Sunday, September 28, 2014

paintings and an old quilt
Himself is having an office re-vamp and I offered to make him a new wall quilt (eventually), but on Friday he brought home the old quilt and two paintings I'd done 8 years ago, which meant his walls are bare!

Well, I might be good but I'm not good enough to whip up two paintings AND a new quilt in one weekend!

So I started with a couple of simple paintings. They were both based around beach glass, shells and ephemera we find when walking on the nearby beach, which I love. I added some paper, card, fabric and paint. After painting the canvases, the pieces had to be stitched to the backgrounds and glued on.

shells
 
close

beach glass and driftwood
(that's a tiny piece of glass on the distant horizon!)

close


I'm not a painter (in case you hadn't guessed, LOL) but I'm happy with these and Himself really likes them. They'll certainly brighten his office, along with ...


Matching Tie & Handkerchief (thank you Monty Python)
This quilt was made for a small group challenge in 2006 from a Stargazey pattern by JAN MULLEN.

We had to cut the arms, fronts and backs off men's shirts and swap/select them unseen at random from a bag. Consequently, some of the fabrics aren't exactly my choice! But we also had to use some of all the samples and it was an added challenge to make it work.

I really enjoyed incorporating collars, cuffs, pockets and button hole facings in unexpected places.

Matching Tie & Handkerchief quilt
[click to enlarge]

closer

incorporating a cuff with button
 

I couldn't do much quilting - it was so bumpy and uneven with soft/worn and firm fabrics and several layers in some places - it would have created too many ripples and puckers.

This will (certainly!) brighten another wall until I can make a new quilt for him.

I hope you have had fun being creative this weekend too.

cheers
Cait


 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

gift sent
My friend Ann was on my list of 4 recipients, so I made this for her. Had to keep it a surprise until it arrived!


Thursday, September 18, 2014

postcards received
Here are the two beautiful gelli printed postcards I have received so far. Two more to come!

 
Top: hearts and background are all gelli printed,
from LINDA STOKES, Perth WA
 
Bottom: plum blossoms welcoming Spring,
from JENNI STRACHAN, Victoria
 
Thank you Linda and Jenni.

cheers
Cait


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

gelli printed postcards
Here they are - what an addictive process and so easy - loved it! I only had to make 4 for the online swap, but I became a bit excited with experimenting and finished up making 8!

They will be hand stamped at the PO tomorrow and posted across Australia to ACT, NSW and Tasmania.

white Paddington cotton background,
gelli plate printed with fabric paint

the beautiful feathers were found on the beach
 or in my garden
 
Thanks for visiting!