Another collage or two

A little late for Valentine's but here's my effort. I went walking looking for red which I didn't expect to find in such quantity, well it;s more of a rusty blood red, bits of seaweed & stones with a contrasting blue 'heart' in the middle. Took a quick pic & stopped to chat to a neighbor & with my back turned for a minute, Tam, having spat out the stones, chewed up the lot!

Carrying on in the series I started, using up some of the piles of papers I've printed I've made some  collages using the oak leaves. Not very topical I know but they are papers from the end of last year. (the direct prints in the sketchbook pages did well as 'alternative' nature's Christmas cards - I like a bit of nature, me)

ready to stitch, these are all 12x12cm

This will need some lightening up, a technique using a white correcting pen seen on Design Matters TV might suit - I got a 3m subscription for Christmas. Lots of inspiring tips there which I thought would remind me of things already learned & give me some new ideas. I intend to make a school of DMTV sketchbook......

 The 'abstract' one - I didn't have enough material for a bigger collage, so I'll have to do more printing if my gelatine plate hasn''t got lost too deep in the freezer!

Above are some purses made in a morning workshop I was asked to give primarily for 2 girls, aged 7 & 4 neither of whom spoke English, a challenge on both counts! The mother of the girls & my friend who they were visiting joined in (kids on the left, big girls on the right) & all had a good time. I could foresee all the sewing being done by adults so decided we would first make a sketch on paper of a shape, found by thinking of  a design, or looking around the room for inspiration. Then we would look at the design & draw onto bondaweb backed calico cotton. The big girls added some stitching to the motifs guided by the girls & while the construction was going on they continued to draw more of  their own designs. Give a child a sharpie pen & they're away! Very pleased with my students. ;)

Always finding inspiration wherever I look (the DH thinks I'm barmy, I'm sure) I couldn't resist these fragments of grilled cheese fallen off a piece of cheese on toast - imagine, a bit of raw umber, tyvek & a heat gun & you'd be laughing! Tasty, too ;)