Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

I wonder if three is sufficient a number to call a series? In my Owl Sisters post, I said I was creating a series of ‘Birdstick Women”. Here are three completed in the last week – all inspired by Australian birds commonly found in the Eastern States – a grass owl, an Australian raven (crow), and a Rose Robin ( although here the nesting female is rather a plain looking bird!). And the fourth just didn’t want a bird as a companion - These art dolls are in preparation for my workshop at the Contemporary Craft Retreat in Canberra in October.  For more information about my workshops and many others led by talented artists from all over Australia, please check out the Contemporary Craft Retreat website 

This beautiful print is by an Australian artist. Lindy Longhurst of    Serpent Mandalas Please click the link to see more of Lindy's art although I admit this is one of my favourites.  I chose a smaller version of this for my sister's birthday gift and then I went  searching for other owl paintings and mixed media collages, depicting beautiful girls and owls. I was surprised to find so many on Etsy, so I created a treasury. It is called Owl Sisters  - just click to find some amazing art work, linking girls and owls or you can see the images in the Etsy Mini  in the side bar to the right. Some old  Australian Aboriginal beliefs assert that bats represent the souls of men and owls the souls of women. Owls are therefore sacred, because your sister is an Owl - and the Owl is your sister. A few years ago, I planned to make a series of "bird" women. I did finish the owl woman, but that is as far as I got. However, recently I have started to make a series of  "stick

With the news of the unfolding and escalating disaster in Japan dominating the media, our thoughts are with  our friends, especially our previous exchange daughters and their families in Japan. Thankfully they are all safe, but we can't help feeling sad for the magnitude of loss of life and environmental destruction. This morning, I looked around our home and found all kinds of  little reminders of happy times we have had with them. Most are beautiful gifts the girls or their families have given us or made themselves ... a thousand cranes, paper cuts, dolls and fabrics. I even found small gifts from my host families when I was in Japan over 40 years ago, and a little handbag I made a few years ago and this reminds me so much of our girls. We are thinking postive thoughts for you all. Not to forget a small but very special event this week - Happy 3rd  Birthday William. May you always be protected from disaster.

Today is International Women's Day 2011. The world  today celebrates 100 years of progress towards gender equality. International Women's Day, however, is both a day to celebrate and a day to draw attention to the challenges that remains before gender equality is truly realised. What  a significant day to meet with a special woman /gallery owner to negotiate a series a workshops culminating in an exhibition of handmade, soft sculptured  art dolls ,"Wise Women" or as they have been affectionately become known as WOWs (Women of Wisdom). The exhibition opening is planned for International Women's Day 2012. Naturally, I began to think of all the "Wise Women" I've made over the last few years, as well as the many wise women who have taken workshops to make their own. I wonder how many women from the WOW pattern now exist? I have chosen eleven of my creations to help celebrate this very special day 2011... Happy International Women's Day to my wo

Felted balls like these are really easy to make - a great project for beginners...   It all started when my mother sent me a cutting from an old magazine about felting balls.  I read the instructions and this seemed very simple - so simple that I could do it while babysitting. I thought it would be a good afternoon activity and felting lesson for my one year old granddaughter who was suffering from a cold on Monday and was tired of playing with toys! I got her interest by putting the sticky tape and two bottle tops on her little plastic table ... and so the process began. Step1 :  Making the rattle for inside the ball  - take two bottle tops and put some little stones inside one and tape the other on top. Check that the tape is secure. Step 2: Gathering wool supplies - you will need some wool for the core of the ball ( wool roving, pieces of an old woollen garment or blanket.), some wool roving for the outside of the ball and some novelty yarns, silk threads, or feature yarns to a