Cards and Porcelain Painting

20th September 2019!

2019-09-20T19:44:00.000+10:00

If I thought my last entry was a long time coming what about this. Four years since!!!
Such a lot has happened my beautiful Fay has joined her Rick in heaven so I no longer do my porcelain art. I had trouble with my hands so my cards are my only hobby now and I am loving it. Have met some lovely ladies on Facebook and in real life. My craft room has taken on a new look. I gave Pamela my sewing machines to make more room for crafting and that works so well. Barbara Williams is my Stampin’ Up supplier and her lovely daughter Teneale is a great demonstrator. So every fourth Saturday I join them to learn new techniques. Here are some of my latest cards.

2017-05-28T15:06:00.001+10:00

I cannot believe how lon g it has been since I have posted in here. It is May 28, 2017 today!
Such a lot has happened. Art and I are now great grandparent in our own right. Kate has had a baby girl, Jonie and Samantha has had a baby girl who is called Evie.
I had a problem February 2016 called Broken Heart Syndrome and had a stay in Blacktown Hospital.
I am still going to Fay for Porcelain Art. And will post the latest.
Still going to Encore though not sure for how much longer.
And the biggest news of all-I am an Octogenarian now. How funny.

2015-08-15T15:08:00.001+10:00

Update

2015-08-15T13:28:00.000+10:00

My 'One Fine Day' Tile for next year's exhibition at The Hub Bungarribee.

A small box that was going to be part of my One Fine Day theme but I gave it to a friend instead because now my theme is butterflies-of course.

I haven't been updating this blog for ages and ages but here are a couple of the things I have been doing lately. We have finally put Sir where he belongs.

These are some cards I made for a lady at Fairfield Markets but i don't think this is why I am making cards.

Sir's Installation

Finally installed Sir Maurice O'Connell at Frogmore his home in Australia once upon a time.

What a great job the Encore Group have done on his outfit.

We are now trying to get our act together to make a mourning dress.

2015-02-08T16:12:00.004+11:00

These are my latest attempts. I am waiting for Blue Edge Crafts to get some more Magnetic folders so that I can store my dies properly. I will then be able to sort out the craft room more effectively. It is working better than it was but there is still room for improvement.

Here is another photo-Pam gave me an easel for Christmas so maybe I will finish that girl.....

Here's hoping!

Update-about time...

2015-02-08T16:01:00.000+11:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I made an entry in here. Goodness!
Well in the last 6 months-excuse me 8 months- a lot has happened.

I have finished a few of my porcelain pieces for the year and will post photos.

Have been making cards for Mt Druitt Hospital Volunteer Shop and have also made some Mothers' Day cards for the Diggers. I will post some photos of my cards.

I have decided not to be Editor of the Gazette anymore and have handed it over to Margaret Dunn who has made a great first edition.

Now towards the end of November last I had an exacerbation of my MS-the first in over 20 years but it lasted for weeks.
As a result we haven't been to see Bob for ages and going to the shops has become an outing for me.
Not impressed with all that.

On the up side Arthur has been looking after me so well. He has not only been the cook but has done the shopping the washing the vacuuming you name it he has been doing it.
He is just wonderful. He has a bad back too.
Anyway I have an appointment with the neurologist on the 5th may so we will see if he has any suggestions or just tells me to wait another 20 years.
As it is still a production when I go out I will not be going back to Porcelain Art or Encore until i feel that I can handle that and the next day too. At present if I, for instance I go to the hairdressers, next day I am a right off.
Our granddaughter Rachel has moved to the UK to live and is having a ball-Our granddaughter Tayla has left school now and is attending TAFE. Our granddaughter Samantha has found her true love as has our granddaughter Emma(I think) Anyway the rest of the family seem to be doing well.

Now for some photos.

So that is a small sample of my past year-since June. Have had a lot of fun and I will post the cards I made yesterday then I shall head to the craft room and make some more.

Has it really been that long...

2014-06-25T15:09:00.000+10:00

When I check in here I am always amazed at the length of time that has passed since I last logged into my blog. Only seems like a minute ago. I noticed that i had uploaded photos of the beginning of my tile-well have a look at it now!

Last week I painted around the jewels using copper lustre and gold-I can't wait to see it!! Very nerve wracking...

I have been all consumed with the need to make cards so here are a few of my recent ones.

I feel like a kid again only my playthings are much better quality. Today's youth probably wouldn't understand the feeling I get when I have a new pencil but to own all these wonderful things -I feel so blessed.

I have just started using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers as well as Copic. And I guess I will be adding some Stampin' Up soon too. They are so good to use as they blend really well. I have also been using Mica colours and I do intend to paint the honeyeaters using them one day soon. as the shimmer they give should look wonderful.

Well two of our granddaughters have taken to the skies and one at least intends staying in the UK permanently. That is a very big word but I am so thrilled she has had the desire to take this step. She is 24 and exceptionally clever and I look forward to hearing how she goes.

Skype has made this so much easier than it would have been many years ago.

April Showers!

2014-04-13T16:11:00.002+10:00

Look at that sky! We have been having a lot of those and some heavy rain lately.

Matilda Jane Gray My cousin Heather sent these two photos to me for my birthday. Love them.

One of today's cards.

My Poppy vase.

WIP my tile. A long way to go with this tile but I am documenting it this time which is fun.
No class until the 29th so I have pleanty of time to clean my brushes and maybe mix some paints and clean my tiles. My working tiles that is...
I am really looking forward to the finished tile as there are a lot of other techniques before it is finished. The tassel will be metallic grounded and then painted into hopefully. Stripes around the edge are to be painted and inside-where the green tape is, has to be yet another technique and then there is gold and painting into the gold, jewels at the bottom. So keep tuned.

Monday March 31st 2014

2014-03-31T17:36:00.003+11:00

Well that's the Castle Hill Show over for another year!!!
My Mucha lady got me a Highly Commended, my green lustre vase got a Second and my lovely jug got a First. So not unhappy with that.
The good thing about entering all these shows is that you get feedback from a variety of judges so after a while you think 'Can't be too bad!'
Might have done the right thing hanging on to that jug for 15 years before I painted it!
My NY Resolution might be to pop in every now and then and blog!
So until tomorrow...

2014-03-28T11:51:00.001+11:00

Nearly forgot-I have completed another Mucha lady-I love these girls.

Now I am off to lunch...

Happy Birthday to me!

2014-03-28T11:30:00.001+11:00

It is a Happy Birthday to me today-77 -I cannot believe it!
Well I have finally got my computer back and now all I have to do is learn how to operate Windows 8.1!
I felt a bit strange not having the computer even though I could see e-mails and Facebook on my phone. Not quite the same.
I have been making some cards and have finished a couple of my porcelain pieces. I shall upload the photos always supposing I can work out how to do that. I made my first box card and I have made a couple of cards with moving parts.
I have done my first porcelain piece using sneaky pen work-that was fun. It is still not finished as there is a lot of work to do yet.
So here are the photos!

I love my poppy vase finished too late to enter it in the Castle hill Show but there is always Penrith. I used wet grounding for the black in this vase and that was a first and so less messy than dry grounding. Then I used Dresden Base for Raised Gold to make the poppies rise out from the vase- then I painted them all this with a firing between each function.

These are the final photos.

Off for a birthday lunch with my Arthur now :)

2014-02-05T13:33:00.001+11:00

Good heavens! Happy new year 2014 and into the second month already. I have had nothing but problems with my computer for the last couple of months but as you can see that left out October November...
To cut a long story short Greg and Fran gave us a new computer at the beginning of December and we thought it was just Windows 8 that was the problem but turned out to be the motherboard. It was faulty.All good now all I need to do is learn how to use Windows 8.
still can't get my old files to open with a permission denied notice coming up on everything.
However I shall take a deep breath and worry about that tomorrow.
I am getting to be like Scarlet O'Hara.
Anyway we have had a busy time with Kate's wedding in October and Pamela, the young girl next door, being married in January. Pamela's wedding was an African wedding and quite lovely.
I have also been into my new hobby and having been making lots of cards.
So as I need to go and have some lunch i shall download some of my latest photos.

The last two photographs are of my latest porcelain pieces. I am so pleased with both of these efforts so am now looking forward to the first item this year.
The other thing is that while I have been unable to do anything on the computer i have been watching a lot of card techniques on YouTube on the TV. And don't start me there one of the TV sets looks like karking it...but that would take too long to tell. Bye for now.

October 3

2013-10-03T11:56:00.000+10:00

As promised I am trying to be more consistent with my posts. Not that I have anything very exciting to tell.
We are having the strangest weather at present -it just poured a minute ago now the sun is out. We could do with more rain -as always.
Not that I have read any of his books but I was very surprised to hear of Tom Clancy's death this morning. I wonder how many others like me only know about the films made of his books-Hunt for Red October etc.Too young to lose such a talent.
I have tried playing around with other people's blogs today so if you read this Paula you will know I have added you my list.
I love Gina K Design's videos and have added Gina's blog to my list too. I don't know enough about links and what to do with them or how to use them. One Day. I am even going to have a go at a couple of challenges-wish me luck-they have to be uploaded by Sunday and today is Thursday.
So it might be off to the craft room ASAP. Speaking of the craft room-I am gradually organising things-I upended my ribbon drawer,which was an absolute nightmare,and only kept ribbons and lace that I would use for my cards in there. All the other I have piled into another drawer-LOL-I will worry about that later-much.
It will be hard to believe -for my family-that I need to purchase another three drawers!!!

A beautiful butterfly at our lemon blossom

Another view

My daughter has zentangled this beautiful M for me-my first name is Matilda

One of my recent birthday card efforts

For my big brother Bob

Portulaca at it's best!

Stuart,my youngest son, gave me this after a day in the mountains. I keep thinking I have killed it and then it comes good again.

That is enough for today it is off to the craft room. :)

Happy 83rd Birthday Bob

2013-09-30T17:19:00.001+10:00

I can't quite believe my big brother is 83 today! Had a lovely visit with him and his younger son Robert. Robert visits him very week and Reece and his girl friend called in yesterday so that is really nice.

As for me -well it is hot here today-way too hot for Spring.

I have been trying to buy a

top to go with my lovely black skirt to wear to Kate and Tim's wedding but so far no luck. I have until the 17th October but that is cutting it a little fine.The wedding is on the 19th...

I has been The Gazette week too so not happy Jane just about says it all. I think I have finished it but the minutes seem to have gone awry so I will make the next cool day my deadline.

I have never been a procrastinator but the older I get the more I become one!
I will upload some of my latest porcelain work. No china painting until the 22nd October but looking forward to going in for a look at the APAT Objet'D'Art Exhibition at the Grace Hotel on the 10th October.

Penned Mucha lady

This vase is a work in progress -lots of lustre

That vase again with resist that can be fired :)

My fan plate I love this one

My Mucha lady finished Not a very good photo!

This is my latest toy for my cards-it is an envelope maker-so simple!

That will be me for today I hope to keep making entries more regularly once I get my computer upgraded.

2013-09-11T11:17:00.000+10:00

One of Pammy's Zentangles

And she did my first initial m for Matilda!

Our Val the ADI lady nearly ready to go into her cabinet.

Some of my cards!

I used one of Pam's Zentangles for her birthday card!

It is a long long time....

2013-09-11T10:39:00.000+10:00

Goodness I can't believe how long it has been since I checked into my blog. There is a lot of catching up to do. I am not sure now is the time as my computer is needing an upgrade but if I make a start maybe I will get into some kind of routine.
Well as I had noted, I spent January doing Zentangles. I gave a book to Pam, my daughter and she has absolutely taken it to another level. I will upload some of her work later.
February it was back to China Painting and so far I have attempted some new ideas and will upload photos later.
But my new love is making cards. I get inspiration from Gina K Designs and Catherine Pooler. I took a class with Nicole Stalker in August, Nicole is Stampin'Up Dealer and lives close to home so all my Stampin'Up goodies I will order form her in future.
My daughter Pam moved to Queensland but has now moved back to NSW and lives in a lovely place called Wangi Wangi (pronounced wonji). We went up there and spent a few days with her and John in July.
Next month the APAT are is holding an exhibition in Sydney at the Grace Hotel. I would love to attend but need to wait and see.
Still going to Encore and nearly at the end of the ADI uniform project. We have decide to do a selection of aprons, for a show next year, from 1860 to 1960.
So far I have made one apron probably about 1950. As we are concentrating on 1860-1910, I need to get cracking on one of those.
A friend has offered to cut out my 1920's dress as cutting out kills my back! My Arthur said maybe he needs to make me a table like the one he made for Pam. Pamela is very tall and bending was hurting her back and she asked Arthur to make her a table with very long legs, which he did and she can just stand and do what needs to be done. My only problem would be where to put it!
I have to hang the clothes out now but I will be back-promise!

Happy New Year!

2013-01-13T15:48:00.000+11:00

Gosh I cannot believe that it was October when I last updated my blog. But I guess this blog doesn't lie eh?
Well Christmas has come and gone and this year we had our family day on the 9th December which threw me into some confusion. Ont he 10th I went to the shop and couldn't understand why all these people were still doing their Christmas shopping. Very strange. Lovely Christmas gatherings with friends from China painting and Encore ended the year on a high. I won a lucky door prize at the St Mary's Historical Society's Christmas party and felt like a thief. I did donate a small plate as a prize but maybe I should have asked them to redraw my prize-hence the guilt.
Haven't been to visit Robert for a couple of weeks as it has been so hot I haven't ventured out of the house often. Art drives me to the shops then I call him when I have finished shopping so that he can pick me up. That way the car doesn't sit in the sun. The temperature has been around the mid 30's now for too long and even reached 42C one of the days. Our electricity has gone up to $112 a fortnight...
My friend Stella has had another fall over the Christmas break and has been in hospital and again I should have gone to visit her but the weather needs to cool down before I can. I am such a wimp. Unfortunately my MS makes me feel the heat even more than I normally would have.

So, because of the heat , I have been drawing my way through a book called 'One Zentangle a Day' and I am up to day 22 I think and I have drawn 18 zentangles and practicing how to make Dorset buttons. I have to go answer some messages now and next week it is first Gazette of the year week so wish me luck with that :)

September's gone then...

2012-10-04T16:35:00.001+10:00

We have been to Perth and are now home again. What a wonderful holiday. A big thanks to Pam and John for shouting us this great experience. John drove for hours taking us to The Wave and The Pinnacles (photos following) Wonderful Fremantle -what a lovely feel that had. It would take months to see all this state has to offer. Pam and John headed north to Broome when we headed home to Sydney. The weather wasn't too hot for us which was good.
Wonderful Stuart took us to the airport and picked us up on our return. How lucky are we?
After we got home I had to get the Gazette out and Art had to have a colonoscopy and now those have been completed, we just have to plant a few things and we are nearly ready for Christmas.
Not before we head to Scott and Beverley's on Sunday for lunch.
We are in a Virgin aeroplane ready to go...

We thought the fields of gold might have been canola...

This is the wave and that is John up on top...

This is the Hippo's Yawn...

This wonderful lace was an unexpected find at the Wave.

This is on a rooftop in the middle of Perth-All these wonderful vegetables that they give to volunteer groups to feed the needy.

The kangaroos across the road from The Vines Resort where we stayed they were all over the golf course.

We went to the Art Gallery in Perth and were allowed to take photos of Warhol, Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian and others...

These are the Pinnacles. You might have seen Billy Connolly dancing through them without any clothes on...
It was so amazing -like a moonscape.

As we were celebrating John's 50th he had to have a lobster so we went to The Lobster Shack and had the freshest lobster and prawns I have ever tasted. Delicious:)

This is a kangaroo paw-a plant not actually off a kangaroo...

This is a view of WA as we flew home:)

I have no idea what that is a photo of I guess it could be a quarry or something...

So that was September's doings now to get on with October.

September 17-soon be Christmas!

2012-09-17T15:49:00.000+10:00

I cannot believe how quickly the year is going -heaven help me next year! Am in a scramble to keep up to date with shopping and washing and ironing as we are off on holidays soon. Can't wait. So looking forward to it. Have been very slack with my cards lately and not a lot of China painting either. try to fit at least one visit to my brother every week but can't do that successfully either. Saw him on Saturday but he was fast asleep -opened his eyes once then went back to sleep. Next time I will manage to see him will be his 82nd birthday on September 30th. A lovely artist called Ingrid Lee commented on my Rainy Monday blog. Thank you Ingrid for the lovely remarks I will reply to you on facebook.

This is my iris finished, Ingrid.

My Clarice Cliff attempt.

Some of my cards:-

This beautiful crosstitch was done by a friends' husband, David Marshall, who is no longer with us and she gave it to me. I am so thrilled with this gift.

Another attempt at Clarice.

More cards.

This last card is very special-my youngest grandson (7) made this for his mum when he had a sleepover. All his own idea and all cut stamped and stuck by him.
Notice the bling -his eyes lit up when he spotted these trinkets:)

Sunny Sunday!

2012-08-05T09:33:00.001+10:00

It really will soon be Christmas.
I was all excited yesterday because I thought there was a Papercraft show on at Penrith. Fortunately Angela Sargeant who is a Stampin' Up Demonstrator saw my excitement on Facebook and contacted me. Angela will have a stand at the next show which is in November. I gave her a heart starter:)
My daughter and her husband are shouting Arthur and me a holiday to Perth in September. How good is that? We are so lucky, we have great kids-all of them.
Our other recent present was from Stuart. He purchased a new TV for us, so there is all this learning involved. We can download shows onto a USB but I am having trouble with that so I will stick to my VCR until 'fully trained'. Having said that, my VCR has broken down, probably from overuse-so I will transfer Art's from the back room. We are drowning in TVs.
I managed to put out the Gazette for August but with some mistakes-oh dear. I have said we are charging $20.00 for a demonstration when it is only $5.00-and no form needed. Where was my head?
The Encore Group have nearly completed the ADI Uniform. All that is left to do is the cabinet and a decision as to where she will be located. She is looking very good-too good to be making ammunition!
Visited my brother Bob yesterday and he definitely knew it was me. The nurse asked him 'Who is this Bob?' and he replied straight away'This is my sister'. But he is not well at all. They said he was moved to this ward because he can't walk and he had a temperature and they have to feed him. It is just not fair. This getting old is cruel.

This is the bra which Barbara Porter has made in the 1940's style for our Val.They are all so talented these ladies.

Here is our Val, see what I mean about looking too good for a munitions factory:)

Just another rainy Monday!

2012-07-23T16:33:00.000+10:00

It is so cold and miserable today I have had to make a couple of cards to keep my spirits up.
Since I last wrote on the blog my lovely sister in law Elaine has died. My son Scott summed her up with"Ever a generous spirit who never had a bad word for anyone" So sad and my poor brother is none the wiser of her passing. I must say though that the last time I visited him in the nursing home a very aggressive Alzheimer patient was shouting at me and accusing me of owning three house and the law would soon throw Robert out. He ranted for a while then Robert turned to him and said 'This is my sister.' At that stage the nurse wheeled Colin away. Then the next time we visited he was in the Hospital with an infection-that was last Thursday so I will visit again on Wednesday-and hope Colin is happy in his room:)

I don't know how to turn this photo around-sorry.

These are two plates which I painted at a workshop. One fire -although I do want to change the abstract Iris as it looks a bit odd on a round plate. But the extra lines have made it look much better -all I need now is to purchase some fat oil at the Jolly July Day.

Facebook

2012-07-03T10:29:00.001+10:00

Facebook My granddaughter Sam. She took me to lunch and I snapped her.

Monday-again...

2012-07-02T15:58:00.002+10:00

I really can't get moving today.
Have done the washing and sorted things for a porcelain art workshop next Saturday but very little else.
Del rang today too so that was 80 minutes out of my day. Love her calls but they do take time.
I visited Elaine yesterday and Baron and Lisa were there. Elaine is not looking good, poor love.
My granddaughter Sam took me out to lunch on Saturday, which was very nice and she has taken away the first 26 pages of my life story.
I feel now as I need to get back to it and maybe type something every day.
I might start that -next week.
Am I procrastinating?
I took a photo of Sam on my phone but I can't upload them to my computer because I don't have the software for this phone. Technology being what it is Baron uploaded it to his phone and then was going to upload it to Facebook so that I can have a hard copy. Brilliant!

The windmill is the third of my Dutch creations for October Exhibition.
I came across the little painting I did of a fuchsia and thought it would make a nice card for Elaine's birthday. The other card was for a friend whose birthday is the same day as Elaine's.
These last three shots are from our visit to madam Tussauds-great fun.

Sunny Monday

2012-06-18T12:22:00.002+10:00

I meant to upload my tulip tile - mark 2. Let's see what I make of this one.

I tried to be a bit adventurous with this painting -no tracing just slapped the paint on-not sure the purists would approve but sometimes you just have to have a go. Those leaves look as if they are under water at present but I will work on them I don't mind painting leaves. A lady artist told me 'Don't work on the leaves they are not the star.' That would be right so I find the leaves easier than the flowers. Off to the craft room now that the washing is done:)

Quiet Sunday

2012-06-17T14:29:00.004+10:00

Well my two younger sons have had birthdays today and yesterday and they are now 52 and 46 and I can't believe it really. They are wonderful sons of whom I am very proud.
I have been trying to get my head around some cards but lost my mojo for a while. Today i have managed to make a couple-one for my sister in law Elaine and one for Stuart's ex mother in law who is a lovely lady too. Both of these lovely people have their birthdays on the 24th June.
I have also been doing a little painting. So will upload a couple of photos.

This is the start of a little Art Deco plate I am working on.

I found this little painting in an old sketch pad I have no idea how long ago I painted this but thought it was suitable for Elaine's card.

This is the one I made for Val-I love this paper.

Art was hit by a golf ball yesterday and here is a picture of the bruise. Some people playing golf today need to take heed of the rules. This guy didn't even call 'fore'!

OUCH!!!

I thought I should put up a photo of my lovely tulip plate. This was after the third and final fire thought you would like a look Angela www.angelasargeant.com/

So it is back to the porcelain cupboard...

These others are my Dutch inspired paintings for the October Exhibition.

The little Dutch girls are at the framers now so they won't break...hopefully:)

I love this little one:)

This is a small box sorry it is on it's side don't know how to fix once it is on her.

The girl with the pearl earring-Vermeer. This one needs more work-same as the oil which I still haven't finished. Oh well one day.