It's been two weeks...

...and it's going to be longer.  Given the challenge of getting a new computer up to speed, a more-than-hectic schedule, and the call of the great outdoors as we move into full-on summer, it's time to take a hiatus on the blog (length undetermined as yet).

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some photos of some works seen recently at the Artrageous Show at Centre 64 in Kimberley and a nearby hotel gallery.

The Artrageous show was the perfect place to display The Lunacy Gown for a second time.

While I'm not sure when I'll be back, you know I'll continue to check in on your work, so keep 'em coming!  Happy summer to you all!

Frustrated?

Not me - HA! I've been without a computer for the better part of a week, as I transition to a new laptop.  While I have the new one home now, it's not working properly (or is that me?) and goes back into the shop tomorrow. 

In the meantime, I got playing in one of my journals; here's a spread that was finished recently (the start is here).

As I was browsing I became mesmerized by the patterns created as I brayered off paint from gel printing - it's how many of my backgrounds get started.  They range from very ripply (some of the pages have been thoroughly crumpled to add textural interest)...

 to striated,

to those that have picked up texture from the overleaf (this one shows a pattern of a swizzle stick on the reverse).

 The colour range is fascinating,

 and range from the very thick (that must have been SOME gel print!),

 to the lightly patterned.  (I suspect there is a stencil overprint on this one).

I was glad to note that there is a wide range of colours for my background - that means that
I'm not going to bore myself.

I can see that I will need to do some investigation regarding photo editing programs, as the Windows10 photo editor is nowhere near the one I used previously.  And I most certainly will find something - just as soon as I get my computer back and my brain unfried.

In the meantime, I hope you've all had a creative week that didn't include computer issues (unless you really love them, of course).  See you next week, and do catch me up on your doings in the studio! 

That was a brief hiatus...

...from fabric, and suddenly I'm back at it again.  This time, I've gel-printed a lace doily onto a canvas.

I've brayered the living daylights out of a spread in my journal in the process of painting some
cheesecloth, dryer sheets and baby wipes in the same colours.  As I've chopped, slashed and cut, there are a few odds and ends that will get added to the journal pages.  Nothing goes to waste here.

I've created some rosettes out of the various fabrics, and shredded some of the green dryer sheets to act as part of the foliage.

The Nosegay for Alice is already starting to look presentable, even without the addition of embroidery to be added.  I'm loving the organic look of the cheesecloth overlaying that gel print.

Here's a closeup of the stitched leaves (dryer sheets overlaying baby wipes) and rosettes of all sorts.

This project is going to be part of a memorial piece created by Alice Saltiel's artist friends.  She was an amazing mentor to so many of us, and it will be a wonderful group memorial to be seen at her Celebration of Life next month.  I've chosen colours that were an essential part of her palette and the nosegay is a nod to the hundreds of floral paintings she created throughout her life (over 900 in one series alone!). 

Will I ever get back to painting?  Maybe....             How about you?  What are you up to?  Do let me know in the comments below, and feel free to post a link!

Trashion is a fabulous thing...

...and I thought you might like to see more of the pieces from the Trashion Show last week.  Since some of them are on display at the Chamber of Commerce, we trekked down in the rain this morning to take some photos.  Aren't they awesome?!!!

This steampunk outfit by Tracy Floer is outstanding...I couldn't stop looking at all the ways she'd reused 'trash'!

 The dress woven from plastic bags is truly glamorous,

 and the colours in the sash are just so rich.

 I love that it came complete with dancing slippers!

Maureen Cameron's Filter Fantasy features a host of coffee filters stained naturally.

 I'm loving the epaulettes!

 And isn't the floral hat delicious?!

 It's another dazzling outfit, most certainly.

Since we were away visiting family for Mother's Day, my studio was pretty quiet.  That's something I hope to remedy this next week.  In the meantime, I hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day yourself, and that your creative juices are flowing!  

It's done,...

...and Rochelle has walked the plank runway wearing The Lunacy Gown.  I have to say she is the best looking daughter I have - a knockout.  Fortunately, she is much less of a braggart than her mom. 

Here's a video of the runway walk . . . in case you can't hear what the MC is saying, the patter that accompanied the walk is as follows: 

'Crafted from about 200 used dryer sheets, thrift store embroidery floss, tank top and threads, this Lunacy Gown has been created by Win Dinn and is being modelled by her daughter, Rochelle Christensen. The skirt of the gown is comprised of dryer sheets that have been used to mop up leftover paint in Win’s studio.  For modesty’s sake, it has been backed by a host of unpainted dryer sheets.  The floral neck embellishments and wristband are designed from the painted sheets that have been stiffened with GAC400, an aptly named Golden Artist's medium.  A Facebook APB brought in a host of donated sheets for the project, and three months of hand-stitching, blood, sweat, tears and embroidery brought the outfit to completion. It's perfectly clear that nobody in their right mind would conceive or complete a project like this one, hence the name of Lunacy Gown.'

Of course I know some of you are macro fans and want a closer look.

Of course John and I had to get in on the act, too.

There were some amazing outfits there, and I thought you should take a peek at a couple that I managed to photograph the next day.  I just love this newspaper dress by local textile artist Anne Fetterly - the thought of ironing all those pleats just has me boggled (says the woman who washes and iron dryer sheets so she can mop up paint with them). 

This dress crocheted from plastic garbage bags is dynamite.

The evening, part of Focus on Youth, included some fascinating and vibrant Trash to Treasure projects from school children as well.

Brenda Brucker, organiser extraordinaire of the evening, created this Procrastinator's Apron

and her quilt club entrants were given oddball 'gifts' with which to create something as well.  Love the photos of their scores accompanying the items they crafted.

I was truly stunned at the variety of work in the Trashion Show and the Trash to Treasure show by adults and children alike.  The creativity in this town is overwhelming.  I only wish I had more photos, but I think you're just going to have to come and see for yourself.  The show closes tomorrow, so make sure you stop in!  

And now, of course, it's on to the next project, whatever that may be . . . life as an artist, tbc.