More Light Relief

Last week the fields behind our house were cut for silage.  I love to see the farmer do this, which takes quite a few farm people about two days.  They always seem to get the weather forecast right, unlike some!

As they work backwards and forwards across the fields, there is always a following of seagulls.  I have tried to capture some, but not too successfully.  Perhaps if you look really closely you may see them in the background.  The first photo is a shot through our hedge, which needs cutting, but head gardener has a list of jobs and this one doesn't feature for some time.  Never mind, I do like the view of the landscape through the hedgerow.

 This is the tree I keep trying to paint, with Mow Cop Castle (in ruin) in the distance

I saw a planter in M&S, which I wanted but thought too expensive.  It was in a grey wooden crate and the plants were grouped, much as they would be in a garden, so I thought I would copy the idea with flowers, grouping them by type.  The black pot is a plant pot cover and I have put small vases within it and filled it with water.  Whilst I like the arrangement, it wasn't what I had in mind.

This is yesterday's effort, but sadly the poppies (well most of them) only lasted overnight.  I found out later, courtesy of google, that it helps to burn the bottom of the stems with a match, which supposedly stops them from taking up too much water.  I'll try that next time.

Meanwhile, this is the bed where my poppies came from.  First thing in the morning they are swarming with bees harvesting the new day's nectar.

 Also in abundance in our garden are strawberries, which head gardener gathered yesterday.  Couldn't let this bounty go to waste, so I made some Strawberry Balsamic Jam.  An acquired taste I must admit and it doesn't fall into a savoury or sweet slot, but it is delicious over vanilla ice cream, well any ice cream really!

Just three jars from 500g of strawberries, but well worth it.  Took a jar to my mother in law today, but sadly she didn't like it, so I had to bring it back home.  What a result!

I've made progress on my 15x15 quilt but can't show photos yet before it is the 'reveal' date at the end of July, so if it turns out OK, I'll post photos then.

Have a good week everyone and keep smiling.
Margaret

Light Relief

I have been working on my 15x15" quilt, which is due for the end of July, not that big a challenge really is it, but I am now on my third attempt, which isn't going well either.  So............. I changed tack and went for some light relief.

 This quilted bag is from a pattern by Monkey Buttons, it's ok but if I made another one, I would do it differently.  Enjoyable diversion though. Above photo is the front, the one below is the back.

The monster pin cushion, which looks more like a cake!

 Our lovely weather here in the UK has brought out the poppies (see below), don't they look lovely?  We used to have plum trees in this area but they got too big so we chopped them down and revamped the area. So glad we did.

Must get back to working on my 15x15" quilt, but I'll need to think a bit as just at the moment, I haven't a clue how to start, I'll post my progress as and when.

Enjoy, whatever you are doing, bye for now.
Margaret

Life's hiccups

I last posted to this blog in October last year, life's little hiccups just got in the way of adding posts,still, here I am again and I have a few photos to share

The head gardener, the one in the wheelbarrow

I have been doing a little bit of painting, having enjoyed a couple of weekend workshops with Laura Kemshall, who, although putting us through our paces, made the workshops exciting and very enjoyable.  I had been a little nervous, but needn't have worried at all.  Laura gives loads of demos throughout the day and willingly helped us with any problems.  We also enjoyed lovely lunches, catered for by her mum Linda.  So, wanting to continue with my painting, the photos below show my limited success.

I have been trying to capture the view that extends beyond our garden, the painting on the left (see above) is my first attempt, acrylic on canvas, bottom right is second attempt, molding paste for foreground, with acrylic, top right a fabric version

Vibrant sari silks, perhaps for a background

Sair silks laid out as a background

Sampling and moving on from landscape to seascape

Perhaps I can use these lovely silks, we'll see.

Hope you've enjoyed the photos, I know the formatting is awful, but I'll try to do better.  All the time I'm typing this sentence the photo up above keeps moving!!

See you soon,

Margaret

Bird Mobile

I have finally found a photo of my bird mobile made using a kit from Gillian Travis, a quilter who visits India for inspiration.

Anyway, here it is.  I have hung it in the hall and scented it with lavender oil.

I intend to do another one and I've added to the long list .............

Have a good weekend,
Bye for now
Margaret

The Colours of India

I don't normally buy any kits, preferring to use my own imagination to produce work, but following an article in Stitch Magazine, I was tempted to buy Gillian Travis's kit featuring her Indian ladies when I visited the Festival of Quilts in August.  Sometimes, it nice just to sew and not have to think too much.  I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and thought you may like to see it.

I have put the embroidery onto a painted canvas and have used the same stamp block (which came with the kit) to link it altogether.

I also bought a bird mobile kit from Gillian, but can't find a photo of the finished work, so I will keep looking and post it when I find it.

Thanks for visiting
Margaret

Sorry it's been a while

I thought I would update my page with a few pictures.  No particular order, just thought you may find them interesting.

These sweet little daffs are planted in a large cup, which was a Christmas present from my brother-in-law and it has made the perfect display pot in our front garden.

These little beauties are nestled in a sheltered part of our garden.  Lovely to see signs of what's to come as the weather warms.

This is one of the pieces I've recently made for an exhibition I am involved with which will be showing at the end of April in Market Drayton.

close ups

Two of my pieces from a series of work I am doing based on recycled fabric and found objects.  They are mounted on 6" deep edge canvases.  I have called this series "Small Works".

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely weekend, the weather forecast is good.

Margaret

Wonderful News

Yesterday, when I got back home, checked my emails as you do, only to have received one from Christine Allen, the owner of 'Raw Sienna' a  contemporary art gallery in Knutsford, to say she had sold two of my framed art works. 

One of the reasons for my excitement, apart from the obvious, is that these were textile pieces competing for sale and admiration in a gallery whose main focus is painting.  Although, I must add that she sells some lovely 3D pottery items as well.  I thank Christine for accepting my textile pieces, as all galleries won't take them. 

This is one of the pieces, entitled 'The Teasel and the Dragonfly'

 A little bit of detail

The background is monoprinted, using thickened procion dyes, a really lovely method to transfer colour to fabric as it is absorbed by the material, rather than lying on the top of it.

This one is called 'Weedy' and is similar to the other one, once again using monoprinting for the background which is densely machine quilted and has added paint and beads.

A bit of 'Weedy' detail.

I believe they have gone to one home, as they could be classed as a duo and I certainly hope that the owner has as much pleasure out of them as I did in their creation.

Onwards and upwards all you textile artists.

Hope to see you again soon,
Margaret