Tuesday 16 November 2010

Autumnal Art...... and A Day With Maggi


In my quest to 'embrace Autumn' I've been taking lots of photos......the digital pieces above are of a leaf from my garden. Textures and mask are from DJ Pettitt.

The photograph below is of a hydrangea growing against our garden wall. I think it's more interesting this time of year than in summer.


For my first digital version I used various textures from Kim Klassen plus a Katie Pertiet mask from Designer Digitals....


...and here's another version; textures this time from Shadowhouse Creations.


Last Friday I had a wonderful day with Maggi (To Dream to Stitch) at her house. She showed me a paper lamination technique using torn papers, matte medium, stencils and organza (which Maggi had beautifully dyed). Here's my piece before I soaked it to remove the papers....
 I cut it into three and kept one section with the papers still attached as I rather liked the effect.  For the other two pieces I did the technique properly and soaked the papers off the back, leaving behind the parts where matte medium had been applied through a stencil.

I've already begun stitching on one of these....more photos another day :-)

After a delicious lunch (eaten whilst whilst watching the amazing collection of wild birds in the garden) I got the chance to use Maggi's embellishing machine. Oooh it's like watching magic happen......I couldn't believe how all the fabrics and fibres bonded together. I used wool fibres, chiffon, scrim, rayon threads and a thin strip of green velvet (dyed by Maggi).
Here's my attempt....unfinished of course. I will continue with my trusty hand felting needle and add some more wool fibres and sari silks. Then possibly some machine and hand stitching.
A work in progress!


I've also been doing a bit of hand-stitching over the past couple of weeks......its not brilliant, but I enjoyed doing it....
And finally, an update on Peachy. He now lives with us!!!! I think he feels at home here.....he loves my art room :-)
We've been to the vets a few times over the past couple of weeks.....ear drops for mites, two sets of vaccinations, a microchip and castration. DH cringed when the vet called out 'Peachy Vincent' when it was our turn to go in. He laughed at our expressions and said don't worry, we've heard worse .........  :-)

32 comments:

WrightStuff said...

Linda, your digital work is such an inspiration - I adore what you do. I have so many photographs of flowers in various seasons, I just want to spend a whole day in Photoshop now playing! Now as for that adorable peachey - well I have two of my own... nuff said!

Sandy said...

O M G !!!!
Linda yur digital work is absolutely unique.
So wonderful altered designs. Love it, Love it, Love it.

Diane said...

Linda, everything you do turns into magic!

Heloise said...

Lots of visual delight here. Beautiful digital work. I really like your new banner. The lamination work is fascinating and I love all the hand stitching that you have done.

Cynthia Schelzig said...

What a fantastic post!!! Looks like you had a MARVELOUS day with your art friend...I will check out her blog/site then you show us this fiber piece THEN you show us your hand stitching which is out of this WORLD ,,,then to top it all off,ahhh sweet "Peachy Vincent"
you had me LAUGHING OUT LOUD...then to hear the Vets reply...THEN to see ,,my favorite cyber kitty IN THE DRAWER,,,snooping on the shelf,,peeking in the drawer like he is looking for his GEL MEDIUM and then all sacked out after a hard day of art making...well...just TOOOOO DARN adorable. THis was major entertainment here for me this morning...tell Peachy Keen he is a star:)

Catharina Maria said...

That is again beautiful work Linda !
And Peachy is a little darling ,
I wish I have one for myself
Love ♥RINI♥.

Sandies' Patch said...

"No too brilliant" is definately an understatement! It's fantastic you silly billy! Lovely post and Peacy...I just knew he would end up living with you somehow!
He's a real cutey but, then I'm biased, I think all cats are wonderful!
Glad you had a lovely creative day at Maggies', only a little envious of the embellishing machine...

Hugs,

Sandie xx

Sandies' Patch said...

sorry for the spelling mistakes in the last comment!
I forgot to mention that when I last went to the Beetroot Tree, I saw your wonderful work in the flesh so to speak...even better close up!

Sandie xx

Ellie Knol said...

I love them all!!

Anonymous said...

Love the digital pieces, can't wait to get some tuition. The pieces you made have turned out really well and the hand sewing is lovely too. The last photo of Peaches is just gorgeous, obviously needed a rest after his op - or did he still have his bits when this was taken?

Heather said...

Fabulous post Linda. Leaves and text - two of my favourite design elements - and the images from your hydrangea photo leave me speechless. They have such impact. I love those experiments from your day at Maggi's and the embellished piece has such lovely colours and soft textures. There's nothing wrong with your hand stitching - that piece is gorgeous. Love the last photo of Peachy - he knows how to chill out! We respond to 'Hamlet Martin' at the vets! Our youngest daughter was studying English Literature at the time of his 'christening'.

Terri said...

Your digital work is so amazing! I do love what you do with the images.
Your fiber art is so gorgeous as well. Wow!
And I just love the hand stitching you are doing. I think it is very special.

Lynn said...

Where do I start?

First of all, am loving.... your latest digital creations, then again I love all of what you do :)

What you have done with Maggi is brilliant too, love the effect of that technique you used and lucky you getting a try on her felting machine, that would be amazing to have one wouldn't it?

I also love your hand stitching,I find that so relaxing and yours looks so detailed, you always create the most interesting things :)

Love to you and Peachy,
Lynn

Rosie said...

Such a feast of loveliness!

dls said...

Your digital art is awesome.... especially love the women shown on the right side of your blog. They are stunningly beautiful. The colors, the textures, the text (just love text on fabric or in art pieces). Thank you for sharing your art!

The photos of Peachy put a smile on my face.... he is so adorable and you have captured him at his best.

Thanks for visiting my blog ..... I will be back to visit again.

Best, Donna

Netty said...

Well crikey am at a loss for words on these beautiful pieces....no I'm not they are fabulous, love the digital but ooh those fabrics are out of this world gorgeous. Great photos of Peachy.... Annette x

Shashi Nayagam said...

What gorgeous work!! Its always worth waiting for your posts. Peachy looks ever so comfortable and he must be glad to be with you and investigate what you are up to.

Bunty said...

Love your beautiful creations, both digital and otherwise - so lovely.

I love Peachy Vincent! He looks very much like one of my old boys (now resting in peace) - very cheeky!

Barbara :)

*jean* said...

gorgeous work!! that lamination technique looks awesome...and your stitching, divine...so glad to hear that peachy has settled in...i'll bet he brings "youthful exuberance" to your art room!!

Lorraine said...

love all the work thats going on here especially the embellished piece and poor peaches!

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda, You continue to amaze me with your creative juices flowing and with a studio companion like yours, what's better. Can't get over that on my back exposed pose! xox Corrine

ju-north said...

Love your digital work! and the rest! A joy to look at.

Joyce said...

Thanks for the update on Peachy. He's just a little older than my new kittens, I think, and I nearly named one of them Peachy. It ended up being Petey, because she is such a sweety. I cracked up about the vet announcing the name.. it reminded me of when my husband named one of our cats "Pookey." I made him take her to the vet so that he would be the one who had to tell the receptionist he had brought Pookey Daniels.

Jan said...

You are busy as usual creating beautiful things. Love that green and purple stitched piece and Peachy is so darling on his back there! Sounds like you and Maggi had another fun day and I love your embellisher piece. Wish I could play with one.

Emma said...

Quite delicious, all of it! You just go ahead & embrace this darker season, that's all we can do. You make my fingers itch! ;)

Becca said...

Wow Linda! You've been busy! I'm so happy to hear that you have Peachy now! I love to see him in your art room "helping" you. My cats are always with me in my room too. Your textured photo work is beautiful as always, and I loved seeing your stitching! Lovely! I find it so hard sometimes to divide my art time between photography/PSE and sewing/collage, etc! I love it all.
Have a lovely evening!

~*~Patty S said...

Peachy Vincent ... what a giggle and such a handsome kitty kat too!!!
How he's grown!
It is a delight to see what you've been up to ... your blog header is gorgeous...you certainly have taken off with your digital artwork AND your stitching ... the green and purple is fabulous ... you make my fingers itch to play
oxo

Jill said...

What scrumptiosness as I scroll through your post. LOVE the photography, LOVE the embellished fabrics and the embroidery, and of course LOVE Peachy.

Julie said...

Thoroughly enjoyable post and Peachey is just too cute, especially flat out - literally. I had a go at the lamination thing too but did it a bit wrong. I hadn't thought of needling into it.

Anonymous said...

Peachy certainly looks at home in that bottom right pic!
I love all your beautiful art!

Jacky said...

That Peachy is a lovely fellow...I love that last photo of him, all relaxed and stretched out. He's obviously very much at home with you!

BEAUTIFUL new header Linda...you are such a whiz with this photoshopping.

Jacky xox

Mescrap said...

Beautiful digi-collaging work.
And also the new header !! Cool .

Be filled with Wonder and Peace.....and Cosiness

I hope you're managing to embrace this change of season. I'm so much better at accepting the end of summer than I used to be. I&...