Today's mail brought a UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES envelope to my mail box.
On opening it I recalled that JaniceS said her post master felt the card might be safer in a sealed envelope.
The postcard (another in Round 11 of Postmark'dArt exchange) was Janice's No theme card to me.
She chose "Haiku" which is a favourite of mine....not that I'm too successful in composing Haiku.
Both sides of the card were so good.....I had to share both with you.
Round 11 swap for Petroglyphs has seen four cards arrive in my letter box:
From my good friend Vivian......you should visit her blog sometime
www.vivianhelena.com
Janice Simpson.........we have been swapping postcards for three or four years now.
Liz T in MN
Mary K in Tacoma WA
Some have used batik fabrics, others use stamps and paint.
So far I have received SEVEN "Landscapes in one colour" for Round 11 swap of Postmark'dArt.
You know of the one from EvieH in New Zealand.
The other SIX have all travelled from the U.S.: From VA, Mi,Ma;Pa (two cards) and Ca.
Thanks ladies, they are all truly unique!
The weather may be incredibly WET and grey in south-east Queensland (In fact we were 18 mm short of breaking the rainfall record for the first five days of December) but I was cheered to find that two cards from Evie H in NZ had arrived!
One card represented the Landscape in one colour theme: "Hot Landscape".
No
The second fitted the No theme category as was a "Treescape"
Thanks Evie!
The final swap I chose to share in in Round 11, was "NO THEME"
However I chose to use Dragons and Peacocks: Die cut rice paper shapes I bought in Beijing some eleven years ago.
We were in the craft/sewing section of the Rainbow Shopping centre, when I saw these fragile papers: Dragons, Peacocks and Tigers.
Of course I just HAD to have them....and now I share them with my contacts through Postmark'dArt.
Because the papers are so fragile, I have enclosed them in either black tulle or white Organza and kept embellishment to a minimum.
Now to address them, brave the pouring rain and mail them~~~~~"just" within the deadline.
One of the challenges in Round 11 Swap that is currently at it's "use by date", is
ELEMENTS.....Water
I tried out several ideas--
The first one, was a BLUE Hole in the ocean: Unfortunately, my ambition exceeded my capabilities. However, I will keep attempting to do it more successfully in the future.
In Moreton Bay (south east Queensland) at the southern end of Moreton Island, is a blue hole, strangely surrounded by shallows where dugongs and turtles live.
The second attempt I tried to think and work slightly outside the square,
in that I tried a reverse applique of the Kanjii symbol for 'water'.
Again I didn't like the result.
Finally, in a weekend newspaper, I chanced upon an advertisement for Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
I had my inspiration!
So, 12 seascapes later, I had completed my challenge. I hope my swappers enjoy my attempt.
TWELVE seascapes I hear you thinking! I only needed make six, but somehow I didn't register the number required...so now I think I'll frame a few for presents.
Just a few pics of blooms in my garden!
My pocket handkerchief sized "jungle" is blooming luvverly, and is an excellent place to enjoy quiet times.
It may be less than a pocket handkerchief in size, but I love the way my miniature rainforest has developed from my original plans a little over three years ago.
A visit from my son over the weekend, resulted in a larger mirror placed on the southern fence, and the reclining buddha regaining his position among the flowering jasmine on the eastern fence
This post is in answer to Kath, who left a comment regarding preparing fabric for printing a soft book for her baby...
Below is my reply to her......
I'm no expert at this type of thing ....so if anyone else has anything constructive to add please do so
I'm guessing that as it's for your baby, you want to be able to launder it?
I'm not really sure how the methods below will stand up to frequent laundering .
I have made quilts and soft books that have been washed many times,
but!
I used fabric paints!And one quilt is 22 years old.........(grandson) and I am surprised that it lasted so well when his mother
machine washed it at least weekly for 8 years.
That was painted with Scarecrow figures.
The other featured the "Bananas in Pyjamas" and it is now 14 years old.
Back to treating fabric:
One method is to initially wash your cotton fabric to remove any dressing from the fabric, then soak fabric in FABRIC SOFTENER and allow to drip dry.
I use A4 size (8by 11" ) and cut freezer paper to measure and lay fabric on the Freezer paper.
Once printed leave aside to dryand heat set with a hot iron.
I tend to use a sheet of baking parchment to prevent scorching fabric.
There is a product in Australia known as Bubble jet set and you use much the same way as the
Fabric softener.
When you have finished with the BJS pour back into bottle for next time.
Oh! I tend to use a cat litter tray for both methods. Naturally it is used only for my fabrics lol
Then again you can now buy treated fabrics specifically for printing on:
Made by BLUMENTHAL Craft www.blumenthallansing.com
and made in the U.S. they sell 100% Silk Habotai (6 sheets 81/2 inch by 11)
Cotton Twill " :
Artist Canvas same packaging,
So far I have only tried the Artist's canvas, and it was a disaster! It would not feed through my new Epson [printer.
As yet I haven't had time to try out the silk or the cotton twill
But pages of artist canvas, gesso treated go through no problem. Go figure!
Jacquard www.jacquardproducts.com
market ExtraOrganza a sheer Organza and I love to use it overlaid over other fabrics and colours to add another dimension.
I hope this has been of some use to you..........would love to see some photos of your project.
The postcards from the Round 10 swap on Postmark'dArt are still trickling into my letter box.
Each is so different in theme,technique and execution , as the brief was entitled "Anything goes"
Luckily the artists are always willing to share their thoughts and methods,so I not only receive a card but learn new methods along the way.
How good is that!
Not much happening here...the past week has been wet and wintery.
Today is clear,sunny and cool and so some photoes of patches in colour in my garden are for your enjoyment
Firstly, there is the first Iceland Poppy bursting its bud and giving a welcome glow of gold.
A few feet away from the poppies, is a tub of Salvia (I forget its botanical name,sorry) and some Impatiens.
