How soon do good intentions go!

Well, after all that talking, I have done little since.  I am trying to concentrate on my health, so there is that!

I started crocheting this bag.  It might take all winter!  (which isn't Here yet)

I finished this little applique with dimensional flowers.  It was a kit I bought a few years ago, for a wall hanging.  It will probably go onto our stall at the quit show in October.

I also finished this backbasting applique block from an applique quilt that has been going for a few!!! years.
I do need to get drawing though.  Sktchy has brought back daily muses, so I need to catch up on that.  I start a new course on sktchy art school with Charlotte Hamilton,  and I have a few others that I should complete the work for.
I have also joined Ivy Newport's Studioworks community and am enjoying all the classes and inspiration, but not yet actually doing much.
So  what do I need to do?
I need to set up a computer in my art space, to motivate me to do more painting and drawing.
I need to observe the sktchy alarm and draw.
And I need to write here as often as I can.  Every day if possible!

the textile art diary

I have disabled comments on my blog because I want it to be about  creating art and my art practice, and not about who likes or visits me. 

I have had a lot of problems with motivation and inspiration over the last few years and, yes, I could write a diary which is private, however I think that the online format is more likely to make myself more accountable in my journey. 

I began university studies in fine art two years ago and this has eaten into my studio times as well as changed and challenged my thinking in many ways. 

I am present online mostly in pictures, in facebook groups, on instagram and Sktchy and find these much easier to post on (probably because I don't have to write much!).

It's funny, when I was a child, I wanted to be a writer, but as an adult, my impetus has always been visual art and I now tend to avoid writing! 

I love to teach, and in the past, my blog has been about tutorials, but I think now, I need to do a bit of that writing I have avoided in order to bring myself back to creating regularly.

Just to show myself that I have been achieving although I am always  on at myself  about not working hard enough, I have inserted a few photos of recent work in my writing. 

I have been doing a lot of drawing and mostly portraits, although I still do some textiles and craft.  Drawing is easy and doesn't require much equipment.  I am now the proud owner of a ipad pro and apple pencil, so many of these were digitally done.

I hope as I said that I will keep posting.  If I do, I think my studio practice will improve and i will get my mojo back!

Still going

I have still been working, just forget to post, but I will persist
I have recently uploaded a few new Journal Quilts to the Made on Monday Site, Hosted by Kate Bridger

  

I think I have about thirty on that site.  These might not be even up yet!  I now have over a hundred journal quilts, but these ones are all just about leaves.
Earlier in the year, I did a lot of printing on fabric and sheers of gum leaves and I have finally gotten around to doing something with them!

So fat I have just free motioned around this one.  Not sure about the colours.

This one has two layers of prints on organza, with stitching on the top layer.

This one also has two layers, the print below, which has been stitched, and the top organza layer with a further stitched leaf.  My idea with these is to put them together a la Jane Lafazio, to make a large wall hanging.  Of course that is a long way away.
I have also now got a beautiful Bernina Q20 long arm! I have done about half a dozen quilts since I got it and am really enjoying the space!

Her is the latest, a very modern quilt I have made from some orphan fish block that were in my WIPs

And here is a close up of what I am doing on it.  Lots of bubbles at the moment, but there will be a lot more by the time I am finished.
AS I said, I am doing a degree in fine arts too, so sometimes I have deadlines there.
I have also almost completed my quilt for Art Quilts Around the World  Can't show that until after the due date which is the 30th Nov, so here is just a taster.

Not much to go on there, LOL. The topic is pop art.

Don't forget to be creative every day!

Paper to Fabric with left overs

My husband has been cutting things out of perspex to sell and gave me some of the waste pieces to use as templates.

 

I started by using them on paper.

 

I used inktense blocks to make rubbings and spread it outside the rubbing with water.  I really loved the distressed look and decided I wanted to do it on fabric.  Inktense is permanent once it has been wet and dried, so perfect on fabric.

This was mt first rubbing.  I still wanted the blurred washed out surround.

With this one I used a brush to blur out the edges, but it was too pale for me so I added a bit more around the edges with my characteristic scribbles.  I also needed to make the central rubbing permanent so I sprayed it with water then dried it quickly with the iron.  I look forward to free motion quilting this one!

A new group

I have joined a new challenge group called Art Quilts Around the World.  I am hoping it will give me a new impetus for blogging regularly.  I am also now completing a Bachelor of fine art at university, so to get the flow going I will show you a few pieces I recently completed as part of my course.

This piece was an attempt to create depth using layers, shapes and line.  I used two screen prints layered with organza and a small thread sketch.  This is very close to the work I normally do.

This piece was using layering of organza as well, but the subject is the subcellular world.  Just a glimpse of what is inside all our cells.

This is a box that I created using layers of organza.  It is also based on the subcellular world, but this time plant cells.  I was very pleased with the way light moves through it and it now sits on my desk near the window to catch the light.

So, whilst I have not been posting, I have been busy.  I even had a little exhibition recently

here are a few pictures

Hope you enjoy my post.  Hope to post again soon.

Getting my art on

I have had an extremely difficult year with family issues and am finally starting to get my mojo back. It has taken me a long time to find my space again and I am still working on it, but recently, I have started to get some work accomplished! I have been doing some free motion work on my new little bernina, which I got from Bernina Australia at caroline sharkey's wonderful workshop in August at Uluru (Ayers Rock) It was a wonderful time and I did a workshop with Sue De Vanny, which was excellent

Above is the piece of work I completed at the workshop.

Since I came home and also since the problems have sorted themselves, I have been doing a lot of free machine practice and free machine doodling.

These are two of my current practice pieces.  One is just a grid of squares but the other is in a double wedding ring type layout.

As I said, I am also doing a lot of doodling.

These are two panels that will be part of a new sewing machine travelling case for my new Bernina, since one of my machines was damaged badly on a plane trip early this year!  I am in love with this multicolour wonderfil thread!

This one, finished now, was a mandala I doodle stitched then coloured with fabric markers.  I also have one other doodle panel on the go, but haven't photographed it yet.

So what else?

Above left is a needlefelted panel I whipped up one day (lol), which is waiting for some stitching, and the other is a very large crochet blanket I have been working on called sophie's universe.  I am only half way, perhaps I'll finish by next summer?

Of course if you know me, you know that textiles are only half my crafty self.  I will post soon with some of my art, journaling and mixed media play.

Happy Creating!