A Bit of This and a Bit of That

We have been away to the beach for Easter and the school holiday.   After the past couple of months that we have had, the break away from the norm has been a godsend.   There is something very soothing about sitting watching the sea, fishing, being lazy and not having to think about anything other than what to make for dinner.  James caught fish, so we had about five beautiful meals of salmon freshly caught.

While away, I decided only to take my drawing things, (I know, I know - it is terrible not to take some hand sewing ... but drawing has been calling me back for awhile)  I have been sitting on the beach or in the caravan drawing my little black and white tangles.  I have started a new blog just for my artwork and it will have pretty much anything I do relating to my drawing.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.    http://janemonkstudio.blogspot.com 

Another little taste of my 3x3's.

This is the life hey!  James fishing - or just feeding the crabs his bait - lol!

After a few years of not catching any fish when we went away, we finally hit the jackpot and caught quite a few feeds of fish - very nice indeed.
Our  caravan is parked just where I am taking the photo from  -  a very beautiful free camp spot - but probably not for very much longer as it is getting busier and busier with campervans and campers. Although there was none near us for at least half a km.

Or perhaps just nosing around outside - as far as the harness will let me go!  Jet just loves nosing around.

Okay - I'm tangled up - now what?
Merlin cries when he gets a little bit tangled or thinks he is tangled because he has worked out that we come over to him and sort it out - clever boy.

It's just too much - Jet says - leave me alone!

It's been a very busy day for two little cats camping.

And Shadow is glad to be home again ... she can get away from the two little rascles Merlin and Jet.



I am back quilting tomorrow - working on those beautiful quilts and catching up with phone messages.   Hope you are all having lots of quilt time.

Hugs
Jane
x

Quick post

No Photos - but I have been busy this week doing a workshop with Ken Smith - Textile Artist - who does some amazing things with freehand embroidery - will post pics later next week.....in the meantime - check out his web site. He is a funny and informative tutor - a great week and I can't wait until next year to do it again!
http://www.bennett-smith.com/

Retreat Quilting

A few weekends ago I went on Tas Scquilters retreat to Camp Clayton - a lovely place to have a retreat - did lots and lots of quilting and made three tops on my new sewing machine which is like a dream to sew on. Lots of good company and quilty stuff - absolutely loved "show and tell" - there are some amazing quilters out there. Even saw Jill's partially completed quilt as you go "Dear Jane" quilt - beautiful work.

These pictures are higgledy piggledy - the red/black/white quilt is one I put together on retreat a few weekends ago (1 of 3 tops I did) but it still needs it's borders put on.









I have also been doing some more ink art - which I love to do. I have been cutting an A5 sheet of medium weight acid free drawing paper into 4 pieces and then drawing a picture that goes over the whole 4 pieces - looks good when split apart (if this makes sense).











This is not a quilter - but I had to take a picture of my lovely DH James painting the house - the house will look lovely with a fresh coat of paint - it's been awhile!









This quilt is now finished off with a lovely pale green binding and is SOLD! Yay.










Very bright quilt - this is before I pieced it and added sashings - I will post another picture when I have it quilted and bound.







More ink art - this one needs to be trimmed and placed in protective plastic sleeve so it can be mounted on the fridge (just put a fridge magnet in behind the picture in the sleeve and it's ready to go) I do like the messy unfinished edge look though - and will be a shame to trim it up. I think I might like to do some that are the whole A5 sheet and not cut them up. Amazing what you come up with really.











More ink art - duck and elephant have appeared in these two 4x4's....definately have to work out a way to utilise these in my art quilts - I will have to try to print them onto fabric with the printer. Have Bubble Jet Set - just need time to play.

More Zentangles and other ATC's

Playing with perspective.











This is a portrait of my darling husband, James. I really like the pointillist art - which probably has a lot to do with growing up around Aboriginal art as well.


It is a good likeness of him - although the hat he usually wears is black!










This is supposed to be Russell Crowe - but I didn't quite get him right. Might have to have another go.









Batman aka George Clooney - this was fun to draw.













Here are some more zentangles that I have drawn - they are quite addictive.

Zentangles

Is this a new craze or something that I have only just discovered??? Well - I think we all Zentangle but have never called it that - maybe you know it as doodling. But it is a bit more I think - to give structure to a drawing with just a black fine tip pen and a piece of card stock is it's own little bit of paradise - a Zen state you could say!
This is a big 8x6inch piece and is my first "formal" Zentangle drawing.







These next two are 2.5 x 3.5 inch Artist Trading Card size Zentangles - they were drawn in a single sitting - about an hour or so for each one. It is very relaxing drawing in this small format - you can then put them into a little trading card plastic folder - put a little magnet in the back of the picture and put them on your fridge - works of art!












This is not a Zentangle - it is Shadow Daisy Monk having a stand off with Apples the Eastern Grey Kangaroo. Apples was hit by a car a year and a half ago - she couldn't stand up properly and suffered some damage to her brain - she is blind in one eye - so she lives with us and gets a bit of fruit or vegetables every other day - the rest of the time she eats what Kangaroos eat - my trees! Anyway - the cat and the kangaroo stare at each other through the flyscreen door - almost nose to nose sometimes.

More Art

I have been doing some more art in the evenings for the online Fine Art Artist Trading Card Group I belong to - It is a challenge to draw for a theme that you might not usually choose - I am enjoying the challenge of using different mediums - mostly my work is graphite and coloured pencils - but I have been using watercolours recently and combining ink, watercolour or watercolour and coloured pencils - I like the effect but need more practise.

Last Post for the Year - & more pics

these are pictures I drew over the weekend - I am pretty happy with the fish and the dragon.

I used to draw these type of pictures when I was at school - used to drive my English teacher nuts because I draw/ doodle when I am actually taking things in - helps me retain more. If only she could have understood that! Not all teachers understand that people have different learning requirements or ways. Not to worry - didn't seem to hurt me any.

This is probably my last posting for the year -so I would like to say thank you to everyone who posted their comments on my blog, everyone who has taken time to browse at my pictures, quilts and my general ramblings. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and a fantastic New Year - open up the bubbly! Cheers, Jane.

Little Pygmy-Possum

This is 'Cercartetus Lepidus' or Little Pgymy-Possum - it is only found in Tasmania and some parts of Victoria I think. Very cute.

I drew this for an ATC fine art swap - so I really hope the person likes it.

Monk Art - a little bit more

This is a Tasmanian Rainforest "Earth Star" Puff Ball - fungi (Did this one today) - looks like an eyeball - but when under pressure all the spores come out of the ball opening.




Dragon - I like dragons.




Eye - is the other eye to the coloured one on black card.





Hanging leaves.




"Clem" - this fellow sat for a portrait for an informal group. Pastel is not my best medium - but I like working with it.

Pencil is definately a better medium for me - I have more control over it. I think so anyway.

This is the view from my back verandah - I love the river and mountains.

Ben Lomond - some of the "shacks" up at the resort - with a fairly heavy snow.

Humming bird - not finished yet

Teddy - I was working on getting my coloured pencil technique better - layering is the key.