And now we're into June!

Isn't the year flying by? Perhaps it seems faster because we're being so creative lately! Some of us managed a visit to the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair and were blown away by the work we saw there. Maz had a piece of work on display at the ATASDA stand. The theme was Little Fragment and each work had to fit inside a 25cm (10in) square, and you can see her work here.

Tricia and Nola had some more breakdown printing playdays. Tricia still had her second never-ending screen to print from, and both painted new screens. Nola wanted to try block printing with the thickened dyes onto fabric as a first layer.

She plans to print over these pieces to see how this influences the pattern.

She also painted two screens:

She used her Indian print blocks to print on this one, building up layers on the screen and letting them dry in between. The layers were very thin, compared to other methods she's used so they dried quite quickly. For the last layer, she used black thickened dye. The screens that have been so reluctant to break down were built up using this layering method, so she expected to produce a screen that would print quite well.

The results were mixed. The initial prints were very interesting but the screen discharged very quickly.

The strongest area of print is in the lower right corner, and it's certainly very interesting. But the dried media broke down very quickly. 

Her other screen was painted using more usual methods, using sponge brushes, syringes, stamped elements with plastic containers and thick drizzles spread with a comb. These are the techniques they used on the screens that were reluctant to discharge.

However, this screen also discharged very quickly.

The dye was slightly runnier than last time, because they had a problem with the screens clogging up. The humidity was slightly higher as well, and the screens did not sit unprinted for as many days. A couple of the screens were dried using a hairdryer. Clearly, there's a dynamic between all these things, determining the kind of results.

Meanwhile, Tricia was printing from her second never-ending screen.

She printed from it in various colourways.

Even washing the screen out between colours didn't cause it to break down...

...nor did using very runny media. The screen hasn't  been washed out, since it's making such lovely patterns. The resist design looks more ragged each time, so it is finally beginning to break down.

Tricia also painted another larger screen.

Like Nola's screens, it broke down quite quickly.

They are producing some breautiful fabrics, though, aren't they?

Meanwhile, Bev was creating some interesting effects on paper. She took various leaves from her garden, including eucalypts, oak and other unknown ones. She laid the leaves on paper and steamed them in a bamboo steamer, the kind used in cooking Chinese food. Here's the results:

Aren't they fantastic? Another interesting way of making patterns.

Helen brought along an embroidery she's made, for a challenge in another group, of a puppet soldier. 

Meanwhile, she was working on her triptych.

They're looking good.

Bev brought along her Lost Treasures piece from last year, which as risen to the top of her pile.  It's coming along nicely.

Nola made a visit to the bead shop this week and was making some new earrings.

We also brought along our works-in-progress Fragment sections to share. The group is making a collaborative piece for ATASDA's biannual exhibition at the Palm House in the Sydney Botanic Gardens in August. We cut a photo into sections and each of us is making a work inspired by that section of the photo. The finished works will be 8in square and will be mounted into a cube for exhibition.

This one is Helen's...

(which is finished, of course), and Maz's...

...and Nola's, she's building up layers with applique, stitch and Inktense pencil...

... and Tricia's...

... who's also building up layers with applique, pencil and stitch.

Stay tuned for images of finished works!

Always creative

Sometimes, I look back at the things we make and my mind boggles at how varied they are! Between the six of us, we seem to cover most kinds of creative activity. Here's some stuff we've been doing lately:

These cupcakes were made by Carol, and they tasted very good indeed. She's been making Easter cupcakes for Scout fundraising, and we got the benefit!

These roses were made by Bev and her daughter from the pages of an old dictionary, for her daughter's engagement party recently.

Carol is still on a roll with those zippers and Gang Show scraps, making this brooch at one of our recent meetings.

These are more Orizomegami papers, made by Helen with food colouring. The red one has spray gold web, a rare thing these days as everyone hoards the last of their cans!

Here's Tricia's quilt top finished - looking very good!

Recently, Helen gave each of us a kit of fabrics to make a Harlequin Bag. I suspect she might be taking the opportunity to clear out her stash! Tricia made this one...

... and Nola made this one. They are very quick to make and rather sweet.

Nola finished off one pair of her earrings, which we saw in pieces last time.

She was also working on some postcards for future swaps. They came from the one piece of fabric, which had been painted and drawn on, but each one is being individually painted now. In the beginning, they were all the colour of the light one in the centre of the lower row.

Bev has been doing some rust dyeing, with oddments from her Dad's shed. I love how the washers and other bits have yielded such clear outlines.

Bev also brought her breakdown printing.

And here's another piece.

Maz brought along hers too. This one is on organza, so it's very delicate.

Here's a quirky doll that Helen made. Her name is Inga. Isn't she wonderful?

Last year, we did a lot of printing and painting, so we bought some cotton fabric as  drop cloths on our worktables. At the end of the year, we cut them apart and shared them out. Helen brought along one of her pieces, to try to workout what to do with it.

Here's Maz's piece of the cloth. She was printing on it with a round stamp made from furniture protectors - those little rubber shapes you can buy to stop furniture scratching the floor.

Here's Nola's piece of one of the drop cloths. She printed hers using breakdown printing and here's how it looks now:

It's looking very interesting, isn't it?

Bev was using up the last of the transfer dyes, by stamping with the thickened ones onto paper, using her own hand-carved stamps and some Indian woodblocks.

Carol was working on her inkle loom. She was making a sageo, a kind of strap, for her iaito, a blunt Japanese sword used for kata practice, in the style of Japanese martial arts that she follows.

Helen was beginning a new canvas work piece.

Tricia was working on her embroidered landscape, which she brings out and works on every so often. It's really coming together now, isn't it?

She was also pondering border options for her quilt. This was her favoured choice on the day, but it may change again before she finishes.

So as usual, we've been busy in so many different ways. I wonder what we'll see next fortnight?