Storing the stash

 I have been renovating and re-organizing the room downstairs: the room I work in.

 It has been a good opportunity to reconsider storage for the stash of fabrics, papers, ribbons and scarves that I will use sometime.

 The picnic cases are lovely and roomy and also let the fresh air in.   They are also quite light weight and easy to manage.

The open baskets are great for displaying ribbons and the lovely coloured scarves I have accumulated.

All of the baskets have been bought at the op shops or recycling outlet and the most expensive was $6.00

 

Autumn collage on the table

This month I have received some Mistyfuse and Foil from The Thread Studio you can check them out here and this has really inspired me to do something creative.

  I checked out some ideas here and then rummaged around in my workroom to see what I could do.

First I found some copper metallic Angelina fibres.  

The Mistyfuse is very fine and lovely to use:  I laid the black mistyfuse on some baking paper and spread some copper Angelina fibres on top and laid the white mistyfuse on the top.  After covering it with another sheet of baking paper I ironed it thoroughly

 You can see from the photos that it is still quite transparent (or is that translucent). 

 Having done that I collected things that I liked including a canvas I had painted yellow some time ago.

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 Among the bits and bobs I found some paper, ribbons, fabric, dried flowers and free machine made lace to mention just a few.

This collection will sit on the table for a few days - I will place the pieces and leave it for a while and then move them around until I am happy with them.

 I have been looking through some of the things I have made in the past few years.  It is really amazing to consider how much time I have spent and how many techniques I have tried.
 

 The blanket was one I made just for the practice:  the background is wool and the embroidery is silk ribbon and stranded cotton.  The design is my own.


The piece on the right is the detail of a cushion.  The pleated ribbon flowers are made from gathered mokuba ribbon.  the roses are worked in silk ribbon.

The two pieces of silk are some that my husband gave me recently.  They are "pocket handkerchiefs" which came with ties.  I am not sure how to use them but I am thinking of a book cover for him.  The brown piece was part of a gift from his long departed grandmother.  I would like to make something that he can use.

PARCELS & FIREWORKS - COUNTING THE COST

I have been thinking of the contradictory actions of our leaders and of my own response to the environment.

First, let me say, I love fireworks: I have fond memories of bonfires and cracker nights when I was a child.  Of course now it is illegal to set off fireworks unless you have a license.  No more backyard bungers.  

On the other hand I have been pondering the cost of the massive displays that are part of New Year celebrations all over the world.  Many countries are suffering the effects of the global financial crisis and yet they can "burn" millions of dollars in a matter of minutes.  

As well as this I wonder about the effect on our environment of all this explosive showing off.  

Am I just a party pooper - perhaps.  I am happy to hear what others have to say.

I have added a pic of some parcels we took to my youngest daughter and her family yesterday.  This year I have used recycled paper (butchers paper) to wrap all of the presents and used pretty ribbons (from my stash) to dress them up.
I know the ribbon will be re-used and it is not too painful to see the cheap paper go in the recycling bin.

Well, that is enough of sounding self righteous.  We are going next door this evening to baby sit the three little girls.
One nearly 5 and the twins are about 3 months.  Their parents are going to have a rare meal alone.  

I hope our friends suffering from various natural disasters are all safe and off too a good new year of creativity.  I cannot imagine what it is like to have your home threatened by wind and cold and water.  Take care everyone.