Beautiful Trees from Liz

Isn't this page from Liz gorgeous? I received it yesterday and I love it. Each new page is wonderful because they are so different.

Here's a closer veiw of her hand stitching.

I just love how she's depicted the aspen trees in the fall. One of my favorite seasons.

Here's the back in lovely fall colors. Thanks Liz!

Carmen and Johoanna

Hi - I sent both of you an e-mail last week asking whether or not you've received your February pages but haven't heard back from you. Please post your pages as you receive them or have the sender post a photo once it's been received. That way everyone can see the pages and I know that they have arrived safely. I know sometimes it's a hassle but if the sender doesn't know you received it, she may think it was lost in the mail. Carmen - It looks like according to Maya's blog that you page was received but since nothing was ever posted here, I wasn't sure. Thanks!

Leaves

Last week I finished my book page for march. Here is a sneak preview of the working process:

GREAT AND SMALL - THE HUMMINGBIRD ARRIVES

I got home late last night, and was delighted to find a package from Debi in my mailbox. This adorable little hummingbird had quite an adventure before winging his way to my house. I love the colors Debi chose for this page. The back is crazy quilted also, and looks like it's made with vintage fabrics. Am I right Debi? Don't you just love the beaded trim at the top! Debi also sent some charming extras, including a couple of dyed silkworm cocoons. Those brought back memories! When I taught Kindergarten we had a mulberry tree on our playground, and I raised silkworms every spring, keeping the eggs in my freezer all summer and winter. We always had a few caterpillars that escaped and spun their cocoons in odd places. Thank you Debi!

..

Have Trees, Will Travel

Ruth, my page for you is just about ready to start traveling.  Hmm.  Traveling trees makes me think of the trees in Lord of the Rings. 

Well, that's not what this looks like . . . so it's an idea for someone else!  This picture is from last week but I thought you could use a sneak peek.  Hope to have it on it's way by the weekend.

Learning more about the sea.

Ruth, thanks so much for my third page. It is stunning! It was waiting for me this evening when I got home. I was so excited when I opened the package and found this gorgeous piece of work.



Ruth chose the following quotation for the back:

"The sea, once it casts it's spell, holds one in it's net of wonder forever."
- Jacques Cousteau.



The whole page is beautiful. I just love the detail in the structure of the jellyfish.
To cap it all, Ruth has sent me a wonderful hand made card.



I shall leave you to read her description of the piece of work. (Just click on the photograph and you should be able to read the words clearly.)



Like Ruth has, I have learnt a lot from this page. She speaks of the environmental concerns regarding the growing numbers of jellyfish. Something I had really not even considered.

Thanks so much Ruth. I really feel that I have a lot to learn about the sea, even though I had chosen it as my theme. Perhaps this is something I could use when I start to compile my pages into a book. Definitely food for thought there..................

Dreaming of diving in the sea - the photos

I really can't think of a better way to introduce the photos I promised in my post yesterday, than to show you the note sent by Johoanna.





The dreaming girl in the photograph looks so very sweet. Here are some details of the stitching around the photograph.

The printed fabric background really adds movement. There are many beads and small stitches alongside small shells. The textures are really interesting. Thanks so much to Johoanna.

The next photo is on the front of the card bearing the message from Johoanna, shown above. What a gorgeous green frog.

Dreaming of diving in the sea.

Imagine my delight when I went through the pile of post on my return home this morning. I had been away for two weeks and there, waiting for me, was a lovely package from Johoanna.
Although I have never been scuba diving, I was able to go snorkling during my time away. This page will bring back some delightful memories as well as being a lovely addition to my book.
I shall post some photos tomorrow.
Thanks so much, Johoanna!

Art Nouveau from Carmen

Yesterday came this terrific page made by Carmen. Thank you for your lovely work!

Detail Shots of Chris's Window Page For Elizabeth

Well it took me a bit but here are the close up shots of the fabulous page that I recieved from Chris! There are multiple layers to this piece and I have never seen such tiny french knots!!!!

Thru the blue and orange panes of the stained glass window you can see a picture of a building with many windows. The orange and blue is the painted lutradur.

Below you can see the foiling that Chris added to the top of the arch and the wonderful edging that she finished the page with.
This is a very creative piece and a fabulous addition to my growing book!!! Thanks again Chris!!!!

Juliette's page from Kath

A bit of a flat representation of cording and muslin waves
onto the seashore but you get the idea!

Katerina

Hi Katerina I posted that the page had arrived a while ago now sorry it must have got lost somewhere, sorry you were worried but yes it's here and it's lovely i do like the colours you used.

An Elephant Named Mali

I'm glad that Gayle's page arrived safely.  Here is what I made for her:

My inspiration was a baby elephant born at the Melbourne Zoo in January.  Of course, all babies are cute, but I have a soft spot in my heart for elephants.  This is my first attempt at Stumpwork and I had a ball putting this little tyke together.  Her trunk and ears stand away from the cloth and she's just too cute!  Gayle, I almost did not send her - I lost my heart to her! 

There are more pictures on my blog and more details on how I did this page.  Also a link to the real baby Mali's web site.  Check it out....

What kind of doors?

Hi Liz its me that is making your page this month and before i go at it at a rate of knots what sort of doors do you like? My mum loves Mediterranean doors, i love old church doors and i would like to do something that you will hopefully like.

March: Leaves

My next theme is leaves. The page will be for Maya.
Here are two pictures as preview.

There's an Elephant in the House!

My page from Liz with a baby elephant done in stumpwork has arrived, and it has totally charmed me. Liz, if you have a scan you can post it with all the details of your work. If not, I will be scanning it anyway for my Flickr page and will post it here also. I absolutely love it, and am amazed by your work. Wonderful!!!! Thank you so much.
Gayle

A Peak At Mandy's Page for March

Here's a peak for you Mandy. I've finished your March page and I'll mail it off to you on Monday. Hope you'll like it.

I hope everyone has completed all your February pages and mailed them off. Do let me know if there are any problems on getting pages completed. (You can now all sigh and say "Yes, Mother...")

Hi Juliette

Am wondering how the postal situation is over there? Presume you haven't received my February page yet? Guess I should start a replacement? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Kath

Page from Juilette

Thank you for this lovely page, i knew my photograph wouldn't do it justice and it hasn't. Juilette you have used real pretty colours and i love the way the sand and rocks have been done. Thank you again.

Elizebeth your page

I am glad you liked the page Elizabeth, its one i have been worried about as i wasn't 100% happy with it. Firstly i coloured up lutradour and then using a soldering iron i burned the windows out of the arch and using french knots i held the windows open. I printed a view of an old house on to cotton and added stitch around the window frames and frech knots for the roses. I stitched the cotton to the lutrador trying to give an apperance of looking through the window at the view outside. To add a stained glass effect i added chocolate wrappers to the top of the arch and machine stitched around the edges. I did add a little pocket to the back of it to hold a couple of little bits.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth I have a couple ideas for windows. Do you want a window or what you can see out one's window? Out mine you just see Snow for about a quart of a mile. Dreaming Quilts : ) Carmen

Cobi

Your page will go in the mail today Fri. Sorry for the lateness. Getting to the post office has been very inconvenient. Last time it was on the list the Husband had me doing stuff for him. Dreaming Quilts Carmen: )

February's leaves made by Mandy

Here's what Mandy created for me. A colourful page of leaves which evoke the colours of autumn. She has used a number of techniques - opaque seta colours to paint the background, applique ,reverse applique and machine embroidery.
The reverse has a little pocket into which I'm going to tuck in the note with all the details. Thank you for "the bit of fun" - a little packet of buttons, in the shape of leaves and little acorns. I'm going to use them when I make up the book at the end of the year.

Carmen your page was put in the mail early this week, you should have it by next week.

I've yet to begin the page for March which is for Chris, will get started this weekend.

Take care all and have a good weekend.

Window Page From Chris!!!!

My fabulous window page from Chris flew in across the pond from Wales today!! It is so creative and fabulous and full of inventive techniques. It is simply wonderful and I wish that you could all see it in person.
Chris, please go ahead and post pictures of your fabulous piece so everyone can see what you ahve done and read about just how you did it!! Thank you for all of the little goodies that you added. You certainly do live in a very beautiful part of the world!!!

Wouldn't it be fabulous if some how, and I do know that this is only a dream, we could all gather and meet in person and share our beautiful books??? That would be the frosting on the cake!!!!
Happy Hugs to all
Elizabeth

My second page has arrived

Juliette my page has arrived and it lovely thank you so much. I will take a couple of photos of it but i have just come out of hospital from surgery and just don't feel up to it at the minute but i will in the next couple of days. But i wanted to get on here to let you know its arrived.

Ladies its so pretty.

Chris page on way

Hi Chris your page is on it's way , I forgot to take a picture so will you please do this for me and show when you recieve it. Hope you like it.

All White Page for Debi!!

Now hat I know that Debi has recieved her All White Page, in her new home in Everete, Washington, I am happy to share pictures of my work with you!!
I had such fun creating this page. I started it during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and I have to admit that there were several times when I actually had to stop working and watch some fo the amazing program!! I did stitch away on the piece throughout the first weekend of the games and was sorry when I finished it!! I have been inpired to go on and create several more all white pieces for other projects, however!
For this piece, I used all vintage bits from my stash and I put it all together using only hand stitches. It was such a relaxing piece to work on! I am trying very very hard to use just what I have and use some of my favorite hoarded things. This way I can continue on the hunt for more wonderful textile pieces!!!

I created the puffed heart using a snippett of a silk scarf to cover a padded cardboard heart cut out, that I then added pearl seed beads to. I wanted to be sure to add a heart to the collage as I was creating this page during Valentines month. I used pieces of tatting, some wonderful heavy floral trim( mostly up near the arch) some creamy crocheted lace and some bobbin lace (down at the bottom). The background fabric is part of an enormous damask napkin with a beautiful Poppy pattern woven in, but with so much going on , I am afraid that the damask pattern got rather overwhelmed.In several spots I tucked in some creamy big fresh water pearls and some Mother of Pearl Buttons- my favorites!!! For the edging, I couched pure white cotton yarn (two rows) along the seam between the front and the back. The back was also made from the same vintage Damask napkin used for the front. Those napkins have an amazing amount of fabric in them and Are a wodnerful source for hand dyeing fabric as well!!!

I am so glad that you like your page Debi!! I certainly enjoyed every stitch!!!!

Page for Carmen

Carmen the page created for you is addressed and ready in its envelope and will be in the mail tomorrow. Today's a public holiday here in India - Holi.

Gayle's page is off!

I'm so sorry it's a month late, but with the huge move... there just wasn't enough hours in the day!!!!  I hope you like it.  Lot's of hours and one do-over had me pretty satisfied with it.  I don't think I can hold a candle to the lovely 2 pages I've received so far, but it was my best.  I took pictures before sending it off and I'll try and figure out how to upload from my mac tomorrow.  Too tired tonight.  I spent the day working on a tree page.  I'm getting excited about it as it's turning out just like I was hoping.  About 5-6 more hours should see it done.  Then I'm starting on my idea of  a Goddess page.  That one will be a stretch for me as I had to do some research first.  Now I need to get the idea's bubbling around in my head down on fabric!

HuGGs to ALL!
Debi

Liz's Page Arrived!

I received my wonderful, marvelous page from Liz yesterday.  Oh my goodness, it's so pretty.  Liz, I can see why it was hard to send away.  It's so delicate and all the hand-stitching is amazing!  I left a comment for you in your post to me, but I wasn't sure if you'd see that so thought I'd better leave a post for you.  Any picture you took won't do this page justice as it's so hard to get a good picture of White.  But believe me ladies, it's amazing!
Love and HuGGs!
Debi

Mandy's Page

Hi all, Mandy's page is done and mailed.  Unfortunately I am unable to upload pics at the moment cause I am using an internet cafe.  I always have lots of fun with sea themes.  This one was no exception.  I do hope you like it Mandy.

I have somewhere permanent to stay now, and am in the process of trying to get my computer and sewing machine sent up.  Unfortunately my ex is being difficult.  But once I have the computer up here I'll get internet access sorted out and I'll then be able to upload photos.  But things are going well.  Having the time of my life.

Johoanna's Page

I'm running a little late this month, but your page will be in the mail Monday Johoanna. Here's a little teaser. Yes, that is a stitching needle, and it is part of the design.

Gayle

Fairy tale book page February

I received my second book page. It is made by Ruth. Like Johanna Ruth choose the tale of Rapunzel. But look, how different it is. I love it. It looks like painted with textures.
The page was wrapped in coloured paper. A very nice idea. And Ruth put a self made card into the envelope.
She wrote, that the card was made with a lot of different techniques like wet and needle felting, aplique and machine embroidery. The hair of Rapunzel is dyed by herself. The wool is from a Wensleydale sheep.
Thank you Ruth for this lovely card.

Running Late But Getting There

Just a few days left in February and I'm still working on Gayle's page.   I'm using a couple of new (to me) techniques and that has meant frequent breaks to double-check the tutorials!  I'm tickled with the way it is turning out so far.  You just won't be hearing much from me until it is safely in the mail! 

In the meantime, here is a sneak preview:

Leaves for Maya.

Beneath are some of the scraps which made up my palette.



Some of the stitching in progress.



Your page will be setting off on it's journey to you Maya, in the morning. I do hope that you will like it........................

Elizabeth i will be putting your page in the mail tomorrow, being away has slowed me down a little i am sorry. Fingers crossed you like it love Chris

My Page From Cobi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first Windows page has actually arrived through all of the ice and snow!! I absolutely love it Cobi!!! I wish that you all could see the incredible embroidery details, in the amazing leaves especailly! I tried to take closs up shot to show you , I hope that you can make them out. (I think that if you right click on the photos, they will enlarge in a new screen!)

DId you see the darling little bluebird and nest perched on top of the window?? PERFECT!! And she included some of my favortie lace- hand done tatting- reminds me of my Swedish Grnadmother who did lots of bobbin lace. Seems to me that Cobi did some research. Have you been reading my blog, by chance?? :)

The background that Cobi used does not show up well in the photos, it is a very subtle brick work pattern. She did wonderful silk ribbon emb for the central garden and then the clibing vines a re a wonderful mix of hand painted lace motifs and intricate embroidered leaves. How did you know , Cobi, that I am passionate about flowers and gardening?????
I simply adore this piece and I so appreciate all of the effort and thought and time that you put into it!!! It was soooo worth the wait!!!
Big Apprecaitive Hugs!!!!

Flowers galore from Ann

Flowers, flowers and more flowers!

I asked for colourful and I've certainly got it this month from Ann!! Plus a page telling me her inspiration - bordered with flowers and in an envelope with a cute garden sticker on it! Thank you so much, I love sunflowers as a Leo and we grow them in our garden.

Jan page and sneak peek of February

Here's a peek of Castles - the page I'm creating in february for Carmen.
The page I made for Juliette in January- The Seashore. I've depicted the ancient Shore temple at Mamallapuram. In the foreground are two catamarans made of wooden logs and a modern fiber glass fishing boat.The ancient coexists with the modern.
The reverse of The Seashore page. A pocket on the reverse holds a magazine article about the rock sculpture and the shore temple of Mamallapuram.

Carmens page

Hi Carmen glad your page arrived safely hope you liked it.

Deb's Page For February!

Here is a little sneak peak for you Deb!! I have used only vintage fabrics, laces and buttons, some real pearls and glass beads. All stitching is done by hand. I am going to take your page to an Art Group Show and Tell on Sunday, and then I will pop it in the mail on Monday!! As soon as you get it let me know and I will post pictures here and on my blog! I hope that you are pleased with it! this was a hard piece for me to send away!!

Hugs!! Elizabeth

Julliette's Page

I received the page you made me. It arrived Fri. Feb 12 I am busy working on the next one. Dreaming Quilts : ) Carmen