TIF Challenge/Lovely Post/Cyber Fyber/Dramas at Home

TAKE IT FURTHER CHALLENGE

January Journal Quilt

(The Disorder of a Spring Garden)

Well, here's my finished journal quilt for the TIF challenge. I'm really happy with the end result, even though I really didn't do much more with it than mentioned in the last post. I added some artificial silk flowers, a golden spider's web in the corner, and zapped the organza back. For the binding I just zig zagged on some lovely yarn. This is also going to be my January journal quilt for the ANZ Art Quilters Group - "The Disorder of a Spring Garden".

LOVELY POST

I received this gorgeous Garden Fairy as a lovely surprise post from Elizabeth! I admire Elizabeth's work so much, and visit her blog regularly. Now I'm the lucky owner of this little fairy...... She certainly came at a time when I needed her most!! Thanks Elizabeth!!!!

CYBER FYBER

I swapped an ATC and Postcard with Susan who has started up a wonderful site CYBER FYBER, where you can swap an ATC or Postcard with Susan, and then receive the same back. Now, what an opportunity to be the lucky owner of some of Susan's wonderful art. She is a very talented artist!!!!! Thanks Susan...... Make sure you go and take a look at the blog where this is all happening - what a fantastic idea. (Sorry about the ATC photo! The ATC is just gorgeous, with beautiful hand stitching.)

DRAMAS AT HOME

Had some drama here at home, which explains why I haven't been around much. I also may not be able to post too much either - or visit many blogs - but I will certainly do my best!!!

My husband, Phil, was hit by a car whilst riding his push bike. He's in hopsital with lots of cuts and bruises (some worse than others), and a broken hip. The surgeons are happy with the hip operation and say Phil should get full use of his leg. So we're very happy!!! But now, I have my DH home and not able to put any weight on his leg for 12 weeks. 12 WEEKS!!!!!!!!! So, doing any creating will depend on how "Nurse Dianne" copes with Phil. Plus work, kids and all the other stuff...... Hopefully we'll catch up again soon!

Take It Further Challenge/January Journal Quilt

It's about time I started with TIFC. I was soooo bad with Sharon's last challenge TAST, that this time, I'm determined to keep up. I decided to stick with the colour way option of the challenge. I started out with a piece of painted vilene, layered with painted organza strips, and then did lots of free motion embroidery to depict grass and flowers in a field. This first photo is up to that step.
The photo below has hand embroidery added, plus bits of roving couched on to look like a flower (don't ask me what flower!!) I haven't finished yet - lots more hand embroidery to be added, and then I need to decide if I'll zap back the organza. I do like to zap - so I probably will succumb!!
I think I will also make this into my January journal quilt for "seasons" and call it "The Disorder of a Spring Garden". Australia/New Zealand Art Quilters Group have a monthly journal quilt project happening, which I also have my name down to do. Don't know if it will be feasible to incorporate both of these challenges/projects each month, but I think it works well for this month.

Play Day

I made this piece on the weekend. It's Christmas tinsel, and yarn between two layers of blue plastic, which I painted with red acrylic paint. I put it under the embellisher, then zapped with the heat gun. I did some FME on it and a little bit of hand embroidery.

Then I cut it up and now it's a postcard and an ATC.

These 2 postcards were made from a piece I made a while back. I have used the embellisher on a purple wool block I had knitted. I layered pieces of synthetic yarn and bits of wool roving over the knitting and needle punched them. Then I did some FME and zapped with the heat gun.

Lastly I made a couple of bookmarks out of some painted paper towel I had lying around. I really love the feel of the paper towels and have been using these a lot lately. They are great to sew and have a lovely soft feel to them.

Post from Doreen/Dinner tonight

I received a lovely post from Doreen. This wonderful January postcard for our group Calendar Girls. It really is gorgeous, and one word I would describe for it is very "elegant". I love it - thanks Doreen!!

Also I was the lucky winner of 2 wonderful ATC's from Doreen. Thankyou Stephen (Doreen's hubby who picked my name out of the hat)...... They are both fantastic, and my photo of them doesn't do the colours justice.
And, to top it all off - a lovely handmade card also from Doreen. She is such a clever lady!!!!
THANKS DOREEN!!!!

This is what we're having for tea tonight! My lovely hubby (cough, cough) - made some big, beautiful vegetable pasties, and also made some tomato sauce from our very own tomatoes. Yum! Yum!! Don't they look delicious!!!!

Tome No. 2

Today I had my 3rd workshop for Patti's Tome series at Textile Artistry. This week we started on Tome No. 2, and the technnique for this page was inkjet transfers and photo collage. I've posted the photos for my page (front and back) - but you will have to wait for photos of the class participants until next time - as they weren't completed enough for a photo. This series of workshops started out a bit scary, but the ladies coming each week are all so lovely, that now I'm feeling very at ease with the "teacher" bit.

*I made my Tome page a "Sea World" theme - where I worked in my early 20's *

* The little doll fits inside the pocket ***

Little book in Patti Culea style

I made this little book in the style of Patti Culea's Tome series. It's a much smaller version, and I've added painted and stamped paper signatures. There is also a surprise here and there on some of the pages. Hanging on the flower on the inside cover is one of the little birds which I had previously made (blogged a while back)..... I made this for one of my "cyberspace buddies".

Postcards/Calendar Girls 2008

I have received 3 x beautiful postcards recently - here they are:

This one is from Angela ( a late birthday postcard - but definitely worth the wait). I love the cutouts - it's really effective. Thanks Angela! Sorry Angela, but I can't find your blog - I know I had it.....duh, old age is creeping in........

Such a beautiful ethereal look to this one from Jacqueline. The leaves look like they're buried in the snow. I love it - thanks Jacqueline.

A lovely Christmas card from Waltraud!! It really is special - I think the gold heart in the middle is made from Tyvek. It's very festive and was a wonderful surprise in my letter box. Thanks so much Waltraud!! (Sorry, it's posted sideways .....)

CALENDAR GIRLS 2008

January

This last one I made for the Calendar Girls 2008 postcard swap. This is my interpretation of the January calendar image, which you can see on the Calendar Girls blog, and is going to Debbi. Hope you like it Debbi!!!. It's mainly been made with the embellisher - with the addition of hand and machine embroidery.