Skip to main content

Almost December

We all say it's hard to believe but it is almost December. I was asked quite a number of times this week if I had done the Christmas shopping or am I ready for Christmas - the answer predictably is no. However, I did get into the Christmas spirit yesterday ... ate some chocolate sultanas and nuts, helped Brandon punch holes and thread ribbon on cardboard stars, and prepared the making of Christmas cards from Dylan's drawings for our daughter Naomi. Brandon and Dylan are our two older grandsons , aged almost 5 and 3, so Christmas is a very exciting time for them.
This week, I also prepared a sample beaded star for the Hello Dollies Christmas party activity and am madly trying to make things for the Handmade Treasures Christmas Sale here next Saturday. I was excited that the feltfollies (last blog) were popular and I had ETSY sales on the day they were put in the ETSY shop.
This weekend, however, I am going to get started on writing on Christmas cards. That will be between going to the Christmas pageant at the Donkey Sanctuary this evening and helping at the Rotary market tomorrow. Our exchange student Riikka also has her friend Sodabeh (from Norway ) staying for the weekend. And everyone wonders what we do in "retirement" ?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as w...

29 Faces

"29 Faces " is an online art challenge - blog and Facebook . The challenge is to create a face each day of September ( with one day for catch up) .... I decided to take up the challenge to practise drawing faces for my dolls and to practise techniques with coloured pencils.  I received a set of 60 pencils  from my daughter last Christmas so I wanted to be sure I used them before next Christmas! I love making tags so I combined tag making with "29 Faces", so I will also have some unique Christmas gift tags for gift giving  this year. Here are the first 9 faces for the first 9 days of September 

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to ...