Mixing it up Again - Manhatten Skyline .....

       One piece of canvas, some paint, thread and a needle.

The idea that pictures can be worked on a blocked canvas inspired me to try it with canvaswork.

Here the canvas has been washpainted and then the design stitched and a little painting too. Using warm colours from old bricks to suggest the fabric of the buildings.

A Manhatten theme immediately sprang to mind .. all those high rise buildings I suppose.

This is not technically needlepoint or embroidery as it includes the two different styles .. hence the name canvaswork.

The whole is mounted and stretched on a blocked canvas so it can be hung as a picture.

Liked the idea so much Im working on a few .. still working small though.:)

Available from my website:-

http://www.materialassets.com.au 

The Racing Season

Well its that time of year again in Victoria ..........the Racing Season!! when ladies enjoy dressing up and having a flutter.
An addition to my pieces is this Fascinating Fascinator ... all handcrafted using yarn, netting and embroidery.
Ready to wear with a comb attached to the reverse , this will complete your look.

Personally I love big hats but a lot of women dont so fascinators are a great way to accessorize.
They are incredibly fiddly to make, with each small component taking a lot of time and ingenuity.
This one in purples, mauves and silver and not too large (which can be a blessing if its windy).

I custom make these depending on the colour , size etc
To see more details go to
https://www.hand-made.com.au/textilelady

A Bit of Vintage for the Spring

I think I caught a wiff of Spring yesterday, but its gone again today :(
This cuff/bracelet looks fabulous with a lacy top..maybe a wedding accessory?

This one is very tiny cos I have tiny wrists but have been making them in different sizes.
Imagine it with a tan!!


freesias

Ruminations from an Overloaded Brain

I finished my current order the other day and then was on a search for inspiration.
The result?
Now I am overloaded with ideas for pieces..the fabrics, the style , the finished article.
I made a couple of observations whilst pondering this problem.

Dont look at all the lovely cottons sitting there..
Do get somewhere warm to execute things...in this Victorian winter thats not exactly easy.
Remember that asking anyone else will result in as many ideas as people youve asked.
If it doesnt feel right then dont do it..have started and binned  items in the last few days.
Go with the flow..now thats not an easy task for me, structure and focus is where I come from.

 With all that in mind I ended up reading novels in front of the fire nursing a winter infection .

I had a couple of visitors to my backdoor the other day, theres an artpiece floating around in the grey matter about them, just having trouble catching it!!
Here are the visitors

No they are not Australian native birds, escapees from someones garden but just look at the colours!!

I can feel an idea bubbling to the surface..just going to catch it.
If I do you will see it here.
 
freesias
 

New Collection

Ta Dah!!
Here is the new range which I have enjoyed making so much although they are very fiddly.
ENCRUSTED PEBBLES

Based on the idea of pebbles naturally becoming encrusted with lichen or coral .
Focus pieces or paperweights.

 All are embroidered and beaded.
Sizes vary but all are between 10 cms and 14 cms long.I will be adding them to my various selling portals.

freesias

Creating v Promoting

A dilemma Im sure many net  businesses face.
The time taken to promote your work has to be fitted in with the time taken to produce it. If you are not exactly a techie whiz ( and Im in that category )  then one often overtakes the other.

What seems a simple job will take me much longer so I have developed a loose discipline to try and overcome this:-
Working on pieces needs warmth ( and Victoria is anything but that at the moment) and a degree of comfort  so in front of the fire under a cosy rug is good especially in the evening after a meal.
Sitting at a computer is interesting but a good walk round the garden is a must every now and then, this is more comfortable during the day, I dont really want to come across a kangaroo in my night time perambulations.
Wearing fingerless gloves is ok but there are a lot of typos if Im not careful  and I do tend to become distracted by other sites.
So the theory is this, promote in the day, create in the evening... so far so good.


I am developing a few new pieces and itching to finish them so I can show you all but heres a little sneak view.

Yes its embroidered, and yes this is a closeup of one of the items.
This new collection features something relatively heavy, designed to be heavy, and has a lot of embellished embroidery with a few beads.
Cant guess??
Watch this space in the next few days.


freesias

NEW Collection..First Set of Postcard Embroideries

They are finished and ready to go to a new home.This set of four postcard pictures  ( so called because of their size  ...17 cms x 12 cms ) are miniature hand embroideries.

 ...Poppies

On The Reef

Cottage Garden

Wheatfield

Worked on paint- washed canvas they are little pictures created with thread, shown here framed in whitewashed wooden frames.


They are available as singles or as a set of four.


The pictures unframed :-

As there are several choices the prices may be found at

http://www.hand-made.com.au/textilelady

I do hope you like them.
freesias

Branching Out

I am expanding and stretching my wings on the net. As you can see I now have a small, but growing, shop at
https://www.hand-made.com.au/textilelady
More items will be added soon as time, energy and concentration permit because I am
still working on new designs all the time and the new range is growing.
Here is another example :-

                                                                 Hollyhocks

I plan to sell these either framed or unframed, as singles or in a set.This will give you the option of choosing your own frame and growing your collection one by one.

freesias

New beginnings : New Range

I am working on a new range for MaterialAssets.
Based on smaller textile pieces that may be framed or unframed.As always no two are exactly the same.

Here is a sneak peak

Based on the vivid colours ( and incidentally my favourite colours) found under the sea in tropical waters. This features a handpainted canvas as the base with embroidery depicting the various elements.
For more details go to my website at
http://www.materialassets.com.au

Nicola

Embellished Jacket

To get an unusual garment I often embellish existing ones, especially with embroidery.

This is a classic brocade jacket and the embroidery on the shoulder makes me think of epaulets on uniforms.
Anything may be embellished to create a unique piece of wearable art.
Yes it will look different and unusual but thats where the buzz is.
Nicola

An Introduction is needed

Hello to everyone .
My first blog here (but you can see more at my website)      http://www.materialassets.com.au
Originally an art teacher and now a florist and artist , colour is always the buzz for me, closely followed by texture.
I class myself as a mixed medium artist.In other words I am not just an oil painter, not just a textile artist...you get the drift.I enjoy mixing the different materials.
Handpainting needlework canvases is a focus and an exacting skill. Got a pic you would like to sew??Then I will handpaint the design for you.
I have to say from the beginning that Im not a computer techie .. so there may well be blunders now and again but I will try and keep them to a minimum.

freesias