a new bird, dogs and a guest

I've made a lot of birds
since the first little robin
after the workshop of Mandy Pattullo in Stitch Club.
And then along came Ann Smith of Persimmon Stdio Art
(during the fun week of "Making ZEN")
she had this mini workshop making a zipper pouch
with a blackbird on it.
No pouch for me, but the blackbird was a good idea
for the 20 x 20 cm background
that was lying around for a while, with nothing on it.

I loved Ann's idea of nót only using black.

I made a template for a blackbird,
found some snippets to add and the stitching fun could begin !

After the bird was attached I stitched the background
(after adding a bit of my "magic thread")

This time I attached the piece to a canvas
that I painted on the edges with matching colours

Painting the edges of a canvas
was something I also did earlier this week for daughter's work.
She made some fabulous pieces for
the handfasting ceremony of some friends.

She made the little dog portraits the way Susie Vickery taught us in SC !

Don't have to tell you that these presents were a SUCCESS !!!

And while daughter and kids were away to the handfasting party
WE
had a sweet guest to look after for those few days !

This beautiful boy isn't what you would call a daredevil
so a chair under the table was the preferred spot,
but that lasted only the first day.

He's home again now
(but he can come gladly some other time !) 

Happy Easter

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend

wire and fabric (and stitch)

"Make a structure out of wire
and cover it with fabric pieces using batik wax"
that was the Stitch Club workshop that just ended,
by Priscilla Edwards 

Any thin wire could be used
but the special paper covered kind came with the mail a bit later.
I chose to make a critter in stead of a teacup
Though because I couldn't find the wax
(that I must have somewhere . . .)
I used some special textile hardener.
But first a flower to try out if this could be done !

Hmmm . . . very sticky fingers
but, it worked in the end !

Then on to the little beast : a ladybug !
Many parts to construct and fiddly to put together
but in the end it could fly !!!

(the wings were made on the machine)

BUT

I totally forgot to show the
Stitch Club embroidery workshop by Cassandra Dias
that came before the one by Priscilla !

Stitching a landscape brought me to the colourful scene
so many tourists that visit The Netherlands in spring yearn for.
Though the downside of these lush coloured fields is :
the pollution with MANY pesticides !

Only 10 x 10 cm
but so densely stitched that it took a long time."

Then came number two : a lone tulip

(there might even be a number three,
but that will take some time again !)

wordless Wednesday

 

the letter "N"

 This letter was the one in July for an animal one had to make for the
#bibabowildmarathon

Again a challenge for Yaroslava Troynich

 I chose the  NUDIBRANCH

Well, let me be completely honest :

I  DON'T  like slugs
in my garden,
but these ones live in the sea !

But when you have to pick one (living) animal 
that starts with a certain letter
then the choice is limited !  (and it must be executable)

Nudibranch means literally "naked gill"

Sea slugs (there are more than three thousand known species !)
don't have gills, like fish, but they breath
through the bulges and tentacles on their back.

They have tiny eyes on their backs too

but they get around mainly by feel and smell.
They pick up chemical clues from the water about
food, other nudibranchs or predators.

Many nudibranchs have the most fantastic shapes and colours,

to warn off that they might not be safe to eaten.
 

I started with a piece of old (failed) bag

that I roughed up with a cat brush,

a thin body and a thin strip and many "tentacles"

Because the blue (old) piece was thick

and already felted it didn't shrink very much.

A fun project !

February over

Whether "winter" is also over,
we have yet to see
. . . . .


The tiny bit of icing sugar this morning
can hardly be called SNOW !
(and we had LOTS of sunshine later)

Snow and ice is more for these "critters"

Another FUN workshop online by Yaroslava Troynich
to make these cute seals

*
And, though we feed the birds
to keep them alive through the cold season,
when someone flies (flees) the wrong way
the windows prove to be a deadly barrier !

a male finch

*

Last Sunday I kind of celebrated 25 years survival breast cancer !
And daughter brought today some delicious pastries
(from Rotterdam)  to celebrate it extra !

happy

May Picket (Bowtruckle) be there for you
to unlock all the doors to
happiness
good health
joy
mindfulness
greenness
and creativity
in the year to come

 a happy  2023

December (post 1100)

The amazing truth :
December has already gone a week . . .

Of course we celebrated "Sint Nicolaas" with
all our kids, many little presents,
and a really fun game with dice !
Lots of laughter
and all went home with a happy face !


And there was the next part of the course of
Yaroslava Troinich !

First there was a little friend (Vera)
for the black-and-tan rabbit (Igor)
The last part was making the cloths for both of them.

Such a lot of FUN
(if you like to make fiddly small items
out of felt !!!!!)

a small party and felting fun

 Because I was busy in October,
our anniversary party was postponed a bit.
(but it's not bad to have a party to look forward to !)

Yesterday we visited our granddaughter
in her new home
(which is MUCH closer to school
where she studies for gold smith)
and we went out for dinner :
with daughter and four youngsters this time.
(the family is expanding)
Though we had to wait quite a long time
before we could eat
it was wonderful being together !
(which isn't always possible
when children "are leaving the nest")

So sorry that on the special funny date
22 - 11 - '22
I had no time at all to write a post :
because I was soooo busy felting
in a wonderful masterclass with
Yaroslava Troinich

I have done other workshops with her
and it was always FUN !!!
She has great expertise in felting
and is very generous with her knowledge !
(if you love felting small, please check her out,
you won't regret it !!!)

So on 22 - 11 was the start of this class,
but two days later we finished this funny chap !

Meet IGOR, my black-and-tan rabbit !

Number two is on it's way,
but not dry yet

(next Tuesday they will have some clothes too,  haha)

felting (2)

The online workshops of the "FILZTREFF" (Felting Camp)
were quite time consuming.
But it was fun working "along" other people
(although they were miles and miles away)
Day three of the first week
was for Bea Németh

This time she had (reluctantly) chosen
for stuffed animals and made
a gorgeous donkey as a possible prototype.
She used quite course wool that I normally don't
but on that I followed instructions.

But as often at moments like this,
I want to follow my own path
and not make exactly what is suggested.
So after I chose a fox and realized I didn't have the right colours for that,
I tried an otter
(haha, in case you don't know what it is)

in progress and finished

That was really fun
So, why not try another one ?

One that truly suits me (and my blog) ?

Though I initially thought
to only make coloured spots on its back
I ended up with the new idea
of coloured spikes !

Why make it easy 
when you can make it difficult
. . . .

And why not make ears AND antennas ?
(hmmm : those who KNOW about felting
know what I mean  ;-)  !)

Now I can introduce you to :

Bow !

Well I can tell you
there WERE moments
that I regretted my boldness haha !

But,

I love him !

beetles fan ?

Oh yes<
that I can say . . .

(hmmmm, rather the Beatles than these beetles !)

After some VERY QUIET blogging time
is this the work for another SC workshop :
one by Sabine Kaner.
Though I skipped a few other workshops
I really liked this one !
The way she designs her work is totally different
from the way I myself would think of doing it,
but I must say I'm happy with the end result.
And, I very much love her tactile way of stitching.

You can take any kind of fabric for this
but I gladly used my many bits of woolen felt
(I really hate the feel of cheaper "felt")
Easy to cut in the right shape
and easy to stitch on the background with very thin thread.

A start with the design and break-down printed background
(which disappeared in the end)

Before stitching in between all the bits
with my lovely thin cottons . . .

Mounted on a 20 x 20 cm canvas
(with nice finished edges too)

To be honest :
I would NEVER  EVER take a beetle
that big in my hand !

The REAL six-spotted Tiger beetle
is only 2 cm at the most, but

a fierce predator for anything smaller !

(Only when it is harmless and made out of felt !)

ART market

Ohhhhh that has been a loooong time !
Loosening the tight grip Covid had on all of us for a good two years 
makes this possible again.
And I'm very HAPPY because of it !

GRIET MARKT

Zaterdag  14 MEI
10.00  -  17.00
Margaretha Turnorlaan
Amerongen

Biologische producten
Kunst
Straattheater
Kinderactiviteiten
Muziek

(I'm sorry to say I have trouble
to get the original poster here . . . grrrrr)

I hope (and expect) it to be as much fun
as the last two times I was there.
Ha
if I was not already there with a stall,
I would certainly pay a visit !!!

Framed gouache paintings

an imagine from the garden . . .

And of course a variety of Textile Jewels,

textile pieces, mounted on canvas,
little felted bags and
BEASTS !

If you live anywhere near the center of our country
please visit this wonderful market !!!