Gel Candles

I decided to make some this scented candles this week.   I had some of the candle gel mixture at hand, so thought I would try that for a change.  I added orange oil to the gel and some orange colouring to complete the look.  In one of the containers I put a few seashells for decoration.

LAYERS

This is my latest quilt 'Layers' (well, the one that is actually finished) and as you can see, it is completely and utterly different to my other quilts.  

The quilt is based on some images that have been floating around in my head for some time, since seeing the work of photographer Martin Eisenhawer, whom I have been privileged to meet and whose monochromatic wildlife photographs really spoke to me. (Click here to see some of Martin's photographs).  I was intrigued by Martin's photographs that had an element of colour in an otherwise colourless environment.   

Mono Printing With Plastic Sheeting

Pat and I spent Thursday afternoon using plastic sheeting to print on fabric, an idea I got from the book and dvd by Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan, called Making Your Mark

First let me warn you, if you decide to have a go and are using red dye, make sure your test that the mixing container is watertight BEFORE putting the lid on and shaking it. My kitchen looked like a sniper had gone mad!  Thankfully as there wasn't any soda ash in the mix, the clean up was relatively painless.

DVD REVIEW: MAKING YOUR MARK WITH CLAIRE BENN & LESLIE MORGAN

If you want to take up surface design but don't want to buy every book and DVD out there (er, does that sound like me?!), buy Making Your Mark.  Sorry scrap that.  Forget the reasons, just rush to Amazon or Claire and Leslie's website and buy this book.  You won't regret it, not for a single infinitesimal moment,  Yep I love it!

DVD REVIEW: EXPRESSION SESSION WITH ALICIA BURKE

This is a Quilting Arts Workshop DVD.  It costs $19.95 and is 62 minutes long.  The link is here.  

Subtitled making vivid mixed-media fabric, they may as well call it, playtime for those of us who can't really paint.  Using acrylic paint, fabric paint sprays and shoe polish for goodness sake, Alicia swipes, stamps and dribbles paint across the surface of the fabric or paper she is working on.  Clearly a 'more is more fun' sort of girl, she aims to get as many techniques on the surface as possible.  

For those who are looking to get into mixed media or just colouring the fabric surface, this is an easy way to do so.  There is nothing she shows you that takes any fancy tool or any great skill, in fact the skill may be in when to shout "ENOUGH!".

I really enjoyed this DVD.  I have been inspired to just grab a doily off the cake stand and spray a bit of paint through it.  And finally, thank goodness, someone has shown me a fun way to use shoe polish!

Thai Massage

Well at least you will be under no illusions as to how sickening the masseuse will look!

BIRTHDAY BOY BAZ

What do you get a coffee addict for his birthday?

What can it be?