Stitchety Grub

Needle Lace leaves

2012-02-01T17:10:00.002+08:00

Hi All - I am just about surviving the heat here in Perth - we have are experiencing the 2nd hottest Summer on record - had several days last week when it was 40 degrees (centigrade) and over! (104-109 Farenheit) even the pool water was 35c (95f) so we had to leave the pool blanket off for a few nights to get the water to a temperature that wasn't like swimming in a bath!!! - 38 today but fortunately down to only 31 tomorrow which is good as I have the first meeting for this year of the Kumihimo group I go to (monthly) as it's a bit of a drive away (35 mins) glad it's not a stinky hot day! The heat is also the reason I have been a bit remiss with my blogging - too hot to sit by the computer with the amount of heat that is generated by the hard drive under the desk! Anyway - here are a couple of pics of needle lace - the workshop was tutored by Olwyn Scott - a fellow West Australian who has made and taught needle lace for many years - my leaf is the blue/orange/cream one - to the right in the first photograph - and I actually haven't finished it yet as I haven't seen it recently in the studio - probably in a "Safe place" LOL!

Fabric painting and stamping

2012-01-12T17:55:00.004+08:00

Hi All - a few more pics - these 3 are from the Sherrill Kahn workshop which I attended through ATASDA last year at the end of August - the first was a burgundy piece of material which I stamped (lumiere paints) with some of Sherrill's stamps, sequin waste used as a stencil - metallic oil pastilles - I also used a battery toothbrush to do the frondy "whispy" bits! the next pic shows some pre salt dyed silk stamped with Lumiere paints using the stamp in the 3rd pic which I made using a polystyrene "meat tray" and an old biro! (it was ok but not overly clear so I might try and do it on some fabric that's not so busy!)

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T12:15:00.002+08:00

Hi All - Happy New Year - here we go again - I hope that this year is an exceptionally good and "crafty" one :D

This pic is one I took whilst in the Lake District last year - couldn't resist taking a photo of the sign LOL! what a hoot! The sheep was a bonus :D

Crafty stuff from this year part 4

2011-12-31T10:48:00.005+08:00

Hi All - Well here is my final blog entry for 2011 - a New Year is right around the corner - (13 hours and 10 minutes time LOL) so here are a few more pics of Crafty things from this year - Firstly 5 of the Christmas ATC's I made - 4 were attached to cards and swapped with the Australian online Lace Group that I belong to. Then a pic of teh 2 "Russian" doll needle cases I made as Christmas gifts- The purple/blu one has gone to live at my friend Ros's house here in Perth but the greeny/salmon one is more of a traveller and she has gone to reside in the UK with my friend Pat.
The next pic shows the Christmas decorations that my Stitchety Grubs Embroidery group made and exchanged - clockwise from top left is red and gold bird made by April and now owned by Carol-Lee, Huckaback Embroidered "diamond" decoration made by Ros and now owned by me! :D, Hand made Bedfordhire bobbin lace Angel made by Colleen and now owned by Ros, Cross stitched Koala by Carol-Lee now owned by April, Cross stitched heart made by Maureen and now owned by Colleen and finally in the centre - a Christmas tree made by me and now owned by Maureen. The final photo is of my Aquatone crayon/pencils which I bought in Derwent at the pencil factory in the middle of this year when Hubby and I were in Cumbria (I also bought Inktense blocks as well as various other pencils :D) but these - I took on my Sydney/Tasmania trip - I LOVE them! - so yummy to use! mm mm :D

Crafty stuff from this year part 3

2011-12-24T11:57:00.002+08:00

The 18th Birthday card I made for my son's Girlfriend - the dog is painted onto water colour paper - a piece of cardboard was covered with glitter Lycra material then all glued to a base card (they have a Dachshund who has just had 2 puppies -awwww too cute!).....and the "Wild Woman" brooch I made for the ATASDA (Australian Textile Art and Surface Design Association) Christmas swap... yes it is the same material as the Christmas Tree decoration earlier - as I hadn't gotten around to putting it away when I had to start the brooch LOL! :D

Crafty stuff from this year part 2

2011-12-22T16:17:00.007+08:00

2 necklaces that I made early in the year for my travels (nice and lightweight in the luggage!) The first is a beaded zip necklace in the black, red, white, gold and silver theme - this is the 4th one I have made over the years - and at my embroidery group this year we decided to have a go at "Goldwork" and as I usually bite of more than I can chew - I wised up this time and designed a smaller piece than I would normally have done LOL! :D - as the theme for the AGM in New Zealand in April (at which I was a tutor) was "Butterflies" I decided to make a pendant that could go on a Kumihimo cord - I have worn it many times and had lots of comments on it.

Crafty stuff from this year part 1

2011-12-20T19:35:00.006+08:00

Hi All - For last few days of the year I am going to post some of the pics from this year that I hadn't gotten around to putting on here yet... back in May I made the 2 "scrappy flower" brooches for my daughter to give the young lass next door to us - she had admired some others earlier in the year in my studio and the purple brooch can be pinned onto the Kumihimo braid that I made - it was a gift to my mate for her Birthday back in April :D
There is also a pic here of a wooden Needle case which I was commissioned to paint for a UK lace tutor who was out here doing workshops back in September ... it has our (Western Australian) State Floral emblem on it - the "Mangles' Kangaroo Paw" :)

Christmas Tree decoration

2011-12-16T16:32:00.002+08:00

Hi All - Here is a pic of the little Christmas tree decoration that I made a couple of weeks ago - I couldn't put the pic up until today as it was for my Embroidery Group Christmas exchange. It has gone to live at my friend Maureen's house :-)
It's made of glitter Lycra (a friend gave me lots of offcuts from another friend who makes dance costumes) and I embellished it with Tatted "flower" rings a little bit of chain stitch "tinsel" and sequins :D

Xmas decorations for 2011

2011-12-12T14:55:00.004+08:00

Hi All - I have been busy in the studio making little Xmas decorations - every year I make one each for my 2 kids and me and son's girlfriend and whilst I was at it - I made a few extra. I hand felted some wool tops to some orange felt and then decorated them with beads and sequins and added a "dangly" at the bottom and hanging loop at the top. They look fab on the tree which is covered in the various hand made decorations I have made over the year's as well as some beautiful hand made ones from friends. I will try and take some pics and post them of the tree all dressed! :-)

Tissue paper fabric

2011-12-04T11:00:00.006+08:00

Hi All- Sorry for the lack of posts - November was yet again a busy month - culminating in our West Aussie Cattern's Day Fair last Saturday so it was a month filled with bobbin painting! Then last week I had a few orders as a result of the Fair and also emailed orders and then 2 Xmas Lunches - so busy busy busy! :-)
I have just put up my Christmas tree - and 90% of the decorations on it are handmade - mainly by me over the years but some by other crafty/lacey friends - and it took me twice as long as I stopped to reminisce ( my Son's Girlfriend helped so I was telling her the little stories behind them hehe!)
The pics here were done a while ago - some machine embroidery on Tissue paper Fabric - haven't actually gone any further and made anything out of it yet - maybe in the New Year. I don't have quite so many travels planned over the next 12 months as I have had the last 24 months - which is good as I hope to get other things done now in the studio! :-)

Final pics of Textile Vessel

2011-11-06T12:59:00.004+08:00

Hi All - Once again back from my travels - that's it for quite a while and I am looking forward to some months of spending time in my studio doing "fun stuff" as well as busy bits!
Here are the pics of the complete vessel as promised a little while ago - Although I got back from my trip a couple of weeks ago - I have been flat tack painting up bobbin orders and getting stock ready for the annual West Australian Lace Guild Branch "Cattern's Day Fair" where I will once again have a stall.

More Textile vessel

2011-09-21T14:13:00.004+08:00

Hi ALL- more pics of the vessel - now cut into segments ready for sewing together :-) 3 sides and a base...
It's 4 sleeps until I head to Sydney - really looking forward to it - hope the weather is good to us - but as it's "Sydney" who knows LOL!
I am also looking forward to visiting some craft shops over there - I know for sure I will be going to Feeling Inspired beads at Mona Vale on the day off of the AGM week (the 5th Oct) as a Tasmanian mate has "wheels" all week and is driving there - I am gonna be a "bum" on a seat and go along too hehe:-)

Flower Stitcher

2011-09-14T15:18:00.002+08:00

Hi All - just a quick post - soooo busy at the moment - only 11 sleeps until I head to Sydney and still lots to do in the meantime - but I did get a goodie a few days ago - I finally got around to buying a flower stitcher foot for my sewing machine - The Thread Studio had a special on in their latest newsletter and I got the foot and Dale's book on using it and a pack of 4 yummy threads for a fantastic price - sooo pleased except that I don't have time to play with it :-( - something to look forward to in mid October when I get back though hehe! Yay! :-)

Tall Textile Vessel

2011-08-31T17:40:00.006+08:00

Hi All - Well it's the last day of Winter here in Australia today beginning of Spring tomorrow - yay!
Here are some pics of my "Tall Vessel" which I made before my UK trip - but as it was on display whilst I was away I waited off posting the pics.
The first pic shows a grotty green piece of felt I got in a craft shop bargain bin with a nappy liner stuck to it (The nappy liner had been painted with Dye-n-flow and Lumiere paints then "hit with a heat gun") ... didn't look like much and it was kicking around in the studio for several months before I decided to make a vessel from it - the second pic shows machine embroidery added - starting to look more interesting - the third pic shows more embellishment added - the techniques I learned for my previous post of a "Sea Urchin Vessel" in the workshop I did last year in November - (pics on the December 3, 7 and 16th entries) (with the very creative Elizabeth Morley)... in the last pic if you look carefully you can see that I have cut it into "panels" more pics to come... :-)

More Medieval Banner

2011-08-22T19:34:00.004+08:00

Hi All - more pics of the Medieval Banner - close up shots of the "painted tin foil" shield with the hand embroidered eagle on painted felt which was appliqued in the centre ... you can also see my initials B and yes that is an F - that's how I've always done them hehe and along the bottom edge is a beaded needle lace edging. It's alot brighter in reality than these pics - the colours are a bit iffy here! LOL :-)

Medieval Banner

2011-08-19T16:50:00.002+08:00

Hi All - here are a couple of pics of my Medieval banner which was done for a competition and display on the ATASDA (Australian Textile Art and Surface Design Association) stall at the recent Perth Craft fair - I didn't win anything but enjoyed making the piece back in June anyway the "shield" part is scrunched aluminium foil - painted with black acrylic paint and Lumiere's (Duh of course - you know I love them haha) ... By the by I am attending a 2 day workshop next weekend (not tomorrow.. it's the following weekend) .. .ATASDA are bringing out Sherrill Kahn from USA to teach - really looking forward to it - will try and remember to take lots of pics :-)

Hi Everyone

2011-08-12T16:59:00.002+08:00

Hi All - just a quick message to say we are back in Australia - got back last Saturday -been very busy this week and haven't as yet had a chance to load pics on the computer - am already frantically working and preparing for Sydney AGM and my Workshops I'll be teaching in Tasmania straight after - as I leave in 6 weeks and 2 days time eeeek!

Hi from London

2011-06-27T16:17:00.003+08:00

Hi All - just had first 6 days of our UK holiday - in London - not too much of the crafty stuff as yet - Did admire jewels at the Tower of London last Thursday. On Friday we met my crafty blog mate Pat (Hi Pat) at the V&A and did get to have a look at some of the jewellery there - Went to Portobello Markets on Saturday - and bought an antique wooden "Transferware" egg - with tiny thread holder/needlecase inside (no thimble but I have a silver one I can pop in it when I get home) and also from same stall I got an antique carved bone needle case and at a different stall 2 antique bone bobbins :-) In the afternoon we went to the British Museum and went around the Egyptian rooms - you know I am a sucker for all things Ancient Egyptian... LOL and also saw jewellery rooms and bought a fab book for 20 pounds ($30 Aus ) called 7000 years of Jewellery with info and photos of the jewellery we had seen at the museum - great day out LOL :-) Will be great for inspiration...This afternoon we travel by train up to Carlisle where we collect a car and drive down to Windermere in the Lake District for 6 nights- hope to find plenty of crafty stuff there including a trip to Farfield Mill at Sedburgh where there are artists in residence - then up to Scotland for 3 nights in Edinburgh - will let you know if I find any yummy crafty stuff hehe :-)

Sample book

2011-06-18T17:04:00.006+08:00

Here are some pics of my Sample book cover being made - it's to put various samples that I do at the ATASDA (Australian textile Art and Surface Design Association) meetings that I go to each month (or even any I do at home! :-D).... The background is "Tissue paper fabric" (Tissue paper ironed with Vliesofix onto navy blue felt then painted), then bits of Tea bags that were painted with Lumiere paints machine appliqued onto it and embellished with "paper string", hand made wire bobbin lace pieces and sequins... hmm I had thought that I had taken a pic of it finished but can't seem to find it - so when I get back from my UK trip (am leaving Tuesday) I will have to take one and pop it on here :-)

Scarab pages Egyptian Journal

2011-06-06T17:31:00.002+08:00

Hi All - here are the pics of the "Scarab" pages in my Egyptian Journal - pyramids are painted textured "wallpapers", velvet, heat gunned and painted potato crisp packet!

Egyptian Journal - Ra Pages

2011-05-31T19:17:00.007+08:00

Hi All - Here are the pics of the "Ra" pages in my Egyptian Journal - the blank book had this circular pop up in it - more pics of pages in previous posts -do scroll down if you haven't seen them yet :-)

Egyptian Journal - God's pages

2011-05-27T16:57:00.007+08:00

Hi All -Here are some more pics of my Egyptian Journal ... these show the stages of the "God's pages - Lumiere paint borders.... glued on painted card pieces..... fabric and "ribbon" pyramids and pictures ... then the Hieroglyphs and writing ... :-) (scroll down a few entries to March 15th to see the Nefertiti pages)

Wire Lace pendant and Donut necklace

2011-05-25T17:14:00.010+08:00

Hi All - here's a pic of me looking somewhat wind blown and cold in Auckland New Zealand a few weeks ago in Mid April - the next pic shows my "Donut" pendant (the instructions/pattern were in the UK "Stitch" Magazine a few months ago) and as there were a couple of "foam" rings "kicking" about near my computer (from the centre of a CD stack!!!) I used that as my "base" - it was covered with a thin torn strip of calico then a torn strip of red cotton material- beads were threaded onto wire and wrapped around too then I made a bead "chain" on which to hang it! and of course earrings to match :-) as you can see in the 3rd pic - the last pic is one of my designs (actually an earring) made up into a pendant and it now resides in Auckland at my friend Lynnette's house (Hi Lynnette :-D!!) - a little gift for her for "putting up with me " LOL! :-D more pics to come nut with my UK trip looming in less than 4 weeks not sure how much time I will have to pop blog entries on here - no peace for the wicked bwahahahahahaa :-)

Hi All

2011-05-17T19:41:00.001+08:00

I am still here - haven't fallen of my perch! LOL! just been working all hours of the day the last couple of weeks on my workshop pieces for Tasmania (in October) as they have to be photographed and the pics sent off ASAP for their June newsletter ..... :-) No peace for the wicked Bwah hahahahaha!

I am home again

2011-05-06T17:30:00.003+08:00

Hi All
I got back from New Zealand a week ago Wednesday - I had a fabulous time and took lots of photo's but this week I have been soooo busy in the studio and out and about at various meetings I haven't had time to load them etc - I don't have time now as DH has gone to collect Pizza's so - nearly dinner time ... Hope to get organised soon though... so stay tuned :-)

Travels

2011-04-13T14:43:00.001+08:00

Hi All
I was away last weekend teaching Venetian Gros Point Lace here in West Aus and I fly later this evening to New Zealand to teach at their AGM this weekend and also a couple of days next week - I then have a few days holiday to go exploring - will tell you all about it when I get back at the end of the month :-)

Egypt journal - Nefertiti pages

2011-03-15T17:07:00.005+08:00

Hi All - As promised - here is the next installment of my Egypt Journal ...the first "spread" of pages. The first pic shows the "paint base"... yummy gold and copper Lumiere paints- then the second pic shows the "plan of attack" - arranging the images etc then the third shows them stuck into place and then the fourth - the addition of the English lettering and the Egyptian Hieroglyphs. The Pictures of Nefertiti - are of course the various stages of my Needle lace Nefertiti which I did a few years ago .... so my journal has become a bit of a crafty record too :-)
Thanks to those of you who take the time to leave a comment - if you haven't done so before please do - I would love to come visit your blog too :-)

Egyptian Art Journal - more cover pics

2011-03-10T15:49:00.004+08:00

Hi All - as promised - here are the last 2 pics of the Egyptian Journal front cover first pic - almost finished and second one shows it complete with "Egypt" written in Egyptian Hieroglyphics - throughout the journal there are the words written in English and then in Hieroglyphs. Also now on the cover is an added thread wrapped pipecleaner - if your wondering what the foily stuff is on the left - it is gold celophane wrapping paper that has been "hit" with a heat gun then painted with "Lumiere" paints - you know how much I luv them LOL!
The Nefertiti picture is a a photograph of my Needle Lace Nefertiti neck purse which I made a couple of years ago - she also stars on the 1st double page spread - which I will be putting on the next post - stay tuned :-) Thank you to those of you who take the time to leave a comment - I luv reading them :-)

Egyptian Art Journal

2011-03-07T18:28:00.003+08:00

Hi All - Back in November last year one of the ladies at the ATASDA (Australian Textile Art and Surface Design Association) WA Group that I go to brought in 7 plain white "pop up" books - 4 small and 3 large - she had bought 8 books altogether and decorated one of the larger ones and decided to give the others away to anyone who wanted to "do something" with them - on the premise that they would bring the completed book back to the meeting in this February just gone...I picked up one of the smaller ones ... and as I am fascinated by all things Egyptian - decided that that would be my theme .... so here is a pic of the "naked" book as I got it then the first coat of coloured acrylic paints and finally with the gold "Lumiere" paint on it....stay tuned for more pics of the cover and the 6 double page spreads that are inside of it ..... :-)

Happy First day of Autumn

2011-03-01T18:12:00.002+08:00

Yay! First day of Autumn - though someone forgot to tell Mother Nature - record breaking temperatures here -and I am sooo over the humidity - :-( Roll on Sunday when it's dropping to 29 degrees :-)
I have been busy in the studio the last 3 days - too hot to be painting bobbins so I have been making a 3D Vessel - I have been taking pics as it progressed so stay tuned - I just have to make some Couronnes at lace tomorrow and it will be finished :-)

One WOrld One Heart Winners

2011-02-17T20:02:00.006+08:00

Hi Everybody For those of you who left a comment and were in the running for my Giveaway -thank you so much - so here are the lucky winners:

1. Deci
2. Faerie Moon Creations
3. Peggy Aplseeds
4.Cindy Adkins
5. Rough Seas Designs

CONGRATULATIONS :-)

I have emailed you and look forward to your replies

One World One Heart

2011-01-31T15:50:00.013+08:00

This Giveaway is now closed!
Hi - Welcome to my Blog. My name is Britt Fairchild and I am a Lacemaker and Lace Teacher, Embroiderer and Textile Artist and I hand paint Lace Bobbins.
I love travelling and am lucky to be able to do this with my Lace career both within Australia and also overseas. I have made many friends over the years including lots through my blog. I am looking forward to meeting more of you out there in "Blogland".

One World One Heart is a great way to get to know other bloggers and to visit like minded people all over the world.
This is a worldwide event to bring bloggers together, you can read all about it at One World, One Heart here - Thank you to Lisa.

The purpose is to encourage people, bloggers and non-bloggers alike to visit other blogs and make connections. Anyone with the One World One Heart logo on their blog is taking part. If you'd like more information click on the One World One heart in this entry or on the sidebar.

To possibly win my giveaway, you must leave a comment ON THIS POST ONLY, by February 16th, and I will announce the winner on February 17th. You need to be a blogger yourself, in order to qualify and you must leave an email address if I can't link back to you through your blog so you can be contacted if you should win.

When you click on the One World One Heart logo you will be taken to the site that will explain everything, and show you a list of every participating blogger. Visit all the blogs! Leave comments! Make new friends! Win prizes! Check back on the site, as new blogs will be listed as their authors sign up.

WHAT AM I OFFERING?
As this is the 5th year of One World One Heart - I am offering FIVE prizes this year - Each prize will consist of a Handmade Textile Bookmark (Made out of dispersal dyed fabric- with shiva/Markel stick embellishment, a butterfly and 3 Couronne (Needle lace technique) dangly rings) and a small mixed bag of textured threads and fabric scraps. See the pics above - you can click on them to see more detail.

So on February 17th I will be drawing 5 names and yours could be one! Thanks for stopping by - I hope you come visit again soon and Good Luck!

Crazy Patch Belts

2011-01-30T13:50:00.005+08:00

Here are pics of my Crazy Patch belts - the top one was made a few years ago now - multi-coloured with hand embroidery and of course hand made lace (mostly mine but a couple of pieces given to me by friends are included).... the bottom one is the one I made early last year in a Navy Blue, Cream and Rust theme to wear in Japan at the OIDFA Lace congress - all clothes in my suitcase were in that colourway! which meant it was all mix and match! hehe!
I have just started a slightly different shaped one - hopefully it will be finished by April for my New Zealand Teaching trip - a colour scheme this time of Red, White and Black and I will also be taking this colour scheme to UK in July and to Sydney/Tasmania in Sept/Oct :-) I will get plenty of use out of the new belt haha!

Scrappy Flower brooch

2011-01-30T13:42:00.002+08:00

Hi All - Here is the pic of the "Scrappy Flower" brooch which I made a couple of months ago. (I am posting the pic as promised)
It's made using some left over material from when I made my Wedding Dress. (A good few years ago now!! LOL)
I am going to be participating in the One World One Heart again this year ... it starts tonight - in one of the US time zones - so because we are so many hours ahead here in Western Australia I won't be posting my info in until tomorrow evening our time .... all very confusing hehe! I am really looking forward to it - do come see what it's all about :-)

Happy Australia Day

2011-01-26T10:19:00.003+08:00

Happy Australia Day everyone - I have been really busy the last few weeks - so unfortunately my blog has been a bit neglected there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! LOL! - the sun keeps setting and I haven't done half of what I wanted!
Talking of setting suns as I haven't yet got around to loading pics from my camera to the computer here is a pic I took of the sunset over the Indian Ocean at a local beach a couple of years ago - there had been a bush fire earlier in the day and the smoke had blown out over the sea and this was the result. Off to sip glasses of bubbly with jellied Hibiscus flowers in them later this afternoon - dirty job but someone's gotta do it haha! (If you don't know what I am talking about just go to Google Images and type in "Champagne and Jellied Hibiscus flowers") mmm mmm they are yum!

Happy New Year and Scrappy Flowers!

2011-01-03T17:10:00.005+08:00

Happy New year everyone! :-)
I am a bit behind with loading pics onto the computer so here are pics of my scrappy flower brooches which I made last year for my travels. I saw them on my friend Pat's blog (entry dated April 11 2010) and she got it from Ati, who got it from Anni, who saw the tutorial on Roben-Marie's blog here ... I loved it so much - I made 3 and in September I made a white one from scraps of my Wedding Dress material though with this one I put a fancy button in the centre - I thought I had a pic of it but can't seem to find it on this computer so I will take some tomorrow :-)
I have been busy in the studio the last couple of days - spangling my bobbins that I have been accumulating over the last 3 years - just over 180 of them!!! so it's a big job! but fun - I luv playing and sorting the beads LOL!

Needle Lace Christmas Trees

2010-12-22T14:53:00.014+08:00

Hi All - Here are a couple of pics of the 4 Needle Lace Christmas Tree cards/decorations which I made to swap - I am in an online Lace Group here in Australia and I received 4 cards from 4 other friends - I haven't taken photo's of them yet but will do over next few days as the camera will be out for Xmas shots! - My decorations are made in "free" needle lace (with beads for baubles) onto hand dyed fabric then mounted onto "bangle" bracelets and a sequin star added to the top and another sequin/bead on the "pot". ALSO I am once again participating in the One World One Heart at the end of January - where you can visit Crafty People's blogs and pop your name down to be in with a chance to win various fabulous goodies made by the blog artist whose page you visit ... This will be the 5th and Final one - I didn't know about it the first 2 years but have participated early last year in the 3rd one and in the 4th one earlier this year - I won 1 prize last year and was the lucky recipient of 4 things this year which I treasure - so do pop back on January 30th to see what I have on offer (as it's teh 5th and final one I have 5 goodies all ready for it!!!) and if you want more info about the OWOH click on the big One World One Heart logo on the left of this blog screen - under my Stitchety Grub header! It's a lot of fun! PS..... I have just spent 5 mins trying to get the first 15 words of this entry to join up with the rest of the copy - but no Blogger won't let me LOL!

Finished Sea Urchin Vessel

2010-12-16T17:16:00.009+08:00

Here are the final pics of the Sea Urchin Vessel - the first photo shows the six panels completed and ready for putting together - the next photo shows the lid and the bottom of the finished vessel - then a couple of shots from different sides of the finished vessel with it's lid in place :-) I am very pleased with it and as it's been made in the colour scheme of our lain living area it is displayed on my side board (Buffet).

More Sea Urchin Vessel

2010-12-07T19:17:00.004+08:00

Hi All - here are the next 3 pics of the Sea Urchin Vessel - the little blue " ball's" are made by rolling up a tiny amount of coloured wool top and popping it into a small square of, in this case, dark blue chiffon then stitched into place... (I also used a tiny painted polystyrene bead in the chiffon) you can see one of the wool ones in the first picture, right panel above the orange velvet flower, there are also a couple of tatted gold rings incorporated and of course various fluffy textured knitting wools... more next time...

Sea Urchin Vessel

2010-12-03T19:44:00.005+08:00

Here are the first 3 pics of the Sea Urchin Vessel as promised - I did 3 panels out of the first piece of material alternating with 3 panels out of the second material... these were from some of the pieces of material which I dyed last year on the Machine Embroidery course... the last photo shows the first 2 panels with their "embellished" bits on! ready for the construction stage. More to follow :-)

Coloured Bobbin Lace

2010-11-11T18:56:00.004+08:00

Hi All - I have a very busy first couple of weeks of November - madly preparing for my stall at the WA Branch of the Australian Lace Guild "Cattern's Day Fair" in 2 weeks time .... and also son's 18th Birthday which was all a great success! phew! I do have some new crafty pics but haven't had time to load them onto the computer so here are a couple of pics from last year's UK trip - I went to an "Old Mill" gallery up in Cumbria and on the stairway between levels I discovered this display of traditional and non traditional bobbin lace - fabulous display - a couple of pics here show some of it and also the detail plaque and the last pic is the river outside the mill. Love the colours in the lace :-)

Birthdays all over the place!

2010-10-31T16:33:00.002+08:00

Three weeks ago yesterday my Baby Gal was 21 - here she is sitting in my comfy chair - along with my resident Meerkats! LOL! Meerkat group on the left = big meerkat "Sid" -Bought in Fremantle in August 2008 and Monty on his left (bought in Cumbria, UK August 2009) - in front is Mork then piglet (not a meerkat obviously! haha) and Mindy (Mork and Mindy joined the family in June this year).
On the right of the pic is Maurice (bought at a local shopping center in a florists! last year, Flower (from Perth Zoo shop in January 2009) and Alex bought in Swanage, UK last September) My only Meerkat that doesn't sit in my chair is Mikey the Micro Meerkat as he would get lost down the sides all the time haha!
Baby Gal is wearing her glittery 21 sash which I made for her to go "clubbing" in!...The other pic shows Baby Boy and his Girlfriend at the 21st Birthday dinner - and this Wednesday it will be his 18th Birthday! so tomorrow I have to make an 18th "head/arm band" for him to go clubbing with - awww 18 - an adult haha! LOL!

Needle Lace Dragonfly bra bag

2010-10-22T16:27:00.005+08:00

Hi All - as I had promised some lace making friends - here is the photo of my latest "Bra bag" - the Needle lace dragonfly was made during the recent Australian Lace Guild AGM week - the actual dragonfly was designed by tutor Margaret Stephens.... his wings are 3d .... I made him in 3 days and he was always intended to go on the bag but looked a bit lost - so on the 4th and final day of the workshop I designed a blossom branch for him to sit on - the flowers are small couronnes.... (made on a pad not a couronne stick) all mounted onto a pre-prepared black "bra" bag :-) This is my 3rd bra bag and just in case you missed the other 2 - here are pics of the 1st - pink one and the 2nd one - Egyptian Scarab - which was also made during a Needle lace "Margaret Stephen's" workshop at the AGM week - 2 years ago - I adapted Margaret's design to fit in an oval so that it could be the scarab beetle's back. The lace edging is also hand made using a metallic thread which wasn't easy to use! but looked great - so I was determined it was going to do what I wanted it to - you have to be assertive with a many of the metallic threads !!!! hehe!

Needle lace Butterfly

2010-10-18T18:57:00.003+08:00

Hi All - as promised here are 3 pics of the butterfly which I made the week after the AGM - during the actual AGM workshop week (with Tutor Margaret Stephens) I did the Dragonfly (I will pop a pic of that on here in the next entry) All the other 9 students were making gorgeous butterflies and so I was compelled to make one when I returned home - so here it is ... the first photo shows the "Base" - wings and the second one with the 2nd 3D wings attached and the final photo shows the complete necklace - the Beaded "chain" attached and I made some earrings to match (I don't have hooks on them in the photo as I attach all my earrings to "Euro ball" hooks made of real silver or real gold as I am not good with the cheap varieties of hooks) it means I can just thread on whichever earrings I want - great for travelling :-)

Funky Red Shoes

2010-10-14T20:00:00.002+08:00

Hi All - at last I have been able to load on my photo's from my recent escapades - alas though today I have run out of time to compress them ready to go on here ...However I have popped these two pics on here which are of the new Red shoes I bought today - funky aren't they ha ha? Do stay tuned as there will be all sorts of exciting pics to come ....

Fabulous Anniversary trip and Lace week

2010-09-30T16:45:00.003+08:00

Hi All
Firstly the pic at left was taken in Kobe Japan - in one of the the train stations!
Yes I am back from all my travels! - no more until Next Year now .... Hubby and I had a fabulous 3 weeks over the "other side" in Queensland - driving from Brisbane up to Cairns where we stayed for 8 nights and then driving back down - just over 4,600 kilometres of driving! ... snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef - and going out in glass bottom boats and a semi submersible another day we went by Rail up to Kuranda Village in the Rainforest and back on the "Sky Rail" - gondalas ... awesome stuff! Another day we visited the Josephine Falls in the morning and kayaked 9.5 kms down the Babinda River in the afternoon - even better! - just him and me and the odd tractor - cane cutting, Jabiru birds and lots of butterflies and other birds - verrrry awesome! We also went to the Sunday Markets up at Port Douglas and then to see the Mossman Gorge and had lunch up in the Daintree Rainforest where we then went on a boat to spot crocodiles (we did actually see one!) ... the final day up there we went to the Atherton Tablelands and visited "Nerada Tea" plantation and a cheese factory mm mm.... Then after 3 weeks - hubby flew home and I spent the 4th week (last week) at the Australian Lace Guild AGM week - doing a 4 day workshop in Needle lace with the delightful Margaret Stephens .... fantastic time! I haven't had a chance to load the pics on - but they will follow soon.... stay tuned! :-)

Japanese weaving, Tamari balls and Origami

2010-08-24T18:14:00.005+08:00

Hi All a few more pics from the Japan trip - one of the weaving that my friend Jo was doing ... one from the Tamari Ball workshop and the last a pic of one of the beautiful Origami pieces that were on display one morning tea break .... it is made up of lots of tiny Origami cranes ... very clever!
Hubby and I leave this Friday morning for our Silver Wedding Anniversary trip to Queensland (it lasts 3 weeks and 2 days) and then he flies home whilst I stay on for the Australian Lace Guild AGM week :-) yay waa hoo!

Kumihimo Braid workshop in Japan

2010-08-08T19:07:00.009+08:00

Hi All - Here are a few pics from my recent Kumihimo Workshop in Japan... The first pic shows the 2nd Braid that I made during the 3 and a half day workshop .... It's about to be started on the Kakudai that I was using - the Tama (bobbins) are wound ....ready to go... the second pic shows the purple and lime green braid I started late on day 2 - it's called "Dogwood" - has little flowers formed on it! and the third pic shows the lady from USA who was sitting next to me on my right - Lauren - like me she is also a lace maker who works with Wire! Hi Lauran if you're reading this :-) oh and we were making all the braids in beautiful Japanese silks- fabulous thread! mm mm!

Hi All

2010-08-06T17:58:00.005+08:00

Here's some pics from the Japan trip - on Rokko Island where the congress was held there were various "art pieces" dotted around the streets - here are a couple and a pic of me in front of the Hotel Plaza Kobe - where the Kobe fashion Museum is also. This hotel is where I stayed.

Since I communicated with people in Japan a few months before the congress I have been getting "junk Comments" on this blog - please do leave messages but only if you are a fellow craft person -thanks :-) and if you attended OIDFA - do leave a message - I met lots of people (and had lovely gifts from some) but not everyone included contact details :-(

Home again - Pics of Japan

2010-07-22T16:45:00.004+08:00

Hi All - Well here are the first pics from the Japan trip - we arrived at the hotel at 10 am on Sat July 2 but couldn't get into our rooms until after lunch - so we found a local cafe - and had a rather gorgeous "Corn soup" - it was icy cold! and the roll to go with it was a sweet one! still yummy as we were starved! - Other 2 pics are taken from my hotel room in Kobe (on Rokko Island) it was a dreary day - piddling with rain and only discovered the mountains when the weather cleared a bit the next day! LOL! comes of attending a congress during their rainy season!More to come.....

Handicrafts in Japan

2010-07-16T07:34:00.002+08:00

Hi All- Now on the last couple of days here in Japan - the main part of the organised tour now over and we are this arvo doing our "Own" thing - actually I am going with some mates to revisit the 7 floor Handicrafts place which we went to on the tour yesterday cos we didn't get enough time to have a proper look - we will then be staying out and about to see the floats parked in side streets which are getting ready for the Gion festival parade which is tomorrow morning and for which we all have reserved seats - hope the rain stays away- (Wednesday it piddled down!) hot and humid here- my 105 yen (Aus$1.30 UK 70p!) brolly has been so useful! LOL :-)

Greetings from Japan

2010-07-05T21:23:00.002+08:00

Hi All- A quick massage from Japan - very humid here but great to be in warm weather after the cold in Perth. Today was the first day of the Kumihimo workshop- we were working on takudai frames rather than the more familiar Marudai....all very frenetic and the language barrier wasn't too bad! LOL! day 2 tomorrow... hope my back lasts the next 2 1/2 days - hotel room has nice big bath to soak the weary bones in though haha! hope to get pics happning soon...

Friends going to Japan with me!

2010-07-01T14:39:00.003+08:00

Hi All - just doing a quick experiment with my new HP Mini- gave up a couple of weeks ago on my 2 year old Asus eeepc as it only had 4 gigs and every time Windows updated it was filledup grrrr! So as I have this new toy I have just (with help from my Son) worked out how to load pics on here ready for my Japan trip which I leave for in 22 hours time way hey! Here is a pic of some little friends which I am about to gift wrap - as they are going with me....in case you don't recognise any of them clockwise from top left they are: A koala, a Kookaburra, a Platypus, a Kangaroo, a Wombat and an Echidna!

Countdown to Japan

2010-06-23T20:05:00.002+08:00

Hi All - Yes I am still here - I have been busy getting ready for the Japan trip which I leave for in 8 sleeps time LOL :-) - lots of things to get done before I get away ...
The pic here is of a picture that was on the wall at one of the B&B's in Cumbria, UK last year... the colours haven't reproduced very well but it was very nice in reality!

Back from my teaching travels

2010-06-11T18:45:00.003+08:00

Hi Everyone - I returned from my 3 week Lace making teaching trip a few days ago and have now started the mad countdown to the International OIDFA congress in Japan which I leave for 3 weeks tonight! I had a great time in Tasmania - in between work days I visited a choc company and also 2 cheese places -they make fantastic cheeses in Tassie mm mm! and I also visited a couple of choccie places in Melbourne on that "leg" of the trip - including partaking of a hot choc in the Lindt Cafe in central Melbourne ... verrrry yummy! I had fabulous hostesses - spoilt me rotten - it was great! The two pics here are: firstly the Bobbin Lace decoration which I attached to Beate's 60th Birthday card - I made it a couple of months ago and posted it before my trip as her Birthday was whilst I was still away...the other pic is of 4 other Bobbin lace decs I made a while ago but only got around to finishing off the "ends" recently! - now I must put hanger loops on them so that I can put them on my Xmas tree in December! But it ain't gonna happen this side of the Japan trip ... and probably not until after the Queensland trip in Aug/Sept either! LOL :-)

My travel art kit

2010-05-13T19:52:00.003+08:00

Hi All - Betchya thought I'd vanished into the ether? he he - No.... I have been busy the last couple of weeks getting ready for my teaching trip to Tasmania and Melbourne .... 6 sleeps to go LOL... I also had a fabulous time last weekend at the "Lace West" weekend - it was 2 days of workshops and it was to celebrate 30 years of the West Australian Branch of the Australian Lace Guild!!!...we had beautiful sunny weather all weekend - the venue was right next to the Swan River (that's the main river through Perth City for my overseas blog friends) .. I did Needle lace and thoroughly enjoyed it all - there was good food and good company and wine and choc of course haha!... only down side was the bunk beds squeaked terribly every time you tried to turn over ... kept waking myself and my friend up too! but apparently all the beds in all the rooms were like it! .... I still have heaps of photo's on my camera and haven't psyched myself up to loading and compressing them on here yet .... so in the interim here are pics of my traveling art kit - a Moleskin sketch book - and in the lightweight "pencil case" are:
water colour pencils - a mechanical lead pencil, eraser, sharpener, fold up ruler, 2 black "Pitt pens", 2 (water holding) brushes, spare pencil leads, spare erasers (for the mechanical pencil), 2 "Twinkling H20" pots and a little tiny pair of scissors! ..... all kept neat in a little stripey fabric bag (not in the pics).

Kumihimo Braiding and Marudai

2010-04-29T20:06:00.003+08:00

Hi All - I am still here! I have been really busy getting ready for a workshop weekend (7th-9th May to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the West Aussie branch of the Aussie Lace Guild) ...I am doing needle lace (as a student not a tutor this time) and I have been getting things ready for it - also I am busy painting bobbins for my September stock (As I have travels in 3 weeks - a lace teaching trip to Tasmania/Melbourne and also the congress in Japan in July) I need to "get ahead"!
I got a Mini Marudai in the post yesterday - ordered from a place in Queensland and also a new book on Kumihimo braiding - I have just got the Marudai put together and loaded with the 'Tama" (bobbins) and I have started a braid to carry on with at the Lace day which I am going to tomorrow (I don't have any lace underway at the mo!) I have also nearly finished another crazy patchwork belt in Navy blues, rust/orange and creams to match my clothing which I intend to take to Japan for the Congress! I just have to hand sew the binding... also taking that to the lace day tomorrow too... No peace for the wicked bwah hahahahaha! LOL! :-D

Xamia palm

2010-04-19T20:25:00.004+08:00

Here are some pics that I took a couple of weeks ago of the Xamia Palm in our Garden it has had three "flowers" which now have "nutted" pretty colours aren't they? hehe

Final pics of Free Form Peyote Bracelet

2010-04-14T19:40:00.003+08:00

Hi All - the first of these 3 pics shows the beginning of the adding of "embellishing" beads - the second pic - a few more!! .... then the last pic shows my completed bracelet!
A few weeks ago I took it along to show my friends at my Wednesday Lace group and a good friend luvved it and as it was her Birthday a couple of weeks ago I made another in her fave colours of Aqua's and purples... she 's a happy bunny hehe.

Free form Peyote bead bracelet

2010-04-12T18:53:00.003+08:00

Back whilst the Winter Olympics was on TV I had the urge to have a go at making a Free form Peyote bracelet - so here are the first three pics - I will post the other three pics in the next blog entry.
I have been very busy the last few weeks - back in the studio Lace bobbin painting - getting stock ready for later in the year. Also I am making another crazy patch belt for my July Japan Lace Congress trip (also in the navy blue, rust, cream colour scheme as the peyote bracelet) I am crazily tatting little bits of coloured lace to go on it ... and I am working on a coloured Kanthas quilt - with Incan designs on it! pics in the future!

Final Pics of Cordonnicot Needle Lace Fish

2010-04-04T17:39:00.005+08:00

Hi All
Happy Easter - here are the last 4 pics of my Cordonnicot Needle lace fish - first pic shows the central Cordonnette's in place - then in the next... his fins have their Cordonnette's completed and I am just starting the outside Cordonnette ... Then the last 2 show him finished one on a light background and one on a darker background - he measures about 9cms long!
Thanks Jenny and Saskia for your compliments and no Cathy I haven't thought of a name for him... any ideas? LOL

More Cordonnicot Needle Lace Fish

2010-03-28T16:45:00.003+08:00

Hi All - here are the next 3 pics of the Cordonnicot Needle Lace Fish - The first pic shows he can now swim as he has fins LOL! then in the next pic - the beginning of the "Cordonnette" with single beaded loops and in the 3rd pic - the first 2 "Cordonnette's" complete - last few pics will be in the next blog entry :-)

Cordonnicot Needle Lace Fish

2010-03-21T14:24:00.003+08:00

Hi - A few weeks ago I made a Cordonnicot needle lace fish which is to be part of the Aussie display at the OIDFA Lace Congress which I am going to in Japan in July - first pic shows him on my lace pillow - working on his head! - 2nd pic - head complete - onto tail ... more pics in next post! LOL! :-)

Last stages of the Inchie Scissor Keepers

2010-03-18T10:07:00.006+08:00

Here are the last few pics of the Inchie scissor keepers - They are all now patiently waiting in a box in the studio for their trip with me to Japan in July - I decided to make these as my little gift as they are nice and lightweight - I think I am s'posed to wrap them though so I will have to dig out some tissue paper nearer the time ..hmmmm :-) .... busy at he moment preparing more Wire Bobbin Lace Jewellery kits for the Teaching trip to Tasmania/Melbourne in May - today - more winding wire off the bigger spools onto little ones - exciting stuff hehe! still I do get to watch documentaries etc that I have recorded on my dvd :-)

Inchie Scissor Keepers

2010-03-12T18:37:00.004+08:00

Hi All - I have been hiding in my studio from the heat! It is supposed to be Autumn here but last night was the second hottest temp on record - 28.1°c and today's high was 41°c! I am OVER it!
Here are a few pics of the early stages of some inchie scissor keepers that I have made for little gifts for my trip to the OIDFA World Lace Congress in Japan in July ... more pics to follow ... Hubby and I booked our return flights from Queensland for September today - we had already booked the "going to" flights by cashing in our Qantas Frequent Flyer points a few weeks ago! Saved nearly AU$900!!! yay - that will go towards the car hire hehe!
We are flying into Brisbane then going by car and "bunny hopping" up to Cairns - seeing the Great Barrier Reef then "hopping" back down - After 3 weeks Hubby will fly home and I will stay on for the Aus Lace Guild Annual conference week... The reason Hubby is coming too this year is because next month it is our Silver Wedding Anniversary!!! eeek! LOL!

Finished Knot Garden wall hanging

2010-03-04T18:21:00.002+08:00

Here it is...ta da!... the finished piece - it's about 60 cms wide and 45cms deep -now all I have to do is get on and put the hooks up then hang it! hehe!

A much cooler day here today only got to 25.9°c which was fab - I had the windows open and the breeze blowing through the house yay!

I am off to the city tomorrow for a Lace Guild committee meeting and it's only s'posed to be 26 which is great as it gets a very hot in amongst the buildings! Crafty wise I have been sorting out things which I will need for the Tassie/Melbourne Teaching trip in May ...

More Knot Garden Wall hanging

2010-02-27T10:27:00.002+08:00

Hi All
I am still enjoying working in the studio with the air con zooming away - Thursday's temp here was a high of 42°c and yesterday 40°c - today a cooller 36°c!!!
Here are the next 2 pics of my Knot Garden Wall hanging - now with the little silk flowers in place - they were made by ironing salt dyed silk (a couple of blouses which I got at an "Op shop" (charity shop)) onto a piece of Vliesofix - then by peeling of the paper backing of the Vliesofix and ironing more silk onto the back so basically silk sandwiched with a "glue" middle! - then I cut them all out!
They are cut from 1cm squares so that gives you an idea of their size .... then sewn into place with a bead in the centre. A pic of the complete hanging - to follow in the next post :-) ...

Dorset Buttons

2010-02-24T15:17:00.002+08:00

Here is a pic of some Dorset Buttons I made about 11 years ago - I lived in Dorset from the age of 2 (born in Wiltshire - next County over!) until I emigrated age 24 :-)
The Dorset Button industry began in the 1600's in the town of Shaftesbury - that is where I went to High School! and my Mum still lives 7 kms away...

Knot Garden Wall Hanging

2010-02-22T18:34:00.004+08:00

Here are the first three pics of the Knot Garden Wall Hanging as promised before the One World One Heart thing.... more to follow....

Making of the Neck Purses

2010-02-18T18:43:00.006+08:00

Hi
All
Here a few pics of the two Neck purses during the making - I am busy at the moment preparing for the May interstate workshops (Lace making) - no peace for the wicked hehe! LOL :-)
I hope that the weather is being kind to you wherever you are in the world - another summer day here - top of 35°c - around 30 for next 3 days then high 30's for the beginning of next week - I am enjoying working in the studio with the Olympic coverage on - all that snow and ice hehe!

THE WINNERS ARE

2010-02-15T15:12:00.002+08:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed the One World One Heart Magic Carpet ride - and I am thrilled to have had over 400 comments this year - almost three times as many as last year- and such wonderful things written too! A huge thank you to all of you.

So here are the two lucky winners.......
LADYBUG
and
LYNN

I have emailed you Lynn and I have left a comment on your page Ladybug - as I couldn't find an email link....
Please send me your postal addresses as soon as possible so that I can get these little purses off to you wherever you are in the world...
I am also thrilled as I have won a prize this year - a faerie from Kaerie Faerie - yay!
I hope to snoofy at my leisure around all the blogs and hope that many of you will return here to see what I get up to this year...

My Giveaway is NOW CLOSED

2010-02-14T19:46:00.003+08:00

My One World, One Heart giveaway has now closed!
Thank you every one who came and visited my blog and left a comment - my son and daughter will be doing the draw shortly - one name each :-) - and I will post the winners on here tomorrow ..... thanks again all and do come back to visit...

One World One Heart Giveaway 2010

2010-01-25T14:58:00.008+08:00

Hi Everyone- Welcome to my blog!
One World One Heart is a great way to get to know other bloggers and to visit like minded people all over the world.
This is a worldwide event to bring bloggers together, you can read all about it at One World, One Heart just click on Lisa's name.
The purpose is to encourage people, bloggers and non-bloggers alike to visit other blogs and to make connections. Anyone with the One World, One Heart logo on their blog is taking part. If you'd like more information click on the One World One Heart logo in this entry or on the sidebar.
To possibly win my giveaway, you must leave a comment ON THIS POST ONLY, by February 14th I will draw the winners at 7.30pm (Australian Western Standard Time (+8 hours GMT), and I will announce these winners on February 15th. You need to be a blogger yourself, in order to qualify and you must leave an email address if I can't link back to you through you blog so you can be contacted if you should win.
When you click on the One World, One Heart logo you will be taken to the site that will explain everything, and show you a list of every participating blogger. Visit all the blogs! Leave Comments! Win prizes! Check back on the site, as new blogs will be listed as their authors sign up.
What am I offering?
I am offering two prizes this year - two of my "Jewelled Jemz" Neck Purses ... one in brown and one in green - they are great for popping your thimble in when you are at a workshop or even when you are working at home! and also for keeping Raffle Tickets and other Knick Knacks safe...or just to "pep" up an outfit! and as some people suggested last year - for your lippy or chap stick!
So on February the 14th I will be drawing 2 names and yours could be one! and announcing it on Feb 15th. If you have a colour preference please state it in your comment when you leave it (on this entry ONLY) ...Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come visit again soon and Good Luck!

Mikey the Micro Meerkat

2010-01-22T18:27:00.006+08:00

Hi All
It was very hot here in Perth last Sunday around the 42°c mark - so I was hiding in the air conditioned studio and I decided to attempt knitting a tiny meerkat - I have 6 toy meerkats - 4 that I got here in Australia and the latest 2 that I bought in UK last year- I haven't been able to find a free tiny knitted Meerkat pattern on the web except I did manage to find a fab pattern for a tiny wee Mouse at a site called Knitted Toy Box
so I decided to adapt it - to Meerkat colours and I just made the arms/legs a little longer and unlike the original pattern I made the legs the same amount of stitches as the arms - I also used different needles as the yarn was finer than DK - it was an acrylic mohair ... I am really pleased with the result ... he is sooooo cute - Thanks Knitted Toy box :-) The other pic is of the Mumma Meerkat who had babies about 5 weeks before this picture was taken which I took last time I visited Perth Zoo in January last year... she was gorgeous. I have found a crocheted Meerkat pattern out there but unfortunately I never learned to crochet and now Arthritis in fingers negates it! the crochet pattern if your interested is at Roman Sock - I would love one of these but can't find anyone to make one for me : boo hoo! LOL!

Knot Garden Wall Hanging

2010-01-20T19:25:00.006+08:00

Hi All - Today I finished the 2 "Jewelled Jemz Neck Purses" which I will be offering in my giveaway with the annual "One World One Heart" - it starts this coming Monday - 25th January and I will be drawing the winner on February 15th - if you would like to know more about it - click on the pink "Magic Carpet Ticket Holder- One World One Heart" logo in my sidebar on the left of your screen! (or on the underlined words that I have just made into a link!) It's a fantastic concept - last year there were well over 800 people offering gifts - I did put my name in on about 60 blogs but wasn't a winner perhaps this year I will be .... "gotta be in it to win it" LOL! :-) ... Last year I offered 1 Jewelled Jemz Neck purse and it went to live in the UK - I wonder where this year's two will end up? hmmm haha LOL! (I have taken pics of the purses in various stages and will show them on here soon as well as the pic of the actual finished items that will be on here on Monday).
Today's pics are: The first one is the background for my "Knot Garden Wall Hanging" - this year at my Stitchety Grubs Embroidery Group our theme is "Knot Garden"...... well - me being me- I am not taking the traditional route that a couple of the others are doing - I have actually already finished mine so I will show the various steps of it on the next few blog entries ... the second pic is of the first stage of the centre panel with the actual "Knot Garden" bit - Gold work Techniques......
The last 2 pics are of the duck pond in the centre of a little village in Dorset, Uk which is called "Ashmore " (Yes it is even on the Google maps - satellite and everything hehe) this is the village where I lived from the age of 2 until 16 (16-18 I was only home weekends as I lived with my Gran in Salisbury where I went to Art College- and then I moved to Bournemouth - to work and be in the 'big wide world!")

Lace and Decorated Blouse

2010-01-16T17:58:00.004+08:00

Hi All - from Sunny hot Perth -today's temperature was 38°c and it is still 35° right now (6pm) and tomorrow and Monday's forecast is for 41°c!!! - I have been hiding in the studio today in the cool air con though I did go for a swim with Hubby and Son in our pool this afternoon (the pool water is 31°c!).
Pics today - my UK Trip one - shows a piece of lace in the Textile room at the V&A in london and the other two are of my blouse I appliqued last week - the sleeve and then the view of the whole blouse.... This last week I have been working on the Russian Mat but I am thinking that I may not have enough thread left on the reel (hindsight's a great thing - shoulda bought two!!) - so I have stopped and have ordered another (from the same lady I got the original one) - so I am hoping it will match close enough to wind onto a couple of the bobbins and I can gradually work it in .... finger's crossed .... Oh and I saw a giveaway on Robin's blog - but hurry as I think it closes tomrrow (Sunday)

Bobbin Lace Appliqued Blouse

2010-01-13T17:53:00.004+08:00

Hi All
Another hot day in Perth today - 35°c - I went in our pool for a swim this arvo once my son and his mates had finished - the water was a lovely 31°c according to the new thermometer - obviously the pool blanket we got a week ago is doing it's job and hubby is happy as it's keeping a lot of leaves etc out and also not so much water evaporating as previously!
Here are some pics - the first two are of a blouse which I bought recently at an Op Shop (Charity shop) and last week I appliqued some bobbin lace pieces onto it that I did yonks ago that were kicking around in the cupboard - (they were used early last year when I did the machine embroidery course - when we were doing the sun dying - hence why they are kind of "rusty/orange" now!) also some silk blouse hems (as ribbon!) and some other braid/cord I was given - there are a couple more pics of this blouse - which I will put on my next blog entry... the third pic is part of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster London - from my trip last year - I was sat on a little wall opposite haveing a 5 min rest and decided it was worth a photo...hehe - luv the gargoyles - ferocious little beasties!

Russian Bobbin Lace Mat and park pics

2010-01-09T13:10:00.004+08:00

Hi All
I am off to my Saturday arvo Lace Group in a minute - our first meeting for this year - so just have time to pop a blog entry on here - as some of you know I am also a member of an online (Aussie based) Lace Group - Gumlace - and I promised I would put an up to date photo of my Russian Mat which has been "on the go" for over 5 years- it has spent a lot of time in the cupboard including 10 months of last year! as I was working on my Triennial competition piece from early 2008 until Sept 2009 ..... and with all my travels last year - it has been sadly neglected - however it is currently the only Bobbin lace I have on the go (actually the only lace I have on the go - my 2 needle lace pillows are also empty!) - all my other 14 bobbin lace pillows are empty!!!.......... most unusual as I usually have 3-4 pieces of lace on the go - one of which is usually a wire piece!
So here is a pic of the matand I will be plodding away with it this afternoon at the group....

The next photo is the next instalment in my last Year's UK trip - this is Kensington Gardens and an 8 minute walk from my hotel .... the 3rd pic was taken in the adjoining Hyde Park -It is The Lido where people were swimming (amazing to this Aussie resident - it would have been way toooooo cold for me!) - in with all the ducks etc hehe! .....Talking of swimming - we had a pool blanket fitted on our pool on Wednesday and the water is now 29.5°c so I went in yesterday for the first time this season - hopefully I will be able to swim a lot more often now that our big below ground concrete pool (hence why it used to be sooo cold and take sooo long to heat up!) has a blanky hehe!
Warm thoughts to all of you "up there" with all that snow .... brrrrr memories of Southern England when I was a kid.... I DON'T miss the snow at all!

London pics and Applique ATC's

2010-01-06T16:33:00.005+08:00

Here is the next installment in my UK trip last August and a craft pic - this is the hotel I stayed in - it's in Queensway Street in Bayswater, London -a dinky little hotel - it is the pink building in the pic - my room was at the very top (attic!!) in the centre - it had the tiniest "cupboard bathroom" - a round loo! little basin and shower - but was clean and just right for me all on my own.... colour digital TV up on the wall - tea/coffee facitiies - everything I needed and at £68 (AU$ 119) per night for central London - brilliant -a 3 min walk to Bayswater Underground station with a Tesco's supermarket opposite it (selling the necessaries like wine and chocolate haha!) - or a 6 mins walk to Queensway station ..... I actually walked out everywhere in the mornings but went by underground back in the afternoon to the hotel - I was too pooped by then haha!
I purchased an "Oyster card" for the under ground before I left Australia and it was great - the train from Heathrow to Bayswater station only cost £2.20 (AU$ 3.85!!!) and other short "zone 1" trips were £1.60 (AU$ 2.80) instead of £4 (AU$ 7.00) if you pay cash in the station! - a great saving - I still have around £7 (AU$ 12.25) on it! and it doesn't expire yay! I am keeping it safe for next July when Hubby and I plan to go together. The other pic is of 4 ATC's which were made from a bag of tiny scraps that I accumulate near my sewing machine - I hate throwing anything away - you just never know when you are going to need it! LOL ! They are embellished with tatted "flowers/bushes" and sequins and beads! The one at bottom right is still available if anyone out there wants to swap? - I wouldn't want to meet the "giant" ladybird on it if it was to scale though! haha!

Wire bobbin lace ATC's

2010-01-04T19:28:00.004+08:00

I recently participated in a Christmas Card swap - and as I had some small pieces of wire bobbin lace (I make this little set of "repeats" to use up the wire that is left on my lace bobbins after making my jewellery pieces) I thought I could do something with them - I was sitting in the studio contemplating the wire lace and thought the little loops looked like little houses- which led me to the Christmas Carol - "Oh little town of Bethlehem..." so I made 6 ATC's - four which I attached to cards for the swap, one which I have kept for myself and one that went on a card and was posted to my Blog friend Pat that's the one (first pic) with the added hologram bell and tree ....(Hi Pat! :-D)
I painted the little house with some white paint and yellow for the 'lit windows" then sewed the wire lace strip itno place - added a star sequin and a little bit of calico on which I wrote the wording - and there ya go!

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T17:46:00.003+08:00

Hi Everyone :-)
Happy New Year - well I finally got around to loading all the photo's from my camera onto my computer yesterday - only took 5 hours! as I had to compress some of them to go on this blog .....The first pic that I took when I went to the UK last August - was of the "Button Queen" shop - It sold a few new and lots of antique buttons there - quite expensive but interesting to see anyway - if only those buttons could talk! - The top picture is of the Antique Maltese Lace hankie and bone bobbin I bought at Portabello markets - My Grandfathers name was James ... and as there were only 3 choices of names - I felt rather pleased to find a family name on one! the other pic I took somewhere in London haha! just loved the sign as it had 2 of my favourite things - Vodka and food! on it haha!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2009-12-25T14:28:00.002+08:00

Hi All
A Very Merry Christmas to you all - I have had a very busy last few weeks - sorry for the lack of Blog Posts - I hope to rectify that as my New Years Resolution - and now family are on holidays - so still busy doing the social thing!
It's 34°c today and we are hiding in the cool air con - Daughter did go in our pool this morning but the water temperature is only 24°c and she soon hopped out! We are getting a pool blanket delivered and installed on January 6th (I will be at Lace but Hubby will be still on holidays then - so it should be there when I get home that day yay!) it's supposed to keep the water up to 10°c hotter and of course will keep out the palm nuts (the actual trees are in our back neighbours garden!) and other leaves out.
Well we just had roast pork cooked on the Webber BBQ outside so we're all stuffed now!
Once again Merry Christmas and have a great New Year :-)

Needle Lace Kit and Needle Lace Pillow

2009-11-28T17:28:00.007+08:00

Hi All
Yep - I am still here - I hope to have more time for the computer from today which was the Cattern's Day Annual Lace Fair here in Perth, Western Australia...where I sell the bobbins which I paint ... I have lots of photo's to load from the last few months but I haven't had time so far as once I have loaded them on the computer I then have to compress them and name them and it all takes time...
In the meanwhile - here are a few pics of my Needle Lace Travelling Kit and tiny Travelling Needle Lace Pillow - The first pic shows the Pillow at the top and the Kit at the botton in the closed position. Pic 2 shows the Kit open - the pocket at the top left holds a little container to put spare "Couronnes" in (Little needle lace flowers) and also a tiny pair of tweezers. The pocket at the bottom left is of course for embroidery scissors.... in the centre is sewn 2 little sealable plastic bags in which I store the cardboard floss bobbins of Cordonnet threads and the actual thread for the needle lace and also a contact lens container in which I keep a random selection of tiny beads to incorporate into the lace and any other little things necessary (Like fine wire to help make picots).... on the back inside at the top is a detachable needle case (attaches with velcro) and in the bottom right pocket I keep the sewing thread for couching and a couple of my own homemade leather thimbles... Basically in this tiny case I have everything I need for a needle lace piece. The final pic chows the Needle Lace Pillow in the "open" position - out of the carry bag and you can see a little matching pin cushion on the end....

Jewelled Jemz Neckpurse and Jelly Roll

2009-11-12T19:59:00.005+08:00

Hi - Confession time - I still haven't had the chance to load on the pics from my travels ... I've been busy painting bobbins for the upcoming West Aus Lace Guild Cattern's Day Fair on Nov 28th and also working on several emailed bobbin orders that I have received as well as running my son around who is in the middle of Year 12 TEE exams and working on other crafty things in the studio.... I had a lovely surprise the day before yesterday when I had a parcel in the letterbox ... couldn't think what it would be ...I had totally forgotten my Blog friend Pat in the UK had said she would send me a booklet on using "rusting powder" (She had given me a pot of it when I met up with her at the V&A in London at the end of July) ... and bless her also in the parcel was an spangled ebony Lace bobbin ... just gorgeous - thanks Pat :-) ... you spoil me :-)
The pics above are: a little embroidery for one of 3 Jewelled Jemz neck purses which I made to colour co-ordinate with my (suitcase) wardrobe for my UK trip and the other pic is a Jelly Roll of fabric which I got in April when I was on my Wire Lace teaching trip to Adelaide - there was a lovely Quilt shop opposite a lace meeting which I went to in Strathalbyn ... no idea what I will do with it but just loved the colourway and had to have it haha! Oh and thank you to all of you who stop by this blog and visit - for ages I was stuck on 99 countries on my counter but now have clocked 100 woo hoo! hehe!

Yes - More Wild Women Brooches

2009-10-30T19:34:00.003+08:00

Hi All
Here are a couple more Wild Women - The first is one that I have kept myself - she is made with hand needle felted wool, textured knitting wools, Painted hot glue motif, beads, Green metallic thread tatted hair and one of my painted faces ... yes I made about 20 faces and I only have one left LOL! The second pic is a little lady that has gone to live with my friend Margaret whom I sit next to on Wednesdays at Wanneroo Lace Group ... she put up with me making lots of Wild Women earlier this year (quite a few of them were for gifts on my recent trip to the UK) so I felt it only right to give her one of her own! LOL! :-) Margaret's is made of painted fleecy (the fluffy inside! of the fabric) Goat mohair for hair.... beads and tatted flowers.... her shoes and handbag I discovered in a scrap booking section in a local shop...
I have been making some more Wild Women today - different to these - this time I have done the faces on small wooden heart blanks ..... stay tuned for pics ......

More Wild Women brooches

2009-10-21T19:29:00.002+08:00

Hi - I still haven't found the time to load all my holiday pics onto this comuter - but here are a couple of photo's I loaded on before I went away but didn't post (explanation below ...read on...). The first 2 were given to me for my Birthday by my friend Colleen - she was only supposed to make 1 but she made the one on the left first using some of her hand made Bedfordshire bobbin lace and she wasn't happy with it so she crocheted the fluffy one on the right and she gave them both to me ... I think they are both fabulous and have worn them several times! The 3 in the other pic were made by me ... but they haven't been posted until now as they were gifts - the one on the left with blue shoes was for my friend Judy's Birthday back in June, the one in the middle was for my Blog friend Pat when I met her for the first time in London at the end of July and the pink one was for my friend Maureen whose Birthday was in early August. (In case you don't remember our project at my Stitchety Grubs Embroidery Group this year was to make each other a wild woman brooch for our Birthday's LOL :-) - there are a couple more pics of yet more Wild Women - some of whom were given as gifts whilst in the UK - I will pop them on the next post.

Hello and new Lacey ATC's

2009-10-11T20:11:00.004+08:00

Hi All
I still haven't had a chance to load my holiday(s) pics on this computer - been busy with the family - our son had shocking Tonsilitis last week and is on antibiotics - his sister has had it bad over the years but this is the first time that he has had it and it had to be the week of his pre TEE exams -ie these exams are a small percentage towards his main ones which are in 3 weeks time so I guess better now than then! ... I am looking forward to him leaving school completely around November 16th ... it will be stange no longer having kids at school and not having to do the "school run" mornings and afternoons anymore ... after 17 years !!!!... it means I should get a whole hour more in the studio each day!!!! as it takes 30 minutes round trip to the high school! Yippee!! I received 7 new ATC's whilst I was away in teh YK but I haven't had time to actually photograph them yet however here are a couple I did recieve and do a pic of just befor I left at the end of July.... The top one is done by Elsa a lacemaking friend here in Perth and the bottom one by my friend Mary also a lacemaking friend here in Perth! Elsa's is bobbin lace and Mary has made hers all in needlelace! I love them - just gorgeous hehe!

Yes I am back and I won an award

2009-10-02T17:04:00.004+08:00

Hi All
Yes Pene I am back ... but only just ...after the 6 weeks in UK I had 3 days home then 4 days in the South of West Aus - in Albany for their annual Lace weekend then home for 3 days then I was in Brisbane for the Annual Australian Lace Guild AGM week and returned this past Sunday ... I haven't had much chance to blog yet as I had my monthly machine Embroidery workshop day today and of course the last 3 days I have been doing the workshop work from the 2 days that I missed when I was away .... Next week I start back in the studio painting bobbins and running my son to school for a week of exams (though the school is on holiday the year 12's have to do the exams) His main exams though are from Nov2-18 ... poor kid!
Yesterday morning I was madly emailing my travel agent to book my flights for the OIDFA Lace conference i nJapan in July next year (2- 18th are the dates I will be away). (OIDFA = Interenational Organisation of bobbin and Needle lacers).

Whilst in Brisbane last week I was also asked about teaching wire bobbin lace in Tasmania in mid May next year ... so that is (lightly) pencilled in my new lace diary! exciting stuff!

A week ago Saturday my duaghter moved out of home in into a unit and seems to be getting on well ... bless ... never cooked or cleaned much at home but she's learning fast LOL! Haha!

yay! go me!I haven't had a chance to load all my luvly pics on here yet but I have to have a brag and say that the Triennial Lace Competition was last week when I was in Brisbane and I won (second time in a row) the "Mixed Lace" category (you may remeber the G- String "The Sea" theme from last time) this time the Theme was The Rainforest and I made a top (very brief one!) hahaha :-) The prize was a beautiful little wooden bowl made by a woodturning fellow in Brisbane from 4 different woods ... just wonderful and on display on one of our cupboards in the family room! Smells great too as one of the woods is "Camphor Laurel".

Hello from the UK

2009-08-15T22:58:00.002+08:00

A quick hi ...I am having a great time in the UK....already done LOndon.....and now just spent a week in The Lake District...including Beatrix Potter's house and gallery as an artist I was in 7th heaven...also found a craft shop in Kendal though I only bought hand sewing ballpoint needles (for Needlace) a brand I had not seen before...also went and saw the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal....beautifully worked...bought books on it in fact books on Beatrix too and I also got to the pencil factory (Derwent) and treated myself to a tin olf 36 "Inktense" pencils mmm mmm.... a week tomorrow I am off to Cornwall to stay with a Lace and embroidery friend so a nfew more crafty things happening then...hope you are all being goood out there in blog land!!! LOL

New ATC's

2009-07-27T11:33:00.004+08:00

Hi All
Here are 4 of my most recently received ATC's - The 1st pic - left one is from Winifred Simhauser of New South Wales (Australia) and is "Self made cotton fibre background embellished with wool and silk" (the cotton fibre is grown on her property!), the right one is from Gail Walker of the UK. The second pic, left, is from Domi Bouguet Tognon of France and the paper flower one -J Prosper of Western Australia ... thanks ladies .... I am just finishing up my packing for the UK trip (away for 6 weeks) I leave for the airport this evening at 6.20pm (AWST - Australian Western Standard Time) my Daughter is taking me down there .... must go now and pack my wash kit and the final thing is my make up bag .... have to take the Polly Filler or else I'll frighten the native's haha!LOL!

Free Machine Embroidery Workshop

2009-07-17T19:50:00.004+08:00

Hi All
Here are some pics from the Free Machine Embroidery workshop which I attend each month ... in the first workshop in March we Sun dyed fabric ... in April we did dispersal dyes and did some sample free machine embroidery work, in May we did machining onto the sun dyed fabrics ... and in June we did more embroidery with couched cords and satin stitch lines - pics to follow and this month we cut up a piece of the dispersal dyed fabric and arranged it in a design pinned to tulle and dissolvable fabric - machining "lace" between the pieces... pics of this to come to as they are still in the camera.
Only 10 sleeps to go until I leave for my 6 week trip to the UK .... I have been madly working the last couple of weeks on my competition piece for the end of September (Australian Lace Guild Conference week in Brisbane) ..... hence why I have been so quiet on this blog! I have popped by occasionally to visit fave blogs but have been to pooped in the evenings to spend too much time on the computer and of course at the moment we are watching the Tour De France which is televised live and the time itstarts on TV here is between 8pm and 10pm (as we are 7 hours ahead to GMT). Well it's about to start so ... comfy chair time hehe!

And the Winner is........

2009-07-14T17:54:00.004+08:00

Hi All
As promised I did the draw today for the winner of the Wild Woman Brooch from the entry dated June 17th ... and (drum roll hehe) the winner of the brooch is .....Tatting Chic .... I will leave a message for you on your blog or perhaps you can email me your snail addy... Congrats and thanks to the others who entered ... I will do another giveaway later in the year when I am back from my UK/ Southern Western Australia/Brisbane travels :-) (I leave in 13 sleeps time hehe! but will be taking my tiny Asus Eee PC with me and hope to pop posts on this blog).

Giveaway reminder

2009-07-07T17:47:00.002+08:00

Hi All
Just a quick reminder that there is one more week until I draw the winner of the little Wild Woman brooch in the previous post so do put a comment on the previous entry to be in for the win.....

Finally Time for a Giveaway!

2009-06-17T17:53:00.005+08:00

This Giveaway is now closed :-)
Hi All
At last here is my Giveaway as promised several weeks ago.... This little WIld Woman brooch is looking for a home .... just pop a comment on this blog entry to be in the draw . You do need to have a blog to take part and will need to leave a email with your comment so I have a way of contacting you.
The winner will be picked out of a hat on Tuesday 14th July at 7pm (Australian Western Standard Time) (this is the date of my 27th anniversary - when I started dating my hubby haha! also my Brother in Law''s Birthday)....

On the crafty front I have been still madly working on painting lace bobbins .... It's a bit like swimming through custard every time I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel another order comes in! but it's all good as the funds will go towards my lace trip to Japan next July for the OIDFA (International organisation of bobbin and needle lacers).... I did get a chance last week to do a bit of free machine embroidery - all to do with the monthly workshop mentioned in previous posts ..... I leave for the UK in 5 weeks 5 days time and yes I am counting as I still have lots to do .... and not enough hours in the day!hehe!

ATC's and busy students

2009-06-09T19:48:00.007+08:00

First pic shows 2 ATC's I got a few weeks ago - (I know I've been really slack loading pics onto this computer! - I have been sooooo busy....)
The flowery one on the left was from Beryl and the one on the right from Heather- thanks ladies they've been much admired at my Lace and embroidery groups! The other 2 pics show my very industrious students in April when I flew over to Adelaide to teach them Wire Bobbin lace jewellery...

Congrats to our son

2009-05-31T20:03:00.003+08:00

Congrats to our son ... passed his driving test 1st time (like his big sis did 3 years ago ... yay!) last Thursday. Now he has to complete a 25 hour log book over 6 months so should be able to go on the roads on his own at the end of November - we won't know ourselves haha!
I've been busy painting bobbins - 139 in the last 8 days!!! still quite a few to go and another order arrived 2 days ago for 29 - so no peace for the wicked!!! I did get to go out for the day yesterday "up into the hills" to the monthly WA Branch (Aus Lace Guild) meeting and managed to do about 4 inches of the lace strip that I have on the go at the moment .... It was lovely weather (even though Winter here in Australia officially starts tomorrow), sunny and around 24°c and was the same today (not that I was out in it!
Pic here was taken back in January when we got our son his Holden Astra car .... it's been good practice for me driving a manual again as my own car is an auto but the 2 cars which I will be hiring in August in the UK will be manual.... Just in case any of you are wondering I haven't forgotten my promise to Raffle a "Wild Woman" Brooch ... I just haven't transferred the pics to this computer yet .... please stay tuned.... :-) I have quite a stash of pics to transfer .... and with my monthly Embroidery day on Friday ...there should be some more....

Madly Lace Bobbin painting

2009-05-25T18:53:00.003+08:00

Hi All
I am still here - I have been busy painting bobbins .... clearing an order of 8 pairs of Australian State Flower bobbins - so 16 bobbins, another order of 9 various bobbins.... both orders have just been posted this morning ... ...I sorted and labelled around 80 bobbins on Saturday.
When I got home today it was to start varnishing another 100 bobbins.... the first 40 commemorative's for the online Aussie lace group -" Gumlace" (there will be over 100 items on this order eventually!) 8 pairs of bird bobbins that were ordered, 20 (5x4) new People bobbins - Cypress, Macedonia, Turkey and Cook Islands!, 30 Cattern's Day 2009 ladies (first batch I usually end up painting around 80 each year) and a couple of other odd orders.... phew! After the varnishing today I started painting 16 bobbins with the "Albany Pitcher Plant" which are the commemmorative ones for the Lace weekend this September ... I am counting down to my trip to the UK - I leave 9 weeks tonight ... so it's gonna be a verrrry busy few weeks.... I am also trying to work on my "Triennial LAce Competition" piece which needs to be finished before I leave as when I get back from the UK in September I only have 3 days at home before the "Albany Lace weekend" then when I get back from that - another 3 days to get the sox n jox washed and then I fly to Brisbane! for the Aus Lace Guild AGM week that I may or may not be teaching at (I won't know that until early August - 6 weeks before it takes place...!!!) So please forgive me if I am a little slack with the postings .... I am still popping by all your blogs when I get the chance :-) (oh and the pic here was a one off "Raffle" prize bobbin for last year)

Meerkat

2009-05-19T20:01:00.003+08:00

Hi All
Just a quick note to let you all know I am alive and well haha! I have just been sooooo busy - the Friday (before last) at Northam - giving my talk on Needlelace went very well ... lovely place and lovely people.... I hope I get a chance to go again... I went to the Big Craft Fair here in Perth last Saturday - demonstrating bobbin lace with my "Lacecargot" Lace Group ... spent money on books, shiva sticks. prismacolour pencils and a few other bits and bobs - most of which were actually on my "shopping list"! I have taken pics of my goodies and also the other few crafty things I have been making and I hope to load the pics on here in the next few days.... In the meantime here is a pic of the mummy Meerkat which I took at the perth Zoo back in January - she was guarding her babies ... soooooo cute ... as you know I love Meerkats .... I have downloaded the crochet pattern from here to make one but as I have never crocheted I am having to learn first! haha - I tried to get some friends who already crochet to make one for me but none offered! dangit! LOL Haha! Another problem is that the Mohair wool (Patons) that they recomend is not available here in Australia though it is available in the UK - so I will try and get it when I am over there (I will be landing in London 10 weeks today!!!) and the second pic shows 2 of her babies (there were 3).

Daffodil purse

2009-05-07T18:39:00.003+08:00

Hi All
I am still here - been really busy ... the Machine Embroidery workshop was good ... I am little more confident with the free machining but a long way to go (I still prefer the ol' hand embroidery hehe!) I am off to a small town called Northam tomorrow (never been there before) the Embroidery Group out there have asked me to go and talk to them about my needle lace ... I was gathering it all up last weekend and didn't realise it would take up a whole fairly large suitcase hehe! Here is a pic of my Daffodil neck purse ... the daffodil is "Elizabethan style" embroidery which I did on some of my hand dyed fabric years ago then dug out last year and embellished with some tatting etc....and turned it into a purse with earrings to match ...of course! hehe!

2 New Atc's

2009-04-28T19:34:00.002+08:00

Hi All - Here are a couple of pics of 2 ATC's that I received recently - the beautifully painted landscape - is by Margaret - just gorgeous ... painted on material and then the tree is lots of tiny French knots - exquisite! I am going to put it in a frame to go on the wall! The other is by my mate April - it's fantasic too ... April is a great machine embroiderer and I love the metallic "Sticker" fishies ... I luv shiny things haha! I must of been a magpie in a previous life hahaha! Thank you soooooo much ladies :-)