Malaxa

I fancied doing some stitching for a change and I have decided to use a picture of a window, part of a ruin next to the house which we stayed in during our holiday in Crete in October. I have tried various ways to transfer the image using transparency print offs and have decided that the most appropriate method is to inkjet print onto Bubble Jet soaked calico.

To get a textured surface I am starting with strips of silk carrier rods which I soaked in some diluted Walnut Ink; as you see there was quite a purple tinge but enough pieces to get the kind of effect I visualize.

Sorted out some threads for the first stage. I started with machining round the window shape and fastening the pieces of silk in place on the calico backing.

Now I have made a start on the hand stitching which is going to take a long time but as I said it will be a pleasant change to do some stitching.

Tagged

I’ve been tagged by artist and fellow artblogger http://www.novembermoon.com/
and I am to make a list of eight things about myself and also name 8 artists. Each artist I have tagged is to do the same, don’t forget to leave a comment too.
1. I gave up full time work two years ago. It was like a huge weight had been lifted but often I forget how lucky I am.
2. I have two sons.
3. I eat too much chocolate. I hear you need to take a walk to ease the addiction, and no doubt to boost the Serotonin levels.
4. I keep thinking of taking a walk.
5. Or even going for a swim.
6. Unfortunately I have a second addiction which is Blogging and Flickr.
7. I want to be better at lots of things, photography, drawing, etc. but I just have to keep dabbling in everything.
8. I think this simple saying from the art of Mindfulness could be the answer if only I could follow it more;
‘Wash the dishes to wash the dishes’. Think about it.

http://blueroofdesigns.wordpress.com/
http://agoodideaonpaper.blogspot.com/
http://pirilamporiscado.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/this_is_dbo/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoopress_studio/2456060321/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14688393@N00/307012981/
http://www.karenruane.blogspot.com/
http://myhandboundbooks.blogspot.com/

Present

A lucky day today as I received an early Christmas present from Things Handmade and won on the Premium Bonds, what more could a girl ask for! I've put it on my coat ready to go to work today.
This is the pretty little bag which it was 'packed' in. I love getting parcels don't you?

This piece is in celebration of both my recent holiday in Crete and a new book ‘Mixed Emulsions’ by Angela Cartwright. It is all about altered art techniques for photographs. I would recommend the book, although it is heavy on promoting products. The lace was given to me years ago by somebody I used to work with. Her aunt, who saved lots of buttons, thread and beads, must have been much like me and I think of both the friend and this lady I never knew as I continue to make use of all her treasures.

The photo was taken in Chania in Western Crete where there is a Turkish area with interesting narrow alley ways. I liked this door because of its colour and the white flowers surrounding it. The letter stuck in the metal grill was a bonus.

The background is mainly a piece of handmade paper. I finished the whole with acrylic wax. It was a popular talking point at my Christmas sale this weekend, but of course nobody bought it. As I had just made it I was just pleased that people liked it.

With Xmas in mind.

Getting ready for two Christmas bazaars. I planned to thread the pins to the cards but that didn't work so I went with tape which is not so nice.

Lace plus.

This post is in response to a message from ewa-christine , from Sweden, asking about the background to my banner. I have to admit that it is no more than a sample which I never made in to anything. I just like to play about with techniques, which is a habit I can’t seem to break. The background is a piece of canvas to which I machined a variety of lace textures. I then painted them with acrylic paints.
In parts I added pieces of handmade paper.

To get this effect you machine a grid onto paper and then after wetting the paper rub away some parts. You can use any type of paper depending on the effect you want to obtain. This was a Val Campbell Harding technique.

In other places I added pieces of synthetic sheer which I had heated with a heat gun; they end up like pieces of distressed plastic, but look interesting when painted.
The other effect is to add Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and after heating it emboss with a stamp.
I used a variation on this technique on this folder in which I keep my photos of New York. I added pieces of Chinese newspaper which I picked up there and used Acrylic Varnish to coat the surface.