First piece of good news for my week - I've updated my blog post editor, and now if you want to see more detail, just click on the picture and it gives you the bigger version :-)
I made it to the Rangitikei Country Quilters exhibition on the weekend despite being weighed down by a horrible head-cold. I really wanted to go to the merchant mall to visit Creative Craft Supplies and get some more starburst sprays.
I have a really nice rainbow selection of colours now
...next challenge is finding some more play time.
All inspired (again) by Roben-Marie in this video of her process of making a page.
The Marton show always features great guest exhibitors and this year was no exception : Anna Williams is a wonderful quilter - see some of her latest work here.
The other exhibitor was Carmen Simmonds : Glass Artist. I forgot to take my camera, so click on the link to get to galleries of her work. She makes beautiful pieces that look at women's "dress", and I realised I went to school with her when I clicked on her artist profile. So fantastic to see local talent that is getting recognised world-wide.
I had last week off work for our school holidays, but this week am back at work so the boys have been having some fun on their own.
And we've had some fun together : this was a very satisfying end to the series
Good recent reads : this was a lovely family story set mainly in India.
I am currently enjoying
Just love this altered box by Adrienne Goodenough using stencils and light moulding paste - another thing I could try with my sprays :-)
Enjoy the rest of your week
We lost our home internet connection on Tuesday, and only got it back this afternoon. I felt very 'disconnected' and am so glad to be back checking up on creative blogs again and at last giving you a little news from here.
I have been stitching these as an experiment in wintery 'snowflake' design.
I free-motion stitched turquoise metallic thread over turquoise organza laid over an old book page. The idea originally came from Ruth Rae. Quite pleased with the effect - it's a lovely glittery look in real life - and you will see more of them when I show you my finished July calendar pages.
I quite fancy making something in an embroidery hoop, having recently seen this work by Kim Radatz and previously liking these hoops that Carole received in a recent challenge swap. I'm just saying I like them - not that you should expect to see one soon!!
The V&A's spring exhibition is The Cult of Beauty : The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900. If you click that link you will go to the blog about the creation of the exhibition. There is a link from there to a wonderful video featuring the lead curator talking about the aesthetic movement and the work created by the artists, designers and architects of the time. The video pans through areas of the exhibition - huge amount of gorgeous inspiration to be had so do check it out.
This book is another recent inspiration
Click here for google images of Frances Macdonald's art- some of it is simply exquisite.
My credit card may get a work-out shortly....Papaya have brought out some gorgeous new glitter gift tags and glitter sticker sets - I especially love the Muses
And if you are local, don't forget to check out the Rangitikei Country Quilters Exhibition at Rangitikei College, Bredins Line, Marton. It's open 10-4pm for this weekend.
My first blog post was 13th July 2010. Now 120 posts and 34 followers later I can look back and feel really happy about the projects I've created and shared, the comments I've enjoyed, and the satisfaction of having a colourful record of a year in my creative life.
Although I had hoped that I would have a lovely treat to give away for my bloggiversary, life has got in the way...so instead I am just going to share some new blog loves that span the different creative arts that I love.Newly discovered Paula Phillips : Journal Artista. She does Art Journals with lovely spray/stencil ideas, and watch her video of her trash & stash art journals...inspired me to think that I might be able to create a bit more in my limited time.
Latest beautiful stitched book by DJ Pettitt Beautiful spring stitched landscape in this post by Carolyn Saxby. Would really like to be organised enough to think about starting some Christmas projects at this time of year. Julie Fei-Fan Balzar has been sharing some inspiring guest posts : love this Christmas Button Tree
Enjoy a home tour of doll artist Lauren Vlcek, and find out more about her in this interview.
This is an amazing site to inspire you with fantastic machine quilting designs : The Free Motion Quilting Project
The lovely muted sari ribbons and the book are from 
I wove the sari ribbons with some other pieces of silk and cotton and tacked them to a supporting cloth of cotton. 
Then I "had to" purchase some new threads to match
and started to stitch 
This book (another birthday gift!) is going to be a wonderful resource for more creative stitching ideas. 
Be inspired by Jude Hill's 
And this is the spread finished.
I had such fun making an 
They did the trick, and I am very happy with my very flowery pages. 
Not sure what else will happen here. I will probably use these letters somewhere on the page for the month, and I want to add some more stitch.
Check back here next month to see how it turns out.