Friday, October 26, 2012

A French Themed Swap

A few weeks ago Shane Pollard at

and I decided we would create a swap with each other as
Shane was preparing a book of collages
from some of her blogging friends
and 
she wanted to include some of my artwork too
which was so very sweet of her.

We agreed on two single pages with a French theme
so I searched for some lovely French Vintage
women that I could create as
focal pieces.




I used a variety of vintage upholstery and chiffon
fabrics, vintage, knitting yarn and newer laces as well as
  some
machine embroidery
stitching.













The second page here shows a stamped fleur-de-lis pattern
on plain Dupion silk.



Now Shane has the option of including
these as single pages
or  




 placing them back to back.
I have collaged both of these pages
onto burlap for firm support.


And in just the last couple of days
came this gorgeous package
all wrapped up in this most beautiful





French gift wrapping paper




and inside




the sweetest pages created by Shane.




Isn't this just the prettiest image?

Not to mention this beautiful second page
collaged with the most beautiful
little flower girl - basket and all!

There is a real earthiness in this little girl
surrounded by these lovely vintage laces!




And on the back of this page Shane
created an organza and lace pocket




 which contained these two vintage cards -
one was a French stamped postcard and 
the other displaying some pretty lavender.



Also in the parcel was a selection of
these pretty fabrics and laces



which Shane knows I will so love to create with!

Thank you dear friend - it has been a pleasure
working on these pages with you and I
hope I get to see the whole
completed book
in the near or distant future!!!

♥♥♥

Thank you to all of my dear followers for always popping in to
see what I have been up to and for leaving such
precious comments here!
You know how to put a smile on one woman's face!

With love, Suzy xxx♥

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Creating in Pink for Vicki's Scarf Project






Welcome dear friends to my post today! 
I wanted to share a very important post about a new project set up
by an amazingly generous woman - Vicki at 2Bagsfull Blog
where friends wishing to support women with breast cancer
can donate a wonderful gift of either a bought pink scarf or a
hand knitted, crocheted or sewn pink scarf or wrap.
Now you can read all about this project by clicking on the pink
button on my sidebar on the right hand side.

This is a year long project so you have 12 months in which
to create a scarf at the end of which time these will all be offered
to women who are suffering from breast cancer.
What a wonderful opportunity to show how much you care
in offering just a little of your time and energy
to this cause!

Some of you may not know that firstly we have a small flock of
Angora goats and so this is where my story begins.


 




Secondly, I love to spin wool (not that I have done much of that over
the last two years) and it just so happens that I had some



beautiful scenes of mohair already spun



so what better excuse did I have than to


get out the cast iron dying pot and start boiling up
those avocardo skins that I had been collecting


for a project such as this. 


As I had a large quantity of mohair in 3 scenes
I knew I needed to add more colour so I decided to add
some small quantities of wool dye "Heath" as
well as a few drops of black and gold
silk dyes


and I have to say that I was so very happy with the
muted pink colour I was aiming to achieve.


Wow I really love the fluffiness of this stuff and, to me,
the colour is perfect - it's all about experimentation!


I brought it into the bathroom (of all places!) to photograph
the mohair with a few other pink creations on this antique
dressing table.










I've decided to create a loosely knitted wrap


on these large wooden needles - I have made one in the past
so I just may use the same pattern which is stored in my
head!



Oh! and I just couldn't resist showing you some of our
very first Spring roses - it's a climber -
"Pierre de Ronsard".



I am sure all of you rose lovers know this one -
it has such a pretty green tinge to the petals when it first comes out.


And a few pieces of china in pink - one of my favourite colours!





A little Pink Depression glass basket!




A little pink tapestry petit point purse from the 1920s.



The mohair taken in my studio shows a slightly different shade
but I think the previous images are more accurate.


I can't tell you what a beautiful sheen this wool has and I can't
wait to get started!

Vicki has also created a beautiful woollen and fibre nest for this cause as well as a beautifully knitted and beaded wrap as a Giveaway for you to enter and win so if you
would like to become involved in  this project and 
support our dear friend in
her most worthwhile quest then you have a whole
year to join in and make a beautiful creation that will lift the
heart of just one extra woman in need of some
extra love and support!

Wishing for you another wonderful week 
full of creativity and joy!

Love and hugs 
Suzy xxx

Sunday, October 14, 2012

A Vintage Style Pincushion



I very recently acquired this sweet little silver plated
sugar bowl at a flea market and decided
 to embellish it for using
as a pincushion


I modelled it on one I recently saw on Julia's blog

(thank you dear Julia for that inspiration!!)

I also added some braid as well as some
beautiful fringing which I had
purchased from Liz's Etsy shop


where Liz sells French brocante and English antique
and vintage pieces.

I thought it might complement a couple of other
little pincushions



which I had made recently




like this one
and the one on the left of this picture.



I just used some burlap, french themed cotton,
beaded and embroidered cotton with
some vintage lace pieces


and to finish off I added some fancy embroidered machine
stitching.


 The little silver plated pot was just too sweet
not to use on a daily basis creating
in my studio.

Some of life's simple pleasures and treasures!


I am so very thankful for all of your most gracious
comments left on my posts and to
every new follower  - I hope you have a very inspiring
and creative week ahead!

Love and thanks, Suzy oxo

Friday, October 5, 2012

Wisteria In the Home and in the Garden





And so Spring begins with Wisteria, Bird Song,
 Birds Nests and the many fragrant perfumes with this
"Cecil Brunner" rose in the background just leafing up!




Welcome everyone to this splash of these most
gorgeous shades of mauve and purple!
Isn't this Double Wisteria a most spectacular display





cascading over this solid timber pergola outside
 our Sunroom window?







It is this Wisteria which is one of the first




displays heralding the opening of Spring
here where I live on the South-East Coast of Australia.






Wisterias are commonly comprised of a single flower






but this double variety seems to have more
shades of purple with its density!






I picked a piece to display on a kitchen vignette
as I thought the beautiful purple shades blend 
so beautifully with the whites and
the tarnished silvers.






Sitting above this narrow Oregan timber table
is a vintage Railway Station clock
displaying a collage just completed by moi.














There are almost shades of blue in there too!






How could you not fall in love with such beauty?






A tarnished silver plated tea set!


=


A few odd vintage time worn spoons and cake forks!






A couple of old mixing bowls






And a few gifts from nature in the form of
gum leaves, seeds, pods and a few
shells, driftwood etc.






I even remember my grandmother mixing cake 
in these very similar bowls -
don't you?





One of the greatest joys of all would have to be
the view from my studio window
 where there is creativity of a different sort!

Only in the past few days a Willy Wagtail
decided to build a nest
on this climbing rose stem.





I have never seen such a solid nest
as this and there she sits in 
all her glory
patting down the sides to firm it up.





What a gift she is sharing with us all!
I had to be quick to even catch 
this one!
(Sorry for the blur!!!).

To all my Blogging friends - I thank you for the gifts you bring
too in the way of comments, inspiration and appreciation.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend
whether you are in Spring or Autumn or
in-between!

Sending love and hugs, 
Suzy xxx





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