Stitched, woven fabric strips make bookcovers.

Recently I have been enjoying the simple pleasure of making these bookcovers. Fabric strips, woven and stitched to make raw edged bookwraps or covers. I love the imperfect look..
Anyway this is my last post for a while. I will give myself some time to recover from the surgery I am due to have.

See you all a little later,
Joan.

This Says It for Me

I have been enjoying Angie Hughes textile artistry. Angie is based in Herefordshire in the United Kingdom.  She is very creative. She was interviewed by RWSS (running with scissors studio)  I love her response to this question....

.RWSS:  Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Angie:  Myself at the moment.
I love her response because it is true for me too!

You can see the interview  if you click here   Angie Hughes interview. and enjoy photos of her work as well.

 

Crochet Cotton Colour

I have been collecting crochet cottons as I have found them and now have a stack of fabulous colour.
Some of them are very vivid.
Below is a little bit of crazy quilting I have been trying my hand at. The bright yellow stitching is a cotton from my collection above.
It IS very bright. Sometimes we need extra colour to brighten up our lives. I think so anyway.

Next week I will be having surgery in Dunedin. This has been necessary for a long time. I may be fairly quiet on the blogging front for a while. I hope to do one more posting before my operation and then  I will be resting up for a bit.
Until the next post,
Joan.

♥

Words to Live By

Ask not that events as you will but let your will be that events should happen as they do... and you shall know peace.
- Epicteus -

I hope your weekend is going well. Catchup soon.
Joan.

☻

Pam Sussman's Fabric Art Journal Book

Love this!

I'm taking a peek inside Pams book. An easy read book with photos to match.
Subtle colours with simple stitching works well here.



Fabric layered, stitched and beaded on this page.



'Art' says it all!

Pam  Sussman's book can be purchased here.
It is a great book to add to your handcraft book collection or
to pop on your coffee table to browse through whenever.

(I couldn't get rid of this 2nd Amazon thingmy.  It is very persistent.  Just won't go!)

Spring has finally arrived!

It has been a long winter and not an easy year so far. I think it is appropriate to have a fresh new look for my blog. The same old same old gets a little tiring after a while, so today I went to work and now have a 'new look' blog. I love the 'Margaret Merrill' photo taken in my garden. I took this photo last summer. It is truly a beautiful rose, one of my favourites. I look forward to another season in which Margaret will show all of her downright beauty to all who 'take time to smell the roses.' I hope that you too, like the new look as we usher in Spring here in New Zealand. Here's hoping it is a good one after the tough times that many of us have been and still are enduring.

Cheers, Joan.
♥

My Fabric Journal from way back when...

Way back when this blog first began I featured this fabric journal.  (It features in my header above.)

 It has been a work in progress for a while now. So here it is again in its updated format.

 My eldest Grandaughter Chloe, who is six has spent many happy moments enjoying the pages that make up this fabric journal.

Fabric pages, threads, beads, stitches and fabric cords
draw the eye into what else lies amongst these pages!

Making the most of buttons and stitching.

Random machine stitching along with handstitching.
A paper bead wrapped in fibre is stitched onto the corner.

On the cover a variety of handstitching creates texture and outlines the print

already on the fabric. Small beads embellish the flowers.

Meaningful Words

Port Levy near Diamond Harbour

Snow Falls on New Zealand

Snow begins to fall at our place in Otago.

Whiteness begins to set in.

The low temperatures bring snow/ice to our windows.

The hebe carries snow on its branches, leaves and flowers.

Special Moments.

We all know that life is not always easy. We all have our struggles. Our ups and our downs.
I chose these photos each signifying some special moments, flowers or things that I appreciate in and
around my world. Each photo about being appreciative and thankful. Counting my blessings and enjoying them.
I hope you can too.

Colours of the Rainbow

Layer upon layer of assorted fabric pieces, sewn and then slashed form this specs pouch which I love to use.
This is the first one of these that I made. I most often find that the first attempt at anything new turns out to be better than following attempts of the same thing. Is that the same for you?

Overnight Snowfall

 Pretty flowers managing to keep their heads above the snow.
One cheeky Rooster, alias Stan, doesn't mind the snow.

The roads were quiet this morning. Snow kept many at home.

Earthquakes Demolish Lyttleton's Historic Anglican Church

Lyttleton has suffered a number of earthquakes.  Having visited there recently we observed some of the  damage to public places .Sadly, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church above  was demolished.

  The top photo has a small wooden cross placed beside the church.  I think there were flowers there also. The double storied building is the vicarage.  Although not obvious from the photo, it also is damaged.   A very sad picture and a sharp realisation of how powerful those earthquakes were.  Many businesses  in the main street are closed due to damage.  At the same time repair work is happening as people rebuild their businesses and their lives.

Diamond Harbour

Last week we took time out at Diamond Harbour. We rented an online holiday home which was very warm and comfortable.

The photo above is the view from the balcony across the harbour.

(Diamond Harbour is directly across from Lyttleton)

*I couldn't resist fashioning the wreath on the table from a weeping willow nearby*

Take your pick. Dinghies lined up ready to go.

The 'Black Cat' ferried passengers from Diamond Harbour to Lyttleton.  An  eight minute trip each way. A pleasant journey and much less time than by road.

HELP! How do I Comment on others blogs when I'm disconnected consistently?

Can anyone help me with this.  I am consistently disconnected from blogger 'signin' and as a result cannot make comments on others blogs.

I would love some help with this,  thanks.
Joan. 

Thanks to some friendly bloggers, I am sorted.
(if you want to find the answer for yourself check the comments and you will find some help there)

Layers, stitches and slashing and we have a sunglass pouch

Different effects from layering, stitching and finally cutting.

Phew!  The sunglasses  fit in!  That was plain lucky ha! ha!
Actually, this makes a sturdy pouch.  Good for protecting those 'sunnies.'

I have loved creating this.  Layers of lace and fabric stitched down and machined.
Carefull cutting of fabric to reveal layers of pretty colours and patterns. 
Then more stitching  to create waves of beautiful colours going this way and that.

To learn more about these techniques you may like to watch a video on this site.

Fay Maxwell

Fay Maxwell shows us some of her beautiful work alongwith techniques.

She's also a great teacher.  Enjoy!

An Autumn Rose and Words to Think About

Christchurch Suffers More Aftershocks Today

We visited our son in Chirstchurch three weeks ago.  We were dismayed by the damage we saw.
Historic buildings were badly damaged as shown in the  photo below.  Other buildings have suffered major structural damage.  The remains of this church is not far from the C.B.D.

It is very difficult to contemplate further damage from todays aftershocks.

The paradise duck ( photographed outside the damaged church) tells me
that one way or another we  walk on.

I would love some comments please

A fabric posy takes time to assemble.  Melting fabric edges for shape and finish.
Layer upon layer of fabric pieces give a lovely fullness.
I love these colours.  I would like to know your thoughts.
What do you think?