Going through 'stuff'

 We have been trying to do a bit of downsizing, nothing major, just to start the process.

Today I found a container full of fabrics that I have used in the past, as well as others that I screen printed when I did the Textiles and Design course, which I finished in 2011 - quite a while ago!!

I couldn't bring myself to throw out some of the fabrics - still!! But I have made up a pile of stuff that I have used and experimented with previously. Most of it is synthetic, not my currently favourite thing. 

But ... we have found a group (Upparel) that takes fabrics and sorts them into reusable, recyclable and tries not to have any landfill. So I feel better about just getting rid of stuff that has been lying around 'in case' I use it one day. And I don't have to decide if anyone might like it, whether it will be reusable or not!

I am not likely to use a lot of it. 

I have even given away a piece that I bought when I went to Turkey - not recently!! (If you search the term Turkey, you will find a few links.)

We sent off a 10kg box today but I reckon (apparently that is a very Australian expression) that I have another 10kg ready to go. Now to find a box that will hold that much. 

But .. again ... I have kept some of the 5m long screen printed fabrics so that we can put them over the plants that do not appreciate the summer sun on the 35°. There are several pieces that will be useful. We have used this practice in the past, some of those fabrics are getting a bit fragile now. 

I haven't got rid of too much (I hope, and am pretty sure) but I am feeling pleased about what I have done so far - and it is only one part of a large cupboard!

I just looked at the Upparel site again and noticed that MY TEAM, is involved with it! Feeling quite chuffed!v

Missed the dates!!

I missed 11/12/23 (11 plus 12  equals 23). 

Then I missed 12/12/23 - not really that interesting. 

But ... on the 12th, I went with some friends to the Mornington Art Gallery. 

There is a beautiful rose garden, run by volunteers, out the front. We had a wander through there - thankfully, they were in flower!

The foyer had a very interesting exhibition of thread used to make art. It was a very pleasant introduction to the main exhibition! As we are all interested in textile art, this was our favourite part of the exhibition!

I think the person on the desk got a bit nervous as we were so close to the works, looking at it so closely. It was hard to believe that it was thread, not drawings! 

Second labyrinth tapestry is almost there!

 I have done a little bit more weaving over the last week, often only an hour here and there. Today I have done some more, still plenty of hours to go but it is approaching the end, very motivating. 

As I had no colour plan I am having to make up the outside as I go. I am trying to stay true to the yarns I used in the beginning but I am also being rather random. Quite relaxing. 

Hmm, might have gone too far.

 I played around with the printed papers again today - not sure why I did what I did but it doesn't matter, it was me experimenting, not for any other purpose. 

Last night I added alcohol dyes to the printed papers. 

Today I tore them up and then pasted them onto a larger sheet. I didn't like the white paper showing through, so I found some discarded notes from a course, or similar, tore them up and made them the background - most of which is not visible. 

Then I glued the torn up strips onto this larger sheet.

Not sure what I might do with it now, if anything. But it is good to be feeling like experimenting again. Maybe it is the lovely early summer weather we are having, making me feel brighter. 

Almost creative!

 I am feeling a bit chuffed because I am having some creative thoughts!! 

I belong to a group of people who meet fortnightly to do paper collage. I got into it sort of accidentally because I had met the person who runs it - Anne Warren- several years ago at the Alphington Open Studios. 

Years later, we had some books to throw out and, being unable to just put them in the rubbish, I contacted her to see if she thought she could use them. The answer was yes!! 

She was just starting up a social get-together of interested people and invited me to attend. I went along, thinking I would only go the once but it has been a great social and creative meeting. We are very fortunate that the cafe that we meet at allows us to take over quite a few tables and do our thing. 

Anne has mentioned that we come from different backgrounds (artistically) and whether we could share some new ideas. I have been thinking about it and would like to contribute. Then I remembered a workshop I did with Kim Thittichai, years ago, and have been going through the notes from the class and the book that is related to what we did. (experimental textiles by Kim Thittichai). 

So this evening I have been trying some basic stuff. So far, I have used a stamp I made at the workshop and have printed with it, using acrylic paint, onto cartridge paper. 

I have then found some ink dye and gone over the background. Not great art but something to play with. I will probably tear it up into strips to make a new piece of paper. 

And I have done another piece of cartridge paper, also with acrylic paint and may try some Procyon dye on it tomorrow, when it has dried out enough. Don't want to push too hard tonight! 

I used the remains of the paint on the stamp, on the left, and it is much fainter. But I don't think it matters as I will be tearing or cutting the paper later. I think. 

Bird Art

I have been interested in Faces in Places for a long time - not sure if it is still an online blog. 

Here is a link to a post I did a while ago, in case you're interested.

It is spring here and the mulberries are out, giving us some interestingly coloured bird poo! (It can be very annoying when you hang out the washing!) Today I saw one that had a face in it, so took a photo, as you do. 

The other day I took another photo - bird poo Man in the Moon!

 

Getting closer

 I have done some intermittent work on my small tapestry and it is getting closer to being finished. 

Only one more round of the labyrinth. 

Then I'll, hopefully, finish the outside in the coming week. 

Only another hour or two to finish off the warp ends, etc! Hmm, that sounds like 4 of 5 more hours, at a minimum, given the speed at which I am currently working. Not a quick process. But I will have completed it and that is a plus!