Inspired.

I've been busy sewing and brainstorming lately. So many inspiring artists in blogesphere and unexpected sources of inspiration in my own environement. I'd thought I'd share a few things that have inspired me lately.

These fantastic, flat, smootth , crochet covered stones from the Resurrection Fern. blog. I just LOVE these.

In fact I love the whole blog even if I don't visit often. There's always a selection of fab photos to see and inspiring gems such as these.

Recycled, naturally dyed tea bags.  Of course that's inspiring! These were found on the SoewnEarth blog and I am sure you will enjoy these as much as I did.

I've been making nests! More on this to follow...

and I've made a treasuy of wonderful, nature dyed goodies on Etsy. 

You can check it out here if you are looking for a little eye candy!

Secret codes and altered matchboxes...

I signed up to play in Bad Penny's altered matchbox swap. The swap has a '12 days of Christmas Theme" and I got "5 Golden Rings."  I did a little research on the net about the origins of this song to see if  I could draw some inspiration from it. Interestingly enough I found out that the whole song is thought to have been a secret code which allowed Christians to talk about the Bible and Christianity in a time where they were persecuted for it. The 5 golden rings is apparently a reference to the first 5 books of the bible. I ended up avoiding any mention of secret codes and persecution and doing my own 'recycled' thing!

Would you believe it but I only found these golden rings at the second hand shop after I signed up? I think they are curtain rings. I've only got one golden ring on each box (as you can see) but each box has 5 elements plus the golden ring.The red mesh (onion bag netting), white beads (from an old necklace), coffee dyed fabric and white fabric scrap and the lace.The boxes are covered in white material which is soft and velvety (and someone's thermal curtain in another life!)

Including something inside the box was optional so I haven't decorated the inside of it. I did include 5 small things inside though...like 4 'eggs' in a nest of course!
Small confession: I only did them like this for the photo. The box wouldn't close with the lace standing up like that. It would been cool to have opened the box up and found my nest though!

And last but not least, some pretty beads and gold thread to help keep all the contents inside the boxes on their journey! This was different but fun. I havn't altered matchboxes in ages! Now I can look forward to my ones arriving in the post:)


Next posting: Blog Giveaway winner! There's still time to sign up if you'd like to own the fabric collage below.
Coming soon...PULPY LOVE! I've been busy working on my next part in Kim's book and there's been some other fantastic pulp posts going on lately too. Watch this space!

Pulp Redux- Kims book Update

Wahoo, it's pulp time again! I'm doing things out of order, having completed the first page and then the last page without doing the middle page...which I've started but not finished! The first section was dedicated to the Maori Warriors who fought at the battle of Gate Pa, the second sections belongs to the Brittish Soliders and the last section is a tribute to Archdeacon Brown and his wife Charlotte. On January 4 1838 the Archdeacon and his family returned to Tauranga after a period away establishing another missionary site. He built a library and chapel on land which is now known as "The Elms." His role was that of preacher, counsellor and community advisor. His library housed books that served the needs of not just his parish but the wider community.(Incidently, many of these books are still housed in the mission library which is now a small museum.)

Archdeacon Brown was able to speak both English and Maori and as a result he was able to work with both of the fighting parties. Imagine the torment this must have caused this peace loving man? To see his friends at war with each other?

On the night before the crushing defeat suffered by the Brittish 14 soldiers dined at his table, the next day all but 1 of those men were dead.

Below are 2 passages from the poem kept inside the pocket on this page 

Then, when the meal was ended, tale and joke

died into silence as the kind host spoke.

Lost are his wods today, we only know

that those who listened felt their hearts a-glow

With pentince; and, kneeling side by side

Grim Verteran and the lad in youthful pride,

they took the sacrament of endless life

then rose, strong-hearted for the morrow's strife.

Within this room, when but two nights had fled

was sound of mourning for the gallant dead;

Of all those happy guests who feasted here,

but one was left to tell the story, drear

Of ambush, vain and of its bitter cost

When heroes, Pakeha and Maori, met

in that grim strife that we would fain forget

Poem by Kathleen Hawkins

It's hard to know how illustrate a story like this. Its potentially one of suffering and strife. Luckily there's two sides to the story!  In the christian faith believers go to heaven, far away from warfare and pain, to a place of peace and love.

While it's true that the Archdeacon witnessed many hardships and lost countless friends he was also a source of comfort to the soldiers and warriors. His job was  to give hope and unconditional love in the midst of one of NZ's most significant landwars.

I chose to reflect the love held within his home and his heart. Evident in his actions and appreciated by many.

 

Still in this place today the quiet light

falls on a room scarce changed since that past night;

and in its quietude the questions rise

Was this the vision seen by dying eyes?

Did that glimpse of homely peacefullness

shine through the pain of wounds to heal and bless?

And did the kindess freely given

help some brave soul find his way to heaven?

The house(in the photo) was built after the library and parish. The soliders (in the poem) dined in the great dining room housed in that very building. These days it is open to the public, the room preserved as it was that day. Having been there I can tell you the room has a stillness about it. A quieting effect that causes you to sit, be still and be thankful. The portrait is of the Archdeacon Brown.

The 'trap door' style flap opnes to reveal the poem.

I've used 100% recycled and second hand fabric, lace and beads. You can see glimpse of the red scarf fabric I used on the Maori page. Kim loves copper so I used an old copper wire 'thing' found inside something electronic...my son finds me the best things! The copper wire (see above pic) is delicate and broke easily but I love the way it looks nestled between the coffee dyed cotton and bits of lace and mutton-cloth. 

This page sits on the back of the Maori page which will lift up to reveal the Brittish page and this one. The peacemaker between the two parties, in the middle like he was in life.

 Coming soon: Blog Giveaway!! I've created a fabric collage with a water theme to commemorate International Blog Action Day so watch this space to be in the draw!

Also coming soon...Altered matchboxes for Bad Penny's 12 days of Christmas Matchbox swap! It's been ages since I've altered matchboxes but it's been fun!

 *See you all soon*

Pulp Redux Chapter 3

I was on my way to drop off the kids to school today when I passed the courier...and guess what he delivered? Alicia's book! Yaay!  I had a feeling he would and could hardly wait to get back! It's hard to open a parcel slowly and carefully when you're just about beside yourself with excitement and joyful anticipation!

Above: One of Alicia's pages. Below: One of Debrina's spreads. You can see posts on all the books on the Pulp Redux blog.

Below: The pages that will become my spread in Alicia's book. Watch this space!

The theme for this book is "The Museum of Forgotten Things." Obviously I don't have anything done in it just yet but I have been madly brain storming and I think I know where I will go with this already.Alicia started a story with characters (the main character Hester, is woman scorned, she does something terrible and then spends her life riddled with guilt and burdened by the secret.) and Debrina has carried the story on (Hester died at the grand old age of 97 and Deb's has revealed one of Hester's other secrets and displayed some of the treasures kept by Hester until her death...she was a soft hearted romantic behind the guilt...) and that's where I come in! But first I t have to be disciplined and get back into my collage groove! The ICE deadline is not far away and I certainly don't want to miss out!

Today has been a GREAT mail day...not only did Alicia's book arrive but so did these lovely artworks from Moon Mama! Jen was my partern in the Cards swap organised by LaWendula. You may remember the altered cards I sent her? These are lovely wood and paper creations about the size of an ATC. Just lovely! (No pun intended!) I need to go and find a link for Jen's blog...

I've also been sticking to my art goals for the year, the top pic is my bead stash, some  are hand made by moi, the rest are mostly  gifted or gleaned from a second hand shop. The silvery-grey pendants and beads were made from modelling clay last night while I spoke on the phone. Easy as that! I got bored very quickly rolling balls for beads hence the heart pendants! These will look great dressed up with a little paint or threads and fibers. I think it's something to work on anyway:)

Roots-Beneath the layers

Page 1. This page is joined to the back of the last page Lisa did. You can see all of Lisa's fantastic work in this book here. You really don't want to miss it! Her cover has the word 'Roots' and the next page said ' beneath the layers' so I made them part of a sentence by adding ' I see beauty.' Lisa's words are ofcourse the books theme. My first page is a collage of 2nd hand beads, my handmade beads, mutton cloth (thicker than cheese cloth) bits of cut up doily and threads. I still don't know what the red disc thing is! I hope what ever it was from still works without it!

Page 2. One of Lisa's pages features a vintage photo of her Grandmother. This page reflects the era I imagine she came from. A time when things were re-used and re-purposed and no-one thought anything of it because it was the way of life at the time.  Lisa also said her Grandmother didn't get to travel, now we can say she's been to New Zealand! I really love this page, it appeals to the romantic in me!

Page 3. This is stitched to the back of page 2. The white book (formerly the scroll) is able to be full removed from the page and then opened to reveal...a 2 and a half page fabric book! All the shades of brown have been made by dying the fabric with coffee, tea or onions skins. The string around the nest was dyed with real nest dye (sorry, it's a little hard to see that here.)

Page 4 reveals another removable book and that seriously cool rusted bottle cap. A nice little piece of Kiwiana! I have 4 caps sitting in cups on my window sill as I type and I am doing an intentional rust experiment using eco-friendly source. Watch this space if you want to know how that goes!

The book is removed to reveal a pocket and a quote and then opened to reveal another page. This page (as you may remember) was created in collaboration with a bird! I used the non-organic parts of a nest that the kids and I found. The nest was beautiful but when its layers were revealed the true makings of this nest were actually a sad reflection on the environment it was made in. It revealed that although we see rubbish a bird sees as good nest making materials...and I eventually came to see it as good collage making material!

I worked on quite a literal interpretation of Lisa's theme and now my part is done. Soon another artist will be having their turn and the journey will continue. Thanks for being part of chapter 2 with me!

A sneak peek... (or is it a tease?)

It's with a sigh of both satisfaction and relief that I can finally say...I'm FINISHED!!Chapter 2 of my part in the Pulp Redux Collaboration is done. I've been sewing, sewing and sewing these last few days. Every time I thought I was finished something else would show itself, something that had to be there, something that belonged. They say that ignorance is bliss, I often told myself the same thing over the last few months that I have spent on these pages. Usually when I'd decided to do 'just one more thing' and then quickly realised that 'one more thing' was leading to just one more...but that is the way it is with creativity. With flow. With ambition. I really wanted to push myself with these pages. Working in fabric, bead making, dying with onion skins and making dye from a nest. All new things to me. I was so in awe of Lisa J's work that I wanted to honour her art and her theme by giving it my all and despite the sore fingers I've loved doing it! As it so often happens when you push yourself you find that there is a little more there, a lesson learnt and a new self discovery to be made. The rewards are big!
So without further ado...and before it starts to sound like I am accepting an Emmy,lol, here's a sneaky peek at how the finished pages look.

End view of the closed (not litteraly!) book. The book is made from a vintage photo album. The top half of the photo shows Lisa's work. I love how they mingle as one.

The side views. Delicious layers of fibre and thread! The wooden part on the top is Lisa's work, she used parts of a cuckoo clock. How clever is that??

Please click Lisa's blog link and the Pulp Redux link in my side bar to see what else has been going on in the Pulp Universe!

Pretty much everything you see here was either found, gifted to me or bought in a second hand shop.

I'm not even sure what the red disc below is...I found it on the floor while vacumning!

I love how the lace below used to be someone elses net curtains...they look like they were made for this book!

Found roofing nail caps and 'pearls' from Spain. A beautiful partnership! I recieved a broken pearl necklace from the artist that I did my first ever AB swap with. They're here to represent Lisa's Grandmother ( I will explain that later!) The thick string is the only new ingrediant I bought in this whole spread. Gotta love recycling!

That adorable heart was sent to me by Danit (from NZ mail art) I only recieved it yesterday...who knew I needed that? Love it when it works out like that! She gave me a whole bunch of other cool things too and one of her own collages. Thanks Danit!

And just one more.....

Would you believe that's not even all of the photos I took?

Watch this space for the next post, I will reveal all soon!

Pulped!

Title page and my 1st altered page. The woven page has had moving beads added to it and so has the Labyrinth title page. It's a little more "domino effect' than abacus but it's fun to play around with the beads and really interact with the page. Labyrinth means "maze like, entangled, intricate" and the woven page is a little bit of each definition.

My second page is 'Entanglement' which was quite litteral at times! I've tied on some little Pearl like beads with copper wire to add a bit of interest. The rest of the entanglement will come as this book  nmoves around the globe! My 3 page is "Intricate" (yes it's a nest! what better example of intricate could I have found?)  and I've created a window to sit the lino print behind and then enclosed parts of if with nest like stitching. The string was dyed first with coffee. The beads on the cross over copper wire free flow from top to bottom of the strand and make a lovely little tinkering noise. I am definately going to explore this moving pieces idea further!

My part in my book of this RR is almost done. All I have left to do now is the last signature which I am turning into some sort of niche/folder/accordian thing that will hold some papery bits and random pieces looking to find new homes with the other artists working on this book. We are getting close to our goal posting date now of November 15. Wahoo!

In addition to this book I've also started on another ICE collage and a small piece for an Art Swap. If your interested in playing in this swap (and not already doing it unless you know loads of people!) please leave me a comment and I will forward you the details! Watch this space!

Pulp Redux update and a very cool nest!

Photo Mandy Hauge, Whakatane, NZ

Look at this fabulous Plover's nest that Mandy Hauge posted on her blog for moi! I am seriously impressed and just a tad envious that she gets to find some wonderful treasures! Thankyou Mandy it made my day to see this on your blog! I really have to encourage everyone to go on over to Mandy's blog and check out her art. No kidding not only is this lady one seriously talented photographer she also does incredible paintings, bird cage sculptures and collects cool things like mummifyed rats and bird skulls. You've just got to visit!

I've also been busy working on my Labyrinth book for the Pulp Redux collaboration. I am really loving the way this is coming along although it is still very much a work in progress! If you havn't been over already then make sure you pop over to see the progress on everyone else's books too. We've also had Lisa of Mud Hound Primitives join the collab which is very good news for us! If you havn't already been by her blog I suggest you visit her too!

Hot off the press! My freshly complete Woven page. The photo below shows the pages 'bones' which are kebab sticks stitched onto the page. Below that you can see an 'entangled' page which is not yet finnished. I left the tails that tied the sticks long so that they would tangle. The beads that you can see on the photo above move along and I love the way it feels when you move the beads along and really interact with the page.

The two pages flow over the edges and into each other which may result in another 'entanglement' but that's ok with me!

And last but not least...the Paper Swap partners have been announced on the Woven Letter's blog so if you signed up make sure you go and see who your partner is!