Today I washed my marbles

No I haven't lost them, they've just been sitting under the clothesline in the dust.  But more of that in the fullness of time.

Before I washed my marbles I dropped in on Margaret - the world's best cookie maker.  Why? Well its the first of two weekends for the Nillumbik Artist's Open Studios.  Dont miss it!!!!!!!  painters, potters, printers, sculptors, textiles, glass and more.  

Margaret is one of the Hurstbridge studios.  She's not just my fellow yarbomber, she's also a mixed media artist.  So here's a glimpse.......

Bernie the boxer dog appears to be a little baffled by the woolly horse.

Margaret loves dogs, but she also paints people and fish (I just love that fish painting you can see) and there's some gorgeous collage (below).  She's also fond of birds - just have a look at that tree!

Check out the doylie lamp!

Did I mention the yarnbomb palmtree outside the window..........the best way to see it properly is to visit.  (you might even be lucky enough to find a cookie).  Just google Nillumbik Artists Open Studios and find Margaret and many other fabulous artists to visit (and shop for Mother's Day) tomorrow and next weekend. 

And now for my marbles, they are very pretty. All the same they're  not just a pretty picture - they are integral to some of my dyeing.  Thats why I was washing them - had to get the mud off before I make some samples to take to my workshop.   The only way to find out what they're for is to come along.  Melton May 17,18 and 24,25.  Book through  artsandculture@Melton.vic.gov.au

Twas but a lonely carrot........

More of the carrot in a minute but following on from the boiling turmeric of a few days ago, just look at these.....

three different pieces of cotton and one piece of silk organza. 

So yesterday, an idyllic afternoon boiling the cauldrons, small perhaps for cauldrons, but it is magic what happens inside.

 So some cotton is being prepared for dyeing and all alone except for three pieces of silk is a purple carrot.

Such a beautiful gentle lavender grey

then put the fabrics together 

I'm just testing, ( and getting very excited)  a few bits and pieces for my class at Melton.  On the first weekend we'll be dyeing with organic dyes, mostly from kitchen ingredients, but we'll brew up some forest on the barbecue outside too.

On the second weekend we'll do some mark making on our dyed fabrics  to create a more sophisticated contemporary finish.  Then,  create a lampshade and a cushion.  We'll finish these off with a bit of embellishment.   

The dates have been changed now to the two weekends following Mother's Day, not including it as before.  You can book by contacting artsandculture@melton.vic.gov.au  or phone 9747 7200.  The class is limited to only 15 participants. 

Nope, this is not actually connected to my class.  Its all to do with the exhibition Margaret and I are  having in September.  You will just have to come and see

"Who Needs Permission"

and find out what and why!

High Pressure ?

First Train has been chugging along for quite a while now and the giant  white  doyley  is mellowing.   Whilst we never expected it to be pure white for long we have been surprised by the amount of grime it collects.  In the past we have been very lucky to the CFA drop by and give it a good scrub.

They  have a big truck full of water and high pressure hoses

A very big thank you to the Hurstbridge CFA volunteers, you've been marvellous.

Today  it was our turn to have a go with a very big bucket, lots of bottles of water, two brooms, soap, vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lots of enthusiasm.

And our own high pressure spray?

And a lot of train to scrub

Well we got the engine and two carriages scrubbed.  As it was backlit we couldnt really see just how effective our cleaning was.  There is a residue of bicarb, vinegar and soap on it now just waiting for the lots of rain forecast for Tuesday. We wait with bated breath for Wednesday to see just how effective this treatment is.  If it works there are plenty more carriages to practice on.

We like the mellow look , its part of the train settling into the fence. But beating the grime is important too!

We also added a crate and apples to the tree -it definitely needs a few more leaves and maybe one or two more apples!  Its an ongoing project, two trucks and and guard's van to finish yet.  I'm sure we'll find some  extra details to add after that. 

Great fun to have Tess and Lloyd from the Baldessin  Press drop by and say hello as we worked.  They  like Margaret, will have their studios open over the next two weekends as part of Nillumbik Artists Open Studios.  More on that later in the week.

.  

Guilty, once again, of bloggy neglect.  Sorry folks!  

Now as  the house fills with the smell of boiling turmeric...........but more of that at the end.

And now for a Christmas secret (that is I couldnt post when making this stuff cos the family would see.

  We have a largish family, four children which makes four stockings, then six grandchildren (six more stockings), then there's the extra stockings for visitors on Christmas day, plus a few spare just in case.........  My ingenuity is tested every year!

You've heard me sing the praises of the Star Quilters of Warrandyte in the past.  Well SQW Jill rocked up one Wednesday with a beautiful fabric ball she'd made from a pattern off someone else who had a pattern from.......as is the sharing custom with quilters.  Perfect I thought, soft balls for the children, pin cushions for the adult ladies.  Even better I'd remembered seeing it in a book I'd acquired a couple of years ago.

This beautiful book "Omiyage" by Kumiko Sudo is full of patterns for keepsake style gifts.  Not only was I able to make balls but also some very cute little bags.  Google this book for where to buy.   I did see a copy in "Kazari" in South Yarra - great excuse to browse through scrumptious fabrics.

Well being me, I became obsessed with these balls (do I hear a laugh and a sigh from the WSQers).  It was just like piecing a quilt in 3D- each new combination of fabrics created a different pattern. FASCINATING!!!!!!

So here's some photos, not sure how many I made but I got so carried away I completely forgot to photograph the rest!

This ball is made from small bits and pieces. I have a habit of picking up bits and pieces  of fabric from the "specials" at Victorian Textiles when I drop in for threads or a bolt of fabric or batting.

All these balls were made from  ranges they had last year. Their fabrics are a lovely quality (and if you're a quilter lend themselves well to "fussy" cutting).

Originally I thought "they look hard so I'll just make one for the littlest, and then maybe one for the baby soon to arrive"........












But then fascinated by the many possible combinations of fabric and obsession I started and couldnt stop- do I hear "here we go again" from my lovey WSQers?

So the next attempt, a vague hint at a "golden snitch"

for a young Harry Potter fan.

Then for "purple is my favourite colour"

Then a fish for a three yo.

Then obsession with line and shape and very fussy cutting

and of course buttons

I just love each different fan in the brown and gold fabric

then the unexpected meeting of the gold lines

 then a completely different mood 

Oh dear you're saying, how many more are there, well lots, but in the Christmas rush I forgot photographs.  Do I hear a sigh of relief from you?

Why fill the kitchen with the smell of boiling turmeric and cotton - because  I'm taking a class (two days on two weekends) in making a lampshade and a cushion from fabric made from "natural" dyes embellished with fabric paints and some other surprises.

As I'll be working from a real kitchen I'm  testing kitchen safe ideas - not edible of course and separate pans but ok to boil up in a kitchen.  

Just imagine, going home with a lampshade and a cushion covered in fabric you've created!  Here's the class....

And now for the last photo

until next time.......

Day of the Lotus

Yes folks the movie has arrived.  After a "mad dogs and englishmen" sort of day in my temporary outdoor studio dividing my time between yarnbombing a chair and photographing  a waterlily,  I ended up with rather a lot of photos.  After some heavy deleting (since digital I indulge in the luxury of overshooting)  Still there was an  overabundance of pretty pics.  The solution came from Tony, my other half and partner in our Upfront Pictures business. 

 "Make a movie out of them" 

"You do it, your idea" 


So he did  

Going to be interesting and hopefully lots of fun creating a knitty version. I want a Bollywood  waterlily, with personality!

In fact I want at least five, maybe ten......... and the deadline is?  End of March. 

Better go and buy some wool......

A nice bottom is important

June last year this chair was rusting on the roadside.

  It seemed  to have the soul of a noble chair so it just had to come back with me and be saved.  Part of its saving turned out to be creating a very nice bottom as you will see............ eventually.  First thing,  deal with the rust, bandage its injuries and start knitting.

Only just finished in time, it was installed as part of Margaret Summerton and my artists' residency starting at Montsalvat late last July. 

 We learnt a lot during the time we were there.  My chair seemed brilliant at the start, maybe it was exposure to the artistic air, maybe it was the learning experience, maybe it was practice at knitting  but at the end my chair did not seem quite noble enough.  

In theory there is a fair amount of time between now and "Who Needs Permission" in September but it will race by, and new projects will keep popping up so.....time....  Anyway the chair has to be really noble by then. So last week on a  hot  day I decided to rework (renoble) the chair.  No time like the present after all. Out came the saw, off came the umbrella, off came the bird's next and back to basics.  Stitched old blanketing on the back, stuffed the seat, undid the arms and stuffed them too, comfort is important!

At this point too hot, too tired, so just left as is, mess and all, overnight.

Day two, hot again, and a good start with  an old diamond crocheted by Dijanne Cevaal becoming the perfect focal and starting point of the back.

 There were a couple of holes that had worn in the lovely old green wool I'd used on the arms. It was beautiful wool from a 90 year old who'd had it for quite a long time.  It kept breaking as it was knitted but it was such a nice tweedy, garden like, yarn I just had to persevere.  But then I've always loved patched tweed jackets so why not patch the arms of a chair?   

Mohair moss is starting to grow in the nooks and crannies of the arms.

Then the poor chair had a very boring bottom so it seemed a good idea to make it nice. The idea may subconsciously have come from my father-in-law who, being a furniture man, used  to tip chairs upside down anywhere, anytime, any place,  to look underneath to see who made them. 

So now it has the beginnings of an interesting back and, most important, a very nice bottom, obviously in need of more flowers. As its underwear hangs down a little it may just make  people curious enough to tip it upside down too... Next will be the decoration on top, a new umbrella , a vase of flowers and.........

It was very hot so in the interest of occupational health and safety  half hour watering breaks were deemed necessary- sipping  a nice cold tea I discovered a water lily opening in the pond.  It then became necessary to take half hour photo breaks.  The movie(yes I said movie) is coming - watch out for "Day of the Lotus" soon on  this blog..... Just so happens I need to knit oversize waterlilies to go with my knitty oversize peacock so with the photos to work from it was all in all a very productive day.

Mind you there's an awful lot more to be done on the chair, and, since then, I found another chair....less noble but still very promising.....

By the way, Margaret and I have a habbit of taking on projects bigger than we can possibly knit or crochet all by ourselves.  If you have unfinishable knitted projects or crochet blankets we are very happy to put them to good use. 

Occasionally we need volunteers to help us put up our knitty graffitti......... we'd love to know if you're  interested in helping sometime. 

Dont forget "Day of the Lotus" coming soon

First Train chugs along in the heat

Well it must be the hottest summer I remember.  Our poor knitty  train in Hurstbridge is covered in dust - its been just so dry. 

One hot evening just a little more was added ...........

Many thanks  Karen Joy for these elegant carriage doors.

Then a little further along, the empty pig wagon has an occupant......

we have a lovely  fat pig already for market.  Just to make sure he isn't bored, and fattens up a little on the way he has a nice big apple.  Thanks Lois Needham for the the pig and apples.  He wont be so free for too much longer.  The cage to keep him in place is on the way!

Its hungry work putting these pieces up in the late afternoon so a quick trip to Burke's for fish and chips.  Yummo.

On the way back, oh dear fancy being so hungry as to forget  to photograph the apple tree - so here's a quick shot from the car window in passing, no way were the fish and chips going to wait for a proper photo.

A new tree, old and new apples and leaves blowing off the tree as the train races towards the city.  Who knows, another might land in our pig's cage!

More up soon, when the weather cools....... when?