Rusting Fabric

A previous blog showed my first attempt at using rust on fabric. While looking through my stuff for something else, I found the results of my rust attempt.

You can't tell from the photos, but because I put so much tension on the fabric in take advantage of the serated edges of the beer bottle caps, I managed to cut through the fabric in almost every rust circle. Note to self for next time.

And I started out with unbleached muslin so what rusting results I did get in the circles and the background areas were lost a bit. White fabric would have shown up the rust more. Another note to self.

Just for comparison, here are the results that Cynthia St Charles gets.

Imagine!

Yesterday was the fete at HRH's school and the weather was memorable -- cold, windy, cloudy with just enough rain to keep that chill going. By the time the Senior Band played I was well and truly ready to go home and warm up.

The quilt I donated to the silent auction actually went over the $500 reserve and I had to pay more so I could take it home with me. I wanted to be strong but, in the end, I decided that I just couldn't part with it. Besides, I was pretty chuffed that someone was willing to bid that much for it.

That sort of made up for the $200 parking ticket I got for parking out in front of the school. Seems that everyone who parked along MacPherson Street got booked. Always nice when the local council helps to support the community.

I managed to hold off at the White Elephant sale and got some lace bits and some junk jewelery for next to nothing. I've taken them apart already and the bead and baubles and bits will be very nice embellishments to go with the quilt I'm going to make from my birthday fat quarters, a rather distinctive colour theme (well, for me anyway).

All in all, a pretty expensive day, although most of it was for a good cause.

The Quilt I Can Never Exhibit

I was at a weekend workshop and Kate wore her name tag down on the hem of her shirt instead of higher up. She explained that it was to prevent men from saying "So, what do you call the other one?"

The inspiration for this quilt hit during the hysterical laughter that ensued. For those who weren't there and don't know the story, this work-in-progress looks like fish scales.

I cut the shapes from a packet of hand dyed fabrics that went from green to orange to brown and the entire quilt, all three layers and the shapes are vlysofixed together as per one of the workshops that weekend.

Recently, I added the round shapes so that I could show this for one of the challenges, 'Of the Body'. Unfortunately, no one sees fish scales any more. And I'll never be able to exhibit this quilt unless I can find a way to quilt and embellish this quilt so that it doesn't look so much like breasts.

Birthday Fat Quarters

I got a nice bundle of fat quarters from a group of Netties for my birthday. I thought that they were very nice but two of them (the ones on the right) just were that little bit out there compared to the rest.

When they were wet, they looked even more out of place.

So I dumped them into a bowl with hot water and some Parisienne essence. The results were quite dramatic when they were wet. But was it too much?

Was pretty sure that I'd gone too far. But once they were dry and folded, they joined the others quite nicely.

The last one on the right and the 8th one from the right were to two that got the dunk.

Wharf Rust #3

Wharf Rust #2

Wharf Rust #1

While waiting for the ferry one morning, I noticed how great the rusty metal on the wharf lookd ... almost like it had been painted. So, in front of all my fellow business commuters, I started taking photos.

It wouldn't have been so bad but just minutes before I had been picking up some plastic beads from a kids bracelet off the ground. Two people thought I'd lost something and bent down to help me look for it. HRH wouldn't have been completely mortified, she just would have walked past like she didn't know who I was.

Rain Update

Well, it looks as if the clouds came through with the rain for us. Not these clouds but ones later in the day and overnight. Sydney got a couple of millimetres of rain today. Not sure how much got into the cachements or what the dam levels are now but fingers crossed that some of the rain makes it there.

Looks Like Rain ... Or Not

It's hard to tell during a drought if clouds like these mean it's going to rain or it is just a cruel trick to get you hopes up. This time, it was just a cruel trick. But there is always next time ...

Azaleas

Up the Garden Path

Trees Impersonate

I go out early in the mornings, sometimes before the sun has decided to make an appearance, to walk around the reserve. In the dark, the trees can look a bit unusual and, when you are thinking about something else, suddenly grab your undivided attention. This one always gives me a start ... looks like someone is going to turn and look at you ... someone very big.


And when I come around the bend and look down at this one, for just a split second I think that I've come across a big, fat kukkaburra sitting on the branch of a fallen tree. But, alas, it never is.

Mosman Bay #3

Mosman Bay #2

Lichen #3

OK, I guess that you are over the lichen shots by now. From a traditional Western art point of view, they break all the classical design rules, but biology plays by it's own rules.

Lichen #2

Mosman Bay #1

Lichen #1

More Flowers

Spring is even more amazing when the flowers you see are so completely different from the ones that you grew up with.

Unfurling

Flower Power

I am no gardener, but am surrounded by people who are. These caught my eye on one of my early morning walks. Have no idea what they are but loved their colour and shape.

When I stopped to take these photos, I was dived-bombed by a couple of birds. As with most victims of senseless crime, I didn't get a good look a them. I found that the rather sharp sound of a snapping beak close to one's ear is enough to keep one moving along and not asking too many questions.

Fountain Soapers Strike!

The fountain in Martin Place is a favourite amongst Fountain Soapers. They strike whenever the spirit takes them and, from the foam running down the bricks, this one was a good one.

But, looking past such larrikin behaviour, I found some interesting images.

North Sydney Sunset