Growing the reef

The reef cloth is slowly expanding and filling in. I've added another gorgonian fan (still not quite finished) and an orange starfish to balance the colour. I also kantha stitched the shell area at the bottom with a dark blue to take away some of the starkness in colour of the pale blue.

Sadly...

My baby "Twistie", died in my arms this morning, she was 15 1/2 years old and was suffering from Cancer. She must have known as we had her booked into the vet for later today to give her the needle.

I will miss her forever.

Something fishy

An update on my slow cloth. I have finished stitching the gorgonian fan coral which is a piece of orange silk organza. The centre veins are couched sari threads and the background is 100's of meandering stitches in varying shades of orange dmc threads. I got to this point and my mind went blank. Sat and stared at it for ages wondering what to do with the open space above the fan. Funny how things just come to you like someone eventually turns the light on! I was playing around with various fabrics when these fish jumped out at me.















I am now working on expanding the edges. Having fun experimenting with cloth weaving from Jude Hill's blog ( http://www.spiritcloth.typepad.com/ ). Will post some more pics shortly.

My very first journal page.....yeehah

After much procrastination I have finally started recording ideas in my journal. My Mum has been gently persuading me for many years to start a sketchbook and even bought a couple of blank books which have been sitting on the shelf for far too long. She also gave me the book "Creating Sketchbooks for Embroiderers and Textile Artists" by Kay Greenlees several years back. I am now re-reading the book through different eyes. Two things occurred that gave me the push. Firstly, I was always worried about starting on the first page and messing it up. Mum said " just open the book anywhere and start!" and secondly I read Karen Ruane's blog (http://karenruane.blogspot.com/) on how to embellish her little books which helped with the impetus to just start!

I found the picture (top left) on some junk mail and liked the colours so thought I'd have a go interpreting it in stitch. It was great to get the watercolours out as well. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this and am now hooked.

Another Reef Scene

This is an old peice I did a few years ago. It was my first attempt at machine embroidery, overlaid with hand stitching.

New Baby

There is a new baby in the family so of course something had to be made to welcome the arrival. The cot sheet/wrap is just over a metre square made with white cotton and reverse appliqued bunnies. It's winging its way to the new bub as I speak.

Kitchen Curtains at last ... or almost

I've finally started on my kitchen curtains. The two side panels are done and hung! Not sure what to do in the middle window, think I'll just put three short panels across the top. The flowers are reverse appliqued using some of the green batik I used on my pincushion. Strange how the mind works, pincushion to kitchen curtains.




I love the way the sunlight streams through the flowers.

Puffy Pin Cushion

I've been inspired by Karen Ruane's blogsite http://www.karenruane.blogspot.com/ and all her exquisite embroideries. Thought I'd give reverse applique a go and made this pin cushion. I added a couple of puffs to give a dimensional look. Thanks Karen for the wonderful inspiration. I cut up an old chambray shirt and used a bit of green batik that I've been hoarding for eons. The colours worked well together.

From the Heart

My mother has been embroidering all her life and has taught me almost everything I know about textiles, embroidery, colour.... the list is endless and is still continues.

Happy Mothers Day, Mum, hope you like the book mat.

The story continues...

It's time for a splash of colour! The more I work on this peice the more excited I become with the possibilities of molding cloth to cloth. I decided to expand my "Moonlight on the Reef'" to meld into the base fabric. (Close up below).

Can't wait to get stitching the gorgonian fan. I was inspired by my partner's underwater photos he took on one of our many diving trips on the Great Barrier Reef. That's me in the background!

Update on Slow Cloth

The cloth is slowing building, I may continue the flow lines to the top left. I worked some fine cotton gauze for the clouds with a small silk moon peeping out. The story continues.....