Treasures of Handmade and Homemade

I was thrilled to be asked by my director to create a farewell book for the university librarian when she left early in June. The university librarian, CHR was my favourite director. CHR appreciated and supported my artistic projects. She had been to all of my exhibitions over the years. Apart from the official farewell book I made from all of us, I also made her a journal as a gift from me. We had her farewell party on her last day and I got to present both books to her myself. 

After making books for CHR I got so inspired and made a few more books to use for textile samples. I have been thinking about making sample books for sometime now. I'm glad I finally got around to making them. 

My stitching project on this post is the jacket I patched with eco-dye silk and adding boro style stitching all over it. Slow stitch is ideal for a winter project. I have way more stitching to do on it yet!

I have been bottling my homegrown olives and make my own red and green curry paste as well. What are you doing this winter/summer? 

Textile sample books

This one for vintage indigo

End paper and title page

The 1880 antique sample book from Paris

Another 1880 antique sample book from Paris

CHR's gift journal made from
recycled bookcloths

End paper and title page

CHR's farewell book

End paper and title page

One of my recent projects is this designer linen jacket sourced from an op-shop and patched all over with eco-dyed silk and slow stitch. I never use any pre-planed designs or patterns to stitch over. I just let the fabric and textures guide my stitch. I've completed one side of the jacket. I have put it away for the moment to take up a crochet rug during the cool winter evenings.

Almost done with the right side. 

Round circles just happened!

Motif

A couple of weeks ago I came across a Kaffir lime tree full of limes. I remembered my mother made her own curry paste. Kaffir lime rind is one of the main ingredients for curry paste. In season my mother used to peel the rind and dry it to use in the off season. I think I will do the same too. There are lot of them at the moment. No one here knows what to do with them and they just go to waste otherwise. With that I made both red and green curry pastes to keep. I'm happy I did that and made enough to give away to DD and her partner who love cooking.

Red curry paste

Green curry paste

Preserved green olives

Before and after photos  of 12 WKC team

I just finished my 12 week challenge training at the end of May. We love it so much that we are still doing exercise just like we did in the 12 wkc. My gym is so caring that they are shutting down for 2 weeks to give us a break. Exercise is like other sports; we need to have a break after the major event. In the next 2 weeks we are supposed to do nothing. I think I'm going to miss it. I am also taking up running so I will keep that up! How is everyone? I hope you put some physical activities into your daily routine as well.

Until next time

Nat 

Second Half of January

Second half of January found me cruising into 2016 and getting back to my old routine. Getting back to work is good for me. It creates a good routine through the week and lets me be free in the weekends to play. I visited the art galleries both in Melbourne and Canberra. We do have great exhibitions here in Australia. Every winter there is a travelling exhibit of masterpieces. This winter we are expecting work of Edgar Degas. I have seen many on our trip, but you never have enough of the great things! 

I was itching to get back into dyeing as well. The opportunity came last weekend when I had a free Sunday afternoon. There was so much I could do around the Treehouse studio, but dyeing was calling me louder so that is what I did. I must say I missed dyeing with Eucalyptus leaves.

For my craft related activities I did a quick change over in the Treehouse. I put my eco-print fabric on the old ladder. It looks great as well. I will think of something else to put there later on in the year. While I was searching in the Treehouse I came across the mini Christmas star quilt I started a couple Christmases ago. I'm determined to get it done this year! Quick as a flash I started working on a journal cover for another textile trip back to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai and Bangkok at Easter. I also got a lucky find to share with you. So please read on...

Vintage summer yukata at the NGV,
Blue Alchemy exhibition.

The Treehouse with eco-print fabric.

Gathering dyeing materials

Ready to roll on vintage silk 

Resting the rolls after steaming

Hanging them outside to dry

Some really vivid colour from blue gum leaves

Mini Christmas Star quilt in the making

Journal cover work in progress 

The front of the Journal cover complete

Back of the journal

Part of my job is to decorate this display
cabinet. The boss only wants to have handmade
and recycled items in there. Everything here
is from my Wednesday Craft sessions! 

Lucky Find: Here is my lucky find in the holiday. A felt hat made in Melbourne. In Melbourne there are many famous hat makers because of the Melbourne Cup event that is held on the first Tuesday of November of each year. The tradition for Melbourne Cup is to wear a fancy hat, even for men. So I found this hat at an op-shop when I was in Canberra. It fits me perfectly, but the band needed replacing. So a bit of my dyed fabric is perfect for it!

It looks a million dollars, I think!

I had a day exploring Melbourne Lanes at the
weekend.It was a hot day so my
hat came in handy.

I must tell you a bit about the journal cover. I found old woollen vest from one of my op-shop visits. It has woollen embroidery in the front. But there were also moth holes in places. I was planning to mend it, but when I was looking for fabric to make the journal cover I thought it would be perfect for it, so I used it instead. Giving new life to old things is now my passion and it gives me lot of pleasure!

Hope all is well out there. Is everyone cruising back to life beautifully after the holidays? Thanks for dropping by. Please do leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time

Nat

Textiles Books and Historic Tree

Not many creations in the last couple of weeks. The shorter winter days make me feel like snuggling in and get comfy in the evenings instead of being active. I have a few projects on the go that I should get on with! Ha, but I'm just too lazy! 

I did make a trip to Kazari Ziguzagu last week to check out for some vintage indigo fabric that my friend asked me to get for her. It was a lovely visit as always. I found some great textile pieces that I took photos of (not bought!). 

While I was looking for vintage indigo fabric for a friend I found some for ME (naturally) from an online shop KimoYes as well. 

I did put some stitching on my swirling cloth I'm making into a blog book cover. The problem with working without pattern is that I sometimes get stitcher's block so I have to leave it for a while. Does that happen to you too? Anyway, read the captions on each photo to see what else I did. 

Leaping bunny on Noren, indigo Katazome

Vintage Japanese textiles from KimoYes

A hemp Yukata is ready to be de-constructed, Kazari Ziguzagu

Swirly weaving with added stitching

Naturally dyed samples pieced into Bojagi cloth

Ayako's crochet blanket displayed by Cobie Lee.
Wednesday craft

Another Coptic binding book

Books and friends. Dot Christian, Ro Bruhn and Jacky Williams

Colourful Eucalyptus leaves found on a windy day

Lucky find 

I'm excited to share my lucky find with you! It's not like any lucky find I've shown you before. This time it is an historic Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis). It is approximately 400-500 years old so it predates European settlements in Australia. River Red Gums can live up to 700 years or more. I discovered it on the campus where I work. When standing next to it, I feel like standing next to those movable trees in 'Lord of the Ring'!  

After 10 years of working here I thought I had discovered all the gardens and trees on this campus, but when I found this grand old tree I couldn't help but get excited. I have organised to take my colleagues to view the tree next Monday. A real treat for us all. 

Until next time.

Nat

First Day of Winter, Books, Market and A Lot More

First day of Winter! I know because the temperature plunged from 16'C down to 9'C just over the weekend! It's not too bad when you are keeping warm in a heated building, but it's not the best for a lunch time walk. I do miss our Aussie blue sky in Winter. I thought I had not been doing much these last couple weeks until I looked at the photos I took (good thing I took them!) I realized I was quite busy!

I was in Melbourne City one Sunday to see Kitiya at her booth at Markit @ Fed Square and another Sunday I met up with my friends for brunch. Then another day I went op-shop browsing. I also did some hunting and gathering for dye materials/plants. 

I came across some great books these last couple of weeks. Some of them I had requested with our subject librarian since last year, but for some reason they turned up all at once this week.

I know that I don't blog much these days. Dearest MIL who lives in NZ is keeping up with my blog so when she doesn't hear from me she starts to worry! Enjoy some photos and the short captions:

Weaving in circle for blog book cover to-be!

Bible cover from exhibition

I got inspired by the Bible cover that I posted here. I revisited the exhibition again to get a closer look. I want to make a cover for my blog book using the swirly looks similar to the Bible cover. I might have to make a few because I've ordered 4 blog books so far. 

Eucalyptus leaves lovingly appliquéd on a
sweat shirt. Saw it at an op-shop, not bought!

Natural dyed samples page

Back cover of natural dyed samples book

Leftover natural dyed pieces for Bojagi cloth

Last year I attended natural dye workshop runs by Ilka White, my weaving teacher. I made a dye samples book too keep the samples together. I have some samples left that I will stitch into a Bojagi cloth. 

Privet berries are in season  

Stuffed and wrapped

Bundles star

Dyeing green

Hunting and gathering for dye-able materials change with seasons. The same leaves will give a different colour effect in a different season. I used to get bright orange from the same leaves, but I got green this time around in the above photo! 

Hand crafted potteries by Bridget Bodenham

Kitiya and her friend Steph at Markit at
Federation Square

I was in Melbourne City to see Kitiya's booth at Markit at Federation Square. The handmade market happens only once a year. Kitiya made a lot of her products in bright and happy colours.

Great books and magazine

More great books for inspiration

Gee's bend quilt creation

Punk by Jungo Oki

Lucky find: A lucky find today is this metal discarded document holder I rescued from my work. It was used for filling work documents, but it doesn't go with the modern office fittings we have got today. I love everything rustic and it is perfect to display my vintage fabric. It now has a home in the Tree House Studio. 

Only three months before we leave for around the world in 80 days trip. It wasn't my intention to go on an 80 days trip, but as it turns out from the day we leave until the day we arrive back is 80 days! I have been having fun making gifts for families and friends we will meet on our way.  Our itinerary is interesting and covers the places that we will either be returning to or going for the first time. Mr Notjustnat and I are both well travelled. Having lived  the life of expatiates, we can't help getting excited every time we travel. It's in our blood to keep moving.

Until next time

Nat