Canvas and Felt Class

Hi Everyone!
The Canvas and Felt Class will be going ahead on the following dates. I think I put the wrong ones down last post - typical! So the dates are:

15th 22nd and 29th September

This will be three consecutive Saturday mornings and will start from 10.00am - 1.00pm

Please let me know if you would like to book in and reserve a place and I will then send you the requirements list.

You can do any type of figure you like from aliens to robots to angels or cats or birds if you prefer! We will make enough of each textile to create at least 2 figures.
Topics covered will include free form canvas painting, handmade felt, pattern making as well as hand and machine stitching.

Hope to see you in class!

Love
Elizabeth
XX

Catching up, classes and Queensland

Dear Friends,
Hello!
Very busy since last we chatted and also having a weeny break from so much computery stuff. Amazing how much of one's life it can siphon off! Anyway enough of that.

I have been painting a lot lately and was lucky enough to go and teach in Queensland  - right in the middle of freezing Melbourne weather. It was a painting and felting class and we were all busy as beavers.

I find it eternally wonderful that the passion of artistic endeavour frequently takes over all other elements - forgetting the time, forgetting to eat, pushing on to finish a work, tackling a new piece with very little time left,
the sharing of ones treasured supplies with no hesitation at all -  often with a fellow class member previously unknown to you.  The bonding between class members in such a short time is rapid and often long lasting  - certainly well after the class is finished.

Here are some close ups of my samples  - using unprimed canvas, acrylic paints, watercolour crayons, pens, coloured inks, textas, pencils ..............................  groovy fun!

Below are a new set of canvas and felt figures - they are now up on my etsy site.

I really love working on them and seeing what sort of characters people create is so interesting.  Students who don't think they can paint are so gorgeous to observe  - they don't know how very talented they are at wielding some colours and a brush. I suppose it is the same for anyone who thinks they lack a certain skill - to see them achieve it is just SUPER!

The CANVAS and FELT workshop runs for 3 weeks. This consists of 3 half day classes.
The next dates are: 15th  22nd & 29th September. If you would like to book in, just email me.
Please remember I only take 4 students.

SOLD!

SOLD!

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Available here:

SOLD!

    Available here:

                                                                           SOLD!

Available here:

Below is the gorgeous view I was faced with around 6.00pm on my first evening in Queensland. The shade of pink after the sun had set was just like a a pearly shell colour.  So restful and dreamy.

This is the very same beach early the following morning. Now when I say early what I really mean is about 6.30am. For many people this is a natural time of day to get a move on. WELL, I rarely see 6.30am unless I have a job that takes forever to get there. But I was so eager to see the beach that I was out walking having just the best time collecting stones  - they are so different to the ones I normally find.
An ocean beach provides different types of treasure to a bay beach I think.

Below is a completely different beach - about 25 minutes away and much more public. These shots were taken at lunchtime at the teaching venue which was nothing less than PERFECT! At the top of a hill at a  school - now used for a variety of classes and community opportunities. The beach was beautiful, cool breeze, warm sun...........................

At the lookout point was this wonderful art installation of an ocean eagle - I had all sorts of imaginings - that he took flight when no one was around and got back on his post when observed...............well he might!

A very formidable piece of work - such strength and beauty. I just loved it!

A few shots taken during class with students hard at work - such hard workers! There were lengthy periods of silence - well almost silence - I do tend to talk quite a bit.

Finally back at home - of course I weighed my luggage down with stones - that's normal isn't it?
After washing them I left them on the sink. For the first time ever, (which is quite surprising really)  Henry
was up and inspecting these new interesting pieces. Needless to say he wasn't there long - especially after the first one was pushed to the floor.

Well still cold here in Melbourne and wishing I was back in Queensland puddling along the beach.

Hoping everyone has a great start to the week and finding time to stitch or felt or paint or draw or write or puddle along a beach......

Love
Elizabeth
XX

A lad named Henry

Dear Friends,

Having a little cat around the house has not happened for such a long time. Nelly is about 10 years old now and although she gets a bit more affectionate by teeny tiny increments, Henry is most happy to be cuddled and do some regular head butting and purring non stop when you have all your attention focused on him.

Our 4 previous cats all grew to around 19 - 21 years of age, so little ones have not been in our lives for quite an age. So here are a couple of lovely moments this week.

What is it with fresh towels out of the dryer and an instant pillow to sleep on?

SO settling down for 2 or more hours seemed perfectly normal on Tuesday night.

A very big day on Wednesday - the little snip happened now that he is 6 months and although he was supposed to be very groggy when he got home, he just ran and ran and was so excited to be able to smell everything and discover it was all in the same place as before.
Eventually though, the felt on the back of a couch seemed a great place to hang out.

Sleeping on wool is very comfortable - you should try it!

It doesn't matter what position you are in.

I just love this shot with the tufty paws.

OK so back to felt. After St Leonards I went straight to Orchard Grove primary school and we have done more fairy stories that will hang in the foyer outside the library. Here is the lovely Sleeping Beauty and below the Gingerbread House for Hansel and Gretel.

SO by the last day of term I was rather pleased that the school hols had arrived!

Hoping your weekend is packed with super things to do!
Love
Elizabeth
XX

Things have been happening!

Dear Friends,
I can hardly believe how much time has passed since last I wrote! Well late last month I had a birthday and decided to have an art party where 3 dear friends came over and we painted all day - OH YES and lots of food. It was a really memorable day. Above is the lovely Ro who is hard at work

Philippa concentrating really hard and wearing her lab/art coat. It was a really cold day but it didn't seem to matter as we messed around with paint and brushes and canvas and and and ................

These shots are of the canvas that I produced and I am so pleased because it is very different to my regular efforts.

Painted muslin attached to the canvas with holes torn into it

The main job that has been taking all my time is a wonderful residency that I have been doing at St Leonards college in Hampton, Melbourne. Preps to Grade 5 have worked so hard to make all the elements that have been created for this work.

Below are felts ready for cutting into trees and birds and more!

Isn't this just the loveliest wash line you ever saw?

Positioning all the prefelts ready for the final felting.

The greens are just so scrummy - I think I must be using more green and pink than any other shades at the moment!

FINALLY, here is the whole thing - I find it very hard photographing large works when they are on the floor - even standing on a stool it is tricky to get the whole piece in frame. When the school installs it I will be able to get a much better shot.

I don't do figures in 2D work very often but am really pleased with the results. The children drew me pictures of all the elements and I then took them home to turn into patterns for the various pieces.

I love the little girl on the swing  - having the children barefooted was really important because the school year is so very serious with school uniforms and laced up shoes so some artwork showing the freedom of just playing and having fun was our main focus.

I love the hollyhocks - preps made the prefelt for them, grade 3 made the centres and grade 4 shaped the flowers - WHAT TEAMWORK!

Here is Henry growing literally by the day - pretending to fit into this cane basket lid.

He seems to be getting fluffier too!

This is the look each morning I get him up - I don't think he could be happier although Nelly still won't have a bar of him. Will keep you posted when she stops hissing into each room she passes.

Hoping everyone is finding some creative time this week

Lots of Love
Elizabeth
XX

Dear Friends,
Well busy in the studio on Friday with students creating madly! Here is Teresa making some stunning flowers to add to her winter wardrobe

The gorgeous Joy showing off her very first wrap! Covered in leaves and berries she looks a real treat!

And here is Lyn making a statement with stripes and swirls.

As you may know we have a new young lad named Henry who just loves our old girl Nelly. Her follows her constantly copying her movements (never seen that before in all the years we have had cats!) and tries so hard to get close to her. Sadly to no avail - except here yesterday morning when she was snoring her head off and he sat as close as he could get.
He is very game and puts up with her hissing and even hitting him. Poor darling! There is no sign she will ever be his pal.

This is a new piece of felt I made today with layers upon layers of fleece and threads and fabrics. I love the way the black and white fabric stands out so well.

This is a piece of dyed muslin that I stretched and poked my fingers in until it was most distressed!
Felted like a dream!

It looks big here but is actually about 50cm X 25cm  - a new bookcover I think.

Hoping everyone is getting some creative time in this weekend.

Love
Elizabeth
XX