Summer Dayz

I'm looking for revenge!

I am very excited here at the headquarters of Madness and Mess! Excited really is an understatement. I have my blogging buddy, Mrs G coming to visit, (she's not actually coming until the end of April, but that's completely beside the point, LOL). She's even coming to stay the night which will mean the guest bedroom needs to be off limits to a certain brother and sister team who delight in sneaking in unwanted dead "things".


When I got home from town this afternoon, Mr Madness and Mess yelled out -

"There's a mess in the guest room!"

"What?"

"What kind of mess?"

And then I saw it! Miles of it! All over the floor of the guest bedroom!



I could have hunted them down and strangled them!!

So I yelled rather loudly,

"WHO DID THIS?"

And then I went to find them.

Wednesday was outside, lording over the manor, funny how she wouldn't look me in the eye!




And her brother was sleeping, with, I would think rather a full tummy, and pretended to sleep right thru my 20 questions about the excess of feathers all over the floor!



Dear Mrs G, I sure hope you know what you're letting yourself in for! I suppose at least you could lie in bed and do some creating, something that has feathers in it maybe?

Carole :)

A new quilt for my store

Here is the latest quilt for my Etsy store. It's a very striking in your face quilt. Bright and cheery.

It is 44" x 60" and is made from 100% quilters cotton with a cotton/polyester batting.

Use it while you read on the sofa, cover an outdoor table or throw it over a bed.
Whether you use it or just throw it over the back of a chair to brighten a corner,
this quilt is a stunner.

This is an Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring quilt!

Carole :)

Oh sheer bliss...

One night during the week, Mr Madness and Mess took me away on a Bridget Jones Mini Break.

To this spa resort.

With pools of steaming hot water.

We wined and dined.

And retired to our own private cabin.

Sheer bliss.

I'm ready to face the grind of university again now. ;D

Carole

my latest needle keeper

photo courtesy of Nathalie

Nathalie asked me to make her a needle keeper. "No probs" I said. She said she was sending me some things, bits of ribbon and buttons etc... to use. "Fine", I replied.

Her envelope arrived full of vintage buttons, YAY!, but it also contained black STUFF, and PURPLE stuff and bright RED stuff!! I swallowed hard, it was a magpie's delight! Oh my, colours I probably would never use in 100 years!

What was it Tim Gunn said?? Oh that's right, "MAKE IT WORK".

Right. I will.

Above is the result. If you would like to see more of it, hop over to Nathalie's blog and see some more details. Lets know what you all think!

Oh, and that darling wee stitchery on the front was hand-worked by Linda. Very clever.

Carole :D

using up some pretty fabrics

I have been making a few more bookmarks for my etsy store. Here are 2 pics of each, the first pic shows one side of the bookmark, and the second pic shows the reverse side.

photo 1.

photo 2

photo 3

photo 4

photo 5

Have a good weekend friends.
Carole :)

It's complete

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten the words.


Don't you think that's just perfect for the quilt you've all contributed to?

Carole :)

it's coming together nicely...

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you...


carole :)

still stitching...

'A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart...'


Carole :)

stitching...

'A friend is someone who knows the song...'


Carole :)

Just need something else...

My Blogging Buddies Quilt needs something, some sentimental words. I think these might work perfectly.

Follow along while I stitch...

"A friend is someone..."



China is Royal Albert 'Country Garden'
Biscuits are home made chocolate chippies. Would you like the receipe?




125gms (4oz) butter
50gms (2oz) sugar
3 teaspns sweetened condensed milk
few drops vanilla essence
175gms (6oz) flour
1 teaspn baking powder
50gms (2oz) dark chocolate (or chocolate chips)

Cream butter and sugar and condensed milk then add essence followed by dry ingredients and chopped chocolate.
Roll into small balls, place on cold greased trays and flatten with a fork.
Bake 20 mins at 180C (350F)

I always make a double mix as these never last long at our house!

Carole :D

A zing of colour in my weekend!

This is what I've been working on over the weekend. Amongst other things....
It's a colour scheme I totally love, bright and zingy, but it's not one that I would have picked in a million years.
But sometimes you just need to step outside your comfort zone - for a short while anyway!

It will go in my Etsy store when it's finished.

Did you do anything over the weekend that's outside your comfort zone??

Carole :D

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee and cake....read on

As those of you who know me, know that I will be, in 4 months time, finished my university studies and will hold a Bachelor of Communication. But many of you will not know that I also have a background rich in photography, art, journalism and teaching.

I am, I guess like 100's of you out there who would love to earn a living from their art, but with the day nearing that will see an end of my studies, and no job guaranteed, I have spent considerable time thinking about my options. You might say, which roads I shall travel. lol


After much encouragement from family and friends I have made a decision.


The more I think about it, the more obvious and logical it seems.

I am Opening My Door.




And I am encouraging you to open yours.

I have decided to focus on combining my skills in order to be able to offer to teach
you classes in mixed media art.

I am happy to travel anywhere you would like classes taught, and if there is enough interest, I will consider teaching on-line classes.




Personally I believe that students have the most fun, and learn the most from a physical hands-on class. Nothing beats the friendships made and the learning that takes place. Not only does the student learn from the tutor, but from each others interpretation of ideas. There is nothing more stimulating than a group of inspired, creative people, working together.

In the near future I will introduce you to my very own website, and over the next few months I hope to add different classes to the list.

"Open Your Door"

A 2 day class
Tutor: Carole Brungar

in which I will encourage and guide you in your journey to unlock your inner door and create a journal in which you can base your inspiration, record memories, create goals or just to give as a special gift. A mix of paper, card and fabric.

At the completion of the workshop each person will have a completed piece of art totally unique to them.

Please contact me via the email link on the side if you want more details.

Carole :D

-- SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT--

Check back here tomorrow for a special announcement!

LOOK!! LOOK!!

Look what arrived at my place!! All the way from Judy's place in America! Isn't this the cutest wee bird you've ever seen? And of course a bird is just what's needed in my quilt! He arrived with a lovely scented teabag too.
Thank you so much Judy, he's gorgeous!

And that means all my blocks are now home. LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Carole :D

Next one finished

My McKenna Ryan quilt is as good as finished now as well. I just need to sew a few wooden beads to join the wee bird houses together. I know I've got some here somewhere, just have to ferret them out.

This quilt was started 3 years ago, and is entirely made from appliqued pieces. The top middle block with the cottage used well in excess of 300 different appliqued pieces alone. It will be the last Large quilt of McKenna Ryan's I make, I think I would only ever make a single block and frame that with sashings, from now on.

I'm pleased to see it finished, it was time to move on! :D

Carole

Guess what I'm working on?

exciting eh?

Carole :))

The latest swaps have all arrived!

The latest swap challenge between the Queen Bee 5 was to make a brooch and a charm. If you'd like to check their individual blogs and see some of their comings, goings and makings, the links are all on the side bar on this blog.

All mine have arrived so I can share them with you now. I think I am lucky to have such clever and talented friends!

Here are the brooches.
The top one was the one I made for everyone.
Below is the brooch Linda cleverly felted from wool, and layered with woolen fabrics.


Below is the brooch Patty made from a zip! Yep, look again, it really is!



Then below is Margaret's brooch! It has a distinct vintage feel to it!



And lastly is the brooch Nathalie made, pretty darn cool, yo yos and vintage buttons with scraps of lace. Very me! (all presented on an old library card!- I'm amazed that library cards have so many uses!)

Here are the charms we swapped. I found this challenging, I'm not too good at the fiddly little connections and find I'm just all fingers and thumbs when it comes down to it! LOL

Below is the charm that I made from Tui beer bottle tops.



Next is the charm from Linda. It's gorgeous, very dainty compared to mine! Love that bee!



Then below is the charm from Patty, which I think is fantastic! I mean there is no way I could make a nest like that, can you imagine the tangle I'd be in??!



Then Patty slipped in an extra charm, just because she's so darn clever! :D Did you notice Patty uses the paint sample cards to attach her things to?



Then below is the charm Margaret made everyone. I love the grouping of little things we tend to collect with the intention of using. Especially the key :)



Then lastly here is Nathalie's charm, pretty cool - A bobbin of beading thread tied on a string! Presented in this decorated matchbox.



Thank you guys for a fantastic swap, albeit challenging at times. I think it's such great fun to see who comes up with what ideas, and your packaging and presentations are beautiful.

I have to also add that I have worn all my brooches, and am going to find uses for all my charms.
I am looking forward to our next swap.

Hope my blog visitors enjoyed seeing them all!

Carole :D