2012 at a glance

My year summed up in 365 one and a half inch squares!

Thanks so much for sticking with me, it hasn't been an easy year back here in reality, although we have had a lot to celebrate -  90th, 95th, 60th, 21st and 18th birthdays in my immediate family and that is nearly half of us (we are a very small family).  However emotional and health ups and downs have also been dominant.

It is very quiet, grey and pouring with rain here, even my new iPad isn't cheering me up. Our plans for New Year all had to be scuppered so it is the two of us and the telly and maybe a game of crib and of course keeping my eye on what everyone else is doing... all without leaving my armchair.

I've finally submitted to the call of Facebook,  but not sure how that will pan out. I have linked up with some old work colleagues who I have fallen out of touch with, so that is very pleasant, but I certainly won't be posting about the minutiae of my life.

Nothing exciting going on on the textile front, but I think I shall use this afternoon to create my January calendar.

This picture is for Cathy, drawn using app  "Paper 53"

There will be plenty of these - I love drawing on the iPad.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

to you all

More pictures less words

Collage, plus paint, plus Tippex on vine leaves copied from a design book - inspired by DMT

Variation with bramble - from my Luton Hoo walled garden photos

Variation with figs - from my Luton Hoo walled garden photos

Photo taken with borrowed iPad

Quick sketches of Marvin on borrowed iPad using "Doodle Buddy" a very simple drawing app.  Hope to get my own and then use a better drawing program. Great fun.

Greetings

Back soon ....

Have a great week

Jill

Phew!!

"Perhaps she'll take a little more notice of me when she's finished THAT quilt!!"

It's okay Marvin.

It is all done and photographed ready to send off to my tutor.  

My first proper quilt, although only a small one.

"Now will you pay me attention!"

I'm very preoccupied with family at the moment, so keeping a low profile, but enjoying looking at everyone's posts.

Have a great weekend.

Jill

Head in a cloud

I seem to have head my head in a cloud this week - as opposed to a head in the clouds.

Just haven't been able to put my mind to anything new. However I have managed to get a few things finished

Photo effect using 'Photo Booth'

Finished November calendar.

Made a basic page for December.

Decided to unpick some stitching I had done on my quilt, but haven't touched it since.

  Made a couple of book wraps from a piece of 'mad' quilting I had done. So now I shall have these lying around instead of the bit of quilting.

 Finished off some little tree decoration bags I have made for friends.
(Don't tell)
They are bits of Sari ribbon stitched down onto felt. From an idea in this book - and Gina.

And I finished off my bag, and added a vintage buckle from my mother-in-law's button box

And here is the photographer's assistant checking the action.

Have a good week

Jill

A busy week

I've had a busy week and consequently my workshop with Ruth Issett last week seems ages ago. On Monday I managed to pull my back untangling a thread from the vacuum cleaner brush and then I had to take the car to have a new clutch fitted.   I had a bit of a walk into town to catch the bus home which helped ease my back and a routine visit to my chiropractor on Tuesday sorted it out and it is fine now.

I started the straight machine quilting on my quilt last weekend and began some of the hand stitching.  It has been so dull that I have needed to work under my daylight bulb.  I set my ironing board under the lamp and I could adjust it to just the right height for sitting upright while sewing.

Marvin likes to sleep in my workroom and keep me company, his favourite spot is on the chair just in front of the radiator.

Last Friday I order a secondhand copy of Ruth Issett's Colour on Paper and Fabric and it arrived on Tuesday which gave me something to read while waiting for the call to fetch the car.  While resting my back too!

I had also ordered four Karisma Colour pencils which are no longer made, however this company specialises in end of range pencils -  1buy1pencils so I ordered four of the colours I would use. Sadly I have worn out my yellows and would love to get hold of some.  I saw a new box of 48 pencils on sale on ebay for £150!!! But I'm not that desperate.

On Wednesday it was time to visit the hairdresser.  Consulting my calendar pages I realised it was two months since I have been, no wonder I couldn't see where I was going.

Wednesday afternoon I managed to finish the free motion quilting so I can put the sewing machine away for a while and get on with hand stitching.

My vermicelli stitching isn't too bad, but I'm inclined to move the fabric quickly on the corners so the stitches get longer.

Today a friend and I went to Childwickbury near St Albans to a Christmas Fair held at the home of Christiane and the late Stanley Kubrick.  Christiane is an artist and many of her paintings were on sale and she was there painting a beautiful still life, what a treat! I have long admired her colour filled paintings but did not realise until very recently that she had opened her home to the arts, holding two fairs a year.  The work on sale was of a very high standard with several textile artists, printmakers and painters showing their work. What a shame it was pouring with rain.

She also holds an Art School in the stables and runs many courses over the year - guess who is going to keep an eye open for next year's dates?

Well that it from me for now! I seem to have another busy week coming up so I'd better get on with some stitching.  You must be getting fed up with photographs of this quilt! However I think it is going to be with me for some time yet before it is finished.

Fingers crossed for a bit of sun in the coming week, I hope things are bright with you.

Jill