RAWwards is open!

Hi everyone,

Last January I participated in a RAW Artists show case in Melbourne. It was a great experience and a memorable night, and now I'm eligible to enter their national awards competition - RAWards.

I need to be voted into the judging rounds and this is where you come in. Please click the link below to view my profile and cast me a vote. You can do it once every day for the whole week!

Any support is so greatly appreciated!

http://www.rawartists.org/dotoole

Thanks in advance,

Deb

Happy New Year 2015!

My last quilt going for a special price.

It's well and truly 2015 and after a week on a relaxing cruising holiday, I'm back on board (so to speak!) and although the phrase normally following this statement might be "and I've hit the ground running", the truth is I haven't.
I don't intend to run at all this year. (Except literally, to keep fit)
Perhaps it's having experienced a full week of internet-free relaxation combined with some interesting reading, that I've decided to perpetuate the chill vibe all year. Don't get me wrong, I still intend to have a super-productive year but I now realise that it can all be done without stress, rushing or frustration. I've come to understand that my feelings of overwhelm in the past were my own choice, and I simply choose peaceful productivity instead. Peaceful productivity. I think that will be my catch phrase for the year.

Time will tell if this new calm outlook will indeed become a permanent mind set…! Anyway, enough of the personal development. A few exciting things are already in the pipeline for A Home For Tandy.

One is that I'll be exhibiting some artwork at the Wyreena Gallery in March/April. This gallery is in my local area so I'm very proud to have my work hanging there. Housed within a heritage listed old Manse, it is set in beautiful gardens and they also have a lovely cafe, making the visit even more delightful! Check it out here.

Another exciting thing is a project in such an embyonic stage I'll have to keep you in suspense a bit longer before I reveal! Cruel, I know!

An exciting offer for A Home For Tandy supporters is my last Queen size quilt at a greatly reduced price. This quilt (pictured) is the last one I have in stock and I won't be making more in the foreseeable future. It is eco-dyed silk with bamboo batting, hand-stitched in pure wool and merino wool, and took me about 20 hours to make. I sleep with one similar (of course) and can honestly say that on hot nights, I've never slept more comfortably! The natural materials and the light weight are simply dreamy in summer, and of course as an extra layer on chilly nights, it is also perfect.
I'm offering it at a very special price of $820 (it has been listed on Etsy for $950) including free shipping. Send an enquiry to info@ahomefortandy.com if you'd love it to be yours.

I wish you all a wonderful year and "Peaceful Productivity" in all your endeavours…


Deb

Quilt details

Solo Exhibition

Road Trip. Eco-printed silk hand stitched with silk/cotton and metallic thread.

This Friday night I'll be ticking a thing off my bucket list as my first solo exhibition of textile artwork opens! "Unravelling" is a representation of my best work to date, created over nine years of practice. As I look over the pieces chronologically, I see how my work has developed and evolved as I've discovered new techniques and materials, not to mention developing  a more relaxed approach to mark making and finishing. Below are some detailed images of the featured work. If you are in Melbourne and happen to catch the show I would love to hear your comments and feedback.

For enquiries about purchasing or commissions, contact me at info@ahomefortandy.com

“Unravelling”

Opens 28 Nov at 6pm.

Runs to 3pm,11Dec 2014

322 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Cnr Argyle St

Hrs Tue to Fri 10am-8pm

Sat to Sun10am-6pm

Ph: 0399 423141

miriam@bsgart.com.au

www.brunswickstreetgallery.com.au

I Wish You Love. My first commission! 

Peach 2. Eco-printed cotton hand featuring vintage beads.

Untitled 2. Eco-printed silk, hand stitched with silk thread.

Digital Tree. Tiny squares of recycled fabric sewn to re-create a pixelated image of a tree.

Deconstructed Flower. Vintage and recycled fabric from my Nan's stash.

Fascinators!

Over the last few months I've been busy developing new products and working on new textile artwork for my up-coming solo show, but more about that in my next post!
One of the new lines I've developed is a range of eco-dyed, hand stitched silk and organza fascinators. We are coming into the wedding/formal season here in Australia and these pieces work perfectly with a romantic, boho, woodland theme. With both a clip and pin fastening, they can be worn as a headpiece or as a brooch. These pieces are available in the Etsy store but feel free to contact me directly if you'd like something similar made for you in your choice of fabric or colours.
info@ahomefortandy.com
www.ahomefortandy.com

Here are some pics of the process…

Raw silk and organza cut into lengths ready for the dye bath.

This dye bath of loquat leaves made a grey dye. 

Bundles and tied lengths.

Grey and turmeric yellow results.

A sea of silk and organza on my work table!

Rubber bands created an interesting resist on these fabrics which were then manipulated into floral shapes and sewn together.

www.ahomefortandy.com

Updated product lines

These new scarves and cushion covers are finally listed in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/AHomeForTandy and featured on my website gallery http://www.ahomefortandy.com

And a newsletter is coming! Shoot me an email if you'd like to subscribe… info@ahomefortandy.com

New Scarves!

The scarves pictured in an earlier post now have happy new owners, so last weekend I worked on a large new batch with some great results! Here just a few of them which I photographed today.
They will be listed on my Etsy shop soon! https://www.etsy.com/shop/AHomeForTandy

A peak at my balcony photographic studio!

3000 Views!

My blog has had 3000 visitors. Hi everyone!

So......I'm curious.... who are you all? I see that most of you are my fellow Aussies (probably my friends and family, thanks for visiting guys!) but many of you are from the United States, New Zealand and Russia, and others from The United Kingdom, South America, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Welcome!

I'd love to hear more from you all and learn something about you; what city you're from, are you a crafter yourself? What were you looking for when you found me, are you enjoying your time here and what else would you like to see?

Your feedback is most appreciated, but more than that, it would be so wonderful to connect with some of my readers.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Deb

In the meantime, here's an image of my favourite piece from my scarf dyeing frenzy last weekend.