eucalyptus

 We have lots of eucalyptus trees of differing sorts in our garden - you can tell it is our house because everything around is bare. this one has lovely nuts (and a yellow flower now finished) - the nuts fall on the footpath and drive and sometimes people collect them or they get squashed by the cars coming out of next door. For some reason they never seem to be in our garden.

 I used the stencils from yesterday to first do a gelli plate print with the Opulent paints and spray over the top with the Sun Dye paints. The metallic pigment from the Oppies gleams through.

and then I used the second stencil with Oppies and sponged paint through. All ready for stitching next. my background fabric is Evolon.

Ian has been slogging away goggle eyed at the computer so getting closer.... thanks for the many emails about my ankle. I think it is almost right now without ice or bandage.

hot stuff

I have 6 different chilli plants growing and we have had so many chillies it's been great. they are supposed to be from mild to hot but they are all hot to very hot - someone told me the dry summer and the long summer has meant that they are hotter at present. Lovely they are - like the basil, I like to run my fingers over them and smell the heat. I have just made a curry for dinner with one of each type included.

 I have been playing with Dorlands Wax as a resist on different surfaces. At the top i have applied it with a scraper and then scratched into it - and painted with Opulence paint which is nice and creamy like and the bottom is the print I have pulled. Lots of potential - we sell a lot of Dorlands wax but i haven't used it a lot myself and wanted to play with it.

I am also working on the free pdf which will be available to all subscribers to our e mag - yes getting closer - so I cannot show you what I am doing but I treated myself the very large gelli plate and am so pleased because it gives you plenty of space for bigger things. I have been playing with two of the new stencils from Stencil Girl - both designed by the talented Jane La Fazio
http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/exp/stencilgirl/text2.htm

both very appropriate in Australia on a property where many eucalyptus trees grow. I have been making prints on different surfaces including Evolon because I love working with it and I plan to stitch etc etc.

We managed to watch the rugby without a fight even though the Hurricanes lost and later on the force lost - we didn't go to the game though - watched it at home on the telly.

Frantic Friday

 Frantic Friday means things moving fast - packaging lovely hand dyed silk cocoons so lots of colour on my work bench.then we picked up our new car and returned the hire car. four weeks last night since our car was killed and four weeks of a hire car. This little silver/grey town car looks happy outside the house. But all of that seems to waste a morning. ANd lots of rugby for the viewing today - my team versus his team. mmmmmm......

4 lovely new stencils - pods - can see I will use these before too long. I have been playing with Dorlands Wax as a resist so more to explore. Lots of ideas to play with. My rolled ankle is driving me nuts becasue I cannot find anywhere comfortable to put my foot....

what am I working on?

It might look like it is debris  in the forest but no - in my studio - I am working on a very large piece of work - for me anyway because I rarely work large so I shall enjoy watching it grow.

Just not sure where each day goes - we were supposed to go get the new car this afternoon but somehow we missed that so tomorrow morning instead.

wordless wednesday

stills feel a little like summer

In which case we are going to have a bbq tonight

 Our front garden needs cleaning and weeding and some replanting but this little gem is flowering

 As always lots of excitements here - three new Opulent paints - I have had my samples since whenever but these finally rocked up. Hopefully on the web tomorrow - along with Studios magazine and yesterday Somerset Studio arrived as well. I packaged mountains of Maori carded wool but the pile is still big - another day I feel. Our parcel from Paper Artsy finally arrived after nearly a month - good old useless parcel service - the delivery man kind threw it at me.

While I was in the studio still cleaning my stencils - I thought I would throw a little paint through this one. There is another jar of beautiful colour which I did not get but I always ever hopeful.

Ian has spent a lot of time today buying a new car - another little town car but this time we are back to 5 doors so no-one will have to climb into the back! We will get it on Thursday so one last day with the hire car. He beat them down as much as he could but was disappointed with losing a bit of the battle.

i have started a large piece of work - Secrets of the Labyrinth - for the WAFTA exhibition - my embellisher working overtime and the light died. And loads of hand stitch to come.

E -mag is falling into place although nothing today but I am working on a special pdf which will be available free to all subscribers. As soon as we feel it is ready it will be on the website but certainly getting closer. New skills we are learning.

Off to light the bbq but time to pop on a jersey. I tripped down the front steps this morning and twisted my ankle silly me. Hobble hobble

caged in and a little texture

Caged bird? Actually, the house on the corner is what we would call the junk yard house. A very nice lady used to live there before her son-in-law threw her out so no idea where she went. It was a bit of a junk yard before he moved in but now far far worse. Put your junk out and he collects it. I am not tall enough to look over the fence but Grant is and he assured me it wasn't worth my while popping up a ladder in order to see for myself. This is his front yard but let me assure you that there is junk everywhere.

Playing with sari ribbon and Le Scrunch to texture up some woven ribbon. Great result. I like to weave and I like to weave sari ribbon so there you are.

Ian has the exciting task of finding another car. We are not great shoppers.

bolts

Bolts of embossed kunin felt waiting for someone (ME) to get cutting and rolling

Beautiful day today but always things to do and to be honest, best to stay far away from anywhere on Mother's Day - a day when you see mothers dragged out for lunch - given bunches of flowers or things the newspaper ads push - and sulky teenagers being forced to lunch as well.Not all, of course, but many times witnessed.  Best ignored. I am planning a bit of stitching instead.

a win and no junk

 Today's photo - if only the junk people would take notice.for us - every time we pop a no junk mail sign on our letter box, some charming soul (maybe the one who breaks the branches off the poor wee tree trying to grow on the verge) manages to get it off.

 And such excitement over night - the Hurricanes had a great win in South Africa - shoudl have recorded the game but the video replays have had to suffice.

Busy day today - lots of pictures to add in articles and things more to write. ANd a cuople of rugby games to watch as well.

sitting or bathing?

 Two photos today out on my walk - a sofa to sit on in the rain on an empty building site

or a bath full of herbs?

Where has the day gone? And jobs are not yet finished and I haven't even ventured into the studio.

Basil and the sausage situation

 Basil - my favourite herb and this year we have had a bumper crop - the best ever and even though it is May, there is still loads left on the bushes - today I shall make a couple more lots of pesto for the freezer. I love this herb and often run my fingers through it when we sit up in our little garden with our glass of wine in the evening discussing the activities of the world....

The sausage situation you ask. Well, it is something which amuses us whenever we come across one. Many years ago, when the boys were tiny, and I was not much older, Ian spent a year at Teachers' College and in the school holidays to help the coffers, he worked in the Coles or Woollies or Four Square or whatever it was in the Johnsonville Mall, in the butchery department (is that what you would call it?), behind the counter, serving. I took the boys up so they could wave to daddy - lucky daddy. The bloke who ran the butchery department had the offer to buy sausages - lots of them - and maybe he saw this as his opportunity to rise up the company ladder and make a huge profit or something. Anyway the sausage special for the week failed miserably and Ian reported that there were sausages everywhere at the end of the week. So I guess the butchery bloke panicked a little and came up with that wonderful solution - 'folks, the sausage special last week was so very popular that we have managed to get more'. From that day on, we always have a laugh when we hear businesses offering their special deal for a second week because it was so very popular and some customers were distressed to miss out. You sure learn things as you grow up. Thank goodness Ian had a wee sojourn in the butchery department or I might never have become so suspicious......

 Not a great deal of time to audition my hand painted openweave fabric but as I love twin needling I did just that - 50cm x 50cm is quite a bit of twin needling especially when the light bulb goes. I have not quite decided what next but in true Dale style I may cut it up - or again - I may not. The silver paint (Opulent Argeant) was stencilled through with the new Picket Fence stencil.

We loads of wonderful stencils just arrived from Stencil Girl - I have only allowed myself one at this point in time but they are all great. http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/exp/stencilgirl/text2.htm Have a look at them if you like stencils. We have so many it is hard to keep up sometimes. But i love using them with the gelli plate - with paints - with Shiva stiks - with my Moonglow Sprays.

Last night we went to the ACO - what a fabulous evening - music of the Weimer Caberet with Barry Humphries and Meow Meow and of course the ACO - it was packed and it was outstanding. Barry Humphries is to be commended for introducing these composers to the world.

rain rain and more rain we hope

Today's photo -  I love these trees - we have loads around where we live - these ones are at the back of the stadium.

 Our little hire car about to enter its 4th week in our possession. Celebrated last night as Ian finally got the best possible price for the ha ha car by persistence. Our boys have life memories of long winded lectures from their father which Grant assures me he uses himself so the era will live on. These young guys at the end of the phone probably only have the one experience with Ian but will remember it all for a long time. Frank, our garage owner friend, is most impressed with the outcome. Now comes the boring part of car shopping - the 4th since 1978 when we came to Australia.

Rain we have had lots since late yesterday - lovely stuff indeed. Ian spent the afternoon on the roof clearing the gutters. Supposed to be a storm but we only had rain here. This morning the traffic was incredible and no doubt there were accidents as well. Down nearer town there was a collision and one car ended upside down. I nearly got wiped off the street by a car running a stop sign. Just as well this no birds car has good brakes.

The largest size of the gelli plates have arrived and i have ordered another case already. I am thinking i might use it myself. I thought it would be too big but maybe not.

I am auditioning (this seems to be the trendy new word for trying out) one of the new Stencil Girl Stencils (be on the web later today - lovely big ones) on the gelli plate with Opulent paints on my new hand painted open weave fabric(which I am also auditioning). Then I shall stamp and stuff and stitch in the next hour.

Harley hates the rain and is in her hide where I can with my back to the door mood.

contemplating or bored?

I think I would get bored sitting around in the garden all day. But that is just me.

On the other hand we are pretty busy as the e-mag gets closer to being a real thing. Keep watching this space.

My on The Surface Studio workshop is half full if there are any more takers. 18th May 9.30 to 3.30 - busy day - no stress - lots of play. Just get in touch.

If trees could talk

There are lots of old trees around Highgate - this one is in Hyde Park - think of the stories they could tell you if they could talk.

sunday morning and now I must clean up again

 My pic for Sunday - seen at Hyde Park.

 I had a lovely in the studio workshop yesterday - 7 happy ladies - well they were busy creating and playing and said they had a lovely day - lots of surfaces covered. Very easily be two or more days because you have to rush.

 Lots  of sun dyeing and even before the sun appeared there were great results. Fabric all over the garden very colourful. And a clothesline always looks great with fabric pegged everywhere.
Ian did his great stuff and his coffee was given the big thumbs up. Lucky me every day.

 I went inside to watch the rugby instead after everyone had gone - Highlanders had their first win - yeah - and the Force drew - it was a good game. In fact all four games we have watched this weekend have been exciting. Didn't watch it over night but shame for the Hurricanes and especially for Captain Conrad - hope he is okay.  Here are the outdoor tables the morning after. If I had another or a third day - think of all the wonderful things we could have done with the newspaper. Some of it ended up very colourful.

And inside the studio my big table is full of stuff - I should say mixed media excitements or even mixed media mayhem - waiting for me to sort and put away and all of that sort of thing. 
Thanks everyone for coming.

And look what Cindy made me based on my current favourite recipe. Thank you so much - I shall treasure it. And especially wait until the figs reappear once again. To think we had about 5 trees when we lived in Mt Lawley and we didn't even like figs them. Not to mention the two which were chopped down for the studio. No comparison though.

Saturday morning piccie

Today's photo - busy this morning early setting up for On The Surface Studio Workshop

another day

 On my walk today I called into Nick's - The Pearl of Highgate - and took a photo - looks very nice doesn't it but I didn't buy it - Ian popped in for a ciabatta a little later on and heard I had been.

Not a great photo I know but this is Openweave - in Ironbark colours. I have several metres here and am thinking of adding it to our fabric selection. 50cm x 50cm - what do you think? If I have time today I shall add some metallic colour etc and maybe stitch. I am preparing for my studio workshop tomorrow - On The Surface. Looking forward to it. Sun dyeing first and after a lovely day of rain it seems to have cleared up and the sun is out so here's hoping it stays that way.  I have added a second workshop for 18th March if there are enough takers. Just email me.

If you have followed my story from a long way back, you might remember the Ally Pally where UPS - aka Useless Parcel Service - caused total chaos in holding our boxes of goodies in the Midlands airport and only delivering it half hour before the show opened thanks to the vigilance of Anna at Twisted Thread. We were what you might call highly stressed and have never and will never touch UPS again. I have a shipment coming from UK with - you guessed it - UPS - it has been delivered to Philadelphia instead - apparently something to do with US customs - finding this strange to get my brain around actually but anything is capable of happening when you deal with UPS.

photo today

seen in Beaufort Street

Big news today - it rained last night and through the night and into the morning.
Second big news - the bulbs are coming out - the jacarandas are flowering - and we haven't had winter yet... and the Willie Wagtails are nesting.....

Photo a day for May

Plan for May to take a new photo of something which captures my eye. Each day. Watch this space.
Not so suitable for reclining on right now.

It's Monday again

Time just rolls around. On Friday night we went to Chilli Orange - Kim and Anthony's new restaurant in North Perth - where we were going the night our car was killed. It was fabulous - the restaurant that is - great food and lovely to see them. They work so hard and Anhony is a fabulous chef. He does the best flounder for me.

We still haven't heard from the insurance company so are still driving around in a little No Birds car

I am amazed just how many people in this area know our ha ha car. People keep stopping me all the time and asking where it is or was it really our car on the back of a wreckers truck.

Thanks for all the lovely emails and comments - we have recovered from the burglary but a bit twitchy really - on Sat night there were fireworks out the back somewhere and we were up and alert. We have the studio on alarm at night and gates locked. Have to turn the alarm off every time Harley wants in and out. Harley only ventured back into the studio last night for the first time and very tentative at that.

Rugby was not good this weekend - Hurricanes lost and Force got thrashed.

Been very busy here working on the e mag. It is starting to fall into place but is going to be a little longer. We kinda a lost a week with all the drama but definitely back on track now. I reckon it will be worth the wait. Loads of articles (where is yours Jacinta?) A Challenge -  a free pdf for all subscribers (not saying what on yet but I am working on it) and more. Ian has been very busy tarting up the front page of the website and as soon as the e mag is ready to roll, it will be there in flashing colours.

For that reason I have little to show but I have been very busy - but cannot show.

I have my On The Surface Studio workshop this Saturday - really looking forward to it - should be a fun day.Means I am about to change focus but I have finished all my work for the e mag and about to clear the decks. I have added a second one on 18th May if anyone is interested. Email me anyway.

Off to light the bbq and have a red wine. The butcher gave us 3 instead of 2 sirloins on Friday so I had to go get another one for tonight. I am rolling prunes and walnuts and peach chutney in bacon for starters.