Weaving

I've been trying out many different 'crafts' of late and in particular ones which were done when I worked at the Steiner school.  Steiner schools are great for art and craft during the early years of school, something which I believe is missing from our state schools. 

So here's another 'experiment' - this time with weaving. I had my daughter help me out and we used a simple cardboard loom and old left over wool. Pretty simple.

It was meant to be a pencil case but was too small, so now it's a camera case.

Screenprinting

Finally I managed to get a few screenprints done. 

It's been a bit of a task as I didn't have a few of the materials I needed to get a good quality print.  Had to use duct tape around the frame instead of the waterproof tape needed.  Also had trouble with the stencil I was using.  I tried using an old x-ray, which was o.k. but really hard to cut with a blade. So in the end I used screen filler which blanks out the areas that you don't want to print. 

I am pretty happy with the result.  It's been a while since I've screenprinted.

I experimented with fabrics and I think that I'll now continue to experiment with each panel and perhaps make something with them like a bag??

During the week I looked at the blog of two ladies in Melbourne called Ink & Spindle. Here's their link http://www.inkandspindle.com.au/

I loved their philosophy, their workspace, and the way they mix their colours with an old mixmaster. Very inspiring.

Here's a couple more of my screenprints.  These were done on paper, printed over the top of some of my first attempts using the x-ray film. They remind me of Gauguin's cut-outs.

Rat on a stick.

Well as I mentioned earlier, this weekend is council cleanup and this is the disgusting creature we found whilst cleaning out our shed!  It was dried out and attached to a stick so therefore the line from Stuart Little "rat on a stick, I love rat on a stick!', seemed appropriate. 

There was alot of shrieking and squealing (and that was just the adults!).  Hmmm might inspire some art . . .

Dog of the week.

Here's another one of my dog paintings. Once again I painted the dog and then thought about the words that I felt best fit.  This line came from the children's book 'John Brown, Rose, and the Midnight Cat' by Jenny Wagner.  The illustrations by Ron Brooks show some beautiful cross hatching.  It's about relationships I guess.

Anyway it's another favourite story of my kids.

I've been trying to do some screen printing this week but with working and child minding it's been a struggle.  I'm determined to get something done this weekend.  I'm hoping to find a table that I can set up my work during this weeks council clean up.  Bit sick of using the dining table!

She paints too.

Miss Beatie did this lovely painting recently whilst I was finishing one of mine.  I think she has been watching the way I've been using text in my paintings. Good to see she made no spelling mistakes!

I recently bought a screen printing kit after checking out http://www.handmadesewing.com.au/. Gay from handmade had been to a workshop at Prints Charming in Annandale, Sydney.  You can find them at  http://www.printscharming.com.au/.  Not sure what I'm going to do yet, still doing lots of drawing and thinking.

B for Bea

Well the wall above my daughter's bed was looking very plain and dull, so I made this soft, giant B.  It hangs from the wall and looks kind of wierd, but she likes it.  I thought about doing it flat, but decided to stuff it!  Thought perhaps she could pin some objects to it in the future?

I've used some vintage floral material (ie old from the Vinnies), and an old tablecloth that my mum was going to toss.  The most expensive part was the stuffing! 

Here comes the bride.

Well I've finally finished the wedding bunting for my sister-in-law's wedding. It's not really bunting but that's where I started and after alot of mucking about with shapes, colours, materials and any other variant, I came up with this. 

I've used doilies which I've stiffened with pva glue, baking paper, music sheets and the coloured paper was from a paper bag which my sister-in-law brought home from India recently. They were all sewn together using the sewing machine.

butterfly art

Well I've been 'experimenting' with my son James.  Nothing too sinister, he's has just been my guinea pig.

I was asked if I could come up with some art ideas for our local preschool. In particular some artwork that they can 'hang up', make the place look a bit more creative.  Hence the butterflies.  This was a task that I did with Miss Beatie and her lovely friends during the school holidays and it seemed to work o.k. 

So here are the step-by-step photos and instructions that I have done for the preschool.

Step 1: Paint a piece of paper using different colours.  Watercolour works best.

Step 2: Let dry.

Step 3: Then draw a circle and a square on the paper.  They both need to be similar size.  Try to use the whole piece of paper.  (I like to use a plate to trace the circle.)

Step 4: Cut both out.

Step 5: Fold each shape in half.  The square should be now a triangle.

Step 6: Open out again, then concertina fold (like a fan) each piece.

Step 7: Then fold each one in half.  Now open up.

Step 8: Fan out each side/shape.

Step 9: Join the 2 pieces together using string, or pipe cleaner.

Step 10: Finished.  Ready to hang. 

Here's one that Miss Beatie did previously and proudly hangs in our home.They can be further decorated with glitter and other nice papers.

Paper flowers

Other crafty art stuff.

Well I thought I'd show you some of the paper flowers I made recently (inspired by Meet Me at Mikes). I like their simplicity.


I'm currently working on some 'wedding bunting' for my sister-in-law's wedding. Thought it would be a good opportunity to play around and create something that would look pretty and festive hanging up.

I'll show the finished product soon.

Pretentious? Moi?

Well I've been working on a painting over the weekend.  Horrible weather, which means I get to do some art.


This painting of the poodle took a lot longer to paint than my other pieces.  I think because it's the first whole dog painting. (Still needs a bit more work).

When I do the painting my whole family like to have some input as to what the 'words' should be, or often shouldn't be.  The 'Pretentious? Moi?' came from my husband.  For anyone out there who is interested, it comes from an episode of Faulty Towers where Cybil is telling a joke and at the end she says 'Pretentious? Moi?'. 


Anyway I think it suits the poodle pretty well.