been busy

I hadn't realized how long it is since I posted on my blog. I've been having fun learning my new sewing machine's wealth of stitches and functions at the touch of a button. My very old Singer will have to take a back seat, I'm afraid, and will probably only be used for 'dirty' sewing (e.g. wax and leather).

From time to time I wander round a contemporary art gallery in town and really fell in love with a painting but it was a bit pricey. But I found out that they offer "ownart" interest free payment over 10 months. So I bought it and hung it today and it's beautiful. There's a bit of shadow on the photo that I can't get rid of. It's quite big - 32" square.

I put a couple of my watercolours on ebay and this is the first time I've listed 'buy it now' instead of auction. Be interesting to see how it goes.

I also bought some large canvases much bigger than I've ever used - so that's another experiment. I prefer water based paints as they dry fast and the brushes are not a pain to clean!

Sally's challenge

Happy belated birthday, Sally - here's a photo taken when I was about eight years old. Every time I think back to events of years ago, I'm 'always' eight, isn't that strange??

Withdrawal symptoms

After being away from my 'playroom' for 2 whole days, I definitely had withdrawal symptoms!! So in between banal housekeeping, I made time for a couple of ATCs. They're on ebay :

this weekend

I attended a 2-day workshop on 'Creative Salvage' where we had to make things out of old xmas decorations, twigs, plastic bags, bits and pieces etc. The backing was soluble (I used Aquafilm) which rinses off leaving the "creation". This is the best piece I did using  sequin waste, old lace, feathers and netting. My sewing machine, although almost new, let me down. In fact I'm going to take it back and get another better one (that means more £££)!! But I did learn some new things. The tutor (Diane Bates) had brought things she'd made and they were gorgeous - corsets, bags etc.

Fabric art

I've been splashing paint around on fabric - one of the most enjoyable things to do. It gives me a feeling of total abandonment and I go into a kind of creative mist. I started this late last night and had to give up and go to bed 'cos the paint was still wet. So today I've been working on it some more as the colours weren't bright enough once dry. Then I did some FME (free motion embroidery) and added some beading. I really like this and have decided to make it into a wallhanging and of course the background is turquoise -- my most favourite colour. The first photo is the painting part, second is with FME, and the last shows (not very well though) the beading. Seem to have a copy of one picture - sorry!!

New ATCs

I've made some ATCs using transparencies for a change. They're here on ebay -- any comments gratefully accepted.

interesting results

I came across  some exercises I did ages ago from a book by Lucia Capacchione "The Power of your Other Hand" which are designed to unleash creativity. The vase of roses, I think, is better using my left hand (I'm right-handed).

forgot to say

I changed my photo to one that was taken today with haircut and new specs. Now, that's more like it!

new listings

Today is half price on ebay UK so I got some ATCs finished. These are from a large floral watercolour that seemed to be lacking something - so I cut it up and stitched into the pieces and then stamped on them. They're at:ebay

altered book

I'm submitting this altered book to the University of Northampton Book Exhibitiion which takes place May 8-18. It's an exhibition of altered books and experimental artists' books and last year I was lucky enough to have one of my spreads chosen for their catalogue. Here are a couple of pictures, if you'd like to the rest, they're on my picturetrail at http://www.picturetrail.com/lidia5b.