Week 40 : DLP 2015

Information about the FREE weekly Documented Life project is HERE. We are into October and a new theme for the month which I am very excited about :

I was very happy to see the challenge for this week

because I knew I it was a kick start to get out my gelli plate and print a bunch of new papers. In New Zealand, it's not easy to source deli paper, so I just use this product from the supermarket : 

I tore 7 pieces about A4 size with the intention of printing with similar colours to somewhat co-ordinate together - thinking I would layer them on my journal spread for this week. After only a bit more than half an hour, this is what I got : 

Click on any photo to see it larger
In more detail, I did have a couple of extra pieces in there that were a piece of printed newsprint that came with some new shoes, and a piece of under paper that I started by cleaning off upon.

These next 2 are my least co-ordinated with the others - the left because it has the least layers, and the right because I just loved that flower print and didn't want to touch it with a final layer as I did below with the others

These others came together really well once I added to all of them a layer of my lovely favourite turquoise iridescent - last seen here.

Some are through a stencil and some are ghost prints, but there is something to love about each of these and I am happy to have done them even if they don't end up in this week's spread. The journal prompt "You had me at hello" made me want to draw a face, and I wanted to keep with the deli paper challenge so started on my least layered paper.

This is my initial pencil sketching - I'm hoping the butterfly and couple of flowers above her eyes from the stencil print will be able to be used to frame her face as I go. Didn't make progress shots - here's how she turned out :

Then I tried papers for the background arrangement

All glued down

but it didn't feel quite done to me

and then I didn't feel like I needed to add any words

Click on the photo to enjoy it larger or see it in the Flickr album I've created for all my Documented Life 2015 spreads HERE. You can see all my posts about this project HERE.

Bringing history alive artfully

I'm excited that I've been asked to teach an art class at our public library's Local History Week! (brochures at the library, I will upload link when their website has the info)
The project will be called Bringing History Alive Artfully and I'll be helping people create a piece of art that celebrates an ancestor, or a meaningful place or local event from their history.

This is my sample and the intro information (click on the photo to see it larger)

Create an A4 piece of collaged art honouring an ancestor or special place or event in local history.
Your finished piece will be able to be hung by ribbon, mounted on canvas or a book cover, or perhaps framed.
We will spend 2 hours exploring new ways to celebrate local history artfully by using paper collage techniques and sharing a variety of ideas for mixed media embellishments and composition.

I'll also be sharing different ideas for printing images on your inkjet printer at home onto different papers

Hopefully get enough interest to run with this in November...
It went ahead :-) Blog post about that HERE.

Quilt inspirations

This afternoon I finally got my quilt blocks together into a top. Hooray. Now on my lap, I need to tear off all the papers....it's not hard but will take a while. 

Will share a proper photo of the front later in the week... meanwhile, I've been well inspired during the school holidays to get back to quilty pleasures. Last week we had a few days in Rotorua. I found Cottage Flair and had a lovely time looking at all their beautiful quilts and inspiring displays. I have always loved pohutukawa and a quilt featuring blooms is on my to do list {one day!} - bit closer now after purchasing this lovely pattern :

I think it will become a centre block of something larger if when I get around to making it. Then I took my mum to the Marton Quilt show (Rangitikei Country Quilters) on the weekend. 

They had a nice layout of quilts, the opportunity to shop (buying a bit of new stuff enables you to use more of your stash!), and a couple of great guest exhibitors as well. For my future reference and your enjoyment :

This was my favourite of the show. I love how she (Sue McClelland) has taken the poppy fabric and changed it up with other blocks

Click on any photo to see it larger

This blue quilt is all squares and 1/2 square triangles and looks very effective. Would love to see it made up in different colours :

This one was chosen as part of a suitcase exhibition currently touring. Called "Flashpoint", by Anna Williams.

I've seen this next pattern a few times, and really enjoy it each time I see it. I think it's the mix of limited colour palette, the bold patterns, the very NZ flavour

This was the one that made me smile the most 

Fun stitcheries included :-)

Gorgeous Kaffe Fassett - nice with framing the alternate blocks

Here are my favourites from the two awesome guest exhibitors as well. 
Jacqui Karl : "Quilting isn't all about bed quilts" 

lovely colours

beautifully quilted  

and lots of variety in her work

I can't choose a favourite, but mum liked this one best of Jacqui's

And then there was Merrilyn George's exhibition inspired by the life of Suzanne Aubert. Her work is always so beautiful, multi-layered, technically excellent, and so meaningful. Here is a taste :

Her stands were designed so we could also see the back of her work

If you want to find out more about these works go HERE.
We finished the morning by purchasing my backing fabric for my quilt at the top of this post, this gorgeous magazine 

which features Anne Brooke who inspired this collage I made in June

and I had to buy some lovely batiks just because they make my heart sing...only 0.3 m of each so not a huge extravagence

and the turquoise will be fabulous with the pohutukawa when I make that quilt!
Hope you are finding something to inspire you this week. Talk to you again soon.