Roses for you

These roses are for my followers and the lovely visitors to my blogspot.

I've called this piece "Rose through my window"

Since painting the piece and looking at it for a few days I decided to apply two part "Craft Smart, Liquid Gloss" to the insert of the frame. It has a real shine and glow to it now, It does look like glass.

I've also been working on this piece. I can only give you a sneak peak. I can't tell you what it is at the moment because its for my sisters birthday present and she just may pop in here to see what I've been up to.

I'll fill you in and show you more photo's after her birthday.Hugs, Anna

Published again

The latest Handmade magazine has some very talented artists published. I noticed there are a few blogger names that I recognise. Well done ladies.

This piece was painted using Chroma, Jo Sonja's Artists' Colours and Mediums.

The editor has written "Anna Martin knows how much boys love trucks" oh, if she only knew how much trucks are involved in our lives.
Short post this time.
Thank you for popping over to my blogspot and leaving your comments.
Cheers, Anna

Latest workshop & Kinder Quilt

Yesterday I attended a workshop run by True Blue Decorative Artists. The lovely, talented teacher was Tracey Sims who came down from Queensland to teach a couple of workshops this weekend.
This piece (Boy with Chickens) was painted using Atelier, Interactive Artists' Acrylics.

Tracey is teaching a Still Life piece today, however we are off to celebrate a Great Aunties 80th Birthday. Happy Birthday Aunty Lil.

I have a dear friend-Michelle who recently made this Scrappy Little Fingers quilt for her daughters Kindergarten. The Kindergarten is having a Trivia night to help raise funds to improve the Kinder. All the parents were asked to contribute in some way.

Michelle came up with the idea to make this gorgeous quilt to be auctioned.

With the help from the teachers and children at the Kinder they used paints to apply their hand prints and free hand drawings.

Michelle also added some pizazz and sparkle with Stars, Gemstones and buttons. A lot of fun and effort was put into this quilt to make it one of kind. It took Michelle approximately one month with lots of hours to achieve this quilt.
Well done Michelle.

Thank you for taking the time to pop over to my blogspot and leaving your comments.

Craft Expo-2

You Hoo, I'm back to show you the apron.

Ah, I told you nothing exciting!

Oh, If you think I've grown maybe its because I'm wearing two shirts and two aprons. You can't see all of the design, the paint brush is hiding on the other side.The other winner was the young lady on the far left of this photo. She whipped up this very creative design in one hour.

Over the four days of the show, there were nearly 600 men, woman and children that helped to paint this canvas and over $2400 raised for the "Humour Foundation".


Thanks for popping in and leaving your lovely comments.
Anna

Craft Expo

Hello blogging friends,


On Friday I went to the Craft Expo-Craft fest and assisted the FDAA and SFDAV paint a Hugh canvas(25 metres long by 10 metres high) for the "Humour Foundation" for the Clown Doctors.


The public donated a gold coin to paint a piece of the canvas. We had all ages join in from a one year old to a 90 something year old.


The donations will go to the Clown Doctors, the canvas will be donated to a Children's hospital. There was approximately $500 raised each day.

I did have a lunch hour and went shopping. Oh, not enough time to see all the stalls. I popped in to see Sonja from Giggle Buttons and yes I did buy a couple of buttons and stitchery. I also bought a rhinestone applicator with a few rhinestones and some bits of lace and motifs to add to my next scrappy quilt for embellishments. It's amazing how much money you can spend in one hour. Now I just need more hours per day to achieve all the things I want to make.

As the school pick up hour came the stalls became quiet. I heard over the speaker the first five participants to the Bernina stand could enter the competition for free. As this was just across the way i was encouraged by my painting friends to join in. I approached the lady running the show and asked if I could paint the apron that was part of the competition. "No, you have to sew" was her answer. Oh dear, what could I sew in one hour on an apron? I rummaged through the pieces of material, bits and pieces and sat down and started designing in a big hurry.

I sewed a palette with coloured fabric for paint and a paint brush. I turned this into a pocket. There were some very talented ladies in this bunch.

After the hour we paraded down the cat walk in our decorated aprons.The winner was chosen by the loudest applaud.

A lovely young, creative lady from Williamstown and I both won first. Of course I had my own cheer squad because the catwalk was very close to the painting stand. I decided this wasn't really fair to the young talented lady, so I pulled out.

The winning apron was going onto Sydney to be judged to win a Bernina sewing machine. Good luck young lady, I hope you win.

Thank you for popping over to my blog and leaving comments. Hugs, Anna

I had a wonderful birthday and I was very spoilt. Thank you ladies for my birthday wishes.

I recently participated in a workshop run by True Blue Decorative Artists. The lovely teacher was Karen Brouwer who taught a Zhostovo Rooster design. Karen did a few workshops with one of the Zhostovo masters (Slava Letkov) a few years ago and is very talented when teaching Zhostovo style.

I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and thought I'd have a go using the same technique but with oils. I designed this simple rose piece and painted it using Chroma, Archival Oils. If you like this piece, I'm happy to share my design with you.

I'm off to Craft Fest this Friday. I'll be helping to man the stall of the Giant Paint by Numbers Canvas for Humour Foundation for the "Clown Doctors".
Pop on by, pick up a paint brush and say Hello. I'd love to meet some bloggers.

Hugs, Anna

Birthday giveaway

Hi,
I've had a few comments about my "Sunset Ship" design, however as all comments come (non-reply) and I can't see your email address,
Could you please send me a private email if you would like a copy of my design.
My email address is on my side bar.
Oh, I do appreciate all your lovely comments, Thank you.
Hugs,
Anna

My Birthday Giveaway

Hey, Its my birthday this week (we have a birthday week in our house, Aren't we lucky)
My gift to you is a free painting pattern!



Now I did try and add a button with the pattern and instructions to my blogspot, I even had some advice from Vikki at Sew Useful Designs, however I'm no computer guru and found the whole thing way too hard so-

If you would like full written instructions, line drawing and step by step painted sheet-Please leave a comment and send me an email and I'll email you with the pattern as soon as possible, free of charge.

I'd be happy to send this to your friends as well, spread the word, grab my "Sunset Ship" button and add it to your blogspot.
Happy Painting.
Hugs,
Anna

Forest Girl

Hi, Here is my latest painting. I've called her "Forest Girl"
Doesn't she look Innocent and lost in the forest?

For the embossed pieces on her dress I used a stencil a Texture Paste to create a more dimensional look.

Thank you for visiting and leaving comments!

Happy Painting,

Hugs,

Anna

Quilt for a wedding present

A very dear friend's daughter is getting married in Vanuatu in November. Yes, we're going to the wedding!
I made this quilt with the help of Cherrie, who did all the hard work of embroidering the hearts for Naomi & Mark's wedding gift. Please go check out Cherrie's work, she is one very talented lady.
Maybe I should have ironed it before taking a photo and bragging about it, excuse me.

I have sorted out my problem of hiding on other's blog spots. Yippee.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for popping in and leaving your comments.
Hugs,
Anna