New territory

So...this is what I've been wanting to jump into lately. I have slowly been gathering all the supplies. Unfortunately I have been unable to find urea in this area. I also want to purchase a tjanting as I really want to do some batik work. The thing is...I've never really dyed much before. I did one session with my sister a long time ago and only half finished the top I was working on. I remember the silver buttons from that top sitting in the tray of my sewing basket forever. I somehow lost it in all my moves.
I'm always a little nervous when I try something new. It usually helps to do it with someone else. Then you can kinda help each other bumble along. *hehe* I dont really have any friends here yet. Seeing as I can't really speak the language much, it's not surprising. Even in my French class there are no english speakers except my teacher. So I guess this is one adventure I'm going to go alone. Once I figure out where to start
I thought maybe I could just do a little tyedye on an old sheet I have, and if it comes out good I could use some of it in my wallhanging. Any suggestions?

Experiments with iridescent paint

We have a lamp that I have always found rather boring. I can see how it would fit in nicely in someones office but I like a little more color in my life! It was also a blank canvas staring me in the face and just begging me to try out my iridescent paints on it. They come in 6 colors and they are in very small pots, so not something to do a big project with. I had already used up two of the pots on a window at my old house so I was limited even more.

This is the lamp after the coating of purple inside
and with the one section painted orange. it was
almost a frosted glass look before with the colors
VERY light.

I decided on a simple geometric pattern and painted a nice double coat over the whole lamp.I found the effect quite pretty but also very light. I was afraid when the lamp was turned on it would completely wash it out. My fears were confirmed. I then turned the shade inside out and painted a nice coat of purple over the entire inside to darken the tone a little, but found that this still didnt have the desired effect.

Here I started painting each square different colors.

I think I will use it in a future project though. I then tried a coat of orange over one section and this definitely helped. When turning the lamp on it almost gives it a mica effect. SO...I did the entire inside of the shade in different darker shades and this is how it turned out. What do you think?

Can we eat it?

Yesterday was a beautiful day and D asked me if I would like to go wander about in town. We took the tram up to La Place De La Victoire as this is where La Rue Ste Catherine begins. This street is purported as being the longest pedestrian street in Europe. It is a nice walk down to the center of the city, with many interesting little shops all along the way. Many of the merchants take advantage of the nice weather and pull their merchandise out onto the streets for the walkers to peruse as they go by. The cafes have their tables set out along their store fronts and people sit back in the sun sipping a beer or enjoying a sunny lunch. It was a perfect day. We stopped at a kabob seller and had huge sandwiches made with a pita type bread stuffed with thin slices of lamb and topped off with fries....yes, they put the fries IN the sandwich, and I have decided I'm OK with that *hehe*. We wandered into several little stores, mainly ethnic shops as I love clothes from India nd other exotic locals. I coveted a scarf at one shop much, and D said I could have it if I wanted it, but I already have two scarfs so I let it pass.


As we passed by the Place Gambetta we came upon this lovely little soap shop "Las Delices du Bain" and neither of us could resist the heavenly smells coming from their door. We spent a good 15 minutes smelling all the soaps and deciding which were our favorites. They all smelled good enough to eat. "Fruit Salad, Coconut, Vanilla...all of the smells were heavenly! They had a big display in the center of the shop with lots of little bars of soap, buy 5 and get the 6th one free! Well thats all I needed to see. I made my way home with 6 little jewels nestled in my purse....... and the wonderful smells wafting up to greet my nose!



This is my third square completed. I love the rustic homespun feel of this one. It is very warming to the soul *grin* I am well into my fourth square and will try to finish it this weekend.

Block #2

My second block completed! THis is my rotund friend, the jolly old sun peeking out to greet me. His face was quite the trick to accomplish but I ended up quite happy with him. I couldn't decide what to do with his rays but he seemed so happy and fun that I decided to throw a little confetti his way in the form of rainbow beads.
Now on to the next ^__^

Climbing mountains

I have set myself up for another long journey. This one not being of land and distances but an ever onward plunge into self discovery and the search for more. Adventure is what I love, and this is one has no end in sight. Each day seems to hold new windows and doors. I am ever wandering.
I have started a new project. This one may take as long as my journey of self discovery. Actually I think it goes hand in hand with it as I am constantly stretching my mind to learn MORE. I have decided to make myself a wall hanging. I started out with the idea to make something similar to the india patchwork wall hangings that I have coveted for so long but could never bring myself to buy. As I sorted my materials and planned this project I kept wondering what I would do with each square. The ones in the patchworks I like are fairly simple and as I sat down to start the first square my mind was a blank. Then I realized I didnt have to conform to some set in stone idea of what an india patchwork wall hanging required. I could do anything! Why not make what I love the most? Use my favorite colors? In fact....who cares if it even resembles an india patchwork when I finish?
I have set my needle to the fabric and let it paint. This is the results of my first square and I love it. 1 down and many many more to go....