Social Engagements

So much has been going on since my last post here; and I haven't had much time to get on here to tell you all about it.

But today, I do.

My needlepoint - 'Autumn's Journey' is now on the wall of the Logan Art Gallery and will be there until the end of June in the Allsorts Exhibition. This exhibition showcases the talent of Logan City residents and volunteers of the gallery - and are there some brilliantly talented people out there! 

The opening was on 27th, May and just last Saturday was the Garden Party (yes, the same weekend as the weather event that inundated the East Coast of Australia in rain). Even though a lot of people pulled out of the Garden Party, we still had a nice gathering of artists show up for it in the second gallery. I didn't stay to the end as I wanted to get home before the rain became too heavy.

'Autumn's Journey' is for sale at the Logan Art Galley for $220 if anyone is interested in it.

I've also been working on new things - new work - for another exhibition I'm hoping to get in and apply for in the next year or so. I can't say much for now, but I hope to get in and work on more of it soon. But I will say it's bigger works than I've been working on in the past.

Then, I've been knitting again and doing more needlepoint pin cushions. I have so many pin cushions that finishing the ones I have now aren't really important, but just something to do. I hoping to just get in and paint more than I have been over the last six months; space is something of a problem - but I have worked through that before. 

Anyway, there's not much more to tell you about. I'm hoping to look into doing some sewing soon - over the next few weeks - and then see if I can make something that will work out for the markets next year. Otherwise, I'm still looking at making bookbags something of a permanent thing at the market stall - seeing how people love to cover their Kindles, Nooks and other ereaders in something pretty and not just something durable. Until my next post, keep creating.

Semco Sewing Baskets

On Wednesday, while I was out doing my grocery shopping, I also went to Spotlight and scored myself a lovely Semco Sewing Basket. 

They were on sale at Spotlight and I paid $30 for mine, finding it was an end-of-line production.  I did find Birch and other brands there, but they weren't as large as the one I found and fell in love with - plus mine was purple! 

I love purple... it's just the most lovely colour out of the spectrum.

And so, once I got this gorgeous little thing home, I pulled out the tiny plastic one Mum bought me - along with my Elna Sewing Machine - and found that it was dwarfed in size compared to it. I transferred everything from one box to the other and soon found how much more space I had in the bigger box and have enjoyed using it since... and the best thing is that I can put in not only what I'm working on (pin cushions) but other needlepoint and knitting if needs be and the box will hold everything I need for my sewing needs - this includes my large scissors, pins, needles, quick unpicks, a collection of threads, small rulers and needle-threaders - amongst other things as well. It also holds my work glasses in their case easily; so I'll never forget them again!

The size was another thing I loved about the Semco brand - it's big without being ostentatious - and yet still very pretty. However, I did look at the Birch brand and found that, even though they were sturdy and very pretty, they didn't come in the sizes I wanted or the range of colours... they seemed to also have the same range of patterns, just in different colours. So, I thought that it would be best if I went with Semco and had different styles and colours to work with.

The best thing was that my purple sewing box was the last one on the shelf... very nice. I love it and my little one is just nice for smaller projects, but not for what I need right now. I'm trying to make it so I can have all my sewing needs in one box, not have to carry everything in three bags. Until my next post, keep creating. 

New Focus

With Winter just around the corner, I'm starting to work on other things around the place.

There's plants to repot in the garden, paintings to complete and needlepoint pin cushions to finish up and put away until next year's new markets.

Then, there's me looking for a new kitchen table so I can get in an do some serious sewing of my very own... sounds great, right? Yeah, I've been planning on making some book bags for my markets next year - and I can't wait!

However, my new focus is on making sure I sell my old kitchen table first... and get another one as soon as I can to replace - something solid and something useful; something that doesn't look tiny either. I know that sounds weird, but really need something that will live up to its name of being a good dining room table.

I'm having trouble with keeping my craft gear tidy... most of it is still invading my living room; even though I built a great work bench. Now, this isn't good because it makes my house cluttered and - let's face it - nobody likes it when something like this invades our private living areas of our homes. So, I'm hoping to get my place worked out to a point where I can be ready to move to another place when I can. I'd love to move to a 3 bedroom house - not a townhouse; but a proper house. I've lived in a tiny, squishy place like this for far too long - and my next move will be the place I'll be for the next 20 - 30 years. It will be the place I'll live in for the rest of my life - my real home where I can decorate and properly stretch my wings in the art department. In the townhouse, I can't do that because of Body Corporate rules and regulations not allowing me to make noise, smells (that are really not great) and I don't have a lock-up garage. I also have no privacy to do any of my artwork either. 

And I've been waiting for a long time to hopefully move from where I am... it's not a good thing to have to wait for so long; but I hope it's over soon. I've been painting, reading and writing as much as I can. However, it's a matter of being able to have my own room to have it all there in one place instead of it being spread around my living room, kitchen and near my back door that will really make the difference. 
So, do you have your own art room? Or are you stuck like me - and many others who are in my position as well? Until my next post, keep creating.

Catch Up Time!

I've been meaning to catch up with you all about what I've been up to lately. However the internet has only just been connected back up here after almost two weeks without it. Yep, Optus disconnected me and I was borrowing internet off my folks... long story short, they got back in contact with me, helped me back online and worked it all out. But there was no explanation of why it occurred.

But I kept myself busy during that time. I made a few pin cushions, started up my decluttering and began reading 'Lord of the Rings' again. I also started on a new self-portrait as well - it's been a while since I did one of those. I've also started thinking about looking into getting a new dining room table to be able to work on getting myself into doing more sewing (as my current one tips to one side if I put the sewing machine on it). 

Otherwise, I've begun writing again in long hand and have to get the car fixed for a second time for the same thing - fortunately it won't cost me anything because it's under warranty.

The garden it being looked at for this Winter - which means I'll be saving up money left and right for the next few months to get whole lot of the larger plants repotted and move smaller ones into the remaining pots left over... making the garden bigger. 
During the colder months, I'll be looking into working on making my home even more mine by clearing out more things so when Spring comes around, I'll be able to make more clothes and bags (which is the plan with the new dining room table) and keep the house tidier as well... and find more space with another little cabinet from Fantastic Furniture. 

By the end of the year, I hope to have my house with less rubbish, more of my style and working in such a way I don't feel as though I need to keep everything. I'm being brutal with my decluttering as it is anyway and I'm pleased with that. However I'm looking forward to being at the Boutique Markets next year again. Taking a year off wasn't a great idea - I feel like I'm at lose ends and am wasting my time... however I'm not really. I'm finding new things to add to my stall, old things to remove from it and better things to make it truly my own. 

So, you know what I've been up to, I hope you can all pop over to my new Pinterest Page and have a good look at the beginnings of my 'Craft Things' page to see what I've been up to. I'll be adding to this page over time so you can keep up with it all too. Until my next post, keep creating!

Back To Crafting At Springwood

Today I started back at the Queen Beez Craft Group at the community centre up the road from my parents' house. It was so good to catch up with the ladies there; despite how hot it's been lately - and today was so very steamy too!

Thankfully we had a nice storm and a good drenching of rain to help with the humidity. But the air-conditioning was something of a blessing to us inside. The ladies were amazed at how long my hair has grown since last December and that my right hand has healed so well since I was unable to really work with it the last time I was there.

They were equally amazed at what I've been up to lately too over the last month since my scar has healed properly. I have been making some lovely pin cushions - double-sided ones - of all sizes and have started selling them online as well as by chance when people walk into the Logan Art Gallery.
But not everyone was pleased about my little endeavour of how I was making them. The one lady I thought would love them wasn't pleased with them. She said 'they were okay... I guess.' and wouldn't touch them. She asked if I missed out on putting the tassel and cord in for the scissor-keeper. I said no, and that I had made them bigger and heavier so they were pin cushions for traveling, or for that time for when you don't need so many pins, or when you just need to use needles and that's it. She still didn't like them and walked off.
Ilene - one of the other ladies - told me that this lady who had taught me needlepoint last year, and had helped me through my first day when I burst into tears - didn't think of it first. And seeing I did, she didn't like it. I thought my teacher was being a wet blanket about it when a student does better than her. And that's the thing about teaching somebody something: if your student becomes the teacher and shows you something new, never poo-poo it. It's just not right.

Everyone else loves my double-sided pin cushions. They think they're wonderful; and that's it's even better that I have already sold two of them before going to the markets. 

First one sold

Lady Lace Tiny One I use

Aren't they the cutest things? They take three days to make and I have made about twelve of them so far. They price between $10 and $20Aust with a shipping fee depending where you live of $3.00 Domestic and $5.00 International (anywhere in the world). 

So, what have you been up to over the New Year period? Do let us all know. Until my next post, keep creating!

A Busy Little Crafter!

I've been busy since I got out of hospital. My stitches have healed beautifully; however I do still have a few nerve and muscle twinges from time to time.

This hasn't stopped me from working on new things for next year. 

The bottle cap magnets are one step forwards, two steps back... as all new things are. One of them came apart, so I have to figure out why that is, while the other two are still together.
Then, I started on working on painting door stops. The first one is lovely, but really, I don't think I'll put the rubber on the back, I'll just leave them the way they are - or figure out another way to make them work better.
And just last night, I started working on a newer thing I've been thinking about over the last week: pin cushions. But they're not the traditional type. Well until my next post, keep creating.

Preparing For Christmas

Over this time of year, I kick back, relax and fight the crowds to buy last minute presents for relatives... yep, my present-buying is all done by this time of the year.

However, my grocery shopping continues on... as much as I hate going, go I must as the pantry and fridge doesn't fill itself.

This year, I found myself a very cool thin bookcase at the back of the unit complex and it was left by some Indians in unit 43 before they moved out to be tossed out... it looks a little worn out, but nothing bad has happened to it - so I nabbed it!

I have also moved everything from next to the stereo to my upstairs wardrobe, as this week is the week I get my new/used washing machine from a friend who is moving to Tassie permanently. The machine is only 3 years old and is an expensive one too; just after my 13 year old Hoover/Simpson's timer bit the dust on me... and my machine has never missed a beat in all the time I've had it. I had it serviced 3 times and fixed once under warranty; but it's been a good machine to me. 

Over this time of year, I kinda chill out with a book, or watch a couple of movies, clean up the craft area and look after the garden more... an myself. I have been doing just that by getting all my sun cancers removed on 26th, November and this week the stitches come out... I'm looking forward to that because I can then put up the Christmas tree, decorate the house properly and look after the place better. 

Well, that's all for now. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New and Creative Year. Until then, keep creating!

It's been a While

I have been busy... yep, the creative block melted away and i got busy with learning more needlepoint. 

i also got busy with creating more ideas for the markets next year... yeah my idea factory in my head never seems to run out. just when i think i haven't thought of a new thing, bang! i get a new idea for something...

so, i started collecting metal bottle caps and i asked friends to send me some too from across the world. then, i had my sun cancers removed from my arms and hands - and i got stuck with a bandaged up hand; causing me to not only be brought to the coast for a week, but to be away from my craft table too.

but the ideas have kept on flowing. i'm glad about that... and i can't wait to get home to make my ideas go from just that into things to sell next year. until my next post, keep creating!

Creatively Blocked

I've been creatively blocked - and not in just my writing - it's been in every aspect of my life, from painting to my craft work, and I hate it!

When I get creatively blocked, it affects everything around me - not just my craft work and my writing. It affects my reading habits, the way I sleep (if I sleep) and how I run my life as well. It's really annoying.

This has been going on for about three months or so and over the last week, I've had the opportunity to go to a bookstore and peruse its shelves. Just doing that is relaxing to me; and it gets me out of the house too; and I love it more if it's a second-hand bookstore. The best thing is that I found a great book to read which snapped me out of my creative block and now I'm creating more than ever!

This is a great thing and I can't wait until tomorrow to get myself to my work bench and creating again... I'll be focused to keep working on my next lot of gear for the markets; and it's all new gear too! 

Until my next post, keep creating!

Wet and Rainy Days

I love doing craft things during wet days; even though it takes ages for things to dry. I could sit and paint, glue, stain and work at things until the cows come home - and really it's because I'd be sitting at my work bench (or standing, depending on how I feel) and just working on new pegs, new coat hangers or new little portraits until the light fades from the back door.

And I'd be happy... buzzing with caffeine from the many ice coffees I'd made that day, but happy.

Rainy days are the best time for me to get into the craft and work the hardest at them - and they're also the worst. My arthritis plays up in my right hand and wrist and I can't grip things as well as I normally can on dry days; and that sucks. So, when these days come along, I wish my joints didn't play up so much. But on the other hand (pun intended), I don't mind the grey skies which keep me trapped inside all day long.

Besides, right now, I'm working on a birthday gift for my niece, Riley, and it's taking some time to get finished. Some of it I have bought and hopefully she'll love, while the rest of it I'm making for her as it's something of a special birthday - her 16th - and I'm making sure she has something special to have her whole life. I'm not revealing anything until her birthday comes up... as some of it might not work out; yep it's experimental and I haven't done this before. And if it works out, I'll see if I can work it into my usual works for the markets.

Otherwise, in the past few weeks, I've been getting into staining any of the coat hangers I have in my wardrobe - to give them a little bit of class. These are the rejected coat hangers I can't paint up but I don't want to throw out as they're not that dreadful, they're just not good enough to use. 

I'm also learning new things at the Queen Beez Craft Group - needlepoint. Now, I'm not much a stitcher, but I'm getting there. My hands aren't used to all the threading and I'm not used to counting all those threads, but I'm enjoying the learning. And Mum's so proud of me for doing this as I'll be getting some other new things done soon... I've been thinking of getting in and working on a pin cushion. So far, I've cut out the squares of material for it, and now I have to decide on the design. This ought to be fun!

Well, that's everything from the last few weeks. I've been meaning to come on here and tell you all about the new things, old things and other craft things I've been doing - but have been so busy lately I haven't had time. What have you been up to? Until my next post, keep creating!