More Pics of Dreaming of Dragonflies

Raining here today - the light is quite dull so am hoping these photos are not too washed out!

Dreaming of Dragonflies

Finished at last!!!
The materials that I have used in this collage are those that I love the most and I have always wanted to incorporate them somehow altogether with lots of different techniques in the hope of trying to create a truely harmonious piece - like one of those beautiful summer dreams that starts well and ends well.

Materials used include velvets, satins, dyed silks, ribbons, mohair, vintage Indian braids, recycled Rajasthan vintage textiles
wool yarn and cotton embroidery threads .

Techniques include, felting on my embellisher, crazy patchwork, hand and machine embroidery, collage and quilting both by hand and machine also some applique.

It really was a challenge especially when some bits of my precious braid started to frey BUT just loved every minute of creating it.

Just to keep you up todate with my new work on my collage I have posted this picture.
I am now working on the binding and borders and then a little more quilting so hopefully
soon it will be completed!
Hope you all had a relaxing weekend!

New Work - almost there

Petit Point Purse

I am sure that this gorgeous little petit point purse would appeal to anyone who loves threadwork and roses! I could not pass up this opportunity to purchase this little vintage treasure when I came upon it in a vintage shop in our local village. The shop is called "Bower Bird" and how appropriate for collectors of bygone treasures like this. It has a gold frame but without the chain so now I shall have to keep my eyes out for one to suit.

The threadwork is beautifully done, the colours are vibrant and it is in excellent condition. The photo is quite true to colour!
I have great admiration for the person who put the untold hours into such a beautiful piece of embroidery.

Collage - progressing!!!

Stitch by stitch - some by hand and others on the machine.
It is still progressing!! If only I had the luxury of being able to retire
and devote ALL of my spare time to the joys of stitching - my greatest passion!
BUT I have a few other passions also such as our glorious garden and right now
a lovely friend of mine, Maggie, is helping with the pruning of our 60 odd roses
in readiness for Spring - Oh the joys of the garden - I can hardly wait! I shall be
posting lots of gorgeous blooms when the time comes.

I must say the variegated cotton threads are so lovely to embroider with on the dyed scrim. The whole
piece I feel is a totally new experiment so am hoping not to be disappointed by my end result!

Vintage Sewing Treasures

Whilst I was looking for some embroidery thread for my new collage I remembered that I had purchased this old biscuit tin at a combined garage sale in our local hall some time ago. The thread I am using came from this tin and it was wrapped around this piece of newspaper print about a Stromberg Valve Radio Receiver. It, along with all the items, must be some 50-60 years old. How amazing is that!

Also in the tin is a collection of old buttons, thread on wooden reels, elastic, sewing needles, tape measures (fabric - not plastic!) , pearl threader for beads, some silk hosiery mending thread and 2 large pieces of chalk - boy what a find! It really does take us back to the days when really everything was made with quality to last and last.

Anyway it is lovely to think my thread in the collage has come from here!

New Collage

These are some of the materials I am playing around with at present to make a new crazy collage. It is slowly coming together and as you can see I have moved away from the normal deep rich colours to a more pastel pallate. So here's hoping it turns out all OK - I must say it is a challenge but, hey isn't this what it's all about??!!

Crazy Patched Needlebooks

Along with my last few fibre art cards I was asked to make some little needlebooks so this time I decided to do a little stitching with a floss thread and some glass, pearl and bugle beads and this is the result. I have used silk dyed laces, soy tops, velvets, dupion silk, brocades with added pearl buttons. Just love making these little treasures.
It's Friday! - so hope all of you out there have a really pleasant weekend!!



These images are the first from my new lap top so am hoping the colours are accurate!

 The 3 cards in this set are more in the mid range where I introduced some embroidered magenta dupion silk, dyed velvet and shot silk with organza again with some of my dyed mohair.

Fibre Art Cards

 These fibre art cards in pastel shades were made in 2 sets of three cards.
They will be going to a shop in the Yarra Valley, Warburton, down near Melbourne to a little shop called "The Red Mud Hut".  Now that is an interesting name for a shop!  They will be sold as gift cards.
The materials which I have used here include silk, crushed velvets, vintage sari border fabric, lace, mohair, dyed doilies, scrim and tassels.
They have been assembled in a collage and machine sewn  and quilted onto metallic gold card with a matching envelope

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Our Pumpkin Harvest

When I look at this collection on our outside table full of pumpkins it conjures up in me all the recipes I can think of in making pumpkin soup, pumpkin scones, pumpkin cake and pumpkin bread. But what is really wonderful to see is the joy in the eyes of our friends leaving with one or two pumpkins tucked under their arm.
What a fortunate life!
What a beautiful collection of textures and colours here to feed the creative imagination!