Vintage Tea-towel Table Cloth

A recent thrift score find

resulted in the acquisition

of 15 (ok, actually it was 17)

vintage tea towels.

The tea towels were a large chunk

 of someone's well looked after collection

 As they travelled around Australia and abroad, 

she (must be a lovely woman don't you think)

purchased a linen tea-towel.

I have great plans for my tea-towels (insert evil laugh).

Today I embarked on a desperate quest

 to rid my house of  TACKY, CHEAP

 Disney placemats given to my children by relatives.

Bloody princesses and #$*!ing BEN 10

I really hate, hate, hate

marketing to kids!

So,TA-DA

I made a tablecloth.

Here it is unironed.

Not so amazing its true,

but I'm loving the colour and the kids

can learn some geography while they

scoff their bangers and mash.

All the tea-towels feature Queensland destinations.

My all time favourite though is 

pineapple laden 

"Sunshine Plantation"

Does it get any better than the Big Pineapple I ask you?

I know what you are thinking...

a table cloth doesn't solve the need for a

 wipeable surface.

And so, the final touch....

the plastic cover.

I love how the plastic reminds me of those granny sofas protected by plastic.

Can it get more kitsch?

Well, yes I'm think of adding a red pom-pom trim.

What do you think?

Now onto the cushion.

My Embroidery Learning curve

I have been teaching myself 

free-motion machine embroidery

and really enjoying the process.

This is my chronological embroidery journey.....

So that's is it in a nutshell.
Some of it is on Etsy and some I am putting in
Reverse Garbage's upcoming exhibition
"Thread Count".

If you want to keep up I post much more regularly on Facebook and instagram (elle and lou).

Free Motion Embroidery: 1st timer

I've had a hankering to try my hand at something different.

So I purchased a new foot for my machine

and began to have a small play

 with some fabric sample discards.

 Not to sure where this was going,

I glued it onto some more sample fabric

from Reverse Garbage.

Working over the print with some more

stitching added some much needed detailing.

Time for framing in the hoop.

Finishing the edges.

Fabric glued.

(Note to self- but some more bull dog clips)

Amazing stories:

I'm actually happy with it!

(I might even put it on my wall)

I'm

Cancer Council Art Eggs

My boys have been doing something for others.

Its what we all need to do-

think of others a little more.

They have been decorating wooden eggs

for The Cancer Council.

These eggs are sold around Easter time as a fundraiser.

Some eggs are also given to the courageous people

 fighting the hardest of battles.

The Cancer Council

is not just an organisation.

Its backbone are the volunteers in the shops,

the researchers, the educators, the supporting carers.

Its backbone are the people,

 who search out schools and other community groups

 to help where they can.

They quietly plug away, 

doing and amazingly selfless job.

My students researched messages 

of hope that 'spoke to' them,

and used the words to decorate their eggs.

It was touching to see the boys

 approach this task with such pride and care.

 It was wonderful to use Art as a link between

the students and the community.

Teacher Aides: Super-workmates

I hear a lot of people grumble and bitch

 about the people they work with.

This makes me feel sad for them,

and all the more appreciative of what I have.

There is one person in particular 

who enables my workplace

 to function smoothly and happily.

Maybe you are lucky enough

 to have one of those people in your work place?

 They are always happy.

They will always to do what ever is needed.

They find the time for everyone.

They are supportive.

They are generous and graceful.

My super-workmate and friend

is the art assistant / teacher aide at our college.

She works tirelessly and is always positive.

Teacher aides are the backbone of our schools

and so often unrecognised for their efforts.

I love our chats about creativity, family.. whatever!

Teacher aides are the backbone of our schools

and so often unrecognised for their efforts.

So today I made her a little thank-you gift.

A metrocard wallet with one of her favourite singers-Pink.

Its not much but I hope it gives her a smile.

Here's cheers to 2013 -cherishing this time

Welcome to the New Year!

(even though we are already 8 days into it)

In Australia it is school holidays .

We have been catching up with many family and friends with afternoon barbies and long lunches.

To not be concerned with time and dates

 is indeed a rare treat and to be cherished.

My studio has been neglected,
my sewing machine abandoned,

my creative life paused.

This afternoon, 

I ventured into my studio and

 opened a shoebox.

 I found some bunting I began roughly six months ago.

I think I have forgotten how to stick to a task,

or perhaps I never quite got the hang of it.

 Today I made another 4 triangles

 and so I am a step closer to the end

of this project.

I will finish this bunting before my holidays end,

 but I intend to cherish my

freedom from the clock for as long as possible.

Love Lace Exhibition Review: Powerhouse Sydney

It is the museum aspect of the Powerhouse 

that makes it an attractive destination

 for children and parents alike.

Certainly, the robots, tram rolls

 and eco displays are interesting.

It is the artwork that I found exciting in a recent visit.

The current exhibit is

 Love Lace

(Make Lace not War)

Simply put: It is a sensational investigation

 into the world of positive and negative.

When I first entered the exhibition space there

was an elderly lady tatting away in the traditional way.

You could be fooled at this stage

 that the curator, Lindie Ward, 

had designed a predictable lace display.

Love Lace is anything but.

Optical fibres create this Lace Jellyfish

The definition of lace for this exhibition is rather open to include any ‘openwork structure whose pattern of spaces is as important as the solid areas’.

Jenny Pollak installation

Love Lace is a playful exploration by

 artists and students alike 

and includes a competition also, 

The Powerhouse Museum International Lace Award.

The use of new technology and a mind boggling variety of materials ensures that there is something to inspire

youth and the elderly (and all us in-betweeners)

while strategically placed lighting

brings to life beautiful shadow play.

Chain wire fencing

 

As an art educator, 

I regularly try to impress upon the students

 the equal importance of positive and negative.
I can't recall an exhibition that asserts this concept
 with more clarity.

Traditional notions of lace are relegated to fibre and textile work, a deeply entrenched female domain. 
Through the materials and artists' approach to the theme,
these boundaries and definitions no longer exist.

Screen

My only disappointment is that Sydney is a bit too far to take my students for an excursion.

However, the website is a plentiful source of educational resources for art teachers and class teachers alike.

For educational links click here