Monday, December 24, 2007

Greetings to all my readers

It's 9.30pm on Christmas Eve here in Australia. The temperature is still very warm and the forecast for tomorrow is 40 degrees. My daughter, Ruth and her boyfriend, Brendan, as well as my sister have come to spend Christmas with me. We cooled down this afternoon by going for a swim in the dam. Ruth has cooked a yummy dish of pasta and garlic prawns for a meal and we are now relaxing and feel mellow. So tonight I feel at peace and would like to wish you all a joyful and peaceful time over the Christmas holiday. Thank you for all your comments throughout the year and I hope that 2008 is a better year for me and for you.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Many sad things

Alot of sad things have happened in my life over the past few months. The breakup of my 23yr marriage has completely devastated me. The betrayal of my trusted partner has been too much to bear.
Recently I attended the memorial service of a friend that was diagnosed with cancer in August and passed away in October. He was a talented horseman and furniture maker. Then one of my suppliers that I visit weekly suddenly died. Yesterday when I returned home from the Sunday market I found that my property had been broken into. I have had a number of items stolen and I have just spent the afternoon with the police who have fingerprinted various items. I feel very sad and alone.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Published


The new Sue Heaser book 'Encyclopedia of Polymer Clay Techniques' is just out in the stores and I have some work in the gallery section. (I'm almost famous.......grin).

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Klime Bead Necklace


These beads were fun to make at the clay retreat I attend in Canberra earlier in the year. The lovely Sera Pinwill gave a class on making these beads. I finally got around to making some jewellery with them.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Designing Women, Fabric Paper Workshop





One of my travel workshops recently was at Pinney Lakes Enviromental Centre, Perth. A good venue, plenty of tables, power points and beautiful setting amonst trees. The Desigining Women group were a great bunch of enthusiastic and talented ladies. One member, Liz wrote about the workshop on her blogspot.

Contempory Clay Instructor Programme

For years I have given workshops at venues around Perth. This always entails loading the car, driving an hour or more to the venue, unloading, setting up, doing the workshop, loading the car, driving home, unloading and packing away all the stuff. In this workshop the students came to me. This course was for two days so they stayed overnight and we 'played' well into the evening after dinner. It was good not to have all that handling of equipment and materials. My students enjoyed 'their retreat'. It was 'treat' for them they said after organizing their families to come away and play for a couple of days. They will be back to do the next Certificate soon.

Back into creativity, DYEING to go!


I'm getting my life back on track after our seperation. When the local bowling club asked me to dye some scarves, I took on the job and produced these scarves that you see drying on the line. Loosing my partner after 25yrs together certainly knocked me down, but I'm back on my feet now am looking forward to better times.
These scarves are technically not dyed but coloured with a liquid fabric paint. It's an amazing product as it will colour synthetics as well as natural fibres. The colours can be mixed together to make other colours or shades and diluted with water to make pastels. They are heat set and machine washable.
The bowling club ladies are very pleased with them and proudly wear the scarves on their competition days.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Broome





My daughter, Ruth lives in Broome. She has a fantastic job on a luxury cruise boat called 'The Great Escape'. I had a few days visiting her in September. Here are a few pics.


Thursday, November 08, 2007

Support

I am very humbled at the support I have received from family, friends, neighbours and especially work colleagues. I dont think I could have survived the last few months without you all. The farm had to be maintained and crops picked, I couldn't have done it on my own.  I am so grateful.
I am now trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered life, facing the facts that my huband is now with a woman twenty five years younger than myself. Facing the fact that he didnt have the courage to tell me, he just sent an email saying goodbye.
I have lost so much but have acheived so much. I have survived and now feel I can go forward allbeit without my partner of the last 25years.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Life

I am starting a new phase in my life now that my partner has deserted me. I am overwhelmed by the support and kindness shown by many friends from around the world.One friend sent me this mantra from the Dalai Lama. I would like to pass it on to all those who have supported me at my time of sadness.



Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson

Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for other’s and Responsibility for all your actions

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone every day.

Open arms to change, but don’t let go of your values

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Monday, July 09, 2007

This Day

The day that changed everything.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Loss

My life is in limbo at present and I feel I have lost my creative spirit.

I cannot feel passionate about my work as I used to. It may pass in time but for now I'm not enthusiastic about creating anything.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Natural Bush Dyes


I have had a fantastic trip to the borders of the Great Victorian Desert, to work with some aboriginal ladies dyeing fabric with plants from the local bushland.
The top photo is one of me digging up a root to take fibres for a dyepot and the second photo is of a piece of cotton that was dyed with the leaves of the sandalwood tree.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Exhibition Opening




The opening of our Textile exhibition went well. Family and friends were invited for a few nibbles and drinks. I asked my brother, Alan who was on holiday from the UK to do the honors of the speech. He did a grand job, even though he was unfamilar with textile art.

We had a few red dots on the day and even some while we were setting up. Lorelie sold a length of discharged and printed fabric to a lady who had actually come to see a watercolour exhibition that had just finished.

I was disappointed that my husband, Patrick wouldn't come to the opening, but I had the support of family and friends.

Above, are some of the pics that were taken.


Saturday, March 31, 2007

Chilli Book





This is a Chilli Book that I made as a gift for my brother, Alan and sister-in-law, Jackie. They just love chillis so I've given them a book containing some of my favourite chilli recipes.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Bush Dyes






Recently I got together with friends for a dyeing day. We collected various plants and leaves and boiled them up to extract the colour. Here are some results.


Saturday, March 24, 2007

Exhibition

Our textile exhibition is coming up soon and I'm still finalising the work, making cards etc.

We set up at the gallery on Friday and some local newspapers are coming for a pic and interview. I designed this card with my work on the left, Lorelie's in the middle and Diana's on the right.


This is the back of the card. This time Diana's work is left, mine in the middle and Lorelie's right.

Spikey fish


When walking on the beach today, I nearly stepped on this...........

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Sydney











Look at the size of this paella that Roz cooked us.




Hard at it in my workshop.









Had a harbour tour mainly to rest my feet after wandering around the museum and shops.

Trip to Sydney




















I'm just back from a hectic few days in Sydney. I missed the flight which was a good start to the trip!!!!!!! I had to leave my car in the 'longstay' carpark, which was full when I arrived at the airport for a 6.20am flight. After being directed by obscure 'overflow' parking signs to the opposite side of the airport and trudging through sand pulling my suitcase to a shuttle bus to the terminal - I'd missed the baggage check in. The next flight was 4 hours later. This flight took me over some absolutley spectacular scenery in dry central Australia, some of the photos are above.



Then it was into a very 'green' Sydney. This photo is Sydney Olympic stadiums.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

The Spot is Hot

It's been 42 degrees plus today here so I just had to cool down by visiting 'The Spot'. (It's a great surfing place but there where no waves today). I went with my sister Sue, who has only been in Australia a week. She is pictured here with her new car. She was enthralled by the coloured sea sponges washed up on the beach. I took a pic of her collection.



















I am off to Sydney for a few days on a teaching conference, hope its a bit cooler over East.
When I get back I have to make the final arrangements for my textile exhibition and prepare for a trip to the bush (woop woop) for a workshop.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Luscious Ladies






Nic from Jurien Bay has asked me to posts some pics of the 'Luscious Ladies' we made at last year's Polymer Clay Retreat in Canberra.

We had so much fun making these with WendyMoore. Wendy is such a kind generous person and gave her expertise so willingly. We called our ladies all sorts of names, mine was 'Goddess of the Kitchen".

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

A gift for my sister

My sister, Sue is coming to live in Australia. She arrives this week and I am looking forward to having her here. I made a gift for her birthday recently, I dont know what to call it. It has three sides or pages, each showing photos of our mother, grandmother and Sue. I scanned some of Mum's handwriting into the computer and printed it onto a transparency. That is incorporated into the pages and I embellished small charms, buttons and feathers that are relevant to Sue. I'm sure she'll like it.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

More Metal Clay

It's been a whole week since I last updated my blog. I have been busy with another couple of textile panels completed and I've been playing with metal clay again.


As the clay is very expensive to buy, I have to plan my projects carefully i.e. step by step. I had a few learning curves with the jewellery that I made, but I did learn alot for future items. My polymer clay experience is very useful but is so diferent as you have all the time in the world to fiddle. Whereas with the metal clay you have to work quickly as the clay dries out fast.















This pendant is one of the items.


Firstly I made some polymer clay moulds using one of my favourite rubber stamps.






The clay is rolled out and pressed it into the mould. Its then trimmed and left to dry.
Once dry it's sanded smoothed and fired. I use a butane torch.















The earring on the right shows the silver after it has been fired. The earring on the left is after the silver has been brushed with a brass brush and the raised areas burnished.















I liked these little earrings, my daughter Ruth did as well. I gave them to her.




Sunday, February 04, 2007

Fabric book

I went to a 'textiley get to gether' at a friends home and showed this little fabric book that I had made to store my ATC's. The book is made from an adapted pattern by Carol Griffin.

There was a lot of interest in this book as I think people are collecting ATC's and then wonder how to display them.