Raggy Quilt

It has only taken me almost three years to complete this quilt, but it just made it to be wrapped in Christmas paper as a gift!

 it has a variety of patterns.......plain, stripe, check, geometric, floral, circles, farm scenes, gumnuts &  some hand printed pieces, but i tried to keep the colours compatible.

i used cotton fabrics from shirts, table cloths, curtains, doona covers, pillow cases, sheets & bits & pieces from op shops from near & far. some of the fabrics go back to the seventies, the dominant orange & gold one & the little brown rose print.

 my inspiration came from my sisters, they  had  all made raggy quilts a few years ago & i really liked the look & feel of them  i wanted the edge to be raggy too so i cut bias strips from the shirt fabric & stitched it around the quilt to secure the outer squares before cutting.

happy new year to all!! 

(raylee). 

Boys Presents Handmade

Christmas day was a perfect summer day here........but a couple of boys received warm winter crocheted beanies........the black one was sensibly put away until the winter chills arrive, but the Christmas one was worn on the day. he did get a surprise when he opened the wrapping , his face lit up & he promptly placed it on his head.....i don't think he has taken it off since.
 the response to the plastic patchwork bag made from shopping bags & trimmed with some braid bought at the op shop was just as good, his comment...."that's the coolest bag ever!"
 sometimes smiles are the best presents you can get.
 how was your Christmas?......i hope it was a happy one!
(raylee).

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all , especially our lovely followers & to all the other lookers out there.
when i was in Brisbane recently i took some photos of the shop fronts in the queen st. mall.
 this one has a variety of different people, i didn't realise i was photographing myself as well.

(raylee).

Christmas Tree?

finally got the gist of a magazine tree...

so made one out of an old magazine lying around waiting for something...

I just left it plain...

but it could have been painted or glittered or something...

 

 

Miss 6 loved it so we had to make another...

then she had to make some cards to go in them...

a happy hour or so creating...

hope you all have a Merry Christmas...

all the best for the coming year!..

 

Christmas Bird?

Yesterday i picked up this stick, it spoke to me .......it said ....." i want to be a bird"........so i said ....."ok".
i took it home put some wire legs on it, wrapped & stitched  some red ribbon around three feathers for a tail, glued  on  a bit of hessian thread for a top knot & tied some bells around the neck with more red ribbon .......& there it is .....
i am taking diana trout's advice, just do whatever it is that you feel like just for "fun", it doesn't have to be art that  takes hours & hours to complete........use what you have in front of you, & just do something that makes you happy, & maybe even put a smile on someone else's face.......
(raylee).

Sketchbook Challenge - December : "Gifts"

This doll was a gift for Christmas when i was thirteen, her name is Marika. she now sits under a glass dome as her legs are broken, the hard  plastic cracked,  her eyelashes have fallen out, her hair is kinda matted, she has lost her socks & shoes. there once  was a pink rose pinned to her dress ,  but she is still beautiful to me.

i have another mixed media artwork over at thealteredpage today, courtesy of Seth Apter.
Seth is a mixed media artist & author from New York, he organises different art collaborations, well worth a look. you will find lots to see & heaps of information about art & artists.
(raylee).

Red for Daniel

when my niece was fourteen she tied a red ribbon on our letterbox pole, she is now twenty three. the ribbon was to make people aware of what happened to Daniel & as a reminder to protect their  children.
 that pole has had a ribbon on it for almost nine years.
Today is Daniel's funeral , please wear something red.
(raylee).

another robot

 

this fellow was made to go with the starry nights quilt...

made out of the bits leftover...

 

 

 I wasn't sure which way was front to start with...

but decided in the end to pick the blue face...

 

 

stars for eyes...

moves away from the geometric theme...

but you get that sometimes...

sweet dreams hopefully...

Flights of Fancy Journal Page.......

"cool summer" journal page........

 & some of the more delicate coloured plants & flowers in the garden.

(raylee).

Sketch Book Challenge -" Spice".

(raylee).

Apple Cakes "Easy Peasy Recipe"

ingredients:
150g butter, cubed
1 tspn vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 cups wholemeal self raising flour, sifted
1 tspn cinnamon
3/4 cup milk
3 red apples


1. preheat oven to 180 degrees c, put 12 paper muffin cases in a 12 hole muffin tin.
beat butter, sugar & vanilla in a  small bowl with electric  mixer until pale & creamy.
add eggs, beat between each addition.

2. transfer to a large bowl. stir in flour,cinnamon, & milk until smooth.
peel & grate the flesh of  1 apple into mixture, stir until combined.
spoon mixture into paper cases, 2/3 full.
quarter & core remaining apples, then slice thinly.
put 5 slices on top of each cake.

3. bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden & a skewer inserted into cakes comes out clean..
cool on a wire rack

i found this recipe in a "home journal" magazine. their recipe used unsalted butter & white flour.
to find more Easy Peasy recipes look at mezzmakesstuff
(raylee).

Starry Nights

here is the latest creation...

leftover shirts and blouses cut into rough shapes..

then sewn together for a new look...

 



with the sparkly bits in the grey...

and stars on the black...

the theme became starry nights...

 

the quilt is big enough to cover the top of a single bed...

just another sheet for the back...

no wadding...

no need for the weight and warmth in this place...

Jeans Apron

i have cleared my messy work table.......well just a bit to do some sewing this last week.
 i have a box full of old denim waiting to be used, so to start i made this apron from a pair of shorts.
i am not really a wearer of aprons unless it is my art apron, & sometimes i don't remember to wear it , so a lot of my clothes have  paint & glue on them.
 but i like to make one occasionally just to see what i can come up with.
 then i give them away to those who enjoy their kitchen time more than i do.
 do you like to bake / cook?
 do you wear an apron?
 if so, do you make your own or buy them ready made?
(raylee).

Zig Zag Crochet

here it is......my first zig zag crochet rug, it measures approximately 1.5 m x 1.5 m. made mostly from yarn bought at garage sales, that's why the colours are a bit random!
 have you tried zig zag crochet?
 it's really easy when you know how.
 yes, i am going to make another one!.......when i complete the granny square project i have in the making.
(raylee).

recycled boxes

during the last school holiday break...

we had a session of recreating some boxes..

Miss 6 excitedly requested a house...

loosely based on a plastic model she spotted in a catalogue...

 

the dad got involved and set about creating the stairs...

building the supporting column for the upper storey..

and finding some paint and brushes...

colours chosen by the Miss...

 



the chippy turned up and got his fingers gluey

correcting details on the structural support column...

 



 

Miss 2 also had a bit of a go with the paint...

but found it hard to wait for it to dry...

so she could have a play...

the white blob on the second level...

could be a light fitting...

glitter like disco ball I beleive....in progress...

Portraits & The 5x5 Project

Have you had a look at thealteredpage?

Seth asked artists to participate in a 5x5 project, which i did.......you can see my contribution on his blog Sunday 18/11/2012.

this was a challenge for me as i am fairly new to mixed media art, also working so small & trying to put everything  i wanted to say into such a small space was a real test.

(raylee).

Red Shoes, Material Girl.......

.......& have second helpings ......anytime you like!!

(raylee).

Mixed Media Art

"Heartbroken"........torn painted paper , water soluble crayon on acrylic primed watercolour paper & a small stray feather.
(raylee).