Art Inspiration - Klimt

 I continued to work on my art-inspired painting from Gustav Klimt. I was discouraged that the black marker pen showed through the white but knew I need to push through and not let that inhibit me. While working on the second piece a "light went on" and I opted to stencil over red (using an underturned McD's plastic drink container lid) and the hole was almost the perfect size. I choose to allow slight imperfection in my work and feel really proud of that fact!

I was sure I'd taken photos of my processes for this but unfortunately I didn't (I must have been too caught up in "the doing" of it!) I cut up pieces of sponge to create the desired shapes and randomly stamped them to create the patterns. I had planned to outline in black but was really worried I'd wreck it and be disappointed. This in itself annoys me that I am STILL caught up in fear of exploratory creativity.

 I was invited to go to the members-only opening of the Whangarei Quilt Show. As always, there was an amazing display of quilts and I restrained myself in only buying a $2 bundle of craft magazines. Lots of ideas which I will probably never have time to do unless I live to 150!

 Ricky and I continued to work on the wooden assemblage (planter box) for his Mum. He has become so much more confident and skilled in wood-working since we began which is great to see. 

 A book that was recommended to me by Catherine at TLC. I was talking with her (actually crying!) at my sadness to be finishing up my Diploma, Honours programme when I was down at the encaustic art workshop in April and she said this book was really helpful to her. I jumped on Fishpond and ordered it but yet to read it.

 My cat is so funny. She likes to sleep on things. I had covered Ricky's planter box with a tarp. Silly cat jumped up thinking she could curl up and sleep on top not realising it was an empty box frame! I couldn't help but grab my camera and take photos as she slowly descended like an elevator going down!

I love taking photos - it makes me happy :o)

Woodwork Assemblage - Student support, encouragement and confidence building (aka: Ricky Time)

 After discovering the screws we had for the box were too small for securing the wheels to the base and getting some bolts, Ricky drilled the holes.

 We chatted away about his week while he screwed the bolts down with a spanner.

 My son, Cam (18) walked passed and said "Mum, why are you doing it like that? It's way faster with a ratchet and socket set " 

 Yep - WAY faster! Ricky and I are always grateful for !Tips and Tricks of the trade!"

 Woodbox project - COMPLETED!

 Whilst on the job of completing things - this ceramic project we started in 2016 FINALLY got wired together so Ricky could take it home

 It's really satisfying to finish things and I'm trying to attend to "getting things completed" as I'm really good at starting things but not finishing....

Ricky sewing on a vest he is making for himself. One of the fabrics his Mum purchased frays so I had him zigzag around all the edges to assist with sewing the pieces together without making a mess. Ricky has sensory-issues and can spend a lot of time stressing about any surplus materials/fibres/dust.

Teaching/student support, encouragement

 and confidence building - 6 hours  

Art n Tartan - Wearable Art

The week leading up to judging was spent making my costume for the Art n Tartan Wearable Arts. From dawn until dusk I was making paper, drying paper, shaping and gluing, fitting, sewing and stressing from time to time!

I brought more supplies. 

A big sponge and felting cloths which I found that 

the Countdown just down the road from me stocked.

Thankfully, the weather was good at the beginning

 of the week so I was able to make paper.

I hung the long sheets up on the line

...and lay the smaller ones on the trampoline.

This is what my cat did all day while I worked!

While at work and browsing a magazine I came across this image of tree roots. I was immediately inspired by what I was going too do and couldn't wait to get home to start work on my "tree roots"

Preparing the "roots" using foam tubing

I found at Arthur's Emporium For $1 

Hanging them to dry on my porch

Bringing them inside overnight

to continue the drying process.

Sewing tartan fabric onto the paper was really tricky!

I realised after drying all the "roots" they needed to

 be bent so spray-misted them all and placed them in

 a laundry basket to keep them in a curved shape.

Experimenting with taping wire to the paper 

then gluing more paper over the top.

It worked really well!

My dried "roots"...now I had to work out how to attach them.

One of my BIG stresses during the week was having difficulty couching (pronounced: cooching) or transferring the second batch of paper pulp to the felts. I nearly gave up as I was SO frustrated!
But I didn't..I pushed through  After taking a rest day (I think mid-week) I came to the conclusion it was to do with the flax/abaca ratio. The first batch had a good ratio of flax to abaca probably half and half. The second was mostly abaca and it was VERY difficult to couch.

After re-wetting it and adding equal quantity of pre-made sheets of flax paper (I had made for labeling my soap) and re-batching the pulp it worked perfectly, releasing easily from the mold so I could continue working on my design. I had the dehumidifier on constantly for 24 hours to dry it as it started raining and I was running out of time to use it!

After sewing the fabric leaves onto the florist wire and stitching around the borders using a buttonhole stitch. I folded the wire back on itself and twisted it so the florist tape had something to "grip" then covered the tape with paper.

PVA glue attached the paper to the stems

Rolling paper around the stem.

The leaves were then attached to the "branches"

My finished branches.

Tibby and music kept me company while I worked - all day Saturday

I worked on the roots ALL night and watched
 the sunrise on the Sunday (judging day),.
~o0o~

Hours: 60 

So so busy...

It's been such a long time since I've update here and with Christmas/New Year's been and gone I'd like to think that things will settle down a little. Except of, summer is our peak sales season at The Bach and when lots of our members head off on holiday so I tend to work extra days covering days people are away. What I thought I'd post was some photos of my Soap 'n Salve Sets that I'd been busy working on prior to Christmas. 

 A few of my "ketes" ..my plan is to eventually design my 

own printed fabric, maybe as a would cut? or screen print?

 I used hessian for the outer and lined it with cotton fabric.

 Each kit contains a soap, a salve, a hand-

 knitted face-cloth and a piece of NZ pumice.

I've designed my own labels for the salves 

and the pumice has a little tag attached.

 Sadly, I don't think I got them into the shop in time for 

Christmas sales but I'm still hoping they will sell. 

I need to take in some individual pottles of 

each salve as a Tester. People seem to like

 that with cosmetic prior to purchase.

My printed sheet of "Love Your Feet" tags

 before I cut them and attached them to the pumice.

Our Community tapestry is coming along.

We are 3/4 of the way there now.

 When I get the opportunity, I do a little weaving.

 Here I was working on the letter N.

December is when the Pohutukawa trees bloom 

so I have a short window to gather flowers

 for my soap-making for the coming year.

I was very excited to find my little pohutukawa in flower...

 ..my first and only, to be admired and not picked!

I go "hunting and gathering"....

 I was very excited to come across a broken
kauri tree branch while out on a walk too...

..I've got them natural drying in the sun so I can
whiz them up for storage. I'm needing a lot
 more plant material now with the increase of
 my soap sales and also retail outlets.