Suziqu's Threadworks

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Relief at last!!!

Well, at least for the time being,

it looks like our prayers have been answered with the

most welcome arrival of some beautiful refreshing

rain after an abnormally hot and hazardous week of bush fires

surrounding many properties and homes in our area.

(100's properties damaged but thankfully no lives lost).

I have been totally pre-occupied this week with the

care and safety of ourselves and our family and friends

living close to the bushfire areas here where we live in a coastal

area of the far south coast of Australia in New South Wales

Our family - kids and grandchildren

have just this morning travelled

back to their property which was undamaged.

♥♥♥

I do apologize to everyone, who left such supportive comments

in my last post, if I didn't get back to you this time but

your kind thoughts were soooooo appreciated and

I thank you for each and everyone

and

welcome all my new followers also!!!

This is how some of our hydrangeas were looking only a

couple of weeks before we went into the heatwave

and after one day of 42 deg.C (107 deg. F) with a roaring hot wind

it turned these gorgeous blooms into this!

burnt and scorched (like much of the garden and trees)

but

it will all recover -

maybe not this year but certainly next Summer

we will see their beauty return.

♥♥♥

This morning I went out into that lovely soft warm rain

and visited a local market where I purchased

this!

Being a lover of spinning wool (particularly that of our

angora goats) and still owning my spinning wheel

of almost 40 years (now that's almost vintage - hey???)

I couldn't resist this beautifully hand crafted spindle

from the 1800's made from copper and brass

with tiny rusty hooks

and

it weighs a ton too!

♥♥♥

Just before Christmas I was commissioned to create a needle book

as a gift for another fibre and textile artist as a surprise

and I used this beautiful image of William Bouguereau

to create this.

The image depicts "Sisters"

I dyed the smooth woollen felted pages in a soft mushroom pink

before embellishing with

pieces of vintage printed satin, dyed laces and silk fabrics.

Now before leaving I thought I might just remind you that

next Saturday, 19th January is the

"Grow Your Blog" Event

which is being sponsored by Vicki at

vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com

so if you would like to visit the list of bloggers

entered into this along with my own

then you will be entered into

my small Giveaway

Here

on the 19th by leaving a comment. This party was so very

generously created by Vicki as a way of promoting

an awareness of new bloggers as well

advertising their creative arts and skills.

come on over and join in the fun then.

Until then, I'm sending you some rose love from

some of the roses I have recently dried from

my garden.

See you soon!!!

xxx Suzy

Monday, January 7, 2013

Bird Fabric Collage Book as a "Thankyou" Gift

Well in no time at all since returning to my studio
after our humble Christmas celebrations
(and that's only 2 weeks)
I've found myself completely surrounded by all manner
of bits and pieces like bits of lace, fabric, motifs, buttons,
string, glue, cottons, doileys, etc. which I've
managed to spread all around me in
such a mess!
Tell me - it's the same for you when creating!!!???
However, through it all I have some finished projects.

It's not everyday you receive an email from a woman

wanting to gift you with her collection of

mixed media materials just because

she loves your artwork!

Well, the truth of the matter is that Lisa who currently

resides in New Zealand is about to embark on a new

phase in her life which will take her to live in

Tasmania and she wanted her collection to go to someone

who followed her heart's desire and who would really

appreciate its contents and that person was

me!!!

How incredible! When Lisa offered it I had no idea what would arrive

but inside the two boxes were crammed full with vintage doilies,

laces, ribbon, bindings, vintage jewellery etc.

all of which represented most likely several years of

collecting!

I also found the beginnings of a fabric bird journal

which she said was inspired by me!

There was also a partially completed front cover and a few

loose unillustrated fabric pages as well as some images

of birds and feathers.

I was so in awe of such an incredibly kind act I decided to create a fabric book for her using her bird images and several of

her items

from the collection along with many of my own

and before too many days passed I was able to present her

with my finished project.

Front cover modified and embellished using Lisa's vintage

jewellery, feathers and fringing.

Detail of some embellishing.

Inside cover using upholstery fabric

(this was some gorgeous fabric included from a beautiful

parcel from Robin

So here you can see Lisa's bird images once collaged

and incorporated into the pages

along with some of my own bird images

and printed silks.

I created the nest here from a vintage chair I took apart some

time ago!

A particularly pretty doiley here from Lisa

with some soft pastel chiffons.

With the feather images I made these tags which

now live inside the cut lace pocket

on the inside back cover.

It all comes together here!!!

And, of course, the accompanying tag

was with a bird theme also!

And here it sits on a wash stand

as I get it all packed up

ready for sending

to Lisa.

Hope you enjoy viewing this and I have several

Monday, December 31, 2012

A New Year Greeting, Grow Your Blog and Giveaway Coming

Whether you are freezing in the Northern Hemisphere

or toasting in the Southern Hemisphere

New Year is a time for:

new dreams, hopes, aspirations and resolutions!

I hope half of your dreams come true,

some of your resolutions too

as well as lots of your aspirations
and inspirations for your much loved friends, family
and creativity.

I read these beautiful words on Judy's blog today
which I thought was so very special and wanted
to share them with you.
"If we lit a candle for each person who loved us
and helped us along the way
we would be astonished by the number"!
(we would probably be blown away!!!).

♥♥♥♥♥

Already for me a dream has been fulfilled this past year

where I am published in the Winter edition of

Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine

thanks to the wonderful recognition and support of
Pat Winter, Editor, from
wwwgatherings100.com
(You really do need to go and check out this
really beautiful magazine!)

Oh my goodness my article on a Fabric Garden Journal
was spread over four whole pages!
thanks to our kind-hearted Pat!

Pat did such an amazing job with the layout using

embroidery and lace

to enhance the images!

And none of this would have been possible had I not established my blog some two years ago to expand
my knowledge by opening up my heart and mind
to connect with like minded souls
to share my creativity
with others.

Now you too can have this opportunity
by availing yourself of the most generous offer by
the likes of Vicki who really does have the interests
of bloggers at heart always trying to look after
the needs of others through her many causes
by organizing a party to help grow your blog.