These are my latest fabric and colour inspirations....I think they're a little christmasy, and will be making my xmas cards using some of them...

I bought myself a piece of original art by Mystele from Chicago....I think she is a real inspiration and will be very famous one day...I loved this lovely lady with her cup...of abundance (I felt when looking at it). It arrived beautifully packaged in a thick natural brown paper which gave me more inspiration to make my own papers, using the colours above mixed with brown paper. Not sure how I will do that but can't wait to experiment....

SO SAD.......

I have been a bit stuck about posting lately. Busy with clients and also a bit sad and overwhelmed with things to do all of a sudden, as I have had the bad news that I have to move out of my little rose cottage...

It has been a safe haven for me for nearly five years. Having sold my own beloved home due to financial difficulties, I really made this place my home, with all my art around me, and plenty of space to play (my own artroom), and also work from home, it has meant I can deal with my health issues at my own pace, and have found some contentment here.

I know nothing lasts forever, and change is inevitable in our lives, I just wasn't expecting to have to move till at least next year if at all for a while..

But not only am I having to change address, but I had decided to change from my married name (have been divorced for 11 years) back to a family name...so that is all being done now... and I will have a new name and a new address to go into the new year with!....

WHAT'S IN A NAME?..... What a story I have to tell about my new name...My sister was helping me decide on a new name, ( as I hadn't wanted to use my own maiden name as I've always hated it), and we thought that the name she came up with, ( Dean), came out of thin air...But when we told our Mother, she told us it was the maiden name of our Great grandmother on her fathers side of the family, which we hadn't had any knowledge of !!... So I am going to use my great grandmother's first name as a second name for myself, as I have never had one (Antica). It feels so nice to have a new name - julia antica dean...and I think the universe is helping me at this time, and I will be okay finding a lovely new home..

This is a small (5 x 5" ) wool felting piece I did last weekend... I used a rust dyed muslin backing, fuschia and orange hand dyed wool and silk hankie, bits of sari silk threads and a few beads.... I loved going through the process... and my head is full of ideas... Just don't know when I will be able to get to experiment with them, as I have so many things on the go, and other things that need attending to before Christmas now...... (click on photo for a close up)..

I am playing around with some old images to print for my art room at home, and love the effects....

Went to a Saturday workshop in wool felting, with the wonderfully talented and kind Elizabeth Armstrong at her home, organised for us by the gracious Jacky Williams, it was such a joy to me to get out and share the day with such lovely ladies, Ro and Jo, and I really enjoyed making a silk and wool scarf, (Nuno) and am pleased with the results of my first attempt....

I've also been using some of the silk and sari bits to make a few textile collages to add to my wall art in my art room....

Making these little bits for my future journal work... If there is any interest I might make some to sell on etsy....

What's inspiring me this week?....

These amazing pictures of the Omo people, a collection of tribes in the Omo valley of Ethiopia, photographed by Hans Silvester. See the Youtube video and his amazing book. I must admit to being inspired by seeing pics on Anahata Katkin's blog...but they have just blown me away with their beauty... You can click on the photo collage above to see them closer....

Above is another piece of fabric I bought to decorate my art space...

I haven't taken pictures of my new art room yet, as I am still not settled with how I want it to be for me yet... And as I haven't been very well this Winter with the old Arthritis playing up badly, haven't had many days that I could even get started..Which upsets me, as there is so much I would like to be doing, so many inspirations and ideas that I can't even get to, as well as unfinished pieces. I'm still trying to get to finishing, a couple of larger canvases for the walls, and really wanting the art I display to be for me, and not what I think others will like...a real struggle for me as well.

And, some Ken Done art, one of my favs of his is the first one below.....

I have always loved the freedom and simplicity of his work.

I was a HUGE fan when I lived in Sydney years ago, and have rediscovered him now...