Spring in Dwellingup

Dwellingup is a favourite place for me and it was there recently that I took the following photo's. Designing Women a group I belong with goes in September each year an opportunity I don't like to miss. 2 days of crafting with like minded women. This year we did some felting and created these crazy women dolls out of felt, beads, charms etc, it was fun and relaxing. Some new faces added to the mix. The beautiful spring blossoms where in full bloom

Graceful double daffodils swaying in the breezes on their long stems

Fat buds on the wisteria just opening up to the sun
Red japonica glistening with dew The beautiful delicate colour of the winter rose, real name escapes me

The beautiful parakeet's with their stunning coloured plumage seemed to pose for the camera they look stunning against the blue sky, they look as if they are just soaking up the warmth of the sun after the cold of winter.

Is this not an idyllic rural scene, they where keeping a close eye on me with my camera, actually zoom lens come in real handy at times.

Beauty in the Australian bush
Bull rushes shedding their winter coats ready for new growth

Subtle shades of white are favourites of mine

Finally my shadow in a pool of water, lovely Australian colours

Art Journey Retreat 2009

Joanne has been wearing her fingers raw, setting up the website with the details for next years Art Retreat that is going to be held in Sydney. It should be up and running by Monday. Recently Joanne flew over to have a look at the venue, we are hoping all the delegates will be happy with our choice. It is very hard when you are operating from the other side of the country, I think it will be good to have classes and accommodation all at the one venue and look forward to getting to know more of the girls and seeing their wonderful artwork.

Once again we have been lucky to get wonderful tutors. I am sure everyone will have a hard time choosing which classes to do. The American tutors have been teaching for many years and have either published books or featured in Somerset Studio magazines.

Mary-Jo Koch does amazing painting onto old postcards, you have to see them, anyone who loves vintage will love this class. Her Journal that is held over 2 days is just beautiful, I cannot wait to meet this wonderfully talented artist. Sample below. Don't those flowers look real.

L K Ludwig's journals are also quite vintage and she is teaching lots of techniques such as ageing copper wire mesh. In the image below I bet you think that is real fern leaf stuck on top, but no its an imprint left after ageing the copper, I have got to try that!

Keith Le Bue does amazing assemblages using found objects, I have admired Keith's work since I purchased a Somerset Studio about 7 years ago and saw the following image, how cool is that.
We have some wonderful Australian Tutors at this retreat, we are hoping you will embrace them, you will find that they are as good as the American tutors and because they are Australian and airfares are not an issue we can offer these classes at a more affordable rate, take advantage of this, as if petrol prices keep rising, air fares will also rise and bringing out American tutors will become a lot more expensive. What I have seen of 2 of the Australian tutors teaching techniques they are as good as or even better than any I have seen. Please go on our website www.artisticjourney.com.au to see samples for these wonderful creative women, it should be up by Monday.

Art Journal Workshop

Last weekend I held a 2 day workshop at Artistic Journey, creating an art journal attended by 3 lovely girls. We had a problem receiving one of our Golden colours that I had intended to use in the workshop I turned it into a positive and had each of the girls choose 2 different colours each. I enjoyed teaching them how to create a whole art journal using the 2 colours of their choice plus white, making many different colour ways. This was as big a challenge for me as it was for them, but what fun that was.

Tamara's colours of choice where Primary Yellow and Alizarin Crimson Hue, now let me tell you this cover is the only place you see these colours full strength, she did warn me that she liked white. I would see her having these lovely colour ways happening then I would turn away to someone else and they had virtually disappeared under a sea of white with just a hint of colour peeping through. But Tamara was happy and it was her journal, you have to own what you do.

Tanya's choice of colours where Quinacridone Burnt Orange and Azurite Hue. Who would have thought that these two colours plus white would create these lovely moody colours that reminded Tanya of the lovely sunsets in Port Hedland, she had so much fun, a bit hesitant at first at what colours she was going to get with her choice, but some very interesting pages evolved.

Peta Jane's colours of choice where Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Anthraquinone Blue to create lovely colours of the bush, I think it was the South African bush of her homeland. See the little bird on the cover this is a beautiful bird to be found there. Usually I would have advised Paynes Gray with Q Nickel Azo Gold but as we where thinking outside the box, Anth. Blue was a very good choice gave a much richer green. Peta Jane I hope these two days where helpful in relieving the stress I am guessing that you are going through, my best wishes to your son and a speedy recovery.

Apron Art

Just before the craft fair I painted this Artist Apron bag that we sell in the shop for $43.90. It is made of a heavy duty canvas fabric similar to that used in better quality suitcases. It has compartments for paint brushes, tools and paper pads holding easily an A3 pad. It also folds up to a handy portfolio bag. It took me all of 10 minutes to paint. I painted over the white printing on the pocket with golden black gesso. Paynes grey, Quin Nickel Azzo gold and Titanium white are the golden acrylics used to paint the pocket on the right bottom. Heavy body acrylic is necessary for this substrate as the fluids would not show up. I used a Golden stencil that Joanne cut out for me with black paint. The other stencils are all Coffee Break Design, using the paint left on my palette. The man on the bottom left is the cut out piece from the top stencil. I did put some double sided tape to hold it down but would not stick so just held it in place with the end of a long paintbrush then painted Titanium white over the top. I like this one better than the top ones as the black image of the cloth stands out well. For any of you wanting to paint your travel bags, use Golden heavy body paints, it stands out, vibrant colours, dries quickly and stands up to all the rough handling your bags take when travelling. I have painted one of my travel bags and also glued 7 gypsy tissue paper with PVA glue makes your bags are easily recognisable when they come through on the moving gondoliers at the airport. Creates a lot of interest and great talking point. So go get out your paints and brushes before you go travelling.

Being Creative

I have not had time to update my blog for a little while. We had a craft fair here in Perth that we exhibited in, so much work! Then there was stocktaking (a bit late I agree) and getting the shop back into order after the fair. Recently I have been working my butt off making a baby journal for my niece's newborn (that was in May) baby daughter Miller, Phillipa's granddaughter. Will share with you, I liked the really soft colours and followed some of the techniques from Corey Moortgat's book the art of personal imagery. I really liked how she incorporates collage papers into her pages, I covered them with a light coat of white acrylic to blend them into the background.

No great artist but you will agree it is childlike. These and the following pages are for Karen to journal in.The birds on the wire are created from the Coffee break design that we got into the shop recently and sold out within days, fortunately we kept one for us to try, it is so versatile. The baby clothes on the line on I painted freehand, they look ok don't they?

These pages are for Phillipa to journal, on her feelings about Miller as her new Granddaughter.

I have journal led these next few pages as the keeper of our family history. I have made Miller's journal on her maternal line and therefor included history and photo's of her maternal grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and great, great great grandmother which is as far back as I have information on. A line of strong creative women that Miller can be proud of. The pages above are of Phillipa's and my mother. ie Great Grandmother.

And finally on the right great, great grandmother with photo's and on the left just written history on 3 times great and a little on 4 times great grandmother of which I have no photo's. The journal size is 23 x 25 cm, I have used 300gsm rives watercolour paper.

Ageing fabric

As we have a big fair starting next Friday and being the organised business that we are, Joanne and I have been busy dyeing fabric pieces with coffee and tea, what a smelly brew, ok if you like the smell of coffee. Thought you might like to see what we have been doing and the reason I haven't updated my blog.


Here some of them are, drying out on the veranda at the back of the shop.

This is some of the torn silk ribbons waiting to be wrapped for sale. Don't the colours look great much better than the bright baby pink and blue that they where. This is a great way to tone down colours on fabric that you want to use in your vintage collage.

I have also been very busy making these journals for my two lovely sisters, Phil and Paddy to take to France with them in early September. I have put what I learnt at the Art Retreat with Misty Mawn and painted all the pages inside as well, I am pleased with how they turned out, the recipients also seem pleased. We have a challenge on our website using these techniques which finishes very soon. Please join us to make up some more lovely journals. Look on our website for the challenge www.artisticjourney.com.au

PS Denise I haven't forgotten your challenge, need some time and help from Jo on how to do.

Nina Jewellery

I have been very fortunate to have some beautiful necklace's made especially for me by Nina Bagley. While I do treasure these lovely pieces I am not a jewellery person, usually only wear my wedding ring. The gift I most love from nina is the lessons she has taught me in making books, the lovely one I did in Cortona and the book of trees, I never tire of admiring these. I especially love to look at nina's jewellery and if I am wearing it I cannot see it, so I have made this lovely jewellery tree that sits in front of the window where the light catches it, in my studio, now isn't that nicer than around my neck. I think my lack of enthusiasm in wearing jewellery is that I wear glasses and do not have a lovely long neck, I feel all cluttered up wearing jewellery as well. As for wearing bracelets I hate anything hanging over my hand, being a real hands on person I don't like anything that gets in my way. Do you feel that way too, or am I a bit peculiar? I know, don't answer that one.