Postcard for Lynn

So, being totally inspried by Allies latest creation of the beach scene, AND at the same time asked by a friend to create something "Kiwi" with the red flowers, I did a kinda abstract beach scene.

Being abstract-ish, I will explain..

First, we have the piecing - the sea, beach and the bush (forest....you know, lots of trees...)

Then the stitching. I wanted the pohutukawa flowers to be the focal point, so instead of a whole lot of tiny red dots , which would of been perspectively better, and more true to what out bush looks like in summer, they are big and lovely!

Added a few beads and 'white horses', and we are done. This is already in the post, for a special event.

on a final , jolly, christmas note, I wish blogger would get their shit together and stop upgrading to useless functions that dont work!!
"BLOGGER" I DO NOT LIKE THE NEW PHOTO UPLOADING TOOL! IT IS CRAP! ARE YOU LISTENING??"

Merry Christmas, in case i am not back before then!

June Giveaway - just under the wire

Two postcards again this month. (I am predicting I will forget July as well!).
What I would like from you this month is to visit my ETSY shop and buy something...JUST KIDDING!!
Though really, I would like you to visit my ESTY shop, and tell me what you would chose, if the giveawy  prize was something from the shop.
Here are the postcards for the month. They are actually the last two I have made up. Please name your preference in your comment.

 

red

pink

Two posts in one week !!

Wow, two posts this week. How spoilt are you!! Lack of creating definitely equates to lack of blogging. I am away at a conference this weekend, so as always, I will take the opportunity to stitch, and here are the 'blank slates'. I have an idea and want to play with circles. I think they look quite groovy.

One of my postcards sold on ETSY. More excitement. Thanks JT, I appreciate your custom.

new postcards...and May giveaway winners

First, the giveawy winners for this month. I have taken the first number, and given that winner the card of their choice, the second number, well, they get the other one!!
Here we go...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1
7

Timestamp: 2009-05-23 09:58:02 UTC

Number 1 is  Francy . She chose "Soar".

Number 7 is my buddy Cathy K.  By default you get "you've got mail"

Never mind if you missed out. If you absolutely can't continue to function without one of my postcards gracing your mailbox, then I have decided to offer some for sale on ETSY .

I will be continuing my monthly giveaways though, so don't panic!!

 

Blue Harvest

 

Hints of Marrakech

 

Emerald Moon

 

Spring Green

 

Candy Floss

I did photograph Hidekos RR block as promised, but they were hideous (and I noticed things I hadn't done!!), so I will retake tomorrow and post in the next couple of days.

We're home

...and not very excited about it. Back to the daily grind does not hold much appeal for me, but hey, only approx 335 days to go until I can do it again!!
Here's a few more postcards.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

A few things you may not know about if this is the only blog you read (yeah, right) . Sharon B has started to document her "who dropped the button box" CQ. Block by block she is going through the construction of the block, fabrics, and embellishments. A must see!

The latest issue of CQMagOnline is also out. I didn't submit anything this time round. As usual, my ornies, which would of needed to be done before October 1st, were not completed until December 23rd!!  This years competition is to get YOU ALL to write and submit and article for one of the issues. Give it a go. It is not difficult. It doesn't have to be long, and remember all levels of CQ expertise read the mag, so if you are a newbie to CQ, and you have come across something you found helpful on your journey, share it with everyone.

Right , I am off to do the January giveaway draw.

Hi...and bye.....

I am just home for a couple of days to do wash and pack for ....camping! I am so not a camper. Have I told you that before? Anyway, I am not a camper, but a camping we will go, a camping we will go, hi ho the merrio, a camping we will go! I have wine...
So I got some stitching done, and here is a peek at some of the givaway postcards for this year. Yes I am going to continue to do the giveaways, I enjoy them, and I guess y'all do to as you comment each month. These are all done on hand-dyed cotton, and embellished with the Sassa Lynne threads. I LOVE them.

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

One of these will be given away for the month of January ( I am not saying which one) Leave a comment on this post, and I will do the draw when I get back from...camping....

Hope you all had a lovely christmas and new year. I had a great new year...no hangover, despite comsuming rather alot of alcohol. We danced alot which I think worked it off.

See you when I get back (if I get back)

postcard exhibition

Mum (and a friend of hers) and I went to the postcard exhibition yesterday. Remember I submitted this one...

Here it is 'in situ'. The 8th one in the top row. The one underneath mine was heavily embellished also, but I couldn't get a good pic of it. It also had a price tag of $850!! So, needless to say my $225 looked like a pittance. It is a shame it is in the top row, but you could still see it quite well. As yet it has not sold (neither has the one below!!. lol)

 

Below are the other two I sent in. They are just the regular ones I send out in giveaways etc. They are the second column in, 3 and 4 down.

  

This is the book with the 'artist statements'. It was quite well set out, however I think I would of perffered to see the at least the artists name next to their work. You had to look at these obscure little boards, they trawl thru the price list to see who made it. Having never actually been to a REAL LIFE art gallery before, I guess that is they way it is done.

  

Now some eyecandy. There were some stunning pieces, as well as so absolute crap. I particularly liked the bottom one in this pic (sorry it is a bad pic). Very innovative use of bits and piece, of what I am not sure.

  

This next one was titled "notes from neptune". Can you not see this as a mermaids tail?

  

Gorgeous use of hand painted and dyed fabric and lace here below.

  

And this last one is my absolute favourite. It is so 'kiwi'. The bush clad hills (with perfect shading), the golden beach, the flax. I just love it. From what I could tell the fabric is hand painted , then embellished. I forgot to see if this was for sale. I would be sorely tempted if it was.

 

So, that is just a small peek at what was on show. It was interesting to see how the theme was interpreted, and I felt that mine held its own quite nicely with some of the other work on show. As I was waiting to purchase a - gosh what do you call it, the equivilant of a programme - some ladies complimented my green bag, and said "oh you should be in the exhibition", to which I replied "oh, well actually I am" (in my best posh voice, because this is in a very posh suburb). LOL
So, if you happen to be enjoying a latte and sticky bun in Titirangi (don't be disappointed, but I don't actually think you can get a sticky bun in Titirangi, far too common) do swing by Lopdell House and have a look. Free entry.

For the rest of you, do go and check out Paula's blog and her story of the Christmas Pig.

Chrissy cards and November giveaway

Here are a couple of chrissy postcards. I did a tute up for the CQI newsletter for christmas ideas. The newsletter is not published yet, so this is a sneak peak for the group members that swing by here.

These are nice simple designs, but very nice substitue for a hallmark crissy card.

NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY

This is the postcard for the this months giveaway (still needs a backing). Leave a comment on this post. It doesn't have to be about anything in particular ( I think many feel they have to say somethign complimentry. Nice but not necessary), just say "hi" I will draw this NEXT week (I let this drag on to long every month).
I am planning something a bit special for the December giveaway. It would be nice if y'all did too. Spirit of giving etc. Which reminds me to email the wonderful Ms Kellogg and thank her for the gifty that turned up here today. Thanks Pam. Big Hugs!

I am feeling particularly pleased with myself as I have complete 2 assignments this week, and another well on the way. This course has been dragging on for 4 1/2years now. Enough already!

Pomaire
(go in peace)

Exhibition piece complete..

...well, almost! Still have the backing to put on, but I will be able to post tomorrow. The brief for this piece was "letters" or a postcard, as that was the size. They could be made to a maximum of A5 size. I tried that and it was too big, couldn't make it work. This is half that size, so A6 I guess.

the 'art' shot

Could I get much more on here?? I could, but that may be overdoing it :P

I finally got the "rocks' I wanted. I was trying to embroider layers and it just wasn't working. To create this I ironed my interfacing onto some brown dupion, then scrunched , folded and screwed it all up, then whacked the iron down on top of it again. I think it worked really well. It is tacked down with a neutral thread, then further embellished to hold everything in place. I embellished following the "cottage garden" rule-doesn't matter what goes where, just do "clumps" of it. I used mostly the Sassa Lynne threads for the vegetation. FYI, you can purchase Myfanwy's gorgeous threads on Etsy, just use "Sassa Lynne" as your search reference.

And the finished piece. I will probably call it something like "S is ...for Seascape...Serenity....can you 'see' me". You have approx 16 hours to wow me with another great idea. The letter doesn't necessarily have to be "S".
BTW, the person that came up with the name "Black Magic" for the Black CQ, you were too late...but I LOVE IT!!

Out for dinner tonight, Playcentre AGM . I should be writing annual reports not doing this post.

Thought I would add that I am going to put an absolutely rediculous price tag on this piece, a few hundred $$. The art gallery is in very swanky, arty farty, Titirangi, so you never know, someone may buy it. Here's hoping.

GR...check your gmail... :)

same old, same old...

Well, we are back at home, kids are back at school and preschool, and I am, yet again, trying to meet a deadline. There is a postcard exhibition on at an Art Gallery over summer, and I have to have it done and submitted by Friday (thats 3 days..again...people). Trying some new stuff, and it looks good so far, so ahead we will forge.
 We had a lovely few days in Taranaki. It was great to catch up with Belinda and Todd. 3 days was just about enough for the kids to be together. I enjoyed the drive down there (6 hrs), along with the inevitable "are we there yet"! And those started before we hit the Bombay Hills ( 20 mins! LOL). The kids loved the 'farm' life. Feeding the lambs and chooks etc, I even sent them all off wandering one afternoon, something that would NEVER happen at home.  We took a  trip into New Plymouth one day, roller skating another. Wow, that bought back memories, I was quite the roller skater in my day, so I strapped some on, did one lap, and that was enough for me. 17 years since I have been skating. Although I am only 35, i was worried about breaking a hip!!
Here's the proof ...please take special note that I am a)on my feet, and b)not holding onto anything. This is the only full body shot  you will get of me on my blog. I am for reading, not for viewing...lol

Here is some 'installation art' created at a beach we visited - Kaupokanui (I think).  Beautiful beach. I filled my boot with driftwood which is now in my garden looking gorgeous.

Finally, I did get some stitching done. Todd was on early milkings so Belinda and I pretty much had the evenings to ourselves, we stitched and chatted. I also worked on some stockings.

I am away at a  National meeting this weekend for Playcentre , so should have more to show next week. I haven't been to this particular meeting before so I hope I have as much time to stitch as I do at the Education ones.

I have had a feeling in  my 'waters' for a couple of days...I let you know if, and when something momentous happens....

post traumatic quilt disorder

Well, I am feeling a little lost. No looming deadline, no quilt to finish, no quilt at all in fact. Mum took it today and will hand it in on Saturday. I won't see it again for 2 months. I sent the blue bag along too. That one had a price tag on it. 

Oh, the name by the way:     3rd Generation - Gone "Crazy" 

My little blurb was basically what I wrote in my last post, but with mum and nana's names.

So, what have I been doing? Mulling over a new project, which is changing daily, but I feel that is a good thing. I couple of months to stew and simmer, concentrate those ideas (I have been reading about Allies bottling escapades) and really think about what I want to achieve.

I have a few obligations to meet. A handmade gift for a swap. Another block swap. Xmas ornie time, so plenty to keep me going. Below is a postcard I finished up.

 I have been tripping down memory lane the last day or so. A name from my past popped up in the comments section ( I guess they may read this, so *hi*).  Surprisingly, to myself, I am not bitter (I am great at being bitter, lol, although less so as I get older), and I really thought I would cross the street to avoid this person. But hey, 12 years is a long time, we move on. My life is good. As far as I know, their life is good, what is there to be bitter about. It was, however,  a  reminder that the WWW world is now a very small place...

Weekends work & August GIVEAWAY

"Nat Ed" was good....no cooking, no cleaning, catching up with old acquaintances, making some new ones....and lots of stitching done.
Can you guess my new favourite stitch?? It's that stacked cretan. I haven't gravitated toward cretan in the past. It is a stitch I have found difficult to master. Not the doing of it, but the spacing and uniformity of it...but now I love it!
Here are the current creations.

Blue

Jade

Olive

Raspberry

The August GIVEAWAY!! (before August is over...I can't even believe August has started let alone being half way over!) Anywho, leave a comment on this post, and say which colour you would like if you win. I will draw when I remember!!
These still need backing, so it will look a little tidier when it gets to your door.
Happy commenting.

ps Dana...great to see you back !

productive day AND July Giveaway

Well the holidays are over and the psychological shift is amazing! I just can't bring myself to do anything in the holidays (as far as meeting responsibilities is concerned). I did do some necessary paperwork at the beginning of the first week, but it took me 10 days to post it!! sigh.
I posted out all my (late) RRs today, as well as the June , yes June , giveaway. sigh.
I haven't even done the July giveaway...sigh.....
Anywho, it's all done now, AND i got my workshop stuff ready today. That is tomorrow and I would usually leave it until tomorrow. I am trying to see the benefits in doing things on time, and/or early. I used to pride myself on being punctual. Now I feel proud when I manage to get up in the morning....SIGH
Blah blah. Lets move on to the fun stuff. I needed a postcard , so I finished all the postcards that needed backing. See, being early for next time. Yay!
The colours are SOOO off in these. but I just couldn't get them right. This first one is stitched with a Sassa Lynne thread.
This one took on a mind of it's own. It wanted to be a landscape. It is stitched with one of the DMC variations threads that Freda sent me.
These two are really bad colour wise. The are a beautiful deep, rich red. When I got them the right colour, the stitching looked shocking. So you have pics highlighting the stitching, then one that shows a truer colour.



And here is one of my round robin blocks. Theme = cream on cream. So far I have done the fly stitch leaves up the top left, and added the vine running through the lace around the silkie. I did not do the silkie. Still lots more work to do yet. Gerry likes super encrusted blocks.

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JULY GIVEAWAY

This will be July's giveaway. Leave a comment on this post to be in the draw. (It really is much more beautiful than it looks in the picture).