Tags I love them !!!

theodoracleave.com

No getting around it I love tags...

Love playing with them

The different shapes 

etc etc !!

I finished off these wooden tags I had painted the day before then left not knowing how to decorate...

I found some smaller stencils but wasn't the effect I like or thought it would be like...

So I got out a box of stamps & used a few & love it !!!!

Tied different ribbons & twine 

& Voila !!

Planning my way thru !

theodoracleave.com

Yesterday I was doing experimenting with some fabrics together....

& 

they worked I thought.

Then I touched the Japanese beige fabric & thinking it could lay over this fabric...

Needed another layer..ah the hoop that was also loitering nearby & I could at last see it !

Fabric in hoop & now I wonder.... will the new Christmas shapes fit in that size hoop...probably too smaller a hoop.

But it was perfect....

I didn't need to have any stitching  well look you could do some French Knots to border it in..

But this is me...

The decoration makes it's own statement..

So I was on a run....

each decoration came off  the other display & was tried in the hoop, fabric alternated with red..

 Then it was try some of the new buttons....

grab the little bag that was also in that supply try box.

Oh how sweet does the pud look on the bag....Angel dust bag that could also be...

  I could now see them hanging from a nice big green tree ( No I don't own one )

little hoops & bags ...

This is all experimenting for the show displays...

I have no road map yet but the way is opening up in that creative & messy way..

I need to clear the table (AGAIN)

****

I need to go & stand at this bench I have not used & get my posting packing stuff happening there...

Looking at old Photos

theodoracleave.com

It is fun to look at the pictures of how one began this journey... this said 1992 on the back of the photo...pre digital camera days 

We all begin somewhere  & each point of progress has meaning 

 A few years on.....

I see Sonia in the background ...I hear she is at Kingston Markets in Canberra

Below & to the left I see Philippa's ( Whiskers & Wings )  hessian scarecrows

My first cloth doll design

April Hope

 This was a little time later...pre magazine profiles for some of these...

Isobella, Nina , OzierBank & Bridie

Ozier Bank & Bridie were fashioned from my cloth dolls of that name....

I need to focus

theodoracleave.com

I am on a continuous  experimenting phase....

Wander to do something 

&

find another thing 

& 

I wonder .....

It is a very comfortable position ...until I get frustrated something just won't quite get there....

But then something else is picked up & plonked & voila !

It has been an eventful week one way or another....

fraying my edges a bit LOL

So that makes me totally unfocussed ...

with the heat or a cool morning ...

I dawdle through my day.....

Somewhere in all that I get a serenity ...

as I lay different buttons on this lovely quilted piece.. 

Love the hearts...& of course I adore the tulip button

I love this combination...the newest snowman is 7cm tall & he sits lovely with deer friend button & the robin button......I would have added a tall winter tree but I need to paint one  But imagine a couple of stitched trees & a little sprig of grass peeking through at the base of these buttons..

It's even better then..????

 I have these home sweet home sort of button/ decorations roaming about waiting to go on the web in How special button section

So keep a watch on the web for them .....

Umm what to show in this post !

theodoracleave.com

The New 2017 Designs 

Twig Angel decoration....she is one of the 9 new decorations with a broader scalloped border.

The border has been left natural

***

Tulips have been planted to enjoy springtime or anytime i need cheering up 

I have red tulips as well.

This would go well in a frame ....or a journal cover ..a garden journal...!!!

I know it isn't that time

theodoracleave.com

Just another peek into my design world & when I get the energy I will scan these to place on the website..

New 2017 Decorations I have done & painted ...

& 

decided which finer edge designs & colours are moving forward to go to sale..

There are 9 designs in all

This is an extension to some things I will be exhibiting at the show in July & as finished items  & a mixture of designs will be on them

As you know I don't stick to the same unless I need to ....LOL

I am having some fun though!!!

Now see the linen screen printed tea towel 

It has significance

as this is where my Christmas spirit built on hope that santa was real came from

Cohuna...

The real Theadora was really at Wee Wee Rup

& right at the base in the print is Mincha & Pyramid Hill where some other Smith's came to live in 1800"s....

Nice tea towel Love the colour ways ...from newsagent in Cohuna on my last visit 

Lots of New Designs Arrived !!!!

www.theodoracleave.com

Besides it being a hot summer & I really am not the full functioning person at this season...

I have received in the post all my NEW DESIGNS

Here is the first of what is available ...

( well I need to reorder more stock so a few days but they are posted on the website now.)

Thread Keepers & a Thread Winder

Each are priced at $10.00

Loving a cool morning

www.theodoracleave.com

Delightful cool start again to the summer's day that will follow.

I have been forgetting to show you Val's stitchings of some of my give away stitchings

She made into a quilt & used some buttons to embellish.

Great to see it stitched ...

I found these stencils yesterday made by 

www.barleycornvintagestencils.com.au 

I spent some time at their booth in a market place yesterday....in Life ??? in Strathdale Bendigo

So many stencils I love ...

& 

the furniture chalk paint 

&

there was milk paint

& 

furniture & signs

Came home with these 2

& 

tried them on my canvas display boards last evening...

They work well for me...

Yesterday was a day of trying new things.

My palette of paints have to be changed as I cannot find anyone in Australia distributing the Americana Deco Art acrylic paints...

the distributor now only brings in selected stuff.

So I was having a bit of a tantrum with myself over the being forced to use another brand or for heavens sake different colours !!!!!

I paint for designers as well as my own work and some have a set colour match & now I cannot find that...

So was talking to myself as I drove from PO yesterday

Just go & try a few pots of the colours now on offer & see...

You know might be a good thing...

So there I was buying retail which was fine as a pot does go a long way.

There were 2 blues which do really work nicely & transistion will be easier...

I have mixed some of my other paints here...

I came back to pick up those yellowy colours as I remembered my new tea & coffee range to come in & it'd work for that !!!

It is not all what I am wanting though as many of the colours being imported are bright colours like what Sue used on her fishes...

Funny things we have to deal with at times...when working ...

I just wanted them All !!!

 These are my friend Sue Mc's creations .....

I LOVE THEM 

I have ordered a fish for pop colour to add in my white bathroom..who cares what one they are all divine !!!!

Sue had a market stall just down from Bawley Point (NSW) on Saturday 

Sue & I talk on phone a bit & when I was in Canberra last year she & I had best chats as she unwell for some of the time & now she is creating such colour & a sense of adventure in each piece ...

Seeing the photos & she has allowed me to show off her work

I have a magnet & a little canvas with boat & yellow fishes  coming my way soon.

If anyone feels the need to buy any contact me .....

 The 2 Sue's  & would get together to paint in Canberra many years ago now....

Now as we speak to each other we are always sharing this world 

All finished now LOL

theodoracleave.com

This all happened at breakfast...

I didn't have a book or magazine to read  ( I have plenty but getting up to gather one )

So started to look in the box of what was left of the buttons 

I then finished breakfast & thought I'll draw some designs for new buttons...well I'll see.

As I reached for the paper I grabbed this paper too & so it began.

The very last 9 are now done & 2 have been sold as soon as they were on the web.

I have now settled some design decisions & ideas while playing about with all these buttons & making pictures...

The box is cleaned up & woo  hoo !!!!

Having an ego....I do keep it in check most of the time...

But I was doing the above collage

 & then did a big collage of many of the button sets that have been happening over the break !!!!

 Not quite all of them 

Yesterday I sketched some tea stuff.... not sure how that happened .

I was planning to use cup & teapot for the show & I was a bit weary of my old set...

They have been the same except for slight modifications inside the shape & a saucer added to the cup.

There are many I see floating about with the same shape & that always irratates me ...I always think go draw your own ...

So now I have a lovely set & it will take me out of the quaint style too that I had for years & years.

Must get them scanned & queued up for their first cuts...

Off to work on more drawings I have roughed out this morning.

I think I am at the end of the box

theodoracleave.com

I think the box of buttons I had in excess....loitering is now about done !!!!

Some of you bought sets & more sets & I relished in the joy of that...

For all who have joined in this little special treat..

bargains were had, 

inspiration ignited some more....

Uses for buttons you have of mine just being idle.

As I wrote that I thought frames of buttons can look interesting....just to gaze apon LOL

These are on the website now at www.theodoracleave.com

I am off to find a cool climate  it is predicted to be 38 here today & that is BLAH weather...

Amusing myself as the weather heated up

theodoracleave.com

More to choose from......all still $10.00 each plus postage...

Such fun for me ....

I find it so interesting...

theodoracleave.com

Red !!!!

It is so interesting for me...that when I started out with red birds & little red strawberries  I had no idea if it would work together or how it would turn out...

Some of these with ovals could be so fab with an oval of different fabric for the oval or make them with felt...felt background & 3 ovals in another coloured felt stitched on....

The Joy one I would spread the buttons out for a stocking, table runner or framed even..oh how good would that be !

I have put these on the website & now I can have lunch !!!

A few more Buttons

theodoracleave.com

Well it is what I do .... buttons & stuff....

There are 4 more gone to be sold....

I like the deer in Snowfalls, it is a nice scene with the 3 different tree designs.

The rabbits in these top 2 pictures have hopped off already..so are no longer available

The Santa one & angels are on the web....

I have a few more larger cat stitcheries for later too !!

Starts off your year of creativity....

Cat Stitcheries

I did promise I'd search these designs out from my archives & I am hoping this collage will suffice to print off yourself & stitch....so I am going to publish & right click to copy to my file & print ....so will be back in a momento

While this is printing, these are gifts from me to you for your own use, not for commercially adapting & using for resale..in any medium.  

Copyright for consent use is for sale....if you wish to wander down that track 

I have given these separate as it is a better way to get the full picture ....

Have fun & someone show me what they make please...I love this part !!!

Barb

theodoracleave.com

These are some prints of the finished stitchings in colours & I think you can make out the stitches..

Mostly back stitch, French Knots & satin stitch

A couple of the designs are missing from the layouts to the picture but don't be too concerned....they'll come when I get to them LOL

Just sneaking these in.....

theodoracleave.com

shhh I am not saying a word....

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

www.theodoracleave.com

The box is still giving up buttons...

& 

today I wanted some nice photo to put on pages of all things ...

facebook, pinterest, blog & website.

I wish everyone a really Happy New Year

We shall move forward together....

in our world of creativity...