April 2015 update

PAINTING/WordART

I got inspired to stamp wording on my koru.

I wanted to write something about GROWING

which the koru represents. I made up a batch of limey-

green paint and though you can read the wording

against the black it's really hard to define on the green.



So I overstamped using a warm yellow

You can read the text much easier now.

MIXED MEDIA Canvas

I also had a bit of fun adding paper, buttons

(heaps of them!) and text to a canvas.

It hangs in my kitchen where I see it often.

It reminds me to Hope, Love and Believe!

"Weaving With Others" WORKSHOP

I have missed the past two weaving workshops

but was pleased to be able to get to the latest one

in March. We had the opportunity to experiment

 with hand-painting tencel with Procion Dyes

We used cut-up plastic supermarket

bags to dye the tencel on. Gladwrap

works as well...



The dyes..we only made up small small

amounts of colour so as not to waste them.

The tencel was measured and tied in lengths and

then soaked in "gunk" to assist with absorption.



I had fun painting the sections and

watching the colours blend together.

On completion we each lay a length of gladwrap

over the dyed tencel and carefully rolled it up to

be stored for 2-3 days in a warm place (like a hot

water cupboard) to the colours would set.

I decided to experiement with some plain white

cotton fabric, painting small pieces with a brush.

Each piece gets sealed with gladwrap...

...and folded up to take home and

be put in the hot water cupboard.

With being away in Auckland for radiation

treatment last week I forgot to check

on the tencel and fabric pieces. I look forward

to seeing how they turn out and having a go

at weaving  with the rainbow-coloured tencel.

I've sold all 5 of my Soap 'n Salve Ketes

so I've picked up a variety of kiwiana fat 1/4's

(and got them wholesale whoop whoop!)

I would very much like to use my

own printed designs eventually. 

RESIST DYING

I experimented with resist dying

using PVA glue and a rubber stamp.

I tried the glue on my woodcut but it didn't

"take" so I tried pulling prints instead.

Above: first print was pulled using dry

paper then with a damp piece of paper.

I like the clarity and definition

in using damp paper.

Fabric, dyed green, and dry (above)

below, the fabric was the over-dyed

resist that didn't work but picked up

 the printing ink nicely when

moistened with water.

FORAGING: for SOAP/SALVES

My neighbour gave me a fallen kauri branch from her tree.

I must be the only person in Whangarei to get

 excited about foraged plants materials!! In between
resting (or attempting to) I've been keeping up with
the soap-making and also made another batch
of paper for labelling. I took another batch into
 Puti Puti Ra over the weekend as they'd all but run out.

INSPIRING THINGS

I've been reading this book,

found at our local library.

I like it so much I have purchased

 my own copy so I can make notes

and highlight relevant information.

Creativity is essential to me being joyful

that I know. Now to work on being

ACTIVELY CONFIDENT in what I do

and who I am as a creative being!



I found this mask while looking for something else.

I would like to explore this idea using my handmade

paper mask made when I was doing The Certificate.

I also am keen to make a body (torso) cast, maybe in

acknowledgement of my cancer journey. I'm looking

froward to being well enough to do these things.

I LOVE these adobe houses too.

(I'll come back with links to the website)

I'm really inspired by the curved shapes

(sort of Hundertwassery!)

I love the natural design, almost like a mushroom.

How awesome is this wall..I would LOVE

something like this in my house.

Love the organic style of this ceramic mirror.

See these has reinspired me to
get back into pottery again!
I want to attempt making leaf
dishes to sell with my soap.

TAPESTRY/WEAVING

The Whangarei Community Tapestry Project is 3/4's

completed. The 10th of April marked it's 2nd Birthday.

I've not had the opportunity to contribute with weaving

recently but still updating the Tapestry Blog and FaceBook

when I was able to for people to check the progress.

Some closer-up photos....

I have registered to attended a few classes at

 The Learning Connexion in June and looking

 forward to having some "me" time away.

I also want to talk about continuing my

art journey when I complete my diploma. 

I'm not sure if I have "what it takes" though....

Resource 6: Face Cast mold...more paper-making preparation....Project X

Just doing a bit of online "surfing"

And came across this You Tube video

Art Journal page

I want to be like this when I grow up!

Monday, Tues and Wednesday 

were spent cooking up more batches

of ginger pulp, saving the laundry water

to rinse the fibres, watching resource DVD's

and taking a mold from the face cast.

I also have been working on the canvas

project as well as the fabric printing

and thinking about what I'm 

going to do for my Alter Ego Mask.

Yesterday (Thursday) was my Mum's 75th Birthday. I made her a cake and decorated it. My theme was loosely fitted around her gift, a bird bath which incidentally, took way more time finding one I liked, than I bargained for! I am really happy how the cake turned out and as a family, we had a lovely evening together celebrating her life. (PICS to follow)

 Repainting the leaf printed "botch-up"

I cut in in half and painted the other side a sky blue

I have an "idea"  for this...

 I bought a second 30X30cm canvas 

and painted it with the mauve-coloured paint. 

This is for my Project X: Part 2

While that was drying I rewatched the DVD

so I could remember what to do for the cast mold

 Inside Vaselined and ready to go

 sitting on my paper "doughnut"

The Plaster of Paris
I made up half the suggested amount
as I didn't want to make up too much

 Weighing out the powder

 and measuring out the water

 The water in container the plaster will be mixed in

 I had this idea I would use a chop stick to mix the plaster...

 ..it didn't work..

 ..so it was IN with the hands, like Roger said to do!

 While the PoP was setting I rinsed out another 

batch of ginger pulp fibres for paper making..

 After an hour or so I tried releasing the mold

...it came out really easy...

 ...but, oh..it's was pretty rough-looking!

 Next time i know to spend a bit more time smoothing 

 the wet bandage to get all the creases out

 It looks terrible LOL!

 The mold and cast

..and a pretty leaf on a tree I walked past 

when I was out with Kaeli, the puppy.

I love the shape!

Time: 6 hours (1-3 April)

Resource 6: Face Cast Mold,

Paper-making pulp prep, 

Project X, Canvas,

Drawing into Paint,

Painting on Hessian