An indication that Christmas is approaching

 The hydrangea is starting to develop flowers, always an indication that Christmas is on the way.

                                  

The pink is from another plant, the hydrangea is still developing.

The weather has been rather changeable but that isn't too unusual for spring - it snowed on Mt Donna Buang last week! It only rained and hailed in my part of the world. We were tricked by one very warm day just prior but that is forgotten now! 

I have been thinking about the new theme for next year's challenge: From Above. I had all sorts of ideas but have finally settled on one that is rather ordinary - and I may not be able to do it to the required size - no larger than 20cm square. I think there might be too much detail in my photo but I will persevere. 

I took lots of phots of flowers that were on the ground - I was looking from above, I eventually decided to do a small waterfall I saw in the Fitzroy Gardens - the water is falling from above.

Exhibition is up

 The Annual Members Exhibition is up - we had the opening night for participants last Friday. 

There were some pieces that were obviously based on the theme - Magical. Other pieces needed the artist's artistic statements but then were clear. 

There were pieces that didn't try to do the theme, any work completed in the last two years is accepted - a great idea so that people who are not inspired by the theme can still participate. I also love that any piece done by a member is accepted, it doesn't have to be of a particular standard. Mind you, there were a lot that were of exceptional standard!

As I have already said, I wasn't that inspired by the theme myself but, probably because I read so many fantasy books in the past, I do love images of dragons. So I put two pieces in. 

I ended up having to have the second one framed because I mounted it on foam core that was too thin and it started to bend when I sewed the backing on, I actually think the framing helped, it gave it a nice darkness at the edges. 

You can see more of the exhibition here.

Not happy with my design!

 The EGV annual members' exhibition is coming up. The theme is Magical. I have always had a fascination with dragons, so I am trying to come up with a piece that I think is ok. 

So far, I have done one that is using a piece of silk that I painted many years ago, possibly in the 1980s! I'm not certain that it was that long ago but it definitely was a while ago. I haven't done anything spectacular with it, just put some hand sewing on it and mounted it. 

My next idea is also dragon based. I have done a free motion embroidery dragon, with two smaller ones to put on - perhaps. 

But I can't find a background that I like!! It is stopping me in my tracks. 

I made a small quilt based on Ricky Timms' convergence quilt ideas but I think the dragon fades into the background too much. 

I decided that I needed a rock for the dragon to be sitting on but now I think it is too dark and takes the focus away from the dragon.

Note the two much smaller dragons peeking in from the sides. I think I may end up not using them at all. 

I may just put it away and let myself try something different or I may get out lots of differennt  pieces of fabric that I have collected over the years and see if I can be inspired. 

Hopefully, I'll find something that speaks to me. If not, I will have to move on, which I am finding hard to do at the moment. 

Alphington Community Centre art show.

I have just visited the art show at the Alphington Community Centre. It is only on for this weekend, so much work for such a short time! Well done to the organisers!!

I am a newish member of the Melbourne Collage Meets group and we had a room for our works - as well as some space for a few other local artists. It was beautifully presented and fun to see all the works that I have seen in the making at our meetings at a local cafe - we meet there every fortnight. 

I am still trying to develop my own style and am learning from seeing the different styles of other participants. I enjoy it for the creative stimulus as well as the social connection, Collage is not my strength but it is expanding my understanding of art - as well as my enjoyment.  

I really liked this felted tree trunk! 

Some of our collage group pieces as well as a couple of paintings by local artists. 

More collages.

Australian Sheep and Wool Show.

I attended the how last weekend. It was a lovely day, there were lots of people there and we had a good time. 

Despite assuring myself that I did not need anything, of course I bought some yarns and threads. There were largely unusual for my work. I have no idea what I might use them for but I had to buy something!! There was so much lovely yarn, wool and other fibres that I was almost overwhelmed.

We spent the majority of our time looking at the woolcraft sheds. Didn't see any dogs rounding up sheep, or shearing or even fashion parades!

As usual, there were only four entries in the tapestry weaving section! 

They were all different and had interesting takes on the theme - Where the road leads us. 

We are hoping to get some more entries next year!! 

25/6/25

 Not as good as 25/5/25 but still not bad. 

It keeps me posting. I started posting years ago as we were learning how to use a blog as we would need to teach it to our students. I have found that online presence has moved on enormously but I don't much feel like trying to keep up! 

But when people talk about the older generation as being not technologically savvy, I ask who they think taught them about it! I just can't be bothered with some of the new stuff that is totally irrelevant to my life!

However, it is good to have this blog as a visual diary - I have lots of physical visual diaries at home but they are hard to search!! Also, I am trying to downsize some of my stuff - not very successfully. But having the blog means I can search better - if I have remembered to put in the proper labels. 

I have finished the tapestry, have sewn up the loose bits, put on a backing and now only have to take it to the HWSG so that they will take it for me, and bring it back! It is a very helpful and useful thing they offer members. 

I am also trying to come up with an idea for the EGV annual members exhibition - not due till late September but I need to come with an idea that I actually want to do!!

The theme is Magic - it is not speaking to me!

But I am going through some books (that I have resisted giving away) that have quilt ideas, optical illusion  ideas, and some old calendars that I have - I used to get dragon-themed ones each year. Dragons can be magical. 

I am also thinking of my fascination with how colours seem to change depending on the background colours. So more thinking is necessary before I commit to an idea. 

Almost finished!!

 I have finished weaving my tapestry!! It is sitting on the loom with the warp loosened so I can cut it off tomorrow, all being well.

The theme is Where the Road Leads (or something like that). I originally thought that I would have a road leading to a grave - that seemed a bit too depressing. So I had the wonderful idea of putting in a map with all  sorts of directions I could take - that turned out to be beyond me. 

I have done some road signs, not particularly well, and it has turned out to be a bit whimsical. There are roundabouts, slippery roads, etc. I was going to put in a STOP sign but that also seemed a bit final. So now there is a stop sign shape and colour with a question mark. Does it stop here or do I go on??? 

Also, I have a lot of green pastures but they tend to get dryer as we travel further. 

Note that some of the roads do stop at the red sign but some bypass it and life goes on. 

The top has the greener pastures idea - moving on to greener pastures. 

I am going to enter it in the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, coming up in July. I actually have it done in good time!