Spring Down Under

Spring is here. We have two beautiful fruit trees in our back yard. One is apricot and the other one is plum. They are both producing gorgeous blossoms in Spring and fruit in Summer. 

Many little projects are always on the go here in my Treehouse Studio. Also the dyeing pot is steaming away on the back deck. I often gather some dye-able leaves on my walks during the week and in the weekend I quickly prepare dye bundles and steam. I love the feeling of participation when I reveal the dye bundles. 

I'm also working on some gentle stitch projects using old doilies, lace, embroideries and beads. I have been collecting old doilies and old lace over the years. It's time to put them into good use. Another project is crazy quilt block I'm doing online. I'm really enjoying it, but a bit slow with precise stitches. It's coming along very well.  

Below are various photos of life happenings at Notjustnat's residence!

Spring blossom

A birthday present for Treehouse Studio

Lots of doilies

Book cover in the making

The Book of Tea is wrapped!

Tiny little box

First book cover using doilies

Tin-Cushions

Dyed and drying

More dyeing

Old leaves to dye for

CQ basic block

Spring time wouldn't be the same without some spring seedlings. I potted some Petunia and Lobelia for the Treehouse Studio's landing. Can't wait for them to flower! The apricot is also full of blossoms. I hope they will give us lots of fruit this summer. I know some of you are heading into Fall/Autumn. Changing seasons is always welcome. Enjoy!

Until next time.

Nat    

Show and Tell in August

A bit of show and tell for August which is almost over! How are you all? Hope you have time to stop and smell the roses this year. 2016 seems to be unwinding quickly for me. 

In August I have been dabbling with a few things as usual! Finishing little projects is always rewarding! I finished a Christmas brooch in the shape of bauble. I did one years ago in a heart shape and wore it for many Christmases. I also finished a Furoshiki, wrapping cloth I started on my round the world in 80 days trip last year. I did more dyeing as well of course!

The Blue sea and Stars quilt on my first photo below was finished a couple of years ago. I use it on the bed in the guest bedroom. I get so many compliments every time someone comes to stay. I still can't believe I finished such a big quilt, and I am loving it! 

I have signed up for a basic crazy quilt online workshop with Kathy Shaw. CQ would have been my first love for quilting because it's crazy! Kathy Shaw has taken me back to basics with rules that I'm not very good at, but I can do it! Enjoy the pics...

Sea and Stars Quilt

Furoshiki in preparation

Furoshiki finished

Furoshiki wrapped

Wool dyed green

Some moons dyed

BCQ supplies

Beads and stuff for CQ

CQ block

Christmas bauble brooch

Christmas heart brooch

Also boro block, new beginning

Good reading!

I have been reading some great books lately. I just finished reading 'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton. I just started 'Girl With A Pearl Earring'. Both of these books are set in the city of Delft (Amsterdam) in the 1700's.

Until next time
Nat

Re Purpose and Dyeing Stuff!

I have been busy! What news right? Real winter is settling-in here in Melbourne. Winter is late this year. I felt that it might never come. Cold weather is good to snuggle in and work on something soft and woolly. I have done a lot of things lately, but today I'm only going to show you my latest project made from a woollen baby blanket. 

I have been busy dyeing weird and wonderful stuff. When I spotted a brand new woollen baby blanket at my local op-shop for only $8.25 I had to have it! I know that wool dyes like a dream!

For dyeing I cut the blanket into sections small enough to roll in bundles. I stuffed eucalyptus leaves inside each piece. Rolled and steamed. I love and treasure this blanket, and now I can share what I made from it with my stitching friends to love and use for years to come. 

Cut and ready to dye.

Wonderful result with rust objects
to add extra dimension.

Trimmed to size and added blanket stitches.
Very simple!

Added wool felt dyed previously on the inside.
I've left a small opening to keep thread.

Feeling very pleased with myself after the fourth roll. I made the cords using dyed threads. The buttons are vintage ones from my button tins. I posted them up today on my Instagram feed and I was asked if they are for sale! I will continue making them until I use up all of the blanket. I love the mass production process with whatever I'm making. It's the quilter in me coming out! 

Until next time

Nat

Post 2016 Textile Trip

It has been a busy couple of weeks since I returned from the SE Asia textile trip. I had arranged a few activities prior to my travel. The activities were of fun things to do, one of which was to visit Australian Quilt Convention, AQC. The Australian quilt show is not as big as the one in Europe or the US, but to me it's big enough! I don't go to many of these shows now, but at this one I wanted to go and say hi to Victoria Findlay Wolfe. When I met her in Seattle last year I told her I would meet her in Melbourne and I've kelp my word. Victoria was teaching, but she spared the time to have a chat with me when I got there. Her workshop was so colourful and lively. I loved what her students were doing with Victoria's modern twist of double wedding ring blocks. 

While I was at AQC I had a good look at the quilt exhibition as well. The ones that caught my eyes were Wartime quilts made mainly by men during the wars. Also the red and white quilts. 

On Sunday my colleagues and I visited the National Gallery of Victoria to see 200 Years of Australian Fashion and I did squeezed in dyeing on Sunday afternoon. Below are photos from many activities in the last two weeks.

The view of AQC from the balcony

Repost this from Victoria's Instagram

Wool quilt, all hand pieced.

Quilt made by men

Image from a magazine article

Simple red and white quilt

Another gorgeous red and white quilt

Victoria Findlay Wolfe's MOD wedding quilt

Some images from 200 Years of Australian Fashion showing at the National Gallery of Victoria. 

Results of the colourful dyed fabric from the dye batch. I've received a lot of inquiries from my Instagram feeds how I get such vivid colours from my dyes? My answer is always the same, time and patience! 

Hanging them out to dry

I also attended a two-day workshop on Seedpods Art with Sophie Munns. Like all workshops, once you get there you always learn something new and become engrossed in whatever comes your way. I can't say I learned how to draw anything complicated. It was a fun workshop and I highly recommend it. 

Sophie's drawing and some seedpods

My attempt at drawings

My colourful painting

The group paintings

Returning from the workshop with leftover seedpods. I had an urge to make ink out of them. I had some Eucalyptus base leftover from dyeing so I added the seedpods and started boiling it for hours.  

Here they are, seedpods ink and walnut ink. 

Well, I'm keeping myself busy with what life throws at me. I don't have long enough time to just sit and finish any project in a hurry. I've come to accept that what make me most happy is when I create! I have many quilts and textile pieces I made, but they stayed hidden in the closet and rarely get used. 

I'm happy to inspire people to create. So if you read my post and have any questions regarding what I do please do not hesitate to leave me comment with your reply-able comment and I will be happy to get back to you with the answer if I can.

Until next time

Nat