Watercolour disaster

Well it wasn't that the painting was a disaster, it was more the field trip....

Intending to practise my emerging watercolour painting skills, I packed all my stuff, lots of it, into the car, along with Liza the Samoyed.  I drove around 20km to the Tatura Wetlands, had my lunch, unpacked the car, chose a spot to sit and paint, lugged one load of gear from the car, tied up Liza to a convenient tree, returned to the car, with Liza barking frantically fearing I was leaving her forever, got the rest of the gear, lugged it to my spot, and set up to paint.  With everything spread out on a picnic table, I did what my tutor had told me and faithfully made a sketch first.  Then I spread out the paint palette, mixed all the paint, reached for my brushes and......

NOTHING!


Now my late husband Allan was an oil painter and lo and behold there was a terribly ratty fan brush in the bottom of my painting kit.  Allan passed away 16 years ago so this brush has not been used in nearly 20 years and of course is unsuitable for watercolour painting.  Well, I looked at the brush, I looked at the soaking wet palette, and thought, what the heck, splash some paint. 

I managed to make a watercolour painting of sorts, and seeing I have only had two lessons I can probably pass it off as a perfect example of a beginner's folly, but I am actually quite pleased with it in the circumstances.  I will keep it as a reminder to always double check my gear!

Tea Cosy Challenge

Impress Tea House and Gallery of Elmore in Victoria set a challenge.  Take a new but unattractive tea cosy from their stock and transform it into a masterpiece.  They said Cut it up, Add to it, what you can do to these tea cosies is only limited by your imagination.   So I did.

Here is my solution - a jewellery set comprising neckpiece, brooch and earrings.

the tea cosy creations will be on display in the gallery at
100 Railway Place, Elmore,  (phone 03 5432 6595)
until 30th November 2011

http://impress.hopout.com.au

quiet time

It hasn't been a prductive time lately.  Cameron and Lydia helped me to pack all my stuff, including most of my craft materials, in anticipation of my property being sold with settlement expected to happen in mid September.  When the sale fell through, I couldn't decide whether to unpack or not.  So now there are bits and pieces of "stuff" all over the place and no real results coming through.  I'm also a bit flat now, and lacking motivation. 

We got the planning approval for the new shed and art studio to be built at Smiths Gully once my place is sold.  It will be lovely to have such a large space to set up, and leave in place.  I will need a generator for power, at least until Cameron installs the solar and wind system. 

Good news and Bad news

The bad news is that the sale of my Bank in Merrigum has fallen through.  As it was only three weeks away from settlement, I am now sitting in a half packed household unsure whether to keep on packing, unpack, or stay confused.

The good news is that I have been approved as an Accredited Member of Craft Victoria.  From September 2011 my profile will appear on their website and I receive the benefit of a whole package of helpful goodies such as market and workshop insurances.

Rushwool Chat and Choose Handcraft Circle July 2011

Lovely surroundings in the Rushworth Hall, and Nicola just couldn't resist trying on my Gladiator hat

Still working away...

here are just a few things I have been working on lately.  It has been down to minus two degrees here overnight so I don't need any excuse to curl up in the sofa and knit.  then a bit of feltmaking to stretch the limbs and work off some of those retained calories.

A crazy felt hat

This hat combines my two loves - sculptural felting and crazy vegetation.  I claim it is based on a Roman gladiator's helmet that has been left to rust, and the flowers and vines have grown up through it.  Obviously a figment of my imagination, this hat won the "Felted Garment" award at Wangaratta's 2011 Stitched Up Festival.  Now all I need is an appropriate occasion to wear it......  can't imagine what that will be!

Wangaratta Wearable Art Award

 here's the scrumbled "scarf" that won the Wearable Art Section at the Stitched Up Festival.  It has found a new home in Wagga Wagga.

It has a vee-shaped back with a flower and leaves to anchor it.  With the weight of the scrumbled embellishments, this is one scarf that will definitely not fly off in wind.

Upcoming Workshops

Now that Wangaratta's Stitched Up Festival is over I can start looking forward to doing some work for myself as well as planning for upcoming workshops.

FELTING - In Rushworth later in the year. Enquiries through Rush Wool. Contact Wendy on 0402 945 821

SCRUMBLING - at Christmas Hills ( near the Yarra Valley ) for Butterfly Studios, probably in the 4th term of 2011. Contact email is christmashills3775@bigpond.com
More details here once I know them.

Stitched Up Festival results

Well the judges made their decisions and we always love to differ with their preferences, but I am pleased to have won two firsts and one second for my three entries. My red scrumbled bag came second in Craft article, a rather weird felted hat, which I made in a hurry before I went into hospital, won Felting - Wearable Garment, and a knitted neck piece adorned with scrumbled flowers took out the Wearable Art section. No photos of this one yet either!

Lydia took 3rd prize in Craft Article with her Arum Lily bag, and her orange coat came 3rd in Wearable Art. I never expected this result as her coat is so original and such a massive project that I really only entered the class to support her.

Emma received a 2nd prize in the Open felting section. Her entries were moved from the Children's Section to the Open as she was the only child who entered felting. That being the case she would not have qualified for an award, so she was judged in the Open. Not bad for an eight year old!

Lydia's orange coat - just a section....

Rush Wool

Had a good night in Rushworth demonstrating felting for Wendy of Rush Wool. Lots of nice crafty ladies. Good to catch up with old friends, and lovely to make some new ones. Felting has played second fiddle to knitting and scrumbling lately, so the only photos to add tonight are nothing to do with felting.

recuperating and knitting

Two weeks today since my surgery and I have woken this morning feeling rather well. have tried to knit but my concentration was poor. But my entries were finished in time to be submitted to Wangaratta's Stitched Up Festival in July, and I have been offered a stall at the Makers Market on the closing day of the festival, July 10. Now I have to get working again to have enough items to sell.

My granddaughter Emma has entered her felting in the childrens categories, and my daughter in law Lydia has submitted her stunning coat and bags. This means if any of us win a prize I get to take the credit as both teacher and encourager! Three generations of Heap women entering is rather special.

knit one purl one scrumble heaps

Looking forward to doing a follow up workshop at Butterfly Studio in Christmas Hills once I recover from some surgery scheduled for this week. Wangaratta Stitched Up biennial festival is coming up in July and if I am well enough I hope to be at the Makers Market, so am working on a new range of felting and scrumbling.

Almost scrumbled

Taught a workshop on Scrumbling with Butterfly Studio at Christmas Hills in May 2011. Lots of nice people and yummy food. Tried to make some odds and ends to take along to show off scrumbling. Here are some of them....

Merrigum and Scrumbling

I have been so busy I forgot to update the blog. The Bank in Merrigum is on the market and I am hopeful some nice people will buy it soon. The felting has been on hold for a while and I have been busy knitting. I am working on some nice scrumbled bags and thanks to Brian James I now have some very nice photos.....