Preparing for a workshop

While I'm prepping boards for the workshop coming up, I took a photo like all good bloggers do. Here is my work in progress.I belong to an artist group called True Blue Decorative Artists. They are having a round Robbin workshop with five different Chroma teachers including myself on 17th May.

Each teacher will teach a divider page for a recipe book using different Techniques, Paints and Mediums.

Each teacher has also designed a front cover for the recipe book, that the participants will get a copy of to choose which cover they would like to paint for their recipe book.

This is my design for the front cover.

I've also had some time to finally finish this pretty pen and wash piece for my laundry.

This is the lovely Kerryanne's design. I have changed the colours to suit my decor.

Do you find it harder on cold winter days to achieve as much as you would like?

I much prefer day light savings and warm, balmy evenings to get more painting and sewing done.

Hugs, Anna

Mothers day breakfast

Oh, what a miserable day here in Melbourne. However my day started with my Mum arriving at 8am for Breakfast. My sister and her family arrived soon after and we sat down to fresh fruit, muffins and pancakes.I forgot to mention in my last post that the lace background for "Mums Garden" sign was given to me by the lovely Cherrie. We sometimes get together and have a sewing, swap and chat day.
Hugs, Anna

Early Mother's Day

We are having an early Mother's day with my Mum. She has come from Eden for a quick weekend stopover and is arriving around 8am for breakfast before the long drive home tomorrow. I quickly whipped up this design for her this afternoon along with a new dressing gown to keep her warm and cosy this winter.

Hugs, Anna

Grannie's buttons and bits

While checking out what everyone else is up to, I noticed Kris has a post about Vintage stitching stuff.So I got out my camera and Grannies collection of buttons that I inherited. I just love all the bits and pieces that were in this collection. I had to ask some older friends what some of these are.

Notice the suspender thingys, there are some old buttons of a railway uniform and some very old Australian Military Force buttons that belong to Great, Great Grandad. I also have this very old (1886) linen covered book called Encyclopedia of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont that used to be Grannies. I feel very privileged to be the owner of these things now.

There is a very interesting history on DMC cottons and how the company was formed.

Here is a close up of a couple of pages. This book has everything from plain sewing stitches to very fine embroidery. I'm happy to share any of the information with you.
Hugs, Anna

Easter Break

We had a lovely break over the long weekend. We spent a couple of days with friends at Kilmore and while there we went to visit the neighbours over the back hill that have a wildlife sanctuary.

They have had a lot of fire victims at the U-Beaut Wildlife Rescue Centre after Black Saturday. At one stage they had over 30 patients that needed 24 hour care. Lisa, Dean and all the volunteers did a fantastic job and most patients have been released in new areas or sent onto places like Healesville Sanctuary.

This poor Koala had a burnt nose and paws and had to be wrapped in bandages for weeks. As you can see, he is looking much happier now.

This little Joey is around 15 months old(his back feet were badly burnt in the fires) and is still waiting for his back nails to grow. He may not be able to protect himself without these back nails if released back into the wild.

Onto another subject: Recently while looking at Gail and Tony McCormack blogspot I realized they had a store at the Mornington Racecourse market and I thought I'd go along and find some bargains as well as meet Gail and Tony. I didn't really find any bargains, however there are some great stalls there and heaps of arty, crafty, talented people at this market including the lovely couple.

Hugs, Anna

Fresh Studio

While we are on school holidays and I don't teach classes, I decided to Freshen up my studio with a new lick of paint. Oh wow, how good it feels.

Now, if I could just have some cleaning fairies come over while I'm sleeping tonight and the paint is drying to sort out the mess , I'd be one happy little vegemite.

Hm, where to start, I need all those brushes, I need those bits of wood that I'll paint on one day and I definitely need all those paints and mediums.

Any ideas on where to start mostly appreciated. When my studio is all sorted, I've got some ideas brewing for new designs.

I hope you all have a very HAPPY and Safe EASTER, BUONA PASQUA.

Hugs Anna

A bit of Sewing

Recently while checking out the lovely Kerryanne's blog I came across Kris and decided to check out her blog. Oh what pretty stuff she has. I ordered her Lavender Tea kit and took it on holidays with me.

I have adapted the piece changing the colours of the threads. I going to give this to my Great Auntie Beryl who loves cooking and having afternoon tea parties. Aunty Beryl use to manage the Coles bakery in Melbourne many moons ago, so she really knows her baking.
Here is a close up photo for you all to see. PS: This is my first go at Bullion knots.
Bye for now. Hugs-Anna

Our holiday in Eden

I'm back from holidays. We had a lovely time away in Eden, New South Wales. It was great to catch up with my Mum, Sister and her family while there. The guys went out fishing most days.

The guys launched the boat at Quarantine bay and drove for over one hour across to Green Cape on sometimes very rough seas (that's where the king fish put up a good fight).

I just love this picture of the sunset over the pool.

While the guys were out fishing I went for lovely walks along the beaches and took lots of photo's. Some for the scenery and some for my painting file.

I think this photo would make a great painting.

Olivia's 5th Birthday

We celebrated my nieces fifth birthday over the weekend.

I made an Eye spy Quilt for her.

I'm not sure which pressie was the bigger hit, The quilt or the Dora Music Jewellery box.

Here is Olivia checking out the pictures and counting dolphins on her quilt.

Hugs, Anna

Vintage quilt

I recently combined my passion of painting with some hand stitching, quilting and came up with this Vintage style quilt.

The painting is done using

Jo Sonja's artist colours and Textile Medium.

The young girl in the second row is a photo of my Mum as a child.