Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.

1. “Glad you’re here” by Making Lemonade. Image theirs.

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.

Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.

Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

“The Giving Plate” by Adventures of an Orthodox Mom. Image from there.

“Conversation Plates” by Together Counts Blog. Idea and image sourced there.

DIY minimalistic cultery holder. Image and instructions from A Birds Leap.

A sock for your cutlery. Image from Pinterest.

Single place cards. Image from Pinterest.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.

Another beautifully simple idea from Style Me Pretty. Image theirs.

Carnival Straws on Bottled drinks with tags. Source: Ruffled.

Would work just as well on green leaves. Image from Once wed.

Gratitude Rolls by Beauty and Bedlam. Image theirs.

SImple sensorial details. Image from Vintage House.

What I want for Christmas is thanksfulness! Source: The cottage at 341 south.

Kraft Paper table of thanks. Image from Art Bar Blog

Fruity Place markers. Image from Style Me Pretty.

THe Thankful Tree. Idea and image from Kids Activities Blog.

Or if you prefer pears….. This idea and image from The Knot.

Fairy Lights in jars. Image from Making Lemonade.

…. and if you just don’t know where to start because Finishing School wasn’t part of yours (or my) education…. Layouts. Source: daniellemj-workspace

Alternatively….. Image from Antiquaria Vintage.

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What’s so Pinteresting about…… Advent?

DIY Advent Calendar by Design Sponge. Image sourced from there.

Meredith’s got a fabulous idea for fantasticly simple bible content here. Love it especially this close to Dec 1.

Cathy gives insightful day by day content here. 

Nicole….shares some great ideas here.

If you know what you want each day to hold, but need a little visual inspiration, have a look at my pinterest board here. 

This year I have an unusual plan which focus’s on letters….. we will see how that goes.

To see what we have done in previous years look here and here and here.

I just realised that our advent events for 2012 are not collated….. so I will get onto that.

Enjoy, and let me know if you come across anything inspiring.

Costumes…. book week around the corner.

Hey ! Hey!  Don’t yell at me. I didn’t come up with the book week parade, but I might be able to help yours be more joyful.

I have looked around and found a few interesting ideas.

Guinevere’s Gown by Laura Tolton.

Think:

• Susan and Lucy…. Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
• Ancient Greek and Roman characters …… from the horrible history books….or any history or historical fiction book.
• A witch….. The Witches by Dahl.

Animal costume by Studiotoutpetit.

Think:

• cats and dogs
• mice….. 7 year old is thinking of going as Reepicheep from The Voyage of the Dawntreader by C. S. Lewis…. so I might adapt this one.

Another easy idea….from Pinterest ….and comfortable too.

Think:

• Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
• Little Red Riding Hood’s Fox

I have collated a bunch of ideas on my costumes pinterest board here if you need other inspiration.

A Limited Edition….. miniatures.

Un-intitled 3 by Ally Adeney. (Warning: Object may appear bigger than it actually is! depending on your screen size) 

After a few hiccups in the organisational expertise of the art world, (read grrr….. how much fluffing around can a dozen or so artistic people engage in…. grr) the exhibition I spoke of back here is soon to become a reality.

The biggest hiccup, which we have only just become aware of, is a change of date to this Thursday the 8th from around 6pm. You can however, visit all this week from 11am until 5pm, in the Dedspace gallery located in the grounds of Sydney College of the arts.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, this exhibition is part of Sydney Design. This is a group of about 75 events across Sydney from the 3-18th August. Follow the link through for a timetable  of possibilities over the next couple of weeks.

At this stage, I am minding the exhibition tomorrow from 11 for a couple of hours, so that would be a great time to drop in if you want to see me too.

The benefit of changing the date will mean that on one night you will be able to enjoy the opening nights of three exhibitions on campus. One exploring the use of camouflage and the other, souvenirs. It should be an interesting evening.

If you are unable to make it, and are interested in viewing the works, an online PDF catalogue is being produced.

Super Charles from charlesfrancis photography.

…..and I  want to say a super big public thanks to Charles who made my little piece look amazing with his crazy photographic skills.

 

Commission for Bel.

Something a little different. A reclaimed tapestry made into a giant bag for sewing , knitting and stitching things.

This commission from a fellow ‘textillite’ was very open-ended . Make a bag for all the sewing and knitting things for friend who loves harrysdesk and pink.

After getting permission I tried something that has been floating about in my mind for a while.

Many of the bags of bits and pieces from the op shop have the pieces from tapestries that have been forgotten about….some not even started.

This vintage style tapestry of Pierrot (Clown) and Horse was in perfect condition. It is most likely from the 80’s (some of you might remember) when pierrot had a bit of a resurgence. I am hoping the receiver has fond memories of the eighties!

I couldn’t let it go unstitiched of course….. not completely.

….I even stitiched the pink colour panel. Yes, I know they are not meant to be stitched, but I wanted to draw attention to the parts of the tapestry not normally seen, once framed.

You don’t ordinarily see this bit either…..

The flipside of the bag is made from reclaimed cream damask and the lining from a soft minty cashmere scarf. This pocket sits between the shell and the lining.

Inside the bag are a number of smaller bags and purses for all the other bits and pieces used for sewing and knitting.

Everything but the strapping of the handle was recliamed!

Reclaimed Pierrot and Horse printed canvas bag.

Holiday projects.

About 4 weeks out from the end of session I had the irrepressible urge to knit or crochet. After managing to incorporate some of this desire into one of my final projects (watch this spot) ….. I had some supplies left, so…… I embarked on a scarf. I wore it for the first time today. It hit the spot perfectly as it was quite chilly watching the athletics carnival today at school (yes, very, very disappointing and boring).

My new crocheted infinity scarf.

The other girls started some projects too, but they are still coming and I will give you a look if they get completed.

 

Save the date…..

A sneak peek at the work in progress.

Exciting news in the last couple of days for me.

Some of my new work has been selected for a miniatures exhibition on the 7th of August.

This exhibition is the key Sydney College of the Arts event in the Sydney Design program….. so it’s kind of a biggish deal. It’s a big deal to me as this is my first ever public exhibition as an artist. I have only ever previously shown my work here!

….anyway…. I would love to have you all come to the opening on Wednesday the 7th of August. I know it’s a long way off, but I also know lots of you are busy, so put it in your calendar if exhibitions are your thing.

More info as I get it.

I’m inspired by: Belinda Von Mengersen.

Belinda giving an artists talk in Tamworth.

One a  week for the past two years I have had the delightful pleasure of working for the lovely  Belinda Von Mengersen….. she is also my lovely friend. Lucky me!

Well, now it’s lucky you too because Belinda’s work is part of the collection of textile art currently showing at Manly Art Gallery and Museum until the 21st of July.

Every three years the Tamworth Textile Triennale collects together textile artists under a simgle theme. This time it is Sensorial Loop. The shows aim is to  showcase to a public the changing ideas and professional craftsmanship associated with contemporary textile practice in Australia.

The Dusting Cloth by Bel Von Mengersen. Image from abc local.

Belinda’s work as you can see is beautiful….. and according to her ‘photographs badly’, so I can’t wait to see it for real….finished.

From the studio….

Works in progress…..

It’s the crunchy end of session, and there are lots of works in the pipes but nothing to show you properly. I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of what I have been working on.

From the other blog…..

Two slightly different photoshopped images woven back together.

A ‘re-pixalated’ necklace.

You can see more of the process at Art is cheaper than therapy….. my other blog….. if you are interested.