Banana Thread and Silk

Who would have ever thought you could make thread out of bananas and not just any thread but a thread that in some ways looks and feels like what I thought silk would look and feel like but doesn't.
The thread is so fine that it looks like hair and feels sooo smooth and silky. I purchased the banana thread from TexArt in England.

A variety of colours of banana thread.

I made these egg sacks (empty ones of course). My character has collected them placed them all around her bedroom. Later on I will actually have them located all over my models.

This is silk. The white silk is raw silk. The two packets in the middle is Tussa silk. The last packet is Mulberry silk.

I Have a New Book

LOOK AT THIS!

I have a new book for my library.
I have finally received my copy of Aaron's self published work. It has been soo worth the wait.
The book is titled:-

The Fantasy Artroom Book One - Detail and Whimsy
by Aaron Pocock

The effort this man has gone into to produce this beautiful book is amazing. I am going to learn soo much from this.
Aaron took on producing this amazing work many months ago and funded it through Kickstarter.
I am soo pleased to have contributed to this by funding ( a small amount $100) to getting this beautiful book into reality. For that I have received a signed copy with its own original drawing inside. Two number copies of prints and two original sketches. Isn't that brilliant!

It will also be a book I would highly recommend, or give as a gift, to anyone who is interested in learning art. There are 152 pages full of detailed information on how to draw and paint fantasy characters and landscapes.
If you would like to know more about this book please go to Aaron's own web site. Scroll down to some more of his amazing work. Click here.

If you would like to buy a copy of this book please click here.

 

 

I Have Been Published

I am VERY proud to announce that my first story has been published. It is titled:-

The Ghosts of My Ancestors

The story can be found in the Gold Coast Anthology -
UNDERTOW  - Tales from Outside the Flag

by Prana Press.

I am a very proud member or Prana Writers and congratulate every single person
who has worked soo hard to turn a dream into a reality.
WELL DONE EVERYONE! 

If you would like to know more about Prana Writers please visit PranaWriters.com
If you would like to purchase a copy please visit here.

You are cordially invited to attend the book launch of the
Gold Coast Anthology: 
'Undertow'.
10th May 2014

To kick start the Launch there will be a Panel Discussion at the Local Studies Library Southport. commencing at 1.00pm (cnr Garden and Lawson Streets, Southport)

The Book Launch will follow at Southport Community Centre from 2.30pm – 4pm (6 Lawson St, Southport)

Kindly RSVP by 5 May 2014 for catering purposes:
prose@pranawriters.com or Janis Hanley 0412 615 483

Whether you are a writer, a reader, a cultural buff or historian ...or simply someone who enjoys the rich and multi faceted layers the Gold Coast has to offer, come along and help celebrate the journey of 'Undertow - Tales From Outside the Flags'.

The authors and publishers are looking forward to sharing a drink with you.

This event was made possible with the support of the Regional Arts Development Fund and Gold Coast City Council.

STUDENT:- OLIVIA

STUDENT:- OLIVIA
Olivia is 10 years old. She has been with me for many months making a large house.
The idea of creating this house is to get it to a stage where she can take it home and finish it in any way she sees fit.

This is the basic gourds that have been used

To build the base of the house it is necessary to place three large gourds with a plastic ridged pipe going up the middle. It is then glued together with liquid nails. In the three valleys created by the three main gourds smaller gourds have been placed to fill the gap.



The gourds are covered in cardboard which is either glued in place or stapled together. It is necessary to use products that are light. It is amazing how heavy these types of houses are when they are finished. A ton of feathers is still a ton!

The photo to the right shows the approximate location of the clear plastic tubing that will made into vines but actually hides the wiring for the lights inside and out.










This photos shows you what the vines look like once they have been wrapped in 'bark' like fabric and string then painted. The 'moss' is two types of wool finger crocheted together. See the cream coloured flower in the top left corner, that has a light in the center of it. So do the large flowers in the photo below.

  

The outside of the house has been covered in lots of plants and fungi. It also has flowers that light up. Olivia has soldered all of the lights herself.

Two of the gourds have been opened so that Olivia could make a bedroom and a lounge room. Again only the basics have been added so she can add other 'thing's later as the whim takes her.






















Olivia's cool cat. Isn't he great?





Olivia has built an astronomy tower. I am very pleased with the telescope. We used an old atlas to help with accuracy of the drawings of the planets on the back wall. There is a string ladder leading up to the tower.











As more work is completed I shall add more photos.