A quote

©Christine Linton

Volunteering

I have recently been helping a Helping Hand group with making memory albums, and I made a banner for the Launch of the finished albums, using hand quilting and machine applique.

©Christine Linton

The banner for the group

The way life hangs on!

For several years now, I have been walking up to my local shopping centre which is on a major road.  On the corner, there is a narrow strip of old gravel next to the bank, and a self-seeded native violet has been growing there for all this time and probably years longer.  It has never grown any bigger, and every summer looks like it will be its last - it dries up in the summer heatwaves (days on end all summer of 35 degrees C) as it never gets any water except what rain can get past the small overhanging eave of the bank.  Last year a vigorous weed looked set to thrust it aside, but that has not thrived after all (see it in the background) and the violet is back stronger than ever, with all the rain we've had lately.  What fortitude!

©Christine Linton

©Christine Linton

Paisley scarf with fringe

Working on my paisley designs, I refined one down to one for block printing.  I had carved one in the largest size, then found that as I went smaller, I had to slightly change the design because it became progressively harder to carve detail as I went smaller.  So the three that I ended up with, I was happy with, and printed a silk scarf in three different colours, blue, emerald, violet.  I also blended them at the end as emerald/blue and violet/blue for a few printings.  Then I wanted something equally delicate as fringing, so I used up all my silk embroidery floss in blues, greens and purples.  I'm very happy with it, the colours are my comfort zone and I really enjoyed the printing, the designs came out so well.

©Christine Linton

Gathering Reds - a new bag

 Last week I made a new handbag.  I have been looking for a new one for ages, but they were always just a bit wrong - either the handle wasn't long enough to put over satchel-style, or the design outside was not attractive, or the pockets inside weren't numerous enough - and I had decided I wanted a fabric bag instead of leather, and the insides of bags are always black or at least very dark, so I can't see what I'm looking for ......... so yes, I finally made one, based on measurements of my nearest-to-favourite bag.  I decided to have a feature on the front, which is gathering; I made an adjustable long strap; I made the lining from white homespun so I can see the contents; I made enough pockets to suit me, inside and one on the back; and I tried something I've never tried before - inserting a concealed-edge zip at the top, which is not actually concealed but sits inside a wide zip placket, for stylish but easy opening; and I made a flat bottom.  The actual bag fabric is a piece I bought from a meeting of Fibre Artists Network, where I had made myself go outside my comfort zone and buy RED.  I'm normally a blue/purple/green/yellow person.  The result - I love it!

©Christine Linton

The beaded embellishment I added to the strap  afterwards

©Christine Linton

Before adding the beaded embellishment

©Christine Linton  

The inside

The techniques I learnt for bag-making come partly from my own experience but largely in recent times from a book called The Bag Making Bible, by Lisa Lam - enjoy her blog here.

I have just added a photo to my Bird Diary blog - thank you to all who followed the link last time.

Bird Diary

After four years, I have restarted my other blog - Bird Diary, which is self-explanatory.  Thought I'd post that info here for anyone who is interested in our beautiful flying friends.

©Christine Linton

Paisleys on postcards

Since looking at the Index Card a Day site, I have been drawing on postcards, though not every day - then when I do, I make two or three.  I find the size is ideal for a manageable size, I don't feel I have to fill up a large space.  This one is from this morning:

 Crayon Paisley ©Christine Linton

I was trying out some paisleys with flowers peeping out from behind, and I have decided I like them best with a curly tail.  The crayon is only roughly applied, as it is just an idea that I am working up, but I rather liked the flowers peeking over the top.  I coloured them all red then added different colours to get different purple results.

Pics of Creative Fusion

I have just updated my website with images of my entries into the "Creative Fusion" Exhibition, which was held at the Pepper Street Gallery recently, with close ups of the scroll on the Book Arts Page. 

Chook Tales, my book made from recycled brown paper bags featuring Chookys

©Christine Linton

Crocus in a twirl

Couldn't resist sharing this photo, which I opened in Irfanview and formatted as a twirl.  It is a crocus growing in my garden.  Irfanview is a terrific free program, easily downloaded and so useful for working with images.

©Christine Linton

New challenge

One of the blogs I enjoy is http://aloquin.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/icad-starts-tomorrow.html and if you take a look you will find Aloquin talking about using an index card a day to make some art, in any medium, but using the card.  It sounds fun, without taking a lot of time or planning.  I'm going to have a go and be entirely spontaneous, not deciding ahead of time what I will do.  If any of them please me enough, I will post them on here.  The actual website the challenge comes from is:

http://daisyyellowart.com/icad/icad-faq.html