Trees and Birds

Hi Everyone,
Her is a wall hanging I have finished as another primary school project. This one was created by both students and teachers. I just love it when any age can have a go and the end result is a mix of everyones efforts.

The magic remains...............................A lump of fluff to a piece of fabric!

Hoping your week has started well

Lots of Love

Elizabeth

XXX

Work this week............

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone is well and relaxing into a lovely weekend. Some silk and black merino wool felt flowers. I was very honoured to be asked to make a corsage each for Jean Littlejohn and Jan Beaney who are both currently in Australia.

These were presented this evening and can you believe the car wouldn't start and eveyone else was out so that I couldn't even see them receiving them! Here's hoping they liked them!

They are attached to pins rather than brooches for extra stability.

An extra few were made so that I could select my 2 faves. I go through cycles with flowers, I make heaps to have in the studio and take to workshops and then do none for weeks!

Two layers were stitched together and then a felted ball was beaded to create the centre.

More collage patchwork with silk paper leaves and assorted felts and fabrics. I simply can't stick to one thing! No matter how hard I try - I have to swap between projects so that my concentration stays on target. Whenever I think about doing 15 or 20 of the same thing in succession I immediately don't want to start. I am happy to do 50 similar items but over a much greater period of time.

Autumn colours to match our beautiful season at the moment.

New doll on the drawing board.

My favourite type of washing. I could hang out basketloads of this. I will have to choose a new spot when the sweet peas grow again. This felt is for an order and will be made into a cushion with any luck within a day or two!

Hoping everyone is doing lots of creative gorgeousness even if it does mean swapping from project to project.

Lots of love, friends

Elizabeth

XXX

New Book COMING SOON!...................

Hi everyone!
Don't you just adore a new book?
You can take it to bed,
You can read it while waiting to collect people from the railway station,
You can pore over it at brekky,
You can take it in the garden with a cup of tea,
You can study it in a cafe with several favourite lattes,
You can make the time go quicker waiting at the bustop and countless other situations.

Let's face it - a book is a great friend!

Well the book above is especially groovy because I was lucky enought to have 4 images of my work accepted. I am really excited and am looking forward to its arrival!

Anyway, just wanted to share this lovely news with you all!

Every best wish and happy reading!
Elizabeth
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Getting stuff done!

Dearest Friends

Hoping your week is progressing well! I have been trying to focus on 8 things that have to be done and none of them seem appealing - do you know what I mean? Plenty of creative energy but not for the things that I simply have to do!

I used to be really worried by this. The fact that I couldn't discipline myself to get these things done. Now I simply put them aside and attend to the enticing creative ideas that are simply nagging me to get done or have a try.

I know that I will get over this block in a few days time and that everything will get done. But in the meantime I get to pursue the idea that has crept in unbidden.

Here is a new gal, papier mache and felt - I just love making them!

Whatever you are working on, be it one of the "I SIMPLY MUST GET THIS DONE" thing

or the "WOW! I AM GOING TO DO THIS NOW!" thing - I hope you are having a great time!

See you soon

Lots of Love

Elizabeth

XXX

Little pots from odds and ends

Dear friends,

Using up odds and ends of felt and yarn has been my pattern of work this year. I don't know why - but it is so gratifying to get rid of them all productively.

This week has been rather busy with teaching every day, so there has been little time to felt, however I managed to squeeze some time in to make a few little vessels. I use these for putting vases of flowers in and can pretty much co-ordinate my vessel to the flowers that I have.

Now does that sound excessively weird?

Candles look great in them as well.

Hoping everyone has a lovely weekend to look forward to,

Chat soon

Love

Elizabeth

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Setting up a felting studio

Dear Friends
Howdy!
This post is in response "Karoda" who left at message at my previous post. She is thinking of setting up a felting studio and all I can say is "GO KARODA!"
Righto. These images are of my studio a little while ago and although I shift things around and more treasures (trash?) are housed there - it is basically the same.

My studio is not huge but compared to the kitchen table it is a palace! I so love going there and I think first and foremost this is imperative for a creative environment. You must create a corner that you are eager to get to. A corner of the study, the spare bedroom, the garden shed, the attic, the corner of the family room, the basement or the weeny space off the laundry.

The first thing is to get in some table/s that can be left in position that can provide storage beneath them and that are white and throw back some light. Perhaps if you find an old door you could whack some cheap white acrylic paint on it. This can always be removed if you want the door at a later stage without any tears at all.

The second thing to get is to get good lighting. Try to get it as natural as possible. The colours that you use will certainly be affected by the light hitting them.

The next thing to think about is designated areas that you keep for jobs that you would do every time you create. Somewhere you will go to use the sewing machine (see above), somewhere to do a spot of ironing, somewhere that your supplies are easily accessed. A wet area for the sink or place for water.

Get tubs or boxes that are uniform so that they easily stacked and can be labelled clearly.

OH YES and believe me, keep one type of item per bucket. This makes creating a real pleasure if you can get to your goodies quickly.

Once a month I do a bucket check out and fix up. On the odd occasion I locate a misplaced treasure but it is really to keep my studio practise running smoothly.

There is a real pleasure in handling your supplies on a fairly regular basis. You keep in mind what you need and what you have free licence to buy more of !

The colour that you paint the studio is a very personal thing. A base colour of pale grey, white or cream or even a glowing colour like gold is a good idea so that any colours that you add on top will look great. Keep it as calm or as bight and cheerful as you like - you can always change it!

Have wool in a well lit area rather than away somewhere out of sight. This will avoid moth. My best advice is to get a shoe rack - ideal for skeins of wool. These are all 50 grams so I know how much I will need for a designated project. As soon as you have a table to work and easy access to a sink and great lighting - march right ahead purchasing your tools of the trade. Good wool at all costs - be suspicious of super cheap offers. You will be spending much time pursuing your creations so buy the very best you can afford.

Have pieces of your own work around the studio to inspire you and display them in such a way that gives you pleasure. Perhaps you have a box of treasures that have never found a real home - the studio is the place for them.

Finally on the floor - avoid concrete at all costs. It will give you varicose veins! Felters mainly work standing on their feet. The carpet I have I purchased at the hardware store and it cost about $35.00 a metre for 2 metres wide. I simply glued it to the concrete surface. It cuts down all noise and is cosier in winter.

My studio was created on a shoestring. I had next to no money. So all my cupboards were from cast offs from the family and I even have my first baby wardrobe in there with Beatrix Potter contact on the shelves!

Do what you can with what you have on hand - most things can be made lovely and cheap, flat pack furniture, will be invisible when you get all your gorgeous creations on them.

The cosmetic stuff is really the inspiring aspect that make you excited to be there. Not just the opportunity to work in a peaceful area, but a place that is truly yours.

OH YES 2 last things.............

A place for a tea/coffee station and somewhere to put your CD player and and plenty of different types of music.

My love to you all, wherever you create

Elizabeth
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PS You can see my studio article in the FALL 2008 edition put out by Cloth Paper Scissors

Making quick changes...

HI dear friends,
Today I had about 3 hours of uninterrupted time in the studio. Trundling along and making arms and legs to go on this doll. Complete disaster - she looked chunky and awkward.

So after huffing and puffing and being cross at my lack of my achievement I came to a an unalterable decision. Everything I had done in those precious hours was an utter waste. SO there was only one thing to do - I cut her arms and legs off! Golly that sounds awful!

But she was so much happier without them!



More stitching


Happy at last.
So when in doubt, if it isn't working, be happy in the knowledge that cutting things up is often the way through.

So friends, see how a pair of scissors can help you see clearly to getting a project done.

Lots of love
Elizabeth
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