Finally Finishing UFOs

Nothing better than sitting down and finishing a few of those textile UFOs that tend to linger. These two pieces have been in work  progress for the last 4 to 5 years finally being inspired to finish them.

Christmas Is Just Around The Corner

Oops Christmas is just around the corner. I don't know about you but l'm sure each year that passes has few less weeks in it. So with Christmas in the air l'v decided to finish off some of last years UFOs.

The first Christmas Stocking is in Crazy Patchwork and heavily embellished with ribbon silk embroidery, motifs and other trinkets.The second stocking bands of fabric sewn to a base fabric. Both designs use the same shaped stocking pattern.

What To Do With Those Leftover Scraps Of Fabric

Often when l complete a quilt l have scraps left over, too precious to throw away. So l turn those scraps into fabric postcards.

My Textile Path

Today l was interviewed by ABC Regional about my journey with textiles thru out my life. It will be played tomorrow, 18th October, at approxmently 10.20am on bandwidth AM 549. Or alternatively you can view it on radio app ABC Western Plains.
Do hope you can catch it on either medium.
Here are 2 short videos l put together wandering thru my different textile journeys over the years.

Finished Textured Scarves

After drying for 24hrs, then the rock salt shaken off and ironed these scarves are stunning and unique in design.

Creative Weekend: Silk Scarves

Spent this weekend dying silk scarves, now they are in the drying stage can't wait to shake the rock salt off iron set the colors. Each scarf tends to be so different and unique.

A Finished Project.

Just finished a project that has been on the back burner for a few years. The pattern is called American Beauty. Definitely a design l would like to explore some more in maybe a bigger quilt. The backing fabric has been rust dyed with rusty nails. Really like the splotchy speckled effect of the rusty nails.Hope you enjoy it.

A Snapshot Textile Piece

Another snapshoot textile piece finished. Here on a procion dyed fabric background l have free motion machine stitched daffodils. The background has been machine stipled. A piece l had sitting in my pile of UFOs, not quiet sure how to finish it when overnight it seemed to resolve itself.

A New Project; A Stack N Slash Quilt

New work commenced and almost finished over the weekend. A very simple quilt. The block used is Stack N Slash with the quilt becoming a quillo. A easy to construct quilt thats great for any child.

A Felted Vase

This felted vase l created about 7 years ago at a live in textile retreat in Arrat, Victoria. I find it a great piece for ornamental display but also functional as it often holds bits and pieces till l get a chance to sort thru them. Its original shape was molded over a balloon then fashioned to its present shape before drying. The vase is constructed from wool tops with textured threads layered over the top and lightly felted in. Such an easy technique that produces very satisfying results l think.

A Whimsical Doll

Something a little bit quirky, a whimsical doll l made from dyed fabrics, ribbon flowers and leaves covering her top with her skirt made from pieces of fabric, yarn and thread sandwiched between layers of wash away fabric and stitched. Same process for her hair. The ribbon berries on the base of her skirt and the ribbon leaves on her skirt add the the final embellishment. Thank goodness her place of residency is directly under the reverse cycle air conditioner or she would be rather damp and cold from all the rain we have received in the central tablelands of NSW.

Dresden Plate Further Blocks

Here is another Dresden Plate block plus a block showinghow half a Dresden Plate can also be used as a block. Two great blocks to build a quilt around, wheather it be a lap quilt or bed size.

Dresden Plate Tree Skirt

Another innovative project that can be created with the Dresden Plate template is creating a Tree Skirt. Create the Dresden pieces in the usual way but leave a opening so that the skirt can be place around pot plants or trees. Bind the inner edge with matching bias binding. Again this Dresden Plate pieces were made from mens ties.

 

Dresden Plate Block

A play with the Dresden Plate design. Here l have used mens ties. Unpicked them, washed and template cut out. It is looking great.....might make a few more to make a lap quilt or maybe cushions. What do you think?

 

Dresden Plate Quilt

From Quilting Digest a wonderful colourful quilt that explores the extending uses of the Dresden Plate pieces. A technique worth exploring.

New Work.........Just Playing

Just finished 2 new pieces. The centre of both pieces are flocked leaves and flowers. The second piece, with flower motifs, has a collage of fabric pieces underneath a fine layer of organza. Then stippling stitched to finish both pieces. Just a fun idea to play with fabric collage technique.

Autumn In Orange

Autumn has arrived in Orange, gorgeous change of tree colour line the streets of Orange.

After A Lull

After a lull now finishing off this body of work with these two pieces. Both worked on furnishing fabric utilizing newspaper and remnants of furnishing fabric as extra textural elements. Trees stitched in black  thread.

Practicing A New Theme

Never hurts to practice a new theme a few times as each picture comes out different even though using the same materials, sewing machine and thought processes.

New Work.

New work.......always exciting when one jumps off into a completly different direction. Ideas running a muck.......thankgoodness have a few days of solitude to develop this new thought pattern. Starting to incorporate an element of mixed media...torn newspaper.

Looking Back

At times its always an idea to take a step back and take stock of where your journey is going. I find l still have many gaps to fill having a video of my work allows me to adjust my vision.
 Click the following link to view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpNQyuaWqGg

Gum Leaves

Of course to go with the trees you need leaves. Beginning here to add the element of mixed media, have painted the background fabric and then visoflix paint thread on the top before sewing the leaf in place.

The Next Step........

Decided to develop the theme a little further and developed this piece with 3 trees, unfortunately the tree on the right didnt go the way l had intended. Still need to work on the design a bit more.

Quiet Afternoon.....

Quiet afternoon, the air is so fresh from the recent rain. Finished this little piece, following on with my theme of gum leaves......a gumtree.
Used a piece of Procion dyed fabric as my base fabric them machine embroided the picture.

 

A Weekend Of Sewing

Great start to weekend of sewing, picked a collection of gum leaves for inspiration and prepared the fabric for creating the gum leaves.

Continuation Of The Gumleag Theme

All ready to launch into more of my gum leaves series, cannot wait for the weekend to immerse in textiles.

A Pleasing Afternoons Work

Following a busy morning this afternoon surrounded myself with fabric and created these two delightful fabric postcards.

Ongoing With The Theme

Having finished my main body of work here are 4 off shoots, postcard size, playing around with some of the different elements expressed in the main piece.