Experimenting.....................

with using a resist to make a felted bag. Decided I needed to have a test run before embarking on the felt component of my scrumble bag. A little internet research, and then I set out to make a cover for my iPad using wet felting with a resist. And the result..................

 Front

 Back

My iPad fits snuggly inside, just need to add a felt rope loop and button closure when it is dry.

Really happy with the result, so now it is onto the bag..............

Hugs..................Leanne

Happy Maill..................

I hate returning home to piles of windowed envelopes, but this afternoon there were very few of those (yay) and a parcel card. I was expecting some felting wool, but was thrilled when I got to the post office and saw that one of the parcels was from Greek doll artist, Anastasia Georgiu of Anastasia Dododolls. 

Inside was this gorgeous girl...........

Hello precious and welcome home to Australia

Hugs.......................Leanne

Contextuart Forum part 2...............

After felting to my hearts content over the weekend I moved to Prudence Mapstone's freeform knitting and crochet workshop. There was no specific project, but experimentation with techniques and yarns. I decided on Tuesday that I was going to work towards a piece for a handbag. This was so much fun ~ no rules to follow like when knitting or crocheting in a traditional manner ~ anything and everything goes............

day 1

day 2

day 3

day 4

day 5

finished except for about a dozen edging stitches.

Hopefully over the weekend I will make apiece of felt for the backing.

Stay tuned for the end result.................

Ultimately, my goal now is to incorporate these new skills into costuming my dolls.

Lots of ideas, not enough time, but still a week of holidays to experiment..............

hugs.......................Leanne

Contextart FORUM................

I have had the most awesome week in the Blue Mountains at the TAFTA Contextart Forum. We headed off last Friday and were delighted when we arrived at Leura ~ never been to the Blue Mountains before and it is beautiful, and Leura is so quaint!! Our accommodation was a gorgeous studio flat within walking distance to the numerous cafes, restaurants and shops.

Over Saturday and Sunday I did a felting workshop with Catherine O'Leary. Catherine's method involves creating nuno prefelts and then using these to create a design on a piece of prefelt and then felting in the traditional manner. Absloutely love the scarf/wrap I created

black prefelt base

nuno prefelts

floral elements cut out of nuno prefelts

Design laid out on first end

design laid out on second end

the view along the length

and from the other end

wet down and ready for rolling, rolling, rolling

stay tuned for a photo of the finished item

Hugs....................Leanne

WiP............Stage 1

Finally got back to the studio this weekend and am very happy with how this little lass is coming along. Have worked out how to combine dolls with my new found love of felt making

Stay tuned for an update on her progress later this week.

Time for bed, that alarm will be sounding all too soon..................

Hugs.........................Leanne

Hippity, hoppity....................

wishing you a wonderful Easter.

Enjoy the break

Hugs.....................Leanne

Stronger, Smarter................

This week has been intense!! 

I have been on an amazing personal and professional journey through the Stronger, Smarter Leadership Program facilitated by the Stronger,Smarter Institute and the DEC. I headed off to the Magenta Shores Resort on the Central Coast last Sunday, not really having any idea of what I was about to embark upon, other than it was some program about Aboriginal Education.

I was expecting to a get new set of tools or as usually happens in these courses an old set of tools re-badged .

I got neither!! 

Instead we were challenged to look into our dilly bag of tools, discard what no longer works and be prepared to embrace a new set of tricks in the form of processes to be truly effective.

The process required having a good, hard look at ourselves on a personal level and then on a professional level, and it was challenging, for two and a half days!!

With all that stripped back we then began to explore new ways, not of doing but of being, of truly walking the talk. Through being the doing would flow naturally ~ that's the best way I can describe it. It is not tangible, I can not go back to school and describe a way of doing things, but I can go back and "be".

The most powerful part of the process for me was it validated thoughts and beliefs that I have held for a long time about dealing with all kids, not just Aboriginal kids, which are challenged on a daily basis by negative staff who constantly operate from a deficit position.

Being recently appointed into a leadership position, I knew the physical function of the job, but now I know my purpose in this role, and I am rearing to go.

This graphic best describes the result of the last week:

Chris Sarra is the founder of this amazingly powerful program and he has a mantra that he used with the Koori children at Cherbourg. He would constantly remind the kids that they were 

"young, black and deadly".

unfortunately due to my age and DNA this can't apply, however my new mantra is 

"DEDICATED, MOTIVATED AND EFFECTIVE" 

in all aspects of life, but especially when I walk into a classroom or am interacting with kids.

I am still digesting much of what happened over the last 5 days and the effect it has had on me, but I feel invigorated and inspired. Some of the participants were able to express their thoughts and feelings through song or music or poetic words ~ look out for my creative expression through fibre, fabric and dolls.

All that remains to be said at this point is 

T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U.

 so much to Spilly and Toby from the Stronger,Smarter Institute who facilitated the program and led us through this journey 

and to Renette, Kenny, Leigh and Sonia from the DEC who supported and provided the program.

It's a cliche, but Stronger, Smarter is life changing and I can't wait for phase 2 

in a couple of months time ~ bring it on...........

Hugs...........................Leanne

Mixed Media Fun...........

Been working on a little felted project which incorporates both wet and needle felt techniques:

 The fibres laid out

 the wet felting completed

let the needle felting begin

add a lace trim to the skirt

some arms and leaves

hair from mohair curls

some silk for sheen and a flower

some jewellery (I replaced the hair flower)

embellish the garden with beads and needle felted silk leaves

felting finished

add the sentiment

Now for the mount

 

 

A few more flowers were needed in the top corner, so these were needle felted.

Just need to work out how to mount this now ~  probably on a canvas.

This project was so much fun that I am sure there will be more!!

Hugs...........................Leanne

Stitches and Craft.............

Been to the Stitches and Craft Show. A few of my favourite suppliers were in attendance and I found a new one.
Loving the additions to my stash, some are for workshops in the coming weeks........wool roving and silk tops/throwsters waste for a felting workshop and various yarns for a freeform knitting and crochet workshop. Additionally a good smattering of trims for dolls..................

 

Had a lovely day, great for inspiration!! 

Unfortunately I was too late home and too tired to play tonight :-(

Have a list of houseloving chores for the morning and then I think I will be disappearing into the studio.

Have a few WiPs that require my attention.

Hugs.......................Leanne

Decisions, decisions..............

next overseas holiday ~ such a difficult decision. Basically the choice has been reduced to 2 options

South America

OR

Turkey??????????????

Hugs...........................Leanne

Happy Dance................

I have been totally distracted for the past few weeks with an application for a promotions position. It has virtually consumed my every waking moment ~ I really wanted this position.

Fast forward to 10.30am today ~ the interview!! It went well, I felt good and came to the conclusion that if I was unsuccessful, I had done everything possible and I had nothing else to give.

Finally at 2.30pm I was put out of my misery and formally offered the position, which I of course, accepted. 

My fancy new title is Head Teacher ~ Teaching and Learninig!!

I was so excited, now tonight I am exhausted and so ready for a long sleep!!

I haven't touched a doll in over 2 weeks, don't think I have been in my studio for longer than a few minutes in the past couple of weeks.

Normal programming will resume tomorrow,

Studio here I come!!

Hugs.........................Leanne

Been sidetracked......................

by this little fellow

I don't make many bears these days, but I have a long time friend who has purchased a bear for each of her grandchildren. The birth of the next grandchild is imminent.

So, here he is in all of his finery, ready for the flight to England next week

 

 

Also been working on a CV, that's now finished and I have made it to interview later this week.

Would like to hope that I might resume normal programming with my dolls etc, but think I might be just a little bit distracted until the whole interview process is over.

Wish me luck!!!

Hugs............................Leanne

Whoa..................

slow down!! Can't believe we have been back at school for 2 weeks already. Been so busy that I haven't loaded the Daybook covers I made for my colleague, the gorgeous Jodie:

Think I like these more than the ones i made for me.

Jode was thrilled with the result.

Had a lovely day yesterday with Jode and her  daughter Rose. We went to Tuggerah to do the shopping for our textile classes, folled by a yummy lunch and a spot of shopping ~ perfect!!

Currently working on a mohair bear for a long time friend to take to her grand daughter in the UK later this month. Photos to come this week.

Hugs........................Leanne