Fan My Flame

Simple Pleasures

2012-02-02T17:56:00.000Z

After my last post I got to thinking about diets. I suppose I'm lucky enough not to be seriously overweight but I can gain extra pounds as easily as the next person and I've done my fair share of diets in the past... the F-Plan... anyone else remember how disgusting that was with shredded cardboard for breakfast and all those prunes... but on the whole I don't think diets really work. All that denial of tasty stuff, will power and constantly feeling hungry cannot be good for you.

I'd much rather have a little of what I fancy (i.e. chocolate, cheese, cake and wine) occasionally and for the rest of the time try to eat healthily and get as much exercise as possible. But of course, at some times of the year that seems to get reversed and the healthy stuff seems to be occasional and there's rather too much of what I fancy... which is where I'm at now! So this week I've ignored the left over cookies and cake and I'm trying to stick to a healthy eating regime (NOT a diet!)

But I still need a treat now and then to keep me motivated... and preferably not an edible treat. So on my way home from the swimming pool on Tuesday (Thirty laps...I'm all or nothing me), I stopped at the supermarket and found these pretty little bowls on sale. So I treated myself to a couple and they have made me rather ridiculously happy! Perfect for my healthy breakfast of porridge and fruit...

or for my lunch of homemade parsnip and apple soup.

Which is good news because I got my first ever Abel and Cole organic veg box today (they've only just started to deliver in our area), full of stuff to make lots of lovely homemade soup. And that made me happy too!

I also received a free copy of their cookbook but it is one I already have (and use a lot) so I thought this could be a good chance for me to share my happiness... and I could give it away.

If you would like to win this copy of the Abel and Cole cookbook just leave me a comment and sometime over the weekend I'll pick a winner from one of my new bowls! It's full of tasty, healthy and seasonal recipes!

Crunch Time!

2012-01-30T14:20:00.000Z

There has been a lack of baking around here since Christmas (ahem!... if you don't count the two Guinness chocolate cakes) because more than one of us needs to shed a few pounds that have been gained over the festive season. It hasn't worked... the pounds have stayed were they are around our middles. So I decided that this weekend I would bake anyway.

Chocolate chip cookies... except I didn't have chocolate chips so in a moment of inspiration I bought some Crunchie Bars, bashed them into pieces and added those instead. It was one of my better inspired moments. Three dozen Crunchie cookies... not many left.

I then got carried away and made rolls and an apple cake...

so those pounds are still around our middles and today I'm trying to ignore the leftover baking.

I'm telling you... it's not easy!

More Flowers

2012-01-27T09:34:00.000Z

Remember this post a couple of weeks ago when I'd been working a sample for my classes? Well, my ladies at The Letchworth Settlement have finished their first project this term using this technique outlined in Alisa Burke's book and these are the fabulous results... Denise, Barbara and Brenda all made circular garlands like my sample, with amazing results.

Anne and Di made beautiful heart shaped garlands.

And other members of the class used the technique for their own projects. Margaret mounted her flowers like a posy within a circular frame. Not sure if you can see it in the photo but she made the leaves by stitching skeleton leaves onto a felt backing. Gorgeous colours!

Catriona used hers to make a cover for her book of samples.

Jean and Ann also made book jackets. The flowers look stunning on the plain felt backgrounds.

Jenny used her beautifully stitched and beaded flowers to make cards.

Debbie made this fabulous curtain/hanging

And last but not least Jan covered an old box giving it a lovely new lease of life.

I love the way she has put a chain of flowers around the bottom as well as covering the lid.

And me... I just made another garland, but a heart shape this time.

A satisfyingly simple yet very effective project... and as ever I love seeing everyone's unique take on the same technique.

Well done ladies... fantastic!!!

Follow Your Dreams

2012-01-26T09:53:00.002Z

After yesterday's post and the comments about incorporating black and white photographs into a drawing I suddenly remembered a similar exercise we had to do at school. Our art teacher had cut small pieces from black and white photographs in magazines and we had to select one, glue it down on the page and work it into a finished drawing, without seeing the original source. After a quick rummage under my bed I found a folder of old drawings and unearthed this.

I was pretty certain this was the example I drew at school but I can see that I've dated it and by 1978 I had left sixth form so it must have been something I did at home a couple of years later... but still using the same technique.

When I was in sixth form it was my dream to go to art college and get a job either as an illustrator or working in fashion. I don't think my parents were that keen and my school definitely weren't. I think they just saw it as a pathway to degeneration and unemployment. I didn't have the courage to persue that dream and mostly I remember it was because I never believed I was talented enough. I don't recall ever being encouraged and told I was good at art at school (they tried to convince me not to take art A level) and so I never had the confidence to believe I could succeed.

Which is somewhat ironic really... because now I can see anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

This is a message to all four of my sons and to my two step children but in particular to Sam who is a very talented writer and Jacob who is a very talented musician and both who dream of working with their particular artistic talents... follow those dreams guys!

More Drawing

2012-01-25T13:09:00.001Z

The nagging worked... thank you!

I have been drawing in my sketchbook.

Okay... I admit it hasn't been half an hour every day but then I'm much more of a "let's jam all the half hours into one long session" type of girl.

I've done a lot more rubbings because I really liked doing them... especially creating piles of wobbly cups! And cutting into pages... that was fun.

I've made some strange looking cutlery

Fun and quick to do.

And then I had a play using watercolour pencils combined with dry pencil and I really liked that too.

There were things I didn't like such as using photographs on my pages but I've tried each of the techniques and finally finished Module 1 and have sent off all my images. Whoohoo!!!

I've finished other things this week such as the dreaded tax return. (Even bigger Whoohoo!!!)

And there are also a couple of new ventures on the go too but I'm keeping those under wraps for now (Sorry... I know... really annoying when people say things like that on blogs but I didn't want you to think I'm sitting around twiddling my thumbs)

Oh What a Night!

2012-01-21T11:19:00.003Z

Well, what a day really.

I met Gill at lunchtime for a visit to the British Museum because I wanted to see the Grayson Perry exhibition again, and Gill hadn't seen it yet. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around.

We then had a wander down Regent Street, tried on a few dresses in Desigual (but were very restrained and did not buy) wandered around Anthropologie where there was a lot of "we could do that" so again we didn't spend!

Then after a lovely day together, Gill and I went our separate ways and I met Stewart for an early supper... at the only place I ever seem to eat in London (I mention it on here so often I think must they owe me a free lunch!) And then it was off to the theatre to see this...

Absolutely amazing!!! Loved it... Nothing else to say.

My Cup of Tea?

2012-01-16T17:09:00.001Z

I started the Creative Sketchbook course with the Kemshalls in September and apart from a little flurry of activity I have not really got to grips with it.

My fault entirely, as it is a well written and well constructed course... but somehow the motivation has been lacking and I always seem to be able to find something else more pressing that I need to do

And of course, the longer I leave it between sessions the more difficult it becomes to return to the sketchbook and it almost feels like starting all over again.

Which is puzzling because I thought by actually taking a course it would give me the motivation I need to keep working in a sketchbook on a regular basis.

I think part of the problem for me has been that I tend to use sketchbooks for research into subjects that interest me, things that might provide the background for future work, whereas this has been drawing for the sake of drawing (Which of course, was exactly what I wanted to do!)

But today I've spent a couple of hours just playing, working into different pages and I've had a really enjoyable afternoon. So I've decided I've really got to stick at it and with just half an hour a day, I may even finish Module 1 by the end of this month. Keep nagging me!

Hello Dolly

2012-01-14T18:45:00.001Z

At our Young Embroiderers meeting today we thought it would be fun to make dolls taking inspiration from the dolls and creatures made by Julie Arkell. Julie uses papier mache to create her doll forms and we didn't have time to do that so instead we made armatures from wrapped pipe cleaners and then the girls dressed and decorated them with all sorts of found scraps and bits and pieces. As ever, the results were amazing.

The doll below was made by Jemima and is still a work in progress, but you can see from its fabulous head and fancy pants it is going to be brilliant.

These two were made by Shaan (in the green dress) and Hannah (in the stripy number) and have been named "Bow" and "Buttons"

This beautiful but slightly sad looking lady below was made by Tabby

"Rose" was made by Keziah... our newest and youngest member at only eight years old. Isn't she great!

This trio were made by Francesca, Abigail and Bluebell. Francesca's doll, in the furry boots has been called "Bobby" and Bluebell's colourful lady in her red crown is called "Wacky". The less said about Abigail's rather buxom young lady the better... although as you can imagine it caused great hilarity!

Scarlett's doll started out being based on Lady Gaga but ended up as a Spanish Senorita.

This one below was made by Hannah (we have two Hannahs) and looks very disco in her sequined top.

These three were made by Finola, Skye and Imogen

And last but not least is this fabulous little dog like creature made by Grace. I just love his furry tail and cute little face.

Usually at Young Embroiderers the adult helpers sit and join in making their own version of whatever we might be doing, whilst helping with needle threading etc, but today without exception no-one finished or was happy with what they did. This was not because the girls needed more help than usual - in fact the opposite was true and they just breezed ahead with no preconceptions about getting wrong and as a result created all these wonderful free looking creatures/dolls. But us grown ups - we more more concerned with being neat and getting it right with quite awful results. So if you want a laugh... I'll show you mine...

Who looks remarkably like the Queen... if she were some sort of peasant potato farmer.

I'm glad all the girls did better than this!

SPECTRUM

2012-01-13T17:04:00.000Z

I shall probably mention this a few times in the coming month, but as we picked up the posters and invitations from Art Van Go yesterday I thought I'd give it a plug now. SPECTRUM are a small group formed from six of my ex City & Guilds students plus three other like minded souls, who meet once a month to stitch and chat under my tuition. (I'm very good at tutoring the chat!) This will be their first exhibition together as a group and so we are just a little excited!

We'd be even more excited to see you there... and if you fancy coming along to our very special private view "Tea Party" (lots of homemade cakes) on February 11th, let me know and I'll send you an invitation.

Flower Power

2012-01-11T17:57:00.000Z

Over the past week I've been spending my time planning new classes and getting samples up to date, so I've been on the look out for any new ideas that will give students in some of my classes a chance to practise their free machine embroidery. One of my Christmas presents was this book from Alisa Burke which is full of fun projects.

I like her idea of using stitching as a form of doodling...

so I've been doodling flowers...

and leaves... on fabric and paper...

Cutting them out and putting them all together...

To make a flowery garland like the one in Alisa's book.

I decided it needed a butterfly too.

The finishing touch!

So now, not only have I got lots of new ideas for projects for my students...

I've also got a colourful garland which I think I might just hang on my door!

Daily Bread

2012-01-09T14:39:00.001Z

The excesses of the festive season have resulted in some excesses in the tummy region... for more than one of us in this household. So in the spirit of January there has been some resolving to eat more fruit and veg and less cake.

But the desire to bake is a strong one, so instead of cake today I've made bread. A good healthy soda bread...

The perfect accompaniment to a bowl of fresh vegetable soup.

Except it tastes so good and I've eaten so much of it I think I might have been better off with cake!

Should you wish to join me in pretending to be virtuous... my recipe:

Put 500g strong bread flour in a large bowl (I use 350g wholemeal and 150g strong white). Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda. Rub in 30g of cold butter. Stir in enough buttermilk to make a soft dough. The amount needed will depend on the flour used (wholemeal flour soaks up more liquid) but it should be between 280 - 420 ml (10-15 fl oz). Knead until smooth and shape into a flat disc. Put onto a baking tray, mark the top with a cross and bake at 220 deg C for about 35 minutes.

Serve warm ~~with lashings of butter and jam~~

Best eaten within 24 hours.

A Time to Reflect

2012-01-03T18:38:00.000Z

Much as I enjoy Christmas and all the build up, I find the period of limbo between the festivities and the New Year celebrations makes me restless. I always relish the thought of January and the idea of new beginnings and probably even more so this year. When I withdrew from the MA in November, I made a conscious decision not to give too much thought to my work during December. I felt I needed time off. There was always going to come a time when my studies finished and I would have to ask "what next" but I hadn't expected it to be quite so soon and I felt I needed the time to come to terms with this.

I've been reflecting not so much on resolutions for 2012 but ambitions. I know it's not going to be easy directing my own work without the structure of an organised course and somehow I'm going to have to find the discipline to focus on what I believe to be important. With the start of a new year, I felt ready to tackle this head on. Then I woke up on New Year's Eve, sneezing, full of cold and with yet another eye infection and I feel as though my brain has turned to mush. I don't feel I can tackle anything!

This feeling of not knowing what I want to do was not helped by unexpectedly receiving results today for the only piece of work I handed in for the MA. I didn't think it would be marked but it was and I did much better than I ever expected... "high standard", "exemplary", "a strong submission." Suddenly I was overwhelmed with regret... perhaps I've made a huge mistake. Perhaps I could cope with the work along side everything else after all?

But the feeling didn't last long - I know I was not enjoying the course whether I could do it well or not and I just need to find my own direction. And that may take me some time. I know I'm still interested in lace and holes, missing parts of stories and costume... and suddenly I have a renewed interest in Miss Havisham.

So meanwhile, I'll just work some samples without thinking too much about it and see where it takes me. I won't worry about making mistakes and getting it wrong.

And I'll have to trust that I'll find my way... all in good time

Another One Bites the Dust!

2011-12-28T17:17:00.000Z

After days and days of preparation Christmas Day has come and gone in a bit of a blur and was over before we knew it. I had a lovely day with my family that seemed mostly to involve lots of eating and drinking and many hours in the kitchen but as you can see help was at hand from three of my boys.

Boxing Day was a more leisurely relaxed day. Some family members left and others, along with family friends, arrived and we had Christmas dinner pie which is a bit of a tradition... left overs under pastry basically!

As well as some more puddings... a Buche Noel...

and more Christmas Rocky Road.

We manged to speak to the one family member who had been absent from our celebrations... Joe spent Christmas on the beach in Sydney and had a bowl of chips for his Christmas dinner! For many years, another Boxing Day tradition has been a game of Pictionary but Ben bought me a new game this year so eight of us spent the evening on a marathon game of Balderdash that lasted four hours. I don't think we've all laughed so much in ages.

It wasn't the only good present I had either... I seem to have received enough gorgeous bath and skincare products to keep me scented, buffed and polished all year long (Do you think someone's trying to tell me something?) And I've also got some super reading material to keep me busy... not to mention a shiny new Kindle. As someone who has always loved the physicality of books I've had my doubts about an e-book reader but I'm coming round to see its benefits. It won't ever replace books for me but I know I will get good use from it given the number of paperbacks I can get through.

So that's my Christmas... fun... but I'm not sorry it's over. I like the idea of clearing the house and having a fresh new start in January, full of new exciting possiblitites. Roll on 2012!

Day :: Twenty Four

2011-12-24T10:34:00.000Z

To all my blogging friends...

To those who've sent me Christmas cards, emails and messages, to those who've stuck through all these advent posts (whose idea was that?), to those who've left comments throughout the year and to those who silently read... thank you!

I would like to wish you all a very special Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful new year.

Day :: Twenty Three

2011-12-23T14:55:00.000Z

You would think that after the stollen incident I would have learned that this is not the season to experiment and try new recipes... but you'd be wrong! Every year I make Delia's Cranberry and Orange Relish to accompany our Christmas lunch. It is tart, spicy and everyone likes it. But this year I fancied a change and made Nigella's "Redder than Red Cranberry Sauce"

Well it is certainly red... but oh so sweet and sickly! The book says "if you find it too sweet, which is unlikely, just spritz in some lemon". I put in the juice of a whole lemon and it was still far too sweet. I've made cranberry jam! So there was nothing for it but to start again and go back to the tried and trusted recipe, which has more cranberries but less than half the amount of sugar. Much better!

But all was not lost and the cranberry jam came to the rescue. The mince pies have all been eaten and the mincemeat is all used up so instead I used the cranberry jam with the almond mince pie recipe...

And have made cranberry almond pies which have been declared a success.

Although the glitter may have been a step to far.

(My excuse is I get excited this time of year)

I'll be back tomorrow for one last post before Christmas for those of you who have stuck with me throughout December... although I rather suspect there are less of you now than at the beginning of the month!

Day :: Twenty Two

2011-12-22T15:21:00.003Z

I'm back on list:

Food shopping - tick (& feeling very smug!)
present wrapping - tick

Although I'm not sure the homemade bags...

with all those paper snowflakes, were ever on my original list.

But I think they were one of my better ideas... unlike the stollen!

My chickens have gobbled up the stollen. However, the wild birds, like my family, have given it a wide berth!

Day :: Twenty One

2011-12-21T09:47:00.000Z

I'm working my way down the list:

presents bought - tick
decorations up - tick
puddings steamed - tick
cards written and posted - tick
christmas cake decorated - tick

There was a lot of marzipan left when I finished decorating the cake so I decided I would make stollen. But something went wrong and instead of the light fluffy cake like dough filled with fruit and a melting marzipan centre I seem to have made a stollen brick... two of them. I made myself eat a slice for breakfast just to see if it tasted okay but wish I'd stuck to porridge! Looks like the birds are in for a treat, although I fear they might be unable to take off after eating this!

Oh well... that will teach me to go off-list.

Back on it today... wrapping presents.

Day :: Twenty

2011-12-20T07:24:00.000Z

When I first started sewing I would often buy kits to work from. I can't tell you how many half finished projects I have lurking about that started life as a kit and I just don't have the motivation to finish them... or in some cases even start them. This Christmas Angel from Candle House Crafts was one such kit and she has resided in a drawer, bald and unfinished, for many, many years,

But given the state of the angel/fairy that usually resides on my Christmas tree, this year I decided I would finish her... and very pretty she is too.

But as she balances a little precariously on top of the tree I can help feeling a little sad.

Because I'm still rather fond of my little floozy fairy with her broken wing!

Day :: Nineteen

2011-12-19T13:23:00.000Z

It's been quite a few years since I last made my own Christmas pudding. Given that by the time it gets eaten most guests have already had a few glasses of wine and then it gets covered in either brandy butter, cream or custard (I serve all three to cater for all tastes), I'm never entirely convinced anyone can tell the difference between shop bought or home made, so I wonder if it's worth the effort.

But yesterday suddenly I had a whim to make one, so out came my Delia's Christmas Book and I mixed up her traditional Christmas Pudding, which wasn't all that much effort really. I made one or two changes to make it my own.

And even if on Christmas day no-one can tell it's home made it doesn't matter. Because as it is steaming away today the house smells wonderful and very Christmassy!

Day :: Eighteen

2011-12-18T11:12:00.000Z

Another Christmas Tree...

I actually managed to do some sewing and made this card for my Mum and Dad.

Day :: Seventeen

2011-12-17T15:29:00.000Z

This morning we braved the crowds in Cambridge but after two hours I'd had enough.

So we came home and decorated the tree instead.

Day :: Sixteen

2011-12-16T18:25:00.000Z

Despite all the manic activity it has been good to find time to spend with friends this week... special friends who have given me some special gifts. This beautiful beaded snowflake came from Val when we met for a quick cuppa on Tuesday.

And today I've had time out for a making day with Susan, Sandra, Selena and Ricki. I forgot my camera so no photos but I can show this lovely wire ornament made for me by Sandra.

And these sort of presents are extra special because every year when I hang them on my tree, I'll remember the friends who gave them to me.

Day :: Fifteen

2011-12-15T11:11:00.000Z

My day of Christmas shopping yesterday didn't quite turn out as planned and instead I spent several hours at the fracture clinic of the Lister Hospital in Stevenage... my brother came off his motor bike at the weekend.

After much waiting and another x ray, they are still not convinced he has broken his leg so have replaced the back slab he's had on since Monday with a rigid support and he's to wait two weeks before they x ray again and decide whether to plaster. I can't tell you how much I wanted to draw a smiley face on that little bit of knee sticking out but the spoilsport wouldn't let me.

But all was not lost and much progress was made on the knitting. At this rate there might even be a pair ready for Christmas which would make a change from the usual single sock!

And I even got some of these written while I was waiting.

Oh yes, I'm totally in control of all my Christmas preparations. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm just off to shake my snow globes again....

Day :: Fourteen

2011-12-14T16:56:00.000Z

I think my excitement has reached an all time high.

In the hour between Stewart leaving for work and me dragging myself out of bed to walk the dog, I was browsing the internet and came across an episode of Kirstie's Handmade Britain where she was making these snow globes from jam jars. Not a new idea but one I'd never tried before.

So simple... but so much fun!

Fill the jar with cold water, a teaspoon of glycerine and a teaspoon of glitter. Using a hot glue gun, stick Christmas cake decorations to the inside of the jar lid. Screw the lid securely onto the jar... and shake...

and shake... and shake... dance around the kitchen and shake some more, shouting "Look, look" to one's bemused offspring!

It's true... I'm very easily amused!

Day :: Thirteen

2011-12-13T09:05:00.000Z

Another train journey, another book, the same knitting...

This time for a much awaited visit to the British Museum, not only because it meant a day out with my very special friend Jude (no trouble recognising her because she was wearing a zombie)...

But also because we were going to see this exhibition.

I've read so much about it, seen the wonderful "Imagine" programme about it, heard so many good things about it, I really did wonder if it would live up to expectations. I was already excited just being inside the British Museum and this amazing courtyard... it is so long since I was last there.

At the entrance to the exhibition is the amazing motorbike, on which Grayson Perry took his teddy, Alan Measles, on a pilgrimage to Germany. I feel there is so much I could say about this exhibition, but so much has already been written that I'm not sure where to start. Perry has taken artifacts from the BM's collection and they are displayed in juxtaposition with his own work. He addresses themes such as shamanism, journeys, relics, shrines, sexuality and contemporary culture all connected with ideas of craftsmanship... and it is wonderful. The transistion between modern and ancient object is seamless, the captions on the labels are insightful, intelligent and to the point.

Most of all it is such a clever exhibition... and funny.

For me it really struck a chord about some of the things I felt about doing the MA. Primarily I withdrew because I was struggling to juggle the studying with other aspects of my life, but that was not the only reason. I probably would have struggled on but I wasn't enjoying it either. I had the overwhelming feeling that everyone was so serious, constantly trying to justify the work with deep inner meanings that smacked more than a little of the Emperor's New Clothes. I don't have a problem with work having meaning or concepts but I do think there is a danger of taking everything too seriously and that is just not for me. One of the captions at the exhibition summed this up: "Sometimes our human desire for meaning can get in the way of having a good experience of the world" I think Grayson Perry knows exactly how I feel!

A brilliant exhibition, a brilliant day out with a friend... and of course a brilliant lunch at our favourite haunt.

Day :: Twelve

2011-12-12T06:54:00.003Z

The chair in Jacob's bedroom collapsed, beyond repair. So he borrowed one from the dining room. But we needed the dining room chair when friends came for dinner so we took it back and instead he took the chair from the study. Needing to work on the computer, I then took a chair from the kitchen. It was obvious that our little game of musical chairs couldn't continue so I took a trip to the local DIY store and invested in a new study chair.

As these things invariably do, it came as a flat pack, but I am one of those weird people who actually enjoys putting together self assembly furniture. I like the challenge of interpreting the badly translated instructions ("can't use hammer" was a good one... I can, watch me!)

Making sure all the components are there and following the instructions step by step... I failed on the first one that said work on a carpet because we don't have carpets downstairs. I wasn't going to carry the finished item around the house.

Nearly there... (note to self... must clean that floor)

Ta Dah! My finished chair. After all, when you're writing a blog post every day you do need a comfy chair. Although between you and me, I'm currently sat up in bed with my laptop waiting for it to be light enough to walk the dog!

Day :: Eleven

2011-12-11T17:53:00.000Z

Joe has been away travelling for over 18 months now. Since February 2010 he has been in New Zealand where he had first hand experience of the Christchurch earthquake, has worked for several months in an orchard where he was allowed to wield a chain saw, (I can't tell you how much that terrified me), has jumped out of an aeroplane, (less scary than the chain saw) has seen several rugby world cup matches and has now finally settled in Auckland.

Although this photograph was taken in our summer it seems a suitably wintery photo for December, although of course he is currently enjoying the sunshine. He's planning to spend Christmas and New Year in Sydney, before returning to New Zealand. After that... who knows... he mentioned going back to Asia. But what ever he decides it seems unlikely that I'll see him soon.

I miss him every day... but some days more than others. Today was one of those days.

Day :: Ten

2011-12-10T10:24:00.000Z

This was the final project for my class at The Settlement this term. Small stuffed felt hearts for hanging on the Christmas tree... on anywhere else for that matter, adapted from a pattern by Jill Kennedy in Stitch magazine

Margaret made these gorgeous extra large blue versions above and Jan made all four of these below. Restraint was not the order of the day and they were all resplendent with metallic threads, beads, sequins and tassels.

These two below were made by Di... look at that gorgeous beaded parrot!

Clockwise, from top left, these were made by Ann, Elaine and Jenny. Although Elaine is an experienced machinist she is fairly new to machine embroidery so she was quite rightly delighted with her frosty blue heart... so pretty!

Debbie made Christmas trees as well as a heart.

Anne, another beginner, finished her fabulous green heart in class yesterday, complete with fancy tassel.

Barbara's is still a work in progress but she had missed a week when she was poorly.

And Ann was making another three to add to the one pictured above.

As always, the same set of instructions, but so many different beautiful interpretations. It has been a pleasure to teach this group this term and I'm already devising new things for January!

Day :: Nine

2011-12-09T11:55:00.000Z

More food for sharing:

Nigella's Christmas Rocky Road brought to my class on Wednesday. So naughty... but so good! (and about 7000 artery clogging calories per slice... at least)

And Almond Paste Mince Pies, brought to my class on Thursday. This is a recipe that I've been using for years, hand scribbled on a piece of paper. I constantly try new mince pie recipes but this is the one I always return to. And as so many of the ladies asked for the recipe here it is...

Pastry

4 oz softened butter

2oz caster sugar

1 egg yolk

8oz plain flour.

Whizz all the ingredients for the pastry together in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of water. Roll out thinly and use to line 24 tart tins. Fill each one with a teaspoon of mincemeat.

Topping

6oz softened butter

2oz caster sugar

1 egg yolk

6oz plain flour

1 teaspoon almond essence

Whizz all the topping ingredients in the food processor to make a soft paste and pipe this mixture onto the top of your mince pies. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 190 deg C. Serve warm or cold with a sprinkling of icing sugar.

I'm off to make another 60 of these now for our Embroiderer's Guild Christmas tea tomorrow... and I might just munch one or two as I go!

Day :: Eight

2011-12-08T18:03:00.002Z

On Tuesday I took a train into London.

A chance for some uninterrupted reading and knitting.

First stop, the V & A...

where I popped in to see the exhibition "The Power of Making" which is branded as a snapshot of contemporary craftsmanship. I was in awe of some of the exhibits which demonstrated extraordinary skill in a wide range of crafts but did feel it was a bit of a mishmash of objects. And there were one or two things that were really grotesque... like the lifesize marzipan baby!

Whilst there I also took the opportunity to wander around the Postmodernism exhibition. I didn't expect to be interested in this, although I'm not sure why, but I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't exactly say I enjoyed it, but it was engaging and I especially liked the section dedicated to music and performance although I'm still not entirely sure what postmodernism is all about... although anarchy and subversion seem to feature quite heavily.

By now it was lunchtime so I stopped in the cafe and enjoyed my lunch in the wonderful blue tiled Poynter room. It always feels so civilised to eat in such beautiful surroundings.

Then I headed across to town towards Regent's Park for the main reason for my trip into London - to see the exhibition "Bite Size" at the Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation. Curated by

Lesley Millar, this brings together artists who first exhibited together 10 to 15 years ago and have been involved with various projects curated by Millar during this time. It shows the work of some of the most eminent textile practitioners currently working in both Japan and the UK, but what is most exciting is that each of the works is only 25cm square or less. Exqusite miniature textiles, which I found particularly interesting because so many of the exhibitors also had work in the "Lost in Lace" exhibition in Birmingham where the scale is vast! The contrast was wonderful. There are 51 exhibits, all quite beautiful so these following are not necessarily what I liked the best but just a small selection from so many fascinating works.

Michael Brennand Wood, Flower Heads

Reiko Sudo, Polygami

Kyoko Kumai, Whisper of Wind

Chiyoko Tanaka, Mud Dyed Cloth - Twig and White Dots #279

Freddie Robbins, Michael 1998

(unbelievably tiny and perfectly knitted!)

Diana Harrison, Damaged (work in progress)

Naomi Kobayashi, From Cosmos (sorayori)

The exhibition only runs until 19th December but is well worth a visit if you are in London. I was also fortunate enough to stay for a talk by Lesley Millar, after which I meandered along to St. Pancras station for a rendezvous with John Betjeman...

where I just happened to bump into my dear husband on his way to the champagne bar... it would have been rude not to join him!

Day :: Seven

2011-12-07T16:32:00.002Z

Great excitement here today because my DVDs have arrived at last!

If you have ordered one they will be in the post first thing tomorrow morning.

But until then, another taster of what's to come...

This clip is dedicated to Angela because despite all her best efforts to teach me, I still don't know how to use the needle threader on my machine!

Day :: Six

2011-12-06T06:59:00.002Z

Towards the end of the summer I signed up for the creative sketchbook course with Linda and Laura Kemshall. I thought it would be a good complement to my degree work and keep me drawing and working in a sketchbook which is something I tend to let slip. The course is well designed and well written and the combination of workbook and videos make it easy to follow.

But despite my best intentions I never really got beyond the first few pages.

As you already know, I was struggling to keep up with the stuff I had to do, never mind the stuff I wanted to do, so the sketchbook was put aside... not quite forgotten but certainly ignored.

So it has been a real pleasure to be able pick it up again in the past week or so.

Progress is slow but I'm managing to work a little and often.

I've been given excellent support from my tutor Laura...

And more than a little encouragement from seeing the super work that Jill has produced.Who knows... I might even make it to the second module by January and get to work in colour!

Day :: Five

2011-12-05T09:24:00.002Z

On Friday my friend Catherina and I ventured north, up the M6 to Birmingham to visit the exhibition Lost in Lace, held in the large architectural space that is Birmingham's Gas Hall. There was a nagging concern that driving 100 miles to see an exhibition could be a bit of an exhausting waste of a day but we were not disappointed. The work in the exhibition is stunning. Each installation is by a different artist and plays with ideas connected with the holes, spaces, boundaries and structures created by lace. The scale is what impresses first.

Elena Manferdini, Inverted Crystal Cathedral. 2011

On entering the hall, the visitor is greated by a huge inverted cathedral created from wire and crystal, stunning in both its scale and beauty. Around this centre piece are numerous other breath taking works such as the wall of lace created by Annie Bascoul, using traditional Alencon needlelace techniques but on a massive scale

Annie Bascoul, Moucharabieh +Jardin de lit, lit de jardin, 2010

Another favourite piece for me was a whole room filled with a network of black wool, trapping the ghostly dress forms within, sinister and menacing, almost like spider's webs.

Chiharu Shiota, After the Dream, 2011

There was so much to see, all of it interesting and thought provoking, it would be difficult to pick a favourite but I was particularly drawn to the beautifully executed work of Piper Shepard. Inspired by traditional lace patterns she hand cuts fabric, painstakingly removing the negative spaces to create her own lace fabric. For this exhibition she had made large black hanging panels inspired by traditional point de gaze lace held in the collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Piper Shepard, Lacing Space 2011 (detail, work in progress)

This exhibition alone would have been worth the journey but we also enjoyed the accompanying exhibition Concealed and Revealed featuring traditional lace from the Birmingham Museum's collection as well as exploring the lively German Christmas market in Birmingham's city centre. And then purely by chance, whilst grabbing a quick sandwich we bumped into a mutual friend, Ruth Issett which was a lovely surprise. All in all a fabulous day out and I can definitely recommend the exhibition if you get a chance.

Day :: Four

2011-12-04T11:29:00.000Z

I think a lot of these advent posts might be about food.

For me the making and sharing of food with family and friends is something special and a mark of celebration. And Christmas is wonderful time for bringing friends together and sharing food.

Don't get me wrong... I hate the excess that can be associated with this time of year. It is a mystery to me why supermarkets have "seasonal" isles laden with tins of chocolates, barrels of biscuits, packets of nuts, crisps and other unecessary items. Why on earth we should need all these additional, extra large containers of food at a time when we already have plenty, much of which will go to waste... in our dustbins and on our waistlines... I will never understand. It feels obscene when so many in the world go hungry. But taking the time to cook something special to share with friends is a real pleasure for me.

And this pomegranate and clementine pavlova was the perfect example of food to share...

most of all because it meant we spent a lovely evening with some very special friends.

Day::Three

2011-12-03T10:21:00.001Z

Ever since we've lived in this house my Mum has made us a garland for the door at Christmas time.

I don't usually start putting up decorations until mid-December but as she delivered this year's garland last weekend it seems a shame to keep it hidden from view in the garage.

I always think it makes the house look lovely and welcoming.

Thank you Mum!

***

For those of you who've sent cheques for a DVD I apologise. It would seem the date I was given for their arrival is a movable feast and I'm now being told they will be here within the week. The envelopes are ready and they will be posted out as soon as they are with me. It does mean the pre-release offer of £18 will remain in place for another week should anyone still be interested.

Day::Two

2011-12-02T08:18:00.000Z

I finally got around to decanting the sloe gin that I made x number of years ago. It has been lurking in a jar at the back of a dark cupboard for longer than I can remember

The colour and clarity aren't bad.

But I have to admit, although the flavour is okay it does leave a certain dryness in the mouth that is bordering on unpleasant!

But as I had already filled up these cute little bottles from Lakeland I figure they'll still end up in Christmas stockings. It'll be fine mixed with some tonic, ice and lemon!

Day :: One

2011-12-01T18:22:00.001Z

Last year I set myself the ever so slightly bonkers task of a blogging advent calendar. Sheer madness at this time of year, yet when I look back over the 24 posts from December 2010 I am amazed at what I actually managed to achieve throughout the month. It was almost as if having to have something to write about each day made me get my backside in gear and get on with things... so I thought I might try to do the same this year... and then I thought don't be daft Gina... but I made the mistake of mentioning it in class today and someone said how they enjoyed reading a post each day in December (you know who you are!)... and so I thought why not! (I know... dozens of reasons why not but hey ho!)

Well, I'm willing to give it a try and I will start with an image of our advent calendar that I have probably posted each December that I've been blogging. No apologies for repetition, because for me this signals the start of Christmas. I sat up into the early hours of Nov 30th/Dec 1st finishing this appliqued calandar many years ago and it has graced our hall every year since. I love the slightly deranged looking angels.

My boys may be bigger, two of them are no longer at home but still the little bags get filled with chocolates and the countdown begins... and it's official... I am bonkers!!!

Scenes of Domesticity

2011-11-30T15:40:00.003Z

I had an impromptu trip into Cambridge yesterday to visit the exhibition "Vermeer's Women: Secrets and Silence" at the Fitzwilliam museum. The title is a little misleading as there are actually only four Vermeer paintings among the thirty two on display, but that does not distract from what is a beautiful exhibition. At its heart is "The Lacemaker" on loan from The Louvre, an exquisite little painting no bigger than 12" square. You can almost see her hands moving, working the bobbins.

Johannes Vermeer, The Lacemaker c.1670, Musee du Louvre, Paris

But there is so much more to see - beautiful domestic interiors showing women inhabiting their private spaces, at work or at leisure. Intimate scenes of domesticity.

Jan Steen, Woman at her Toilette, 1663, The Royal Collection, Her Majesty the Queen

Each one a masterpiece of 17th century Dutch painting.

Jacobus Vrel, Woman at her Window, c.1650, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

For me one of the highlights was seeing how beautifully the fabrics had been painted - lustrous satin, rich velvets and jaquards - each one truely magnificent. I found a quote about Vermeer in the Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Art and Artists that sums it up beautifully - "Domestic life is raised to the level of poetry."

Gerrit Dou, Woman at a Window, 1663, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

In addition there was a very small exhibition (just one cabinet) of 17th century bobbin and needlelace which was stunning - but no photos allowed nor postcards available. (Although I'm tempted to go back and draw).

Back home I created my own little scene of domesticity and got the Christmas cake in the oven... I own up, I cheated this year and brought everything ready measured courtesy of Delia and Waitrose. (Although my girls provided the eggs)

The house smelt wonderful last night... and now begins the task of feeding it.

Don't be fooled by my being so well prepared... the odds are I'll still be doing the marzipan and icing on Christmas Eve.

Lace Books

2011-11-28T13:16:00.003Z

If you read Lesley's blog you will know we've had a book swap going on between the pair of us over the past few weeks. A throw away remark from Lesley in my comment box referring to a book swap, resulted in me taking up the challenge and before we knew it we had agreed some rules, a theme (lace) and a date for posting. Lesley's parcel arrived on Thursday and as soon as I read the beautiful printed card with its quote from Coco Chanel, I knew I was in for a treat.

Lesley took her inspiration from this lovely stamp featuring Sir Walter Raleigh wearing a rather fine lace ruff.

One of our "rules" was that our books should have some sort of container and as I pulled this fabulous box from the parcel my excitment could hardly contain itself.

And with just cause... because inside the box was an amazing "lace ruff" book

There are 91 of the most amazing tiny little books each stitched onto an embroidery frame creating the ruff.

And each little book has a cover printed with lace and pages that contain snippets of instructions from a book on lacemaking.

And if all that wasn't totally amazing enough, Lesley made me a second book (She broke all the rules you know!) Another exquisite little gem which I think is called a lotus book.

With folded pages made from little square lace doilies... to be honest Lesley... that alone would have been enough... it's beautiful!

In return this is what I sent Lesley. You may remember my drawings of samples of lace from a few weeks back. I ended up making ten little A6 studies of lace from which I cut away selected areas

These were then assembled into a "blizzard" book structure, with front and back covers covered in a fabric printed with a lace pattern.

For my container I made a box (this was a first for me) with a lid covered in the same fabric

I think both Lesley and I have spent hours on this swap but I know I would quite happily do the same again, without hesitation. It has actually given me a lot of pleasure when I have felt very stressed over the past few weeks. To be able to escape for an hour or so of drawing and cutting at the end of the day has been a delight. However Lesley did remark should she be so careless with a throw away comment again, such as "how about climbing Kilimanjaro"... I should ignore her. I've been trying to find out what date she had in mind but she's having none of it!

*update* I've had a request for how to make the blizzard book so you might want to check out this tutorial that I posted about two years ago should you want to give it a try.

Pass the Chocolates

2011-11-26T20:41:00.001Z

I'm sure I've shown you these felt chocolates before... (totally calorie free!)

Well, today we thought they would be a good project for our Young Embroiderers.

Now, I know my girls are good but never for a moment did I think they would do such a brilliant job...

I gave a couple of quick demos and they were away... coming up with their own designs, their own colour schemes and their own decorations to create their very own unique box of chocolates.

I think I should point out that the oldest of these girls are only 11 - 12 and we have some as young as 8.

Every single one was just amazing.

Well done girls... I can't wait to see what you achieve at our next meeting.

It's been a lovely day... thank you!

A Decision

2011-11-25T15:11:00.004Z

It has been a pretty torturous couple of weeks as I've tried to reach a decision about my Masters degree. I'm not someone who is afraid of a challenge, I like to feel pushed and I hate to give up on something once I've started but the last couple of months have not really worked for me. I've struggled to balance work with studying and still maintain something of a normal family life but it has been impossible and as a result I've been exhausted, run down and miserable for quite a long time. I've swung from feeling totally overwhelmed to telling myself to get a grip and get on with it... but ultimately something had to give... I started to think how I could cut back on my teaching.

Work from students at Missenden Abbey last w/e

So I have decided to withdraw from the MA. I've had a full on week of teaching and it occured to me that this is what I love doing best of all. I originally started the BA in Embroidered Textiles as a way of pushing my own work so that my teaching would remain fresh. It was a challenge at times and hard work but I loved it, distance learning suited me and would never have considered giving up... yet that decision was made for me when the school went into receivership. Then I got the chance to transfer to the MA at Hertfordshire and I jumped at the chance. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss. But it has left me feeling drained of energy and I think my teaching has suffered as a result.

Work from students at Art Van Go on Wednesday

But it has been so difficult to come to this decision. I've talked it over ad nauseum to anyone who will listen. Giving something up has negative connotations of failure and I knew I would have to come to terms with that. But I'm seeing it as a positive decision to withdraw which will have postive implications on my quality of life. I will still work on my research, visit exhibitions and exhibit my own work alongside my teaching. I have all sorts of plans that I had put on hold "until I finished my degree" which I now intend to pursue. In fact, all I see at the moment are the positives. I'm sure I will have occasional times of regret but really all I feel now is a huge weight off my shoulders. For the third time this week I've been told that I'm looking well... much better than in weeks which says it all really.

Work from students at The Letchworth Settlement on Thursday

There is so much more I could tell you about my decision making process but really all that matters is that I'm happy with it. And when I look at just a small sample of the work produced by my students in the past week and listen to their feedback, I know I've made the right decision.

Cringe!!!

2011-11-22T15:55:00.002Z

You know what it is like when you see and hear yourself speaking... slightly mortifying and cringeworthy!!! (Can that really be me?) But here I am... DVD is available from me too at the special price of £18 until 1st December. Just drop me an email. I promise I won't keep going on with this shameless self promotion but I've never been on youtube before.

(I'm mightily impressed with the editing and retouching!!!)

Thank You

2011-11-17T17:57:00.002Z

I'm back! That didn't work did it... switching off my comments... you all emailed me! But I'm not complaining because you have all been very kind, offered excellent advice and made me realise I have a lot of very caring friends out there... even the one who started with "Hey snotty grotty" who made me laugh very loudly!

I wasn't sure about writing the post and then when I posted it I wondered if I should delete it but Elizabeth sent me this link which expressed very eloquently some of how I felt.

Yep, I'm still a bit snotty and grotty but a good night's sleep has done me the power of good and I'm not about to make any rushed decisions. I'm not a quiter and hate to give up on things (through sheer bloody mindedness if nothing else) so will probably hang on in there for a bit longer. Although I did have a thought that if I got my fees refunded I could afford to go and see Joe in New Zealand... just a thought...

Anyway I'm back sooner than planned because I have exciting news about my DVD. It will be available from 1st December priced £22 (including pp)... however it can be pre-ordered from me for a mere £18 (including pp). Although it is aimed at beginners or those fairly new to machine embroidery it has a lot of tips for those wishing to brush up their skills. So if you think you might like a copy, email me and I'll give you more details. The pre- launch price is only available until 1st December and the same offer is available from the Colouricious website should you prefer to order from them. (Although if you order from me I actually get to earn some money for this venture!)

This time I probably will disappear for a week or so... I'm off teaching at Missenden Abbey for the weekend and then I'll be back at University on Tuesday and teaching again next Wednesday and Thursday... nothing changes!

Feeling Miserable

2011-11-15T18:28:00.001Z

Today I gave my work in progress presentation at University to my peer group and a couple of tutors. It went okay and on the whole people said constructive things and had good suggestions - nothing negative. But I've come home feeling very miserable and despondent. I'm left feeling that my work so far lacks focus (well, I knew that) and direction and has very little gravitas. I don't know where to take it next and frankly I don't feel I'm up to taking a Masters degree. I think it is very easy when posting photographs on the blog and glossing over my processes to be swept along with all the wonderful positive comments. Don't get me wrong, I love getting your reaction to what I do - it's always supportive and kind but it does rather blind me to what I'm really doing. Yes, I can make pretty images but I've come to the conclusion that's about as far as it goes.

I'm trying to stay positive and realise that I feel partly like this because I don't feel well. Whatever virus that caused my voice loss last week now seems to be back with a vengeance and I've a sore throat, thumping head and bunged up nose. I know I'm trying to do too much and I can't carry on with this level of teaching as well as taking a degree, so something has to give... and it's not good that it's my health. I never seem to have enough time for family and friends either and that is something I find really difficult.

I'm in two minds whether to publish this post as I made a conscious decision when starting a blog that it would be a colourful, positive and upbeat place, which I think does reflect how I feel most of the time. I don't want it to be a place where I moan and complain. However I don't feel positive and upbeat at the moment, I feel miserable and as this is my space I think I have the right to have a little cathartic moan. I've switched off comments because I'm not after sympathy - I just need a bit of space to come to a decision about my future.

I promise I'll come back next week all smiles, with some good news about the release of my DVD. Thanks for listening.

Looking Through Holes

2011-11-14T10:53:00.002Z

As I delve deeper into my research I'm looking at photographs of old lace

I'm making drawings of the lace with a fine black pen and then cutting out selected areas. By laying the drawings over red paper the cut away areas stand out. I like the idea of partially revealing what is behind.

I'm still not certain where this is taking me but I'm having fun finding out

***

Thank you for all the good advice and concern about my voice which has now returned.

The Sound of Silence

2011-11-11T10:37:00.000Z

It's true, I'm in denial about Christmas. Far too many other things going on to think about it yet... until I looked in my diary at the beginning of the week and had one of those "Oh, no" moments. It would appear I've committed myself to a couple of open days this weekend.

After hastily sorting out what stock I've got, I ran up some extra Christmas cards last night and I think I'll be alright...

Except I've now lost my voice. It started to crack yesterday afternoon when I was teaching and has now virtually disappeared.... nothing... just a pathetic croak. Which is a little alarming because I'm giving a presentation about my work at University on Tuesday, so I'm hoping this will do the trick.

Meanwhile, if you are in the vicinity do pop in for my Open Days...

I'm open from 10am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

There will be mulled wine and mince pies...

I just won't talk to you!

Zombies

2011-11-09T06:46:00.001Z

When your friend buys you a book on how to make felt zombies for your birthday...

It is only fair that she should get a felt zombie for her birthday.

Although I fear this little zombie kitty at only 3" tall, is more cute than gruesome.

But it did give me a chance to try some paper cutting that was not pretty and lacy.

Happy Birthday Jude!

Progressing.

2011-11-08T06:28:00.002Z

Lots of pictures and not so many words today as I begin to explore ideas for my MA practice.

Continuing from my initial ideas, I cut more leaves...

gradually expanding the cut sections

to create a lace like structure.

I notice the shadows.

And play with the light to create a lace shadow.

I cut more... and used them as a stencil to print patterns in my sketchbook.

And then used a photocopy of the resulting print as a template to cut out some lacy pages

And loved the way they looked when only partially cut.

And loved them even more as I pulled apart the layers and could see through the holes to the layers underneath.... revealing and concealing.

And thought about the possibilities of this on a larger scale.

I sprayed one of the pages black and liked the way it looked when positioned slightly out of register with the white page. Again, seeing through to layers beneath.

And even the newspaper that was protecting the floor becomes interesting with partially revealed text.

Meanwhile, the original leaf has started to dry out and curl up, creating more possibilities.

So many ideas, so many starting points, I'm not sure where to go next.

Eleven Books, Two Cheques and a DVD

2011-11-07T13:29:00.000Z

Much as I would have loved to have followed your advice and spend the weekend reclining on my sofa, Saturday was spent with ladies from the Enfield branch of the Embroiderer's Guild making little bonded books. And lots of fun it was too!

Eleven lovely ladies produced eleven very beautiful and individual books... each one quite unique.

By a stroke of good fortune there was a rather fabulous hydrangea bush outside the hall with some gorgeous coloured petals so instead of using the ivy leaves that I'd brought along, several of the ladies used the hydrangea petals on their covers instead (including me!). This one below was made by Jackie.

And on Sunday... I retired to that sofa (with my laptop so I could do some studying)

****

More news... I have had a final adding up of the money raised at my pink party...

And we raised a magnificent £262... THANK YOU!

When I went to send off the cheques there was a form that required me to have a witness to sign that they had seen me add up the money and write the cheque... well I didn't! And then of course I proceeded to feel guilty as though I had embezzled the money, so you can all be my witnesses that the cheques have been written... and you'll have to take my word for it that they have been posted!

*****

And finally.... I've had a preview of the cover of my DVD!

Not long now before it will be available.

Just a little excited!

Chasing My Tail.

2011-11-04T06:51:00.002Z

Quite often on this blog I get comments of the "You are so amazing, you do so much" or "You must have more hours in the day than the rest of us" variety... and they make me smile. They make me smile because they are kind but mostly they make me smile because in my head the reality is so different. I seem to spend most of my life barely one step ahead of myself, rushing from one thing to another and never really achieving half of what I want to do. Take yesterday for example...

It was my weekly machine embroidery class at the Settlement. I planned the programme for the term during the summer so I knew what I was going to do. For the classes up until half term I had all my samples made. The plan was I would make all the samples for this half of the term during the break... but for one reason or another it didn't happen. This week as usual has whizzed by and so I woke up on Thursday morning with no sample. Fortunately it's an afternoon class!

So I put on the radio, made a pot of tea and got to work making this little embroidered envelope from transfer printed fabric, adapting a pattern by Jill Kennedy in Stitch magazine.

A little envelope designed to hold the little hand made books we've been making in the previous three lessons. (samples made during the summer!)

Tiny books just 4" square made from appliqued tissuetex and filled with coloured pages.

Which was all well and good until half way through I remembered it was my turn to make the cake (to be cut into 12 portions) for the over 60's club meeting this afternoon. A rather rapid all in one fruit loaf... complete with sunken fruit... was delivered just in time and still warm!

Which of course meant I then rushed out leaving the ironing board up looking like this...

And my sewing table strewn with mess looking like this... not having eaten any lunch and forgetting my sister-in-law's birthday card... which is already late. (Happy birthday Anne! Sorry!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining... I love what I do... and I like to be busy.

In fact, I get restless and irritable if I haven't got anything to do.

And when the ladies in the classes I teach produce fabulous things like these books...

it makes me really happy... because they are so beautiful!

and I learn different ways of doing things from them too.

But sometimes I wish it would all slow down just a little bit.... because I'm tired...very, very tired!

And it doesn't make for very interesting blog reading if I tell you about how I collapsed in a comotose lump on the sofa last night and instead of doing the academic reading I needed to do for a tutorial today... I fell asleep! Rather dispels that wonderwoman myth!

Keeping an Open Mind

2011-11-03T08:43:00.000Z

There is currently an exhibition of Bridget Riley's work at Kettle's Yard in Cambridge.

I was aware of Bridget's op-art work in black and white from the sixties, which having a mathematical background I found quite fascinating.

Movement in Squares, 1961

The paintings in Kettle's Yard are selected from the past thirty years up to very recent work and are big and colourful. I saw the exhibition when it opened but if I'm honest, I didn't understand it and felt somewhat indifferent which annoyed me. Here I was standing in front of what was generally acclaimed to be great art and I didn't "get it". So when an opportunity arose to attend an evening talk with Bridget Riley in conversation with Paul Moorhouse, art curator at the National Portrait gallery, it seemed too good to miss.

Loss, 1964

Last night I went to St. John's College, Cambridge and listened to this amazingly vivacious 80 year old talk about her work... and I'm so pleased that I did.

Nude, 1951/52

She spoke about her childhood in Cornwall and the love of nature instilled in her by her mother. About how her mother would make her really look at the colour, shape and movement of everything around her. She spoke about her early days in art school and the strong grounding she had in life drawing and how the tonal drawings she would make then went on to inform those early black and white paintings.

Reve, 1999

Another strong influence on her colour paintings was the work of Seurat. A study of Cezanne gave her a desire to dig deeper and explore colour and pictorial space further. Her work is filled with movement and rhythm.

Two Reds, 2000

And armed with this greater understanding of how Bridget Riley works, knowing where her influences have come from, I find I have a greater appreciation. Aesthetically they might not be my first choice of paintings to look at but I now feel I can take something away from the experience of looking at them... and so I intend to go back to the exhibition in Kettles Yard, which has been extended to the end of December and take a closer look.

Rose Rose 5, 2009

As I work through my MA over the next couple of years I think I might be doing a lot more looking and appreciating of things I didn't understand before.

Bewitched

2011-10-31T16:07:00.000Z

For someone not that keen on making dolls, I seem to be churning them out lately. This latest was started in the Diva Doll class at Art and Stitch last week and it seemed a shame not to finish her in time for Halloween.

Lucretia... a most glamourous witch!

Complete with spiders in her decolletage... and bats in the belfry!

And of course... suitably witchy boots!

I carved out her companion over breakfast this morning... pumpkin cutting rather than paper cutting.

Although I think I'd better get back to my paper cutting now. Enough frivolity for one day!

Pink Friday Party

2011-10-28T18:38:00.001+01:00

Welcome to my Pink Friday Party... do come in in!

We have lots of cake of the knitted variety... 87 cakes to be exact plus 3 crochet flowers, 2 knitted egg cosies and a beautiful cupcake pendant. I have to admit as more and more cakes arrived I had to shift the goal posts slightly. There will still be a donation for each cake received but not quite as much as I first thought! I have picked three names from the 37 lovely people who have sent me cakes and they will be getting a little thank you gift. I would have loved to send you all something in return but I'm sure you'll understand why that might be a problem. So Vera, Rebecca and Susan D something will be coming your way soon... and everyone else... thank you!

All parties need balloons... especially pink balloons.

And of course I had to make real cake... what else could we have with our cuppa?

... perhaps some chocolate cupcakes too?

and two types of vanilla cupcake?

In fact there is ginger cake, carrot cake, brownies and several other varieties too (not all made by me I hasten to add!)

So... are you coming over for tea?

I thought we could play party games.

And possibly have a raffle too.

Now you are probably thinking I've completely lost my marbles doing all this for a virtual party for my blogging friends on the interweb... and you'd be right!

So I invited some friends over to join in the fun and help me eat all this cake!

So all I need to do now is say thank you... a HUGE thank you to everyone who has helped make this party a success. Thank you to everyone who made cakes, real or knitted, thank you to everyone who donated a raffle prize, thank you to everyone who came and drank tea, ate cake and gave a donation, thank you to my little band of helpers who sold raffle tickets and thank you to Jane and Suzie for making tea all afternoon. We raised £132 which means with my donation plus a donation from my lovely husband who has just promised to match mine we have raised well over £200 for Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.

Thinking of Linda... and everyone else who has to battle with this awful disease.

A Beginning

2011-10-26T10:48:00.000+01:00

I'm starting to think about my MA... both the practice and the research... and I have decided to start from some of the work I was doing for my BA Fine Art module. I'm looking at holes, the missing parts of stories, revelation and concealment , lace and knitting. This has also meant I've returned to paper cutting and I picked up this charming little book by Rob Ryan.

On the back cover there is this illustration of a paper leaf and it got me thinking what if...

I did this with a real leaf.

Which was good fun although not quite as easy as cutting paper!

Given my love of words and text, I couldn't ignore the bits that I cut out...

I then tried cutting a lace pattern from another leaf

Again... it bit of fun.

I've no idea where any of this might lead at this stage but I don't mind because at least I've made a start and we all know that any long journey has to start with a single step.

And I've finished the first page in my sketchbook...

There are Bodies!

2011-10-24T09:06:00.002+01:00

Another lovely day at Art and Stitch on Saturday and all the ladies managed to make bodies for their dolls.

There was much laughter as the various merits of big boobs vs saggy boobs were discussed... with quite a bit of squeezing and feeling going on in the process. Combined with cries such as "my arm's just fallen off", anyone coming in the shop must have wondered what on earth we were doing.

As well as bodies several of the ladies managed limbs as well and already there are some glorious characters emerging.

I think the one below looks like a rather scary aerobics teacher in her multi coloured leotard.

And I think it's best not to speculate on the profession of this young lady... who is looking very "come hither".

Of course now the fun starts when the dolls can be embellished and decorated, which the ladies will finish at home. A bit sad for me as I don't get to see the dolls complete but I did get a sneak preview of some of the accessories. Pixie boots for the blue doll in the third photo. (Another Annette Emms pattern)

Complete with a matching tiara... very pretty!

And if you fancy making a Diva Doll, I'll be teaching the same class at the Embroiderer's Guild Eastern Region Spring residential weekend in Hoddesdon in March 2012, and at Bee Crafty in Huntingdon June 2012.

A Frivolous Fairy

2011-10-21T11:38:00.000+01:00

As well as teaching workshops here, there and everywhere (Tollesbury, Letchworth and Peterborough in the past week) I'm also four weeks into my MA and all day Tuesday was spent at the University of Hertfordshire. We've finally started to move on from the "getting to know you" games and at last I feel I'm ready to get to grips with some research and possibly even make a start on some practical work. I'm quite determined not to lose sight of the fact that I'm doing this for fun... but it can still feel quite intense at times, so it has been a welcome relief to be stitching something frivolous in the odd free moments during the week...

At the beginning of the week there were wings... sparkly fairy wings.

Then there were some very sparkly fairy shoes, because all fairies should have twinkle toes.

(Pattern by Annette Emms from Workshop on the Web)

Then finally this morning the whole lot was assembled...

and the result is a rather loud "Diva Doll" fairy.

as yet without a name (suggestions most welcome!)

The reason behind this frivolous fairy is that I've been teaching a two day "Diva Doll" workshop at Art and Stitch in Peterborough and I'm back there tomorrow where I hope there might be some bodies finished to attach to all these heads!

Watch this space...!

My Feet...

2011-10-17T09:52:00.001+01:00

Don't seem to have touched the ground over the past few weeks.

(Although I have managed to finish my first ever pair of patterned socks)

I seem to be rushing from one thing to another without any breathing space. As well as starting my MA, I've done loads of teaching, some exhibition stewarding and finally on Friday, filming my DVD, which was one of the most nerve wracking things I've ever done! It should be available by mid to late November and you can get pre- release information if you sign up for the Colouricious newsletter. Although you can be pretty certain I'll be letting you know too!

As a result of all this activity, some things have inevitably slipped. I'm not managing to reply to all your lovely comments, but every single one is read and appreciated... so please don't stop! I'm also starting to lose track of all the fabulous cakes that have been arriving for my Pink Friday party. I'm trying to thank people as they arrive but if you have sent me a cake and haven't heard from me...I'm sorry and THANK YOU!!! They seem to arrive daily, most in the post but some appearing on my doorstep and others being handed over by students in classes. I've been overwhelmed and delighted by the response. Be sure to check back on Friday 28th October.. Party Day!

But finally things are starting to calm down a little and yesterday I had a chance to unwind in one of my favourite ways... cooking. With family here for lunch I indulged in some new recipes. This wonderful mixture of courgettes, cheese, rice and herbs...

Was turned into this Courgette and Rice Filo Pie, which was the vegetarian alternative to the roast beef... although as always all the meat eaters had to have a portion too!

The recipe came from this new book which is rapidly becoming one of my favourites. Full of tasty but simple recipes, made from ordinary ingredients. Proper home cooking!

We had to have cake too... Nigella Lawson's version of a Jewish Honey Cake... which you have to love if only because it doesn't have any honey (just a whole tin of golden syrup!) Absolutely delicious served with a warm butterscotch sauce. (Best not to even think about the calories.)

Right... it's back to work for me this week!

Pictures from St Ives

2011-10-09T13:59:00.001+01:00

A picture heavy post today from my trip to St Ives, where not only have I had the pleasure of teaching thirteen lovely ladies from Cornwall, but where I've also had some wonderful walks on windswept beaches, shared a drink or two with a blogging buddy (which made me late for dinner!) and I've also managed to catch up with family and friends en route.

We were based at the Treloyhan Manor hotel and much to my amusement the class took place in what was an extension to the lobby! I've taught in quite a variety of places in the past but a hotel lobby has to be a first for me. However, it wasn't a problem and we attracted a lot of attention and genuine interest from other guests.

And this was the view from the end where I was sitting... can't be bad, can it.

The ladies had been asked to bring in a landscape photograph as inspiration and their first task was to look at the colours and shapes and interprete this as a torn paper collage.

Then over the next couple of days they worked on various machine embroidery techniques to interprete their collages into machine stitched landscapes. The collage above and stitched picture below were the work of Joyce.

These are Ann's collage and stitched piece...

And the two pieces below were the work of Sheena, who was my delightful host for my first evening in Cornwall and who informed me she wasn't the least creative... I beg to differ!

The following are the rest of the stitched pieces that the ladies produced - most are still works in progress but they already look fabulous and will be wonderful when they are finished. The Grand Canyon from Barbara...

Bridget's...

Carol's...

Ellie's...

Jenny's...

Mary's... (who coped really well with a badly behaved machine.)

Pat's...

Ruth's...

Sheila's...

and last but not least, Wendy's.

And here they all are proudly showing their work! Didn't they all do well... especially as it was a very mixed group with very varied experience of machine embroidery.

It was a busy few days with some long tiring hours on the road but I've had a super time and can't wait until I go back to St Ives again. (If they'll have me of course!)

Warm Weather

2011-10-03T20:22:00.001+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I thought I was going to have to deal with kilos of green tomatoes... and no matter what recipe I try I really do not like green tomato chutney. Then all of a sudden we have record temperatures for October and instead I've had a glut of super ripe tomatoes. These plum tomatoes were grown from seeds that we brought back from an Italian market last year.

As a result we had several tomato based meals last week (if you follow the link, I substitute the single cream for 1/2 pint double cream and it easily serves six). But tomorrow I'm going away and there were still lots of tomatoes left. Now I'm pretty certain my menfolk are not going to cook anything from scratch involving fresh produce while I'm away. In fact I'm pretty sure they are not going to cook anything that doesn't involve a trip to the freezer. So today I've been turning tomatoes into chilli jam which we'll eat with fishcakes when I get back. It's pretty good in cheese sandwiches too!

Other cooking this weekend has meant a birthday cake...

Because my youngest man is 19 today.

Happy birthday Jake!

This unseasonal weather has meant that this is the first time we've ever celebrated his birthday by eating outside!

Now if you'll excuse me, I must dash and finish my packing because I'm off to St. Ives in the morning to teach at a residential school for the West Country Embroiderers. I'll tell you all about it when I get back next week.

T. G. I. Friday

2011-09-30T18:46:00.001+01:00

This week has whizzed by but I'm not sorry it's Friday.

My first day at University was rather uneventful... queues to get passwords, queues to check I am who I say I am, queues to have my photo taken, queues to receive my college I.D card and queues to hand over vast sums of tuition fees. This was all followed by an afternoon playing getting to know you games more suited to 12 year olds and being told what a wonderful museum the V and A is and how we really should try and visit. I guess the only way is up...

Wednesday saw me in Norwich stewarding the ERTF Concepts and Meanings exhibition in Dragon Hall.

For the exhibition, I finished a third standing figure to accompany my original two standing figures from the telephone kiosk.

Ideally they look best in the context of the phone box and failing that I like them displayed overlapping against light but because of the nature of the building and certain restraints in hanging work this wasn't possible, but overall I was really pleased with the way they looked. There is some lovely work in the exhibition which is still open for another week.

Today I've been teaching up near Huntingdon at Bee Crafty... my first time at this shop that is only seven weeks old yet absolutely buzzing with activity. It is a real treasure trove of beads, buttons, yarns, trims and of course fabric... well worth a visit. I had been told to expect cake but I wasn't prepared for the wonderful plate of homemade biscuits that appeared with elevenses. By the time I grabbed my camera this was all that was left! It doesn't get much better than homemade jammy dodgers!

As well as eating cake and biscuits, we also did some sewing and these are some of the wonderful books finished by ladies on the course...

And as for me... you know I said I had an urge to make an even smaller book... you know I said there wasn't time this week... well, I guess you also know me well enough by now to know I'd do it...

So here it is, just 4cm square.

With a bonded and stitched cover with real ivy leaves

and sixty four little folded pages! I'm not going any smaller because cute though it is, it is also pretty useless!

As for tonight... I think wine, knitting and Strictly Come Dancing are on the agenda... before all the madness starts again next week.

More Books

2011-09-26T17:04:00.000+01:00

I've been a little obsessed over the weekend with making more samples of these little folding books with bonded covers.

Some have real leaves painted, bonded and trapped under chiffon on a paper background.

Others have skeleton leaves instead.

All are machine stitched with free machining and tied with braids made to match.

But as I've been making them I've had an increasing desire to make them smaller.

Precious little books that fit into your hand.

And I've experimented with the folded pages so that this one has thirty two little folded sections made from a single sheet of A3 paper.

It has a lovely solid compact feeling...

So now I want to go even smaller and see just how small I can make these books and how many folded pages I can include.

But I can't... I mustn't...

Tomorrow is the first day at University for my MA, followed by a day up in Norwich and then two days teaching. After the weekend I'm driving down to Cornwall for the week (more teaching) and then back for another three days teaching and a day filming. Somehow I have to fit in studying and family stuff as two sons have birthdays during the next couple of weeks so there will be special dinners and cakes... so no time to be fiddling about making little books.

I shouldn't even be on here blogging... unless of course I finish another little book!

Embroidered Books

2011-09-21T15:12:00.000+01:00

I've spent the last couple of days making more samples.

This time some little origami fold books with embroidered covers for a class I'm teaching on Friday 30th September.

I'll be at Bee Crafty in Huntingdon which is a new venue for me.

That's because Bee Crafty is a new store, only open since August 6th so it's all very exciting.

I believe there are a couple of places left on the class so I would love it if you could join us for the day.

Apparently there's free cake too!

Sketchbooks and Cupcakes

2011-09-19T17:14:00.002+01:00

As summer draws to an end so have my sketchbook tutorials, although I hope everyone who has been joining in over the summer will continue to work in their sketchbooks.

At the weekend I had a chance to join in a day class with Jan Beaney at our Embroiderer's Guild and it seemed a good opportunity to develop some of the images from my summer sketchbooks.

These photographs and quick sketches of daisies from last years work, had led to the monoprint collage below in this year's red themed book, which I though might translate well to an embroidered panel.

Jan was teaching a technique of creating a personal cloth by working onto a surface of water soluble fabric. (I should say before I forget, she was a excellent and entertaining teacher.) So I combined the layout of the monoprint with the colors of the photographs and came up with this panel below.

Layers and layers of both machine and hand stitch built up to create a dense fabric...

With a few beads thrown in for good measure.

It is still very much a sample at this stage but I think it could have potential to develop into a larger panel.

One of the questions I often get asked is how can sketchbook work be developed into finished pieces and there is no one simple answer. The point which I hope to illustrate here is that the more you work in sketchbooks and the more you work samples, the better informed your work becomes.

Other news here... I finished my final panel for the ERTF exhibition in Norwich... but I'm keeping it under wraps until the exhibition opens so you'll have to wait until next week. I've also received rather a lot of parcels in the post too... just look at all these cakes that have arrived already for my Pink Friday Party... and it's still over a month away! Of course my excitment was dampened somewhat when certain male members of my family pointed out the irony of raising money for Breast Cancer Care with knitted cakes that look remarkably like breasts!

There have been real cupcakes too (not that they deserved them) ... coffee and walnut though... I couldn't face pink cakes with cherries!

Henry Moore

2011-09-16T09:46:00.003+01:00

Amid all the crazy stuff going on I had a little oasis of peace this week. My friend Anna and I had a day out to Perry Green to visit the Henry Moore Foundation, the Hertfordshire home of Henry Moore.

Neither of us could quite believe that we have lived so close to this amazing property for so long yet have never visited before. Our first stop was Hoglands, a timber framed farmhouse that had been home to Moore and his wife Irina from 1940 until Irina's death in 1989. No photographs allowed unfortunately, but it had been restored to appear exactly as it would have been when they were living there. We were given a personal tour of rooms full of wonderful books, amazing artefacts and fabulous artwork, including drawings from the likes of Degas, Picasso and of course Moore himself.

Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge 1976

Immediately behind the house is Irina's beautiful garden and then beyond that acres of gardens, orchards and farmland full of some of Moore's wonderful sculpture, all quite breathtaking.

Three Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae 1968

We were really lucky with the weather and were able to wander at our leisure. We both thought we would do some drawing but decided there was so much to take in on this first visit that we would return to do that another time.

Reclining Figure 1982

Figure in a Shelter 1983

Large Figure in a Shelter 1985-86

Large Interior Form 1953-54

In the grounds, several of Moore's studios have been restored to to the way they were when he was using them, all open to visitors. One of these studios backs onto a pasture full of grazing sheep, where Henry Moore used to sit at the window and sketch them.

Studies of Sheep, Ballpoint pen, 1972

I love the sculptures and especially love all his drawings but the best for me were the tapestries hanging in one of the converted barns. In the 1940s Henry Moore worked on textile designs, many of which can be seen on the curtains hanging in Hoglands, but after that period his work was mostly sculpture. Then in the 1970s he returned to textiles, producing drawings that were made into tapestries. There began a collaboration in the 1980s with the West Dean College tapestry studio where 23 large scale tapestries were woven from Moore's original drawings.

Mother and Child Holding Apple, Tapestry, 1982-83

Moore himself was adament they should be interpretations of his drawings rather than reproductions and they work so well with a beautiful painterly quality. Absolutely stunning.

Row of Sleepers, Tapestry 1986

I can see me returning to Perry Green on a regular basis and could certainly recommend it. It was such a wonderful day out and virtually on our doorstep! I would also like to say that the staff and guides were among the most pleasant, helpful and courteous I've ever met.

Henry Moore 1898 - 1986

Concepts and Meanings

2011-09-12T16:59:00.000+01:00

I should have mentioned yesterday that the exhibition I'm taking part in will be this:

Concepts and Meanings

by members of the Eastern Region Textile Forum

27th Sept - 9th October

Dragon Hall, Norwich

I will be there stewarding on Wednesday 28th September when there will also be a private view from 4 - 7 pm. If you live in the area and would like to come along please email me and I'll email you back an invitaion. It would be good to see you.

I will be exhibiting these two panels along with a third standing figure yet to be completed... I guess I'd better get back to work!

Absent

2011-09-11T19:29:00.001+01:00

I feel as though I've been absent for a while.

(although it has been less than a week)

I'm not really sure what has been going on to keep me away...

I made cake... blueberry and lime drizzle
I've started a new term teaching
I took my samples to be photographed... filming starts next month
I've done housework... a rare event so worth a mention
And today we went to see some alpacas... funny looking things!

So just a bit of this and that really... but I feel like I'm biding my time before stuff really gets busy. The next six weeks seem just a little bit crazy. My MA starts in a couple of weeks, I've got work in an exhibition in Norwich which requires my presence for a day (not to mention actually finishing the work), and a teaching schedule like I've never tackled before... including four days in St Ives. So I may well be absent on and off for quite a while. Lets just say blogging will be erratic and I'll be back properly at the end of October... for my Pink Friday Party!

For other members of my family life seems to be one long party... Joe, still in New Zealand has been watching the rugby world cup... apparently he was spotted on the TV coverage which I have to say I missed! (Joe's the one in the middle.) I miss Joe too!

Back to School - Back to Work

2011-09-06T16:10:00.000+01:00

As an end of summer holiday treat I took Jacob and his girlfriend Paige into London yesterday and we played at being tourists for the day. Being born in the capital and having spent part of my childhood in or around London it is easy to forget what a wonderful place it is.

Our first stop was the London Eye. Jacob was not keen but we did eventually persuade him to stand up and look out!

Back on firm ground we crossed Westminster Bridge and I got rather excited that we were passing St Stephen's Tower just as Big Ben chimed midday. (It doesn't take much to make me happy!)

Past Westminster Abbey and then down Whitehall where we walked past the end of Downing Street, past the guardsmen at Horseguard's Parade, peeking down to Buckingham Palace as we went.

In Trafalgar Square we stopped for lunch before heading to the National Portrait Gallery

Where we saw Glamour of the Gods... a small but beautiful exhibition of Hollywood studio photography.

Paige is studying photography, in particular portraits so we were combining some research with our day out.

We ended up touring the entire gallery, there was so much to see.

Today they are both back for their last year at sixth form college and so it was back to work for me too.

I've spent the day sorting out and making new machine embroidery samples.

Some will be used for forthcoming classes

But most are being put together in a box to be taken to be photographed later this week.

They will be used as promotional material because next month I'm going to making a DVD (about which I am also quite excited... okay, VERY excited!)

Keep an eye on the Colouricious website for more information. Or better still, sign up for their newsletter.

Although you can be sure I'll let you know more as it happens too

One Day

2011-09-04T11:11:00.000+01:00

I read the book last year and absolutely loved it.

It is funny, sensitive, clever and well written.

Last night we went to see the film and I was very disappointed.

It made the story seem trite and sentimental...

and Anne Gathaway's wandering Yorkshire accent was very distracting.

Usually I'm pretty open minded when I go and see a film. I realise that it is a totally different form of media than a novel and as such it works on different levels. I don't automatically assume a film won't be as good as a book and in fact I usually enjoy a good film as much as any book. But this got me thinking about other films I've seen that just didn't match up to the expectations I'd had after reading the novel.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book all the way through yet the film just didn't capture it for me... even with the rather gorgeous Nicholas Cage!

The Time Traveller's Wife.

Again really enjoyed the book and found it utterly believable.

But the film didn't manage to make me suspend my disbelief and as such it just seemed silly.

But other films of novels work so well.

Girl With a Pearl Earring.

I loved the film and the book. As always a book gives more depth but the film was visually beautiful.

The English Patient

I really struggled with the book. It took me forever to read and I found the prose difficult yet I adored the film on every level - the story was captivating, it was visually stunning, the music beautiful - in fact I think it is one of my favourite films ever.

What film/novel combinations do you like/dislike?

Pink Friday

2011-09-02T09:38:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I received this letter from Breast Cancer Care about their fundraising campaign

Pink Fridays.

In the past I have been involved in various fundraising activities for this cause and long time readers of my blog may remember this party three years ago. Do click on the link... it's worth it for the laugh.

It got me thinking (dangerous, I know!) I know several people affected by this and other forms of cancer. Two close friends have had breast cancer and survived past the five year mark which is obviously fabulous news for them. Another friend was diagnosed last year and has had an arduous year of treatment which has just finished. She now has to work on getting strong again. Yet another friend in the village has recently had surgery for the return of lung cancer (despite never having smoked) and just yesterday, the day the letter arrived, I learned of two more friends who have now have to do battle with this dreadful disease. I'm certain all of you reading will know at least one person or be personally affected by cancer.

It makes me feel angry that in this day and age we still don't seem able to prevent, diagnose or treat this dreadful disease more efficiently. I wanted to do something... but my diary is so full for October holding a real Pink Friday event is really out of the question and I'm not sure when I could fit it in ... but then I thought I could hold a virtual Pink Friday and you could join in.

I suppose I should come clean and admit to some selfish motivation here too. You may remember my Marie Antoinette bodice. The plan was always going to be to use knitted cakes as part of the decoration but it just didn't work or look right. So plan B is to construct a huge regency style wig... made entirely from knitted cakes. But unfortunately my knitted cake production is not quite so prolific as my real cake production, so this is where you can help. If you can knit me a cake in any shade/tone of pink... any sort of cake, decorated in any way you like and send it to me by Friday 28th October, I will promise to make a donation to both Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK for every single cake received.

On Friday 28th October I will have a Pink Friday Party here on my blog featuring all the cakes I receive. I will have some sort of giveaway for everyone who has taken part... party bags if you like! There will be balloons and real cake too! If you would like to join in please let me know and I can give you my address. If you need a pattern for a cupcake please email me and I can send you one. Please join in... you'll be helping me out and we'll be doing our own small bit to help fight this dreadful disease. Thank you!

www.breastcancercare.org.uk/pinkfridays

Colour Sketchbook :: 7

2011-08-30T12:19:00.000+01:00

I took my sketchbook away on holiday.

Up until now we've been working on stencilling, printing etc using images taken from close to home but working in our chosen colour - in my case, red, ignoring the local colour. By local colour, I mean the colour that we actually see e.g. sky is blue, grass is green etc.

So on holiday I took a different approach and I concentrated on the local colour and drew what I could see that was actually red.

I had a fairly limited range of materials - some drawing pencils, some watercolour pencil crayons and a paintbrush, yet I managed to capture some of the different reds ranging from scarlet to pink to magenta that could be seen in the beautiful gardens around our hotel.

These are not particularly skilled drawings but the point is to capture the shapes and the colours as best as possible to allow for further exploration on returning home.

So if you are still working along, take time this week to look around and see what you can actually find around the garden or the house in your chosen colour. And if you really can't see anything, compose a still life to draw. Try a collection of objects such as buttons, fruit, cups... anything you like.

Remermber, don't get bogged down with producing an accurate masterpiece - just think about the colour and the shapes... and fill up the page, go over the edges, have fun!

Back Home

2011-08-27T15:07:00.000+01:00

We've been to Italy

We've eaten pizza on beautiful terraces

overlooking little piazzas

We stayed on the shores of Lake Garda

(not in the building above!)

where we swam in the warm lake every day.

We visited Verona,

that fair city where two star-cross'd lovers took their life.

and spent the evening at the most amazing Roman amphitheatre

where we saw an outdoor performance of Verdi's Nabucco.

I've never been to the opera before - it was an amazing spectacle.

But mostly we lazed around on the lakeside reading and relaxing.

I think I may have also eaten my body weight in ice cream over the week...

Although some people managed to drink their body weight in beer...

I was impressed because I couldn't even lift the glass!

It has been a wonderful relaxing holiday.

The boys looked after everything while we were away and the house was clean and tidy.

Jacob and his girlfriend even baked us a cake for our return.

Despite the laundry mountain, the autumnal weather and the rather desperate need to diet

it is good to be home!

Taking Flight

2011-08-18T09:32:00.000+01:00

When I had to create a postcard for Lesley in our postcard swap I referred back to my summer sketchbook from last year and knew that this butterfly image would be the perfect starting point for Lesley's theme of Taking Flight

I played with several ideas but in the end I opted for a free machined version of the butterfly drawing stitched onto a paper background.

But given both mine and Lesley's love of hand made books I didn't stop there. As I was still in the middle of potato printing for this year's sketchbook I set about printing some suitable book pages.

Which were then given an all over wash of green ink to make the concertina pages of a book containing a butterly taking flight.

A postcard book...

That managed to contain my love of printing, paper cuts, books and embroidery!

This weekend sees the final round of postcard swaps. As I'm not around at the weekend, I have already received my card from Cathy and have posted about it here, and you can see all the other cards sent and receieved by checking the Postman's Knock blog over the weekend. I really has been brilliant fun so thank you Cathy and Lesley for organising it.

As for me, I'm taking flight for a week too and we're off to sunnier climes. The freezer is fit to bursting with pizza and oven chips, the cupboards full of tins of spaghetti hoops and baked beans so I don't think the boys will starve while I'm gone.

See you when I get back!