A Walk and a Bike Ride

Early early light is a beauty. On Sunday morning I was out on my new bicycle - all sit up and beg and girlie basket - in the misty low light of a damp but sunny spring morn.

This photo, unbelievably taken with my iphone and unadulterated, is probably my favourite image of any I've captured.

The bike is my new trusty steed with which I will discover some trackways amongst the urban sprawl where I live in Middle England.

The canal ways are calling for more sketching so there are some lovely tow path scenes to unearth this summer for me.

Today I walked on Highgate Common near Kinver Edge with my good friend Fiona Mill.

We hit upon a little pond, a haven for wildlife, quite un disturbed and amongst the peeping of jay birds and some rather less inspiring mosquitos, we sketched and painted. So peaceful. The time flew.

The light was poor and flat and it was a struggle to find where it was really coming from but a yellow wash background provided luminosity where it may have hidden.

Green woodpeckers and many pond insects were unaware of two women becoming at one with their surroundings. Some even tried to feature in the sketchbook - very arty!

Daughter Wins Quilt Competition - Yo!

Very proud mum here! My daughter Izzi won 1st Prize at The Uttoxeter Quilt and Stitch Show a couple of weekends ago - in the children's section. Isabel is 11 and drives a sewing machine like a pro!

Aparently her photo is in June's edition of British Patchwork and Quilting!

I have been doing a little brooch and card making therapy myself - just for fun.

Awards, Sketchbooks and Spring

Such sunny weather this week that it has been garden matters taking priority. The winter has been so long that seed planting has only been an option for the last week or so and that means that the greenhouse is now stacked with seed trays full of potential for both veg for the plot and flowers for the garden.
I love the "patchwork" nature of this Snakes Head which comes year after year although, strangely, some of its flowers are now pure white.

Art matters have taken a back seat, but nevertheless there was time to squeeze in a visit to the Uttoxeter Quilt and Stitch Show last weekend.
I was thrilled that my daughter Isabel, who is eleven, won the children's quilt category - here she is with her trophy. I'm more proud than she is!!

Yesterday when Isabel was playing hockey I took a stroll down the nearby canal where there is an interesting lock set of 21 tiers within about a mile. This is Dunstall Park Bridge. I stood and sketched those wonderfully interesting shapes in ink pen in my sketchbook on a previously washed background and then came home and added the tone in paint. I really like this approach, particularly to urban sketching, and feel fired up to work more this way.
You have to watch out for being run over by zealous dogs, cyclists and joggers on the tow path but that's part of the charm!

This is another sketchbook page - an idea from Laura and Linda Kemshall. The edge of the page is textured with gesso and painted with Koh-I-Noor dye based watercolours (as indeed is the sketch above).

Finally Wombourne Quilters had a visit from Lorraine Bates and we had a go at making some ceramic buttons. I'm looking forward to seeing the fired, glazed results - here are my raw ones...but there are more pictures here

Journal, Stitching and a new venture - Rustic Pumpkin!

So the stitching is being added to the piece I made of a photocopied page in my journal of a watercolour wash and chalk pastel poppies. The copyable fabric has worked well in this case and I have enjoyed the quilting and tying myself up in knots!!

Here is the original page in my journal.

and here are a few more pages - I'm back nto it after a break. I think I like to combine a diary with a sketchbook in this way - I never know what might turn up!

 Rustic Pumpkin is a new venture that my sewing friend Tracy and I have started. We plan to sell at craft fairs nearer Christmas but every time anyone sees our creations they buy them - we will have no stock!!! This, though, was a special commission based on our more usual single snowman. They are weighted as normal and can be used as a doorstop or bookend but these are definitely for the mantelpiece in this well known celebrity's house. They are 30cm tall and about 50cm wide. They are all wearing the colours that his four grand children wear.

Here are a few more of our pieces - you can sometimes catch them in my etsy shop - see the right hand side bar and click my name to find the shop.

If you can click Like on the facebook page Rustic Pumpkin Middle England and I'll keep you updated!

Wizards!

bunnies!

and various bits and bobs! 

Leave me a message if you're interested in treating yourself or a friend to a gift!!!

Useful pincushions!

A Numbing Chill

Coldness, ongoing. Not the sort of cold that lifts you after a bracing walk. No, numbing coldness. The sort that gets to the brain. The sort that makes you light the wood burner and vegetate.

We had promised ourselves to get out there and do a good walk today but the enthusiasm wasn't there. Instead some jobs and the making of a Roman Blind. (Cut the jokes about poking Caesar in the eye). ;-)

Finally a little more therapeutic stitching:

 And some fabric prepared for a journal quilt. These pastel poppies should provide a good ground for stitch.

P.S. Please look at my Etsy shop - see the link on the right for new listings!!

Today I turned the earth

Signs of warm Spring weather have not yet happened here. The vegetable allotment will have to keep waiting for its seeds.
Today I turned the earth in preparation.
The birds had a good feed, the soil is aired, all weeds removed.
Above ground seemingly barren; all manner of subtle changes are occurring under the surface.

More Easter Bunnies

Well they do multiply don't they, rabbits?
They are 28cm high and made from wool felt - handmade. Let me know if you'd like one at £20 + postage.

Spring Time Bunnies

This has been so enjoyable - designing and making all sorts of bunnies - wonderful for gifts. Usable as a door stop because they are beautifully weighted. I swear when the face is applied I feel like they are being "born"!

They stand at about 28cm (12 inches tall) excluding ears!!!

My friend and I have put many hours into making them but we have had soooo much fun. Lots of crying with laughter!
They are available for £20 plus postage. Do let me know if you'd like one - you can save yourself and your family from the evil perils of chocolate by homing a bunny instead!¬!

Yes! I decided to stitch it!!

In the end we have to leap in. There are only so many nights we can lie awake mulling over the alternative pieces we might make.

The deep breath was taken this morning.
The photo manipulated version of the original collage of charcoal crow drawing and paper and fabric elements was printed on to fabric.

Re-collaged and covered in a white chiffon.

After initial prevarication, stitched...

.

Some threads left to hang to emphasise the sketch nature of the piece. Some tidied.

Perhaps the crow will take some for his nest?

Some finishing required - check back soon if you are interested....

Today's motto - "just get on with it woman".

Collage to stitch?

Just been manipulating a collage I made some time ago on paper in my sketchbook. Here I've used Photoshop. May take this further in stitch - what do you think?

This is the original collage - acrylic paint, print, drawing of a crow I drew in charcoal, papers, final covering in acrylic varnish:

But I think I prefer the monochrome top version....

Wholesome Activities

Quilt top finished and ready to layer and quilt. It's been nice because the children are old enough to occupy themselves for quite a while, albeit on technology (not very wholesome), and I can get on with much more wholesome fabric furtling!
Mind you I dragged them out yesterday to Attingham Park in Shropshire for a romp through mud. At least it was a sunny day and once there they enjoyed climbing trees as children oughta!!!

The snowdrops were a sight to behold

and I loved these contrasting trees

It's a month to remember to love one another.
It would solve the world's problems....