeous bracelet for Moi ...
included were beautiful treasures ...
plus an heirloom for Belle ...
my heart bursts ...
there are no words ...

and just think ...


if I lose the keys ...
the spares are in upstate New York! 

Thank YOU Billie


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