Saturday, 10 March 2012

It's my *****day

It's my *****day and I have the first head cold I've had all winter. Not that it has curtailed any grand celebrations, but we have postponed going out for lunch as I don't think I will taste a thing. I love this sentiment that was on a card from my oldest friend - we met at Infant's School - although we rarely see each other these days.

You may be older than you've ever been before, but remember,
You are younger than you will ever be again.

Thanks, Avril.
I'm not one for great celebrations, unless of course it is a 'biggy',  and I may have mentioned before that it is my father's 90th, nephew's 18th and (toy boy)husband's 60th all in May - I will probably mention it again, so I am more that happy to have a quiet day. Tomorrow I am going to The Textile Fair at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.  For once I haven't got to drive as my friends are picking me up, so that will be a treat.  I went to the same show about three years ago with another friend, when we went by train.  What a day - not only were the local trains stopping short of St Pancras due to work on the line, but there was
a big rugby match at Twickenham - I seem to remember it took us over three hours to get home, but it was a good show.

I have been getting on with my Creative Quiltmaking, the first modules are mainly concerned with sketchbook work and generating designs - a skill I want to develop myself, however I am looking forward to starting to work on fabrics later.  Meanwhile I have some sketchbook pages to share with you.
I was supposed to go to the local museum to do some sketching of artefacts, but typically on the day I went, it was closed (note to self - do more research before leaving the house).  But it was not problem as I had my camera and took some more photographs and made sketches of one of my favourite local buildings which I have photographed before.
This Victorian house, which now houses the local museum, has the most wonderful features at roof level.




There is an amazing variety of mock Tudor chimney stacks, decorative ridge tiles, finials and just look at that lightning conductor - thanks to a zoom lens.



One of the heads and fancy tiles that decorate the porch.


What about this fellow?


As you can see, there could be a life's work based on it.  
But here are my sketchbook offerings.






There is more to come, but I need to give my cold infested head a break.
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Jill




18 comments:

Jane said...

Happy Birthday, Jill. What a great building that is - reminds me that I should get my architral drawings going again. Is that Disraeli or just a local Victorian?

Heloise said...

Happy Birthday. Hope you enjoy day out tomorrow and get better soon. Your sketch book looks great.

ju-north said...

Happy birthday!Hope you feel better soon. Love the sketches!

Jane Housham said...

Very happy birthday. It looks as though a lovely quilt could easily emerge from this sketchbook.

Marigold Jam said...

Happy birthday Jill - so sorry you have a cold to celebrate it though! Hope you will feel better tomorrow for your outing. Love those chimneys and your sketches of same - can imagine a fabulous quilt using these shapes and or colours.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Jill! I hope you feel better soon. Love the sketchbook pages. I can see how you could translate these ideas into quilting also - looking forward to your next post.

Unknown said...

Many happy returns. I like that kangaroo grotesque - very clever.

Your sketchbook is a work of art in itself. You have captured the colours and spirit of the design very well.

Suztats said...

Happy *****day! Love the sentiment in the card! Many Happy Returns, and do get well soon.

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Happy birthday and hope the cold goes soon. Did you see the proposed plans for the museum if they get funding. .... Sounds exciting as it is such a lovely old building (not many left in this town now!) x

vintagerockchick said...

Snap! I have my first cold of the winter too, which started yesterday,so I am reading this from under the duvet, on my new toy. Love the sketchbooks and envy you the day out, I visited the Landmark show a couple of years ago and loved it.

menopausalmusing said...

Oh poor you re the cold! Hope you still managed to have a wonderful day out though. What stunning chimney stacks!

Jill said...

Thank you everyone - my cold is much better today and I have had a great day visiting the Landmarks exhibition.

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Hope it was a great birthday Jill despite the head cold. There's nothing worse than when it feels like you have cotton wool for brains! Great sketchbook pages from what looks like an inspiring museum. That first chap has a look of Dickens about him. I'm rather taken with his dapper bow tie. As for the other one..... he is actually just as interesting as are the chimney stacks. What a fabulous post!

harmony and rosie said...

Happy belated Birthday Jill, glad to hear you enjoyed your day out and you're feeling better.
Kate

Clare Wassermann said...

Hope you're feeling better now! I love the way you have translated the building into prints and stencils.
I really like that little gnomey crerature - it's such a shame buildings are put up in such haste these days. It's the little touches that keep you going back and back isn't it?

pearshapedcrafting said...

Here on a link from Ann(butterflycrafter) Love your blog, will definitely be coming back-hope you enjoyed your birthday, despite your cold.

Emma said...

Happy Birthday! Glad you had a good day at the show, what dya get?!

Anna said...

A bit late but Happy Birthday Jill! I always enjoy your blog and am amazed at how creative you are! Your pages are lovely.