Post cards

These are the postcards I made for the exchange I was in. All made from paper and cloth.
The two black ones were a brown paper bag that waws scrunched and painted or vise versa, and then bonded to light weight cotton batting and then free motioned all over. I made this in Isobel Hall's class and didnt much like it so I then sprayed it with moonshadow mists and cut it up and cut up a heart made from scrunched and painted brown paper, this time I had used metallic acrylic paints and then I sewed it all together, a bit of hand sewing as well. The third one is made from watercolor paper put through an embossing machine and then painted and sprayed with various paints and again the brown paper hearts sewn on and the whole thing sewn around onto some fabric.
I spent yesterday looking after children at the Welsh foal show which was held in a very nice indoor arena in the Adelaide Hills. We did extremely well with our foals all got champion or Reserve and we took out the Supreme of show, just beating Tabby's Cob filly so it was very much a family affair.

A Birthday and a walk

Here is Celina cutting her cake with her mother and just a bit of little sister, we had a very successful birthday dinner and were all overloaded with chocolate by the end of it.
To day was market day so we both went in as John wanted to replace the see through plastic roofing sheeting that has got very scratched and awful on the veranda roof. So he got some more, one bit is done but they didnt have enough for the other bit, makes a huge difference but I have no doubt the pea cocks will walk over it and scratch it again.
Then we went around to the bay for a walk, a lot of sea weed has washed up in the last few weeks it looks a bit like huge basking seals.
The view of the Bluff was lovely.

Oscar and some hand stitching

Last night I left the dryer door open, it is on the wall and quite high up and Oscar decided to investigate. He wasnt at all pleased as you can see when I told him to get out.
When we were in Ballarat there was some small scraps of fabric rolled up for us to buy and in that way help a village in India. On the outside they were nicely done but you had no idea what was inside, I think they were 50cents each and I know I bought at least $5 worth. When I got home I unrolled them and ironed them and put them in a box. One piece was a reasonable size and as I wanted to use them in a way I have been thinking about for ever I used that as a base which I also tacked onto a small piece of calico and then using some of the strips I arranged them on top, pinned them down and then Kantha style just used a running stitch, a single thread of silk, to integrate them into one piece.
Of course they are not all straight but then nothing I do is straight, but I love they way they have wrinkled up and I am so enthused I am going to start on another piece.
More rain here today, very nice and steady.

Playing with my new machine

I have been playing with the new sewing machine, I bought it for fme and so that is what it will mainly be used for and I have to say that I am quite pleased with the results, this is the back and the front of a small piece I was stitching.
I managed to go for a walk, a big plus!, go over and collect my stuff that wasnt sold at the Mix it up exhibition, I may have some give aways soon!
Called in to see my two grand children, my daughter and my great grand child for a few minutes today, they were all over at Tabby's and on my way home.
I did the weeks shopping and collected the mail.
I have also joined up Kate Norths, another little quilt swap as it is for art quilts and I think I can do a 16 x16 inch something and it will push me along a few paths I have been thinking of trying.
If you are interested look up http:anotherlittlequiltswap.blogspot.com
Busy day tomorrow as I have two grand daughters birthdays, one here and one in Melbourne.
Celina will be here for dinner tomorrow night, she and Evie will both be 12.

Post cards arrived

I am in a postcard swap with Expression Studio, a yahoo group and these are a couple more postcards that have arrived.
The first is a beautiful one from Gail, which included this stunning copper heart that she had tarnished, no that is not the correct word because it is anything but tarnished. The second is from Linda, which has another equally lovely side. I feel very privileged to have these.
We were in Adelaide yesterday seeing my mother, she didnt look brilliant and is not moving very well but then with this onset of cold weather nor am I.
Beading last night which was fun, and I must get on and do more.
A beautifully sunny day today after the cold but too tired to do stuff in the garden which is calling out to be fixed.

Rain

We walked across to the dam that has been enlarged and of course it rained and it blew, I had my jacket with a hood on but John only had an umbrella which blew in side out!
I tried to catch the rain falling but I am not sure I did, loved the photo of the reeds and I was sure they had rain drops on them but the wind was so strong it must have blown them off.
I had a play with my sewing machine today and have finally got the wheel to turn so I can fill bobbins and I had fun trying out all sorts of stitching with it. I think I will have to regularly practice with it.
I have it set up in my "other" work room and so I can go to it whenever I want to.
Sent off my 10 postcards this morning so I can relax a little.

From my sketchbook

I havent put up any sketches for ages, but as I havent done much lately except knit and showing a half complete jumper is rather boring.
I have been exploring some bird shapes and then as I wanted a design to embroider a slightly different paisley shape to some I have been sketching before, I rather liked the flower shapes in it.
I have a few ideas buzzing in my head but have to translate them into something useful.
I then got a bit carried away with some acorns I had picked up in Ballarat and a giant slug I found in the kitchen the other day, I believe they are carnivorous, they certainly eat the cat food if they can get in.
Finally a daisy sketch that I am thinking of using as a stamp, we will see.
Wonderful rain about 2 inches but every time I go out for a walk I get wet.
We had a very late foal born yesterday and I didnt envy it coming into this wet and windy and cold world.
Off to walk down to see how much water is in the dam before I feed the dogs and birds, then to watch my team play football tonight.