Busy Week

The Painted Quilt arrived on Monday - what an inspiring book from the Kemshalls. It immediately sold out and there are lots of people waiting. Don't panic though - more will be here early next week. Well worth waiting for. When the next lot arrive I shall write my name inside one to make sure I get a copy.

Beryl Taylor's workshops are keeping me out of mischief this week. So far she has run two and tomorrow I will take my camera and see how my photography skills are, having failed over the weekend with taking lots of pics.
Beryl's website is now up and running for everyone who has been waiting. You can see all of her lovely work which we have been able to see in the flesh.

On the home front, I have not been very good in that lots of stuff is still not back in its home but we are up to date with orders. I have managed to find a moment to work a tiny bit on my Ink book and I also know I have a number of TASTs to catch up on but I will.

Perth Show

It was lovely to see so many people at the Perth Show last weekend - Bruce came and helped on the Friday and actually seemed to enjoy himself - I think he loved all the attention! He and Kazuko did a wonderful job at the end helping us pack the van and cars and we were able to all be unloaded and off to Spaghi by about 8pm for a well deserved fed and wine. The weather held off until this morning when we decided that lying in bed until 7am listening to the rain was well deserved. Here is Jaslyn - she also was wonderful to have working and Hannah came on Saturday and straightened us all out and fixed up our sloppy habits.



Beryl Taylor was our guest and she is as lovely as all of her work. Of course we sold out of her book by lunchtime the first day but we have reordered for all of those who have ordered it. My new digital camera skills with my new camera were sadly lacking and somehow I lost qute a few pics - I shall take my camera to Beryl's workshop all this week and see how I go. Beryl doesn't seem to like having her pic taken any more than me.... I did take a few shots of some of her work and I am sure she won't mind that I pop them up here for you to enjoy too. She tells me her website is almost ready to roll.

The Art to Wear was fabulous - heaps of school entries as well as lots of adults - I took photos of quite a few but this is the only one which has remained on the camera - what a dunce! The two left hand ones are school entries and I will get their names to add here - very clever - the right hand one belongs to Anne van der Kley.

Our house is fair bedlam and will be all week as I rush off to Beryl's workshops and slowly get things back into order but it's okay. I am working as fast as I can to get all of the orders away. We had deliveries as well today to add to the chaos including 4 new books - The Painted Quilt - yummy - and 3 others. Ian is going to try to get them all on the web tomorrow. Off to get the ingredients ready for Beryl's Embellishment workshop tomorrow.

Flower Stitch Foot

I really shouldn't be blog writing - I should be off to bed.. We haven't finished setting the stand up so we will be up very early. Shame these shows start at 9am. This is a flower stitch foot for those wondering. Maggie you are quite correct - it was Val C-H who got me hooked. Edges and Finishes has some of her lovely samples. I think I will have to play with it more but not this week.

Some Days

You shouldn't really get out of bed - life would be more relaxing. We have been waiting for our Quilting Arts shipment which I expected last week when we returned from NZ but due to a problem (I won't call it a stuff up) it finally turned up at 5.30pm tonight. I have just spent my evening invoicing and writing labels and packaging 450 magazines so I warrant a glass of wine for sure. I am not sure when I will have time to actually look inside the cover. If you have been waiting for it to arrive it will be with you very soon.

Tomorrow will be hectic as we have to pack the van and set up for the show. A lot of work - perhaps I will stay in bed. It is still raining and expected to do so tomorrow. I am looking forward to meeting Beryl Taylor though so maybe I will get up in the morning after all.

There has been rather a response to my flower stitch piece. No time to photograph the detail but I thought I would share my star today instead. This is on an angelina base and was left over from a garment I made which featured in Quilting Arts 13 I think. No 3 D flowers but I had a lot of fun just whizzing around using all the various zig zags on my machine. It is probably the best fun foot I have in my stash.

Exciting Break Through

I had an exciting break through today. For ages and ages I have been trying to work out how to add the Victory threads to those colour charts in digitizing programmes. It has all seemed much too difficult - but today with the help of my Digitise-wise module, I conquered it and have managed to create my own Victory thread palette of 20 colours for starters. I am so pleased with myself for it means that when I am digitizing I can just select my own threads instead of fudging with other brands.

I have been doing a tiny bit on my ink book - I mixed polished pigments with gum arabic and then into the walnut ink mix. It just gives a special mica extra. I painted a page and wrote on it using the mix. No time to scan it tonight. This page below I have done a shiva rubbing and sprayed over the top with Moonshadow and walnut ink. The Shivas make a great resist. I also got a fabulous result by painting my Air New Zealand paper towel (the one which comes with the meal) with metallic gold and then spraying walnut ink over the top. The texture of the towel shows as well.

I was sorting some flower stitch foot samples for Christine as she is writing an article for a mag and I found this one. I needed a quick pic to see if this is what she wanted. There are flower stitches on flower stitches - I will take a few closeups when I have time next week - it's quite 3 dimensional and some have been burnt out with a soldering iron. Great foot and great fun.

It's still raining and stormy here. Last night walking back from Eva and Malachy's late at night (only a few blocks away) we nearly got blown away by the wind and we managed to get almost as wet as at Eden Park. And our little umbrellas struggled all the way. Incidentally, I am glad you liked my 'rainlets'. Hilary - it just popped out but I rather like it now. Last night they were very big rainlets.

More Ink Book Play

I run in and out in between jobs (still lots of packaging to go) to see how my next little experiment is working. This little one was the wonderful Brusho page - I painted acrylic wax over the top and lost a lot of colour but when I stamped with gold metallic paint, the colour came back in places and I rather like it now. This one I really love - I have painted with walnut ink and sprayed moonshadow mist - misty malachite -over the top and then crumpled glad wrap. The colour is more patinated in real life but I didn't seem to be able to change it on my scan (see my scanning is improving and I have been doing it all myself) On the left is a water soluble paper cast using one of the wooden blocks I picked up the other day. It was painted with walnut ink once it had dried and then when it dried again I sprayed some of the Mist over it in places.

This third one - I painted Walnut ink on, left it to dry and then sprayed with Mist -Volaceous Violet this time and then I printed with gold metallic paint. The water soluble paper cast has had the same treatment with gold paint gently rolled on. Some of the tissutex I have been spraying with recently (often as an under sheet to supposedly protect surfaces) had gold paint gently swept over it as well to clean the brush. That's actually for my Rust book which is taking back position at present.

It's good to see things coming together. My book seems to have pages all over the place so it needs binding down the middles as well. The one thing I hate about the Moonshadow Mists are the long names.

Wonderful wonderful rain here - just love it. We have had a leak though which shows how heavy the rainlets have been.

Sunday Stuff

We have had quite a relaxed sort of weekend although quite busy. I am trying to get an amount of packaging of goodies done for the Craft Show here in Perth this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I think I am getting through my list. We have a big stand and will have most of our stock with us so if you are in Perth or going to be around this way, do come and see us. I should add that there is free parking at the Claremont showgrounds - a sort of amazing fact these days. Our special guest is Beryl Taylor and I am really looking forward to meeting her. She is giving talks at the show (as am I) and 4 day workshops afterwards. Beryl's book, Mixed Media Explorations, is one of our biggest sellers. Very inspiring book it is. I have also actually written a newsletter which should go out tomorrow to all of our customers who receive it - I hadn't realised just how tardy I had been on that score.

We have been having the most glorious rain off and on all weekend - we did manage to go for a walk yesterday but I have been working away on the next module of my Digitwise course and have finally worked out how to load my Victory threads into the Generations programme. Someone asked about the course - it is based on the Generations digitizing programme which I find suits me. I can get my head around it.

I have also been further working on my Ink book. This sample is Walnut ink - quite a strong mix and with water flicked onto the wet surface.



This sample has salt sprinkled onto the top section and on the bottom part I have stamped with Distress inks just before it dried so you get a slight smudging which I like. It looks better in the flesh.



The bottom sample has walnut crystals at the top and on the bottom I have sprinked brusho powders. They are so lush - I got carried away with the turquoise and dropped too much.

I have also made some paper casts with water soluble paper - painted walnut ink on after it dried and then sprayed with Moonshadow Mist - Misty Malachite - I am very pleased with this one but it's not dry enough yet - I will post it tomorrow.

I am hoping to have my ink book pretty full so I can show it at my talk along with my embellisher stuff. I haven't done much with my embellisher this week but I have been making a lot of notes of what I want to do next. My sample book is also progressing to completion.

Tomorrow I am off to collect goodies for Beryl's workshops. One thing I cannot find is wallpaper.

Friday Ink Play

We are having the most wonderful wet weather - I know this is not appealing to those poor folk in England but it is lovely here - just the right weather to work indoors, cuddle up in bed and sleep all night. Such bliss. And not standing outside at the rugby either!

I have been playing with distress inks and colourwash today. The above one is stamped with distress inks using the lava mini molding mat and then sprayed with butterscotch colourwash and the bottom one is stamped with several distress inks straight from the pads with a colourwash over the top and then more stamping - I am looking to see the different effects when the distress inks are still wet and when you stamp on wet colourwash. More playing tomorrow. Off to dinner with Serena and Frank.

Weekend in Auckland

We had a great weekend in Auckland. It was a spur of the moment thing - Ian realised he hadn't seen the All Blacks play in an international since around 1958 (yikes...) so we matched tickets to the game with air tickets and off we flew. We stayed in Newmarket and basically didn't go far. Lots of walking and looking in shops - something we never get time to do normally. Each visit of mine to a shop is matched by watch checking. Ian never goes into shops. We really enjoyed Newmarket though and found a great restaurant - Safran - just off Broadway. Very nice food and great people. We had breakfast every morning at Zarbo.

We also visited Trelise Cooper's Kids shop - just as well we haven't any little princesses of our own or it would have been expensive. Ian spotted a princess inside looking very happy. The shop has a wonderful glass section on the floor with all sorts of little happenings underneath and the 4 change rooms were to die for. I love Trelise's designs. Very inspiring for my little art to wear efforts. You can see the glass section in this pic. And also the ceiling area above it. Quite a little fairyland.

The rugby of course was excellent and the fact that we got soaked to the skin didn't really matter in the long run. We bought $2 raincoats and had seats in the non covered area and the heavens simply opened up just before it started. I heard that the Tuba player had to be taken off the field before he drowned. Saw the thunder and lightening on the tv replay so yes - fireworks were great! And the result was excellent. Roll on the world cup. Here's Richie with the precious Bledisloe Cup.

On the Sunday we went to the Museum to the Egyptian exhibition which was great and we got up to the events section under the new dome - the view was magnificent. We sat and luxuriated there for ages.

In the events centre was the BMW car display - this is Roy Lichtenstein's. We flew home on Monday - always seems to take forever and now we are back into the usual busy busy busy. I am hoping to get up into the studio tomorrow and back to my ink book and other stuff.

We also bought a new slim and modern digital camera but we only worked out how to use it once we got home. Now we are thinking of getting a modern mobile phone as well.

Pic of me taken with new camera

Having put it together, Ian is testing the new digital. Nice and small, we have entered the new age of digital cameras.

Take a Stitch Tuesday 27

My bullion stitch effort at last - taken with my new digital camera. Kept me out of mischief on the plane. First time I have tackled bullion and I like it when it isn't perfect (my excuse). I used a 3 strand Valdani cotton floss. I am finally up to date again with TAST.

Take a Stitch Tuesday 29

Here is my Arrowhead sampler. On gold foil background. I have stitched it first with a perle 8 thread and then over the top with a fine silk for a layer. It's a good stitch for borders.

great long weekend

Just checking my mail at the airport and since I had to wait so very long to get to use this computer, thought I would sign in. We have had a wonderful relaxing time and the rugby game was something. Okay we got extremely wet even in our $2 raincoats and our feet and backsides were soggy, but the result was just what we wanted to see. Well worth the trip to see it all live and we managed to relax and wander to our hearts content.

Preparing to get home and back to work in the morning.

embellisher workshop

Here are some of them hard at work on their embellishers today

Now we are off to catch the plane to NZ. Back on Monday night.

Ink Book more

It's bit brighter than it actually is - this is what happens when I play with the gizmos on the scanner to try and show that I know something - but another page from my ink book. Background is tissutex coloured with colourwash and moonshadows and some paper casting with water soluble paper - sprayed with moonshadows while it was wet. I bought a pile of Indian blocks from a little shop the other day - I only went out to get the meat. They are great for paper casting. I thought I would try stitching with the Valdani cottons since we now have some an enormous stock so a new matt for me rather than shiny rayon. It's thicker too so it makes a good accent.

I am tidying up my studio because tomorrow I am running a workshop on the Embellisher for a few people. And then at 5pm we are off to catch the plane to Auckland. A few days sneaky break with an outing to see the ABs play the Wallabies for the last of the TriNations and the Bledislow Cup. It will be sure to be raining as we have not got under cover seats but who cares. We will have our umbrellas. If you are watching the game on the big screen look out for Ian with his All Black beanie....... We will be back on Monday night. Also catching up with friends and family.

Take a Stitch Tuesday 26

Half Chevron stitch - I had forgotten to load this one. Another new stitch I have never tried. Thanks to Sharon for this challenge. Still badgering on with the Bullions though.

Finding Your Own Visual Language

Copies of this fabulous new book from Jane Dunnewold, Clare Benn and Leslie Morgan arrived today. I have had a copy for a little while but didn't want to mention it until I got my order as so many people have asked for it. For all those people looking for more than just techniques (or dare I say it - projects) this is a superb book. One of my favourite books is Jane's 15 Beads (long out of print) and of course the bible - Complex Cloth - that's where I first found out about foils and got hooked on building layers on surfaces.

Gill - if you can't find it - we sell it - well nearly sold out of this lot but more will always come. If you are in US buy it from Jane or in UK from committed to cloth - Jane and Leslie

Take a Stitch Tuesday 28

Here is my offering for TAST 28 - Sheaf Stitch - I have tried to use a range of thread from fine to thick for a bit of gradation. You may notice I have skipped a number here - still plodding away practising Bullion stitch. When I think I have worked it out I will post my sample.

Moonshadow Mists, Sue. Maggie Grey loves them too - sort of the move up from walnut ink with an extra zing! i have found that sometimes the spray gets jammed and won't. I keep the old jars and rinse them out so I can just swap over tops and carry on.

Tour de France - we always enjoy watching the races - love the countryside - we have been following it since our first trip around France in 1992 . Sad to see that Stuart O'Grady had a crash on descent last night and is in hospital and Robbie McEwan has had to pull out as well. He had a big crash in one of the earlier races. Will miss keeping an eye out for both of them. I am always nervous when they go like a bat out of hell down hill.

More inks and stuff

My Ink Book is filling up quite nicely - thanks Debbi for reminding about the fabulous Colorwashes. I sprayed this page with Butterscotch and Wild Plum (or Cranberry - I can't remember) and over the top Moonshadow Mists through a stencil and Moonshadow Inks with a stamp. You can see I am into fleur de lys this weekend - I was sorting product for Ian to load on the website. The Colorwashes seem to work very effectively on both fabric and paper so I find them most useful and there is something about a spray gun which isn't the shower cleaning container. They also contrast well with the mica of the Mists on top of them - dull vs shiny.

This bottom one has been sprayed with various Moonshadow Mists and over the top I have stencilled with Glitz Spritz - Peacock Fire - the Glitz' don't have walnut ink so they work better on darker surfaces or again as a super contrast on the mists. Peacock Fire has an almost patinating effect - it really is worthwhile making reference samples.

You can surely see that I like using these goodies. The most frustrating thing with my Ink book is waiting for each page to dry.

Beautiful day in Perth - the sun is shining and we are having a lovely fizzy to celebrate a decision or two which we made today - more later. We took Bruce and Kazuko out to Luigi and Martine's San Marco last night for our usual yummy Italian food. And yes Julia - we will try your son's restaurant very soon. Tonight we are having Oxtail which will be good when the sun goes down (soon)

Tri Nations Rugby

For all those of you wondering and worrying for the All Blacks, I am pleased to report that they beat the Springbox tonight - 33 - 6. It took them a long time to start scoring though. Always a worry. Next week is the last game against the Wallabies...... Here is Rodney - he had a good game.